Glen

What goes around comes around the saying goes - reading mags from 1960 said much the same thing.’’ Where are the new riders coming from - races are too spread out - watching same tracks against each other’’ In 1960 there were 10 top league tracks and 10 second or provincial tracks. Most commentators said the sport had been given a new lease of life by the introduction of the provincial league - better racing (more mistakes) and cheaper to run meetings. The 2 leagues wandered along for several more years until the top stars began to disappear ( Craven Moore Fundin Knutsson ) then in 1965 the leagues amalgamated. Probably saved speedway as we know it. Lesson over!

I’m sure Osbournes lawyers are primed for that to happen.

1965 is always mentioned as a defining moment in the framework of league racing - and it was. Would it work today I doubt it - not enough riders and vested interests (financial) way above what was then with rider control able to dictate team strengths rather than averages. A ‘second’ division wasn’t established then so new riders only had second halves and open meetings to get experience. It took the second division to bring about the revival in the sport. I recently attended the Eastbourne v Lakeside match at Iwade run with 6 man teams over 12 heats. Then 3 heats of bottom , middle and top scorer and made for an interesting match but with more scribbling of course!