martinmauger

How much was the toll, it can't have helped speedway attendances if it was considered to be too dear. Went to Newport in 2005 or so forget the actual toll cost. Following on; the Humber Bridge toll, which one needs to cross in order to get from Hull to Scunny and back, is £1.50 (I think) each way, down from £5 or so a few years ago....

The value / power of marketting of darts and also snooker is that people can be overheard on buses, supermarket queues, etc talking about either sport and how they stayed up late to watch the final arrows / frames. Personally I can't abide either sport. Doubt speedway will reach that level of awareness, heck folk often still ask "what's speedway ?" when it gets mentioned....

Never down that but managed to fit a throttle slide the wrong way round once, though it wasn't on a speedway bike. One never fogets the terror of a throttle stuck wide open . Then one gives much praise and thanks for the invention and fitting of the kill switch ....

That's it, thanks....

Continuing with engines, could someone please explain what the term 'off-set engine or crank' means again please. I had a link to a website which listed many such interesting technical details but don't seem to be able to find it. Thanks in advance....

Me too, well I intended to. I partly assembled it and left the bits drying in the box which somehow, whilst I was out, had other heavier boxes piled on top of it, completely crushing the model (aarrgghh!). Spoiler alert: I liked the dinky crank, conrod and piston inside the engine, presumably one left the head unglued for easy viewing. It also featured plastic chains, rubber / plastic tyres and I believe sprung front forks. I recall it cost me £6.40 in about 1980, so around £25 or so nowadays though a pal keeping a look out for me saw one at a sci-fi / fantasy / toyfair priced at £130 (!). I told him thanks, but I'd leave it....

Speaking as I find, my Star was also late this week, quick call to Dave Fairbrother in the Circualtion Dept and a replacment was popped in the post, arrived today. Original never tuned up, but can't complain, first time it's been late this year, subscribing a few years ago was still a good decision and saves money too....

'A little bird' (nameless speedway promoter) once told me 800 give or take would represent a break-even ish figure (depending on individual circumstancs) for a 2nd division track; former Premier now Championship League....

In the voice of a paraphrased Yoda: "they will be, heh heh, they willl be". Fascinating, though maybe this is what is intended the idea with all bikes to carry telemetry, material for discussion with Kelv & Nige on the box. He loses a lot of MPHs locking up on the bends, if he let it run a little he'd carry more speed over the lap, but you never know with speedway riders, sometimes they 'just' ride round, really go for it or just enjoy themselves and have fun ....

I'm interested. Saw this before, wanted to show it to non-speedway peeps, but was either taken down or I couldn't find it. Thanx....

BSI / FIM events defo are (SGP, SWC / SON), as are existing clubs / team names & logos - I believe. As always, best to enquire oficially and get written permission for whatever you plan to do....

That's ^^ one of the suits I'm talking about, well one if them. Great rider Siggy, one of too many who didn't fulfill his potential. Bad ankle injury in 1985ish did for him....

Ah, clears that up then thought of different brands after posting. The one I have in my wardrobe (don't ask, nothing wrong with a speedway tyre in one's wardrobe) think is a Mitas, cost around 30 notes about 6 years ago....

I happily accept both that David Howe and Chris Harris know way more about the costs of riding speedway than many on here, including me, but I'd query David's price of tyres: £45 each. I'm happy to be proved wrong but I thought tyres were circa £30 a pop ?...

Agreed. Which was why I bought a set of ex-Leigh Adams bike covers, which just happened to come off the last speedway bike I rode , from his Oxford days. I didn't ride it very quickly, only got it ever so slightly sideways , I may and may not ride again but hey, I can say I rode Leigh Adams' bike ....