Pieman72 588 Posted September 11, 2020 Does anyone remember when Nitro was legal for use in British League Speedway? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Neila 1,159 Posted September 11, 2020 Was it ever legal ? Can remember in mid seventies riders putting a syringe of the stuff in, also think a great character of that era jack Millen got killed in a car crash which burst into flames rumoured to be caused by nitro. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted September 12, 2020 (edited) I seem to remember reading that nitro was used by some riders and Ivan Mauger mentioned it in one of his books. It wasn't actually common practice but not banned as such until the early seventies (?). Vladimir Gordeev was stripped of his fourth placing in the 1971 World Final for using the stuff and sunsequently banned for a year. Edited September 12, 2020 by steve roberts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
martinmauger 584 Posted September 13, 2020 Read that a clue nitro, nitromethane, was being used would be 'runny eyes' as apparently the fumes made people's eyes water & stream.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Triple.H. 1,986 Posted September 13, 2020 I thought it was banned years ago. Don't the riders nowadays have the fuel supplied by the track running the meeting ? I remember plenty of rumours about one prolific tuner of the late 80s onwards  where if you used his engine you had to use his fuel. May have all been led by jealousy of the speed by other riders Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jenga 2,998 Posted September 13, 2020 On 9/12/2020 at 12:20 AM, Neila said: Was it ever legal ? Can remember in mid seventies riders putting a syringe of the stuff in, also think a great character of that era jack Millen got killed in a car crash which burst into flames rumoured to be caused by nitro. didnt he rear end a truck and the fuel was supposed to be inside the car in the personal quarters . not sure , but i think it was a fuel tanker involved .. ? ? ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobMcCaffery 2,752 Posted September 13, 2020 I once worked at a track where the starting marshal came up to the box after a few after match junior races to complain about one of the kids using nitro. He claimed you could tell because his exhaust stank of pig manure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted September 13, 2020 I remember riders fuel being tested at a meeting at Wimbledon in the mid 1970's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 6,091 Posted September 13, 2020 21 minutes ago, cityrebel said: I remember riders fuel being tested at a meeting at Wimbledon in the mid 1970's. You know, that rings a bell... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted September 14, 2020 Seem to remember Gary Middleton accusing Ivan Mauger of using nitro at the 1972 (?) Wills Internationale but later withdrew the claim. Not sure when it was actually banned form domestic competition however. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,362 Posted September 14, 2020 11 hours ago, chunky said: You know, that rings a bell... Quasimodo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 6,091 Posted September 14, 2020 58 minutes ago, Fromafar said: Quasimodo It was just a hunch... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted September 14, 2020 8 hours ago, chunky said: It was just a hunch... Scraping the barrel now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chunky 6,091 Posted September 14, 2020 4 minutes ago, cityrebel said: Scraping the barrel now! You mean my bell jokes are losing their ap-peal? And I was going like the clappers! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted September 14, 2020 28 minutes ago, chunky said: You mean my bell jokes are losing their ap-peal? And I was going like the clappers! There might be a vacancy for you soon, at the BSPA! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites