jackofdiamonds

Well said Lioness, a super and perhaps surprising result for Chris, he must be really chuffed

I think if you contact Barry Wallace who announces at Brough Park c/o Newcastle Speedway, he may be able to help you. I know he has extensive knowledge of the forties and fifties, but may have info. going back earlier. Good luck.

How can BSI as a a world speedway icon have any kind of excuse for Saturday. They had all week to provide a " man made track " so what happened? The wrong surface etc etc. Sorry but does it take a week to realise that. BSI must realise now that in their greed they have totally cocked up, lucky to get away with it for so long. My sympathies for the poor fans who went to Ullevi and likely won't be able to return. What a shambles.

Think you may have the surname spelling wrong. I do recall a Middlesbro junior riding then, but think it my be Furness, and Paul comes to mind

Says it all really.

Come on eveyone, the suspense is killing Personally, I think it could have been Wheels as mentioned at the begining. This was a cha-cha cha, doo doo do do dodo do dodo do cha cha cha!

Diamonds by Jet Harris and Tony Meehan has been Newcastle's parade tune since the early sixties.

I may be wrong, but I feel the GP series is developing a life of its own. More GPs appear on the horizon, and let's be honest, top riders put the GP above eveything else. Not a complaint, just a fact. Now is the time for the BSPA to act. GP riders to cease racing here. Let them race in Sweden and Poland. Costs for the EL will be reduced, so making it easiier for any potential PL sides to move up. Maybe a squad system could work, but the EL cannot survive the GP.

I don't feel embarressment at raising a topic I filed some time ago. Now Phil has raised a new section dealing with the future of the sport I am going to voice again my worries for the future. Question - who puts their money into the sport - the promoters Question - who loses it when the punters don't turn up - the promoters Question - do the promoters listen to Joe Public -not often We have the questions, maybe the answers, but who listens? Not many. As a forum, the best in GB, we have the right to confront those in charge. Can anyone of the official side of FAST try to have Q/A with CVS or anyone connected at a high enough level.

Good idea Phil, but how would it be policed? Promoters are very cagey about where their money goes and comes from attendances being a good example. Are riders paid by the point these days, maybe from away meetings, but being the cynic I am, I'm not convinced the weekly pay packet does not exist, I remember someone saying Glenn Cunningham was not to bothered how he rode as he was on £400 a week. Bring in a cap, bring in back handers. Not sure what the answer is, but losing GP riders and their expense would make the EL more likely to appeal to PL tracks thinking of moving up

I remember Newport having the biggest crowds in the country for many years. Only went once on a bank holiday in the middle sixties. This was before motorways and the trip from Newcastle took about 12 hours. And yes we were well beaten!

From the sixties Vic Lonsdale Now probably Nicki Pedersen

Thought this was about Jonathon for a mo

I thought we lived in a high tech world. Workington is not the north pole! Can be reached easily by the M6. From what I have seen the Comets pull in a greater support than a lot of current EL teams, sorry Ipswich, I'm looking at you. But why should they? The PL is doing just fine, EL NO THANKS.

There was an amalgamation in 1965 I think, but this was to one league. It did work but only through rider control. The likes of Coventry had to ride with what was basically 2 Conference riders and had to lose a heat leader. Whether this would work today I doubt it You would have to lose the big riders to bring costs down, maybe to be used in a squad system. All in all we have reached a watershed, the Elite league is a joke, seven teams just cant keep the interest alive, no matter how Sky pushes it. Big decisions ate needed this winter, but with so much self interest, don't hold your breath.

I seem to remember a young Peter Collins scored a max on his debut for Rochdale.

It was CVS in the Star as well, I assume the same interview as in The Times. For once he seems to be making sense, have 12 teams in the Elite, and the stand alone Conference teams in the PL. Costs to be brought down ( GP Riders as squad members perhaps ). He states planning has begun lets hope so. As I've said before I would love the people who care (us) to have an input.

Blackbird Road was one of the best speedway venues. How sad it is that Leicester has no speedway as many other sports have support there.

Re Michael Lee I should have said Boston, old age

Michael Lee was a great rider, but in his first season as a 16 year old failed to score a point at Brough Park. It takes the best to excell at BP. Andy Moore passes the test. What a rider.

I can't remember what year it was, late Sixties I think, but Long Eaton of all teams put out 7 riders for the whole season and won the league. Has anyone the averages?

It's not me, I'm 5 feet 8! Keith

I know its not as far but Isle of Wight has done a great job, it was the last place I expected to have a track, and do so successfully.

Thanks CHK, Just the answer I was after. Has anyone with a brain have the answer to why Split was Split

Something that has puzzled me over the years is how Split got his name. Would love to know.