nw42

oh right, my brother just phoned to say it was programmed for this afternoon, he has sky so was planning to watch it, I'd best ring him back. I thought they usually show a repeat on sky, although it's 7yrs since I had it. thanks anyway Edit, just check sky schedules and it's on SS2 @ 14.00, I have found a stream of the channel, showing Sheff Weds v Preston atm, hopefully it will keep streaming. thanks anyway.

If anyone has a link for the repeat showing, this afternoon I believe, I'd appreciate a pm, thanks in advance.

Well it's all about opinions and mine is that he wasn't a rider who left the white very often, fair enough though as it's always been the shortest way to the flag, as shown in the clip you offered he could make passes. When I said he did his best work at the gate it was more a reference to his annoying behaviour at the startline. I've seen a better clip than that from a Wembley final, where he cut his way through the field and won. I wouldn't dream of suggesting he isn't one of the greats but to me and my old man he was just a "dirty bugger", maybe that's down to the poor gating you mentioned, in that clip he just barged under Mauger, wouldn't call it a brilliant move, just a typical Olsen pass, just my opinion, he was coming through whether Mauger had pulled towards the line or not, he was lucky not to bring Mauger down. I'm not intentionally blinkered, I just try to call it as I remember it, same as you chaps I suppose, none of us have photographic memories. As for the 71 BLRC, well I saw them all from 68 through to the 80's, funnily enough the one that sticks in my mind the most was the one John Louis won, 79(?), seemed like it rained all night and he revelled in it and showed Penhall the way home. Back on topic, rivalries, Sean Wilson, he was a fiery character, always seemed to be in the thick of things, did he have a main rival?

I always found Olsen boring to watch, white line merchant mostly, I know there are a couple of youtube clips of him making passes, before someone posts one to prove me wrong, but it wasn't what he was known for. Nielsen did seem to have a bit more about him in terms of versatility but I can't say he was ever high on my list of riders I would travel to see. Nielsen looked awkward on a bike to me, Olsen did his best work at the gate. Lets face it neither of them were blessed with much natural talent, not like Kenny Carter or Joe Screen Gundersen was exciting to watch, looked a natural and seemed tailor made for a speedway bike, more Americanised somehow. As for the rivalries, Olsen let himself down in the way he treated Nielsen, whatever went on should have been put aside for the good of Danish speedway but he had to assert his control, was always the same, ran the GP's with what seemed like the same attitude. Nielsen & Gundersen seemed to behave themselves and let their riding do the talking, it must have been really hard for Hans being out in the cold, it wasn't as though he could transfer his allegiance to another country, surely they would never allow that, never.

Thought about this one myself the other day but, to this outsider, it just seemed to be something fuelled by Carters burning desire to rule the roost and his childish rants when things didn't go to plan, Peter Collins had so much more ability, it was only a contest because Peter was past his best and injuries had taken their toll by the time Carter began to emerge. Can't remember specifics but was there not a problem between Neil Collins & Carter, maybe some racing incident started it. I would imagine the only reason Peter was involved would have been due to family ties, I can't ever remember any bad press about PC in terms of disputes with other riders, he wasn't that sort of rider, he just let his riding do the talking. Another aspect may have been the 'Roses' rivalry, those meetings @ The Shay & Hyde Rd served up some decent tense battles. Carter was often described as reckless/dangerous in his pursuit of victory, a bit similar to the accusations levelled at Nicki Pedersen at times during his career. Maybe it's just my rose tinted view, would be happy to learn what any else thinks/knows.

I'd agree with you about Carter, great equipment and a burning desire to win made him a regular contender, I'm sure he would have got a World crown if he'd continued but he wasn't what I'd call a natural speedway rider. As for Mark Loram, I could have watched him all day long, a true racer in the mould of Peter Collins, just get on the bike and race, no airs & graces. In my time watching I would place Carter behind both Collins & Loram, also Michael Lee pips Carter for me.

That first one, enthralling race, one of those that makes you lean over in the chair as they round the final bends, or is it just me? Thanks for the link, I'm going to have a look at some more on your channel, thanks for taking the time to load them up, 73 World Team Cup will do if there are any more, great Swedish team I recall, including one of my own favourites Soren Sjosten, were there any Swedes back then who couldn't be described a stylish, now there's a question. Olle Nygren perhaps..

Remember it well, very wet track, you're right about Cook making the meeting, he wore an old baggy pair of overalls over his leathers, assuming he hadn't just forgotten his leathers and booorowed the overalls from track staff. He was just about the only one that seemed to fancy racing other than the Grahame brothers. I had that meeting on video tape for years, was it not on Channel 4? World Games, have often wondered who it was that got speedway in the frame, anyone know how it came about?

snitches get stitches

Had a go at the heat betting once but it interfered with my enjoyment by having to keep up with it all in so much detail. Since using Pauls scorecard I can see the patterns easier, may have anothe go next season. As for tonight, I only have 2 bets, Harris @ 33/1 e/w & Ward @ 12/1 e/w, here's hoping. edit, looks like the rain will put paid to that!

thanks as ever Paul, really appreciate the effort, there's no real substitute for not being there with speedway but quite high on the list of things I miss when watching online is having a programme to fill in, so having your racecard goes a long way towards recreating the 'live experience' for me, thank you. Ps, I do miss the programme notes, stats, captains comments, fixture list and cheesy ads for local companies, always good for a Sunday morning read, any chance?

The Collins/Michanek classic is the one for me too, absolutely fantastic race, can remember the noise from the crowd increasing with each lap, complete pandemonium by the time they came to the line, as you say Chad it was very close but PC had the momentum having lined him up when exiting the pits bend. It's clear from your posts that you were watching speedway a good few years before me, did any other riders use those sort of lines before PC, the opther PC perhaps? I had seen Mauger, Sjosten, Pusey et al for a few years by the time Peter Collins started out but I had never seen riders use the lines that he developed, the way he used to often go right to the apex of the pits bend to create such a long straight run to the line. Would be interested to know if it was PC that pioneered that or not, I've read and heard enough about Peter Craven to know that he was really really special, the title 'Wizard of Balance' says it all. I have read how he was considered ahead of his time in terms of riding style, the pictures I have seen of him riding have always reminded me of Soren Sjosten in style, both diminutive, arms always at full stretch, I imagine a steel shoe would have lasted a long time for either of them.

Mine too. Can remember many last minute trips over Woodhead on a Thursday night, always arrived just after the parade but I don't think we ever missed a race. The Tigers riders I remember were Airey, Haley, Valentine, Paulson, Dews, Wyer, Wilson, maybe Wyer and Wilson were after Airey had gone, unsure, was Dave Baugh another from that era, he or Paulson always wore a rugby shirt over their leathers, I think. Either way it was always a welcome change to stand on the 3rd bend, big difference to being up in the stands @ Hyde Rd, totally different perspective on the racing, seemd at least twice as fast. Even though I was only a nipper I always used to think the presentation at Owlerton was more appealing than @ Belle Vue, not sure what it was, maybe the exotic accent of the announcer, our own Ken Wrench definitely spoke the Queens English. Can also recall the smell of the bakery on arrival, the fact that the pits were more accessible for watching what went on there, almost like a show ring, very exciting as a youngster to be able to get so close. At Belle Vue the only way to see into the pits during a meeting was either through the gaps in the big concrete panels at the back of the stand or through the gaps in the floor of the stand above, such a narrow perspective either way. Anyway, sorry for the ramble but the name Jim Airey conjours up many memories for me, if only for the mad trips over Woodhead, sometimes leaving Stockport less than an hour before the start of the meeting. It also meant a late night on a school night, maybe even a chippy supper on the way home, the racing was good too though, always seemd to be close affairs.

Could go any way this one after 10 heats, wouldn't like to call it yet. Cracking atmosphere, I've never attended a match in poland but will be looking to add it to my list of things to do.

Enjoyed that, nicely poised for the 2nd leg. I have very little knowledge of Polish tracks (other than that they are all big & fast), wondering if home advantage is big for next week. Just heard AJ say it could go either way, should be good.

and boisterous, reminiscent of football in the 70's. Close meeting too.

Enjoyed the 3rd/4th place 1st leg, even though it was a walkover there were some good races, decent track too. Hope the Final 1st leg delivers in similar fashion, anyone else watching?

cheers pal, I've got that one already, beggars can't be choosers eh.

I'm shocked! Any chance of a link please. edit an English one please btw, I hope Harris can keep this up, proper racer.

Would like to be able to agree with you but when I spotted this thread I was immediately reminded of his previous exploits and now I'm really looking forward to the meeting. It's not about any personal loyalties for me, it's about seeing an exciting evenings racing, straight away we are almost guaranteed at least 5 races that will have us on the edge of our seats, I can't think of another rider they could give the WC to who could instil that kind of anticipation, can you? Ben Barker is a decent shout for a couple next season if he can step it up a level in terms of speed, like Ward he has the fire in his belly, winning is important but racing is their big motivation.

right thanks. It would be interesting to know Gollobs version of that earlier race, anyone?

Pardon my ignorance but is this a semi final or final, is it a 2 legger and if so which one is this, cheers

Made a mug of himself there Gollob, thought he was better than that these days, how wrong I was.

Good shout, thanks for that, it's bob on.

Thanks again, must brush up on my Polish, jinqueer (sp) is the sum of it at the moment.