Ray Stadia

I am not sure what you mean TK2? The promoters pay the riders and the promoters are paid by the supporters. The riders pay demands are relative to what they need to earn, net of their costs. If the riders costs can be reduced, the net pay the rider needs is less, which is less pressure on the promoter, which in turn means less pressure on the numbers through the gate, which might mean less tracks closing, perhaps more opening and overall a more healthy sport. You could be right, it might be too late, but then it might not be.

Perhaps a head brace would help?

What was the verdict Dean?

And I agree, speedway at the amateur and bottom end, is a relatively inexpensive motor sport, which is good for those that want to start and have a bit of fun. When you get to the serious end, which is probably now, all 3 leagues, it is expensive. And which you have alluded to. I do think speedway needs to start somewhere to get the costs down, but do realise it isn't going to be easy. Dean is an experienced speedway rider and is a believer that the Jawa 2 valve might be an answer. It would be great if speedway at least looked into this possibility.

You are missing the point of the discussion TK2, with respect. Speedway in, at least, this country is struggling and probably dying on it's backside. The main issues are not enough people through the turnstiles and big expenses for the riders and the promoters. If that cost can be reduced, there might be a win for everyone and a salvation of British speedway for the future. (Why you liked his comment Tsunami is beyond me?). Speedway at the bottom end is a cheap motor sport. Speedway at the top end is very expensive, with few fans watching it!

I agree that it would have to be sensibly thought through (not speedway's strongest point, usually!). Jawa should sensibly price the engines, perhaps backed by a sponsor. If the engines were cheaper to service and were not allowed to be altered from the basic design, similar to Tsunami's sealed engine post, overall, it could be cheaper all round for the riders and would be a good test bed for the rest of speedway.

I wonder whether it is necessarily 'greed and selfishness'. Speedway is very international and for there to be a radical change in the engines used, it would need co-operation from all concerned. It would need a massive administrative initiative to achieve this. Who would be willing to take this task on? and the cost, all round, would be very high. The sensible way, would be to gently introduce a new/different engine, perhaps via the National League?

I take it Dean, the 2 valve Jawa, is basically similar to the 4 valve version, i.e.ohc etc. Would this engine be cheaper to service? And would this engine last much longer between service intervals, than a 4 valve?

I was told this many years ago now Vince and perhaps things have changed. It was on the basis, many riders changed their bikes annually for the latest model, no doubt still do and if the manufacturers charged the real price they should be charging, not many would be sold. Even then there were road bikes that were similar to Moto-X bikes, as you say, Enduro for example. The added benefit for the manufacturers then and now, must be introducing new ideas which can be tested on the track, before being introduced to road machines. Maybe speedway should be knocking on the door of our own bike manufacturer, Triumph. And didn't someone on the forum say Godden were going to start producing engines again? I am not sure if it is realised, but the JAP engine is still made, the V twin version mainly, but I understand they can still produce a single. I think the company name is Cameron.

I don't think you read my post properly, Vince, with respect, I said Moto-X bikes are developed and sold as loss leaders, based on success leads to more road bikes being sold, which have a bigger profit margin. That is what I was told. However, might be wrong, but Moto-X is also a limited market, compared to the R&D input that goes into developing the bikes.

I think you have missed my point, with respect MC, I was merely saying 'slower' lap times can still be entertaining. I think many on the forum have said as much, in the past. At any one time, there has not really been any more than 3 speedway engines available, i.e. for a time, Weslake, Jawa and JAP. A bit later, Weslake, Jawa and Godden. A bit later still, GM, Godden and Jawa. And now Jawa (JRM) and GM. It would be good if one of the big production motorcycle companies got involved with speedway, but it is a limited market for them and they would need to shed the gearbox, or perhaps produce a unit which incorporated a counter shaft type arrangement. As I understand it, their involvement in Moto-X is a loss leader. They hope by being successful they will sell more road bikes. That's as I understand it!

You hardly get carbon with methanol, not in my experience anyway. All said and done, I am a believer that speedway should be made cheaper, not dearer for the riders. A cheaper to purchase engine would be better and one that is reasonably cheap to service. And as you say Dean, reduce the power somehow. Slightly off subject, but I have been watching the formula E racing car events, shown on Sundays and I am not sure of their lap times, but must be less than petrol engines, but the racing, in my opinion is excellent and entertaining. Therefore, speedway at a lower speed, can still be entertaining, in my opinion.

My understanding, is the 'off the shelf' engines when they reach the tuners of the top riders, virtually only the cases, barrel and bare head are used, everything else is discarded and replaced, i.e. con-rod, piston, maybe flywheels, maybe bearings and maybe valves. Also, I understand some of the machining can be poor and the tuners have to mate up the surfaces with further machining. If it is possible that an off the shelf engine is in development that will at least lengthen servicing intervals and is race ready from the box, that has to be good for the sport, doesn't it?

Not last year, for sure!, sadly.

I haven't read Guy Martin's book, but I imagine there are different degrees of a 'blow up'! i.e. con rod punching a whole through the crankcase or a burnt out valve! I haven't seen a speedway engine blow up for a while, but I did see a grass track rider blow up a Godden engine many years ago and it basically exploded!

Only just seen the video, all said and done, he is doing well and as someone else said, what a great and loving dad. It is in my diary to attend on the 22nd March.

Oh, I see. So what we are saying is, perhaps, if the car activity had finished at a reasonable time, say 10.30, with no further noise, Mildenhall wouldn't have an issue?

Please don't shoot me, but just looked at the Youtube and scrolled down to see if there were any comments, there were none, but did notice it had been given a Youtube category of 'Comedy'.

Sorry to ask for clarity Gustix, but do you mean car racing in the stadium or 'boy racers' around the streets of Mildenhall?

These legal statements never seem to make sense, however, I would suggest, had the owners of Mildenhall Stadium abided by the extent of their planning permission and had used common sense, had bent over backwards to try and keep their neighbours happy, the court would have been more likely to have been on the side of the stadium. I have signed the petition.

No Gustix, it just means The Doctor is still asleep!

The architects and developers do realise they are building motorcycle speedway and not cycle speedway?

Based on inflation, I would say £1.00 in today's terms would be about £3.50! Not even minimum wage. However, free entry (I presume) and you did get a chance to get 'up close and personal'.

I feel sorry for Slough Speedway! Maybe Slough can 'buddy up' with another club? How is Norwich coming along?

Milton Keynes could be a great 'feeder track' for the mighty Slough Speedway team! Just an idea!