mervjankefanclub

Looks like AJ could be a doubt aswell .......... http://speedwaygp.com/en/newsdetail/a530

I seem to recall Milton Keynes staging a truly star-studded and fitting memorial for Brett Alderton that year, with plenty of top stars from the BL, including, if I remember right, the reigning world champ Bruce Penhall I may be wrong, but werent Nigel and Corey Alderton who rode over here for Edinburgh, the brothers or cousins of Brett

.....providing its on home shale of course, trees

I am actually quite enjoying Tatum and Louis doing the commentary, Louis in particular is becoming very adept at it. Just right for a relaxing Sunday morning Best wishes to Nigel Pearsons wife, hope it is nothing serious.

Wonder what Pearson and Tatum would have been saying if Wuffy jnr had won the heat

Pretty sure Bert Harkins called for Scotland to be recognised by the FIM as an independent body on the world stage, quite a few years back, to no avail. Maybe your man reckons he has a bit more clout than the bold Bertola

Superb meeting, better Poland going straight through as it will make the race off more interesting. As they would have dominated it, just like they will the final.

.......I was under the impression that he came from a very wealthy family background.

Where to, a nice wee detached five bed in rural Norfolk If so then the GB job must be a decent wee earner, eh? No wonder many a hat was chucked into the ring

Not too sure about that statement, snapper. I believe the majority of English love to see the Scots beaten, just as much as the Scots love to see the English beaten. Personally it doesnt bother me one iota, I support both Scotland and Britain (Olympics etc.) and am proud to be both Scottish and British. But I certainly wouldnt support England in certain sports, most notably football. But that is mostly down to the way the arrogant media ram it down our throats up here, the way they are going on there doesnt seem to be much point in any other country turning up in South Africa next year

Dont see the problem with it, it has been going on in speedway for years. Fans have a tendency to support their clubs riders before their countries. Remember the Test matches of the 80s between England and the USA and Denmark, there used to be plenty of home fans in the crowd with American or Danish flags supporting the likes of Penhall, Sigalos, Nielsen, etc..Speedway has never been as tribal as football in that sense. And for its worth I am proud to be both British and Scottish

They were fighting like a couple of big jessies Both wouldnt have lasted ten seconds with the hairy arsed men of yesteryear, Crazy Jack Millen, Tom Leadbitter, Wilko, Mullarkey...etc.

Stuck a few quid on both Lindgren and Jonsson, for a wee bit of interest whilst watching tonight.

I know wikipedia isnt always known for its accuracy, but that sounds about right..... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Johnson_(speedway_rider) .....I think we can claim him as "wan of oor ain"

So it is a repeat, damn I could have watched it in peace last night and save all this rushing about with the kids this morning, so I can catch it

Just in case anyone wasnt aware, I certainly wasnt and have just come across it by accident, but there is a preview of tonights GP on sky sports 2 at 10.30 this morning.

Worth a quid of anybodies money @200/1 with Coral, vic I am going to have a dabble at Freddie @25/1, hopefully get a wee run for my money with him, and as you say he is flying at the moment and has as good a chance as any

Thats exactly what I thought, when I first saw the name, Iris, but didnt want to say anything Got to be honest it is a name I am not familiar with in Scottish speedway either Looking at the latest list, surely Kenny McKinna merits a higher placing than 14th After a spectacular apprenticeship with the Tigers at Blantyre, he went on to give the Aces 5 solid years in the top flight, before returning home to spearhead the Stripes triumphant return to the city and he remained one of the top dogs in the lower league until his retirement 11 years later. The young Kenny McKinna was one of the most exciting riders I ever saw

Tommy Miller came from Blantyre, the same place as Ken McKinlay and the Beatons, he also had a motorcylce dealership in the Burnbank area of Hamilton where I come from. Of course all this was well before my time, but I have heard and read about him and his exploits. After scorching to top at White City, he moved onto Motherwell for the 1954 season, whch was apparently a massive coup for the Eagles at the time, but he asked for a transfer before the season had even ended, moving onto Coventry. He then rode for Oxford before his career ended in 1956. New tyre regulations and failing finances in speedway have been blamed for his rapid demise. He actually acted as a referee during the 1964 'Black' PL, before he passed away in the late 60s after suffering from il-health for some time. Here is a wee exerpt from an old Scottish speedway mag, chronicling Tommys astonishing Test match debut; TOMMY WAS ATOMIC The Greatest Test Debut Ever There have been many young riders who have caused a stir with a sensational debut in a Test match, which in team terms should be the pinnacle of speedway racing. Dent Oliver of Belle Vue actually scored a maximum against Australia in his debut Test in 1948 on his home track, a remarkable effort. It was'nt his first season of speedway but it was his first Test. Unmatchable? Not quite, because a young Scotsman can beat that. Right at the end of the 1949 season the name of Tommy Miller had begun to appear in the Consolation Scurry at White City, holding his own with fellow juniors such as Gordon Mitchell, Red Monteith and Niven McCreadie. He had only taken up the sport in September of that year. By the start of the 1950 season, after a winter of training with the Bothwell Bulls team, 21 year old Tommy from High Blantyre had made the Tigers' team- just. He rode as second reserve in the opening meeting, and Ian Hoskins in listing the newcomers that season, put Tommy fifth behind Gundy Harris, Peter Dykes, Johnny Green and Willie Gordon. He scored 1 from 3 rides against Newcastle on 5th April. But his rate of improvement was incredible. Literally, there has never been anything like it. Peter Collins, Michael Lee, Joe Screen.......their progress was snail-like compared to the man who became known as 'Atomic Tommy'. This was astonishing, and in recognition of the mark he was making he was appointed captain of the Scotland team for the first 1950 Test v England at his home track, in a fixture staged on an unusual Monday night. Brilliant Aussies Jack Young and Ken Le Breton were amongst his team mates, and the English knowing they had a battle on their hands, included World no. 2 of the previous year, Jack Parker, World no. 3 Louis Lawson, and the superb young Halifax rider Arthur Forrest. Few could have many doubts, given his form, that Miller would give the English a run for their money, but he managed to exceed expectations. In fact, it was a very wet night after rain all day, but it made no difference to Tommy. He beat Jack Parker in heat one, in easily the fastest time of the night. He won a re-run heat 6 from Louis Lawson. He beat Arthur Forrest to take heat 8 - nine points at the interval. Heat 10 topped everything. Here is Ian Hoskins' description from a later Tigers' programme. "Tommy's ride in heat 10, when he came from last to defeat Jack Parker on the third lap, and the dash half the length of the back straight, to catch and pass Vic Emms on the last corner, was the highlight of the meeting. Hats were literally thrown onto the air What greater achievement could a Scottish born lad achieve in his first season than this?" After that, he could'nt lose. The last two heat wins were a formality as Tommy Miller completed a historic 18-point score in his first season, an achievement that can never be beaten. Miller gave Tigers' fans countless thrills in four seasons with the club, achieving incredible consitency in club racing, but not going on to reach World standards which seemed to be a formality for him. He seemed to be primarily a Tigers' man, because when he moved on and White City closed, Miller wasn't half the rider. But no-one need ever forget the glory night, and there was none better than the night Miller scored 18 on his debut against the English. SCORERS: SCOTLAND 67 - T. Miller 18, K. Le Breton 15, J. Young 14, M. Harding 9, W. Wilson 8, D. Campbell 1, N. Lindsay 1, G. McGregor 1. ENGLAND 41 - L. Lawson 12, J Parker 11, V Emms 6, C. Roger 3, A. Forrest 3, G. Bennett 3, L. Williams 3, J. Reason 0. .........I would have loved to have witnessed 'Atomic Tommy' in his pomp

Are Glasgow and Edinburgh allowed to take part in any future plans for ENGLISH speedway, or should they just shut up shop come the end of the season

Did I just hear yer man Pedersen say the young Russian boy ran into him, after he (Pedersen) had lifted

1. KEN McKINLAY - (SCOTLAND) 2. JACK PARKER - (ENGLAND) 2. JACK YOUNG - (AUSTRALIA) 4. BRUCE PENHALL - (USA) 5. BARRY BRIGGS - (NEW ZEALAND) 6. HANS NIELSEN - (DENMARK) 7. TONY RICKARDSSON - (SWEDEN) 8. TOMASZ GOLLOB - (POLAND) ....of riders I have seen live, I would change it to... 1. JIM McMILLAN - (SCOTLAND) 2. PETER COLLINS - (ENGLAND) 3. JASON CRUMP - (AUSTRALIA) 4. BRUCE PENHALL - (USA) 5. IVAN MAUGER - (NEW ZEALAND) 6. HANS NIELSEN - (DENMARK) 7. TONY RICKARDSSON - (SWEDEN) 8. TOMASZ GOLLOB - (POLAND)

Heres one for you, does anyone remember Buddy Robinson, who rode for the Falcons during their ill fated stint in the 1984 BL. With the exception of Scott Autrey, the County Ground was hardly the type of track for a debutant American, was it? Is my memory playing tricks or was he really from Hawaii

Dont know if this helps, BOBBATH. http://www.bradfordspeedway.co.uk/panthers.html

I was going to mention Dukie aswell star ghost. For the season he stepped out of his brothers shadow and had a great year with the Tigers in 95, including back to back maximums agaisnt the Moaners in his first two meetings But the criteria is 1970-90. Out of interest what happened in the incident you are refering to