martinmauger

Lucky you, still waiting for my copy. Don't tell Pinegen, sshh, but when it's Iate I've often bought a copy from newsagents & passed it on when my original arrived, though it sometimes isn't on any shop shelves. Online vers not for me, despite using (apparently) 'super fast' fibre optic broadband, the reliability & variations in speed have to be experienced to be beleived. E.g. I've watched live events from all over the world with perfect picture & in-sync sound. At other times can take a 'mere' 5 hours for an email to arrive at the other side of Hull, quicker to walk, say what I need to say, then walk back. I too prefer the hard copy vers, spending as I am much of my work days staring into a screen. That said, internet services outside the city aren't just fast, but connect pretty much instantly, no wee scrolling blue circle. So sadly the likes of BSN aren't for me, I have watched Prem matches, SGPs & SON's on TNT at a friend's house, they being Netflix & Sky subscribers. Saturday update: stil no Star, none in Asda, Tesco nor TJ Jones (formally WH Smith) neither. Sigh....

Not just you, same here and with pal t'other side of Hull. All postal deliveries here are gradually getting worse. Sigh....

Thomas confirmed in his excellent book Wheels & Deals that he used his 'speedway special' tape measure when the track inspection at Hull, Boulevard, was conducted by SCB official ex-rider Bill Kitchen in 1971. Ian held the, apparently, short end & Kitchen the other saying "well Ian, you've just made it", track width wise. Thomas reckoned the back straight measured 24 feet, the minimum being 25ft in those days, but anyone who visited the Boulevard will confirm it appeared even a tad more narrow than that. I met Ian just after his book was published, showed him my many photos from the Boulevard he said "we really didn't have a lot of room there, did we ?". After having my book signed to me I thanked him for "providing me with 7 years of entertainment (my entry point was 1974) & stimulating my interest in the sport ", which obviously continues to this day. I showed the same photos & repeated my thanks to Ivan Mauger, I also gave Ivan dozens of pics I took of him....

And Hull, tho we almost completed the following season (2005) with 2 home matches outstanding and we had a lot of sponsorship: team naming with race-bib logo + plenty programme ads inc all 3 armed forces. Thre needs to be some kind of 'wage cap'-type financial solution (loads points & huge wins make loads outgoings), it's ridiculous for any team to win the league then close down. That said the likes of Glasgow & Poole somehow manage not doing it....

In the Haynes Motor Museum in Somerset, named after the guy who started the famous maintenace manuals, there used to be a 'speedway room', packed with speeedway exhibits. This would have been around 10 years or so back, infuriatingly I can't find my pics right now, but there were race bibs, bikes, pictures, a looping history video, etc. Don't appear to be there anymore on the website the website you need to download the map to view but it was situated in area named 'Motorcycle Mezzanine'. Yes, pretty much right at the back. https://www.haynesmuseum.org/the-museum/ Time was short so sadly we coudn't hang around, but the girl on reception was amazed when I asked "where the speedway was at ?" as, I didn't have a lot of time. Her eyes almost popped out of her head when I walked past 20mins later saying "that's all I came to see, must dash". I mean who wants to spend hours viewing IOM TT bikes, F1 cars, rally cars, a room full of Ferraris, etc after speedway anyway 😉. Well, I did actually, but oh well.....

Along with All The Young Dudes, despite his guitar being 'electric junk' following his Memphis trip. I'm not that old but I recently got into Mott The Hoople along with Uriah Heep, Nazareth & Jethro Tull. Anyway speedway then, still no firm news re: 2026 I take it....

Riders giving fans, esp children, a quick wave after a hard fought race would be nice. As a neutral, a few times at Scunny I've seen riders from [name redacted], but one of the teams you always meet at the business end of the season, battle through from the back for a heat win - then disappear back to the pits without waving to their travelling support, which included children. I've pondered out loud "Well, I'd think twice about travelling circa 250 - 300 miles to support riders who find it too much trouble to travel (circa) 250 - 300 metres & give their fans a quick wave". Actually, being 'speedway - mad' (for which there is no cure !) I'd still travel support a team of my own & that I identify with anyway, but I'm sure I've made my point here....

TBH I'm surprised more clubs haven't adopted & adapted 'the Oxford model" of operating 2 or more teams out of the one track. Like, keep essentially the same riders in each team, e.g. from Championship to Premiership level, swap out say a reserve / 2nd string & add GP level rider. So regular speedway each week, watching the same riders with no "he rides for your track one week, against you the next week in a different team"....

Replacement Star here, yay. Used to have it reserved at local newsagent as supermarkets & other newsagents often didn't carry it "Speedway What ?". I began subscribing as I lost patience with "oh it hasn't arrived yet" lies - "erm, isn't that the 'Star on that pile on the floor, hmmm ?". So I cancelled all our magazine & office sandwich orders so "I'd get them the same day as everyone else". That said, I've noticed if (when ?) my copy is late, all above menshed shops often have the mag on display shelves. So Glasgow / Poole went to a Super Heat after 30 regular heats, next up is Poole v Redcar BSN Final, Bears hold a 2pt lead from 1st leg, wonder how that went....

TBH it's late most weeks, sometimes very late. I asked the postwoman, was told they deliver 1st class letter post in my area every other day, alternate weeks i.e. "one week it's Monday, Wednesday & Friday, the next it's Tuesday, Thursday & maybe a Saturday". Nice of them to bother🤔. Used to be on time every Thursday, even during lockdown, delivery issues really started when they used clear plastic bags, been getting ever worse since....

Thanks for reply Deano kinda what I thought. Of course you have the riders who once the green light illuminates open the throttle fully & keep it pinned til the tapes rise and those who use the same method to 'warm a bike up' from cold (!), cringe, prepare to duck the flying shrapnel....

Too true, there is one just north of Hull & another half along the A180 towards Grimsby. This area is, of course, famous for regular long hot summers with many hours of sunshine all year round😉. Meant to ask you Deano, what RPMs are the rev limiters set to & what do the bikes asctually rev to ? Each time I tell bikers & mecahics "speedway engines: 500cc single cylinder 4-stroke, rev to circa 12 - 13,000 RPM, need a rebuild every 20 miles or so" eyes widen & jaws often drop.....

Speaking as a neutral with a somewhat 'helicopter view' of the sport (tho I cheered out loud when Dan won SGP rounds & GB won the SONs), I'm pleased for Chris Louis & all at Ipswich. They obv did a lot of promotion down Foxhall way going by the huge crowd, hearing rock music played on the PA (did anyone else notice Rock & Roll All Nite by Kiss ?)+ the flame pots on the centre green, the meeting looked an occasion where one would say "I wish I'da bin there". That's how it's done, good stuff....

Indeed he did. He also said "nothing teaches you like riding abroad & getting a hiding", GB guys rode as well as they could, got a good heat win in their last ride, will defo learn from the experience & so do better next time. Regarding Lambert apparently not recognising PC, Ivan once made an unannounced & unintroduced visit to the Hull pits, Craven Park era 2000 or so, after talking to all the riders one was heard to remark "who was that bloke & what does he know about speedway ?!". As it happens, Ivan knew quite a bit about speedway😉....

A good idea in the Premiership & Championship divisions would be for a trophy given to the team finishing in first place, call it 'League Winners Cup', then award another for the winner of the play offs, 'League Champions Trophy', keeps everyone happy....

Also 2 factors stock cars have in their favour are: don't think events are rained off (happy to be proven wrong) & almost guarranteed on-track entertainment, esp 'demolition derby'-style races. Never been to watch stox either, keep meaning to pop along to Scunny one time I'm told by those in the know I'd love it, but like with speedway much of this year, the trick is / was finding the time. Life does tend to get in the way of such things a wee bit....

I also noticed people I knew from Hull who I'd never seen at Scunny, or any track, before Friday, hope they enjoyed what they saw. Some good racing, one or two incedents to talk about and - pretty sure I've never seen a 5-0 to each side in the one match. You can ever really tell with speedway, not 100%, keeps the sport interesting....

Shame Bimingham have closed at Perry Barr & I feel for Brummies fans who had their last 'farewell' Monday nite, but it could be worse. At Hull we had no such 'farewell' as the track(s) closed without any warning - twice. At the Boulevard there were rumours the speedway promoters weren't on the greatest terms with landlords Hull FC (who were on the up at that time) but there was no indication that speedway would end at the venue. Fans only discovered this news in the Hull Daily Mail - on the Thursday nite after the final meeting in October 1981. Similar at Craven Park, though there probably were clues, again the rugby landlords, this time Hull KR, were on the up, wanted to increase he size of the pitch with talk of enlarging the speedway track to Workington, Derwent Park size. Sadly again, the speedway club closed & were evicted with no warning with 2 home fixtures outstanding, the previous treble-winning season of 2004 with a huge wage bill due to slamming teams home & away all season impacted hugely. This time finances were the main factor, as coincedentally occured at Workington in later years. In fact I shared a few conversations with Comets team manager Tony Jackson about speedway requiring a 'wage cap' of some kind, but there would be the situation of telling your no.1 who maybe scored a full maximum, he is needed once again in heat 15, or perhaps again in a 'super heat'. Anyhoo, hopefully speedway could return to Hull (came very, very close on a couple of occasions in recent years I'm not allowed to discuss), in Exeter, Newcastle, Wolves, etc & now Birmingham. The sport in the UK can't affod to lose any more tracks: in 1981 there were 2 divisions each of 18-ish teams, so 36 in total. In 2025 there are approx 16 in the entire country, not including the non-league venues such as Duns & Lydd. I still watch speedway on TV & live at Scunny when I can make it, but it isn't the same as having a team of your own, and as the song goes "you don't know wat you've got, til it's gone". Sigh. Still, things aren't all 'doom & gloom' as proved by Scunny, Redcar, Leicester & now Workington tracks can & do return, interestingly in more rural than urban settings.....

I did, they didn't: informed them all (3 diff organisations) I'd therefore see them in court. Suddenly none of them 'wished to play ball' for some reason. I can't imagine why😉....

Speaking as someone who unfortunately has some experience with parking issues, I was recently hit for 3x £60 'illegal parking excesses" - when I was parked in areas / spaces I visit regularly - and / or had correctly registered to park there, I challenged the 'notices' & the fines were correctly cancelled (tip for the day: keep / print / save such permission replies). Stating the obvious: if there is a fone no. or website on such notices, & there should be, call it or msg them for info advice / info, or ask in the shop, staff & customers, could save a lot of possible hassle later, can't be too sure. Hope this helps....

Speaking for myself I look in several times everyday often whilst supposed to be working, don't post much as without a team of my own I have a somewhat helicopter view of the sport. I do keep in touch with occurances with who is doing what & have TV fixtures & the meets I hope to make it to written up on my wallplanner, I'm very much looking forward to the new season. Still a great sport, Star was on time this week too so all is well😀.....

Speaking for self, I much prefer physical copies of magazines as I spend most of my working day staring into monitors, online stuff is great when it works. When it works. The Star is a great, tho not perfect magazine, there is more foreign news by necessity as with quite a few clubs sadly closed in the UK it follows there is less UK news to report. The biggest problem area with Speedway Star is the distribution which can be pretty random, after weeks of being on time so far in 2025 my copy has been late the last 3 weeks, regular post arrived, still not received this week's 13 March issue, tho was on sale in Asda....

Speaking as I find (as always) my Star has been on time at least the last 2 weeks, poss even 3 but I was away one Thursday, so YAY !😀. Post in Hull is also pretty random, stuff arrives when it arrives....

Been told the same, also the wrapping itself my brother who works in motor industry says parts deliveries in such packaging is often lost & delayed, no probs with letter size, A5 & A4 envelopes, boxes or jiffy bags / padded envelopes. No Star for me as yet, ish W/E 11-1-25, wanted something to read so tried Asda, Tesco, WH Smith & 2 wee papershops; no joy....

Recall reading at least one other team, coulda bin Poole ?, were rewarded with a holiday by their promotion. The late Len Silver often took his riders on skiing holidays. Getting to the (prob intended) point: give the team finishing top a trophy: League Winners, then play off winners a trophy also: League Champions = everyone happy.😀 "Simples", as a certain meerkat would say😉....