Grachan

Personally I would say King was the most surprising selection last night, and comments on here and on Sky have backed that up. I was surprised by it myself. Tai and Lewis are seen much more as the future of British speedway, and Kennett was GP wild card and was an obvious selection along with Harris. Before last night I think most people would have had King as the rider to make way for Richardson. I suspect he'll keep his place now though, so a worthwhile exercise to include him in my opinion - as I said in my original post. It will be interesting to see if he can raise his game in Poland, but I suspect we will struggle whatever side we put out - much to the delight of a few traitorous Scots!

I thought it was an excellent meeting last night. Never really expected GB to get to the next round, and thought we did okay. I, like many, was dubious about Danny King's inclusion in the side based on recent EL form, but I think he proved Lyons strategy correct with his performance. Had Rico been riding instead of King we still wouldn't have qualified, but would have come a bit closer no doubt. But King showed he was able to raise his game, whereas Ed Kennett wasn't, and, as such has probably earned selection for the race-off. Had King not ridden last night, then I think it would have been even more of a gamble to drop, say, Kennett and try him in Poland. Still not convinced he'll do much in Poland, but certainly worth a shot after last night. Biggest revelation for me was Miedzinski. Looked a different rider to the one who was at Swindon a few years back. Well, until he took his helmet off. He looked like the same rider then.

Sort of agree. I'd just let the reserve have 5 rides anywhere. What the hell, let him have the last 5 rides of the meeting if you want. Probably not a good idea, but if that's the way the manager wants to play it then let him. That gets rid of the pretent injuries from a couple of years back, gives you cover for genuine injury, and allows a degree of tactics too. I'd get rid of the Joker completely. Embarassing, stupid and unfair to a team that takes a lead. Why? Let them put their best rider at reserve if they want. Make for some interesting tactics. GB, for example, could put Rico at reserve on Monday and just see how it goes.

It's not the strongest GB team, and like many I was surprised to see King in instead of Rico. The thing is though - with Rico in we'd come third. Without Rico in we'll come third. So what does it matter. At least this way we can see which of the youngsters show they can perform on the real stage, and that can be taken into account in the race-off selection where Rico and possibly Nicholls will come into the equation and - once again - we'll come third. Or fourth.

Indeed. It is the BRITISH GP. Very poor show if you ask me.

Never went to Cardiff htis year, but I've been in the past and found drunk and sweary people highly irritating and there in large numbers. Don't understand why they do it personally, and it does make it uncomfortable if you're there with small kids. As for Snyper's comments - well I often find his anti-English stuff a bit grating, but have to say that if we're supposed to be TeamGM and the meeting is in Wales, then it's pretty obvious that some Welsh and Scottish people might be a bit narked at a "Come on England" mentality. For once I can actually see his point.

Any particular reason? Or just blind prejudice?

Why on Earth would you cheer on 5 Danes?

1. McConnell 2. Cook 3. Penhall

I remember this meeting. I never went but recall it being a massive attraction. It was a four team tournament but can't remember he exact teams. There's a section on it in the Ivan Mauger's Speedway Extravaganza book. Doesn't give the actual teams, results, scorers etc, but from the pictures etc it looks like Lions (a British team) Scandinavians, Australasians and a Booey Select. Some of the riders involved: Peter Collins, Bernie Persson, Malcolm Simmons, Ray Wilson, Billy Saunders, John Boulger, Bruce Cribb, Mitch Shirra (possibly just in the second half individual meeting as there's a picture of him leading in the second half but not wearing a race jacket), Dave Jessup, Soren Karlsson, Chris Morton and Nigel Boocock himself.

I did start making a record of the 1967 season once in my desperation to see Swindon win a league title, but never did get round to finishing it. Anyway, here's as far as I got with the Silver Sash for that year: Saturday April 1 – Barry Briggs (Swindon - Holder) beat Eric Boocock (Halifax) Thursday April 6 – Barry Briggs beat Trevor Hedge (Wimbledon) Saturday April 8 – Barry Briggs beat Hasse Holmqvist (Wolverhampton) Tuesday April 11 – Barry Briggs beat Sverre Harrfeldt (West Ham) Saturday April 15 – Barry Briggs beat Olle Nygren (Wimbledon) Wednesday April 19 – Barry Briggs beat Gote Nordin (Poole) Saturday April 22 – Barry Briggs beat Nigel Boocock (Coventry) Saturday April 29 – Barry Briggs beat Arne Pander (Oxford) Tuesday May 2 – Ray Wilson (Long Eaton) beat Barry Briggs Thursday May 4 – Arne Pander (Oxford) beat Ray Wilson Thursday May 11 – Mike Broadbanks (Swindon) beat Arne Pander by default Saturday May 20 – Ray Wilson (Long Eaton) beat Mike Broadbanks Tuesday May 30 – Ray Wilson beat Arnold Haley (Sheffield) Saturday June 3 – Ray Wilson beat Ken McKinley (West Ham) Thursday June 8 – Ray Wilson beat Arnold Haley (Sheffield) Tuesday June 13 – Ray Wilson beat Eddie Reeves (Oxford) Monday June 19 – Graham Coombes (Cradley Heath) beat Ray Wilson Friday June 23 – Jim Airey (Wolverhampton) beat Graham Coombes Tuesday June 27 – Jim Airey beat Ivan Mauger (Newcastle) Friday June 30 – Gote Nordin (Poole) beat Jim Airey Wednesday July 5 – Gote Nordin beat Bo Josefsson (Glasgow)

Sunbrite was (is?) a type of smokeless fuel. The company sponsered British Speedway at that time. If the final was in USA that year then it's probably from a qualification round. Can't be more helpful than that I'm afraid. I notice Britain made it to the final, so presumably did it through this round. Jeremy Doncaster and Richard Knight were in the team in the final, so that would give an Ipswich connection.

Get Ray Quinn back, but stick him on an ice rink this time. Much better than his singing.

In 1966 both the Golden Helmet and the Silver Sash were raced for over the season. The Golden Helmet was dropped in 1967 and the Silver Sash became the only Match Race championship in the British League. Not sure when the Golden Helemt returned, but when I started going in 1974 they had the Golden Helmet but not the Silver Sash.

That'll be The Prodigy that were at their peak in the 20th century then.

Can't remember on entrance, but may have been "unofficially" cheaper if you just turned up for the second match. It was one programme for the meeting with two seperate score sheets incorporated. One meeting - interval - other meeting.

I just have a random pile of mags in the bathroom and that happened to be amongst them. I think it stayed because it had Martin Ashby in it. And now it will stay forever - because it has me in it!!

Just had the shock of my life looking at this in the, ahem, "bathroom". I glanced at the crowd picture from the 70s on page 11 and there, staring back at me, was my 15-year-old self! Quite weird. Seen the picture load of times and never noticed before. Three rows back. Two in from the right. Gawky, semi-longg-haired teenager looking at the camera. That's me that is.

What about a park bench? You see them in many parks dedicated to various people.

Interesting. Certainly a bit of a "speedway" shape to it. Thanks for that. Funny how that area was used for houses but the rest remains grassland isn't it.

Reading's Tilehurst site is now Stadium Way Industrial Estate. Click Swindon's first track - from 1928 to 1930 - was at The Autodrome, behind the Duke of Edingburgh pub in Gorse Hill. I assume that would be the piece of grassland in this picture. Click Bristol Knowle Stadium is now houses, as in this picture. Not the defunct track shape a bit lower down but the actual site of the houses. Petherton Road and Ravenhead Drive are built on the former site. Click

Jerzy Szczakiel deserved to be Poland's first World Champ because he was the one who won it. None of the others did, so didn't deserve to - with the possible exception of Plech who seemed to be robbed of a possible place in the 1973 run-off by a bizarre refereeing decision.

I used to love watching Swindon winning at Oxford on Screensport. Presented by Lee Richardson's mum. Those were the days.

Not really. Not for me in 1982 - and I got the house to myself for 2 weeks. Oh yes!!

I know.