sandman

I know that with me it seems I am on the same old soap box, but it occured to me that maybe the riders themselves like the slicker tracks. It may go back to what I said some months ago, just maybe the contemporary speedway bike is too difficult to handle in deep conditions? If that is the case, that is still no excuse because it wouldnt take the riders very long to come up with the necessary changes and adjustments to make them work.. And.. there is some truth concerning the equality of the top riders making it so difficult for them to pass, however, slick tracks only compound the problem. One line racing makes passing impossible. Some of the superbike and moto gp races this year have been absolutely ace, with loads of passing. The crowds are growing, the riders are making serious money and the fans go away happy. Speedway gp has serious problems in those areas and the powers that be need to address them now..I am sure that the people who are responsible for these events read the forum, I just wish they would take note...for the good of this wonderful sport.

Speedway has one chance through Sky to break through and become main stream. Instead of grasping the oppurtunity and making a show of it, the racing, at least half of the time due to the condition of the tracks has been processional.. As much as I admire Ole Olsens accomplishments from the past, and some of his good changes concerning bringing speedway into the 21st century, there is a huge lack of proper track preparation for such important meetings.. Instead of bringing in many new converts, it is getting stale, even losing some of us die hards along the way.. I try to brag up the sport, we get the television warmed up only for people i invite over to watch tell me how there is no passing, first out off the start wins and its boring to them..How many others that tune in feel the same? I dont know but it cant be good for this sport which has the potential to become really big..Maybe it is time for Ole to pass the torch to some young blood..

Congrats to Jason, as great as the old man was, Jason did something Phil couldnt.. It is always difficult for the son of a great speedway racer to step out from the shadow..I havent had a chance to watch the meeting yet, but if it was slick, and dusty, it would be another nail in the coffin of this great sport. Being on the sky media stage, this may be our last chance to get a broader audience around the world.. If the track was as slick as it seems by the title of this thread im glad i didnt go, its much easier to turn on and off the television than travel great distances, pay for rental car, hotel, food etc.. When will they learn? But... this isnt meant to denigrate Jasons night... Well done to a worthy champ..

And even better if there's a pic of Zenon Plech in there, aye LW . So what's this new signature all about then? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Piccy of Zenon in this weeks Speedway Star. Hmm...thought men were supposed to improve with age. Signature's been deleted, I was having a bad day. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> now me an a few friends have been debatin the topic of age, and we reckon we have it figured out.... as people age... men get character; an women get men with character.. man... i had to edit again...

Clive Hitch..

no doubt Michanek could have won a few more World Championships had he had the desire..He was the master at good guy bad guy routine, i dont think anyone ever figured him out.. imo tremendous competitor..and a great ambassador for the sport...

so... which two is it ? i just think mcknight is a bit maligned by some.. he just couldnt sort things out in time.. by the way,... i think you were very good and a stalwart team man.. and i might add, had a good ridin style...

i think McKnight was better than he showed. saw him at swindon, and seemed to be sorting himself out scoring 8 points at hackney i think, but averages and work permit issues forced him to leave. i think he was actually a good rider, thrown in at the deep end too quickly..bit unfair to label him as one of two worst riders ever seen at swindon..points wise, maybe, potential? the man had potential..

i was at Brands that day Jim, it was fantastic.. seem to remember Barry Sheene in the 350 class on his Yamaha, wearing white leathers. Every lap the Harley blasted past, i kept thinking next lap will be a different story, but Cal flat out smoked the best that day. thanx for the memory...

And you're an idiot. End of story. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> no he is not an idiot.. idiot savant maybe, but not an idiot. {hope this helps whacko.}

this is not a dig at Ole, but i think he preferred slick tracks in his time, although he i think was quite good on the deep ones. but in my opinion, slick tracks will be the ruin of speedway, it evens the odds for the mediocore riders that can gate..slick tracks = boring.. simple really.

michanek was good to be sure.. but.. could you ask him why he always wore those funny goggles? kind of a trademark of his...sort of like the ones rommel wore in north africa.. just curious..

I heard the other day that Steve Greshams older brother, Jim, who was a well known speedway rider in his own right in america, was killed in a car accident coming home from a car race last week. Evidentially he was 30 miles from home and fell asleep whilst driving. All of this comes a short time after Steve lost his son in an accident.. Steve and Jim were very close, and I know that all will join me in sending condolences to Steve...

Sorry to hear that.. He was one of the sports big names in his time, I know he left many great memories of him behind. That was his gift to all. Thoughts and sympathy to his family...

now there is a name that brings back memories.. didnt they used to always play that song "jimmy mac" whenever he won a race, which was often i might add.. a racers racer and a gentleman...

he's now part of my crew, fits in perfectly...

its funny too because they always say worlds championships, like there is more than one world competing..

guess i was wrong.. for some reason i thought he had a go at speedway before car racing. regardless, he was one of my all time favourite race car drivers, along side james hunt..guess ive gone off topic again, sorry..

taking off of a very similar thread, i wonder where are a lot of the retired speedway racers? what did they do after they quit racing? work in a factory, drive race cars, go back to normal lives or struck it rich in business ventures? plumbers, electricians, lorry drivers? i would love to know what some of my own personal heroes from days gone by are doing now... speedway can be a cruel mistress to dance with...

am i wrong in thinking that martin brundle, the excellent former f1 driver, had a go at speedway at kings lynn before the car racing? maybe dead brain cells on my part talkin....

i think two different riders.. funny enough, one small fella and the other tall.. this is a question norbold can answer i am sure...

ohhhwholivesinapineappleundertheseaspongebobsquarepants........

ummm... ya wouldnt happen to be ronnie russell by chance would ya? i may be a bit slow, but eventually it all sinks in, good on ya vincent.. always admired self promoters! ps tony, as far as weird minds, it takes one to know one thats how i figgered this out..

Somebody call? i know you,.. yer the big fella with the breeze blocks under yer coat..

are you ready kids?? aye aye captn!! i cant hear youuuuu... are you ready kids???/ aye aye capn!! ohhhh, who lives inna pineapple under the sea?/ spongebob squarepants!!