Shalerash

Russ was my favourite rider as a kid, met him a couple of times on the way home from away meetings, a really nice bloke, I've often said he was the best reserve Belle Vue ever had, sad to hear this news, RIP Russ and thanks for the memories.

First time I've watched him at Redcar last night, really impressed, gutsy rider and quick too, certainly looks one to watch.

Been a while since British speedway had anything to shout about so here's a chance to give a little back...give Wuffy your vote as FIM rider of the year HERE......http://www.fim-live.com/en/fans-zone/vote-now/

22 inch rear wheel with silver alloy rim wanted, must be in good condition, please PM me with details and price.

The ref called the Baseby incident correct, Reade never touched him he just spooked him and Baseby shut off which straightend him up he then started to run out of track and bailed off,Baseby did'nt show any problem with the decision either.

Yes i was stood right by it, don't get me wrong i'm not saying all Dudley fans are the same, i'm just amazed by the reaction of the ones involved.

I'm sure it is the minority.

So that makes it ok then ?.

I understand riders are pumped up and heat of the moment etc, but when i witness a grown woman shove her face up to an 8 year old child and call him a sheep sh**ers brat, applaud when riders fall and chat abuse to the referee under the box it goes beyond on track incidents.

What a total discrace to the club and speedway in general the Dudley fans where today, and before i get slated no i'm not a Buxton fan just watched as a neutral, for the second time in a week Heathens fans brought the sport to a low, after fighting on the terraces last wednesday at Belle Vue, today it was like being on the shameless film set with the most foul mouthed woman you will ever come across and a gang of thug partners gathering like a pack of dogs anywhere they could cause trouble, to me what has always made speedway stand out from other sports was the friendly rivalry and banter. to those involved today you let down Nigel Pearson who has done such a great job in the return of the club, been an embaressment to somebody in Chris Van Straaten's position and made a fool of all that makes speedway a good family sport, you where a discrace.

Derek of Starline guards was also there.

Just got home from celebrating Taffy's 73rd birthday, a good turn out from some ex blasts from the past, was wondering what peoples memories are of the ex riders who attended, Billy Powell Belle Vue and Wolverhampton Ken Eyre as above Bernie Hornby Workington and Berwick Steve Casey Ellesmere Port, Newport and Milton Keynes Terry Kelly Belle Vue, Workington, Scunthorpe, Barrow Bernie Collier Belle Vue, Middlesborough Guy Robson Sheffield, Edinburgh Garry Clegg Belle Vue, Boston Peter Clegg Belle Vue, Halifax Mike Wilding Cradley, Oxford, Stoke, Scunthorpe

John Hack ex Oxford and Cradley.

Larry Kosta the 80s Belle Vue rider also held a pilots license.

Chris Turner or Jim Brett, me being a Belle Vue fan of the 70s .

I know Dave well, he is from Longsight Manchester, where he still live, 5 minutes from Belle Vue, he is a motor mechanic and rarely bothers with speedway now.

Thanks guys.

Was looking for some information and results on 2 young Danish riders, Simon Nielsen and Peter Kildamande, a Danish friend was telling me they look promising prospects.

your correct Joe did have a life threatening accident at Hull, i got to know Joe well whilst mechanicing to various riders, the scars where horrendous and apparently he was given the last rights twice the night of the accident.

Glyn Taylor must be included here, god knows how many clubs but off the top of my head, Belle Vue Berwick Crewe Stoke Reading Edinburgh Sheffield Newcastle there is more i'm sure.

Russ Hodgson, i was a big fan of him, to me one off the best reserves Belle Vue ever had, shame he had to partner Geoff Pusey one of the worst. I'm pretty sure Emil Sova died a few years ago, heart trouble i think ?.

That's an interesting name to surface. Terry Kelly was a great trier who deserved more success than he got. You say he's working as a roofer now - wasn't he at one time a meat porter in Manchester's equivalent of London's Smithfield? I belive he was in the 70s, recently did some roofing work for me, if you saw him now he looks exactly the same and a sound bloke, really into bikes still and owns a couple of monsters which he likes to frighten himself on, mad as a hatter.

Soren, my first speedway idol, what a pleasure to watch round hyde road, always in bother through the bottle and a bit hardwork personality wise, he's brother Christer complete opposite, i spannered for him a few times, really nice guy friendly and a little on the quiet side, sadly neither no longer with us, Christer in a racing accident in Brisbane in the 79/80 winter and Soren ending up pretty much a down and out in manchester before going back to Sweden where the booze finally finished him off, very sad.

Also i think maybe one of the problems is landlords, years ago when speedway was getting good crowds and making money they should have bought the stadiums/tracks and owned them, instead the older promoters took the money and run, o.k. this may not be the case with some, but i wonder how many tried ?, we now would'nt be in a position where landlords pull all the strings telling promoters when they can run etc.

This has been a problem for a long time, as you say juniors seem to be an after thought, i can remember trying to get after meeting rides only for the track to run out of time etc and you don't turn a wheel, there are not many regular training facilitys, where as in the mid 70's when i first started watching as a kid, localy to where i lived there were regular training schools at Belle Vue, Crewe, Ellesmere Port and Sheffield, it's no good traveling the country hoping to get 10 minutes after the meeting if your lucky, this is an issue that needs dealing with, then promoters have the cheek to say there's no british talent or forigners are too expensive ?, does'nt take a rocket scientist ah !.