FAST GATER

Is the start of a speedway not part and parcel of the attraction I for one don't want the tapes replaced with some high tech equipment . I understand that people don't want riders gaining unfair advantage but IMO the Ref should be able to cope with this .We now overall have riders sitting still at the start and the rules are far more strict than when I first started watching s/way in the 70's( I am old and loved tape touching but accept the modern rules ) we still need the tension that you see once that green light goes on and how riders react under that enormous pressure . What needs addressing post haste IMO is the time wasting and continued trips to the pits after false starts etc , unless there is good reason the pit gates should stay closed and if fuel is a issue larger tanks should be fitted .

Is this any less dangerous than riding s/way at say NL level ,his inability to copes with injury was given as a reason for not making a comeback after becoming the GTR test rider after 10yrs away from the sport ? Oh and Kelvin every time for me going back on thread .

IMO if riders wish to ride past their mid 30's and stay at the top fitness is essential ,Hancock proves that as did PK it all gets that little bit harder as time goes on sadly !!!!!!!!!!!

j j was one of the best of his day in the old NL great style and fast but safe in the PK mold

Careful your not allowed to mention the good old days or you will be accused of living in the past but it was a great time to be involved in s/way that cannot be disputed

I think Tony A deserves a pass as you are unlikely ever to see another of his tender age racing regularly at any level in s/way again

I for one hope that Chris Mort can be found a position in any BV setup in the future I watch him on many occasions working tirelessly to get the NSS built over a10yr period ,I saw him start at Elle Port and become one of the greatest riders this country has produced in modern times. IMO he deserves the support and respect of all s/way fans because we have one of the finest stadiums for our sport in the world thanks to his enormous efforts .

Many thanks for your input I do accept that you are in an awkward position and have given a interesting and fair account from a tuners perspective .

Will it be sealed and strictly monitored and every engine be the same or as near as they can be( I know the train of thought that no two engines are quite the same)or will we still have riders with the biggest pockets having an unfair edge as is the case now with GM's ?.

Nice to hear from the other side of the fence as it were but why have you not made a post like this in the past I think GTR is really shaking things up ,even if current tuners are able to choke it off in the end !!!!!

Is Karger not tuner " turkeys voting for Christmas " springs to mind I am reluctant to believe that they(tuners ) will not do everything in their powers to throw a spanner in the works .(pun intended )

If this engine was a tenth of a second a lap faster than the GM( or claimed to be ) no one would have any negative thoughts ,I witnessed the four valve revolution never heard any complaint against the cost of changing then .Many riders moan about costs but in reality it is speed they are hunting and costs come a poor second it their their priorities sadly .

I am with you there nothing wrong with dreaming !!!!!!!!!!!!

Or we could have an outstanding former rider encouraging future stars to embrace a cost effective engine and with his on track direction transform some NL racing from what I used to watch for nothing at training schools .Kelvin himself learnt his trade following Simmo when he first took up the sport ,I might add that there is more chance of knitting fog than KT racing in anger again .

RIP always liked his posts will be greatly missed by us all

I was thinking along the same lines myself rider /coach Kelvin would be a huge draw and star in the third tier ,it may also get the riding bug out of his system !!!

Old Tony going to mix it again at 50 yrs old with the young bucks he is a true asset to the NL and they should make the most of him while he's there just hope he has a safe season .

On the whole this has to be a good thing for s/way in the long term , there is going to be a period of adjustment and much resistance from riders but more directly from tuners who at the end of the day do nothing for the well being of the sport.I accept that tuners were merely taking advantage of a market within the sport but in so doing they have added a significant cost that it can no longer afford . This is a watershed period in the sport from a machinery point of view and sadly there has to be casualties (tuners) and the riders have to embrace the fact that they are purchasing an engine not because it may be a 10th of second a lap faster( if it was they would be ordering pairs of these engines by the shed load ) than the next rider but because they will be able to race on a more level plainfield at mutual cost . As to what happens to the old engines and their investment anyone who remember the 4 valve revolution will have witnessed 2 valve engines being discarded wholesale almost overnight because they were chasing speed with no regard of the financial implications of their actions what so ever .

Think that Rory is a big risk IMO

Sorry can't resist the fact that for the first time in about 25yrs PK name will not be popping up , just seems a little odd but i am sure PA and CVS will put a good team together to defend the title.

iMO Peter Karlsson has all the qualities to be a first rate manager( I believe he is helping Tai at the GP's ) and I hope we see him in this country in the near future now he has retired from riding .

IMO very often the best managers have not reached very top in their chosen sport ( I mean they maybe what is called journeymen or may not of actually taken part) that's not to say they were not good or successful but never reached ""superstar status as it were .

I believe that every s/way rider should be paid as much as possible and begrudge them nothing ,however sadly it is a dangerous sport with marginal rewards at best and anyone who embarks on a career in s/way should accept that financial reward is a bonus not a right .

I do hope Doyle is able to return to the rider he was but his age no spring chicken ( there is and will only be one Grin !) and he was busted up badly quite badly an elbow or a thigh breakage are just about the worst injury for s/way rider .

I maybe alone in this but I really do feel for Chris Morton as I have witnessed on numereous occasions the effort he put in to get this project completed ,no matter how bad anyone feels I am sure they feel no worse than he will at this moment . The most important thing now is that speedway and the Aces continue to race at the NSS as this staduim really is the jewel in the crown of this sport and the Ace's are part of speedway heritage that must be protected at all costs