born_2b_mad

1. Rickardsson 2. Dryml 3. Adams 4. Sullivan

Ok then, a bit early but looking ahead to next season, how do we see the Conference League set-up panning out. IMO Firstly a proper set of rules would need to be in place, to stop all the current manipulation of current regulations (albeit legally of course! ) A basic but simple start could be. 1. Foreign Riders - Either ban them all (forget British Patriality) or allow them all (EU Rules spring to mind). If they are to be allowed a certain criteria must be met, i.e. should not be older than 18, must come into a CL team at Heat Leader status (Rory Schlein, Ben Powell, Corey Blackman, Joel Parsons, Matthew Wethers, they have all managed to reach this level very quickly). 2. Rider/Coach (‘Old Hands’) – These riders must be placed at Number 1 and may only ride in programmed rides (not allowed as Tactical Subs or in the Nominated Race), this gives the youngsters more track time experience. 3. Scrap Rider Replacement (Squads are made up of 12 members, so there are plenty of riders available). 4. Teams should be governed by the averages during the season, but not in the initial team building, current team building rules I don’t see a problem with. All newcomers should be assessed as follows, British 3.00 CMA, Overseas (if they are to be allowed) 8.00 CMA. 5. Riders to be ‘paid’ £5 per point plus travel expenses. With the introduction of a possible 3 new teams (Weymouth, Norwich and Scunthorpe), some may say that the League structure is getting a bit too big for this level. Hopefully all the teams riding this season will once again be around in 2004, so this could see the membership rise to at least 19. Of these 19 teams, 8 would be stand-alone and 11 would technically be reserve sides. So why not place all teams into one League and split it into North and South sections. Or why not split the Stand Alone teams to ride in the Conference League and the Reserves to ride in the Conference Trophy, that way we will not see the annihilations like the Wimbledon 71 Stoke 19 scoreline earlier in the season. All just food for thought, what about the rest of you??

The City Arms just opposite the Stadium was a very popular place last year, plenty of room outside

Managed to find a bar, but for the life of me I can't remember the name of it, we left it at about 1.30am. Managed to book a taxi ok. Got back to the service station at around 2am. Met up with a couple of Coventry fans (ex Leicester) in there.

I went to Cardiff for the first time last year, and I was just gobsmacked by the noise. My Goosebumps had Goosebumps, IMO the noise just added to the event, because if I remember (through the alcohol haze) the racing wasn't as good as it could have been. And of course with the roof 90% closed the noise would have been amplified more. Why change a winning formula??

Although the crowds have been steadily rising at Plough Lane this season, the argument is that the levels will only comfortably cover racing at Conference Level. To move up to Premier would be a gamble, with the vast increase in riders wages, because at the moment with riders on £5 per point, the turnstile covers this. Then of course there is the rent, which is undoubtedly the highest in Speedway. Then again you could say that the Club is surviving on its own supporters at the moment, because the only time visiting supporters will come in numbers is when the likes of Mildenhall and erm, well Mildenhall are in opposition. With the move up to Premier we would be getting around 25% more supporters from the visiting team. Do we stay where we are and survive in comfort, or do we move up and fall by the wayside as we did in 1991. Tricky one, thank god I'm not the one to make the decision!! But ultimately I would love to see my team back up with the Elite, not neccessarily in the Elite ;-)

Edinburgh - Les Collins, Doug Wyer, Brett Saunders, Dave Trownson, Chris Cobby, Scott Lamb, Phil Jeffrey, Jamie Young, Colin Smith, Barry Ayres, Shaun Bickley, James Hayhow, Ray Taffe. Exeter - Alan Rivett, Colin Cook, David Smart, Kevin Price, Michael Coles, Andy Sell, Dave Gibbs, Tony Mattingley, Bruce Cribb, Tony Garard, John Gould, Peter Jeffrey, Lee Ingham, Alan Mason, Keith Newman. Glasgow (2 Meetings Only) - Colin Caffrey, Derek Cooper, Jacko Irving, Michael Irving, Steve Lawson, Martin McKinna, Geoff Powell, Gordon Whittaker.

Eastbourne - Martin Dugard, Gordon Kennett, Andy Buck, Dean Standing, Darren Standing, Keith Pritchard, Dean Barker, Steve Chambers, Kevin Pitts, Jon Cooper, Jay Pleece. Berwick - Charlie McKinna, Steve McDermott, Phil White, Rob Woffinden, Rob Grant, Ian Stead, Sean Courtney, Paul McHale, Steve Finch, John Robson, Wayne Ross. Boston (2 meetings only) - Carl Baldwin, Gary Clegg, Jon Cooper, Andy Fisher, Wally Hill, Andy Hines, Rob Parish, Phil White. Canterbury - Dave Mullett, Mike Spink, Rob Tilbury, Paul Whittaker, Paul Evitts, Mark Lyndon, Richard Pettman, Carl Charlcraft, Jimmy Goodsell, Warren Mowatt, STEVE HONE

1. Eastbourne 2. Mildenhall 3. Milton Keynes 4. Stoke 5. Peterborough 6. Berwick 7. Wimbledon 8. Poole 9. Middlesbrough 10. Edinburgh 11. Newcastle 12. Arena-Essex 13. Canterbury 14. Exeter 15. Long Eaton 16. Rye House --. Boston (Closed after 2 meetings) --. Glasgow (Closed after 2 meetings) Arena Essex - Andrew Silver, Martin Goodwin, Nigel Leaver, Gary Chessell, Ian Humphreys, Steve Bishop, Mark Chessell, Lawrie Bloomfield, Simon Wolstenholme, Paul Muchene Wimbledon - Kevin Jolly, Roger Johns, Neville Tatum, Jeremy Luckhurst, Alan Farmer, Terry Mussett, Nathan Simpson, Mark Fordham, Mark Lyndon, Dave Gibbs, Chris Standen Got all the rest but I'll leave them to other members to fill in!!

Jes' how hard can it be selecting 7 riders?? ..........5 hours later 1. Ronnie Moore 2. Shawn Moran 3. Tommy Jansson 4. Jan O Pedersen 5. Hans Nielsen 6. Ron How 7. Andrew Silver

I'm currently trying to get my head around a new project, but need the help of fellow forum members. What in your own opinion would you class as the best racing venue ever in Britain. Please think about the surrounding facilities as well as track. All venues considered from Stamford Bridge (anyone here remember them :roll: ) up to the present day Trelawny.

It is without doubt the Moran brothers were a class pairing. They may have been a bit wild but jes' they were entertaining. Seeing the pair of them around Sheffield was great. I managed to get a few shots of them riding at Reading back in the late 80's. And as the book review says they were 'all-round nice guys' plenty of time for the fans.