customhouseregularisback

Just a thought, and maybe a silly one from an old duffer, If Cardiff is struggling for attendance figures and/or this is their last year, and the NSS is too small and weather dependent, could not a temporary track be laid in one of the large arenas?, I am thinking Co-Op arena Manchester , Leeds, O2, Sheffield for example.

Pretty sure SWC is every 3 years.

A wonderful read Norbold and thanks for the great memories. I was there too but sadly the grey cells are dying and my memory has not as sharp as yours. Oh how I miss those days.

Suffolk is part of East Anglia.

Say 25,000 go to Cardiff this year. If they halved the ticket price would they get 50,000?. Even if they did they have not taken any more money, though 50,000 spend more on food, drinks, programmes etc. If I was setting prices I would rather have 50,000 people in the stadium, even though it produces no more ticket revenue than 25,000. More crowd noise, better atmosphere, looks better on tv etc..

Trying to remember what I paid for my 1965 Wembley WF ticket. Sure it was less than £1.00.

The days when the WC was sponsored by a national newspaper, and major meetings sponsored by press and tv are long gone. Does the NSS have press facilities?. Could the organisers not have invited sports reporters and photographers to the SON final, given them dinner and someone on hand to explain the format and scoring. Then everyone reading a national newspaper yesterday and today would see a report.

Pretty poor when one considers Wembley world finals, and yes, I do appreciate times are different. Apart from hating being 76, I am grateful I saw my speedway in the 60’s and 70’s.

What was the Cardiff attendance last year?. Are we assuming Cardiff is a non-starter after this year due to being non-cost effective?,. I’m probably out of touch but I thought Cardiff crowd was around 40,000.

SON, WTC, SGP, SEC, all diminished by the absence of Emil, Artem and others. I understand the reasoning and need for sanctions, but totally unfair on innocent riders.

I second that

I can’t guarantee that but speedway has almost died before and come back fighting. Think late50’s/early 60’s then remember British League 1965 followed by BL division 2 and the major events held on British tracks between 1965 and 1981. British speedway is pretty dire at present but will still be here in 2028.

In 2018 Speedway Star produced a48 page magazine titled Speedway at 90. What are the chances of a bumper centenary issue in 2028?. A lot has happened and will have happened in the intervening years. I assume there is unused material from pre-2018 which can be included in this centenary issue also. A 96 page bumper issue would be on my must buy list. um

Under 16’s

I have fond memories of attending Rye House as a 12 year old. Quite frightening to realise it was 64 years ago.

Coming in just behind the Hammers

Grays is in South Essex, Rye House is in Hertfordshire. From memory when watching football at Grays Athletic ground many years ago, I would think it unlikely.

Looking forward to a Your West Ham thread.

I really enjoyed reading your post Norbold. I felt the same about Mauger and like you only saw Fundin and Moore late in their careers. More at Wimbledon and was at Wembley when Fundin won his fifth title. Briggs was often unbeatable ( unless racing against Stan Stevens). Like you I would often go to meetings 3 times a week, even travelling to Glasgow and Edinburgh to cheer on the Hammers.

I thought it was a meat pie production place but could be wrong.

Except you and me of course

Comparing Berwick with West Ham as both tracks are almost identical size. Race times at West Ham 60 years ago were around 73 seconds. Berwick today around 10 seconds quicker. We thought West Ham was a really fast track back then Puts the development of speedway over the decades into perspective.

Not particularly a West Ham specialist then.

West Han v Glasgow May 1967…Bill McMillan 4 rides, 0 points.

I must have seen him in action at some time, as I rarely missed a meeting at West Ham between 1965 and 1971. I also went to Glasgow in 1967, but sadly can’t remember anything about him. Jim McMillan comes to mind but not Bill.