martinmauger

As above. My only issue with coverage of Swedish matches, most of which I saw at mum mum's who has Sky & Eurosport, was when between heats it switched to the 'default view' of overlooking one of the bends which just showed fans milling about. Sky, Eurosport, & hopefully now BT, showed replays, comms opinions, interviews, etc between heats....

Whenever I've shown speedway to non-regulars, either live at a track or on TV, I've always got "speedway, never heard of it, when was it invented ?" (oh, 'only' in the 1920's) "no gears or brakes, you say - really ?!" & "they ride so close togther" & "I love the way they can pass around the outside" & "those bikes look great" & "it looks brilliant" & "when is the next race in Hull ?", the last comment is a bit tricky to answer (!). Think the worst reaction was the (sometimes) 'typical' teenage "tut" + roll eyes. The funniest comment recently was "it's just motorbikes going around a track". I resisted saying "oh there is a lot more to it than that, especially when you get into to it and try following the rules"....

In days of yore, the 1970's / 1980's at least, riders used to have tinted visors or tinted lenses for their goggles, seems few do these days. And many also had 'big' helmet peaks; the 'duck bill peak' anyone? Olsen, PC, John Louis & Simmo defo used them at times. Failing that, the late, great Kelly Moran had a novel way of making it around turns 1 & 2 at Hull (Boulevard) when the sun was strong: "When I go over the start / finsh line I count 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi then I turn". Not sure he was being entirely serious....

I've been asked to post the following on behalf of Nick Thorp: Wanted - Paul Thorp's old equipment; bike & fork covers, spoilers, seats, frames, etc. Looking to rebuild a bike with as many original parts as we can find. if anyone has or knows the wherabouts of any of Paul's old equipment, please get in touch. Conatact: Nick Thorp 0750 428 7394.

Indded. I post only rarely but still read the forum everyday.... Indeed. I post only rarely but still read the forum everyday. (probably explains why I can't spell or use editor)....

Been re-reading the book "Legend Who Died Young" about the unfortunate Tommy Jannson. It quotes for the 1973 British League (Div1) 154, or almost 50% of competing riders, claimed on their injury insurance at some point. And that Cradley Heath alone used 42 rides in the season due to injuries....

Replacement Speedway Star arrived, I've emailed my thanks. How do I know it's the replacmenet ? Sunscribers will understand that my name and address was printed on a lable as opposed to the usual way of printing direct onto the envelope, still no sign of the original. So, just one day to read the admittedly brilliant bumper issue. Gonna be a late night ....

Done, email sent....

I'd like to comment but despite subscribing my copy is late. Disappointing though but no real surprise as it's often delayed 1 week in 4, so along with the 'end of the world panic buyers' I popped into nearby ASDA, they told me they had been sent no copies. Then, more 'armageddon' shoppers to Tesco, but they'd been sent no 'Stars either, which is arguably worse. Hrmmpph....

Not great news at all but hope for the very best for Ivan, and his big and very close family who will help him....

I also very much enjoyed the article very much and was also a Jimmy Mac fan from mid-1974 til the end of 1975. He was my first speedway hero and I was saddened when he (and Tommy Johansson) were moved on by Rider Control (shudder) and at Hull we thought were getting then World Champion Ole Olsen. I recall Jimmy didn't always make the gate but he battled in each and every race and regularly took the fight to visiting no.1's; Collins, Olsen, Louis, Mauger, Simmons, etc and made sure they didn't get an easy race. At the time I didn't much like the (none more) black leathers he wore in 1975 but looking back they were pretty cool and 'worked' with the dark blue and white Hull Vikings bib. A very good rider, nice guy and very clever too vis a vis his FIM technical role. Good to read of another ex-Viking Robert Nagy too. Looking forard to reading the forthcoming Joe Screen (another ex-Viking) & Kelvin Tatum pieces...

A much valued and appreciated service, thanks a lot....

I preferred the old 'tac sub' but the tactical ride is almost certainly here to stay, on cost grounds alone. My issue with it, TR, is the nonsense where the rider finishing 2nd scores more than the rider in 1st, etc. I think it would be fairer, and probably more accpetable, if double points applied to the race winner only....

Have to agree with earlier posts, some good racing and much-depleted Scunny were too strong for ipswich. On paying an all too rare visit to Scunny, I'm not sure about the comments on the crowd being low. We 3 arrived at 7ish and drove round the car park for 5 minutes searching for a parking spot, we finished up near the big yellow Tonka trucks. Speaking to one of the turnstile ladies I was informed "it seems like half of Ipswich are in town to see if their side can make the play offs". Plenty of fans in both stands, the middle rows of seats, the 1st turn cover, the bar platform and a good few on the back straight. The car park seemed pretty much full and though the Tonka toys and pile of shale take up room I'm not sure how many more cars could have been accomodated....

Nice to read some positive speedway news, good for Belle Vue and hopefully Britsih Speedway.....

"no one would ever open speedway tracks given the perilous nature of speedway in this Country and the incredible amounts of red tape you have to get through when applying for planning permission, but it does happen every now and again and can be successfull. But to do so you you need incredibly deep pockets, good business skills, good people skills and not get carried away romancing about what you are going to do" And the most incredible self-belief, confidence, focus, patience, vision, an extremely think skin and a little bit of luck. Simples really. Notice I didn't say the odd loose screw though that may help also (!) Hope the potential Milton Keynes project happens, new tracks are always welcome and postiive news....

I've read all the posts and the link to the article but was unable to get the .pdf file to load. The stadium / track look very impressive, but when did a presumably full-sized rugby pitch with permanent 'end-zone' corners come into the equation ? I was very much under the impression that either 5-a side football pitches or a hockey pitch would be inside the new track....

Don't think I like you anymore, TWK. Joke ok, check my avatar and nickname . A tad before my time but I've heard the Auffret / Childs / Millen battles were legendary . I guess our opinion of riders depends on whether riders ride for or against us and I can well imagine opposition fans being frustrated over the antics of Mauger, Childs, Nicki P, etc. But they are all riders you would definately riding for and not against you. To be honest I respect all riders, they all take the same risks riding the same tracks, albeit for different reasons, and all have their unique way of tackling the sport and it would be so boring if we all liked the same riders / teams.....

Hull, Boulevard and Craven Park, for obvious reasons. As mentioned, Craven Park added another page to the 'Ideal Speedway Stadium Handbook' in that after marking out your ideal-shaped track, build seating on home straight at least 60 feet in the air. Wembley (indoor Arena and Empire Stadium) both for atmosphere rather than the racing, Belle Vue Hyde Road - almost guaranteed good racing and the impression of the venue's massive history, Halifax - usually good racing unless dry 'n' dusty, Bradford - ditto + great pit viewing, Cradley Heath - pork sarnies of course, and Newport Queensway Meadows - good purpose-built venue and at least it was good racing the sunny Sunday I was there....

Mauger ran a high gear that day so was slowish off the start but was passing almost for fun around turns 1 & 2. After yet another ragged start in the run off he caught Szczakiel half a lap ealier than he planned or expected, went for a gap that quickly closed and ended up on the track. In a World Final or SGP Final you may only get the one chance so you go for it, vis a vis Jason Crump v Rune Holta in 2003. World Final races continuing with a rider prone on the track didn't end there: it happened to Ole Olsen in 1974, Egon Muller in 1976 & Mauger again in 1978. Some weird starting procedures in the 1973 World Final, and some interesting referee decisions, but had he bided his time Mauger would surely have caught Szczakiel but as Mauger himself said "he (Szczakiel) became World Champ because I fell off and he didn't !"....

Thanks for thinking of Hull. No news is, well, no news. But - efforts are still being made to bring speedway back to the city. You will understand that I can't say anymore, but the campaign continues to put the Hull Vikings back on track....

Could I, as someone who hasn't yet been to Leicester, ask a practical question at this point: exactly what is wrong with the track? Is it the shape, which I read had been altered, the surface or what? Over the years speedway tracks have been built in all sorts of weird and wonderful locations: outside football and rugby pitches, inside dog tracks, (and sometimes sandwiched between both), inside stock car circuits, etc. This is in addition to a wide variety of surface textures but after the initial 'bedding down' period of the first season, most provide at least reasonable racing. So assuming Leicester started with a blank sheet of paper, I don't understand why the track is still attracting so many complaints from fans. (Sorry about the font / spacing, I'm having probs with the text editor)....

I also heard Tony Childs had sadly passed away. He will be remembered as a hard-charging never-give-up old-school type of rider who was also a bit of a character and apparently his battles with the late Jack MIllen were legendary. I missed seeing him ride in his hey day, as I was too young to go to speedway, though I saw him at Scunny's Ashby Ville in the early 1980's and then when he rode in Alan Grahame's Silver Jubilee meet at Hull's Craven Park in 1997. I attended the practice for Big Al's meet as the stadium was open all day. Tony was there, old style bike with 'banana seat', blue and white Savoy Tyres leathers riding for hours lap after lap with anyone and everyone. When all the other riders seemed to have had enough and were packing up he asked "doesn't anyone want another race?" before riding lap after lap on his own. He rode some exhibition races in the meet itself, 'accidentally on purpose' touched the tapes, had (good natured) arguments with the referee and provided entertainment for the fans as he always did....

Martin Mauger, on 20 March 2013 - 11:14 PM, said: I liked the 'Mail and bought it most weeks, but I always though its biggest drawback was it came out 2 days after the 'Star, when the 'Star was sold on Wednesdays. So if you bought the 'Mail at Hull for example, a Wednesday nite track, it was always last weeks issue.... Fair point but, then again, if you bought the Mail at a Friday or weekend track, it included reports from the Monday night meetings at Reading, Exeter and Newcastle, which the Star didn't used to carry at that time. Point taken Tony. I mostly bought the Mail from 'work' on Fridays as being a mere paper boy at the time I didn't get to away tracks. I enjoyed the fact it contained fotos not seen in the 'Star, or Speedway Express for that matter, and so you got more of any stories of the time. Also being produced in newpaper format it was 'different', though I liked the switch to magazine style too.....