rusky

Having been there once for a WC round -( after suffering a blowout in the fast lane of the Brussels Ring Road in the morning rush hour) I couldn't believe how close the houses were to the track, so neighbours complaining I can understand. Everybody associated with the track was extremely friendly, and they did put on a good event at the local Hotel, the night before the meeting

Think that he is actually talking about the cut outs. There was an FIM release a while ago saying that several bikes had cut outs which did not meet this years rules during machine examination in Russia the other week.

Good pic's Conkers, but your website really needs to be Firefox friendly

Have to say that some of those pic's are very, very good. Do we know much about the photographer, Bob Martin ?

Have driven there several times, and its about 900 miles from King's Lynn to Prague, and takes about 16 - 17 hours driving time ( in a van), plus the ferry / shuttle. If you are used to driving it is dooable in one hit as the roads are pretty good on the whole once you get on the continent.

Steve Chilman is still a regular spectator in East Anglia. He still takes an active interest in the sport being spannerman for several of the Russian riders when they are in the UK - numerous of those riders have been known to lodge with him as well. He is also a big supporter of both Grasstrack & Ice Racing

I seem to remember that this was an 8.7 track in terms of sprockets (I'm sure that was what Per Jonsson used around there), which would make it pretty big, although I couldn't tell you the exact measurement, I for one think that this would be a good venue for a GP, as like Cardiff, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg it was a location in which you could make a really good weekend of it. It certainly had a good atmosphere when the world final was there - I remember there was a flower parade organised to coincide with the final.

Absolutley correct, he was born on Saddlebow Road itself and did make some appearances for the Diamonds. He did run his own Fish & Chip business in Gaywood King's Lynn, which grew into Gerry's Pizza restaurant on the Saturday Market Place in King's Lynn

I had it in mind taht they were either late 81 or early 82, but not sure. The big question is, does it have an external oil feed ?

Groningen has superb nightlife with an incredible array of bars. The thing I would say is don't expect things to start livening up much before midnight, and conversely don't expect it to wind down much before 4 - I can assure you that you will never have seen so many people on the streets at 4 in the morning as you will here. The good news is that the Febo is still open at that time so a portion of Fries & Mayonnaise is easily obtained A really good standard hotel in the middle of Groningen, about 2 minutes walk from the very centre of Groningen, Grote Markt, is the Best Western Cityhotel. This hotel is immediately opposite the casino. Its a very modern hotel, with very friendly staff and their own secure parking (if you ask for it). The rooms are of a very good standard We have stayed there several times now, and never fail to be disappointed

Having been to Bysarna a few times, and having stayed at Larbro on numerous occasions I can tell you its not that far, about 20 -25 minutes from the existing track. Knowing some of the people involved with the club over the years, I can tell you that the preferred option is to stay in Visby, but as in England the problem that they face at the moment are primarily enviromental issues, primarily noise.

The Magneto Weslakes used by Pete Smith, Richard Hellsen & Co were used around 1977 - 1978 if memory serves me right. The feeling was the same on the 'British' Mag engines, in that they were exceptional from the gate ( I believe that was the reason for Jawa sticking to the mag on the 897 also). Rickard still has his magneto Weslake I believe, not sure when he last had it running though

I think the numbers were very small, probably no more than a dozen or so. They were killed off by the magic boxes becoming more reliable and more importantly, affordable

They were a conversion by a guy called Derek Hobson (I think) in Penistone Yorkshire. Reg Wilson, Pete Smith & Rickard were the only ones who I can remember using them. They were around at the time that battery & coil were the major ignition source on the weslake, the magic boxes had just started to make an appearance but were hideously expensive (Derek made those as well). The magnetos used actually came from Concrete mixers, and produced a spark that was far stronger & consistent than either a box or battery/ coil setup. Derek used to re-wind his own magnetos in his garden shed ( I think he serviced all of Guy Allots mags, as well as mags from all of the speedway parts suppliers), and had all sorts of 'heath robinson' test equipment, as a youngster it was a fascinating place to visit

Nearly right SCB, its an FGM conversion. FGM is manufactured by Flemming Gravesen, Rune's engine tuner & friend

Rickard Hellsen did indeed try the DOHC engine in both the UK and Sweden, with moderate success. He also tried the SOHC as well, but stuck with the pushrod variant - including his trusty magneto driven pushrod wessie.

Iris123, I believe that you have hit the nail on the head exactly. I do have a bit of an opinion on one of the guys in the GB team who doesn't seem to be going about things in the right way (in my opinion). The first time I realised that he had an attitude problem was a few years ago when an U15 team went to Germany, but he didn't go, reportedly because they weren't paying enough. This year at least he has moved to a larger ( if not slicker) track than he had been on previously, and then elects not to do the SGP qualifiers - I really don't understand that. The British attitude was made very clear in the interviews in the press during the past week. All of the other teams were looking for a win. The interviews that I have seen with the GB boys suggested that they would be happy with a 'top 3' place. Were we beaten before we went ?

Should be lots of King's Lynn / Peterborough interest in this. Alex Davis, son of Stephen Davies & Taylor Poole, son of Mick

I hear what you are saying, I just believe (As did several people stood near us) that the crowd was not good, and could of been better. Another quick question, are there normally rubbish bins at the EOES ? There seemed to be a major lack along the back straight. Funniest moment of the day....The announcement for the BSPA members to go and get their (free ?) buffet, and the announcement for the owner of a Subaru registration TO 06 OOD to move it else it would be towed away - would that be Mr Toogood ?

Well we did go to this meeting, and I have to say that there was some good racing when we could actually see. The dust was absolutely appalling and the track certainly could of done with more preparation in that department. I for one thought that he crowd was dire given the status of the meeting, and the weather. I couldn't believe how few cars were in the car park at 13:45, and by the look of it only 2 coaches. The stand was at most only 2/3 full and the back straight had acres of space. I guess the promoters will be disappointed with the crowd, and would of expected more

If you were a King's Lynn fan in the late 70's early 80's you would not agree with this statement. Being a Saturday night track, top line riders were quite often missing at Saddlebow road. If it wasn't a world championship qualifying round, World Team Cup round, Longtrack Championship round, lucrative Continental grasstrack, lucrative Continental Longtrack depriving the King's Lynn crowd, it was a very unusual Saturday. It was pretty much the same as today in that there were riders who would turn up regardless, and those who you knew would not

Notice that Henka & Simon are 6&7 for Kumla so will be riding as a pair. This will make Henka very happy I'm sure, I remember him telling me a few years ago that he would continue riding until he had spent some time riding with Simon.....I'm not suggesting that he will retire in anyway, just a passing comment he made

The bottom end is all wrong for a Bellini, that was what was confusing me at the time. Flemming has been doing engines for Rune Holta for many years now so it would be logical that he is using one. Flemming has a wealth of experience on the mechanical front and would I would suggest make a good job of any engine that he designs. It certainly looked quick enough last night !!

That will explain it then.....I couldn't work out what Motor Rune Holta was riding in last nights European GP. You have to say that was a pretty good debut for a new engine....well done Flemming

Not sure Jason was the first, maybe the first for that particular brand ? I'm sure that Tony Rickardsson had been using similar devices by one of his sponsors, Ohlins for sevaral years now. Whether they were as complex as Jason's I'm not sure