andout

Rule dropped this year! Staggered starts....only ever seen that for Flat Track.....Speedway? I'm open to it!

OUT: Ben Barker, Zach Wajtknecht, Josh Bates.IN: Danny Ayres, Simon Lambert, Drew Kemp.

Riders practice has not been mandatory for years now....it is now entirely up to the rider. Take a look at the GP thread Chris. Its all in there.

OK, I'll give it shot and try to explain.... Heat 7 France beat USA 5-1 Heat 13 France get a 3-3 with Latvia but France's 2nd and 3rd gives them a NON-COUNTING Bonus point for simply breaking ties at the end if the meeting. Heat 17 USA beat Latvia 4-2 France therefore beats both and gets the Ranking for the meeting as 4th, USA with the win over Latvia gets 5th Ranking and Latvia 6th. Ranking is important in Heats 22 and 23, Ranking breaks 3-3's. Because of the 4th Ranking France only needed a 3-3 to go through whether they got a 1st and a 4th or a 2nd and 3rd USA had to get a 4-2 or a 5-1 to beat France. Heat 23 France would have needed a 4-2 or a 5-1 as a 3-3 would have given the 3rd Ranked Danes the win. I think I have that right....if I'm wrong I'm sure someone else will correct me.

Anthony Barlow and James Mann, I only really remember from the Ice racing on Hockey rinks here in Canada......went to a few of those but it was much the same thing every time....a little shall we say "staged". And yes, I too would like to get to the Mid-America Speedway one day. I'm not sure if the demise of the British speedway scene has had a negative impact on the number of Americans riding abroad.....I think Britain alone is causing their own demise. I know, here we go again, In my day in the UK I used to go to Speedway six times a week....yes I had four or five London tracks to choose from but the costs were so cheap in those days, now it seems to be priced out of most families reach....and yes, mine too!

Yes, this is also the 60th anniversary of the Canadian Speedway revival and sad to say Speedway is "DEAD" here once again! There are many reasons for the decline, lack of sponsorship monies (only go to the major sports in North America), kids just aren't interested in a sport where you can use a now, expensive motorcycle in one place and maybe once or twice a week. Dirt bikes are more popular but even that is on a decline. Americans seem to have a knack of keeping the sport alive though, even in New York state where there is only one track (Owego), it survives. It certainly would be nice to have the colourful characters of the 80's back......that could be a while. Just my opinion of course.

From the FIM Today.... The 2019 Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations draw has been revealed as Germany and Great Britain launch their quest for World Championship gold on home shale in May. Race Off 1 at Landshut on May 4 sees the Germans host neighbours Poland, who are bidding to secure their ninth world title of the 21st century and their first since the World Championship switched to a pairs format last year. They are joined in Bavaria by 2018 finalists Sweden, who are aiming to win their first world crown since 2015. Slovenia – who were a run-off away from the Monster Energy SON Finals last summer – also battle it out, along with the Czech Republic, Italy and the Ukraine. Race Off 2 at Manchester’s National Speedway Stadium on May 11 pits GB against old rivals Australia, managed by Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon on his SGB Premiership home track. They are also drawn against Denmark – a nation seeking its fifth world title of the 21st century and its first under the stewardship of four-time world champion Hans Nielsen. France and Finland return to Manchester after competing in last year’s Race Off 2 there, while USA and Latvia complete the line-up. The top two countries in each event will join hosts and defending champions Russia in the Monster Energy SON Finals at Togliatti on July 20 and 21. The teams placed fourth and fifth will then compete in a knock-out heat with the winner of that facing the third-placed side for the last spot in Russia. MONSTER ENERGY SPEEDWAY OF NATIONS DRAW RACE OFF 1, LANDSHUT, GERMANY (May 4): Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine. RACE OFF 2, MANCHESTER, GREAT BRITAIN (May 11): Australia, Denmark, Great Britain, France, Finland, Latvia, USA. FINALS, TOGLIATTI, RUSSIA (July 20 & 21): Russia, three teams from Race Off 1, three teams from Race Off 2. Speedway of Nations

Would have been a shock for any American in those days....Speed alone would have them looking for a bathroom.....What are the Californian tracks 160 to 220 yards, average of about 35 to 40 MPH.......West Ham 440 yards........Speed, could be almost double!

Not sure about his Ascot adventures, I'm sure he did well....why....well he was in a class of his own for a long time in California......They were the really early days of American Speedway...it only restarted in 1969 and his only real competition was Rick Woods and his brother.

Yes you got that one right "a brilliant home boy" and really that was "it" in my opinion.....while he ruled the California circuits he could never come to grips with the bigger tracks.

The mention of Schwartz just brought a couple of things to mind, he was always always a very approachable gentleman....certainly in his early and latter days anyway. I first saw Schwartz at Owego, New York for the very first US OPEN National Championship in 1977.....he won of course. The next year I was on the centre doing some photography and unfortunately got a good photo of Bob breaking his thumb after a close encounter on bends three and four. Wish I could find that photo today...also got one of him in a full slide waving!!!! And yes Sid....I always thought he was underrated too!

According to Speedway Researcher and my own records......Yes Long Eaton were the visitors and it was indeed Rained Off. But, NEVER assume all the programmes were pulped, have found several times people have thought that about other meetings then a few show up.

Just checked on the sales on eBay for you......one sold with year bars 1949-1958 attached for 22 quid........another one priced at 9.99 did not sell.

Just interested / curious in knowing something about this Speedway event at Wimbledon. All I can find out is Speedway was a "Demonstration" sport......no idea of the format or who was in it.

Thanks for that Bavarian....

Thanks Guys.....much appreciated......Good 'ol Ken Tozer.....remember him 'fraid I was NOT a fan of his announcing.

Still got my programme too.....but it 'aint worth £5.99....

Link does not seem to work but I did find this. Tributes have been pouring in after the death of a popular former Coventry Speedway rider. Les Owen, 64, who was the Coventry Bees longest serving rider, died after being hit by a train at a level crossing in Canley on Thursday. The father of three was an England International, riding with the Bees between 1957 and 1973. His best friend Col Smith, of Lower Eastern Green Lane, Eastern Green, Coventry, attended Coundon and Barker Butts schools with Les before joining the cycle speedway team, the Alvis Aces, in the 1950s. Mr Smith, 65, who went on to become a test driver for Jaguar, remembers how he started out in the sport with Les, saving up from their paper rounds to buy a bike and pushing it seven miles to the race track at Brandon to steal some practice time. He said: ?When we got to the stadium we knew only one of us would get a chance to practise before the manager came out and stopped us. We tossed a coin and Les won and got about three minutes before being caught. ?The next week I had about five minutes before Mr Ochiltree came out and gave us a right dressing down. But he did tell us if we went to a proper training school he would consider us.? Mr Ochiltree signed both men to the Bees. Mr Smith, who still organises veteran demonstrations at Brandon, added: ?He had a massive following. I believe he could have been a world champion in 1961 but he broke his collar bone. He was a really brave rider.? In 1973, after an amazing 17 consecutive seasons with the Bees, Les had a crash which left him paralysed down one side and with brain injuries and short term memory loss. He lived with his brother Arthur in Denbigh Road, Coundon, and then in George Rowley House in Canley. Martin Ochiltree, whose father Charles Ochiltree was Les? promoter, recalls seeing him immaculately dressed at the track. He said: ?You could almost see your face in Les? leathers they were so pristine. ?He was a hard racer, like the Arnold Schwarzenegger of the racing world. ?He was great fun to watch.? John Owen, 54, whose wife was Les? niece, also remembers watching the rider - nicknamed muscles - on the track. He said: ?He was a great racer - he never raced dirty but he was a very hard rider and very popular.? An inquest is being held into Les? death.

OK, so I'll chime in now.....I also saw my first Speedway meeting at New Cross in 1959, went to most meetings in 1960, 61 and 63 before following West Ham in 1964 until their close in 1972. Just as a side note, also saw West Ham in the two meetings in Holland before the disaster in 1970. Back to NX.....great little track.....wish it were still there!

Damn, if it were one race, I too would have gone for the Stevens v Briggs race....but I'll "cheat" a little and say any one of Malcolm Simmons rides at Wimbledon in the KO Replay for West Ham in 1965......just unbelievable!

"Lofty" was quite the rider, very spectacular style.....absolutely loved every race he was in.....taken from us far too young! Reider was a good rider but never caught my eye the way "Lofty" did. Have to agree with you E I Addio, after West Ham closed, I too kinda drifted away, came to Canada soon after but never drifted away the sport.

Don't very often respond to things on here but this really seems like the old cliche to me....."If its not broke lets fix it".......this to me should be rated PG....Pure Garbage!

Missing one rider that was popular with the Ladies, shall we say....that being Gab Kadirov.

How about Mark Loram?

He was actually born in Winnipeg, Canada but spent an awful lot of time in Ireland.....and was, maybe unofficially, known as an Irish-Canadian. He did also ride for Ireland many times and I believe he was the Captain on several occasions.