martinmauger

A great read, one heck of a talented rider Kelly certainly lived life to the full....

Going slightly sideways, which is what we do in speedway, though staying mostly on topic; I recently tried to buy rugby league publications for an uncle's birthday. I drew a blank everywhere I tried; supermarkets, newsagents, garages, etc. I told him as such and he replied "I'm not surprised (that I drew a blank), they aren't printed in the off-season (I subsequently discovered that they are) no-one would buy them as there is nothing going on, they are only sold in the actual season. There are only 12 teams in the top league (UK) anyway so there wouldn't be much to write about out of season". I mentioned Speedway Star is printed all year and in a 'normal' close-season contains features, interviews, team & season reviews, possible team news, etc, and assmumed publicaions of other sports would also be printed all year, they certainly are in other motorsport, he was extremely surprised. For some reason I forgot to mention there are 6 teams in the 'top' league of British Speedway....

Didn't see Olle Nygren ride or meet him, but speaking to people who did meet him and attended his training schools he certainly was an interesting character in addition to being talented all-round motorcyclist. Speedway has lost another true legend, RIP....

Comsidering what may be an obvious question; bearing in mind my interest in football is zip, the only grounds I've visited are Shielfield Park, The Shay, Owlerton (think they staged football for a time?) (original) Wembley and Hull's KCOM Stadium (only as part of a university course). So: how does it work for the football divisions / leagues with presumably the F.A. creating, enforcing and if necessary altering the rules of the game for the clubs which are (presumably) all separate businesses ? I just wondered in respect to how a much proposed 'independant ruling body, could / would work enforcing the (too many?) rules & regulations to ensure unbiased fairness in UK speedway....

I bought an original Hull Vikings body colour front circa 1977/78 (I say usually say bibs for ease of typing) off Ebay, they guy sent me a complete back in blue with loose white straps, buckles, etc and enough excess white material to make a number and a Gulf logo. I finished it, sewing it up by hand (!), took about 4 hours of back-breaking work over few lunch breaks as I wanted every stich to be perfect (I got some VERY funny looks at work, wonder why). He sold a few spare 'fronts' and told me his grandma in Ipswich made the official bibs for few clubs in the 1970's; Hull, Ipswich & Stoke are the ones I remember....

On company I recall at least in the 1970's was Astrapi, used advertise junior team body colours in the Speedway Star. I bought me a Hull one, was made from the same 'proper' material with web straps & metal buckles as the full size bibs were....

Adding my 2p's worth cos I can't sleep and I'm bored, but tis true re; America, I have relatives in Florida who report "it's too cold to go outside". Down to 75C during the day, the poor luvvies. But seriously, a bad situation occuired at the Capitol....

Various options exist to cope with the sun getting in one's eyes on a speedway track; tinted goggles and / or angling one's head with helmet peak are but a couple. The sun shon over the 1st bend at the Boulevard (from time to time) and Kelly Moran's stated method was "as you go over the start / finish line and you can't see a thing because of the sun I just count 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi - then I turn left". Sure seemed to work for him ....

This ^^ word for word. Was all up for going to the Ben Fund Meet at Scunny, day before got a 'cold in der dose' so cried off. Next day felt a lot better (as you do), by 4pm, so too late, thought "nice day, heck I could probably have gone after all. Still, there will be loads more speedway to come.............".....

Link arrived early this morn, so plenty to read, thanks....

Thanks, email sent, a digtal copy is better than nothing but still prefer the paper version, Post Office deliveries permitting....

Mine is late again, but others in Hull recieved theirs. Occured to me I think it is because its not in a brown envelope no more I bet its treated as junk mail so not important, I know the magazine is sent in clear bags for a reason. So maybe it looks like junk mail and could be the reason that when it comes to sorting out priorities as we also get catalouges (requested or not) and leaflets in these wrappers. Other post, including magazines, still arrives ok and is posted in envelopes....

Thanks I'll check it out later....

Woulda dun the same for me too, had I watched it....

Yup, wanted to see all of that, maybe examine the bends of the track which remained in place during ball-game sports just the straights were coverted with turf, especially the tunnel / speedway pits how narrow were they. Fascinating stuff, too late gone now. Incedentally I was at the last World Final at Wembley in 1981, impressions: "wow I'm actually at Wembley, it isn't as big as I thought it would be (the main 'arena bit') a bit cramped too for speatators", I was in the seats half way up on turn 3.....