south coast robin

Think that our norvern friends.. (that's not norf of Watford Andy M ).would probably prefer a venue around the Brum / Cov manors . Don't agree that the quality of racing has been diabolical Sub . My stepson attending his first ever speedway meeting thought it was an awesome experience . Mind you i think he changed his mind after attending a meeting on the costa del worky one cold Saturday night !!

Not that strange, as there are supposed to be around half a million Poles in the UK . There were certainly a few more at Cardiff this year . Passionate , noisy fans as well , adds to the atmosphere .

Caristom..if New Cross had not have closed way back in '63 i would be sporting the Maltese avatar as well , not this country bumpkin birrrrdie !!

Thanks Subby..lord give me strength !!

They don't have a tube !

I think most people just want easy access , somewhere to park , and most return home the same day . My missus also wants decent shops, so Cardiff fits the bill nicely . Have attended many cup finals at Wembley to support the Arse , and always park well away from Wembley and travel on a packed Tube . Poor infrastructure in that area . I am a Londoner, but can only afford crap trainers from Shoe Express..£7.99 , and Lonsdale gear (which suits me Orion as it carries the London name ) . Not too smelly as I wear Hai-Karate after shave from Poundland , £1 a gallon .

Seems a shame there are no clubs in the Capital now . It dominated speedway in the 40s / 50s..teams such as Wembley , New Cross , Wimbledon ,West Ham , Harringay ( so my Old Man told me ) . Remember as a nipper in the 60s watching New Cross , Wimbledon , West Ham , and Hackney , then there was Wembley , and White City , in the 70s . I think Cardiff is an excellent Grand Prix venue , long may it continue .

My brother lives in Oz , and regularly attends meetings ...he says that most Aussies just go to look at the bikes , unlike here where few fans are bikers themselves .Someone with a programme board is a rarity over there .

Pity there weren't air fences years ago..would have prevented a lot of the unnecessary deaths and paralysing injuries in our sport .

Over the last 2 Grand Prix at Cardiff Hampel has been the most prolific scorer . Worth an outsider bet next year .

Precisely..there is a misconceived idea that speedway fans are biker/hells angel types ( as most are in Australia ) ,yet speedway is a family sport , much more than soccer . Would rather have speedway than football in my backyard .

Ever thought of emigrating Bryn ? My brother who lives in Adelaide said he spoke to you at Gillman last year .. he had the Swindon programme board . I was out there 6 months ago..great place.. but not much speedway , which is one of the things he gets homesick about .

Have only seen the '63 and '78 finals at Wembley . Great occasions , and yes probably the last time we will see an 80,000 crowd at speedway

They did Wightboy

The rule also deters newcomers that the sport needs to attract ... they see it as a bit micky-mouse

More MARKETABLE ???!!!

Good post Scotty..but although this is probably the best Robins team since '67 the unavailability of some foreign riders has cost them points in vital matches . Crowds started going down when foreign riders started coming in . I have been at the Abbey when the gates have been closed on 16,000 .The Robins possibly attract the biggest crowds with Poole ? but getting over 2,000 a meeting should not be considered good when compared to Polish and Swedish league crowds . We attract the largest Grand Prix attendance by far , so why are league gates dwindling..apart from Blunsdon ?.The Blunsdon track has been in better condition as well .We should be doing more to encourage British youngsters ,as they do in Poland , Sweden and Denmark , where they are able to have a spin on their local track when they get home from school .

Was it anything to do with 2 Hawkwind band members .who wrote the '72 song Silver Machine , hailing from Oxford ?

Macca..isn't it supposed to be defunct clubs ? New Cross Rangers were the first team i supported in 1963, the year they closed . The late great Squibbo was top man..they also had Penniket (think he was their no.2), plus Dugard , Reg and Eddie Reeves , Stevens , Luckhurst . Sure The Norbmeister can elaborate or correct me on this . Tamers..what period whas that ?

ALDERSHOT SHOTS/POPPIES BARROW BOMBERS/HAPPY FACES !!/FURNESS FLYERS/BLACKHAWKS BIRMINGHAM BRUMMIES BRADFORD BOOMERANGS/TUDORS/PANTHERS/NORTHERN/BARONS/DUKES BRAFIELD FLYING FOXES/BADGERS CALIFORNIA POPPIES COATBRIDGE MONARCHS/TIGERS COWDENBEATH LIONS CRADLEY HEATH HEATHENS/UNITED CRAYFORD HIGHWAYMEN/KESTRELS CREWE KINGS/LOCOS CRYSTAL PALACE GLAZIERS DONCASTER STALLIONS/DRAGONS HALIFAX DUKES SUNDERLAND SAINTS/STARS/GLADIATORS HULL ANGELS/VIKINGS STAMFORD BRIDGE PENSIONERS LEICESTER HUNTERS/LIONS LINLITHGOW LIGHTNING LIVERPOOL MERSEYSIDERS/EAGLES/PIRATES LONDON REBELS LONG EATON ARCHERS/RANGERS/OUTLAWS/INVADERS/ MIDDLESBORO' BEARS/TEESIDERS/TIGERS MOTHERWELL EAGLES NEATH WELSH DRAGONS NELSON ADMIRALS PAISLEY LIONS PRESTON ??? ST.AUSTELL PIXIES/BADGERS/GULLS/DRAGONS TRELAWNEY TIGERS SALFORD ??? SKEGNESS BRAVES SMALLFORD STAGS TAMWORTH HOUNDS/TAMMIES WALTHAMSTOW WOLVES WARRINGTON ??? WEST HAM BOMBERS WOMBWELL COLLIERS YARMOUTH BLOATERS CARMARTHEN DRAGONS OXFORD SILVER MACHINE There are also clubs that did not race in a league but just ran under an open licence i.e. Dublin Eagles Saints Tigers Lizods Falcons . It's a long sad list really . Hawk..who were Shelbourne Tigers ?

I certainly enjoyed the one-offs at Wembley with 80,000 packed in..but equally enjoy the Grand Prix series, pros and cons with both, but can't see a return to the world final .

Well done Crumpie..can remember him as a 10-year-old riding around Blunsdon when the old man rode for the Robins . Perhaps LA can do it next year ?

Great world champ in past but we need to be looking to the future now , but who to ?

Can only see Scottyboy as the lone Brit in 2007 , can't see Simon and Chris would be good enough which would be bad news for us Brits

i'll go for A TOP 15 finish of : ANDERSEN CRUMP ADAMS HANCOCK 2 PEDERSENS JONSSON GOLLOB HAMPEL NICHOLLS ZAGAR LINDBACK KARLSSON HOLTA JAGUS Can't see Rico Harris or Steady getting in which would be bad for British speedway