martinmauger

Think the pits in the London Lions (Hackney) stadium were re-located early 1996 so spectators could see into them better. As a track anorak I could literally fill the entire forum and likely cause it to crash due to insufficent bandthwidth / data allowance - but won't as I don't have the time. (you'll all thank me not to, really). Nutshell: I've always favoured 'non-round' shaped circuits as if the track surface is 100% perfect 'all' a rider needs to do on such a track is get onto the racing line, open the throttle wide and keep it nailed and 'sit in his armchair, eating his sandwiches and reading his Financial Times (!) for an easy win', to paraphrase Martin Brundle & Peter Collins. As often happens in Champ Car / Indy Car and Nascar races. But recent the most GPs and the excellent 2020 Belle Vue meetings have made me change my mind somewhat on track shape designs. More than a bit. Stadium-wise: one wouldn't go far wrong at all copying the NSS at Belle Vue. A few things to bare in mind, should one be in the fortunate position to be able to build a dedicated speedway stadium from scratch (we can all dream) are: re-create the seat height and angle of the 'home straight stand' at Hull's Craven Park. To show I'm not (much) biased, the seat height angle from the main stand at Braford's Odsal would also suffice, anyone who visted either venue will know exactly what I'm talking about; brilliant views of the entire track. But before the digging starts, hold a wetted finger in the air to check wind direction, anyone who visted Craven Park will know exactly what I'm talking about; it was cold....

Big shame, last I read / heard he was trying to get F2 speedway with road bike engines up and running. RIP....

I considered then World Champion Ole Olsen being initially allocated to Hull as being more than cool, sadly Olsen didn't agree . Have to say the man had point as he waited another year at Wolves after asking for a transfer to a bigger track and he said he'd already agreed a deal with Coventry. I always thought rider control moves seemed to be quite random at times (Jimmy McMillan & Tommy Johansson were moved from Hull to Wolves as part of the Olsen move) but think I read somewhere that the Rider Control Committee was actually made up of a group of the then BSPA promoters, not as I thought the ACU or the then Speedway Control Board. Think the SCB may have also have been formed out of BSPA members and / or referees, though I'm no defo sure on that one....

Steve 'Jonno' Johnson was great fun too.....

Me too, the place simply oozed atmosphere.....

In this week's Speedway Star Alun Rossiter say they FIM should step in over Poland maybe flexing it's muscles a bit too much. That said, at the risk of stating the probable obvious, I think the time has come for British Speedway to run with what it can afford, which if that means no GP-level riders, so be it. When I began watching at Hull from 1974-on I was horrfied over the idea of a possible drop into the 2nd division, then the New National League, as division 1, or Brtish League speedway, and seeing world class stars week in-week out, was all that I knew. From 1995 - 2005 in Hull it was divison 2 Premier League all the way, apart form the 1999 season, and you know what; it was still speedway. If British Speedway isn't viable for the top riders and / or the BL can't afford them, then go with what we have, it'll still be speedway....

Where I live many people don't vote in UK elections, local and national, as they 'can't be bothered', and I don't mean disabled or those unable to walk far. What is particularly disappointing is some of those non-botherers, who still moan about the government, they couldn't be bothered to vote either for or against, live so close to their polling station with a strong gust of wind they could literally jump off their house roof and likely land on said polling station's roof....

Think it was around this time he also had an illness he struggled to shake off which was eventually diagnosed as meningitis....

When Speedway Star arrived in a brown envelope, since subscribing mine would be late perhaps once or twice a year (it was 'late' every 2-3 weeks when picked up at newsagent) and maybe once in two years an issue wouldn't arrive at all. To be fair mine has commendably been late only a couple of times in the current 'clear envelope' & Covid-19 era, just the one issue went walkabout. On a rare non-delivery, usually early in the year for some reason (not my sub renewel time), following a quick phone call to Dave Fairbrother a replacement copy arrives the next day. Though, interestingly, any issues of mine that are initially posted and go missing never do turn up, so are genuinely 'lost in the post'. Just sayin'....

While it certainly means more with a team of one's own to follow and support, I still enjoy speedway, really the only time I thought to myself "self, I'm really done with this sport" was around 1991, I think it was. In those days I kept in touch via Motor Cycle News and read of tyre warmers being used by some riders. I thought "well that's it for me then" but they were soon banned by the authorities....

Hope this helps, the stuff in question ^^ (engine pic won't rotate 90 degrees). I have no connection with the sale or the seller BTW, but Topcat is a good friend of mine & sent me the pics out of interest....

Mine arrived too, great read as always....

Browsed through some old, excellent Backtrack mags and found an article on Bristol (Eastville). There was a pic of Exeter (& Bristol) promoters Wally Mawdsley & John Richards, Pat Tapson, Eastville stadium manager I believe, and Clark Osborne (connected with Bristol greyhounds ?). Likelihood the same Osborne being discussed herewith....

This ^^, straight back to the start and keep that pit gate shut unless a rider has a potenially dangerous issue with the bike....

Plenty of Yanks rode for Hull in the Boulevard era but, with all respect as they all rode well in Hull Vikings bib, don't think any had the same impact as did The Jellyman, for whom the saying "he lived twice as many years as his age" could have been written. RIP.....

I'm told when Bobby signed for Hull in early 1996, he obtained 2 new standard JAWAs and simply got on with it, with mostly just himself wielding the spanners. His '96 season ended early due to injury, his bikes were sold and the riders in question (names redacted) were nowhere near as spectacular as was 'Showtime', but ,wow, was he geat to watch.....

Speaking as I find fair to add that while all deliveries have been affected by the current situation, my Speedway Star has only been delayed the once....

I don't get into online spats but I probably should have been more clear that I was referring to Speedway Star and general post deliveries before the pandemic struck. And you have no absolutely no idea of the I correspondence I rely on receiving and being able to send, much of which really is very important indeed....

Exactly. Something that annoys me a bit is '2nd is the first of the losers' no it isn't, it means a person did very well and that only one other person was better. Cups & medals are traditionally awarded down to 3rd place, so it could be argued that 4th be considererd the first of the losers; ask the 4th finisher if they'd like to swap with 2nd. In to win it, do your level best sure; someone will be 1st, someone else last & the rest in between somewhere. When finishing 2nd or 3rd enjoy the moment as it means you were not far away from 1st, not everyone can win....

Read that a clue nitro, nitromethane, was being used would be 'runny eyes' as apparently the fumes made people's eyes water & stream....

Dave Peet was co-promoter in 2005, Stoney was a popular visitor at Hull but you always get the odd ill-advised comment anywhere.... Yeah, great view from the CP main stand....

I read somewhere, possibly here on the forum, that Lee blew Kenny Carter away in the Golden Helmet at Halifax when Carter was 'the boy' around the Shay....

I was told similar in that they 'only deliver to an area when there is a sufficient amount of mail". One can only imagine the reply on informing one's boss, or even customers, "I'm not doing anything until there is sufficient to make it worth my while"....

Hull's most winning season was 2004, came to the tapes in 2005 but the financial issues from the pervious season were still ongoing and the season was not completed, with 2 home matches not raced (v Glasgow & King's Lynn). But point taken, a sucessful winning season is often difficult financially due to an increased wage bill with more points being scored. ...