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Beowulf

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Posts posted by Beowulf

  1. Posted

    On 3/11/2024 at 5:32 PM, Dave Goddard said:

    Just been reading through this thread to see if I recognised any names - Dawid won the World Under-21 final when it was staged at Peterborough in 2001, which was a major upset as no one had ever heard of him.  This meant he qualified for the Grand Prix Challenge, as the U21 World Champion did in those days, but didn't take his place and runner-up Lukas Dryml got in as a result (the immense irony of Lukas Dryml profiting from someone else's absence in 2001 instead of the other way round!!!) and ended up qualifying for a GP place in 2002.

    Kujawa then surfaced as a surprise signing by Newport three years later, and I think lasted one challenge match before either leaving or being kicked out, depending on which story you believe.  Possibly speedway's biggest one-meeting wonder.

    I was going to mention Torben Hansen, one of the seemingly endless stream of Danes signed by Wolves in the 70s and 80s in their attempts to find the next Nielsen/Olsen, and who scored a grand total of two points in seven matches, but I see @THE DEAN MACHINE beat me to it. :P 

    (edit) On the subject of Wolves, whatever happened to Eric Carrillo, the American who spent a few matches with them one season in the 2000s?  It was about the same time as the equally unsuccessful Bryan Yarrow, who was sacked by Coventry after they were infamously beaten by 50 points at Oxford and I think the Bees axed about half their team.

    Don't know if he's been mentioned, Wolves signed a dane Fleming Pedersen. My group of friends nick named him Spit the Dane.

  2. Posted · Edited by Beowulf

    On 2/11/2024 at 3:50 AM, mikebv said:

    I remember watching someone ride in the 2nd half at Belle Vue called "Charlie Brown"...

    His real name turned out to be Giuseppe Marzotto, and rather than being an animated American cartoon character, he was actually an Italian fella....

    Wonder what happened to him? 

    Couldn't see him making a career in Speedway to be honest... ;)

    Rode for Wolves.

    (didnt see the post from 847084)

    Wolves rode a match at Lonigo in Italy, I wonder if it was anythng to do with the link to Marzotto ?

  3. Posted

    2 hours ago, uk_martin said:

    52% of that total identify as BAME. And when have you ever seen a BAME crowd at Speedway? (...waiting for all the "I know a black guy who goes" exceptions to that rule that are going to "prove me wrong")

     I have followed the Wolves home and away since 1967. As I am Indian, the make-up of the crowd has always been of interest to me. At no point have I seen a big increase in the ethnic support. I can't say why that is, and to be fair my family think I am weird following speedway. Speedway's current problems are such that it is in a gradual,but persistent decline, and aiming at 1 specific demographic I don't think will make much  difference. As to attracting Wolves fans I wish the Brummies well but I would not bank on it. When Wolves were closed in 82/83 I went  to 1 meeting and that was at Perry Barr. And that was with Hans Nielsen our previous No.1. Without your own team it is just not the same. My football team is WWFC and I don't bother watching anybody else either.

    • Like 2

  4. Posted

    5 hours ago, GiveusaB said:

    Ha ha...being an 'Heathen', you'd probably recognize the pit-falls even more...you've been spoilt over the years ... great teams/great riders/great race track....

    I loved my Saturday nights at Dudley Wood as a kid! 

    Good Old Days!....'wipe-out'! :D

    Crap stadium.:o

    • Haha 1

  6. Posted

    52 minutes ago, the hobbit said:

    I don’t know how you get any optimism from that interview….. he clearly stated he was going to be making it up snd learning as he went along. He has no ooomph about him. Dull as dishwater. Did you listen to the Worrall into? Steve clearly stated … Sam is from a different era when speedway was totally different, if he thinks he’s going to tell me how to set my bike up, that’s not going to work. 
     

    %

    Peter Adams, one of the most successful team managers ever. I doubt that he told his riders how to set their bikes up. (And no, I am NOT saying Ermolenko will be as good as Adams) 

  7. Posted

    One of the biggest losses for Wolves was that of track curator Doc Bridgett retiring due to ill health. During his tenure the racing was superb, passing inside and outside. Wolves won multiple track of the year awards as voted by referees and riders. Size and shape was irrelevant then. All this with limited access to the track due to the greyhounds. Subsequent curators have tried their best  but really Bridgett was unmatchable.

    • Like 3

  9. Posted

    On 11/18/2023 at 2:41 PM, Ben91 said:

    The idea that tracks have to have a meeting every week is pretty archaic. You can have too much of a good thing, especially in the current economic climate where people can’t afford to attend every week.  

    I can’t think of any mainstream team sports in which a team has a home match every week either. People are not going to forget about speedway or stop going if there’s not a meeting every week. Look at the patchy fixture lists we’ve been exposed to in recent seasons. 

    There’s a huge novelty factor at Oxford at the moment. The top tier team will become the novelty in 2024 and the Championship team will not be as attractive, especially when fans are picking and choosing meetings. Eventually the top tier novelty factor will wear off too. My concern is that they’re overreaching by making this move. 

    Having been a fan since 1967, I  used to love weekly speedway and it's demise is disappointing particularly when it's more to do with the influence of foreign leagues, GP'S etc rather than the willingness of fans to turn up regularly.  You mention the patchy fixture list, well that is something the fans have to endure rather than enjoy. Any promoter would give their eye teeth for weekly attendances. As for cost Oxford should be able to come with packages for those who want to attend 1,2 or all 3 leagues. I must admit running 3 leagues is exceedingly ambitious and I wish the promotion the very best of luck.

    • Like 3

  10. Posted

    36 minutes ago, Call me wolfie said:

    I’m told from a reliable source he’s offered a considerable sum if a suitable site is found. Not sure we should be mocking him for that to be honest.

    Well I apologise for my original comment, and wait see what he can do for the club. 

    • Thanks 1

  12. Posted

    1 hour ago, Call me wolfie said:

    It has been said we are looking at land owned by the council, site is near I54 for sure.

    When the football club were in trouble the council stepped in. I believe they own the land on which Molineux stands, Wolves own the infrastructure ie the stadium. Therefore, the council control what happens on that land. I, obviously stand to be corrected on this, if it has changed. So if the council own the rumoured site at i54, I would take that as a very positive sign. They are not going to pump loads of money in, but if they 'allow' speedway a presence, that would be a very good start.

  13. Posted

    12 hours ago, MattB said:

    It'll be a very basic venue to start with.  Not a chance of the stadium being at the same standard as the NSS from the word go.

    Long way to go, bit hopefully some light at the end of the tunnel for us getting back.  The only concern would be getting to the site on public transport if its any distance away.  Fine work those of us with cars, but maybe not so much for those who used to hop on the 79 bus to get to Monmore

    No chance of that in the long run either. Wolves Council will be unwilling/incapable of providing the same level of support that Belle Vue have had from Manchester Council. 

  15. Posted

    1 hour ago, MattB said:

    It'll be a very basic venue to start with.  Not a chance of the stadium being at the same standard as the NSS from the word go.

    Long way to go, bit hopefully some light at the end of the tunnel for us getting back.  The only concern would be getting to the site on public transport if its any distance away.  Fine work those of us with cars, but maybe not so much for those who used to hop on the 79 bus to get to Monmore

    Agreed, Monmore  easy to get to,  very close to the town/city centre. 

  16. Posted

    40 minutes ago, noaksey said:

    If something is in South Staffs then how could it be "jointly with Wolverhampton" unless the site borders both

    South Staffs AFAIK has never had a speedway track and it must be doubtful if they'd be in favour 

    I believe that with the i54 site where Jaguar Landrover are both councils colloboated together ( I don't know whose land it is)  to deliver economic benefits to the area. As a hypothetical example, if the i54 land was owned by Wolverhampton but access to it was via South Staffs ? Anyway best to wait until the location is revealed, might be somewhere totally different. 

    • Like 1

  18. Posted

    2 minutes ago, Speedtiger said:

    That’s potentially good news, let’s hope things progress well. I think Wolverhampton 2025 maybe a little optimistic as it took Gordon and Morton over 10 years to get our BV stadium built. I won’t mention Swindon!!  

    Track, pits and grass banking will do me for starters ! The key thing is planning permission. A site at i54 has been mentioned and that could be under the auspices of South Staffs council,  or jointly with Wolverhampton council, so that particular site might have complications but we can't consider anything until the location is revealed. The site that they are looking at is within 15 minutes of Wolverhampton, and you can go a fair way in 15 minutes of driving.

  19. Posted

    With apologies to 847084, thought this would be a better way to continue the discussion. From the local Express & Star newspaper:-

    https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/speedway/2023/11/02/wolves-new-speedway-track-hope/

    The club are looking at a site which would host speedway, motocross and potentially BMX. If a BMX track is installed that would result in a grant from the Olympic Committee.

    I imagine that any stadium would be 'very low key'. I seem to remember that Peter Adams, as an architect, designed Vojens for Ole Olsen (someone let me know if that is incorrect). But hey we don't want to get ahead of ourselves just yet. 

  21. Posted · Edited by Beowulf

    12 hours ago, orion said:

    Not sure this is the right  topic but I read that they are building a greyhound track at the racecourse . What is the deal with that then.? Is Monmore staying open or our they building on it . 

    The Entain group run the racecourse and Monmore Green. Now I dont know much about gryhound racing but having  2 greyhound tracks in the same city  would seem foolish ?

    I can only assume Entain will try and sell Monmore Green for redevelopment, hence preparing the gound by booting out the speedway. Planning permission granted :-

     

    Plans for a new greyhound racing track at Wolverhampton Racecourse have been approved by council bosses.

    The plans, submitted by owners Arena Racing Company (Arc), show it will be built opposite the grandstand at the Dunstall Park site.

    "Our aspiration is that [it] can become a landmark venue for greyhound racing," said racing division managing director Mark Spincer.

    "Greyhound welfare is a hugely important aspect of our business."

    Arc worked closely with Sports Turf Research Institute on their proposal, and looks forward to working with them, as well as the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, on making sure the facilities meet the highest possible welfare standards.

    "With many of the facilities already in place, we are confident that it would prove a popular venue with greyhound owners, trainers and fans alike,” Mr Spincer added.

    Acting on behalf of the company, Matthew Pardoe, director of Moorside Planning said “there are likely to be four greyhound meetings per week – two evenings and two daytimes."

    "Most meetings are attended by 50 to 100 patrons and the only exception would be a Friday or Saturday evening, when up to 500 people could attend.”

    Arc is the largest horse and greyhound racing group in the UK, and operates 16 racecourses and five greyhound stadia around the country, as well as a few golf courses and hotels.

    Popular with fans ? When they expect 50 100 people there in the week. What a joke.

    • Like 1

  24. Posted

    18 hours ago, Spidvej said:

    That’s not exactly true, and your post could put non Wolves fans off from travelling !

    Wolves’ post on Facebook states the following :

    ”

    From feedback we have received we have established an admission procedure for our final event.

    Loyalty admission for fans with tickets from this season are able to gain access from 6.30pm.

    General admission will commence from 7.00pm.

    Fans can join the relevant queues on arrival.

    We have taken on board feedback so this will enable all to celebrate our wonderful 95 year history.

    Thank you for your support see you”

    I tried to add a screenshot from Facebook, but the image is too large for this forum.

    That's an update from what was said on Monday and the previous week. As it says above, it is a change after receiving feedback. Thanks for posting.:)

  25. Posted

    A liitle note for non-Wolves fans, entry will only be via the production of a readmission ticket from any previous meeting this  season. CVS has said he has had many enquiries from fans who have never been to Monmore Greenand wish to so. However, as proved a few meetings ago there is a capacity limit to the stadium. Therefore in order to ensure that regular Wolves fans do not miss out from attending the meeting, the readmission ticket system has been put in place.

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