britmet

. First French World Champ was Fernand Meynier, Speedway ("Dirt Track") World Champion of 1933, in the Buffalo Stadium, Paris. Runner-up was Bluey Wilkinson, 3rd was Billy Lamont. Fuller details HERE . Though not an official FICM-recognised meeting, Meynier's success in a field that included Bluey and Lamont testifies to the status of his win. No other Frenchman has taken a World title.

. 1st, Robin Aspegren SW 2nd, Anders Mellgren SW .

. You don't have to have been a Mauger fan to acknowledge that he has been the most successful speedway rider ever, and to give him the credit it deserves to have been that rider. As a Cradley supporter it was always going to be Ivor not Ivan we shouted for, - everyone will know the "Man I Hated" saga from Triple Crown Plus - , (unwarranted but good press ! ) You don't have to have been the most exciting rider to watch to have been the most successful, - in fact the opposite is true. Many of the most exciting are/were the riders who struggled but didn't give in, trying to pass for 4 laps without success. Ivan wasn't one of those !

. YES ! Its one of the main reason I don't attend now, when a team has no more than 4 recognizable members on the track.

. Its agreeing what's 'good' that's the problem. Different folk have different views. Does anyone think he set about building Leicester so that it wouldn't be good ? Yes, it clearly is difficult !

South Africa's greatest ever rider, Henry Long, is 90 today, July 26th. http://www.speedway-sa.com/the-henry-long.php After a stroke in 2014 Henry relocated from Johannesburg to Franschhoek, near Cape Town, just a few streets away from his daughter, who tells me he's doing reasonably for his age, and is well looked after by dedicated staff. Anyone wishing to send him birthday greeting can do so here or can PM me and I'll forward them on..

Do riders still boil their chains in oil in a meat tray in the kitchen oven ? . . - or are chains now just another disposable item that pushes up costs ?

. And he was the rider that a Mastermind contestant failed to get in his specialist subject.. .

. Odsal, - there was a stadium ! Built with a 120,000 capacity, set a 102,000 record (for Rugby in 1954) and its speedway record of 47,000 in 1947. I remember driving spirally down the bowl to the pits in the 1970 period.

. Well I didn't know about belts, I'm old school, as my question implies. And I've noticed that chain user don't put the split link on the inside today. Not surprised to hear of belts, as we've a Harley dealer in town and I've noticed they're driven by a rubber band. Doesn't sound high-tech advanced technology, does it. (but then H-Ds are dynosaural.)

. Indeed, - There's different thread on Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, - http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=84506

Aggregate scores after 3 rounds, with the Final round to be staged at Belle Vue on Oct. 14th. Mark Cossar has a clear lead from Mick Cave, loosing his only points from an e/f at Somerset. RIDER & PASSENGER. AGGR. Mark Cossar & Carl Blyth 45, Mick Cave & Bradley Steer 39, Paul Whitelam & Terry Saunters 27, Tris Winterburn & Billy Winterburn 26, Will Penfold & Ricky Pay 23, Matt Fumarola & Gaz Williams 22, Mick Stace & Kizz Ivy 20, Richard Moore & Carl Pugh 18, Tom Cossar & Ryan Barker/W.Richards 15, Will Offen & Sam Black 13, Simon Beaney & Gareth Bemister/S.Fum. 10, Paul Johnson & Jason Farwell 9, Rod Winterburn & Ryan Watern 8, Andy Cossar & Mike Chittenden/J.Fum 7, Phil Wynn & Adam Cowper-Smith/S.Fum. 7, Stef Blyth & Sam Fumarola 7, Joe Mogg & Jake Cutler 6, Gareth Winterburn & Liam Brown 3, Neville Penfold & Kev Jones 2, Kevin Lapham & Jake Fumarola 1, Shaun Harvey & Dan Hogg 1,

British Sidecar Speedway Championship The first round of the 2017 ACU British Sidecar Speedway Championship will be staged at Leicester Speedway next Saturday, May 27th. With over £5,000 of prize money up for grabs, this season's Championship will be competed for over 4 rounds. The top 16 British Sidecar crews on their 1000cc combinations will fight out the championship over 18 races at each event. There will also be Support Class heats. The second round will be at Somerset Speedway on Friday 9th June, round 3 at Kings Lynn on Friday 14th July, and the Grand Final at Belle Vue on Saturday 14th October. A full background to sidecar speedway, including results of all FIM World and European Championships, British, Australian and other national sidecar speedway championships, plus continental Long Track and UK sidecar grass titles can be found HERE

Results

. Irene Pritchard was the long serving Secretary of the Cradley Heath Supporter Club, from the clubs initial days in the late 40s, having started as the Blackheath district secretary, until approx. 1972, when she was barred from the track by the promotion after they tried to insist she hand over Supporters Club funds. She did amazing work organising supporters coach trips to regular away meetings such as the biggies like the PLRC, Wembley, Belle Vue BLRC, when the Heathens numbered as many as 10 - 12 coach-fulls, carefully grouped so that drop-offs in the early morning hours were made as near to homes as possible. But the annual highlights of every Cradley season were the closed season Dinner & Dances at Old Hill Civic Hall that she and her mother organised, invites to which were greatly sort after by riders from both leagues. . She always credited the generous and helpful advise that was given to her early on in her tenure by the Wembley Supporters secretary. Below she is seen greeting the Polish ROW Rybnik team to Dudley Wood in 1965. Irene Pritchard passed away in about 2007.

. Okay, I'll have a go at ranking them :- Peter Prinsloo Mike Ferreria Denzil Kent Deon Prinsloo James Hadhow .

. On the Home page of the Speedway Champions website there is a Footnote "Advice for viewing tables." "Full-screen facility is now at the FOOT of each table, with add'l +/- buttons."

. Here's the fixture list of the Guernsey club for 2017, http://www.gmccc.co.uk/aaa/Racing%20Calendar%202017.pdf and the results so far, http://www.gmccc.co.uk/Sand%20Racing/2017/Main%20Page%202017.htm

The 2017 ACU British Sand Racing Championships staged at Vazon bay, Guernsey on Saturday (24th June) were won by Paul Cooper, solo's, and father and son pairing of Rod & Billy Winterburn in the 1000cc sidecar class, a 4th success for the Winterburn family. Defending solo champ Zach Wajtknecht started the day well by taking the Bahnrekord at 23.94 secs but things then went downhill, troubled with engine problems. He conceded his first and his last heats to 2016 runner-up Paul Cooper and had to drop out of his other 2 rides, failing to make the Final. Cooper was undefeated on the day and took the British Title from Daniel Winterton after Andrew Whitaker, sitting comfortably in 2nd place, went off the track on a wet corner. Previous years championship results can be found here

. It was proposed by JSH !

/. Try and keep up, people.

Another . . . ? - Glyn Taylor, b. 24 August 1953, Cardiff, Wales

No, it was Post #34, 7 hrs earlier.

Speaks volumes !