Killer Cat from Mars

Just changed mine - come on Team GB

Nice to see Simon get the nod, I hope it acts as a boost for him and can kick start his season. In all honesty Simon has struggled this year, and the two injuries he's sustained have meant that he hasn't been 100% for any period of time. Brandon is a happy hunting ground for him normally, so fingers crossed he'll do well. I would probably have put Howe in, with Kennett at reserve, but Middlo's the man who has to make the tough decisions, so I'll back the GB Squad 100%. Be interesting to see how the squad would change for Poland, if at all?

I think it would be a popular decision if Kennett got the GP nod next year. If Scott doesn't qualify, I think a years sabbatical would do him good. He looks all out on his feet at the mo, and at Cardiff his riding at times seemed desperate.

Nothing wrong with constructive criticism. Steady will be disappointed that he went out, and hand on heart as an Aces fan, I believe Simon will struggle at World Level. I see him being a good second or third heat leader at EL level. Some people just seem to enjoy putting the boot in, that's all.

Steady will be back next year, at Belle Vue and in the World Championships - it was a tough ask for him to qualify this time, coming so close after an injury. Nice to see comments of support from fellow forumites.

This was my second Cardiff GP, and it was definitely the best. As someone said earlier in the thread though, I'm amazed that we can't fill the stadium. Was last night's crowd the biggest ever? Seemed to be more there than last year.

What a night!! Well done Bomber for putting the Great back into Britain. I'm still hoarse this morning after all the shouting last night. But more people should go to Cardiff - the noise created last night was incredible - Can you imagine what it would be like with a full stadium. Well done to the other Brits for battling away, but this was Bomber's night, and boy did he deserve it

Apparently the site of the stadium is at the rear of Regent Grove and is covered by housing Speedway first took place there on 1st September 1929, but the details have been lost. Any programme from this period would be worth a small fortune!

In all fairness, the new promotion had very few dealings with Crump, apart from him telling them he didn't want to ride for them, so you can't really blame them for not asking him. Than again, how do we know that Crump wasn't asked and turned the offer down? It's also a shame with Nicholls riding that Hans Andersen couldn't have been tempted to ride.

I seem to remember that the meetings were called the 'Craven A' Series and weren't they raced in Kuwait? I have a programme for one of them, but I don't know how successful they were.

He'd be great cover for one of the reserves

I think we should ask Chris Louis to ride, as he got injured guesting for us last year - it would be a nice gesture to offer him some practice for the new season. Would like to see Loram there too, and maybe Charlie Gjedde. Anyone else got anyone they'd really like to see complete the line-up.

The announcer said that he had a runout at Coventry last week and this was his first competitive match back. Maybe he wanted a run-out in a "friendly" before returning to full competitive action. He should be flying for the Rockets very soon. Looked sharp, and good value in his races as always.

Enjoyed the meeting. There were some good races, but Steady was untouchable - which augurs well for the coming week. If he gates like that all week, nobodies going to get near him!! Programme was excellent - very good features which rolled back the years, and made me feel old, as I was their in 1982 when he made his debut!! Nice also to see some Bradford fans - I just wondered if these fans still go to speedway regularly, and if so, where, as there seemed quite a few here today. Good day all round - well done Smudger, and here's to the next 20 years

How about the Belle Vue Babes? - a nickname only used for two matches for the Aces reserve side in 1968. They became the Colts shortly after. I believe the Babes nickname was voted for by the fans, but BV were forced to change it. And nobody seems to have mentioned the Forest Flyers.

Shelbourne Tigers rode in Dublin from 1950-54, 1961 and 1970-71. They rode open meetings at the Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium, still sometimes seen on Sky TV when the greyhounds are running.

Here's a few more: HARRINGAY RACERS / TIGERS / CANARIES. FLEETWOOD FLYERS / KNIGHTS. LEEDS LIONS ELLESMERE PORT GUNNERS WIGAN WARRIORS / PANTHERS. HASTINGS SAXONS CARDIFF DRAGONS NEWTON HEATH HEATHENS NOTTINGHAM LACEMEN SHELBOURNE TIGERS ROCHDALE HORNETS RINGWOOD TURFS LEA BRIDGE SAINTS / CUBS Those are a few off the top of my head, so to speak, hope they help.

Absolutely . Well done Jason. Now equal with the late, great Peter Craven as an Aces double World Champ, it would be great if Crumpy could now push on towards Ivan's record, and I believe he has the time and the ability to do it.

I remember going to Thornton Road in the early eighties when Belle Vue were racing there. Louis Carr came out on a bike that sounded like a bag of spanners, and then proceeded to break the track record!! I returned to Thornton Road in the nineties when my football team Droylsden were playing there against Colwyn Bay - Colwyn Bay were using it as their home during their exile from the Welsh League. I looked around the stadium and could see no trace of the old track - I felt quite sad about that. Is the old stadium still there now?

Oops, the secrets out

Could someone put the details of the book on here please, as I'd love to buy a copy - all books about the pioneer years are great reading.

Thanks Speedyguy - if anyone can remember the issue number I'd be most grateful as I'd really like to have a copy of this issue. I would be intrigued to see if it has a picture of the Holy Grail of speedway in Manchester, the actual race sheet from the first meeting at Droylsden.

I can't answer your question regarding why certain promoters don't want defunct teams racing in second halves, but I can tell you that I have seen a team representing the Crewe Kings race at Buxton. So maybe you should approach promoters who are happy to allow defunct teams to race in second halves.

There are plenty of pubs in the city centre with Sky TV - there's a Sports Bar on Quay Street with loads of screens, and many other pubs with the Sky sign outside. You should have no problem finding at least one that could show the speedway. You're biggest problem could be getting them to actually show it - as I wouldn't imagine any will be specifically showing the speedway.

I don't like the format for these World Team Cup matches - once Poland got behind they seemed to just rotate Gollob, Hampel and Ulamek in every race. They've got to scrap the double point joker and the Tactical Substitute and give each team a reserve that they can use in case of injuries. Then, with each rider taking his prgrammed rides, the best TEAM would win.