lucifer sam

It's worth pointing out there hasn't been a constant decline since 1930, as some seem to be suggesting. The sport was much healthier in the mid 70s than the mid 50s. In fact, there's never been as few teams as there were in 1958. Even the SAL didn't run that year. So there were just 10 league teams that year. For some reason, they needed much bigger crowds to be able to operate back then (maybe admission prices were incredibly cheap in comparison), but as you can see, speedway is in a healthier state in 2017 than it was in 1958. All the best Rob

I remember going up at Glasgow when Oxford were there in 1994. On the parade, Mick Poole received boos, but he just ignored them. It then came around to Burt (Martin Goodwin). The Tigers faithful booed him even more - his response was to grin and cheerfully wave at them. He was a character. All the best Rob

Star Lady, surely if you're counting football as 90 minutes, then you have to count the amount of time that speedway bikes are out on the track for a race. I reckon it's about 3 minutes most of the time. So that's 45 minutes, not 90. All the best Rob

I met Dennis (Merlin), after being introduced by Paulco. He was so obviously speedway through-and-through; one of these chaps would do anything for his local club. And generous as well - I remember him going out of his way to drop Paulco and myself back at the station. RIP Dennis - a sad loss. All the best Rob

You'll lose your money then. All the best Rob

Fixtures here: http://scunthorpescorpions.co/?p=6605 All the best Rob

Is the pairs still at Somerset this season the day before Cardiff? All the best Rob

SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS have brought forward their regular Sunday evening start-time to 5.30pm for the 2017 season. It’s an hour earlier than in 2016, when meetings started at 6.30pm. Promoter Rob Godfrey explains: “We’ve listened to the fans – it’s down to customer feedback. “We were told that people would like to get home just a little bit sooner on a Sunday evening. And for those with children, it means that the kids can go off to bed earlier. “I spoke with Graham (Trollope), our track curator, and it won’t make any difference to the track – we can prepare an excellent track for a 5.30pm start-time, just as we could last year at 6.30pm.” Fixtures for the new-look SGB Championship are set to be released soon.

RIP Bryn. While it's a sad day today, I feel privileged to have known you. Thanks very much for accepting me down the pits for the away meetings in 2005, as we plotted victory towards the Conference League title. I learnt so much from you. While today is sad, I remember the good times, in particular the day the Oxford Academy secured the league title. You were a smashing chap, speedway mad and a font of knowledge. RIP mate. All the best Rob

Gustix, quick question. Why did you start in 1928 then? Speedway did not start in 1928. It's difficult to pinpoint exactly, but around 1924 seems to be the starting point (I don't think West Maitland in December 1923 was speedway). Why not make it all a bit easier: Top 20s from: The 20s and 30s The 40s and 50s The 60s and 70s The 80s and 90s 2000 onwards All the best Rob

Fundin's peak years were '56 to '63, so he's on the cusp. More world titles in the 60s maybe - but, on the other hand, he was domestically at his best in the 50s. Bjorn Knutsson was a better rider than Crutcher, so I'm keeping my choices are they are. If there was another spot for 40s/50s, I think I'd plump for Graham Warren ahead of Brian Crutcher. All the best Rob

Each rider only listed once. Yes, Gollob still ahead of Woffy at the moment - that may change in a year or two!! All the best Rob

1920s/1930s: Jack Milne, Bluey Wilkinson, Tom Farndon, Lionel Van Praag, Vic Huxley 1940s/1950s: Ove Fundin, Vic Duggan, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven, Jack Young 1960s/1970s: Ivan Mauger, Barry Briggs, Ole Olsen, Peter Collins, Bjorn Knutsson 1980s/1990s: Hans Nielsen, Erik Gundersen, Bruce Penhall, Michael Lee, Jan O Pedersen 2000s/2010s: Tony Rickardsson, Jason Crump, Nicki Pedersen, Greg Hancock, Tomasz Gollob All the best Rob

Norbold, I thought it was whoever who was in front after the first lap, rather than the first bend? I can see the reason for such an agreement - to share the money, so that they don't kill each other squabbling over it. Although I think the prize of becoming World Champion is bigger than the cash prize. In any case, it certainly seems Langton thought was he duped by Van Praag. It doesn't take away from the fact that Van Praag was a true quality rider. All the best Rob

Sid, I agree that Sanders at No 8 had me going "WHAT?" as well. He and John Louis are surely the first men on the team sheet. I largely agree with your choices, although I think I'd have Chris Louis ahead of Mark Loram. Loram had two spells at Ippo, but neither came during his prime. He'd be in my King's Lynn, Poole, Exeter and Eastbourne teams. I'd personally plump for: 1. John Louis 2. Dennis Sigalos 3. Billy Sanders 4. Tomasz Gollob 5. Tony Rickardsson 6. Chris Louis 7. Tony Davey (8. Mark Loram) Although if you also take Ipswich Mk 1 into contention, there's also Peter Moore All the best Rob

How on earth do you place Michanek ahead of Sanders at Ipswich? I think I'd have Tony Davey in there too - the 75/76 championship winning sides were built around the rock of Louis/Sanders/Davey. All the best Rob

You've missed the second half of his surname, Steve (Only kidding, Lovaas was the best rider Oxford had for nearly a decade). All the best Rob

Yup, an explosive pairing :D All the best Rob

Steve, mine had Mick Fletcher Favourite NL team (remember I was only really a fan from 1980, bit too young to remember to have 'favourites' from before then): 1. Dave Perks 2. Mick Fletcher 3. Derek Harrison 4. Nigel Sparshott 5. John Hack 6. Steve Crockett 7. Kevin Smart Best team: 1. Dave Perks 2. Derek Harrison 3. Martin Yeates 4. Les Rumsey 5. George Hunter 6. Colin Ackroyd 7. John Hack (8. Dave Shields) Of course, we had a very young Simon Cross as well... All the best Rob

Mine for Oxford are: Favourite seven: 1. Hans Nielsen 2. Jens Rasmussen 3. Lawrence Hare 4. Craig Branney 5. Marvyn Cox 6. Mick Fletcher 7. Chris Mills Best seven: 1. Hans Nielsen 2. Marvyn Cox 3. Ron How 4. Arne Pander 5. Simon Wigg 6. Ronnie Genz 7. Todd Wiltshire Although you could have: 1. Hans Nielsen 2. Tony Rickardsson 3. Greg Hancock 4. Billy Hamill 5. Jason Crump 6. Nicki Pedersen 7. Simon Wigg (8. Leigh Adams) But for me, my 'best seven' is riders synonymous with the club, rather than just a list of World Champions who might have ridden for Oxford at some point. All the best Rob

Nielsen, Wigg, Cox, Pander, How, Genz and Wiltshire. All the best Rob

Can we have most 0-5s? I t might help identify the dirtiest riders in the league, who knock everyone else off? All the best Rob

My 12 guesses: Grajzconek/Tungate Grajzconek/Allen Starke/Wright Lawson/Summers Worrall/Bach Lambert/Worrall Lindgren/Kus Masters/Wolbert King/Sarjaent Covatti/Risager Howarth/Bates Kennett/Robson All the best Rob

With a bit of creativity All the best Rob

Mimmo, hold on a minute, are you saying only one team out of 8 (Scunthorpe) completed their fixtures? All the best Rob