daveallan81

As the result of a request in another topic I've compiled the Falcons' heat details for their ill-fated British League soujourn in 1984. As usual there are a number of things that require clarification if anyone can oblige (updated 17/4/15): 10/06 at Eastbourne: Eagles #8 18/06 at Wolverhampton: Exeter #8 (possibly noted in Exeter programme stats?) 23/06 at Halifax Ht 5: reason for Baker's exclusion. Reported as (exc) but he was replaced. 27/07 v Coventry: Bees #8 08/09 at Swindon: Robins #8 1984 saw the introduction of a fabbo new competition designed to bring on the youngsters called the National Junior Knockout Cup. And the Imps (sadly rejecting the opportunity to track as the Exeter Eyasses) went and won the thing. Reporting is sketchy at best - to hope for heat details is perhaps a bit much but I'll take them if you've got them and information that can fill out what I know from Speedway Star and some searching online: Round 1 v Poole: Have full details of 2nd leg at Exeter on 14/07. Confirmed 1st leg date at Poole on 17/06 and result. 1st leg heat details required. Quarter Final v Wimbledon: Both legs confirmed with heat details. Semi-final v Ipswich: Have full details of 1st leg at Exeter on 12/10. Confirmed 2nd leg date at Foxhall 18/10 and result. 2nd leg heat details required. Final v Milton Keynes: Dates and results confirmed, have full details of 2nd leg. 1st leg heat details at MK required. There was a junior 4TT at Reading on Monday 3rd September, other sides were Weymouth and Swindon. Result and scorers now known. Heat 1 reason for Chessell exclusion and Heats 7 & 11 times also required. The finished file will of course be available to all and sundry, it's not just a private project.

Excellent, thank you.

22/05 Can you confirm Louis Carr's score in heat 13? Speedway Star reports (ef, 1pt), pushed home perhaps. 25/05 I have Margarson at position 2 for Workington - who did he replace? The Teesside meeting works out as Ellesmere v Newcastle v Workington v Teesside but it seems strange that the home team are in position 4 in the line-up. Can you clarify this for me? Many thanks.

I'll put it on my 'to do' list.

No I am merely a contributor. If you're talking about a full 1984 season review file, I don't know if anyone is currently tackling that. If it's something more specific you're after fell free to PM me and I'll see if I can help.

A mystery! Possibly matches for which I hadn't located an official scorecard, or matches that required some more information.

I make it 613 matches in 2014, including 44 abandoned fixtures. The result stood in 31 of those abandonments.

Interesting. The second half heats I have see Kevin Lock in y/b in 14 and Guglielmi in y/b in heats 15 & 17, details here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mimpv17kkqlmrt4/19780601ExevCov.pdf?dl=0

10/09 That also answers another query concerning Mr. Harris' forename! 15/05 Bob Watts appears to ride in the #16 position - who did he replace? Can you say if he's been promoted to #17 or remained at #18? 01/06 Is this taken from a marked programme? Mortiboys doesn't appear to ride in the second half which I find a bit strange. If programme is marked, can you provide the 2nd half times, I know someone who would greatly appreciate them. 13/10 Ackroyd appears to be in the team at #7. Thanks for your help.

Bristol 14/7 - I make the Exeter team 1. Autrey 2. Rumsey 3. Prinsloo 4. Koppe. Who did Rumsey replace? Thanks for all that info, much appreciated.

Now at the business end of my 1978 season research, I'm hoping to plug some gaps in the list of non-riding and non-reported number 8's and meeting reserves. The list is far too long to post directly, so it's been uploaded here https://www.dropbox.com/s/gytjp02lzpj15kq/1978REQD_number8s%26reserves.pdf?dl=0 List is in club order. If anyone can provide information I'd greatly appreciate it.

Robert Dole's entry in the 79 yearbook gives his date of birth as 2/8/1955 so not Ray's father, Ray being born in 1962. Brothers perhaps.

I remember Ray Dole but it's definitely not him - he would only have been 15 at that time in 1978.

Can anyone provide me with answers to the following: 11/6/78 Boston v Kangaroos Select - Roos include a John Dole at #6. Programme notes state "At No. 6 and on trial from Birmingham is John Dole." I can't find reference to a John but know of Robert who also rode out of the Midlands. Is this just a programme mis-print and it should be Robert at #6? 6/10/78 Hackney v Wimbledon (LC) - Wimbledon have a M. Harris at #6. Forename isn't included in yearbook, anyone know?

Thank you.

Jim Beaton of Glasgow sustained dreadful injuries to his right arm which rendered it practically useless. He switched the throttle controls to the left side where he employed a thumb-operated lever system. He simply tied his right arm to the handlebars. I'm sure there was a junior at Swindon about a decade ago who was deaf but to my eternal discredit I can't recall his name. Both Michael Holding and Paul McHale rode in the 80's after each losing an eye.

Here you are: http://www.dropbox.com/s/im2kegwxjbic7ev/19831015BLRC.pdf?dl=0

1980 http://www.dropbox.com/s/zd8u7kkgypjbls4/19801018BLRC.pdf?dl=0 1981 http://www.dropbox.com/s/7kgne4l6c0q7kpd/19811017BLRC.pdf?dl=0

The book Sidney and I are referring to is Robert Bamford's "Swindon Speedway: The Definitive History of the Robins". Not available online as far as I can see. Regarding Holloway's figures, that looks like 1980 BL and KOC combined, although there seems to be an extra bonus point kicking somewhere.

I'd be taking the information from the history book as read - there can't be much Rob Bamford doesn't know about Swindon and he was always a stickler for accuracy. I believe the website combines all 'official' matches for their figures.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for your comments regarding Lawson and assume that they are just poorly worded as the inference that Lawson wouldn't take a TS under any other circumstances is total and unequivocable garbage.

The formula for the Coatbridge round is the standard 4TT format with helmet colours denoting starting positions. I note that if you're expecting Yeates in heat 12, and he was replaced in heat 16, he'd have to be riding at number 1 for the home team for that to work. If as I suspect he's riding at 13, he should be out in yellow in heat 9. If Harding is at 15 he should be out in heat 12 in red. In this scenario Yeates' heats should be 2, 7, 9 and 16. Harding heats 3, 6, 12 and 14. I'm wondering if there is another error in the reporting compunding the problem. Any chance you could reproduce the heat details?

How do Yeates & Harding's rides stack up, Steve? Does reserve Charley get at least one ride?

Based on 686 British & National League fixtures in 1975: 5 points difference: 166 last heat deciders (24.20%) against 520 (75.80%) 4 points difference: 161 (23.47%) against 525 (76.53%) Adjusting the 2014 figures to discount abandoned/declared result matches: 5 points difference: 95 (22.35%) against 330 (77.65%) 4 points difference: 86 (20.24%) against 339 (79.76%) It's practically imposible to compare the league points scored due to the different race formulas and rules. However, it is perhaps interesting to note that in 1975 matches that arrived at the final heat with 11 or less points between the teams were practically level, 344 to 342. Again adjusting for unfinished matches, 2014 produced 209 against 216. 2014 offers up roughly twice as many last heat deciders for league points but it must be remembered it is operating in a points window (plus/minus 10 or 11) just over twice that of 1975 (+/- 4 or 5). It seems, to me at least, that the current league points system makes no discernable difference to the number of last heat deciders based on these two disparate seasons.

From 449 matches raced under the league points system in 2014: 24 matches (5.35%) failed to complete, or in some cases reach, heat 15 but had the result declared. 209 matches (46.55%) arrived at heat 15 with league points undecided. 216 matches (48.11%) arrived at heat 15 with the points already settled. These figures are based on differentials of 11 or more points, meaning a 5-0 would be required in the final heat to affect the league points. Based on a more likely 5-1 requirement the figures alter slightly to: 193 matches (42.98%) arrived at heat 15 with league points undecided. 232 matches (51.67%) arrived at heat 15 with the points already settled. For straight-up win/lose/draw last heat deciders based on a team requiring a 5-0, there were 95 (21.16%) with 330 (73.50%) already settled. Adjusted for a 5-1, 86 (19.15%) and 339 (75.50%).