AndyM

Not sure I can remember my first race as such, though I'm pretty sure it would have been at a Coventry home match in 1971, so I expect it would have included Nigel Boocock. The first race I can definitely remember was a race at Belle Vue early in 1972, though I'd been to the mighty Hyde Road the previous season and seen Mauger there. Why? Watching the teenage Peter Collins roaring through the field, of course!!

I was going to ask if it was called the Argentinian Individual Championship because only one rider took part, but evidently the scene down there is thriving more than I would have expected. Have they taken part in the WTC yet?

Am I right in thinking that Bristol scored a maximum 5-1 in every heat using a 16-heat format sometime in the 30s or 40s? Seem to remember my dad mentioning that to me, years ago.

Agree on the first point, since the original TS rule was fine and didn't need to be tampered with. On gate positions, do you mean that a team 8 points down could scrap the programmed positions altogether and put their riders on whichever gate position they wanted? For example, the team behind chose 1 & 3 with their star man on the inside, contrary to the programmed positions? And could the other team let their star select 2 or 4? In fact, why not go the whole hog and let them select ANY gate positions? If the team behind wanted gates 1 and 4, why not let them?

A case where an air fence probably would have saved the rider? Thank goodness fatalities are rare...

Wilkie was usually good for the occasional punch-up. Ah, them were the days.

Yes, though he was unpopular with most of the other riders because he was forever borrowing everything from bike parts to whole machines when his own conked out. Looked altogether a more professional performer at the end of his career at Rye House when the club went PL after reopening - he went through a golden period when he was breaking the track record pretty much every week!

And so it was - amazing to watch any rider going wide on the banking. Nothing remotely like it nowadays, which is a great shame (sigh!)

Likewise - I used to love going over to the Shay - Bradford was never quite the same somehow. Used to enjoy Coventry and Sheffield at one time too.

Sorry, I know you said NOT 007, but having seen the DVD of Casino Royale on the weekend, my eyes are watering even at the sight of the name James Bond. Anyone who's seen the film will know what I mean!

Obviously Alan Wilkinson, though he would never have been a world champ. However, I definitely think Andy Smith and Joe Screen, for all their achievements, never really fulfilled their full potential thanks to injury. Shame.

I was going to say... he can't be that shy if he's now got a youngster on the way. Evidently he's learned a few things along the way!

I'm inclined to think that we should take the athletics approach, hold qualifiers and stick to the results, even if they aren't the ones we hoped for. Everyone knows where they stand now. If the results are going to be overturned, it doesn't give any rider an incentive to take part, does it?

OK Sandie, but you can see why people might be suspicious. I'm quite sure there are behind the scenes deals going on in speedway, even if Rory is very ethical and honest.

Suspect Rory sought assurances that he would be selected in advance. Might have been a done deal before the meeting.

The other question is whether the loan of the land is intended to be temporary or permanent. Is the museum a temporary exhibit or a feature of the Park in the eyes of Pete Sampson?

What proportion of the admission charge goes towards the upkeep of the museum, if any? If none, is it still being supported by donations?

True - we are incredibly lucky to have that degree of support, though PPwould undoubtedly factored into that calculation increased revenues they expected to earn.

Following the debate with interest. Paradise Park is a great day out and has a lot of attractions to offer for all the family. My kids have (or used to have) season tickets and regularly go with their mates every Friday during the summer. Not yet been to the museum myself, though it should be accessible separately for those who don't want to do the full park experience. I expect the park owners would object on the grounds that they want to leverage some benefit from having speedway fans visiting, though bringing people to the area and allowing them to see the opportunities should convey a lot of goodwill too. There should be a bit of cross-marketing to advertise both the park and the museum. It's out in Broxbourne woods, a few miles from the sprawling metropolis that is Broxbourne and a short drive from Hoddesdon and Rye House speedway. I live in Broxbourne on the Herts/Essex border and Paradise Park is about 4.5 miles from home.

I was there as a neutral spectator, funnily enough - due to family living in Coventry. Yes, it was a huge crowd and an electric atmosphere, though I think 25,000 is overstating it. The police would probably say 12-15k!

Just makes me think what would happen if clubs were not allowed to sack riders and had to stick with them for a whole season. What difference would that make to team selections?

By arrangement, any friends visiting the museum and Paradise Park could always pop into my place for a cuppa!

OK, so not pre-70s but my hero was and is PC. Watching he and Mort riding for the Aces was a golden era of speedway for me (and Andy Smith as a youngster too.) Speedway will never be that entertaining, ever again... sigh!!

Wonderful idea, bringing back fond memories of the tournaments in the early 70s, though I think you've drilled down to too low a level, Vicar. Sure Australia v Canada or South Africa would be a nice even contest! You could adopt handicapping, of course...

Funnily enough, I have friends who emigrated to Auckland about a year ago. Only asked them this week what speedway was on there nowadays. Still awaiting their reply.