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Think the Hippo fans will still have more interest in watching young Kemp than KP at the moment anyway

Good luck tonight lads at the tricky Leicester track. Stay safe and blow those cobwebs away.

It was indeed " my life" too for many years but it seems to have lost so much intensity and pull in recent years. I think part of that loss of interest is due to the feeling of" Oh no! I can't believe that, why are they doing that " about changes in how the sport is run and the decisions taken by promoters on what they lay before the fans as a show. It seems as if I have - finally - seen through it! Regardless of what the "it's fabulous racing now, as good as ever" it is much more predictable ( after the first half a lap ) than ever and so much more processional judging by what I have witnessed in recent years. Hardly worth watching and not much to get excited about ( before or after watching it! ) My clapometer and roarometer still work but are hardly used nowadays. I will be going when dragged along by an old friend from years ago when he comes to town - whose enthusiasm has not yet dimmed to such an extent of mine. I don't think that it is growing "older" as one or two posters have suggested to me but more that the excitement of an average match has just about vanished. Speedway racing UK style has sadly lost it's thrill and ability to rouse - it's siren song has fallen to a whisper. Can't wait for the GPs though!

Strange move from Len, who normally gets things right!. Could argue comparison with Belle Vue (who have 2 Teams one in PL) is a bit unfair, but Kent still easily most expensive in NL. What also confuses me is that in terms of "rival" he only has one geographically at Eastbourne and potential for them or Kent to attract support from Lakeside / Rye House and the London area, you'd think would be prime consideration. Len in NL raises prices to £15 and has no OAP concessions. Eastbourne move up to CL; have new management who tell everyone that they have a carefully designed plan; and who then go £16 which is equal lowest in CL from what I can see for Adults; and looks very good value; also bring in new concessions for OAP's at £14 (according to their website they had no OAP concessions in NL?????); - which means that they charge a £1 less for higher league for any OAP to go and watch in the South East of England. Quite what Drew's kevlars has to do with it, who knows?, other than Drew should find someone else to make his kevlars who is not ripping him off, and Len should not rip fans off with such a tame excuse. Hopefully for Drew they won't get ripped in his first meeting or Len might be raising prices again!

Feel exactly the same. Can count on both hands the number of home meeting's I've missed since '72, but interest has waned a little these last couple of years and last year was the first since '72 that I didn't take in at least one away meeting somewhere. Six months now since the last home meeting and really should be counting down the hours until the first meeting but I have no desire to go. Partially due I think to the poor racing at Ipswich these days, despite commendable efforts to improve the circuit, but mostly due to the totally Micky Mouse league we find ourselves in and the farcical new ownership situation.

Reading are using Swindon this season in the MDL as their home track, and the Young Lions also have a meeting here, both of which are good .

Stevie doing press&practice then dashing to Sheffield Simon has permission to miss it completely per thurs chronicle

Great news, again applaud the club on the direction they want to go in signing young riders like the Spillers, keep the conveyor belt of young talent going

We try or die simple.

He's not expected to be fit before July at the earliest.

Can't imagine that the Company who has made them will be too happy with Len for announcing how much they have cost, anyone know who makes his?? I'm pretty sure rival manufacturers will be having a right belly laugh!

Yes - but it was a Rugby League match, 104,000 odd.

Len used to charge top dollar at the Wick when Hackney had a poor team, so it's nothing new. These days you need to hang on to your fan base, not drive them away.

'I was there' too, rammed, packed it was....

Maybe they could do skid schools on it. Start on 125's then 250's or old 500's. 2 valves or Wessies

I bought a copy of Speedway World at the first meeting I ever went to. Its front page headline was "Brian Crutcher Retires", so I never got to see him ride! I think though there is no doubt he should be in a top 30 British riders of all-time. As you say yourself, Sidney, for a while he was the equal of the likes of Fundin, Briggs and Moore and he was a well-known name in an era when speedway received a bit more publicity in the papers than it does now. On the other hand I saw Ron How many times and thought he was always a bit underrated because he was second to Ronnie Moore but he was an essential part of the all-conquering Wimbledon team of the late 50s and early 60s. He was a world finalist eight times and between 1958 and 1964 averaged over nine points per match every season. Between 1958 and 1965 he was ranked in the Top 20 riders in the world in the Speedway Star ranking lists, generally around mid way. Without listing the other top British riders, I think I would have him in my top 30.

I was at the Coventry v Hull league decider in 1979 and I think the attendance was given as 23,000. It was certainly a huge crowd and I remember having to park about a mile away from the stadium.

I know it's a pain for you,but it may have made someone's day who is at work on nights.I get pretty peed when i'm working and there are fixtures i miss i must admit.But only 4 years 9 months and 17 days and i'm taking early retirement so should be able to watch all matches,providing speedway is still about then

As far as I know Kev Doolans fork covers are available for short (ie one meeting) or longer term sponcership so that those with very limited amounts of money have the oppotunity to help him and be recognised for it. Anyone interested contact Kev direct.

Its been a long long closed season for Ipswich fans Looking forward to a first visit to Leicester on a mini Massif road trip Up the Witches!

Council have put Double Yellow Lines down Most of Loomer Road either side

Gordon was the star of the last ever appearance of speedway bikes at Wimbledon making the tarmac look as if it was a shale track on the bends. The video is on YouTube

Very sad to hear of John Chaplin's passing. He was, like myself, a lifelong Birmingham supporter, but his reporting was always impartial and his many speedway books were always interesting reading. He and I both rode for the same Cycle Speedway club - Birmingham Lions (who in more recent years changed its name to Sandwell). I started riding in 1953 when I was 13 when John was one of the leading riders in the club, but as a beginner, I was in awe of the senior club members and didn't really get to know him then. Later on, through our mutual love of all things "Brummies" we became good friends. I knew that he was battling against a very painful illness, but didn't realise that the end was so close. John will be sorely missed by not just those who knew him personally, but by everyone connected with speedway. Rest in the peace of the Lord John - and thank you for your friendship.

No they want to give Ipswich half a chance

Just found this ...for Plymouth fans.