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I posted this on FB on learning this very sad news. As an Exeter fan of 40 years, one of my three favourite Falcons ever. Deeply saddened by this news. "Absolutely gutted to hear of the passing of this outstanding speedway racer. I began my speedway education at Exeter in 1975 & when this guy arrived in 1977 it was a like a whirlwind had blown into Devon. One of the most magnificent racers ever to grace the CG, he was totally fearless but fair on track & was possibly the most spectacular racer ever to wear the green & white & one of my top three Falcons of all time. No one wanted to miss a race when this guy was on track - he... was dynamite. Off track, he was the complete antithesis of his on track self, kind, gentle, humorous, always happy to speak to & spend time with fans & just the most amazing commitment to the cause - trekking across from Czecho every week, when the iron curtain was still up, in his Skoda. Speedway has truly lost a great man & a gentleman. A sad, sad day for our great sport. RIP Vac & thanks for the most amazing memories you left us all with." And I posted this on the Dream Team section of the Speedway Plus website in 2006. "During those formative years of my speedway days at Exeter, an unknown Czech arrived in 1977 & became possibly the most spectacular racer in the history of the Falcons. Paid 11 on his debut & incredibly a near 11 point average at home in that first season. But it wasn't his points scoring that endeared him to me or the other Exeter faithful, but his all out, full throttle style. I swear once his reputation got around visiting riders would miss the gate to make sure he was ahead of them! The County Ground was a fearsome place with its banking & steel fence, but many a rider would ride wide only for Vac to find a "gap" to go outside him & roar to another win! It was only when you rushed down to the fence to see the tyre marks half way up the steel fence you realised that there was actually no gap to go through...."

I would like to thank all the track staff, they put the air fence up yesterday which was a massive job in the conditions. The track held up ok. Needs a week of good weather to harden the surface up. The guys helping yesterday were great, a lot of knowledge so they were telling me where there are small problems with the surface that appear during a meeting. The rakers are there week in week out and see things with the track that most don't see, so working with them will be good. Glyn.

I am in no doubt, if all tracks were similar to Belle Vue, our sport would benefit no end..... The Riders love it, the fans love it, and you wouldn't have to watch any of this 'Gate and Go' rubbish. Just imagine watching proper races everytime. That was a wonderful dream.......... now back to reality......

The sadness for me is that none of this - having something to sell to Poland and having such an amazing racetrack - would have been possible had David Gordon and Chris Morton hadn’t put their lives on hold for 10 years to ensure that the NSS became a reality. One day, perhaps, their hard graft will be properly recognised and true Belle Vue people will take it over again.

Maybe he's still bitter about being at Poole and not at his preferred choice of Somerset?

Just popped up to practice in between races at Cheltenham. Gotta say the suits look smart as F. We might not win the league but in terms of looking profssional we are going to put the Poole "Pikey" Pirates to shame.

'I was also there' for The Wilkie 4's, big turn out of fans on a freezing cold & wet day with many top riders riding for the 4 teams: Ivan Mauger, Bruce Penhall, PC, etc, etc which showed the high esteem people had, and still have, for Alan. Ivan won the World Individual Championship & tunned around the fortunes of, and won the league with, every team he rode for. Except Hull. The 3-no shows at Wimbledon + 1 non-arrival at Swindon in 1979 which did for Hull's title challenge were entered into the annulls of speedway history. Though Ivan did win the then World Team Cup with New Zealand in that year. Think the only 'major' (no pun intended) national trophy Hull won during Ivan's time (1978-81) was the Interleague 4TT - and ironcially Ivan didn't ride in the IL 4TT Final at Sheffeild. Many riders, didn't make it back from the postponed for 24 hours World Pairs at Vojens the previous day, though Zenon Plech did, but Ivan wasn't scheduled to ride at Sheffield on that day in any case. ...

This Bib is generating a lot of interest good for Volvo Cars, Wessex marine and County Crest Pallets!

Whats the point in our number 8 ???? Surely to step in at 7 also i doubt there's anyone unattached better than kyle on a 3.00 average obviously.

Does the wife know you call her that?

If I can just correct one point Westhamboy66. Lakeside have not 'moved up' from the National League to the Premiership. In the words of Lakeside's website, it was 'a promotion'. On another point, I wonder if Lakeside will actually run all of their scheduled meetings this year? That possibly hinges on whether their riders get paid.

Thats true Steve, but you would have thought Chris would have figured it out by now.

You don't score 14 points if you haven't figured it out. Seems he isn't consistent enough on track at Monmore tho.

There it was on page 3 of the Speedway Star. I simply cannot believe the attitude of Lakesides Promotion and how they have the front to move up from the NL still owing money to the rider. Whether or not he is a soft touch is of no consequence the promotion are a despicable pair. They more than anyone know the risks riders face since they lost their Captain and the big bills that could follow up a couple of engine blow ups etc. For JC to say he had no idea is laughable. So much for the BSPA taking money from clubs when a new promotion join to cover such eventualities. You couldn’t make it up.

He did mention when interviewed pre-season last year that he could stay at Troy's or a friends in Whittlesey.

Well, I have booked my seat for Good Friday when Coventry come to visit. Kean only has to beat the likes of Ryan MacDonald and Jamie Halder, so no problem there then.

I think you will find that the only reason Chris wasn’t interviewed was simply because the i/v’s were not pre-arranged and done after all the riders had finished on track. By the time the video guy went to get Chris, he had already left the stadium. Nothing sinister at all.

Dont worry its probably personal.

Course they were. That's why he had several spins round Peterborough and stayed with a Whittlesey landscape gardener when Mick Poole (not Poole Speedway) brought him over here. Mick's intention was for Holder to sign for Panthers. Yes, more fool Peterborough, but don't make out every rider coming to this country that Ford gets his mitts on is discovered by him.

I agree but he will get a good reception at Poole especially after a couple of good meetings, he may not get a great reception elsewhere especially Kings Lynn but he deserves a chance to put the past behind him. He has been a terrific servant to Poole over the years and will do a great job for the team.

We're still waiting for you to let us Diamonds fans know the final two riders as you seem to have a crystal ball...

I look forward to seeing Chris ride again and i think he will get an ok reception at Swindon i hope so anyway.A fresh start for him we all make mistakes in life so let him move on hopefully he will get back to the form that we all know he is capable of.I think Chris wants to stay low profile concentrate on his racing and enjoy his racing again.

Is that one reserve the best new 2 pointer last season and the other reserve who's average goes up to about 4.6 even if he fails to score in his first meeting back after injury?

Let's not go ott here. Ford never found him, he found Ford (via Mick Poole). Mick Poole contacted Ford when Peterborough failed to do anything about signing Chris after he'd had a couple of after meeting spins round Alwalton on machinery borrowed from Jason Crump.

WOW!

Live coverage on Eurosport 1 at 5pm on Saturday 24th March from Torun with Dave Rowe and Sam Ermolenko trackside.

I began going regularly to speedway with 6 meetings left of the 1977 season. Alan Wilkinson featured in 4 of these, rather a sobering thought now, after what was to happen to him the following season. I daresay I'm not the only contributor to this topic who was at his benefit meeting in April 1979.

What does it matter, if the referee has put the two-minute warning on IMMEDIATELY he signals a recall? Have as many hangers-on as you like out on the track, the riders still have to be back in 120 seconds.

Where does it say that? The only thing I can see if that the riders cannot leave the circuit, which isn't new.

ah just re-read and have to agree with you. Number 4 looks weak compared to most other sides also. There is going to be huge reliance from the top 3 all getting 10+ every meeting and hoping a couple of the others can chip in a bit

This really is some terrible news. Hard as nails, and a little scary at times, but the kind of rider every manager and every fan would welcome in their team. A 100% trier, a loyal team man, a nice guy, and someone I will remember very fondly. R.I.P. Vaclav Steve

I don’t get why you wouldn’t want teams racing in the same colours, not is it professional, allows team backers to be seen. Swindon said tonight they’ve a main team sponsor who’s on the front but also 9 other sponsors who have space on the team suits....can’t wait for Man City players coming out in odd kits

But can the likes of Paulco and Willie swap their Holiday Inn Peterborough bookings for a night on your sofa J?

VISITING FANS . please read about the wonderful gesture from the comets promotion about the Cumberland ClassIc . support this venture please .

How many Poole fans are looking forward to a good season ? I am !!

Unfortunately Peter has not been well either. To correct one thing there is that I am the TM but will also be the co-promoter ...and I do know what is going on behind the scenes . There is daily contact between the key people involved with Birmingham Speedway .....and Lee Kilby gave more updates than just about sponsorship . The meeting went well and those fans there went away happy at what had been discussed and what they heard.

Like most of the rest of your post, this is completely untrue - I have never said, or even implied, this. This is a multi-faceted argument, which is, I suspect, one of the reasons while you seem unable to "get it". For the purposes of the discussion let's just accept for the moment your point that the racing, or lack of, is not the reason for the decline in crowds to it's present (all-time?) low. Please tell us what the reason(s) for the persistent decline in crowds is, and secondly how you would correct that decline and get crowds back up to a sustainable level.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA AND..................................wake up pal

Hats off to Birmingham for admitting that the process for signing the 7th rider is taking far longer than expected and that selected 3 pointers have been invited to P&P in case there is a requirement to declare them in the initial side for challenge / Trophy meetings. Although that is a little kick in the plums for Kyle Roberts its important to do what is best for Birmingham Speedway.

So things from the q and A are being listened too then, fair play.

R.I.P Vaclav Verner.....very sad news.

For whom? For a private promoter and maybe 18 riders going through the motions in a utterly pointless event?

The SCS group have said continually that if you want to go to Leicester then go as they don't see it will have an effect on what they are trying to do. Jeff expressed an opinion that he thinks the team at Leicester isnt Coventry Bees as we are at NL level, he hasn't said to fans don't go. I do differ from his opinion on this, Coventry Bees shouldnt be at NL level but unfortunately we are, a league doesn't define what a club is. I say again the fight is to Brandon Estates now.

Ivan didn't want to leave Belle Vue having spent 4 seasons there. It was Belle Vue that let him go, albeit allowing it to be believed it was the rider control committee that were responsible so as not to alienate any fans. They did it because they correctly believed that they could build home grown and less expensive league winning teams without him. Ivan also spent 4 seasons at Hull and 6 at Exeter, so certainly cannot be accused of being a rider who regularly moved from one team to another after relatively short stays. I've no doubt that he would have had very attractive offers if he had let it be known at the end of a season that he was available. I think the evidence points to the fact that he was committed and passionate about his clubs by doing whatever he could to make them successful. He didn't have to do that. He could have done what the majority of top riders do and just ensured that he gave 100% to his riding and that would have been perfectly acceptable. However, he went way beyond that and so far as I know, for no additional financial benefit to himself. Tsunami's post gives further examples of his going above and beyond what he needed to do to help Newcastle and other riders.

Ivan insisted on having a say in the riders that were signed and the running of the teams he was involved with. It is no coincidence that Belle Vue, Hull and Exeter were all successful during his time with them. I'm sure he negotiated good deals for himself but his commitment to his teams was beyond doubt.

The campaign group has no allegiance to anyone, and any evidence of “all the trouble the group has caused” would be welcomed. If I in any way felt that what was being done was not being done in a professional or respectful way I wouldn’t be putting my name to it as one of those involved - especially as I am quite openly involved in various ways across the sport. You’re welcome to come to a campaign group meeting, you might learn something - but I guess then we might also learn your identity, which presumably you don’t want to happen.

Where does the previous poster accuse Sandhu of money laundering? He says Sandhu was involved with a money launderer. That is quite true. The Jatinder Singh Batth quoted in the article was a convicted money launderer.

Spot on... What so many promoters over the past twenty years or so have failed to grasp is how important that 'emotional attachment' to your team actually is... The riders mentioned (and many more) helped engender that loyalty bond between fan and 'their' team.. Nowadays two random, cobbled together septets riding under a couple of 'flags of convenience' masquerading as body colours, simply can never engender that loyalty... Running a team sport with such a concept and expecting enough of a fan base to buy into it to make it successful is frankly ludicrous in the extreme... Oh for Wilkie and others of his like today...

WHEN Alan is well enough a friend drives him south to the NSS.

Could be a hell of a lot worse you could have heeps,greaves and Morris