TwoMinuteWarning

According to the fixture list issued by the BSPA today, Qualifying Round 4 of the Junior World Cup will be held on Sat 12 May at Rye House. Since the FIM originally announced that the competition would only comprise 2 qualifiers, plus the Final, does anyone have any idea who is competing with GB?

All I know is that racing on concrete took place at the Wembley Arena each year from 1979 to 1983. The first one, at least, was promoted by Briggo and Mauger, I believe. I went in 1980, was somewhat unimpressed, and didn't return. But then I went to Telford once, and never returned - guess I'm a bit of a speedway purist! There was also racing at the NEC (National Exhibition Centre) at Birmingham in 1980 on a LATEX surface. It was a 3-day event, and several riders were injured due to the surface, though I wasn't there myself. Speedway was back at the NEC in 1984 as part of a "Motorsport Gala" with moto cross etc, but was not very successful. I DO enjoy the Brighton meeting as a bit of fun each year, but then that is on a shale surface.

As you probably know, Doug, racing on concrete was tried here in the UK in the early 1980's. I went to see it at Wembley - the indoor arena, not the stadium - and while it was quite entertaining, it wasn't really speedway. But as part of a mixed motorsport programme, it should be a bit of a novelty, anyway. Pleased to hear that the 1983 World Champ is still around!

What sort of surface do the speedway boys race on at Kiel, iris123?

Parsloes, can't find any results in either Speedway Star or Speedway News. Ronnie Moore mentioned in his column that he was going to ride at the meeting, and in the Star of June 4 1955 Briggo reported: "We rode on what is actually a running track, bit narrow for racing but made a sight easier by the fact that it was rolled smooth and hard." He said it was a charity night for St John Ambulance, and several Dons fans were there. You may have more luck searching the Evening News or a local newspaper.

Latest results are at http://www.speedwayargentino.com.ar/espano...s/noticias.html Hope your Spanish is good!

iris123, the Travel Plus brochure says there is an individual meeting at Slangerup the day after the Copenhagen GP - hope so, anyway, cos I like going to Slangerup. Although it will no doubt be changed to a league match, if the Danish league is reformed.

Yes, I think you are right, 2nd Bender. Lindsay was a "first division official" according to Speedway Star. Sharples did not ride for Belle Vue that year - he was their team manager - though I'm sure he did make a comeback a few years later. Thanks to you both for your help.

Thanks speedyguy, but Lindsay's score was definitely 11 (add up those Liverpool scorers - dosen't equal 47!). The Digest scorers list INCLUDES Cup matches (each team rode 18 league matches - some riders in the Digest scorers are shown riding 20 or more matches) Speedway Star 18.6.60 said the Control Board was likely to give the rider a gentle telling off and ask him not to do it again!

On May 30, 1960, Liverpool tracked a rider called "Barry Lindsay" in a Provincial League Cup match against Cradley Heath. It was his one and only appearance for the Liverpool Pirates, he scored 11 points, and it was later revealed that he was an Official of a National League club, riding under an assumed name. Does anyone know who he was???

From a pure racing point of view, Krsko and Bydgoszcz were way ahead of any of the other GP's last season. Have to say that I particularly liked Slovenia, nice people, cheap prices, great scenery (apart from the town of Krsko itself!) Plus there is a meeting at Gorican in Croatia the next day, a new stadium well worth a visit.

Can anyone tell me how to contact Cliff Jones, who has the Speedway Memories website at http://speedwaymemories.fotopic.net/ ? Thanks!

Attendance figures for the 2006 GP's and World Cup Finals have been released by the F.I.M: SGP Krsko 7,000 Wroclaw 24,500 Eskilstuna 8,000 Cardiff 40,000 Copenhagen 24,892 Lonigo 4,500 Malilla 12,500 Prague 9,000 Daugavpils 9,000 Bydgoszcz 17,000 SWC Finals at Reading Race-Off 2,800 Final 4,500 If you want to see how this compares with previous attendances since 1999, go to: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/speedway3/extra9.htm

Not yet, but I think the above information originally came from the Argentinian website at http://www.speedwaytotal.com.ar/inicio.html , so probably worth watching that site for further details. Canadian Aaron Hesmer is due to join the Championship soon.

Belle Vue was the only track to run THROUGHOUT the war Rye House ran some meetings in 1940 I believe. So did Glasgow - details at http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/glasgow.html

Some people DO change their name when they are embarassed !

manchester paul, I use the first translator you mention to translate the Russian sites into English. Often hilarious results, but as you say, it gives you the gist of what is being said. One strange thing - it translates points as "glasses". But then I think a few riders DO get their points and pints mixed up ...

"Proper" averages weren't started until the introduction of the British League in 1965, since number of rides weren't recorded before then. According to Speedway Star, Geoff Penniket scored 93+14 in 25 matches for New Cross in 1963. That will include the regional Southern League plus the Cup, as well as Provincial League. Then, for Long Eaton, Geoff scored 17+2 in just 6 matches. Ahh ... the Provincial League ... great fun ... young kids with vitually no experience ... knarled old vets carving them up ... rough old tracks to create lots of mistakes and falls ... argy-bargy, the odd punch-up (always on the track, never in the pits!) ... oh what fun it all was!! I think that's what wrong now - with the exception of the Conference League, there dosen't seem to be much fun left in the sport any more!

Count me in on that!

Gillman results are at http://www.gillmanspeedway.com/events.asp

A Wall of Death rider!

11 years old! Must have been one of the youngest riders there? Was this at Sidewinders?

His only 1964 Metropolitan League appearances that I know about: For Ipswich 5+2 (4) v Rayleigh July 21 For Weymouth 3+1 (4) AT Rayleigh Aug 1

Is anybody really sure? Born in Scunthorpe, riding on a British ACU licence - but that dosen't mean a thing!

This will be the first time GB have entered a UEM speedway competition. It will be a great way for such talented riders as Lewis Bridger, Josh Auty, Tai Woffinden and others to gain some experience of continental tracks. Not to mention putting themselves in the shop window to get some Continental bookings.