customhouseregular

And people wonder why this old-timer prefers the World Final to GP.

Careful!.

Most of have a favourite World Champion or believe we know which World Champion was the best rider (Knutsson and Briggs in my case), but what of the nearly men...those who came second but never reached the top of the podium. Who was the best rider to win a silver medal in the World Championship but never gold?. There are some great names there...Plechanov for example or a rider dear to "Hammers" hearts, Harrfeldt. At last count there were 10 British riders with silver but not gold, and many may think some of those were better than some of the Brits that actually won. Think Jessup and Simmons v. Havelock and Loram for example. I'd be interested to know your views.

Plays a part for sure but there must be more to it than that...yes?.

Although the venues have changed many times, has speedway in Glasgow and Edinburgh been continuosly staged over the past 50 years?. I should know this but my memory is not what it once was!.

Good answer, but had the political situation not been what it was and we had freedom of movement then, do you think the greats of yesteryear would have forsaken their British careers?.

Speedway, as we all know is a transitory sport. The number of tracks that have closed, even over the 50 or so years that I have followed the sport defies belief. Yet certain tracks have remained constant with unbroken activity, such as Coventry, Sheffield and Kings Lynn. Why is this?. It can't be the promoters as clubs change hands over such a long period. It can't be the fans as the fan base will change over time. It can't be the proximity of a large population base, not in Kings Lynn's case at least. In any event, consider London's population yet all London's tracks have closed. So...how can some clubs/teams/tracks continue staging speedway for 50/60 years when dozens, if not hundreds have disappeared?.

Apologies Norbold, I missed that in my post-op drowsiness.

I have just heard of the passing of Danny Dunton, a name familiar to all of us older speedway fans. I am sure all in the speedway fraternity would wish to offer their thoughts and prayers to Danny's family.

You can please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time.

We could go round and round for quite a while. Truth is there is merit in both our arguments. It is hard to deny though That the changes have not reversed the decline of the late80's/early 90's.

Hard to argue with you McH. My last World Final was 1981. I saw very little League speedway post the demise of West Ham. Conradictory I know but I love watching the GP's. My concern is that the series is largely a "closed shop" whilst the pre 1995 system was much more open.

Would the crowds come flocking back...I don't know but the crowds are not there now with all the changes to entice them. What is the average gate for an EL meeting and a PL meeting. Why, if the GP is the way forward does Cardiff only attract 40,000, or there abouts. Speedway has evolved but the gates are down. TV coverage is great, particularly for people like me but it is not encouraging new people to watch speedway live. Yes, sports that have not changed may have regressed, but speedway has changed and has still regressed. British speedway has to have regressed if the reigning world champion, the previous year's world champion and half of the world.s top riders shun our league.

I must admit I don't understand this opting out situation. Did Craven, Briggs, Fundin ever choose not to compete?. I doubt it as the desire to be World Champion trumps all other considerations. I'm sure this went for every rider who ever entered a World championship round.

Sherif Ice Speedway World have some great videos on youtube, mainly from Russia including the recent Team championships. Well worth a look. Re the above...can be linked via Ice Speedway World TV.

How can anyone consider Emil a GP nonentity?. A storming start to 2013 series and only injuries hampered his title charge. Without doubt he is the most exciting rider in World speedway, a worthy European champion and would be World champion if he competed, maintained top form and stayed injury free. Just my opinion of course.

I'd love to say I remember it well but in truth the memory has faded.

Bjorn was my favourite being an "Ammer" but he was not the best. As much as I loved him he was not "Briggo".

In 1964 the sport had to be restructured as the NL had too few teams and the PL were taking the fans away, so in came the BL. It could happen again.

They all moved to Basildon or Canvey Island!

This is what is good about discussion...we can't all have the same point of view. A very valid point Deano.

They do say "You should never go back". Enjoy your memories as I do.

Spot on Split (that does not sound right)...the speedway archives are full of great riders who never won the title, and a smattering of lucky ones that did. My main bone of contention is now, at the beginning of each season, you know the next WC is going to be 1 of 15 riders. Under the old system we started the year's qualifying rounds with a large pool of riders and the unexpected could happen. re great riders who never won the title...add Harrfeldt and Nordin (2 of my personal favourites).

I remember flying lap record attempts at west Ham in the 60's.

I would never forget the Fox...I saw him win his 5th. title. I did not include him as I was comparing like for like. As I did not have another 5-time winner I could link anyone up with Ove.