Reviresco

If you are taking Rayleigh up to 1969, are you going to include them from 1970-73 when they had complete BL2 seasons before closing and moving to Rye House? Having researched a bit further, I am pretty sure that the rider listed: 1968 Crayford: as Colin Cook 1969 Crayford: as Colin Clarke, and 1970 Crayford: as Colin Cook should more correctly be shown as Colin Clark and being the same rider who appeared once as a No. 8 for Romford in 1971.

Yes, Romford closed and moved to Custom House as the West Ham Bombers for the start of the 1972 season, but were able only to complete 12 x league matches in BL2 before they lost their home at Custom House and the promotion moved to Barrow. West Ham Bomber's last match was at home to Hull on 23rd May 1972 although they were due to ride as West Ham at Workington on 2nd June 1972 but the meeting was postponed due to rain. The Barrow Bombers first official fixture was away at Peterborough on 9th June 1972 with Mike Sampson and Bob Coles from the West Ham team riding.

The following are the details for Romford 1969-71 and West Ham 1972 that I have which may be of some use, even if just for cross-checking purposes. BL2 and KO Cup matches: Romford 1969: Ross Gilbertson, Phil Woodcock, Charlie Benham, Frank Wendon, Brian Foote, Ian Gills, Brian Davies, Des Lukehurst, Chris Yeatman, Tony George, Brian Curtis, Roland Schofield, Adrian Baker, Roger Knight, (Barry Duke, Mick Steel & Brian Read rode for Rochester but not for Romford). Romford 1970: Ross Gilbertson, Colin Sanders, Brian Foote, Phil Woodcock, Kevin Holden, Charlie Benham, Ian Gills, Geoff Penniket, Des Lukehurst, John Hibben, Tony George, Frank Wendon, Mike Holt, Dave O'Connor. Romford 1971: Charlie Benham, Kevin Holden, Brian Foote, Mike Vernam, Colin Sanders, Ian Gills, Bob Coles, Stan Stevens, Mike Sampson, Bruce Edgar, Terry Shearer, Dene Davies, Clark Facey, Phil Woodcock, Dave Percy, Ted Spittles, Ron Edwards, Colin Clark. West Ham 1972 (12 League matches only): Kevin Holden, Brian Foote, Bob Coles, Stan Stevens, Mike Sampson, Mike Lanham, Ian Gills, Charlie Benham, Vic Cross, Ted Howgego.

Yes, sorry, it was just a remark about where the copyright line had appeared on that picture. When I first looked at it it looked as if it was written on the front of the vehicle. Just a flippant comment. Ignore me - most people do.

For anyone who wants to listen to this, but can't obtain BBC Radio London on 94.9FM, you probably know that you can listen to it on-line, and there is usually a facility to catch-up for some time after the broadcast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radiolondon/programmes/schedules

No mention of Romford in any of 1969, '70 & '71 (and West Ham in 1972). I've only looked at 1969 - 72 but the Rye House 'rider pool' looks as if it has a few e&o's, for example: I believe that Charlie Benham, Ron Edwards, Dave Kennett & Dave Piddock represented Rye House in 1971; - Pete Scanlon = Paul Scanlan, maybe. Crayford 1970: - Colin Cook = Colin Clark (shown as Clarke in 1969 - and as Cook again in 1968)?

I can't imagine that the 'race to make he play-off's' created larger crowds at Lakeside, Monmore or Leicester this season. Similar in the PL where probably only Plymouth and Ipswich might have benefited from any added interest in achieving the final play-off berth. At least in other sports that have promotion and relegation, interest can be maintained at both ends of the table, possibly until the final fixtures. In an 8 x team EL, include all 8 x teams in the end of season play-off's to give them all some meaningful end of season fixtures and this would provide the teams at the bottom of the table with an opportunity to host the 'top' teams again and with the chance of a 'giant killing'. I'm sure that Poole's and other fans would find the possibility of the team that finishes 8th being crowned league winners acceptable. (It is odd that the biggest sport in this country still does not embrace the concept of play-off's to decide its league winners (and runners-up) and only considers it necessary to utilise the concept to determine the minor promotion position in each league.)

Cracking pictures Steve and I like the way you managed to get your name on the front of the Bradshaw Rentals conveyance that Cookie is driving... So good to see Lewis Kerr back on a bike and at the Showground. It must have done him the world of good to have a lap round there after the events in early August.

I think that my first 'away' meeting was a 4TT at Eastbourne, involving Romford, Rayleigh and Canterbury. I do prefer Pairs meetings though, as it encourages team riding which is i.m.o. one of the essences of speedway racing. Then of course Mr Gollob has been known to 'team ride' in World Team Cup events which are effectively 4TT's.

Thank you for clarifying tyretrax

Just when you think that Cookie must be due an off night and that Sedgie surely can't score 14 + bonuses again, there they go and do it.

Of course, when HRH is in residence on the Sandringham Estate, Kings Lynn is just down the A149 and when she spends a week at Holyroodhouse, her own team, the Monarchs, is a short hop along the M8. Must be a speedway supporter having so many of her homes near tracks.

Thanks for pointing that out norbold. I should have done my research better.

I sincerely hope that the sport is not lost to the County again, but, as you say, with the lack of news from the promotion and the Kent Kings announcement regarding Elite League racing, it is looking bleak at the moment.

They have found hosts in both in the past. 2002 at Telstra. 2012 -14 at Western Springs. Now 2015 at Etihad. As I said, they have not been able to co-ordinate this yet.......

Great GP on a track that allows for track craft, bravery and speed to combine and produce real racing. Congratulations to Tai on becoming the third British born rider to win the World Title twice. At the age of 25, the opportunity is there to become the first to become a triple Title holder - or even more. AFAIK, neither Freddie Williams or Peter Craven received recognition honours for their achievements. Maybe Tai will. His charity work should not be overlooked, even if he comes in for criticism at times with the deliberate swearing on TV and behaviour on the rostrum. Wonder what this news is that he tweeted about, that he can't wait to share but won't reveal until later this month...

Unfortunate that Australia and New Zealand have not been able to co-ordinate when they have staged SGPs. Would have made the 10,000/12,000 mile trips more cost and time beneficial. It would probably be better if the 'fly-away' GP was the first, rather than the last round, but apparently October is the only time the Etihad can host the event.

Reported as being the first bend on the tribute on the Speedway Plus site: http://speedwayplus.com/SveinKaasa.shtml Good to see that they have a memorial to Svein at the 'new' Hampden and great that Ashfield has added it's own tribute. R.I.P.

Seems strange now that back then New Zealand & Australian riders rode for GB in the Team Championship, but for their own countries and against GB in the Pairs. (Even Scotland rode against GB in the Pairs Final - Scotland not being part of GB of course.....) I've just had a look at the results of the British Final for 1970 that was held at West Ham in June and it was dominated by riders from New Zealand, with the 1,2,3 being Mauger, Moore & Trigg and of the 8 x Qualifiers for the next round, 4 were from NZ, 2 from Australia and 2 from GB - Arnold Haley & Trevor Hedge. Must have been a 'low' point for British born riders that year in Individual World Championship terms with both Haley & Hedge failing to get into the top 8 in the British-Nordic round at Coventry - although Hedge did ride subsequently in the European Final (by the looks of it Bengt Jansson didn't take his place in Leningrad and Ove didn't replace him) and qualified for the World Final in Wroclaw where he failed to register a point. Hope it goes well on Tuesday.

And Somerset win the KO Cup.......

Some of the riders - NKI, AJ, Przedpelski, have indicated that their suits will be auctioned after tomorrow's SGP, but I haven't seen any information as to whether this will be at the meeting or elsewhere, for example, on-line, sorry.

And the #DW43 race suits are ready for Torun tomorrow: https://instagram.com/p/8VaruMKafW/

Australia's Seven Network giving the upcoming GP and the sport a mention in a recent AFL Pre-Game show with the assistance of a former World Champion and AFL legend Jason Akermanis (born in Mildura): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNPyIcfBPoY&feature=youtu.be

And an update on a couple of Craig Cook's TRs - Ipswich TR is now 56.0secs set on 16 July 2015. Somerset TR is now 54.68secs set last night, breaking Leigh Adams' previous best of 56.08 from 23rd May 2007.

The TR for Brooklands (Romford) was recorded as 68.8secs and set on 25 March 1971. Tony (Shrimp) Davey set it in Heat 4 and the time was equalled by John (Tiger) Louis in Heat 12 and again in JL's defence of the Silver Helmet against the late Colin Sanders. The track length was recorded as 375 yards - which apparently equates to 342.9 metres. I remember the Witches pair winning their heats by a clear distance that night. Tony Davey recording a 5 x ride maximum from Reserve and JL a 12pt maximum.