Reviresco

Echo those sentiments. Sounds very unpleasant. Best wishes to Havvy and his family.

Other than requirements for Australian riders, eligibility for the Sponsored Migrants Policy are stated currently as: Argentinian International Championships – Winner Canadian Individual Championships – Winner New Zealand Individual Championships – Winner Russian Individual Championships – Top 4 South African National Championships – Winner Ukrainian Individual Championships – Winner United States Individual AMA Championships – Top 4

Yes, 1976, remember it well with Workington winning 40-38 and, as comet49 means, Lou Sansom heading home John Louis three times including the decisive Heat 13. The same year Ipswich won the League and Cup double. The Comets went on to beat King's Lynn by the same 40-38 scoreline in the next round if I remember rightly.

Funding cut to all non-road racing disciplines: http://www.ma.org.au/index.php?id=12&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=15526&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=6&cHash=01c9983213

Tungate, Fricke, Masters, Proctor.

And on Saturday, we have the New South Wales State Championship being contested on a 180 metre track... http://entertainmentvenues.com.au/events/544/NSW_SOLO_SPEEDWAY_CHAMPIONSHIPS/

I hope the BP signing works out for the Hammers but thought the more interesting part of the press release was the piece about the new management structure: Jon Cook commented: “It’s an extremely exciting time behind the scenes and we have filled the breach left by Neil Vatcher with what we believe is a coup for the Club and a format that others will seek to copy.”

So, according to the Greyhound Board of Great Britain spokesman in gustix link: "Wimbledon is the last track within the M25 and we think it is important there is a track here in London, because greyhound racing is still the fifth most popular sport in this country." Have Romford and Crayford both been moved to outside the M25 since I was last there then? http://www.romfordgreyhoundstadium.co.uk/ http://www.crayford.com/about.html

Good Lad and very Enterprising of him.

I struggle with what day of the week it is, let alone the time of day

Thanks Sidney. Of course we all know about the fall out between Phil and Billy, which pleasingly they patched up before Bill left us. It guaranteed a warm welcome at Blunsdon at least. The time Bill landed a right hook on a Swindon fan - it wasn't you was it Sid , who had come onto the dog track to give him the W@anker sign after a heat. Billy had been an amateur boxer and knew how to look after himself. Also, Billy going into the bar at Blunsdon after a meeting and after being roundly derided, jumped up and did a 'we are all speedway fans' speech, which I think earned him some new admirers. Will always remember Phil flicking the finger at Billy after finishing in front of him in a heat at Foxhall and then in the 2nd half final, Phil took the route of discretion over valour and trundled round at the back of the field, rode straight out of the pits, onto his Citroen Safari and straight down the A12 still dressed in his leathers. Two great riders during a golden era of speedway and despite Billy's curtailed career, both known for their club loyalty and longevity. A great shame they didn't get their act together in the World Pairs. Of course, under the previous 3 year rotation, Ullevi would have been due to host the 1983 World Individual Final and not the Pairs. The 1983 Pairs showed Bill was back to top level and was going to be right up there in the Individual Final that year. I think Bill would've gone well at Odsal in the 1985 Final and been a contender for a number of years to come, as he was only 29 when he passed away. I was lucky to spend some time in the pits with Bill, both in the UK and Australia and well remember young Jason tearing round during practice for the 1981 Australasian Final at Liverpool. Was also in the Blunsdon pits with him when Bill pulled out of the meeting due to track conditions. That was a fun time. Strange that Blunsdon was the last time we saw him on track.

Yes, but at 7:45pm, not 7:45am. (I'm guessing they were going to announce at 7:45pm on Thursday in line with their new race night) King's Lynn Stars ‏@officialKLstars Dec 9 Tomorrow, 7:45pm, we will be announcing the 4th member of the King's Lynn Stars team to join @batchattack75, @ruthlesslambert & @Rose822 The official announcement today was brought forward as Batchelor had hinted at the news of Rory's re-signing yesterday on his Twitter account. Despite what a lot of people think, sometimes things in Norfolk can be ahead of time... EDIT: Sorry Mr Mungo - beat me to it.

No, Lambert isn't, meaning that Lynn have one HL space available after signing Batchelor and Schlein. So one more from the published List, or a new entrant or former EL rider with an average over 6.50.

Unlike Billy to react when a decision had gone against him, . And, as you say Steve, Bill's last ever meeting was at Swindon three days before he left us. I would have been at both those matches. He was programmed to ride at Monmore on the Monday, but John Berry & Chris Shears decided to withdraw him from the meeting. Billy had come a long way from the raw 16 year old 'Kid' who, on his first appearance in the UK, was promoted into Heat 1 of the Spring Gold Cup at Foxhall against Hackney as a reserve substitution and went out and won the Heat beating the then current World No. 3, Bengt Jansson, and followed this up with another victory in Heat 2. So many memories. Loads of ups and downs. A classy rider with a lovely riding style. Great company and a big fan of the sport. Lucky to have got to know him and his family well and be able to call him a friend. 1982 at Kings Lynn was good fun. Great to see how happy he was at Smallmead after the Witches had sown up the 1984 League Title under his captaincy, then to go on and clinch the Double with a Cup Final win against the Aces. Great times and happy days. A genuine character of the sport.

sidney, I don't know who beat Bob's County Ground record but the Track Record when it closed was Mark Loram's 64.3secs set on 29th April 1996 which equates to an approx Ave Speed of 55.1mph. If you look at the Track Record thread maintained by 'Nutz', I think the only one shown quicker is Western Springs in NZ at just over 58mph. (Before anyone jumps on this: Recognising of course that Track Records and Average Speeds are open to debate due to the manner of timings and lines taken on track, etc.)

As you say Alan, interesting that Masters and Tungate are going to ride at Gillman and not at Tamworth...

Can't find a line-up anywhere. The Kurtz boys, Sam Masters, Jack Holder, along with Taylor are all from NSW, I believe. The organisers had suggested that Doyle, Batchelor and Grajczonek would take part, but I think Doyle & Batchelor along with Chris Holder are all in the UK at the moment. Indications are that there will be time trials to decide on the 8 x riders to join 8 x seeded riders in a 16 x rider, 20 heat format with an A & B Final. As is described on the link, the meeting is being held on a 180 metre track in an indoor horse arena. Some cynics might suggest that, given the results of last weekend's two State qualifiers, that Taylor may find himself in the A Final... Not sure if the Updates site are planning on covering the NSW or the South Australian meetings, but it may be worth having a look on Saturday.

New South Wales State Solo Championships this weekend. Could be an interesting one considering who may be taking part and where its being held: http://entertainmentvenues.com.au/events/544/NSW_SOLO_SPEEDWAY_CHAMPIONSHIPS/

And we're assuming that Jason Doyle rides at least to his 2015 standard, coming back from a big off in his last race and with a change of home track at the start of next season, and again mid-way through the season. (Hope you're mending well Jason.) Guess Rosco is planning a winter in Oz next year with all the Roos signed up for the Roobins.

The Lakeside website is stating that as Lewis' status is an Elite League asset, it gives the Hammers first choice of his use. With 3 x riders named in EL teams and a couple going to have some overseas commitments, you can see the Witches struggling to field their 1 to 7 on a regular basis next season which is never good for continuity or for the fans.

So, two of the lads who were looking for visas - Proctor and Campton, win State Titles this weekend. Will we see the same next weekend with the South Australian and NSW championships.....? The NSW meeting could be an interesting one, given where its apparently being held http://www.aelec.com.au/EventViewTrainingDetails.aspx?Bck=Y&EventID=932&DisplayType=T&m=0

Congratulations to Lewi Kerr and his partner Jessie on the birth of their son Cooper.

Yep, Kenneth Bjerre signed on for Tarnow in 2016, so that rules out a Bjerre/Panthers/Sunday combination http://speedwaygp.com/news/article/4584/bjerre-sticks-with-swallows

Outside Assistance?

Alex Davies confirmed as signed on by Scunthorpe back on 12th Nov - http://scunthorpescorpions.co/?p=4542