van wolfswinkel

Best 8 I've actually seen since 1962; Fundin, Briggs, Mauger, Olsen, Nielsen, Rickardsson, J.Crump, Craven...with Adams, Moore, Knutsson, Ward, Ashby, Collins, Lee, Gundersen not far behind in second 8.

That famous Great British/ Kiwi Basil Briggs of Swindon finished runner-up in 1964 and 1966 as speedway world champion when speedway was number 2 to footie. Wonder how many votes Tai got? Thought who's the geezer with the tattooed neck? Thought there could have been a joint presentation by Becks and Keane to Fergie. Well done to Lambourn's AP representing National Hunt Racing,the nation's second most viewed sport, and congrats to Andy Murray and all the other winners. Excellent show.

the play-offs were great last year when Swindon won, but rubbish all the other years!. Still don't see the logic of calling a team that finishes 4th. champions, but thems the rules. Brum should get a trophy as league winners as well, same as Rugby league.

The midlands racing was far superior to the west-country meeting, a lot more passing at Wolves in the first leg than at Swindon.

Also at the Stade de Lite Swindon, think it's called Immigrant Song Led Zeppelin? used to have Vertigo..U2, and The Final Countdown. Don't think they play Red, Red Robin anymore. Perhaps they should have more tunes from local artists such as XTC, Justin Hayward, Supertramp, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Jamie Cullum etc.,

I like having a prog...but was peed-off on Thursday paying £2.50 for a Swindon-Wolves insert.

pity you hardly get any crowds or atmosphere at speedway thesedays compared to the 60s/70s/early 80s, but the racing is as good as then, and I now prefer speedway to the business of over-hyped football, and as a Gooner cant afford to watch my team anyway. The guest system is ridiculous, and so are a lot of the rules, but it is my favourite sport to watch by far.

Woffinden Kennett Cook King

Seems most of the Swindon fans I speak to don't attend the GP(especially if there's no Robins rider competing), so a lot of these peeps that go to Cardiff must be once-a-year fans.

Bloody hell mate no wonder you cant afford to go out! There were nearly 39,000 at Cardiff, which is over 10,000 more than you get at all the 30-plus league tracks weekly. Crowds at football and ice-hockey in Swindon have increased so cant always make the excuse of a recession, wages freezes etc.,. When speedway was raced on a Saturday at Swindon more people attended. I think British peeps prefer weekend entertainment. I'm sure if we had a great summer weather-wise the crowds would be a lot better, always are bigger when its a warm evening and during school holidays. Has been generally a duff summer for the last 4years. At least when you go to Cardiff you know it will definitely be on because of the roof. There are cheaper alternatives for the leisure pound on a Thursday night to speedway, such as pub quizzes, cinema, meals out, ten-pin bowling etc.,

Unless you're a 57-year-old taxi driver in Swindon...very little income and free time 17 quid to stand at the Abbey in a dilapidated stadium with restricted views is far too much. 29 quid for the Cardiff GP about right. Seated at somewhere like Brandon probably worth no more than 15 quid. 15 quid to stand undercover at Gloucester Rugby about right. 25 quid to sit at STFC too dear. Standing to watch a top German football match for 11 Euros too cheap, was excellent view and atmosphere.45 quid to watch the Gunners too dear for me now, but the ground is full to 60,000 capacity every match. Haven't been to the Oval to watch Surrey for years so cant comment. Speedway is mainly a working-class sport, so cant compete financially with the now more middle-class football prawn-sandwich eating brigade, and the traditional "posh" sports such as tennis, golf, cricket, rugby union. Horse racing is pretty good value, sometimes free admission, I never pay more than 15 quid. Dog racing at Blunsdon is very cheap, sometimes free, and you can actually return home with more money than you set out with on rare occasions!

Superb effort Woffy.

And looking at your mugshot you're in that category as well

If you go to Blunsdon half-way through the meeting you can usually get in for nought. I've tried and tested all fences and walls and the only way you get in for free thesedays is to use a pole vault. German Bundesliga seat prices are comparable with our Premiership. It's the standing terraces that are cheap, around 10 quid. So yes if you have to stand at Blunsdon in a decrepit stadium with poor views its probably not worth more than a tenner. Seated in a decent stand would pay about13/14 quid.

Dizzy ..Tommy Roe. Same as, a lot of songs from 60s/70s remind me of watching the sport then.

Its actually 78. Always prefer to watch racing under the lights.Its definitely a family sport, but too expensive for most familiies thesedays. You don't see many families there now, certainly not at Blunsdon on a chilly Thursday. Too many cheaper alternatives.

I don't reckon there's many people that haven't heard of speedway or heard the bikes on a Thursday night in Swindon. Even passengers I pickup in my cab from elsewhere might say "Whats this speedway thing talk about in this place?!". Trouble is most of these "fans" are ex-fans. They might not go anymore because its either too expensive, the stadium facilities are outdated, or there are too many foreign riders/ or constantly changing personnel, they preferred Saturday evening racing etc., Its seen as being stuck in the past by a lot of people. It will always survive in some form though.

Probably less than 30000, but then some only go to league meetings a few times a year, so perhaps there's double that amount that actually watch league speedway in a season? I've found most fans I've spoken to at Cardiff don't regularly attend league speedway anyway. Some fans cant stand individual speedway and vice-versa. I prefer to watch a Swindon league meeting, but enjoy the Cardiff day out, and the facilities and atmosphere are a different world compared to Blunsdon!

Start gate is our very own Steve Gobey from Swindon, who also does the same duty at Lakeside.

We don't want any trouble at The Abbey sid, speedway is a family sport! You could be the recipient of the sports first banning order!

If they put more netting over more seats it would be full!. Went to a Wales rugby game there once, fantastic atmosphere, capacity of over 72000. I think the speedway has a capacity of over 60,000 so these days will never be full. Have been to most GPs since 2005, but found last year's the quietest, perhaps due to the lack of British success? Cant compare to the old Wembley finals for noise from 80000. If Woffy does well sure the noise will be incredible tomorrow. Don't know if I will be going yet, but happy to pay 29 quid(hasn't gone up for years,)and you can move around, as some people had to when a fight broke out 2 years ago!!.

Definitely the 1966 World Cup Final, I was 10, but still remember it well. Going around the streets of London on the morning of the game waving Union Jacks. Closely followed by Swindon Robins winning the Elite League play-off at Poole last year...first time since 1967. I started watching them in 1968. And would add Arsenal winning the league at Anfield in 1989, and 1971 Double. Plus Wilkys dropped goal to win the World Cup for England in the Aussie's back yard 10 years ago.

Good Luck to Woffy at Cardiff...30000 plus Brits will raise the roof if he wins.

If you're lucky you can park on-street for nuffink in city centre, as we did 2 years ago.

Also park-and-ride at County Hall was very poorly lit last year, elderly guy with walking stick had problems. 10 quid to park, and fair way from stadium.