*JJ

Something like this was tried at Birmingham back in the seventies/eighties - a thick rope was laid behind the back wheels as the riders came to the tapes. What happened was that the riders fought and struggled to get their wheels over the rope again! Unless the riders are forced to cooperate, nothing will change. This was the reason for the tape-touching, as opposed to breaking, rule. Did ... A couple of years ago, the start marshal tried to make Iversen come to the tapes (he was trying to get a flyer). When the start marshal tried to pull Iversen's wheel forwards, Iversen tried to hit him! Again, referees must make the riders cooperate.

You don't have to pay to watch amateur speedway - there's a meeting this Sunday at Scunthorpe, entrance free for spectators. You can watch up-and-coming British riders, including two from Birmingham.

I stand corrected then!

Wasn't it Les Rumsey? Who once rode for us doubling up. I seem to remember him guesting for us in an inter-league competition at Rye House, and scoring an 18-point maximum! Not even Hans Nielsen could do that!

Wilson is the third most common English surname!

Yes, the link does work, but the video seems to be the inside of a box all the way through! Is this just me? Other videos work on my computer.

Well, that was very thrilling ... not. What went wrong?

Don't bother - Perky is going to Cradley!

This explains why he was practicing at Rye House last month. I did wonder!

Very interesting, Mr. C: and thanks for the programme!

Adam Ellis for Birmingham.

I thought that it was to be used as a (reasonably) central training facility: hence the 'National' title. This is something which is badly needed.

Well, it's yellow and red now!

Well, I bought mine in a shop on Thursday and it was all right.

I won't be mistaken for a Potty in my Brummies coat! But the colours are taken from the Birmingham coat of arms. This is quartered, part blue and yellow (hence the football team) and part yellow and red. No red and white, thank you!

But is it really the National Development League any more? Isn't it really just the Third Division these days? There are separate Northern and Midland Development Leagues.

Shock horror!! Stoke colours? At least you can see the yellow! It will be better than the EL race suits, which have miniscule club badges somewhere down on the rider's groin.

Sadly, I wasn't impressed with Stoke when we went there in September. The place is a tip, the atmosphere was like a funeral feast in a home for incurables, the crowd was miniscule.

Tony Mole said that they will have race jackets in the traditional yellow and red; I presume the same as those used for the two challenge matches at Monmore Green a couple of months ago?

There are plenty of young riders out there, but it will need some lowering of standards; no Cradley-type teams.

There are plenty of riders about, just don't expect any Cradley-style teams!

Guy Martin was riding flat track at Rye House on Sunday. Pity someone didn't tip off the media!

Why not? If teams were more equal, there would be better racing. I went to a couple of Cradley matches this year; talk about boring ...

There is a list of no less than 66 riders in the Development League forum; plus there must be another dozen who have only done amateur racing as yet (see the Scunthope amateur Facebook page). There is no shortage of potential riders.

Except that 'the BSPA' doesn't have any money ... the rev limiter should be brought in asap, though. The main trouble is that speedway engines are unique to this sport, are made in very small quantities which means that prices are very high (we have just spent £290 on a piston!). Using a new engine would simply mean that all riders, even non-paid and amateurs, would have to fork out around £2,000 for a new engine. Very nice for Jawa but not for someone trying to establish himself, paying for his racing on a low wage.