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It is clear from many postings over the years here on the forum and on Facebook pages that Kenny Carter enjoys hero worship status amongst many. Thank goodness I am not the only person who feels deeply uncomfortable by all this. According to Tony Mac’s excellent book, a close friend of Pam’s claimed that Carter regularly hit Pam and prevented her from going out and leading a normal life. So now it turns out our hero is a wife beater, a man who inflicted mental anguish on his wife and then finally a murderer. If Carter’s actions on that fateful night had come about after some blazing argument resulting in a red mist moment, it may have made this whole wretched business 1% more bearable. However we know that Carter travelled to the Huddersfield area the day before the shooting to seek out the murder weapon, eventually sourcing one on the day of the murder so he had plenty of time to consider his actions. The decision he had made, to murder his wife and devastate the lives of two young children, clearly identifies this as a premeditated and truly heinous crime. Some claim Carter had become unhinged over the years and that his actions were fuelled by his, admittedly terrible, upbringing. Some are also now tagging a mental illness spin (with no proof), on the story but listening to Carter’s many inarticulate, and cringeworthy ranting interviews on World of Sport over the years he comes across as a little more than a hot headed child and frankly, not very bright. Many people are raised in deplorable and shocking circumstances but don’t go on to murder. If you take the position that it’s possible to separate Carter’s speedway career from his personal life, then you have to ask yourself this question: Is Kenny Carter’s speedway career more important than Pamela Carter’s life? It’s interesting to speculate about what might have happened had Carter not killed himself that night. Presumably he would have spent the rest of the 80’s, all the 90’s and some of the early century in prison. Would he have been given a heroes welcome home on the day of his release? As a convicted murderer, I doubt that he could have returned to speedway in any capacity and especially now given the extremely high profile nature of the Me Too movement and the game changing outrage over the murder of Sarah Everard. Kenny Carter would today almost certainly be banished to complete obscurity, a sad old man. Would his fans still be lauding him as a hero and legend in these circumstances? But of course by killing himself Carter conveniently avoided all this, thus bestowing upon himself the status of moral coward of the very highest (lowest) order. The achievements of people such as Carter, Phil Spector, Oscar Pistorius and many others in their respective fields, will aways be there on record. Nothing can take that away from them, but what we should do is to stop eulogising them. Their crimes have cancelled their status as legends or heroes. RIP Pam

The delays are a killer for speedway. Meetings that start late, excessive tractor grading, double R/R, the list goes on. Most sports, with the exception of cricket run like clockwork. A slicker show would definitely encourage more people to go, but the majority of promoters don't see it.

Clear views and opinions have been posted on this thread but perhaps now is the time to let this debate fizzle out. Here's why, Horrendous crimes leave a legacy for life with those closely linked or related to the victims and perpetrators, the pain and anguish never goes away but does find a tolerable level. Periodically physical and emotional flares occur naturally to exacerbate that pain and anguish (Birthdays, Christmas anniversaries of the event) however the whole episode is relived for months when the event is brought back into the public eye. In the case of a convicted perpetrator every time there is a parole review and talk of release the event hits the headlines and takes everyone back to the beginning again destroying any recovery and progress that has been made. Many Police Officers believe that whilst justice has not been seen to be done a perpetrator taking their own life is an easier outcome for those left behind to live with than a lifetime of constant reminders in the media. Many of Kenny and Pam's respective family relations are still actively involved with or supporting motorcycle events including Speedway and do read this forum so out of respect for them it might just be time to put this thread to bed.

Don't feel bad gentlemen, I've seen 20 and 30 somethings with 20/20 vision driving like ars@holes

Well, I am 7 days short of being 76 years of age. I gave up driving a couple of months ago now because I felt my concentration is not what it used to be. I did not want to hurt anyone else, or myself, for that matter, and decided the time had come for me to give up. So I did, and have no real regrets about my decision. It's an individual thing, some should pack it in early or some can go on to a hundred if all is well with them. I believe the time was right for me.

that's just unlucky though isn't it. And luck or lack of it plays a massive part in any sport. You'd still be on an even par with your opponents. How many times in the past has a youngster increased their average from the assessed two or three to then find themselves replaced, by an old hand on a lower average, once they start to struggle. At least by retaining their star status once ready to return from injury the young rider will be able to re-take their place. I'm not a fan of the rising star scheme but something needed to be done to make sure youngsters are given time to develop rather than being chucked in and replaced by a more experienced rider at the earliest opportunity.

Just to add to the "fromafar" post .... my last regular attendance was at Lakeside as a social habit with a small group of regular attendees. All had been supporting speedway for 50 years plus. Has to be said that what turned out to be the last season at Lakeside the endless delays to the meetings, the petty antics of riders on the start line made watching 15 heats of speedway a test of endurance on the cold and draughty grass/mud banks in the Spartan facilities at Lakeside. For the first time in over 50 years I found myself leaving the track before the end of the meeting. I knew then it was time to hang up my programme board/ gas rattle. It's so much more comfortable watching the delays and hold ups from your sofa with a beer , and you can record it all and fast forward 50% of the stuff with practice starts/gardening and air fence repairs. Will I go back again? Maybe only for selected meetings to see Jason Crump. I will put up with the delays and gardening to see him one more time.

very true and really not even worth the bother, better to look for new audiences who don't come with the baggage of those who see the past as a land of milk and honey through their rosetinted spectacles. Trouble is you can't even get them to pay a decent amount for watching livestream. "I'll gladly pay a couple of quid ... but a fiver's too much". "How do I watch Premier Sports without paying a subscription". Won't contribute towards the sport but want it run to their specifications.

Actually, all this business is just some busybodies (who, of course, know what is best for the lower orders) being silly as usual. I am 76, and will be taking my caravan to away matches, Redcar, Plymouth and Poole, Berwick and Newcastle and so on. I have always had good night vision and still have.

Good luck Connor!

When Speedway was "booming" in the 70's, it was invariably only individual and world team/pairs events that got shown nationally. . The regional ITV stations were the ones that showed 'team racing' with it only being syndicated to the home teams' area, (or sometimes both home and away teams' areas)... That national TV coverage being beamed into literally millions of households several times a month during the summer had a huge positive knock on impact to domestic Speedway... You could watch Peter Collins beat the world from the back just after 3pm on a Saturday, have your tea, then go and watch him do it live that evening... People are invariably sheep like in their decisions as to what is 'cool'... Which is why it's always baffled me why the BSPL allow matches to be shown live in front of "one (old) man and his (nearly as old), dog".... A two hour advert which will get shown several times more.... Crackers...

No thanks be better with Macdonald and he's a poor option

Interesting that (and I have an interest) up to now nobody has mentioned public transport. Such a ban (although not something I would agree with) should not mean the end, for those affected, in attending any events during non daylight hours. However, I would imagine that the vast majority of people could not even contemplate using public transport at night as an alternative. 'Could not' being the operative words. I'd suggest that if such a ban was in place the standard, frequency, reliability and safety of public transport would have to increase dramatically to avoid making a vast section of the public prisoners in there own homes...... ......getting good at that this government. PS I drove home in the dark last week without putting my lights on like a total moron. I'm 48.

In the free world of the United Kingdom, I would like to think that people have a choice when or not to drive their vehicle. Age certainly isn't the only issue as to whether you should be driving at night. By all means introduce a compulsory eyesght test for ALL drivers periodically , rather than the present honesty system, but a blanket ban based on age alone is surely not justified. (and probably illegal under "human rights" legislation !!)

So it appears by reading all your interesting comments, of which many feel its right for them to stop driving in the dark, just confirms what I thought when I opened this topic, it would have an adverse affect on our sport, as you'd presumably be no longer able to attend, unless you're lucky enough to have someone that could offer you transport. I'm one of the lucky ones if you like, where I find night time driving less distracting than in daylight, when you might be blinded by the sun, or looking at various things as you drive past them, and as I have an annual eye test, which should be mandatory as a couple of you have said, plus annual diabetic eye screening, I consider myself to be safe on the road at night. Living in the country as I do, I'm extra wary due to the deer that appear from nowhere at night, so I'm also ultra vigilant, and ready for any emergency braking. I also have to make a lot of 4-hour round trips to hospital in the dark, so that my sick wife can undergo treatment she can't manage without. But my reasons for starting this topic in the first case, weren't so that people could start saying "I stopped driving because.......", it was purely to express my worry as to how clubs would survive if those of a certain age could no longer attend due to their age, because it is the aged group to a large extent, that attend, or do voluntary work at stadiums.

Yes back when I used to travel all over the country folllowing speedway it would often require travelling back in the dark. Thought nothing of it in those days but no way would I consider it now!

My health and night vision is fine. I preferred driving at night rather than during the daytime. My concentration levels are probably reduced by about 10% though, and to me anyway, that is a lot. Therefore - time to call it a day. This reply is prompted by ch958's comment. With all those 'folk' driving as they do these days, the last thing you need is someone with a reduced concentration on the roads.

Good Luck with the new audiences who don’t have rose tinted glasses.When will the penny drop that there are other activities on offer that provide better value for money outside the sport.The sport is not attracting new fans in numbers in the UK in the last 10-15 years.I certainly don’t know the answer to get them back, but certainly looks a long difficult task.I am still a regular attender but it’s more a social habit these days than the entertainment factor.Hopefully at Berwick the new track shape will help in the entertainment level.Money will get much tighter for a lot of people after this pandemic with possible job losses being a factor. It will be interesting whether the year out will rekindle the enthusiasm at the track and attract bigger numbers , time will tell. My one solution is that the sport has to take a step back to a Semi- Professional level regarding riders wages to cut the wages Bill to match crowd levels.It certainly won’t effect the entertainment level IMO.

Haven’t read all of the thread and I apologise if it’s already been mentioned but what about james sarjeant.

Definitely an option and never say never as in these current crazy times I wouldn't rule anything out to be fair Regards THJ

Yes indeed could get very messy, a rider I would love to see riding for the Scorpions however it is unlikely is Andreas Lyager who came over as a young lad a few years ago and seems to have progressed massively over in Europe however with the restrictions in Europe he probably wont come over.

He's still a speedway hero, whatever he did and why he did it, he was still magic on a bike, while I accept your views, what happened was tragic, why it happened and all the circumstances, we'll never know. Personally I also liked Garrity as well, he was a great entertainer and despite his many shortcomings, I liked Ward, I've been involved since the early 50s and I still think Darcy was one of the best two or three riders I ever saw. This is a speedway forum and great moments will always be remembered, no matter who created them.

Yep; he could be hot stuff on the Curry Star Rating and have an 8 average and all you can replace him with is a rider of the same star rating or less; so if he was a 2 Star Rating you couldn't even get a 3 Star Rated rider to replace him even if one was available. So it will be swapping a Vindaloo for a Korma... This is only a guess but unless Rob can come up with something special; like a manipulation or bending of the rules to get someone to fit; Scunny will be running with a 4 or 5 point rider either Zaine Kennedy; Josh McDonald or Kasper Andersen then possibly Lasse Fredriksen; Ondrej Smetana; Nick Skorja or another new foreign rider who would come in on a 5; or there is always the option to drop someone from the team to bring in one high and one lower averaged rider however there are literally no options out there available so Rob is between a rock and a hard place whatever he does. Also the latest on BWD as to whether he will come over and do the UK this season is now he wont be coming over. (But that could change again depending on offers) Furthermore I doubt there will be any facilities allowed for missing riders as suggested who at least haven't ridden for a team; although there have been exceptions in the past it is frowned upon and European lockdowns and travel restrictions are going to be very interesting to see what happens under these circumstances... Newcastle have Claus Vissing in at No1 and intend to use him however if he gets stuck in Denmark would it be fair for them to use R/R for their number 1 when he hasn't turned a wheel for the club; would Newcastle get a facility? It has the potential to get really messy... Regards THJ

Falling star anyone

With the way the starting limit is set a team could lose their first six matches by at least 10 points a time and still increase the overall average

The task in getting the couch potatoes back through the turnstiles, is virtually impossible. That ship sailed many years ago.

The problem is you're obviously far more conscientious than the vast majority, fairplay to you for being so. I'm 58 and passed my test just before my 18th birthday, i hate to think of the bad habits i''ve picked up over the years. As i've got older i dislike driving at night, in heavy rain or fog more each time it happens.

I AGREE...

I don't think the new LED street lights are any better, cheaper maybe, but there is no spread of light only puddles of light.

How long will it be before Chris Harris & Scott Nicholls have ridden / guested for all six teams?

The biggest missed opportunity British Speedway had was when Sky got involved in 1999. They had the perfect opportunity to put together a proper business plan to invest the money into a proper structure to give it a solid foundation to build on and take the sport forward. But sadly, self interest got in the way.

As an add on to the 1977 Belle Vue - Ipswich clashes, Tony Davey scored 0 from 4 in the first match and a 12 point maximum in the next!

Surprising news today coming out of Tarnow that Pawel Miesac is leaving the club, before even riding for them! No reasons given as to why just yet. Tarnow have Ernest Koza and Artur Mroczka as Polish riders but maybe they will look to land either Musielak or Miedzinski on loan from Toruń too.