falkirkbandit

I won a dvd on Ebay late last week featuring two Bandits meetings, both PL, first from 12/6/01 and the second 7/5/02, it arrived yesterday and i've just been watching it, i have to say, some of the racing and passing is superb!! I'd seen pictures of the place but never any footage from it until now, it must've been great watching your speedway every week in such a unique setting!

I wished i had taken more money with me last friday to Armadale, Barry was standing behind me on the back straight and was selling the book, Champion Briggs dvd and Sports Relief t-shirts, i could've got a personally signed book...i did buy the dvd though, i thoroughly enjoyed it, some great old footage on it! He did say on the mic that he was hoping to get to all UK tracks so i'll have to keep my eye on the Berwick website, and make sure i take enough money to buy the book when/if he comes to town!

I bought issues 34, 35 and 36 at Armadale last night, can't wait to get stuck into reading them!

A great article Norman, i thoroughly enjoyed it!

Good to see that i'm not the only one that couldn't put it down once i'd started, i even took mine to the kitchen to read whilst waiting on the kettle to boil

My copy arrived at 10am this morning...and i've finished it already, a fantastic read, i thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down, a great book!

I had the email this evening that it was shipped today, i'd better get my finger out and finish the book i'm reading just now, ready for its arrival

I ordered mine on sunday evening from Amazon, the Book Depository was the seller, i had an email yesterday that i should have it by the end of the week, £10.27 including postage, that'll do for me!

My god, thats awful

I had a look on the site earlier, some great clips on there

Great footage, very sad though

I was rummaging through a box of old DJ Magazines the other night looking for a particular issue when i came across this Speedway Star, i seem to remember it being given away with an issue of Speedway Star a few years ago, i might be wrong though, but i don't recall ever buying it! Anyhoo, its been great reading all the stories in it but this one by Howdy is a great read, and just as relevant today i think, 50 plus years after it was written, and if you flipped things round the other way, from a speedway fans point of view, it means just the same thing, well it does to me, we just can't get speedway out of our systems. Anyway, i've got my typing fingers primed and ready, here goes: There isn't a man riding today who isn't drugged! Startling? Stark, true fact. Where else can you find a sport like ours, where competitors take so many appalling risks as just part of the job? Where nightly, men chance a broken arm, a broken leg, or even risk the greatest thing they have to offer - their life? Why do we do it? Payment is good when you hit star status. But no money on earth is good enough when you run the risk of permanently crippling yourself or leaving behind all you hold dear, as we riders do with every race we ride. No, its not payment alone. That helps us get into the game, but what is it that keeps us in? What gets such a stranglehold on us that the very last thing we ever think of discussing is retirement? And when we do retire, what is it that draws us back to the track, even if only to watch others do what we once did, to smell with an appreciating nose the reek of burning rubber, the stench of racing dope, to potter round the pits lending a helping hand, or just to pay our bobs and take our place on the terraces? Can money do that to a man, especially when he's no longer getting any from that source? I'll tell you what keeps me in the game. Maybe you'll be a little more understanding then at those riders who, though long past their best, haven't the courage to make a complete break from the game we all love. The actual racing brings its thrills and a feeling of physical power and well being thats hard to explain. The love of the chase is born in all of us, in speedway it gets an outlet. The thrill of chasing, catching and passing the man in front, the power of controlling the mechanical monster, bending it your will, thrilling the thousands of onlookers. The terrific kick you get when the fans cheer. Its you they're roaring for. Imagine it. And can you wonder why we feel good when we hear your cheers and your warcries? The feeling that you are somebody when the kids come to get your autograph.You watch them beam with pleasure as they push their books under your nose. They run off and you think "well i've really given them something." The fascination of adjusting and experimenting with your engine or a frame, of trying your experiments out. Of inventing something - no matter how trivial or simple - and thinking "this is going to make me better than the other guy." And the pat on the back you feel like giving yourself if your gadget happens to work. The chance to travel to other countries, see life there. No stagnating in any one spot. Out and about around the world, see how the other half lives and never give yourself time to get bored. The feeling of comradeship such as we have never known since our schooldays (ah, happy times) ended. The skylarking about in the dressing rooms before the meeting. The thrill of opening the paper and seeing your name or photo in print. The living on your nerves, the haring round the country, the eternal "shop" talk, the never ending quest for a better motor, a better frame. Thats all part and parcel of my scrambled and probably garbled version of speedway. And why it gets such a hold on us that we just can't draw away. Yes, it has its sad times and moments of depression too, the pal you visit in hospital, the lad you know who, for one reason or another will never ride again. Worst of all, the speedway widows you meet, their saddened, haunted eyes seeing their husband, sweetheart or hero in your leathers. Then there's you, the paying public, the pleasant things you write, and some that aren't always so pleasant! The chatter at dances and socials, the boost you give us and the way you show your appreciation of our efforts to keep you entertained. You are nice people to know, its been a privilege that, but for speedway, i might never have had. Are there still any who do not understand why we cannot and will not get this drug called speedway out of our system? I just think its a great article...i'm off to put my typing fingers in an ice bucket after typing all that

A cracking video

A cracking read, thoroughly enjoyed it!

I got my copy at Armadale tonight, will get stuck into it when i return from Berwick on sunday.

Indeed, i ordered two books (at seperate times, one on a sunday) last week and the Wiggy one arrived the next day after ordering, excuse the pun, but that service is first class!

I enjoyed the sampler dvd i got with my Tommy Jansson book today, i might purchase this when i get my final pay through.

Crikey

It is a great site indeed! The cigarette cards are great to see, i always remember as a kid, reading and collecting Commando comics and there regularily used to be speedway riders on the inside covers, front and back, god knows what happened to them though, like my old autograph book, must've got lost in one of our many moves when i was younger

I can only find this one: http://www.justin.tv/sjip

Well done the Poles, and due to all the rain and delays, i got to watch the entire Moto GP in between, not a bad sunday so far at all

Can you tell i'm bored at work today http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...hl=louis+lawson

There's an article in today's Speedway Star on Louis, i don't know if it mentions it in there, i just skimmed through the magazine on my lunch hour, i always read it properly on a saturday when i'm off work for the weekend.

Oh aye