spinkox

Interesting that most people seem to like big tracks and most these have disappeared - new tracks seem to be getting even smaller! Are crowds getting what they want??

It will happen again. but surely Fans pay to see riders race. Riders race because there is an incentive. The main incentive is that the person who wins earns more than the person who comes last. Presumably if one of the riders in the final had been excluded for 2 mins he would have earned £15,000 too!! If as a fan you are happy that the last race was split - then you are happy that that wasnt a race. Taking this to a logical conclusion you could split all the prize money over the whole meeting and pay the person who scores 0 the same as the person who scores 15 - What sort of racing would you have seen?? As for the tax situation - If Nicki gets the cheque for 60 thousand - gives away 45 - he will still have to pay around 15 in tax - result - 0. In fact he could even have to pay more than 15 thousand in tax which would mean he would be out of pocket!! The only way he could avoid this is if the Poole management paid out 1 cheque to each of the 4 riders for 15 thousand. ps Im no accountant . . .

Has anybody thought - the agreement to share the prize money for the final could have been agreed between ALL the riders BEFORE the first race . . .

What does he put on his tax return??

There was a Dons junior with this name around this period. I think the Steve of the famous Collins' family would have been too young anyway . . .

Almost correct. - After speedway he was working from a little shed in his back garden doing speedway engine tuning for many riders including Barry Briggs. I think he got frustrated after a while with his pressure of work - as you always have to say yes to meet riders' deadlines. I think he was also frustrated by the quality of the workmanship of the brand new (2 valve) engines coming from the Jawa factory. Quite a few riders had new engines rebuilt before using them. He also used to say some of the new parts were so badly machined they were partly worn out when they arrived. He suddenly decided - that's it - and went for a non pressure job (postman) and gave up his valuable skills. I recall my father seeing him riding to work on a moped wearng a tatty much-used speedway helmet.

Does look incredibly like him - but not possible - He rode a Jap in Rotrax frame in 1970 and pic 70 - 1 is a Jawa frame. And he joined Rayleigh in 1970 after the away match at Reading . . .

Who remembers parties in the grandstand??? - once I recall live music. I can recall doing the conga round the back of the greyhound betting windows at the top of the grandstand. Another Eddie (I think) was a guy with a Harley Davidson who used to come with black leathers and (I think) a Belle Vue logo on the back. Spoke in an American accent - but I suspect he wasnt... steve

Thanks for that - Ive found info about Barry here - www.ottstuntteam.co.uk

Didnt Ivan wear black leathers for his last World Final for good luck - when everyone else wore coloured??

He's working as a welder for oil company, living in Essex . . . Any news about Barry Duke??

Be interesting (or depressing) to see a map with all tracks past and present located on it - for the museum maybe??

He died in a nursing home roughly between Torquay and Paignton . . .

It isnt up to them - but I think I know what you mean . . .

Frank scored 3 points for Rye House against Canterbury in Sept 69 - he was probably on a JAP then . . .

I think he even represented Great Britain in international competion along with Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs! What about Sandor Levai - Hungarian . . . steve

A few more speedway riders as Councillors would help!

Neville won the Stars of Tomorrow meeting at Canterbury ahead of Nigel Rackett and Charlie Coleman in a run-off when they had tied on 11 points. One of the best meetings I ever went to. Barry Thomas scored 6.

I know this is changing the subject from world finals- but THIS was the best meeting Ive ever been to - went to the next round at Poole - for a very average meeting . . .

This forum would be worth a visit for you . . . http://vintagespeedway.proboards46.com

Anybody old or wise enough to know what the maximum revs are on JAP engines??

Meeting at Rayleigh 1970 or 71 cancelled part way through due to fog. Cant remember the opposition. Ask Dingle Brown - I bet he can remember . . .

er . . . any chance of a link to their website??

I was told this engine could be 1948 - Can you say what the letter should be for that year??. Maybe the people with JAP knowledge arent forum types . . . Presumably sombody out there has dates relating to Jawa engine numbers too . . .

ok . . . This is the technical info i have: Engine JAP 500 from Cooper racing car - 4 stud with the larger parallel fins. Engine No. JOS/6 (or 5) 79609/4 with long alloy conrod cam number 18989 127 degrees overlap Hope this helps . . .