Piotr Pyszny

Hard to escape the feeling (and it must be obvious to the 'laymen' listening to evidence at the inquiry) speedway's future is built on foundations of sand because so few clubs own their stadia. And one that did, Buxton, packed up!

There's nowhere but the Brandon Stadium site in the Brandon/Rugby district to lay a 3G pitch. Seriously?

Obituary here: https://www.speedweek.com/amp/langbahnwm/news/213472/Bahnsport-Legende-Manfred-Poschenrieder-(85)-ist-tot.html?lang=en

Sold out when I visited Foxhall, last Thursday, for the Sheffield KOC final second leg. Looking for two. Can anybody assist?

Out of curiosity: do members of the Moss family own the site of the Buxton track (which is still used for track days and the like)?

Was talking to a Peterborough supporter at the recent Fenland Flyer grasstrack meeting at Woodwalton, Cambridgeshire. He said most fans are resigned to the end of speedway at the Showground, and indicated the promotion wasn't bothered about continuing - there or anywhere else in the area.

Sad news. In my mind, Dennis was the Halifax team manager, at least in my early seasons watching the Dukes. Remember his garage, at Denholme, on a sharp bend in the Halifax-Keighley road.

I'm after one of the above. None of ebay (at least none named as from that season). I don't know what Halifax's 1985 badge looked like. Can anybody help? Thanks.

Sounds like the speedway equivalent of rugby league's 'Cumbrian 'flu'!

Anyone standing next to the start at Halifax could, if so minded, reach out and touch the rider on the outside gate. Used to enjoy standing next to the (steel) safety fence on turn one. In addition to a perfect view of the battle for supremacy from the gate, one was next to the pits and to the 'push off' part of the track. Plenty to take in. I worked in Exeter during 1998, and went most weeks to the speedway (having visited the County Ground two or three times previously). Other than the high speed of the riders, at least compared to other tracks, the County Ground, I found, was rather short on thrills. Very difficult to pass - and, owing to the track's reputation (I recall Daz Sumner remarking: "It's not speedway"), most visiting teams were beaten before the meeting began.

For a while, after the Dukes left in 1985, the two straights survived. But, eventually, the football/rugby league pitch was moved towards the Skircoat Stand (swallowing up the home straight) to make room for a larger, new east stand, some of which sits on what was the back straight. Now, you'd never imagine speedway had taken place at the Shay (similarly, the modern version of Holker Street, Barrow!).

Had a similar experience whilst in the lower sixth - in October 1981 (just dug out, from the loft, the meeting programme!). In what was a seriously big deal in the area - the pre-meeting build-up in the local evening paper cranked up, night after night - Kenny Carter met (and beat, 2-1) new world champion Bruce Penhall in the Motor Cycle News Golden Helmet. Followed by Halifax 42 Swindon 35 then Halifax 41 Cradley 37. What an evening at the Shay! You simply don't get them like that any more.

That's great. Thanks.

The Star used to pay track 'stringers' for a match report (the mag provided the scoring and heat details) and a piece based on follow-up quotes and/or news. In common with most magazines, payment didn't amount to very much - but it was better than nothing, particularly if you were being paid already, by your full-time employer, to report on a meeting. I assume ditching the match reports - main reason I used to buy the magazine when a spectating or reporting regular - was a cost-cutting exercise. I gather the Star - how low must its circulation figure be these days? - now has just one full-time employee.

Just looked at AEPG's website. "AEPG is a visionary facilitator who unlocks future potential in regenerating land for fiscal and societal gain." Interesting that "fiscal" comes before "societal".

Very few Panthers fans I spoke to last night were optimistic about the club's future. Why the stay of execution?

Herts-based spectator sitting in front of me at Peterborough last night reckoned there is a good chance Rye House will reopen in 2024. Something to do with the stadium owner having to reinstate track and safety fence because his alterations didn't have planning permission. Is that right (these days, I never see Speedway Star)?

Went along, as a neutral. After Workington and Leicester, this was my third meeting in a month (after watching nothing for the best part of two years). I'd better be careful - might get the bug again. Enjoyed it. Wouldn't rule out a second 'final visit' to the Showground before the bulldozers turn up.

I've got heat 15 down as 62.38.

Who can forget, at The Shay, the climax of the second half racing (which, IIRC, used to involve most members of each team): the Cockhill Motors Snowball Final.

Went along to this, as a neutral. Some enjoyable racing, especially from Fricke and Sayfutdinov. Noticeable how many former (I guess they still are) Coventry fans were there. Interesting to see you describe the crowd as "easily the best ... of the season so far". There must have been some sparse attendances!

Thanks. I'll get them to look into it.

Interesting feedback from my wife and her colleague, who went this evening, whilst working for a week (and next) in Birmingham. From their hotel, near New Street, to the stadium, it was four stops on the train and a five-minute walk. The Gloucestershire-based colleague had seen speedway only on TV, and was particularly impressed with the quicker pace of a live, untelevised meeting (i.e. no pregnant pauses between heats, which, ironically, is something speedway's remaining regulars tend to moan/worry about). Both enjoyed it - despite Birmingham being generally uncompetitive and it getting extremely cold by the end. My wife did say the home promoters took to the centre green to apologise for the weakness of the team and assure supporters something would be done. Both will be in Birmingham again next week, concluding a fortnight's assignment. Had Brummies also been at home a week today, they'd have revisited, which is a good sign. Remember the days when, barring bad weather, speedway clubs had a meeting every week between the end of March and mid-October?! My wife was a little puzzled Birmingham's 2023 pin badge(s) still hasn't arrived. Did the start of the season in March/April take the club by surprise?! Neither my wife nor her colleague has access to a car whilst working away, which rules out a trip to Monmore Green next Monday. They'd have been happy to go, if getting there (and back), from Birmingham, after a day in the office, were easier by public transport.

An update: my wife's interested colleague has managed to sort out her domestic issue therefore does not have to return home. So, they're going together tomorrow. The colleague is "very excited" about the prospect of watching speedway for the first time. And who wouldn't be? You do wonder! On that basis, you'd never try anything new.

My wife is away working in Birmingham this week with a bunch of fellow lawyers. She likes an occasional outing to speedway and plans to watch this match. She had hoped to persuade some of her colleagues to join her. The only one who was keen, who likes Moto X and whose husband watches speedway, can no longer attend because, in her husband's unexpected absence, she has to dash a hundred miles home to sort out a domestic matter. I'm told none of my wife's other colleagues - 10 of them! - have any idea what speedway is, and back-heeled the idea of going to Perry Barr in favour of yet another evening eating in a Birmingham city centre restaurant. Says a lot about speedway's profile now. Quite often, I meet people - especially twenty and thirty somethings - who haven't ever heard of speedway. Still, one more on the crowd tomorrow!