The White Knight

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. That's ALL they are bothered about - sod the Sport and it's Supporters. :mad:

Yes - hope is eternal. The Stadium still stands but is only used for Dogs.

So they are ditching the New Zealand GP?

I atttended all the Provincial League Matches that Sunderland 'Saints' rode at Boldon that year. My introduction to Speedway. Mixed views really - we only had nine Meetings before Bridgett and Parker closed it down. They gave weather and poor attendances as the reasons. NOT so!!! We never had a rain off (we did have some wet weather though) and the Crowds were fairly good. 6,000 at the penultimate Meeting. (Source - Sunderland 'Echo'). Our Riders were used to strengthen Wolverhampton and Newcastle who were not doing that well at the time. Wolverhampton, who were around the bottom of the League got most of the 'Saints' Riders - Airey, Guasco, McKee to name three and Newcastle got Sharples who was a revelation for them and Newcastle went on to win the League. Wolverhampton went on to finish third with the addition of the Sunderland Riders to their Team strength. I have long believed that that Sunderland was closed in order that the other Parker/Bridgett Tracks could be strengthened. We closed in 1974 too due to lack of support due to Promoting issues too (True) - we started the Season with two new Promoters and a lot of hope. I don't believe we won a Meeting Home or Away that year until those new Promoters pulled out and by then they had lost over half of our Support. The late Elizabeth Taylor from Berwick took over until we finished our Season. I will always be grateful to the Taylors for that. I honestly think that Speedway Promoters should give Sunderland another chance after the way we were so shabbily treated over BOTH closures by certain Promoters. I have thought that for Forty years and I will probably go to my grave thinking it. Am I bitter? Damned right I am!! Those Promoters got me to love my Sport and then took it away from me. In '64 for reasons explained above and in '74 due to ineptitude. I don't blame the Taylors for any of this in '74 - but the first half of the Season was shambolic - you lose your Support - you lose your Track and, sad to relate, THAT is what happened to us. There has been no sign of a revival since. :sad:

Really. :unsure:

I don't EVER recall a Meeting back then that only had ONE actual Team Member riding for for it as happened recently.

Good News about Richie. :approve:

How was he taking it? :rofl:

What - from Sunderland. I'll tell you what - you come and pick me up from Sunderland and I will consider it.

Cheers mate. You can pick me up at the Comrades Club. :)

Yes - it is. It is a TRADITION that goes back to 1928. I am definitely looking forward to the Grand Opening and watching Belle Vue in their very own Stadium. To those who said it wouldn't happen - I TOLD YOU SO!!! I wouldn't normally say that - but some Posters on here were oh so certain............................... :nono:

Here we go. :party: :party:

THEN we find out what a JOKE the 'Play Offs' really are.

It was EXCELLENT last night. :o

Both good responses. You are dead right about that too Crump99.

Errrrrm - I'm not sure that you can say that sort of thing these days. :shock: :blink:

Mmmm - I take your point Norbold. Thank you - you are right.

Quite right too. :mad: Well Done!!!

It doesn't matter. Ward admitted the offence on Television. He IS guilty on his own admission - all that is needed now is the Sentence from the relevant Authorities. No IF about Norbold. As I said above - Ward admitted the offence.

You won't get shot down by me sidney. I agree with you.

A great Magazine gustix - I have every single Issue. Same for 'BackTrack' and 'Classic Speedway'. Great reads - all of them.

I really hope you are wrong about that.

I don't understand why you are whingeing now anyway. George has been magnanimous enough to give up that Sunday in favour of yourselves. You should be grateful and happy - not whining and argumentative.

Perhaps both HE and WE should wait and see what pearls of wisdom the BSPA come up with for next Season at the AGM. They may come up with a Plan that will bring all the GP Riders back to Britain. They probably won't - but - you never know. It doesn't pay to be premature.

Newcastle are the senior Track - Sunday is their race day. George has reacted to a difficult situation in a reasonable manner. Due to his Common Sense there is now no problem. He should be getting praise for his diplomacy - NOT queries about his Right to insist - which under the Rules and Regulations - he could have done. WELL DONE!!! George - I say.