coldace

Interesting to see who comes out on top between Brennan, Rowe and Kemp. Personally think Rowe is a real talent but Brennan has impressed as well.

That's a very good sign. Can't wait for Monday

Great that Paul Bowen is back. Really entertaining and worth his place.

Hope so Rob, Paul was very entertaining and it was good to see his progress.

Paul Bowen has said that he is not riding this year, concentrating on the pies.

This is true. However he has little real experience and we have seen him progress. He's a bit of a crowd favourite so I'd exempt him from the general rule.

Think we should be going for some younger riders. Personally wouldn't go for the Wooleys or Tom Perry. Better to see the youngsters progress which is the point of this league.

It seems to me that he is a bit reluctant to move off the inside line. That's fine early on in the meeting but I'd like to see him using the outside more. There's quite a contrast between Kyle's approach and that of Leon Flint. That said, I feel that Tom Brennan could be a really useful signing. He showed up well in one of the virtual meetings last year.

Thought it said in the Star that KL had lost Lambert and Cook.

Actually BV rode two matches toward the end of that season on Provincial League tracks, one was Sheffield. Also Ronnie Genz of Oxford rode a league match for Exeter under the name of Reg Neal. Neither were punished and it became obvious that the two leagues would have to amalgamate.

Surely what is most important is the quality of the racing rather than the reputation of the riders. In the past there have been teams stacked with top riders who won each week and their crowds went down. With a track like ours, the racing is at it's best when the level of the riders is similar. Who remembers the initial PC season opener? The riders were of a similar standard, no top guys, but the meeting was superb. Also, some of the Colts meetings have produced wonderful racing. This obvious leveling down could actually produce a much better product. I can't wait and given it's been so long I'd probably go and watch anything at the moment.

Agree with this. We have to build again from a realistic base. We can't ignore three important facts. The centre of the speedway world is in Poland. Geographically we are an island off the mainland of Europe. Politically no longer being in the EU makes travelling to and working in the UK a whole lot more difficult. We should build our leagues predominantly around UK riders and those from Australia and New Zealand who might feel the UK is a better place to be based in when Europe. RE. growth; incremental growth is always more sustainable and easier to adjust to. Much more desirable than boom and bust.

The crowds were not so bad but there were a lot of meetings that year and some 'fillers'. I'd imagine the problem was the costs. It would have cost a bit to get Ron How and I believe they were after Briggs at one time. A very enjoyable year though after the problems of 61, 62 and 63.

I totally agree with this. In fact, there have been many fascinating pieces in the Star since lockdown. I'd love to see more such articles. How about a piece on Hevingham the track that staged one meeting in the mid 70s and then got 'buried' apparently. Or something about the Mike Parker attempt to get speedway going near Rimini in Italy in the mid to late 60s. On an entirely personal note, I'd love to hear the story of the Melville/Rycroft promotion at Oxford in1964. Lasted a year and I think a lot happened. Keep up the good work.

That's a real pity as he really is one for the future. Wonder if Anders Rowe is a possibility or whether Joe Jacobs would have another go? Joe was well liked in 2016.

I remember the car going around the track, must have been around 1973. It wasn't Osborne, I think it was a guy called Tombs? Not sure they raced side by side, might have gone around separately. The incident was not a great success but was entertaining. Those were the days!

Just reading Philip Dalling's excellent book 'Saving Speedway'. Highly recommended but I was intrigued by a photo on page 91, of the Stoke vs. Liverpool line ups. Number 7 for Liverpool is Sonny Dewhurst who was so much smaller than everyone else. Been digging and found he was only 4 foot 9 inches tall. Was he the shortest rider? And how tall were Peter Craven, Billy Bales, Georgie White and Johnny Chamberlin, all who I remember as being vertically challenged. At only 5 foot 6 myself I have an morbid interest in this.

Found this, seems that Billy, George and Peter were the same height

I'd certainly agree with that. Oxford win the last National League to a thrilling Wembley World Final.

Anybody know where I can find the Graham's career stats for his time at Birmingham, Coventry and Wolves? Been looking but can't find the number of meetings and averages at all.

I tend to agree with this. It is folly to be constantly dependant on the demands of the Polish leagues. I think we need to get ahead of the game and organise a self-sustaining league system. There ought to be a cut-off date for riders who want to take part to confirm this and then we plan from there. Reading the recent book 'Saving Speedway' seems strangely appropriate for today. It's about how they built the Provincial League in the 60s which led the British League in 1965 and the most successful and stable period of the sport in this country. Of course times have changed and everything is different, but it shows how you have to go back and organise before you can go forward and grow. Also those involved with the organisation have to work together for the good of the whole. I don't think this principal has changed but do we have someone who can lead such a movement?

So many great calls here. Generally speedway riders tend to be on the average to shorter side. But what prompted me to post was the photo on page 91 of Philip Dalling's excellent book which shows Sonny Dewhurst in relation to all of the others. May have had a bigger impact if he had been stood next to Reg Fearman that night!