Grachan

Seeing is believing Pete!

There's a picture of the line up in Backtrack this month if you didn't already know.

Personally, I'd love to see a feature on Bobby McNeil, having had my appetite whetted by several pictures (old and new) in Backtrack. Also, Geoff Bouchard is another Swindon favourite that it would be interesting for me to read about. Anyone else have any particular rider that would interest them?

Swindon's programme from Thursday has it as the 28th in the fixture list. How cah this once great meeting be turned into such a waste of time like this. Still, that's speedway for you.

Don't be so naive. If rolling starts were still allowed and part of the game then a rider like Tony would take advantage of that and probably be brilliant at it. You can't say one rider was better than another because of the rules of the day. It's an irrelevant argument. It's like saying Ivan was better because they didn't have air fences in those days or the bikes were apparently more difficult to ride.

I'm sure Tony would be too if was still allowed.

Not too sure about Michenek as I'm not convinced he had the true dedication, but other than that I agree. The thing is, so many of those old one-off titiles were turned on one single race and it's impossible to make comparisons. Would Ivan have won in 1972 even if they had had semi-finals and a final. Ole Olsen was far an away the best rider on the night but totally blew it in his first ride. 1977 - Ivan was again fortunate. Wasn't he back in third or fourth when John Boulger fell off in one race? Ivan, therefore, certainly had his share of luck in those finals but who knows what would have happened with the GP in place. I've long stuck with the theory that Ivan was the best, though, but I have to say that I'm starting to sway towards Rickardsson now with the way he's benn going this year. That Cardiff final came close to clinching it for me. His form this year is remarkable. I don't see why Ivan should say he's the best. It's pure conjecture.

I had Ivan Mauger's autograph. It was an I followed by a line. Or, to put it another way, a right angle. I guess that's what you get for asking someone for their autograph while they're in the middle of talking to someone else.

Algerrie, My recording of the GP was fine. E-mail me your details if you still need a copy.

Hmmm. Inconclusive I'd say. Definite similarities though, but definite differences too.

I can't e-mail as you have no e-mail option set up. Send me one instead.

I thought it looked like 'Alan' although it could be John Davis as his looked a bit like that if I remember. I used to have loads of autographs around that time, but unfortunately I lost them at some point so I can't look.

Fingers crossed it came out then! Is +RW ok?

I should have a copy recorded on timer, all being well, but I won't know for sure until next Wednesday! If you still need a copy then, let me know.

Lee Richardson's mum used to present the speedway on Screensport.

Spot on Shaky. Second time lucky. I'd quit now while you're ahead if I was you!

He could miss one of them completely and still be guaranteed top.

To everyone else - there's always next year.

Hardly the crime of the century is it!

I've got the dk4 feed with commentry from Radio Oxford. Will they match up time wise though? Highly unlikely.

I'd like to know why tracks have become smaller too. I've always preferred big tracks too. Swindon is now seen as a big fast track whereas it was relatively typical when I started going. The irony is, of course, that as tracks have become smaller, so bikes have become faster. Maybe that would explain the accidents. I only went to Hyde Road a couple of times, both for World Championship events. One was an Overseas Final (I think) won by Phil Collins and the other was when Kenny Carter rode with a broken leg. It was a truly great place for Speedway, though I'm not sure how it would look today if it was still open as I'm sure the wooden stands would have had to come down.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Seeing as nobody has mentioned it - number 8 arrived today with none other than Martin Ashby in there! He says he still sees Broady quite often, but I already knew that. I've often seen them standing together on the Blunsdon terraces. I went to Martin Ashby Motorcycles once to get my FS1-E fixed. It was miles out of the way, but it meant it was fixed by Martin Ashby, so I was well pleased. Would Tommy Jansson have been 1976 World Champ? A possible future champ, maybe, but not in 1976 in my opinion. He was a great rider but PC was ahead of him at World level at that point.

As soon as I saw this thread it rang a few bells, so I've dug out some of my early programmes. The first ever match I went to at Swindon was Swindon v Wolves on Saturday, August 17, 1974. Announcer: Graham Guthrie. The second match I went to at Swindon was a 4TT between Swindon, Exeter, Newport, Oxford on Saturday September 7, 1974. Announcer: John Sutton. This is taken from the 4TT programme of September 7 1974. Graham Guthrie It is with deep regret that we have to announce that Graham Guthrie passed away on Saturday, August 31st. It was typical of the man that he had battled bravely against serious illness over the past months and was still able to inject his own brand of humour into the proceedings. It is fair to say that from the time he joined us in 1965, Graham had established himself as an integral part of the Blunsdon scene and was unique in his style as an announcer. To his family and friends we extend our sympathy. He will be sadly missed by all who had the good fortune to know him.

I liked Bert Harrison at Swindon, but that's probably because he lived just round the corner from my mum and dad and announced my birthday once.