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Not sure that criticising a promoter for hosting this meeting is appropriate whatever axe you have to grind with him? Surely he would hold it regularly if he was bothered about nest feathering.

Oh dear, Havvy as Team Manager. Good luck with that one, he could maybe ride a bike in his day, but Team Management skills and interpersonal skills ! He most certainly has not got.

Gary was an excellent team manager for Coventry, popular with the riders and very knowledgable. Good call by Poole

Fantastic news for the promotion and the club on getting the British Under 21 championship final. The work put in behind the scenes fully justifies the MPA as one of the best venues for such great events. Roll on March.

Or nobody else wanted it

The only ones likely to exploit any loopholes have dropped a league.

I can’t say first hand about other teams, but I know Glasgow have done this for years and still do. On the “oop north” team manager, I did offer but somehow they thought Havvy was a better bet. From my point of view, I think they’re right

I think last nights announcements were great. I quite like the 2 manger idea. And surely racesuits is a good thing.

Confirmed. First signing Archie Freeman: http://www.newcastlediamonds.co/news/article.asp?id=101074

Personally I'm not a fan of racesuits, I find it much harder to know which rider is which!

Was unprofessional and not very knowledgable at Berwick, made a lot of mistakes and stupid decisions

Most have done this for a considerable time haven't they?. Hardly ground-breaking!

Because he knows who he is

Your spot on there.. Silly boy isn't he......

Forget Tungate. Never ever happening.

Very knowledgeable !! Only because he had Laurence Rogers tied to his hip. He openly admitted at a Berwick supporters forum that he had NEVER read a rule book, which as it happens proved correct with some of the things he tried to do. The riders were not impressed either.

I can’t believe anyone would want to see Adam Roynon back on a Speedway Bike, After every thing he has been through injury wise, I for one would be happy if he remained retired and and we will still have the memories of what a great entertainer ha was

Poole

It’s fact that toy tracks will never host it

Hope Rosco checked his top pocket after that photo shoot finished.

Personally I have never had any issue with Havvy, great rider in his day, always pulled out all the stops for his country and nice guy to talk to in my own experience, judging by some comments others haven't had the same experience as myself but I can only speak as I find.

I did not know that about Les Owen Addio the eye injury !!! he did get 3 England caps and in the early 60s especialy1961 was going really well before breaking his collarbone badly.Harrhy had three more seasons at Brandon 1974/75/76 and one season at Stoke in 1978 after his serious injury.

Les Owen rode from 1957- 1973 for the Coventry Bees a real stalwart for the club which is nearly unheard of these days.I read that Les and Col Smith both used to turn up at the Brandon stadium and try to get a few laps in until the great Charles Ochiltree chucked them out.Mr Ochiltree told them both if they went through the right channels ( i.e.) the training school they would both be considered the rest is history.I know when you think of Coventry you think of the great Booey boy blue and rightly so and in later years Olsen/ Knudsen but LesOwen, Roger Hill, Ron Mountford, always make me remember that brilliant Coventry race jacket RIP Les.

Don't go ruining the 'excuse'!

Reintroduction of race suits tells me the club is listening to the fans... should be applauded methinks.

Great news all round, having Havvy as away team manager is fantastic news, always liked him as a man and a rider.

just asking , do you think team suits help a team to win things . easier to follow a certain rider in his own colours than a deck of cards face down . imo .

Nobody makes the riders buy the most expensive equipment but they all do from NDL upwards. F2 is a red herring and always has been. Why buy a bike that can only be used in one league or one country? Why learn a different style of riding that can only be used in one league or one country? Promoters and supporters have been subsidising riders’ vanity for far too long. The riders need to learn to use what they can afford and not expect others to pay

I believe that was for the replacement of the first roof that was blown off the previous year.

The previous track alterations were significant and resulted in considerable improvement in racing and passing opportunities for faster riders not having made the gate. Unfortunately towards the latter stages of the season due to wear and tear the track surface became damaged and bumpy in key areas which from reports are in the process of being properly addressed. So have no fear that for 2020 the fours will have a great venue both on & off the track which hopefully a large crowd will enjoy Although the nonsensical clash of dates with the pairs and Cardiff may play a larger part than concerns about the track in reducing attendance.

The bends have already been altered so I shouldn't think anything else can be done, apart from what is happening ~ repairing certain areas of the track.

Issue 95 is out now and here's a small taste of the feast of nostalgia inside . . . ANDERS MICHANEK: Life & Times In the first of a regular new series of in-depth, seven-page timeline profiles, ROB PEASLEY chronicles the illustrious career of the 1974 World Champion and former Sweden, Leicester, Newcastle and Reading No.1. BIG NIGHTS: Midland Riders' Championship PHIL CHARD continues to review some of British speedway's most prestigious individual meetings. This time he heads back to the Midlands at a time when speedway was flourishing at Coventry, Cradley Heath, Leicester, Oxford, Swindon and Wolverhampton, with Birmingham joining the fray from 1976. Past winners of the MRC in the Backtrack era include: Barry Briggs, Ole Olsen, John Boulger, Dave Jessup, Hans Nielsen, Scott Autrey, Erik Gundersen, Lance King and Tommy Knudsen. MARATHON MEN DOUG NICOLSON looks at the gruelling test of both man and machine that was the British League’s Rider Replacement scheme in 1976, when Halifax's flying Dutchman became the first rider to score a seven-ride, 21-point maximum. Other notable endurance experts during that sweltering summer were Finn Thomsen, Reg Wilson, Joe Owen and Bruce Cribb. In-depth analysis has unearthed fascinating facts from a time when one or two teams even used 'Double R/R'. RIVALS: Coventry v Cradley Heath Reviewing club rivalries, ROB PEASLEY recalls classic matches between two Midlands giants. With quotes from Bees' Mick Bell and Heathens' Alan Grahamne, match winners included Dave Shields, Sam Nikolajsen, John Jorgensen, plus 1988 cup hero 'Big Al' himself, while there was trouble afoot for Bruce Penhall and Kelvin Tatum. BACKCHAT MARTIN ROGERS answers readers' questions on . . . track standards and curators; riders who didn't live up to their early potential; whether the speedway authorities did enough to preserve Wembley as a World Final venue; and the drugs culture that entered British speedway in the 80s. TED HUBBARD: his final interview Former Canterbury and Rye House star Ted Hubbard, who passed away recently, gave this last, candid in-depth interview to TONY McDONALD. 'Hurricane' also talks about his two spells with Hackney at opposite ends of his successful career, plus the tragic loss of his good friend Graham Banks. COATBRIDGE: 50 Memorable Moments DOUG NICOLSON recalls much-missed Coatbridge, where the excellent steeply-banked track became home to Scotland's two premier teams from different eras. Featured riders include Doug Templeton, Reidar Eide, Bernt Persson, Bert Harkins, Jim McMillan, Bobby Beaton, Egon Muller, Ettienne Olivier, Mitch Shirra, Brian Collins and Mick McKeon. Whatever happened to . . . MARK BALDWIN? The former Mildenhall, Milton Keynes and Wimbledon trier explains to MARTIN NEAL why he quit at the age of just 24, in 1986. THE WRITE STUFF In a rare interview, Speedway Star editor ANDREW SKEELS, universally known as 'Scun', re-traces his path from Scunthorpe to the top job on the sport's leading magazine. Remember, we no longer sell single or back issues, so if you wish you to receive this edition you need to take out a subscription (£25 per year UK) at www.retro-speedway.com

There was a great feature on Tony Lomas when he was interviewed in 'Backtrack' a couple of years ago. Apparently he lives in Reeth which is a lovely village I visit regularly in the Yorkshire Dales...yet to bump into him but I have enquired when in the area. Unfortunately my speedway memories of Tony are not particularly good. He was forced to join Oxford and the moved proved unsuccessful and he quickly joined Exeter in a swap involving Bob Kilby. Both riders benefitted from the move. Tony joining a track that he was more adapted for and for Bob to get away from Ivan Mauger! Great days!

Sure they’re meant to share it out like? Did Scunny not have it a while ago?

Max said after the closure of stoke and cradley not running he didn’t want to do NL and concentrate all his efforts on Newcastle,that’s not to say he won’t ride in the trophy meetings for them now..he’s pretty close to dave Tattum as well.

I know Chris Louis was keen to have it at Ipswich.

there is a difference ollie and simon will be at all the meetings

If my understanding is correct they are looking at the lighting situation (and it will not involve more rubble dumping).

I think you will find he came before matt maybe wrong don't think I am though

Tough as nails was Ron. I remember seeing him racing with a plaster cast on his lower leg , didn't slow him down though. I had a few dealings with him after he retired, via his garage business, and always found him a great guy to chat with. When the ESO engine hit the UK in the mid 60's Ron was always keen to tell everyone how many more races he could get out of the engine before any servicing was required in comparison to the old JAP motors.

The reason for starting with the NDL (and this is just my opinion) is that it’s one of the worst offenders when it comes to riders buying equipment way beyond their ability. Young riders turn up with two near GP standard bikes in the belief that it’s all to do with the bike. The incidence of injury is greater in that league largely, it seems to me, due to riders riding bikes faster that they can go. They need to learn to ride in a progressive manner until they reach the stage that they are faster than the bike. The advantage of a low lift cam and fuel restrictor is there’s no benefit having a Peter Johns engine as it won’t be any faster than one put together by the rider’s dad. The cost isn’t great compared to everything else - these guys spend £600 on a Blixt carb after all - and there’s the added advantage that they can use the same engine, with the cam replaced by a standard one and minus the fuel restrictor, in any other meeting anywhere in the world, something you can’t do with a 2 valve or an F2.

What a great idea with the racesuits. Forever and beyond promotors have whinged and said how much they cost (as proven before, isn't a great sum of money), well this is a great way of involving fans and sponsors whilst covering the costs too. I see no reason now why other teams don't follow this idea up now and launch a similar campaign themselves.

16.2.6 AMENDED MA’s have been amended with the Approval of the BSPA GC or Directors for: a) Riders who have been absent from British Speedway racing for more than 3 seasons (NB. The MA may be increased or decreased). b) Riders who have been absent for more than 1 full season due to injury. c) Any rider who has been or is eligible to compete in the NDL (and has not represented another FMN, other than the ACU) will receive a 2.5% reduction on their MA. d) a rider who moves between the Premiership and Championship leagues and requires a converted MA, the conversion factor will be 1.5

I thought it was Matt Ford who brought the club back to life maybe wrong

Yes, Sid, the 'Stars' are all very well but speedway wouldn't have exisited without the middle order men. Classic example at Cowley was Rick Timmo...a good servant to Oxford.

Coventry v Cradley midland cup 16/05/73. John Harrhy and Les Owen were involved in a horrific crash in which Harrhy was excluded.This crash gave Les Owen life threatening injuries and Harrhy ended up with a broken neck in which resulted in Coventry running R/R for Harrhy in most of the remaining fixtures of that season.

Surely Dan is guaranteed the U21 spot?

Both tonight's announcements, headlines on the echo Web site

Planning permission granted by the council. Now over to the developers!

As per others - yes he effectively is, via his company BSC Ltd. However if he is true to reputed past "form", he will be trying to avoid responsibility and cost for the needed improvements and repairs, either by maintaining they should be done and financed by others, or by just doing nothing in response to requests from his tenants. This is somewhat different from the stadium car park, which BSC under the planning requirements of City Council, was supposed to have tarmacked over with parking spaces properly marked. So if anyone incurs an injury by accidentally stepping into a pothole whilst walking across it, you know who is liable. However, the chances of actually getting any compo from BSC are slim, but you could have a better chance with the Council if they've failed to enforce the requirement.