coventry1963

Garden centre appears to have approval for redevelopment as the same, not for housing or suchlike.

I am not particularly good with programme installation etc ( thanks to Kodi for the offer to use a "pm" but would not know where to go for that either!) but I managed to get the add-on up and running at the weekend. Many thanks to all concerned it is a really good facility with a wide range of meetings etc and I would recommend giving it a try.

For all the talk, it is noticeable that yet again, Bomber is the only GB rider to have got through to this stage. Easy to criticise him but facts are facts, he is in the last stage of the qualification rounds yet again and I, for one, would like him to qualify for next year's GP both from the challenge and from a top eight position. Perhaps then it would be accepted that he is there by right!

Was looking at this but am not on Twitter. Where else can I get instructions for loading the add on?

Interesting that Garrity will get a sneak preview as he has been named as meeting reserve for the GP. If he gets a ride on the night, its just possible he could use that track knowledge to surprise a few people.

Having watched speedway for many years any of the names are possible. Only time will tell whether they get, firstly, a pretty much injury-free run and, secondly, whether they get carried away by their own publicity. Injuries can sap the confidence of even the best of potential riders and once over-confidence creeps in, riders have a tendency to stop learning from those around. As has been said, it is only with that most of exact of sciences, hindsight, will we know!

Speaking of the CO at Coventry, he always said anything more than four to four and a half minutes a race (not counting accidents or injury, of course) meant someone was not doing their job. Surprise, surprise, he always had time for an interval as a result. The slowness of meetings becomes a vicious circle very easily but Ochiltree would not allow people to delay his presentation- his personality simply did not allow it.

Coventry, in 1960s and 1970s prior to dog track first being re-instated, was 380 yards (approx 340 metres). I can remember track record of around 65 secs.

Maybe making it an exclusion to touch the tapes at any time would stop at least half of the gardening that goes on as riders try to prepare the first yard beyond the start line nowadays as well as the starting area behind the line!

Some years ago I asked the late Jack Parker the same question (Jack was friends with my grandfather as a young man and was a family friend) when he was visiting my parents home in Rugby. Jack's view ( after the obligatory tongue in cheek reply that he would have been "the champion" in any era) was that any of the real champions from any era would have succeeded in any other. He said that it was attitude, determination and the will to succeed as well as the necessary natural ability that created a champion. He thought that any of those previous champions would have adapted to the fitness and technical developments necessary in any era to get to, or near to, the top. He also thought that Mauger, Olsen, Briggs et al would certainly have been at the very top in his own era.

Nigel Boocock should also come in for consideration in the best racer class and gave huge entertainment value over many years. As a very poor gater, he still averaged over 11.40 one year in the British League, topping the averages that year, which confirms he did a huge amount of overtaking. Briggo was also always one of the best passers. Spoke to Briggo at a show at Coventry a few years ago and told him I had travelled many thousands of miles over the years to watch him because of that very reason and, ever the gentleman, he thanked me for making the effort to follow him! I was pleased to tell him that I always thought he was worth the effort. Just watched the retro speedway in the 70s DVD and it is noticeable how much ground riders could make up from behind at that time, disparity in machinery or class of rider seemed to be bigger. Nowadays, it is very rare to see a rider make up 59 metres and pass within a couple of laps.

It was said that a group of supporters were trying to get the Islanders up and running for 2015. Anybody heard any more yet?

Strange to reply to your topic but just seen the statement from the supporters group that they have not had sufficient time to get everything ready for 2015. Statement further suggests that they will continue work with the intention of being ready for 2016. Have had many a good evening at small brook when on holiday. Really good, fast, challenging wide open track with very interesting banking on bend four creating several racing lines.

Would add my thanks, they have provided a great service which I have accessed many times over the season.

Just a thought after seeing the 2 minute clock last night at Coventry. How about having a 30 ,45 or 60 second countdown from the time the fourth rider in a race is under power on the track as a standard procedure. Might encourage first riders to get round to start quicker (more time for that rider to garden) and might stop a rider being slow to appear, then delay the start as well. You could even let race start as usual but rider would be excluded under time allowance. Last night several riders were not stationary at tapes after two minutes had elapsed and ref did nothing and the two minutes effectively therefore served little purpose as not enforced. Anything that speeds up the time between heats needs considering. Years ago Charles Ochiltree always said anything over six minutes a race (including the race itself) was too long (obviously excluding injuries etc) and he told track staff four and half minutes was good. 20 races (including second half in those days) completed by 9.30 pm on many occasions, with a start time of 7.30pm and an interval. Any opinions?

Just a quick mention to Matt Wiliamson for his sportsmanship in clearing track after fall when Milik behind Howarth in heat 7 last night. Warm round of applause from all around me as he walked off and there was no suggestion of him staying down to give Milik another go at making the gate in a re-run. He tried hard all night in difficult conditions and got no reward for his efforts, it would have been easy for him to ensure a re-run but chose not to do so.

It could just be that the rider concerned is on a retainer. Once sacked, it may be saving the club money and equally, costing the rider. Obviously this would be dependent on the terms of the contract involved which it is very unlikely will be disclosed.

Looking at the Iversen/Hancock crash again, thank goodness for ignition cut outs. If Iversen's wheel had remained under power I dread to think what damage could have been done to Greg' hand and arm. Very much a thumbs up for that piece of "health and safety"!

Going back a bit but Ron Mountford and Rick France at Coventry (before Ron broke his thigh badly at Newport in, I think, about 1968. They worked together, travelled together and certainly made a very good "team riding pair".

For general info, I have just received an email today from Eurosport saying that Malilla will be shown live on their sister channel "Quest" at 6pm on Saturday. They say Quest is available on Sky, free view and virgin. Hope this helps everybody. It is not showing on my TV guide yet but they assure me this will be on! They further say that all future GPS this year will be shown live on Eurosport itself.