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britmet

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Everything posted by britmet

  1. britmet

    speedwaychampions.com

    After a 4 year hiatus Speedway Champions is back, www.speedwaychampions.yolasite.com - noted the revised url. Updated to the 2023 season and the ongoing 2024 Oz, NZ and winter Ice events, the individual champions of all speedway nations, major and minor, past and present, from Argentina to Zimbabwe, are listed, along with Long Track, Ice Racing and Grass Track national and regional champions. These are supplemented with the title-holders of other FIM 'Track' disciplines of Sidecar Speedway and Flat Track racing, - official and unofficial - , in both UK and Europe, plus USA and the newer German and Australian events of Krowdrace and 'Aussie Flat Track Nationals' (AFTNs), now granted official Championship status for 2024. Winners of other respected former and current speedway competitions, such as British Match Race Championships, Czech, Aussie and Polish Golden Helmets, League Riders Championships and ultimately, World Championships, are also included. www.speedwaychampions.yolasite.com
  2. A new page, “Flat Track Champions” has been added to the Speedway Champions website, Detailing all British Short Track and Flat Track championship winners and place-getters since inception in 2005, it completes the race disciplines covered under the 'Track Racing' department of FIM and ACU. Also included are ; - other European national champions, - e.g. Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Czech Republic, etc; - USA AMA dirt track Grand Nationals, and Canadian CMA winners from 1946; - FIM World Cup and European Championship results; - 'Flat Track of Nations' (= unofficial WTC); - Winter Open Invitationals, - in UK and the big Spanish 'Superprestigio', and background definitions/classifications on formats and machinery. . www.speedwaychampions.com www.speedway-sa.com . .
  3. britmet

    FIM OCEANIA Solo Championship

    I'm going to record this shortly under 'Australasian Championships' (suitably qualified,) on the Speedway Champions website, - seems the most appropriate place. http://www.speedwaychampions.com/--australasia.php
  4. britmet

    FIM OCEANIA Solo Championship

    The FIM regional authorities having been given a degree of autonomy, this authority is no doubt trying to demonstrate its status (in the speedway sphere, - no idea how they stand in other m/c sports out there - ?) After a number of successful Sidecar Speedway Oceania Championship years seems they want to expand. FIME through SEC have a European Championship, this will be FIMO's equivalent.
  5. Doug, Jack, Harry, Alan(Allen) & Bob Serrurier. (click image for full view of the 5). www.speedway-sa.com
  6. britmet

    Who remembers Ernie Hancock?

    Ernie Hancock also started and ran something called the International Speedway Supporters Club, ( - ?, wording tbc) circa 1963-4. It possibly ran trips abroad. Known of to badge collectors because it had its own badge, - white race-jacket shape, with a Union Jack within - , so any collector had to join and get one. They also issued year bars for the badge. Mine's long since gone, but someone may still have one to show.
  7. Take a look at the photograph plus all the GH and SH winners over time.
  8. Appointed by the local club, WSRC, as their webmaster for 10 years, and via that and European connection, into the Sp.Star.
  9. Freddie Williams had great successes in South Africa and Rhodesia in the '50s, - a time when all the World-class riders, Briggs, Moore, Craven, Crutcher, Nygren, Fundin, etc , spent the winter there - , including Golden Helmet MRC wins in both countries. He was undefeated SA GH champ in '53/'54, and had a 10.56 league average over his 2 league season there. Details HERE
  10. The 2019 British Sidecar Speedway Championship was won again by Mark Cossar, - his 5th national title. Partnered this season by Gareth Williams, Cossar won the 3rd and Final round of the official ACU competition at Somerset, (the Leicester-cum-Kings Lynn round was cancelled,) with an unbeaten score, for a total of 43 pts overall, (11,16,16.) 2nd place went to Mick Cave & Bradley Steer, (11,14,13 =38pts); 3rd was Paul Whitelam & Alan Elliott after a run-off with Will Penfold & Ricky Pay, each having totalled 35 points. http://www.speedwaychampions.com/sidecar-champions.php
  11. britmet

    Most Unpopular Rider

    Ivor Brown was a mild-mannered quietly spoken man, pleasant to meet and speak with. It's only envy by rival supporters, whipped up by press and ghost writers of a certain biography, that gave rise to Ivor's title. Most top successful riders have gone thru that phase, - e.g. Fundin, and even Mauger himself, who was one of the least accommodating of fans. That said, Brown was never successful as an individual, - i.e. in individual mtgs. It was his consistent team performances and scoring, which put him at the top of Prov'l Lge averages until Mauger rose to the fore, that made his name and reputation.
  12. britmet

    Track Grading

    There used to be 4 rakers on each bend, 4 at the starting line (beside the Starting Marshall,) 2 pushers-off for each helmet colour (after having collected bikes from the pits to the pit gate and on to the track,) : that's 20 guys that had to be paid ! So we know why they went, . . . .but as with volunteers on other functions today, I doubt there'd no shortage of supporters offering to get closer to the action.
  13. New venue and date for Rd.3, . . .and the Final in Sept. http://www.speedwaychampions.com/sidecar-champions.php
  14. britmet

    speedway bikes in ledbury auction

    What a collection ! . . .and such a range of stuff. Enough parts alone to build a dozen or more bikes. Then there's the race jackets, the photos, posters, and books. And the unique bike collection, - old ('20s), '50s, and newer, (of the last few decades.) There's a full day's reading/viewing and more, just to get thru the auction item lists, if you've the spare day or 2. Worth it !
  15. britmet

    Henry Long, R.I.P.

    South Africa's greatest ever speedway rider, Henry Long, passed away today in Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa, aged 91. In domestic and international competitions, he was the Union's top all-time points scorer, and appeared amongst the world's elite in the World Championship Final at Wembley Stadium, London of 1952, the first of only 2 African riders ever to qualify for a World Final. Born in Alberton near Johannesburg in 1927, he started racing after the war at the nearby Old Barn track with Buddy Fuller and Fred Wills. When speedway racing started at the Wembley Stadium, Jo'burg in 1947 Henry's performances rapidly improved, and in the first international Test Series staged the following season against England he top-scored across both teams, and then travelled to the UK and Belle Vue for a 4-year stint in Manchester, culminating in his World Final appearance. At home, he took 5 Wembley (Jo'burg) Open Championships and a similar number of SA National championships, limited only by his absences riding in the UK. Henry Long retired in 1964 to concentrate on the family garage business set up by his father, where he was joined in partnership by fellow rider Roy Bester, before starting up a new fork-lift sale and hire business. In August 2014 Henry suffered a stroke at home in Johannesburg, so relocated to Franschhoek, near Cape Town to be close to his daughter Sue. He passed away peacefully in the early hours of today, 8th July. (Elder son Graham Long, who rode speedway in the 'seventies, passed away in 2017.) HENRY LONG, 26.7.1927 - 8.7.2019 R.I.P. CCJ A fuller tribute will be posted on www.speedway-sa.com
  16. britmet

    Oldest Surviving World Finalists

    Henry Long passed away today, July 8th 2019, just a couple of weeks short of his 92nd birthday. An obit is posted separately.
  17. britmet

    Rider replacement

    Totally agree with everything that is said above. The 'sport' is continuing in its downward spiral !
  18. britmet

    Rider replacement

    a) yet at every restructuring proposal we keep being being told there aren't enough riders, b) It is too regular, - teams are starting the season off with R/Rs. . . on both sides of a match. No injuries there yet.
  19. britmet

    Rider replacement

    If you support riders having more rides per match, what should be done is change the format and ride 6-man teams over 16 heats, - NOT pretend we have 7-man teams but only track 6 (or 5). The more rides the better 3 have, the less exposure the rawer 2 or 3 have, - then that, over time, leads to a diminishing pool.
  20. Extract from UK crews' Blog; "Current British Champion Paul Whitelam stated “I’ve made the journey for the past three seasons, but with only one event being offered and without start or guaranteed prize money I could not warrant the expenditure this year. Hopefully the World Cup will be run closer to home in the near future, Belle Vue would be a great venue”. Former British Champion Mark Cossar also spoke of his wish for the event to come closer to home. “I’m gutted to have to turn my place in Australia down, but we have done the trip over there so many times over the past six years. If the championship is to work the FIM has to run it in Europe again”. It may seem about time FIM gave Europe another opportunity, but unfortunately the Continentals aren't interested in the 1000cc class, (not one entry from mainland Europe on the last occasion there in 2009, in France on grass,) only in the 500cc. So chances will be slight. https://www.sidecarspeedway.co.uk/2019-news
  21. Speedway is on the front page of the D.Telegraph's Business supplement today, and inside with a sizeable action photo from the GPs. It report that "BT Sport has extended its deal to broadcast top class speedway - incl'g FIM World Championships, Grand Prix series and Monster Energy Speedway of Nations for another 3 seasons until 2021." . . http://www.speedwaychampions.com/ http://www.speedway-sa.com/
  22. Past results, - http://www.speedwaychampions.com/sidecar-champions.php .
  23. britmet

    Premiership Supporters Cup

    I am an older person, i.e. retired; I do have a smart phone; I do have PAYG, even though I can afford a contract, but am sensible enough not to be sucked into living my life with it in my hand and running my life. (In fact I'm seriously thinking of reverting to my old Nokia, - just need to check if its WiFi is compatible with my car's system.) . No, I wont be partaking in the scheme, even if every stadium does have WiFi. - 2ndbbh is right to ask: remember, most supporter are of the same generation as me, and won't have or know what 4G or 5G is or means, and will be unlikely to convert for this scheme to become meaningful.
  24. britmet

    Longtrack

    Dandelion, - You may find this of interest, http://www.speedwaychampions.com/long-track-champions.php
  25. britmet

    Forgotten Europeans...

    I knew a forgotten European,. . but I can't remember his name. . . www.speedwaychampions.com www.speedway-sa.com
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