22nd September 2018

1960 world final; Beyond the run-off Ove Fundin, Ronnie Moore and Peter Craven contested a famous run-off in 1960. Tracy Holmes pays tribute to others in the field that night,

It's All About You....Sandor Kovacs Sandor offers a Hungarian perspective on the speedway world.

Bill Dutnall on The Honours System, Handicapping and The Duke of Cambridge: "Handicapping. We already have handicapping when under penalty. More often than not the handicapped rider starts at the back and stays there. What pleasure we are expected to get from heat leaders theoretically passing inexperienced reserves baffles me. The result would be the same anyway in this theoretical system. Agreed some races are processional but many are not. Track preparation and design providing more than one racing line would be great help. " David Cohen on Lies, damn lies...: "Very interesting article, and one of the few with a new angle, and backed up by data and not just opinion ("Bring it back to Wembley" etc.). This discussion may well go on for a long time. For example, of all the qualifiers that went towards getting to a World Final, how many of these were exciting, how many of the races really counted etc. I'm sure that TV money has something to do with having a GP series as well. Amongst the major motor sports, Speedway was unusual in that it kept the one-off World Championship for a very long time, so perhaps it was just time to fall in line with the rest of the world. Actually regardless of the standings, i.e. the winner is known before the last GP, I think all of them are eagerly anticipated." Tracy Holmes on Lies, damn lies...: "Great fun mate. This is for those who say ... If Dave Jessup had won his four remaining heats after his ef in 1978, I would say he should have won the Gold Medal. But he did not, beaten by Gordon Kennett in round 5. Then he lost the Bronze Medal run-off. That, for me says his first round ef did not cost him the World Title. And Chorzow was not Jerzy Szczakiel's home track. Cheers !" Anthony Williamson on Lies, damn lies...: "With out a doubt, one off final. Went to a few at Wembley. Not knowing who would win or be placed to the end. As the article say's sometimes you know who is World Champ with a couple of GP to go. " Bob Miller on Opening Nights: Arena Essex: "Great article re Arena first match. I was at the meeting as Clerk of the Course. Had that position for 4 seasons then took over the announcing from Dave Lanning and was announcer for 25 years having to give up due to failing eyesight. I miss speedway, it has been part of my life since I was 5 years old. I was asked to go to the final meeting and I closed the meeting and the life of speedway there. My voice was the last heard and I was honoured to be asked to do that - sad as it is." Click here to leave your own feedback

 

11th September 2018

Lies, damn lies... Ken Nicholson has had the calculator out and produced some interesting facts and figures contrasting the World Final and the SGP.

Opening Nights: Arena Essex A definite end-of-an-era at Lakeside this Friday as the track stages its last meeting. In this article from 2006 we looked back at the very first one, in April 1984.

Geoff Miller on Thoughts From A Disenfranchised Fan: "Great articles, love speedway, used to watch Arena Essex. We want a speedway team near or in London, the capital city and it has no speedway. Watching the Polish and Swedish speedway, it makes you salivate for a London team, would be nice if we could have speedway at the London stadium or Spurs new ground, instead of that American football, but money talks..." Dave Hobson on DVD Review: Ivan Mauger Racing: "I bought this as soon as it was released, and it is a lovely homage to the greatest of all time. A fitting end with Ivan's laps at a soon to close County Ground. See also ivanmauger.net" Clive Bowen on The Fifties: "Do you also remember: Tiger Hart, Eric Boothroyd, Bob Lovell and others ?" Click here to leave your own feedback

 

2nd September 2018

DVD Review: Ivan Mauger Racing A review of a new double-DVD devoted to the late, great Ivan Mauger.

Paul Reed on Jack Millen - Forty Years On: "The engines roared, the riders hunch-backed, The tapes flew up, the first bend attacked, The cinders scattered, the ashes flew, The exhaust smoke turned the night air blue; From amongst the chaos, a striped bib emerged, Worn proudly, down the back straight he surged, For courage and fearlessness he did not lack, Such were the qualities of 'Crazy Jack'; And though many a year since has passed, I do not forget the memories then amassed, When hearts were young and dread was zero, And Jack Millen was our speedway hero. " BoBo on Thoughts From A Disenfranchised Fan: "Very well put. Everything makes sense. A lot of info that should be considered and implemented for the long term plan. " John Middlemiss on Thoughts From A Disenfranchised Fan: "Thanks Steve, for voicing your discontent so eloquently, I am sure your comments reflect the thoughts and opinion of the silent majority. I was an avid fan until 1973 when I moved to Canada. Now my speedway fix is restricted to "youtube" and an occasional trip to Cosa Mesa when visiting my daughter in LA. It sounds like the British promoters could learn a lot about putting on a fast paced and entertaining show from the Oxleys." Peter Rose on Riders to Remember....Ronnie Moore: "Now in my eighties I was lucky enough to see the great Ronnie Moore ride. How great was he is answered by the fact that he was an idol to Ove Fundin. Say no more." Click here to leave your own feedback