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Well Well Well… oh ye of little faith eh... I didn't think it could be done but here you go... News hot off the press so to speak... The travellers have been evicted (again)... the gates have been repaired and locked (again)... there are now CCTV cameras in operation (good)... and three of our little friends have been arrested and locked up and another two are on the run (Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas)... so there you go three nil to the police and two off the crossbar... nice when a plan comes together and the boys in blue get a result... Carlsberg don't do News Flashes but if they did... (and its official I will be smiling all day) Regards THJ

Workington Pikeys

If we're looking for divine intervention how about Richard Lawson (son of God) Pontus Aspgren Christian Hefenbrock Joshua Auty Mark Riss Luke Bowen Stephen Goret

What average would Jesus Christ come in on?

What a signing that is truly transformed what was looking like a poor team……

Lambo signing was the worst kept secret over the last 3 months. For one, I'm not bothered what he does in the pits, I want to see him performing better on the track, especially away from home. Jake is nailed on to return, so the last two team spots need to be remarkably good and I don't consider Aarnio as being one of them. If he is ,we will be at the wrong end of the table in 2022.

It seems crazy to me that financial obstacles are already being put infront of a new promotion by Godfrey, Bates and Co at the BSPL for the use of a bloody team name.. There is nothing in the Rulebooks about it other than this under the "Junior Leagues" section Seems another case of make it up as you go... Workington is not like other big city Teams like Glasgow, Birmingham, Sheffield etc. Ask someone in those places who the Tigers or Brummies are or even what sport it is, you'll most likely be met with who? or Rugby? Ask the same question in Workington or West Cumbria in general, most people would know.. Speedway is hard enough to promote and run as it is without a Governing body, who show a clear self interest, putting made up hurdles in place.

But certainly wouldn't be needed to feed the 5000 at any track...

cant wait to see your comments when next rider is announced as even in my humble opinion he aint worthy of a spot if rumours are true

I would say hes nailed on to join brum

Redcar and Birmingham had their differences last season, but now that the Brummies are under new management, perhaps we can all put these behind us and look towards more positive things? Best wishes to the Bears for a successful 2022.

He'd miss any Easter fixtures though......

Its strange that Sheffield only ever have a home advantage when they have a strong team, when they have a weak team their home advantage disappears, strange that

I'm pleased Lambert has got a team spot, can't understand the negativity from some about his signing. You know what you'll get from Lambert 6-8 points at home, 3-5 points away, not bad at all for a second string.

Whoever is wanting money for the use of the name "Comets" is really trying it on...... But I'm assured there will be no charge whatsoever for the name "Comics" (and then we can all call them Comets, anyway)

Almost everyone can ride Belle Vue but not Newcastle, Edinburgh, Leicester, Ipswich etc. Its at these tracks he needs to learn his craft IMO.

Why not Workington Cometz with a z ?

Aarnio going to Scarborough Fair by Simon (Lambert) and Garfunkel.

Absolutely brilliant news. Good luck to everyone concerned in this venture

TBH, how could you not love The Galloping Major? He was the man at Brum in 71 and when he appeared in his banana skin leathers, we loved him even more. A great rider to watch, a 100% trier and. 110% team man. A brilliant skipper. Above all though, he's a lovely fella and that's probably worth more than anything.

Possibly but it wasn't a very clever idea to set fire to a pole with two 11KV transformers on it and live 11KV cables either... the cost of these and the damage they caused and the works that will be needed to be done to reinstate them will probably cost more than what they got out of the cash machine and the cost putting that thing back in; it was going to cost the thick end of 60K just to have it moved 30 metres shortening the cables and using the same transformers... that will be in excess of 100k now to resolve that little problem... so the only good thing to come out of this is the "Scum" have removed a viewing obstacle for free as it wasn't going anywhere fast at those prices just getting a padded jacket fitted... Well there's a story that will cause some debate... The new promotion were being asked a silly amount of money to retain the Comets name which is a bit rich when it was Ian Thomas who came up with it and I don't think it is has a copyright on it; however I don't know what is in the BSPL rule book regarding club names and who ultimately owns them... someone may know... But hey ho stick my vote down for Workington Warriors... or Workington Barbarians...or as matey boy up at Berwick used to say the Comics of Workington and they will still be able to use the big blue "C" logo... Go Workington Comics.... and after all old Captain "Windbush" Comet would look splendid in a "clown outfit" he's already got the big red nose... Go on Andy I dare you... PMSL... Regards THJ PS. Alan we all love you really... (or is it now Coco)

Wish he would ride NL and increase his skill set on technical tracks. The more rides the better next season.

All what we expected and to be fair last year Lambert was a breath of fresh air and superb in and around the pits

I am interested in your 1930s rankings, BL. Over the course of many years and many books, I have spent a lot of time researching the 1930s, reading the contemporary speedway press. So, my own top 10 is more based on a general feeling from the first hand reports of meetings plus news stories about riders and meetings rather than strictly based on statistics, though, of course, they play a part. On that basis, I have to say I find your inclusion of Jack Parker at no.1 very surprising. My own impression from everything I have read is that the dominant riders who lasted the whole decade were Bluey Wilkinson and Eric Langton. There is then a split between Vic Huxley and Tom Farndon dominating the early part of the decade and the three Americans plus Lionel Van Praag dominating the second half, with riders like Jack Parker, Max Grosskreutz and Frank Charles just a shade behind the dominant riders in each half. On that basis, my Top 10 would be: 1. Bluey Wilkinson 2. Eric Langton 3. Tom Farndon 4. Vic Huxley 5. Jack Milne 6. Cordy Milne 7. Wilbur Lamoreaux 8. Lionel Van Praag 9. Max Grosskreutz. 10. Jack Parker. If you were to include 1928 & 1929 in the decade, Vic Huxley would be no. 1.

Adam Roynon. When he rode for Birmingham in 2009, he was obviously going to the top; he was faster than Jason Lyons, and not many were that! But then he got injured .. again and again ...

2006 I reckon, was there in my days of following Lynn all over the place.

That was the year both were rained off earlier in the season and rearranged for a weekend in October

Pantomime season is upon us!

Its been protected in the championship for a few years, even before rising stars

Name the team after one of the other reindeers' then? Unless a Reindeer is a type of Stag in which case Scunny will probably veto it.

West coast warriors or Workington warriors. Then again scrub the warriors as a rugby league team 9 miles away are called that, them jam eaters fra rubbishehaven

Going for that Christmas No.1 apparently

Hope its a good song?!

Nice to see someone speaking sense and not blinkered one way or another.

George Major Terry Shearer Phil Herne Hans Nielsen Chris Harris

Same with Redcar. Only reason I can think of is haven't sent them a press release

Suspect he is confused because your question SHOULD have been, why is Mike Bast not in the 70s list...

That made me giggle

Sorry if I've made you angry Hellstrom Bangs hasnt said anything to me.... I dont look at the Newcastle thread... And I'm pleased to hear that Riss is going to Redcar... Thanks for all the info

Jesus christ Hellstrom Bangs isn’t coming to the UK, already been said loads of times by himself Riss is Redcar bound, and will be announced on Saturday, thats been said for at least a month Paul Starke signed for Newcastle and was announced at least a month ago, maybe longer

Yep,, as much as I'd like to see Mort in the top 10, I've no great argument with that. A very plausible top 10.

Not sure what they'll be called yet. Possibly "Sittingbourne". I'm not sure, but I think when Len Silver opened his Central Park operation he used the name "Kent" because the Iwade operation already had rights to the name "Sittingbourne". Whatever they're called, it's just good to at least see some speedway continuing in the area.

Yeah its all for show no doubt. Move a few containers down to make it look like they are trying to get it done before some issue arises which will prevent the build. Of course, I would love to be proven wrong but it will never happen.

Ya not wrong Although not political nor a Tory fan I got annoyed with that Dan Walker having a go at Dominic Rabb this morning not getting enough people out of Afghanistan and over here after the pull out... as 95% who were entitled to come were possibly left behind and some had been murdered which is an absolute tragedy; and he asked if Rabb felt guilty about taking a holiday and not responding quick enough: however if it had of been the other way round and he had let 95% in without checking them and he let in murderers criminals or Taliban sleepers he would have been slated for doing that... He couldn't win whatever stance he took and I m getting fed up with the contradictory/confrontation all the time... not everyone wants to be "Woke" there are times when people have to stand up or be called out for injustices however the people on the receiving end need to be part of society and want to be included... like these travellers they create havoc everywhere they go with their criminal actions and not following the rules and ultimately contribute nothing to our society... however they work the system to their benefit and tread a very thin line... we should be coming down on them like a ton of bricks... the Ray Mallon policy of "Zero Tolerance" until they get the message that their behaviour is unacceptable... live within the law not outside of it... Regards THJ

Yes there is. Each team has a nominated number 8. If both teams are using R/R and/or guest then highest reserve moves into his spot and number 8's step up into the vacant reserve slot. guests were virtually unheard of in the mid 70's and the number of R/R's was vastly reduced as a similar scenario to this was used.

Yes I would have Chris Morton warrented a mention? Not sure about Andersson's inclusion over Chris?

Makes interesting reading that, thanks for posting it. I have to ask where Chris Morton came in the order, was surprised not to see him mentioned in 80s until I realised there are 4 individual World Champions in there for starters, still considering Billy Sanders and Kenny Carter were only riding for around half of the decade they each must have amassed enough to make the top ten. I suppose Mort's achilles heel would be his Individual World Final performances.

Kemp was very promising in his first season with Mildenhall in the NL. But hasn't really progressed as quickly as might've been expected given all the hype he had!

Great arcticle by Liam Waite in the News and Star this morning, even made the front page headline. https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19724272.workington-speedway-legend-steve-lawson-plans-return-sport-town/

Depends how you look at it ,. imo is the the uk should have one big league and you should only be allowed to sign for one uk club and not join any outside the uk .. meaning we can run 7 days a week with no double up riders etc . Surely thats the way forward .