Grand Central

My completed programme has a different time for the final 1982 World Team Cup - Victor Lodorum Heat 1 : Schwartz, Penhall, K Moran, S Moran 70.4 Heat 2 : Maier, Hack, Gilgenreiner, Muller (NS), Wiesbock (NS) 71.2 Heat 3 : Dryml, Verner, Ondrasik, Stancl (F) 71.6 Heat 4 : Knudsen, Gundersen, Eriksen, Nielsen (NS), Olsen (NS) 71.4 Final : Schwartz, Knudsen, Dryml, Maier 70.5

Ok .. You don't understand the changes made this year. Fair enough. Do you want a job as pit girl at Togliatti ?

Yes it is. Giving the advantage in a 3-3 in the deciding races to the team that finished higher in the qualifying heats IS a new system this year.

No they didnt. Quite. But the inherent preference for second and third over the winner in a 3-3 was the same effectively in the deciding races.

That is clear from the regs. It is so pitiful that it would seem those involved are unaware.

No doubt Floppy was an excellent guest back in the day. But TW just shows that the idea of picking a guest on the basis of how good you are at riding is fatally flawed. As he says ' all he does is ride the bike' You need to book a guest who can put together coherent sentences based upon an understanding of so much more and with insightful analysis. And Tai just hasn't been blessed with that skill He is a master on his machine. No doubt . But he can't put that into words.

No doubt the worst guest with the least insight of anyone since BT took over Poor old Natalie. She is flogging the deadest of horses here.

I am actually wishing for Scott to retrun. Woffinden saps the life out of you.

I suppose it is the 'good nature' of decent human beings to be reluctant to 'lay into' the opinion of an ex rider who has suffered enormously at the hands of fate. And we cut him a lot of slack. in the last few weeks the Ben Fund meeting was a reminder of the cruel way in which this dangerous sport can take down the most decent and noble of the speedway fraternity. Guys like Garry, Wilkie, Joe et al. I suppose this Twitter rant, which advocates causing another human being deliberate harm during a race, does show that tragedy doesn't just strike the good guys.

As I have said before October 25, 1993 ... Best night of my Speedway watching life. Somehow, after reading this topic, it feels all the sweeter.

Oh no i didn't miss your point. I just considered it and, upon reflection, disagreed with it.

Quite true.... But, then again ... The Karlsson's were certainly up for it that night and Henka put in a lot more effort as a guest than others hiding in Wolves clothing. No matter how considerable Sam's talents were nothing would have been capable of improving the performance of Evitts and Kennett that night. And the reserves were out of their depth before a wheel was turned. Psyched out of it. Devine intervention may not have been sufficient. It really was a fantastic night .... For us.

By bringing in Paul and Max, John Perrin made the sort of changes that in the modern day Matt Ford makes to win league titles. Their impact on the team was tremendous, and not just on track in terms of the points they produced at 7 and 8. Without them the Aces would have never been within touching distance of Wolves come that fateful night even with all their misfortunes. The Northern junior grass track alumni of Joe, Stoney, Paul and Max had quite an effect on galvanizing them into a real 'team' and on the night itself it was critical. The truth is that the pressure on the riders that night was quite enormous and sadly Steven Morris and John Wainwright succumbed to it badly ... Whilst their counterparts Paul and Max thrived on the atmosphere, outscorng them hugely. PS.. Shawn Moran was the captain in 93. Max Schofield was captain for the second half of 1995.

That would be a 'no' to a straight draw, then. And as you say just like many other years That would be a yes, or partly, perhaps. I only wondered. That is all. I'm not really any wiser, but hey-ho. Not of any improtance at all.

Did a 'draw' actually take place at all. Or would it be more accurate to say that the composition of each semi was 'chosen' by FIM/BSI more deliberately than by chance.

The saddest part really is that this is probably the best outcome of an AGM that was ever going to be possible. Rather like Mrs Mays deal is. Though it pains me greatly to say it. I know just about everyone wanted more or bettter. But there was never any true consensus as to what that 'better' was. And the people actually involved can only deal with the situation as it is today. The real Politik. The last thing speedway needs is a rash of supporter resignations. We are better than Cabinet Ministers, surely.

This was back at the start of 1980. It was actually Christopher Wenner who rode not Simon Groom and he was helped to 'win' the race in a time of 91 seconds.

For many years you have been able to vote for free online. I believe that is where the vast majority of people chose to do so. To pay 15p to vote by phone would be an option ... If you were either wishing to donate it to Children in Need ... Or just a bit thick!

As did we all. it's obvious. But Torben's fertilizer was still spread.

It was a direct quote from Torben Olsen. The Star published that and the rest of his nonsense verbatim. Perhaps just for a laugh.

No need to be apologetic at all. You have got the point well and used a good hypothetical analogy to express it. I offer no hope that this will be understood by the same old faces who have been spouting their nonsense for years.

This is SO beyond question. Why can't some people get it?

Oh you're right about that. No doubt. But I think BB is just a bit too far back in time for most, now. 45 years since TIYL. Ivan's name still has a decent currency today that I would say is higher that Briggo. But It will be gone soon sadly. And will not be replaced by any other. But as Iris said ... Not even Alastair Cook is a household name. This week he was the answer at our pub quiz because of all the news around his test retirement and amazing scoring. Half the teams did not get his name right. And one put down Ian Botham.

Fair enough to all that. But the real answer to the 'Ivan Mauger question' was NO Speedway has been a household name since him. Not even remotely close. In NZ or anywhere. And never will be to be honest. To answer 'Larry Ross' just sounded ... a bit weird.

This was his quote Honestly Larry may be 'well known' in NZ but could never be called a Household name. Anywhere.