martinmauger

I've followed this with interest as the GTR is a new engine to speedway and it's configration of double overhead camshafts (DOHC) compared to the single overhead camshaft (SOHC) in the GM & JAWA engine. I haven't seen figures for maintenance cost V existing engines but it seems to be favourable. Not knowing the regular costs of new GM, JAWA & GTR engines, for my own interest I compared some figures, though maths isn't really my strong point so feel free to check the figures . The last few weeks Speedway Star has carried an ad for 500cc GM engines, priced at 3,480 EUROS + VAT. As of today, 1 EURO = 0.838533 GBP. So the advertised GM of 3,480 EURO =2,918.84GBP + VAT @ 20% 583.8GBP = 3,501.80GBP. Based on above figures the new GTR engine, at £4,800 is apparently £1,200 more, with the deal offered to / by SGB. £1200 would probably pay for a couple of services, assuming a blow-up or seizure hasn't occured requiring many components. And we still don't know for sure the maintenance costs of the GTR, and the frequency theyb are required, V GM & JAWA. Just saying.....

Also stock, well bangers / demolition derby events at least, there is guarranteed action & incedents. Never been to the stox yet, have always meant to go, a mate told me it can be more difficult to follow at first with so many cars on track, different coloured roofs for different classes, etc but it's flipping brilliant. Or words to that effect . Going slightly off tack, it's always been a puzzle to me why road racing (motorcycles) is so massively popular, biker mates think I'm weird cos I am not mega into it. Passing relies on someone to move off line, make a mitsake, stop or spill, with everyone queueing up behind awaiting for such an event. Been to many bike meest on tarmac, good stuff but it don't do it for me the way speedway does. Ok I appreciate that racing on tarmac, cars and bikes, the competitors are 'on the limit', and high speed processions do happen in speedway but are over quickly before another race comes ones way. But one (of many) things I love about speedway is the option of taking different lines and that passing around the outside is usually more than possible. Now that blows my biker mates mind ....

"Nothing compares to getting a Speedway bike sideways...have complete admiration for the guys that do it well." Almost nothing....No, you're right nothing beats it, a couple of years since I spread some shale but I can still remmber every detail like it was yesterday. Well it's a sport as people comete against each for for some kind of reward, but it's also an entertainment otherwise no-one would bother turning out in all weathers, sometimes at great inconvenience and over huge distances, to watch it. Or log on here to discuss it. Most sport in Hull gets all the help it needs: the council sold off the local, unique (read monoploy holding) telephone & internet company and the proceeds paid for the KCom Stadium for the use of Hull CIty & Hull FC. Hull KR negleteted to join the party as it was beneath them. But the council didn't bother asking the general populace what to spend the windfall on. And despite pleading poverty, the council managed to find £600,000 to pay for some kind of cycle track, a 'road loop' or some such, for serious and leasure cyclists. Can you tell I'm neother interested nor impressed . Next on the list, apparently, is a new arena so the ice hockey team, who have changed their name more than most folk change their socks, can continue to perform badly. Speedway, preictably, received zip help form the council, financial or othewise, despite acheiving more succes than the 3 ball game teams & the puck hitting team combined . And Belle Vue, and probably (possibly) Swindon, have done extremely blooming well indeed getting a stadium built especially in those location(s) as no way in heck would either project happen in Hull, not even if Bill Gates, Donald Trump, etc bank-raolled it . Sigh....

It'a primarily a sport as riders race in the various competitions for legitimate championships, it's also enrtertaining as heck on so very many levels. Me also though I only go back as far as the 1980's, I also had a Kawaski 400 once. Whenever I bump into biker mates they are eye-poppingly amazed I've had a few rides on a speedway track myself, on a 500 with no gears or brakes, and got it (slightly) sideways. It was something I simply HAD to do and wanted to since when I was 'no but a lad' but was unable to ride for a long time for various reasons. So what was it like ? As absolutely flipping brilliant as you can imagine it to be and more. Much, much more . Now I cannot spare the time for any more spins but I don't regret it for a split second and if time, and let's face it money, become more available then I'll be back on-track in a heartbeat. For me speedway still rules ...

My brother lost his drone while fllming over the sea, whilst still in radio range without warning it turned away from the land and flew out to sea never to be seen aagin. Also tractors are supposed to carry a flashing yellow light when on track, though some don't....

Mostly. And yet we all care enough about the sport to suggest ways of improving it and generating more spectators and therefore more income. When it's good, it's really good and nothing, no other sport, beats it....

Thought about becoming a speedway ref once but can't guarrantee sparing the time and defo couldn't cope with the mountain of paperwork, not to mention the potential hassle. No ref is perfect though all are just 'ordinary human beings'. Well most are . I'd easily describe the role as 'a thankless task', the best I imagine a ref could feel would be satisfaction for doing their job to the best of their ability....

I've heard similar tales about these engines, but also that they can be reliable and cheap to repair though I wouldn't consider buying one for myself. The road bikes are certainly cheaper to insure than are Japanese bikes....

Doubling / shmoubling, according to this week's Star, Kyle Haworth, in addition to Sheffield & Wolves, will (apparently) ride for Ipswich next season. His average will be too high for the National League, but wonder if he will consider another Premiership club? He would be a seriously busy rider Ok, the articles in the Ipswich section obviously refer to Kyle Newman but certainly had me thinking for few seconds, but so many riders are with different teams it's difficult keeping track who rides where at times....

Years ago when I was more into photography, I used to write to tracks before travelling to ask for permission. Most replied saying it was ok and reccomended I carry their letter whilst at the venue in case I was challenged by stewards. Among the correspondence, which I still have, were a hand-written "ok and good luck" from the late John Berrry and, from the late Charles Ochiltree, a beautifully typed one, as you might expect. Both also thanked me for asking nicely in the first instance. But some tracks didn't even reply, despite me always including an SAE, though one even removed my 1st class stamp and replaced it with a 2nd class one . Oh, and I never ever, used a flash, didn't own one at the time, but flashguns were a huge no-no at speedway....

I noticed a few diffferent copies in the local hairdressers the other day, though I'm a confirmed barber-dodger myself ....

Jumping in slightly, CVS, and PA, run Wolves very professionally & successfully. And, I never liked the title 'Elite League either, always thought Speedway Super League sounded better as 'SSL' rolls off the tongue. A cliche for sure, but time will tell how the newly-named leagues perform with promotion & relegation....

I also subscribe to Backtrack and enjoyed the 5-1 mag, think it ran for 2 or maybe 3 seasons and I have plenty of VSMs (remember that?) and Classic Speedway too. I'm not saying the 'Star is perfect but it is a good read....

Same here, though I pay more attention to the Grasstrack section when speedway riders are competing. I subscribe, and pay for it myself, but the 'Star is stonking value at £2.17ish per copy when one 'subs'. Still cheaper than the vast majority of A5 proggies, even at full £2.90 cover price. If you don't like it, don't buy, but it's a great mag....

Adding my 2p's worth: obviously a big shame how things have turned out for Belle Vue, But Morton & Co did so blooming well getting the stadium built in the first place. To get a flavour of how (so slowly) these matters move (if at all): identify an area of apparently empty land then apporoach your local, hopefully friendly, councellor to ask about putting in a speedway track, informing him / her you already have funds available. Then see where you are 5, then 10 years later . Hope things get sorted at the NSS soon....

Yea Brandon certainly was packed that nite, we didn't realise at the time but Hull had already lost the championship (sob!). Re Wimbledon: Graham Drury came across road traffic collison - either held up by it or involved in it, I forget which. Can't comment on the other 3 no shows at Womble Land and and Swindon , Mauger said his silencer was dislodged on wooden boards when crossing the dog track at Poole, which the Pirates team manager noticed. Forgot to mention that Ivan also brought along Ole Olsen in his days at Newcastle. Wonder what became of Olsen ...

You might expect me to comment on this thread. 1979 was one heck of year for Ivan and could have been even better: Individ World Champ, World Team Cup winner with New Zealand and should have been British League Champs with Hull. Records show Hull lost at Coventry on that nite, but not that the title was 'lost', effectively by Hull themsleves, earlier in the season when we had 3 rider no-shows at at Wimbledon to lose by 7 points (I think), one no-show at Swindon, drew 39-all, a narrow loss at Reading, Mauger himself + Ian Thomas were late arriving, and a narrow win at Poole became a draw when Mauger was exluded post race for a silencer infringement. Phew. After Ivan won the league with Belle vue and Exeter, both turning around the fortunes of the clubs and bringing on other riders (Collins at Belle Vue, Autrey at Exeter + Joe Owen & Dennis Sigalos at Hull), Hull remain the only club (apart from perhaps Newcastle, too tired to check!) where Mauger didn't win the league, despite one heck of a team effort. Most of the time. I know for a fact this mightily hacked off Mauger himself, + IanThomas & co-promoter Brian Larner and also us fans of course. It could be said that Hull as a club, in that era, never really recovered from the disappointment.....

(Had probs with text editor)....

if you mean the old speedway site, indeed it does remain undeveloped the actual location of the track long being ploughed over. The site also remains close to 'Nimby Towns 1 & 2', Hedon & Preston, both of which are currently fighting the building of an incinerator, recycling facility or p'raps wind turbines there. I can think of a much better use of the land . The Boulevard was levelled in 2009, now an academy, and Craven Park was squared off at one end in 2010 or so. Sigh. Way to make this thread about Hull - from where Swindon originated of course in 1949....

I've seen that before and it's very good. Someone made a Boulevard Lego model, sadly without the speedway track, but Lego is adaptable one could be easily added. Maybe I've now decided what I want to Chrimbo - lots of Lego , though I'd much prefer 10 aces of isolated land with full and permanent planning permission for disruptive motorsport ....

Will interesting once they (hopefully) actually start digging and laying bricks as they appear to intend dropping a stadium in 'Lego brick' style as opposed to building it, well, brick by brick. With Chrimbo around the corner, anyone know if Lego make a Speedway Stadium set ? (sorry )....

Same in Hull, though even charity shops and recently a 'Cash Grabbers' have closed. The local footie team and both rugby teams are alledgedly, though I couldn't possibly comment, millions in debt and the council, so people say, constantly bail them out and no seems to give a stuff....

Gotta agree, but IMO he was a better promoter then a team manager, good in both roles but a brilliant promoter....

I once saw 1979 World Final on DVD, with foreign commentary, good result obvioulsy, but also worth it to see Kelly Moran hold back Zenon Plech. 'A Hull 5-1' it was described as for some reason (!). As per 1979 WTC Qualy at Reading, the 'race' between Kelly Moran and Gordon Kennett slithering around in the sludge has to be seen to be believed. Re: 1977 World Final (another good result) most, if not all, heats were shown on the same afternoon by BBC's Grandstand & then ITV's World Of Sport. Not at the same time and just as well since VCRs weren't common at that time so while there some repeated heats, I got see most of the meeting....

Juts think; in 1997 one could have bought Hull's Craven Park (lock, stock, barrel with speedway track in situ) for - £600,000. Oh, how I had wished like never before for a row of colourful numberd balls to line up and match my predictions....