hawkeyenz

His gating isn't the greatest but he was only half a length down on Brad to the first corner in the Solo Final.

Watched BWD and George Congrieve at Ronnie Moore Park yesterday. BWD started with an EF but won his other races by 40-50m. He also rode in the Flat Tracker class so he had 10 or more rides on the day. George looked as good as I've seen him winning all his races that didn't feature Bradley and passing Andy Aldridge in his first heat. I think Andy rode for Bournemouth and Rye House in the National League back in the day. I'm a little more optimistic George can make a success of his venture with Newcastle. Speedway NZ have already cancelled all of the National Champs so I don't know how much more practice they are going to get for the rest of the southern summer.

I'm glad George Congreve has been given an opportunity but I think he will need a lot of support to achieve a 4 point average. I've watched him develop in Christchurch over the last few years and I think he is short of Championship standard. Sure he is 3 time NZ u21 champion but that is a bit of a smokescreen as to his ability given the standard of the opposition. I wish him all the best and I hope he proves me wrong. Hopefully BWD will be able to help him out.

I went to the opening meeting at Ronnie Moore Park last weekend and it was announced that Ben Whalley is taking a break from Speedway. The sidecars were the main feature and there were only 5 senior solo riders and four of them are wobblers. A couple of bright spots were a two or three talented kids on the small track riding mini 125 bikes. There was also a 15 year old who has switched across from Motor-cross that had three demonstration runs on his own and looked to have good pace. Reasonable sized crowd as there was only a few participants from outside Christchurch. Unfortunately running during the day needs many watering breaks and the meeting went over 4 hours. Also 2 ambulance changes required. Fortunately those needing the ride into hospital were not too seriously injured. There are plans for lights to be added at the venue later this season.

I remember taking my little brother to his first away meeting from Eastbourne. Huge crowd and I remember being annoyed they'd under cooked the program supply.

Malcolm Ballard, now that name is a blast from the past. Number 8 to Number 1 in one season. The second half finals in 1971 and 1972 at Eastbourne were like stockcars. I don't think he liked the Kennett's much. Reg Trott appeared to carefully avoided making the final! I remember a punch up in an Inter divisional 4TT between Malcolm and Dave Kennett in 1972. Mitch Shirra and Steve Gresham were 'hard' racers.

I went to the Sidecar Gold Cup Meeting at Moore Park in Christchurch. 16 Sidecars in a 20 Heat format then a Semi and Final. Great racing on the new shaped track. Passing in almost every race. Congratulations to the people that did all the work that has gone on in the winter months. Good field with three North Island Combos. Final won by the 29I sidecar but the Rose brothers from Wanganui were the standout with four wins and a machine failure while leading in the qualifying heats. Then they were the innocent party in a nasty crash in the final and raced a borrowed bike in the rerun. 2nd Round of the Gold Cup at Oreti Park Invercargill on Sunday.

April 1971 - Eastbourne vs Sunderland 59-19 Race 1 Derek Cook (R) Roger Johns (B) Russ Dent (W) Brian Whaley (YB) R YB B W 4-2 to the Eagles. Cook went on to a 12 Point Max and Russ Dent won Heat 13 for Sunderland's only race win to deny the Eagles 60 Time was 67.2 Hooked for life at age 11

Try subs@retro-speedway.com I subscribe from NZ and I've received Issue 94 today

Hi All, Is there anywhere I can find out who has the rights to show the Speedway GP's in New Zealand? Thanks in advance.

SKY NZ are showing the SON from Belle Vue and presumably have the GP's so all is good with the world.

First rider whose autograph I asked for!! He was in the second half in the first meeting I ever went to and was number 1 in the averages by the end of the season. 1971 As I've said on here before the Second Half finals were often a bit like stock cars with the young men throwing their bikes at each other.

I did and they now say SKY NZ has the rights. I just hope that is now correct.

Just to complicate things. Speedway GP finally responded that I could watch the GP on Fox Sports. Unfortunately they are only in Australia!! Either the Speedway GP people are geographically challenged or Sky NZ are negotiating with Fox who have the rights for the region. On a really positive note. The English league speedway has suddenly appeared on SKY NZ schedule for Mondays match at Swindon. This is a first for NZ. We had the Swedish League for a couple of seasons a few years back

It blocks me saying it is not available in my zone. SKY NZ have told me they are still in negotiation with SGP over the rights in NZ

We've had it live on NZ Sky TV for many years but they don't seem to be advertising it this year. I'll have to look at the Live Stream option. Thanks for the replies

Eastbourne Ivan Mauger, Dave Jessup, Gordon Kennett, Martin Dugard, Nikki Pederson, Kelly Moran and Ron Preston All English Dave, Gordon and Martin, plus Dave Norris, Dean Barker, Joe Screen Paul Woods

1971 Gordon Kennett stalking John Louis and eventually forcing his way up the inside. 1973 Neil Middleditch passing Arthur Price on the last bend to win the match 40-38 against Boston 1974 Martin Yeates breaking the Arlington track record in Heat 2 the reserves race. 1978 John Barker the Eagles number 7 winning Heat 8 against the Newcastle Tactical Substitutes Tom Owen and Graeme Stapleton All time favourites were the second half finals in 1971 and 1972 which usually featured Malc Ballard, Gordon and Dave Kennett, Roger Johns and occasionally an opposition heat leader. They were like stock cars on bikes. I don't think the Kennetts and Ballard liked each other much.

Bradley Wilson-Dean was totally dominate winning his three qualifying rides and then his three heats in the Finals. He was on borrowed equipment but he was clearly quicker than his seven rivals. Andrew Aldridge was only beaten by BWD. The sidecar support class had 14 machines and provided most of the entertainment. Crowd was only about a fifth of the Ronnie Moore Memorial meeting.

I'm off to the 2019 NZ Solo GP at Moore park this afternoon. Weather is great but there are only 8 entries headed by BWD and Andrew Aldridge.

I had the privilege to attend the Ronnie Moore Memorial Meeting yesterday at Moore Park Christchurch . It was an outpouring of love and respect for the great man that has done so much for and in Speedway. The attendance was huge, swelled by many past competitors, at least double any crowd I have seen at Moore Park. The meeting needed 81 Races (61 solo and 20 sidecar) to allow all the competitors, who wanted to, a chance to compete. The contestants were in various grades ranging from Bradley Wilson-Dean to the 68 year old on an old upright and the seven year olds on the 50cc bikes on the inner training track. The oldest bike was a 1946 JAP and there were Jawa, Weslake, Godden etc to gladden the heart of an old speedway supporter. There were approximately 50 solo competitors and 20 odd sidecar duos. I was really impressed some of the old fellas still fitted their circa 70's/80's leathers. In the A grade BWD looked unbeatable and his only likely competition Thomas Jorgensen of Denmark had to retire from the meeting after winning his first heat because of the pain from hand injuries sustained in a Mountain Bike crash when exploring our beautiful country. The final was won by Andrew Aldridge after BWD had a mechanical failure while well in the lead. Ryan Terry-Daley was second and Jake Turner third. Unfortunately no new prospects on the near horizon. George Congrieve our latest U21 Champion is about the same standard as Ryan Terry-Daley. They had the best race of the night in the semi-final with passing and re-passing final settled in Ryans favour out of the last corner. A great day and a really moving tribute to a great man and speedway rider.

I loved the two seasons Kelly Moran had at Eastbourne. Made away trips worthwhile again. Gordon Kennett, Kelly Moran and Dennis Sigalos were a great heat leader trio in 1982 but we still finished near the bottom as they had inconsistent back-up.

Ronnie Moore Park have the NZ Championships in early January and based on todays support classes at the Sidecar meeting the home circuit only have two riders that are at the standard you'd want to see in the field. The evergreen Andrew Aldridge and the youngster George Congrieve. I think it is George's first season on a 500cc and it looks like he might have some talent. Bradley Wilson Dean is a confirmed starter and I'm just hoping there will be someone there to give him some competition. There were 21 NZ sidecar outfits on display (+8 aussie). Contrast that with seven riders on 500's, four of which could barely turn the bike and were being beaten by a 14 year old on a 250 who was starting from 30 metres. At least he has some potential. Another Christchurch legend seems a long way off. Larry Ross was the last BL Heat Leader from Christchurch. Most kiwis now wouldn't be able to tell you who Mauger, Briggs and Moore are.

Another 4 hours 45 minutes marathon. Great sidecar racing with a 24 outfit field which boiled down to a Final with the best two aussie, the top Kiwi and a bit of a surprise kiwi. Brutal first turn and the home crowd were happy with a kiwi one two.

Cracker Day in Christchurch for the final evening of the tour. Looking forward to it. I hope they start on time as there are no lights and if they are as tardy as the first meeting at Ronnie Moore it will be dark before they can finish.