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Mildenhall confirmed as going to the tapes in 2023

You’ll do as your told.

I'm not 100% sure Arthur54 and Trackrat aren't the same person. Would explain a lot.

Trying to win an argument by claiming someone's views should not be given an airing because of a "brain injury" is a bit low. I find PC's points of view fascinating, and if I were him, I would be more critical about the genuine injuries he sustained while riding for the Aces—the leg in 1977 and the shoulder in 1980—which cost him at least another title and another three or four years at the top. Having read the book, both injuries were the club's fault. Added to that, Belle Vue knew his father had died but didn't tell him until after he'd scored a 12-point maximum for them. I'd have gone ape. Even more illuminating, the poster worried about PC's account of his career being affected by his brain haemorrhage doesn't seem to shy away from criticising someone like Barry Ayres for not succeeding in his racing career. By all means, give free admission to anyone who rode for the Aces. The truth is though... speedway is so far from the halcyon days when most of them raced.... they wouldn't even want to attend.

That's the 2nd time you've brought up Peter's brain injury, very unfair of you in my opinion. I too suffered brain haemorrhage in 2010, August 1st as it happens, which I think is about a month or so before PC had his, I underwent 7hrs of surgery at North Staffs, had platinum coiling inserted, so a fairly serious injury I'm sure you'd agree. Within 2 months I returned to work, in the insolvency industry, so fairly high pressure and no room for error, yet I managed fine, continued in the role for another 4 years with no issues related to the injury. So I have to wonder what makes you think that Peter should not be taken at his word? As for your comments to Tony Mac, well if it weren't for him we would probably never have got to read in such interesting detail about Peter's early life and career, I found it just about the best speedway book I've read and I've read most of them. Backtrack- well it was bound to run out of steam since it was dedicated to such a short period in the grand scheme of the sport.

To be fair you do a pretty good job of it without pretending .

Never been the biggest fan of afternoon racing esp on hot sunny days but will be there rain or shine and work allows just hope a few more like me feel the same,plenty of people off the big red bus been asking when the comets are starting again allways bang the drum for it,might be worth a free ticket me bain

Ben Cook (2,2,2,0,2)only missed out on a semi final place to Masters (1,3,0,2,2) due to Sam's one heat win! Not bad in that level of competition.

Well said, nw42. You wrote what I was trying to put together. Sorry you suffered, must have been very worrying, glad to hear it ultimately not affected you too much. Listening to his interview on tv I think Peter has done very well. As I read his problem was acted on quickly as Angela had to go back to the house for something she had forgot, found Peter not well, and got medical attention to Peter quickly. The quicker the medics can act the better the likely outcome will be.

There's a young up and coming rider who rides Foxhall really well available on a bargain 4.93 average

One night, years ago now, we attended a Crewe 'Kings' Reunion. When we we were returning from the Function, we shared a taxi with 'Taffy' Owen and Pete Kelly. I have never laughed so much in my life. The stories they told were so funny. I will ever remember that trip in the taxi with fondness and appreciation. Thanks for the memories. Two great lads. May they both Rest in Peace. +

Much of the site will probably have to be demolished and made safe before any thoughts of speedway returning. I wish all those fighting the cause good luck because speedway needs a thriving Coventry.

Panthers made mainstream terrestrial TV today when they were the question/answer on the The Chase. The Chaser got it right too!!

Track rat is a complete Bell ???

Linlithgow used to race on a Saturday afternoon in the 90's as did the Dale Devils in the 00's.

Regarding Barry Ayres, from where I sit he more than succeeded at speedway, he got to race it, I never got any nearer than sitting astride Soren Sjosten's bike in the Hyde Rd pit car park as he was preparing to load it up after a meeting, my dad did ask him first, I was 7, wish I'd known at the time that this would be the highlight of my speedway career. Coulda woulda shoulda

Your final point here is the big one really.. Thompson may not seem that inspiring but compare him to every other No 7 and suddenly he looks a good signing.. not sure i currently see any that are better than him... Even if Poole name Roynon I'm not sure he's ahead of Thompson at this point

Steve: they have the single most important thing - a TRACK...

...as a postscript apparently according to PC ex ACU referees are entitled to free entry at any track which strikes as "double standards'" to me?

Makes no sense to have Doyle on such a high average and still be under the points limit.

You are on fire Lisa. Oh wait that was the Plymouth track wasn't it? Sorry!

The FIM should have no jurisdiction over British Speedway. We voted for Brexit.

Wouldn’t it be cheaper to flatten and start the grandstand again? It could even be re-built using factory unit material.

He was a very loved and a complete rider, he did very well in a 60's Provincial League at BV I remember, and was a throughly good person to know. After being transferred to Newcastle Speedway from Stoke he moved to our area with his family and continued with his Painting and Decorating company. Always cheerful, he also looked as if he was upto something with his boyish cheeky look. Sadly after emigrating to OZ with his family he later deteriorated and for many years he was in a home. RIP Peter.

Sorry yes i forgot i must say Poole are the best thing since sliced bread!! You have lost a top quality heat leader and you are hoping that Cook steps up...........he may or may not and all i said was he has an extra league to contend with so is a risk..... I also said Poole will be there or thereabouts because they always make changes if needed I also think that my side Ipswich will struggle if we dont get a big heat leader in to support Doyle Trouble with all you lot down Poole you always believe you are the best and nobody can have a different opinion or they are a troll

It does if the threat was "no league at all".

Having read the chapter in Peter's book about ex-riders visiting their track free of charge I have to agree with his views 100%. He goes into it in great detail and personally I don't see it as a problem and the initiative would only benefit the track involved with good PRO and supporter involvement. It's a shame that his friendship with Chris Morton appears to have been badly affected with events that the new Belle Vue and it's regime's policy adopted (no image of Peter Craven in the lounge dedicated to the great "Ace" beggars belief!). The talk of a museum within the new complex was also met with apathy apparently by the those in charge at the time. Ex- Cheetah, Mark Lemon, appears to follow the same directive and it's all very sad and helps creates animosity...no wonder speedway is in the state that it now appears to "enjoy". I would be aghast if I thought that my own team expected the likes of Eddie Reeves, Rick Timmo, Gordon Kennett and Dag Lovaas ( yes that name again "Chunky") were expected to pay on entry to Cowley?

Plenty of time. He should be fine.

Quite right, Shovlar's opinion is the only one that matters (in his own head that is ).

2006. The reason I remember is because Daniel Nermark signed for Edinburgh in 2005 on some stupidly high converted average, around 11.34. He was one of the most frustrating riders I've ever had the misfortune to watch, home and away, and finished the season a smidgen over 8 (8.06?) It was during that winter when the powers that be decided to exclude bonus points from the team building averages / green sheets, thus lowering DN to 6.74 or thereabouts (I'd need to check my spreadsheet for the exact figures, but it's not exactly important). He left the Monarchs and signed for KL alongside, from memory, the likes of Tomas Topinka, Kevin Doolan and a very young Troy Batchelor. I'm sure Mr Bagpuss will tell me if I've got any of those wrong. Of course, after being next to useless in our colours, he suddenly became untouchable around all UK second tier circuits, and the Stars ran away with the league title by the proverbial mile

And we are very grateful he saw the light.

So you know that if Max hadn't of had his accident and was fully fit, we would of lost to Sheffield over the 2 legs. The same Sheffield we beat on aggregate in the BL fixtures with a fit Max Fricke.

Bert van Essen

Unless it involves Poole

I know accidents can happen anytime anywhere on a speedway track but they’ll be a few relieved team bosses this side of the world when these Australian championships have concluded

I'm sure he came out in the rerun

Ben Cook scored 8pts in the 1st round of the Australian championship

It's a fact confirmed by Graham Brodie, the UK's former No.1 referee.

Mountain and Lambert will be very strong at home and the idea is obviously to win every home meeting by margins to allow ple ty of bonus points. Thompson is a very shrewd signing looking at the other reserves around, he really should be scoring half decent points everywhere against quite a few two pointers.

It didn't look like White City to me. The seating area had, what looked like red and yellow boards, in front of the seats? I think Plough Lane had something similar, but it was wasn't Wimbledon.

I know that Eddie once appeared at White City and had his photo taken with the team and performing a few stunts...think it was 1978?

If you feel like doing more of those then please do, really interesting

Correct on all accounts

Personally I don't think that it would be anything near that figure. Take Belle Vue's record breaking Triple Crown winners of 1972, for example (as Peter highlights in his book), where only three riders are still with us. My team's starting line up (Oxford) in my first year attending (also 1972) only two riders have survived and one, Rick Timmo, lives in NZ so is unlikely to visit regularly. With many teams traditionally having a very cosmopolitan make up the likelyhood of there being a great influx of "freebies" is negligible in my view and those who were domiclied in the UK during their riding careers how many used to live within easy distance of the track they represented including the British home-based riders? When Oxford ruled during the eighties we had Nielsen, Rasmussen and Sorensen (now all living back in Denmark), Cox (Thailand I believe?), Taylor (Mildenhall), Grahame (Birmingham), Dugard (Brighton) Butler (Australia) with only Nigel De'Ath and Jon Surman still living locally (?) and therefore wouldn't be visiting Cowley on anything like a regular basis and dare I suggest most teams would have similar examples. Of course it will become even less of an issue in the future with teams now filled with foreigners and the loss of tracks ever increasing. However if the issue was to allow riders free entry to any track then that's an entirely different matter altogether but I don't think that what's been implied?

Some good teams in the league but the pirates always deliver in the end

Tbf I haven't mentioned it being like a roundabout since 2021 season. I should get a prize for good behaviour during 2022 season

Come on Lisa, your one of the better ones

He said that you look weaker than last season, that the Cooks need to step up and riding in the Prem might effect their form and that he doesn't think you will win the league without some changes. I think that's all fair enough and quite a few people would agree with that.

Kurri kurri (rd3) aren’t live-streaming, but it will b up on YouTube a day or 2 after the meeting. I’ll post a link up from the NSW titles or the Boxing Day meeting from the fella that does them.

Nice to know the 2021 Peterborough Panthers Dvds are still selling well