TonyMac

The 100th collector’s edition of Backtrack is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside. To subscribe (remember, it's subscription only, no single copy sales), please visit www.retro-speedway.com SIMON WIGG – Life & Times As the 20th anniversary of Wiggy’s sad passing approaches, ROB PEASLEY recalls the illustrious career of the colourful former England captain and World No.2 who had personality plus. ON THE BOSSES – Charles Ochiltree Love them or hate them, the speedway promoters of the Backtrack era included some of the sport's all-time heavyweights as well as a new brigade of youthful innovators. As a member of the BSPA in the 70s and 80s, a longtime management committee member and vice-chairman, MARTIN ROGERS rubbed shoulders – and crossed swords – with all of them. In this, the first of a regular new series, he recalls the impact and influence of the former Coventry supremo. ROY TRIGG – exclusive interview In a new four-page interview, MARTIN NEAL catches up with New Zealand-based former England international and Cradley Heath star Roy Trigg, who ended his UK racing career with Newport in 1974. IVAN'S YEAR - 1979 (part 2) In the second and final part of his review of Ivan Mauger’s incredible 1979 season, JOHN DAVIDSON on why a shock double triumph marked the end of an era. ALAN WILKINSON – tribute Once awestruck by Wilkie’s powerful presence in the Belle Vue engine room, IAN CORCORAN remembers an Aces giant in every sense and explains what drove him to publish courageous Alan’s moving autobiography. RON HENDERSON – exclusive interview In a revealing new four-page interview with a key member of Newcastle’s all-conquering class of ’76, Ron Henderson tells KEITH McGHIE why he only sparkled briefly for Diamonds, talks about the fatal incident that led him to quit racing and the extraordinary diverse career path that followed. TRACK RIVALRIES: Canterbury v Eastbourne With new observations from Gordon and Barney Kennett, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic second-tier derbies between fierce south-east rivals. Featuring 11 Kingsmead or Arlington matches between 1970 and 1987. BIG NIGHTS: Northern Riders’ Championship Continuing to review British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings, this time PHIL CHARD heads back north for some Mauger controversy and allegations of machine tampering in an event previously won by Ivan, Eric Boocock, Jim Airey, Bob Valentine, Peter Collins, Alan Wilkinson, Doug Wyer, Reg Wilson, Kenny Carter, Shawn Moran, Chris Morton and Peter Carr. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Swindon Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s at . . . SWINDON? In this memory-jogger, ROB PEASLEY lists all those budding one-time Blunsdon hopefuls, including David Ashby, Geoff Bouchard, Malcolm Holloway and Martin Hewlett, whom we can at least look back and say "they had a go!" www.retro-speedway.com

Has your copy arrived yet?

Re-reading it, I think he probably meant to say Middleton "stood in the middle of the pits" (not the track), so that would be our mistake.

2020 AUTUMN EDITION Welcome to issue 50 of our quarterly magazine. Here is a taster of what it's inside . . . To read this issue, please subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com for just £20 per year (UK). ROY TRIGG – exclusive new interview Roy Trigg's dreams came true when he joined Wimbledon and the riders he'd idolised as a wide-eyed kid on the Plough Lane terraces. But as MARTIN NEAL reports, the South Londoner also went on to do well for Poole, Hackney, Oxford and Cradley Heath. ‘Triggy’ also talks about that bizarre night, in 1969, when volatile Aussie Garry Middleton pulled a gun on him in the Dudley Wood pits. WORLD FINAL STARTS LOTTERY Some 70 years after Wembley legends Tommy Price and Freddie Williams were crowned World Champion, DOUG NICOLSON discovers that starting positions for the first two post-war finals were arguably down to luck of the draw. ANDRZEJ POGORZELSKI – Profile ROMAN CHYLA reflects on the successful career of former Polish star Andrzej Pogorzelski. If his parents had their way, ‘Pogo’ would have been a priest instead of an international speedway star who went on to become a World Team Cup winner three times, appeared in four individual World Finals and throughout the mid-60s was a regular visitor to the UK with the official Polish touring party, often scoring very well. EXETER: 50 Memorable Moments ROB PEASLEY looks back at Falcons' highs and lows, including league and cup success at the ultra-fast County Ground. Ex-riders featured include ‘Broncho’ Slade, Cyril, Bert and Bob Roger, Don Hardy, Norman Clay, Arthur Pilgrim, Hugh Geddes, Jack Geran, Neil Street, Goog Hoskin, Eric Hockaday, Pete Lansdale, Len Silver, Jack Unstead, Jimmy Squibb, Colin Gooddy, Tommy Sweetman, Martin Ashby and Jan Holub. BIG NIGHTS: Brandonapolis British speedway's premier individual events, this time PHIL CHARD recalls the pre-70s era of Coventry’s Brandonapolis classic. Jack Parker, the former Bees co-promoter/rider, won the first staging at Brandon in 1949. Other past winners were: Les Hewitt, Eddie Rigg, Ronnie Moore, Jack Young, Geoff Mardon, Ken McKinlay, Nigel Boocock, Anders Michanek and Ray Wilson. SHORT and SWEET As well as costing hundreds of thousands of lives and infecting millions of others, the global coronavirus pandemic killed any hopes of league racing in Britain in 2020. DOUG NICOLSON recalls the last time 'factors beyond our control' curtailed UK track action, in the shortened 1945 season. SECOND CHANCE Name-checking all non-regular team members and others who never made the grade but rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at four top flight tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69 inclusive. This time Tony Mac revisits Edinburgh/Coatbridge, Oxford, Swindon and Wimbledon. See how many of them you remember having a skid at the end of the swinging 60s. Plus . . . Maurice Morley and Tom Blackwood obits, your letters, photo quiz, crossword and a 1963 Southampton team photo.

Hello Steve, Out of interest, how did it differ? What alternative version have you read?

Issue 99 of Backtrack is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside. To subscribe (remember, it's subscription only, no single copy sales), please go to www.retro-speedway.com LOKEREN 50 years on On the 50th anniversary of speedway's darkest day, we remember members of the West Ham group that lost their lives in the minibus crash near Lokeren, Belgium on July 14, 1970 – Manager PHIL BISHOP, Hammers' PETER BRADSHAW and MARTYN PIDDOCK, Wimbledon's GARY EVERETT and Aussie youngster MALCOLM CARMICHAEL all perished in tragic circumstances, along with the Dutch driver. Also interviews with three of the survivors – COLIN PRATT, who suffered severe career-ending injuries, plus STAN STEVENS and GARRY HAY. Read how Garry escaped Lokeren with minor cuts and grazes . . . only to be paralysed for life in a track crash in Australia less than six months later. Cradley Heath star ROY TRIGG recalls sharing his bedroom with his protege Carmichael, while TONY BISHOP relives the day he lost his pioneering father. IVAN'S YEAR - 1979 (part 1) JOHN DAVIDSON looks back at the year Ivan Mauger defied age and his critics to achieve two of his greatest feats on the world stage. Part one covers the Hull No.1's path to the finals of the individual and team World Championships. ERIC MONAGHAN – exclusive interview In a new four-page interview, ANDREW SKEELS up with a former National League favourite who was set on a grasstrack career before a chance call changed his life. 'Bootsy' is perhaps best known for his spells in the colours of Ellesmere Port, Mildenhall and Stoke. He also turned out for Sheffield, Leicester, King's Lynn, Halifax, Peterborough and Long Eaton. WORLD FINALS by NUMBERS DOUG NICOLSON takes another studious look at the figures. This time he examines the comparative values of the four gate positions at all the different World Final venues. Also, birthdays and star signs . . . which days, months and horoscopes have produced the most and least world champions, including the GP era? TRACK RIVALRIES: Belle Vue v Sheffield With new observations from Aces' Chris Morton and Tigers' Doug Wyer, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic 'War of the Roses' derbies between two long-time northern rivals. Featuring 14 Hyde Road or Owlerton matches from 1970 to 1985. BIG NIGHTS: Brandonapolis PHIL CHARD continues to review British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he returns to the midlands for the Coventry classic and the stagings from 1970 until 1985. Winners included: Ole Olsen, Nigel Boocock, Anders Michanek, Ivan Mauger, Phil Crump, Dave Jessup, Mitch Shirra, Bruce Penhall, Tommy Knudsen, Kenny Carter and Hans Nielsen. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Oxford Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s and 80s at . . . OXFORD? In this memory-jogger, ROB PEASLEY lists all those budding one-time Sandy Lane hopefuls, including young Simon and Julian Wigg, who can at least look back and proclaim: "I had a go!" SPONSORSHIP From motorhomes, vans and brand new bikes, to potatoes, carrots, fresh fish and lawnmowers, sponsorship came in a great many guises back in the day. We asked ex-riders to recall their best deals, as well as the quirkiest sponsorship they ever received. Charismatic, media-savvy former England star John Davis certainly became a shining example to fellow Brits when it came to attracting and projecting commercial backers, large and small . . . As well as JD, other respondents include: Colin Richardson, Rudy Muts, Gary Guglielmi, Andrew Silver, Jan Staechmann, Karl Fiala, Bert Harkins, Martin McKinna, Roger Lambert, Mick Sheldrick, Ray Griffiths, Lee Coleman, Max Schofield, Paul Evitts and Vic Cross. Plus . . . full-page West Ham stadium pic, plus obits on Maurice Morley, Wayne Jackson and Steve Millard.

You read it in Backtrack issue 98.

Issue 98 of Backtrack is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside. To subscribe (remember, it's subscription only, no single copy sales), please go to www.retro-speedway.com TERRY BETTS: Life & Times In our opening seven-page special, ROB PEASLEY recalls the many highs and occasional lows in the illustrious career of the universally popular 'Mr King's Lynn Speedway', who outshone every Star that ever graced Saddlebow Road and won World Team Cup and World Pairs gold medals. STEVE McDERMOTT – exclusive interview In a new four-page interview, ANDREW SKEELS catches up with the long-serving former Berwick star and NLRC winner who pays tribute to Jack Millen, the man who laid the foundations for his racing career. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . his best and worst moments as a promoter, the defunct track he most wishes he could visit, and could National League promoters have done more to block the 'foreign invasion' that began in 1988? WORLD FINALS by NUMBERS DOUG NICOLSON gets his calculator out again to look back at what factors, if any, contributed to victory beyond pure rider skill and the odd slice of good fortune. His in-depth analysis of all 46 individual World Finals from 1949 to 1994 reveals, among other things, the most and least successful riding numbers on the big night (one number failed to provide any winners) TRACK RIVALRIES: Oxford v Swindon ROB PEASLEY recalls classic derbies between southern rivals. SWINDON and Oxford had been local rivals right from the very first meeting at Blunsdon in 1949, when Cheetahs had won 45-39. Most of the 13 matches featured here were contested in the late 80s, when the rivalry between the clubs arguably reached new heights. A time when Robins savoured every victory over their all-conquering neighbours. BIG NIGHTS: Superama PHIL CHARD continues to review British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he's in east London for the Hackney classic that no home star ever had the chance to contest. Past winners (1967-81): Barry Briggs, Anders Michanek, Ronnie Moore, Ray Wilson, Ivan Mauger, John Louis, Martin Ashby, Dave Jessup, Malcolm Simmons, Peter Collins, Ole Olsen and Phil Crump. SHUTDOWN! DOUG NICOLSON gets all misty-eyed looking at how supporters had to try and cope with the loss of their local track during the 1970-89 Backtrack era. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO . . . Warren Hawkins? The Australian newcomer finished his debut British season for Crewe with an impressive 6.1 average from 23 official second division and KO Cup appearances. But, as MARTIN NEAL explains in this new interview with the Sydneysider, Hawkins never raced in Britain again. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Wolverhampton Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s and 80s at . . . WOLVERHAMPTON? In this memory-jogger, MARK SAWBRIDGE lists all those budding one-time Monmore Green hopefuls, who can at least look back and proclaim: "I had a go!" LOST IN TIME How our social media followers on Facebook and Twitter voted when asked to name the one defunct track, above all others, they most wished they had visited but never did. IN THE ZONE A recent Facebook post by former American No.1 Scott Autrey raised the rarely aired subject of pre-race preparations and, specifically, what goes through a rider's head in those private moments from the time he leaves the pit gate to reaching the starting gate. We invited other ex-racers to share their thoughts on their mindset, habits and possible superstitions, and how they treated track staff on the way to tapes. Respondents include: John Davis, Phil Collins, Graham Tattersall, Karl Fiala, Mike Fullerton, Dave Johnson, Vic Cross, Roger Lambert, Colin Mckee, Mike Caroline, Dag Lovaas, Doug Wyer, Bobby Duncan, Peter Prinsloo. Plus . . . full-page Belle Vue Hyde Road stadium pic, Notebook, readers' letters, plus obits on George Graham, Eric Linden, Steve Brennan and Gordon Day.

Issue 97 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . KELLY MORAN: Life & Times It’s 10 years since the brilliant natural talent of Kelly Moran said “C’ya” for the final time. ROB PEASLEY looks back at the high and lows of the extraordinary career of The Jelly Man, a hero at all his British tracks – Hull, Birmingham, Eastbourne, Sheffield and Belle Vue (not forgetting Swindon) – due to his spectacular all-action style and engaging personality. PAUL WOODS – exclusive interview One of the National League's biggest stars in the early 80s with Crayford and later a top flight No.1 with Eastbourne, Paul Woods looks back on his career, which also included spells with Canterbury and King's Lynn, with ANDREW SKEELS in this new four-page interview. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . Leicester's Golden Gauntlets and the private deal he did with three times winner Scott Autrey; the mental effects pressure can have on speedway riders (we list 12 ex-riders from the Backtrack era who took their own lives); and decisions taken by the powers that be which he now has reason to regret. BERT HARKINS – book extract In this edited excerpt from his book, My Crazy Speedway World, globetrotting former Wembley No.1 and Scottish international BERT HARKINS recalls his experience as one of only three foreign imports to compete in the USA's one and only season of league racing in 1976, when he rode for champions Bakersfield Bandits, Mike Bast dominated the US scene and Bruce Penhall was still two years away from amassing European fans. MAREK CIESLAK – book extract ROMAN CHYLA has translated into English the section from Marek Cieślak's book – Pół Wieku Na Czarno – in which the former Polish star rider and now World Cup-winning national team manager takes a critical look back at his two seasons with British League champions White City. TRACK RIVALRIES: Middlesbrough/Teesside v Newcastle ROB PEASLEY recalls classic derbies between these former National League champions between 1975 and 1986, with input from Bernie Collier who rode for both North-East powerhouses. BIG NIGHTS: Scottish Open Championship PHIL CHARD continues to review British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he heads north of the border to review SOC stagings between 1970 and 1989 at Glasgow (Hampden Park and Blantyre 1), Coatbridge and Edinburgh's Powderhall Stadium. Ivan Mauger won the first four SOCs of the 70s, followed by successes for Brian Collins, Peter Collins, Bert Harkins, Wayne Brown, Phil Collins, Mitch Shirra, Jamie Luckhurst, Les Collins, Neville Tatum, Steve Lawson and Todd Wiltshire. IT'S RAINING AGAIN Following up on his in-depth track-by-track analysis of rained-off meetings in issue 96, DOUG NICOLSON puts on his anorak again to view the 70s and 80s findings in a much broader context. Are there more rain-offs in the modern era? THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: Wimbledon Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s and 80s at . . . WIMBLEDON? In this memory-jogger, we list all those budding one-time Plough Lane hopefuls, who can at least look back and proclaim: "I had a go!" Subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com

2020 SUMMER EDITION Welcome to issue 49 of our quarterly magazine . . . PAWEL WALOSZEK: Unlucky Nearly Man ROMAN CHYLA examines the illustrious career of former Polish star Pawel Waloszek and the 1970 World Final runner-up's elusive quest for gold. And especially for Leicester fans, GRAHAM BRODIE reviews Waloszek's one and only British league season with the Hunters in 1961, with the Pole's full meeting scores. MIND THE GAP With Coronavirus decimating the 2020 season, DOUG NICOLSON looks at other times when racing was curtailed. From petrol rationing and bus strikes to smallpox scares, Covid-19 is by no means the first to stop the bikes in their tracks. CHANGING WORLD – launch of the World Team Cup Almost 60 years on from the launch of the World Team Cup, PHIL CHARD reflects on Sweden's home track victory at Gothenburg and the men who shaped history. Top names featured include Ove Fundin, Olle Nygren, Rune Sormander and Gote Nordin plus, from runners-up Great Britain, Peter Craven, Ron How, Ken McKinlaty, George White and Nigel Boocock. NEWCASTLE: 50 Memorable Moments ROB PEASLEY looks back at Diamonds' highs and lows at the Tyneside club where legends Ivan Mauger and Ole Olsen first shone. Others to feature include George Pepper, Jeff Lloyd, Norman Evans, Wilf Jay, Derek Close, Mike Parker (promoter), Brian Craven, Brian Brett, Peter Kelly and Anders Michanek. BIG NIGHTS: Pride of the East British speedway's premier individual events, this time PHIL CHARD recalls pre-70s stagings of the Pride of the East. Launched in Norwich (1957-63) and continued at King's Lynn (1966-69), past winners of this annual Norfolk classic include World Champions Ove Fundin, Peter Craven and Bjorn Knutson, plus Colin Pratt, Bengt Larsson, Terry Betts and Howard Cole. SECOND CHANCE Name-checking all non-regular team members and others who never made the grade but rode in second-halves, junior matches and trials at four top flight tracks in the first five years of the British League, from 1965 until the end of '69 inclusive. This time Tony Mac revisits Belle Vue, Cradley Heath, Glasgow and Hackney. See how many of them you remember having a skid at the end of the swinging 60s. YOUNG COLONIAL BOYS DOUG NICOLSON remembers a couple of Kiwis, Bruce Ovenden and Joe Hicks, who travelled to Scotland in the winter of 1963-64 in search of fame and fortune with Glasgow Tigers. YESTERDAY'S NEWS & VIEWS Delving into Retro Speedway's library to find what various publications were writing about. This time we reveal the time editor Basil Storey was at loggerheads with London promoters, how burglars cracked open the Old Meadowbank safe, Bradford's battle to stay afloat, the return of racing to New Cross in 1959, why National League chiefs were branded "selfish" for excluding Ipswich from the Test match schedule, and the emergence of Bengt Jansson as the biggest threat to the Fundin-Briggs dominance of the World Championship. Plus . . . Len Read and Eric Linden obits, your letters, crossword and a 1963 Wimbledon team photo. Remember, we no longer sell individual copies, so please subscribe at www.retro-speedway.com

Our timeless retro interview in this week's (w/e May 16 issue) Speedway Star is with former Polish No.1 Zenon Plech. He twice challenged very strongly for the world title but, regardless of those efforts, he won thousands of friends and admirers for his fearless throttle-bashing antics. And also for being a really nice, humble bloke - as anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Zenon will testify. To subscribe to Speedway Star, go to www.speedwaystar.net

We've just interviewed Sverre Harrfeldt for Issue 8 of Classic mag. He has some very interesting, controversial things to say. Anyone got any good stories they would like to share wth us about the former Norwegian No.1 and crowd-pleasing favourite at Wimbledon, West Ham and Wembley?

Our timeless interview with Ipswich legend Tony Davey, a key member of those first great Ipswich teams of the 70s, features in this week's (w/e May 1) Speedway Star. You couldn't wish to meet a more humble former star rider than the ever-popular 'Shrimp', who happily lived in the shadow of Louis and Sanders at Foxhall. Who knows what he could have achieved but for three serious injuries that cut short his promising career.

Thank you - and welcome aboard.

Don't miss this week's Speedway Star for our latest 2-page Backtracking interview. This time we look back with 'Mr King's Lynn' - the one and only Terry Betts, who reveals that he used to receive a cut of turnstile receipts at Lynn as part of his deal with promoters Maurice Littlechild and Cyril Crane. To subscribe, go to www.speedwaystar.net Or phone Dave on 020 8 335 1113

Although Wilkie undoubtedly had a lot of wisdom to offer Kelly, the evidence suggests he wouldn't have listened much to anyone. Ivan (at Hukk) and Briggo both tried but Kelly was very much his own man and a free spirit.

Yes, you can start from the current issue 97, or the previous one (96). Thank you for your interest.

Different versions and extracts from the timeless originals published years ago . . . but thousands of Star readers obviously won't have read them previously,

Issue 96 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . JEREMY DONCASTER: Life & Times Continuing our new series of in-depth timeline profiles, ROB PEASLEY chronicles the career of the former England, Ipswich and Reading No.1 who successfully made the leap from grasstrack to top flight British League racing in the early 80s. RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY Is there another summertime spectator sport in Britain more susceptible to the weather than speedway? In this comprehensive and revealing study, DOUG NICOLSON examines the costly issue of rain-offs during the Backtrack era, from 1970 to 1989. Which clubs had the most/least postponements? What were the wettest/driest months and seasons? Which unlucky club endured 12 meetings in one summer? And which lucky venue went four consecutive years without a single wash-out? All these questions and many more are answered in this fascinating, in-depth analysis. BIG NIGHTS: Golden Gauntlets PHIL CHARD continues to review some of British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he is back in Leicester to re-visit the annual Blackbird Road classic. Past winners of the 11 Golden Gauntlets, introduced in 1972, include hat-trick hero Scott Autrey, plus Ole Olsen, Anders Michanek, John Boulger, John Louis, Peter Collins, Phil Crump, Tommy Knudsen and Kenny Carter. TRACK RIVALRIES: Hackney v Wimbledon Reviewing club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic matches between London's last two teams. With quotes from Dons' Terry Mussett and Kestrels' Paul Whittaker, match winners and other key men included Ronnie Moore, Jim Tebby, Gary Everett, Garry Middleton, Trevor Hedge, Tommy Jansson, Bo Petersen, Zenon Plech. And from the National Leaghue era, Trevor Banks, Paul Bosley, Mike Ferreira, Jamie Luckhurst, Andy Galvin, Todd Wiltshire, Kevin Jolly, Garry Rolls. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . riders' averages and whether any of his team members gave their personal figures undue attention; merits of the Anglia and Central Junior League; his England and Rest of the World 'Dream Teams' of the 70s; and the three speedway people (living or deceased) he would invite to dinner. ALAN SAGE: Exclusive interview By a very fortunate twist of fate, Alan Sage turned down an invite to join West Ham's tour that left six people dead. In this new interview with ANDREW SKEELS, the former Hammer and Crayford star reveals the full story behind his lucky Lokeren escape. THAT NAME RINGS A BELL: King's Lynn Whatever became of them, all the ex-riders who had second-half races, junior matches or interval spins in the 70s and 80s at . . . KING'S LYNN? In this memory-jogger, we list all those budding one-time Saddlebow Road hopefuls, who ranged from a future World Champion to obscure novices, who can at least look back and proclaim: "I had a go!" Plus . . . brief obits on Roman Matousek, Doug Templeton, Mike Raymond, Darrell Mason and Ken Archer. Although we no longer sell single issues, if you wish to take out a new subscription now at www.retro-speedway.com, then just ask Susie to commence it with this issue 96 (97 has just been published).

It's nice to be contributing a weekly retro interview for our friends at Speedway Star. This week's Q&A is with former Denmark, Halifax and Belle Vue star Mike Lohmann. We urge you all to subscribe to the Star at www.speedwaystar.net

As someone with a lot of publishing experience, aware of what is involved when putting magazines through distributors and retailers such as WHS, I would strongly urge all readers who currently buy their weekly copy of Speedway Star from shops to switch to subscription ASAP. I appreciate that for many it is a cash-flow issue and no-one can argue against that. But if you CAN afford to pay upfront for a sub, then you would be very much helping Speedway Star and its staff by doing so. What most readers don't appreciate (and Phil would be able to confirm exact per-centage figures in Pinegen's case) is that every publisher who makes its mag(s) available through the retail trade effectively concede around HALF of the cover price to the distributor/retailer. WHS now demand an upfront, non-refundable payment just to stock your title. That's 'dead money' the Star will never see. It is for this reason that we (Retro Speedway) do not make either of our two magazines, Backtrack and Classic Speedway, available via high street retail outlets. The 'speculate to accumulate' mantra of a significantly increased print run wouldn't work and would very likely cause us to go bust due to the high volume of unsold returns the likes of WHS, Asda and Sainsbury's would chuck back at us.. While the publisher does, of course, incur postage costs in processing subscriptions, both the reader (customer) and the Star would still be better off. And in such hugely challenging times for all small, niche publishers, isn't their survival the most important factor. If - heaven forbid - the Star had to fold, there would be no worthwhile publication of equal stature to replace it.

I recall Ole Olsen blatantly stuffing fellow countryman Bo Petersen in the first bend fence in a Hackney v Coventry match (1980-81 ish). Think Bo, young and eager at the time, might have ruffled the Great Dane's feathers at some Danish meeting - or may have been Nordic Final - the week before. Bo picked himself up, ran along the home straight and, as he made a beeline for Ole in the pits - the two riders were pulled apart. Ole just smiled and shrugged his shoulders, as if to say: 'you won't do that again, will you sonny?'. Bo was left out of the Danish Test team for a while and invites to Vojens were also thin on the ground. But they had 'kissed and made up' by 1984, when OO was team manager and BP was recalled to help Denmark win the WTC final at Leszno. Finn Thomsen and Billy Sanders had a bit of a vendetta going, although I don't know where or when it originated. Billy, who would never take a backward step, took off his helmet and thrust it at FT in the pits after Finn had deliberately knocked him off on the first turn just after they had crossed the finish line in a Hackney v Hull match in 1981. Simmo got some stick from Poole fans after he had Ron Preston - his club-mate - off during an England v USA Test at Wimborne Road in 1980. Simmo disliked the Americans only marginally less than Kenny Carter and I guess he regarded Ronnie as a young upstart looking to oust him as Pirates' No.1. Some of the most skilful riders have the ability to disguise 'dirty' riding. It would have been '79 or '80 when I wrote in my BLRC report for Speedway Mail that Hans Nielsen had ruthlessly caused an opponent to fall (can't remember who). Hans wasn't impressed and phoned me at the office to register his complaint. Don't know the race in question, but I've heard tales of a savage bit or riding by Hans against Mark Loram in the GP.

Issue 95 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . ANDERS MICHANEK: Life & Times In the first of a regular new series of in-depth, seven-page timeline profiles, ROB PEASLEY chronicles the illustrious career of the 1974 World Champion and former Sweden, Leicester, Newcastle and Reading No.1. BIG NIGHTS: Midland Riders' Championship PHIL CHARD continues to review some of British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he heads back to the Midlands at a time when speedway was flourishing at Coventry, Cradley Heath, Leicester, Oxford, Swindon and Wolverhampton, with Birmingham joining the fray from 1976. Past winners of the MRC in the Backtrack era include: Barry Briggs, Ole Olsen, John Boulger, Dave Jessup, Hans Nielsen, Scott Autrey, Erik Gundersen, Lance King and Tommy Knudsen. MARATHON MEN DOUG NICOLSON looks at the gruelling test of both man and machine that was the British League’s Rider Replacement scheme in 1976, when Halifax's flying Dutchman became the first rider to score a seven-ride, 21-point maximum. Other notable endurance experts during that sweltering summer were Finn Thomsen, Reg Wilson, Joe Owen and Bruce Cribb. In-depth analysis has unearthed fascinating facts from a time when one or two teams even used 'Double R/R'. RIVALS: Coventry v Cradley Heath Reviewing club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic matches between two Midlands giants. With quotes from Bees' Mick Bell and Heathens' Alan Grahamne, match winners included Dave Shields, Sam Nikolajsen, John Jorgensen, plus 1988 cup hero 'Big Al' himself, while there was trouble afoot for Bruce Penhall and Kelvin Tatum. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . track standards and curators; riders who didn't live up to their early potential; whether the speedway authorities did enough to preserve Wembley as a World Final venue; and the drugs culture that entered British speedway in the 80s. TED HUBBARD: his final interview Former Canterbury and Rye House star Ted Hubbard, who passed away recently, gave this last, candid in-depth interview to TONY McDONALD. 'Hurricane' also talks about his two spells with Hackney at opposite ends of his successful career, plus the tragic loss of his good friend Graham Banks. COATBRIDGE: 50 Memorable Moments DOUG NICOLSON recalls much-missed Coatbridge, where the excellent steeply-banked track became home to Scotland's two premier teams from different eras. Featured riders include Doug Templeton, Reidar Eide, Bernt Persson, Bert Harkins, Jim McMillan, Bobby Beaton, Egon Muller, Ettienne Olivier, Mitch Shirra, Brian Collins and Mick McKeon. Whatever happened to . . . MARK BALDWIN? The former Mildenhall, Milton Keynes and Wimbledon trier explains to MARTIN NEAL why he quit at the age of just 24, in 1986. THE WRITE STUFF In a rare interview, Speedway Star editor ANDREW SKEELS, universally known as 'Scun', re-traces his path from Scunthorpe to the top job on the sport's leading magazine. Remember, we no longer sell single or back issues, so if you wish you to receive this edition you need to take out a subscription (£25 per year UK) at www.retro-speedway.com

A confusing speedway regulation - who'd have thought it!

Mad to think that in 1976 it was possible, in certain circumstances, for a rider to appear in EIGHT of the 13 match heats.