Grand Central

Bizarre idea to lose the immediacy of their live commentary. One of NP/KT's best. Mind you Kenneth Wolstenholme's 'They think it's all over' would probably be dropped today by some snowflake who thought it could be 'improved'.

Woffinden £200 MORE

Woffinden £200 MORE

Scarily a few also suggested Gary Havelock. As ever nothing good comes of running things by referendums.

Thanks

International 'Team' Speedway had been reduced to a 'three man pair'. Nothing more. And the reliance on Tai is just overwhelming. In most races it will be him partnered by another. So ... whatever Tai wants or feels will work best will probably BE the best. No matter what us outsiders think.

But never a recipe.

Now that there is this entire 'GB Speedway Team' set up ... I wonder what is the actual role of the 'Manager' within that set up anyway. In other sports the Manager would be the guy that headed that entire team of backroom staff every bit as much as the sportsmen on the track. But Rob Painter is that true Manager already . Not for first time British Speedway has done it arse-about. Surely they are looking for just a 'rider liaison facilitator' or a 'Programme filler in'. Aren't they ? Leaving Tai free to tell Rob what needs to be actually done.

Looking back through a load of Stars from late 1971 it is obvious that there were just a few riders using Classic Monkey Masks that season. The majority were using a variety of chin/nose masks, possibly a lot homemade, along with the old fashioned 'gas goggles'. Going forward It is clear that the use of Monkey Masks increased exponentially through the early 1972 season. By August 1972 the great majority of action photos shows the guys using them. That was the turning point. Interestingly in early 72 there is a half page advert in some editions for Lewis Leathers that shows, alongside their traditional suits, a Monkey mask available for £2.99, although it is not called that by name, the photo is clear. I don't think they produced them but were stockists so I assume others started selling them at that time as well - and in big numbers it would seem.

Let's hope racing is top notch. It's going to be a hard slog with the rest ... Thicko bimbo babbling trackside and Thicko Roscoe babbling in the studio. Why ?

Last year the inside gates, particularly red, had an advantage across the whole night. BUT the first four races were won off yellow AND so was the Final. it's not all about the red gate every time.

Kolodzeij £200 MORE

Where's that flag Marshall from Eastbourne when we need him. Tai went almost an entire lap at top speed with red lights on and red flags out. Is there a Dugard in the house ?

A statement that should have stopped after two paragraphs.

I got a massive boost from Kolodziej ... He just seemed so cheap at 4-6 when I was watching practice .. Being put down as the absolute joint worst in the meeting just didn't seem right ... But never expected +10 though ... Amazing !

You are completely correct.

Yes. Well done to Zagar to be so open and honest about the incident. AND being so calm whilst explaining it in words of one syllable to someone who is under qualified for manning the burger stall.

Janusz Kolodziej £200 MORE with SS

I assume that the early summer stagings of previous Cardiff GPs means that a clash with the football like this has never happened before, has it ? Will the extra 18k+ folk (locals and those from Boro) in the town for it affect the plans for the GP festivities this year at all ?

True, but actually this point by Col may be even MORE of a reason to attend.

No Torben put that spin on it as if it were BSI's choice. It wasnt. But if Tai is back by then it will be sold as a masterstroke to hold it late.

Difficult not to get emotional seeing the great man like that ... and with his youngest grandson. Great to see him getting the sort of reception he deserves.

I think we know that. But that does not excuse them creating such a crap competition with a crap name, using the crappiest format and rules possible, on probably the crappiest track and with the crappiest referee they could find. And they running it over two days so that the really crappy nature of it could be drawn out for the longest time possible. They all had a duty to do better once they had made the decision to replace the SWC.

I notice such a conciliatory tone that you adopt whenever this comes up. Very shy to criticise the international forces at work in creating this hybrid abhorrence of a competition. Such a contrast to your approach to Brexit on another thread. I'd leave the SON without a deal like a shot. Shouting sod off Armando.

So they got rid of the SWC for this. The idea of Poland winning by miles year after year was so bad that it had to be stopped. And in its place they give us THIS. In just about every respect. Utter crap.