singy13

Regarding "shut up shop" comment I fear for the future of the wonderful Speedway Star....I mean once the season 'fully' ends how on earth does this magazine survive? Surely most sales are made at the tracks? So come the close season won't those figures slump to possibly alarming levels? I get mine thru subscription.....it's a read I love and would be lost without it.....how about you?

...speedway...the thinking mans sport.......

Good report in the 'News and Star'......hopefully it stirs up the interest of former Comets fans.....pity no fixture this weekend keep the momentum going tho.

I've never seen so many bodies thrown in the air in celebration as happened last night.....hope no injuries received lol.

And it was done...hooray....Workington - the sporting capital of the UK.........

Just need a win at Donny tomorrow for almost perfect weekend ha.

It reminded me of a similar finish versus Newcastle when we needed a 5-1 to win and Stoney and Brent Werner rode four brilliant laps with a packed grandstand raising the roof....wish we could see the stand as full again...this team deserve it...

Mended now......thanks for that Comets......brilliant to watch.

Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.......jock's away hahahahahahahahahahaha

bit of both......the track shape is rather different than the 'fair to all' one at Derwent Park...plus - with as much respect as I can add - the stadium is also different..e.g tin sheeting etc. than most I have seen.

one offside goal. one own goal. one free kick not given.....one manager OUT. come on Comets...........

My half full glass has suddenly developed a crack in it.....

Wasn't it...... Bad News For Locals...... when building THORP ?

Is that year just on the scottish calendar ?

Inconsistent..........consistently - for most of his speedway career......

nr Whitehaven marra.....

Bloomin heck of course......two sporting millstones to carry thru life.......good job they paid me well for all the hard graft, cough cough......

Dread to think what tomorrows crowd figure will be after such a performance tho.

Let him have his fun..I worked there 40 yrs and it didn't harm me....well apart from being a Comets fan.

Sad to say it but you are right......the speedway product isn't as attractive in the UK as it was in those early times, both in 1970 and 1999....and I also think that the Grand Prix formula has had a bad effect on British speedway.....but that's going off the Derwent Park craic I guess, sorry.

......hic

The first meeting of a speedway era has many 'newbies' attend to see what goes on in this sport...it's a novelty factor that sees a good crowd then dwindle to those who remain addicted. It's happened twice at Workington in my time. My earliest personal fix came in 1970.......5,000+ to see Comets v Bandits....that season crowds were about 3,000 and the Comets hero was Bob Valentine...when he didn't reappear for 1971 many followers were lost too....Lou Sansom was a star too...but sadly the crowds dwindled, many promoters tried revivals...but no one recaptured the publics attention enough to continue, so by 1981 it was a lost cause.. then came 1999 and the wonderful Stoney....he was just great and the fans came in good numbers again......now I have been optimistic of such a revival happening at DP again..lots of keyboard Comets seem to disagree tho.......but will remain hopeful that the 'star' can yet again shine for Comets and bring the floaters out there back????

What people do for the love of this wonderful sport, or as in Ian's case -did- is/was often above and beyond the call of duty. And it must be (have been) soul destroying to try and keep their speedway input going....... a far cry from Football/Golf/Tennis/RU and other wealthier sports....easy life for those non-minority outfits eh?

Guess I'm being selfish, though it's realistic, because you are right when it's gone can't see it coming back quickly.....though craic going around of new input re promoter for 2019 ? And the original title of this stream was when I sort of panicked at hearing Derwent Park...my good old venue of thrills, spills and tears, is going soon....... so speedway is not going to be long term whatever. Re the late great, tho contradictory at times, Ian Thomas......wasn't he just the 'front man' for Tony(moneybags)Mole?