Reviresco

They have found hosts in both in the past. 2002 at Telstra. 2012 -14 at Western Springs. Now 2015 at Etihad. As I said, they have not been able to co-ordinate this yet.......

Great GP on a track that allows for track craft, bravery and speed to combine and produce real racing. Congratulations to Tai on becoming the third British born rider to win the World Title twice. At the age of 25, the opportunity is there to become the first to become a triple Title holder - or even more. AFAIK, neither Freddie Williams or Peter Craven received recognition honours for their achievements. Maybe Tai will. His charity work should not be overlooked, even if he comes in for criticism at times with the deliberate swearing on TV and behaviour on the rostrum. Wonder what this news is that he tweeted about, that he can't wait to share but won't reveal until later this month...

Unfortunate that Australia and New Zealand have not been able to co-ordinate when they have staged SGPs. Would have made the 10,000/12,000 mile trips more cost and time beneficial. It would probably be better if the 'fly-away' GP was the first, rather than the last round, but apparently October is the only time the Etihad can host the event.

Reported as being the first bend on the tribute on the Speedway Plus site: http://speedwayplus.com/SveinKaasa.shtml Good to see that they have a memorial to Svein at the 'new' Hampden and great that Ashfield has added it's own tribute. R.I.P.

Seems strange now that back then New Zealand & Australian riders rode for GB in the Team Championship, but for their own countries and against GB in the Pairs. (Even Scotland rode against GB in the Pairs Final - Scotland not being part of GB of course.....) I've just had a look at the results of the British Final for 1970 that was held at West Ham in June and it was dominated by riders from New Zealand, with the 1,2,3 being Mauger, Moore & Trigg and of the 8 x Qualifiers for the next round, 4 were from NZ, 2 from Australia and 2 from GB - Arnold Haley & Trevor Hedge. Must have been a 'low' point for British born riders that year in Individual World Championship terms with both Haley & Hedge failing to get into the top 8 in the British-Nordic round at Coventry - although Hedge did ride subsequently in the European Final (by the looks of it Bengt Jansson didn't take his place in Leningrad and Ove didn't replace him) and qualified for the World Final in Wroclaw where he failed to register a point. Hope it goes well on Tuesday.

And Somerset win the KO Cup.......

Some of the riders - NKI, AJ, Przedpelski, have indicated that their suits will be auctioned after tomorrow's SGP, but I haven't seen any information as to whether this will be at the meeting or elsewhere, for example, on-line, sorry.

And the #DW43 race suits are ready for Torun tomorrow: https://instagram.com/p/8VaruMKafW/

Australia's Seven Network giving the upcoming GP and the sport a mention in a recent AFL Pre-Game show with the assistance of a former World Champion and AFL legend Jason Akermanis (born in Mildura): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNPyIcfBPoY&feature=youtu.be

And an update on a couple of Craig Cook's TRs - Ipswich TR is now 56.0secs set on 16 July 2015. Somerset TR is now 54.68secs set last night, breaking Leigh Adams' previous best of 56.08 from 23rd May 2007.

The TR for Brooklands (Romford) was recorded as 68.8secs and set on 25 March 1971. Tony (Shrimp) Davey set it in Heat 4 and the time was equalled by John (Tiger) Louis in Heat 12 and again in JL's defence of the Silver Helmet against the late Colin Sanders. The track length was recorded as 375 yards - which apparently equates to 342.9 metres. I remember the Witches pair winning their heats by a clear distance that night. Tony Davey recording a 5 x ride maximum from Reserve and JL a 12pt maximum.

Cook has the Foxhall TR.

Maybe Belle Vue should have protested about Dakota North's hair too: "12.4 The Rider’s hair and neck between the Helmet and the suit must be covered; scarves or neckerchiefs must not trail so as to be a possible source of danger."

I think it's that forum members become suspicious when a poster makes unsubstantiated claims about their involvement in the sport. 'Robert72' being an example. A disclosure of the facts stops this happening. Nothing wrong with my reading. You said "in 1990 taking my first steps in the sport". Infers more than just spectating. . The speedway press I was referring to was the Speedway Mail - again as stated by you. And again, you said "with me being mid 30's" - late 30's then if approaching 40. Lovely comment about John Louis too........ Still, everyone to their own I guess.

So: Mid 30's and 25 years in the sport.................... That would be starting at age 10 or under then? At least reading the speedway press is 'an involvement' I suppose. And it looks as if John Louis is not one of his network of friends and workmates high high up within the Sport.

Just had a look at the Leagues from 40 years ago and there was a 'top' league of 18 teams (10 of which operated in 2015 - including Cradley in the NL) and a '2nd tier' league of 20 teams (10 of which operated in 2015 - 4 of which are stand-alone clubs in the NL), so we have lost exactly half of the tracks that operated in 1975. Times have certainly changed.

I remember in the 70's not only KL & Cov, but also Belle Vue, Swindon, Cradley & Halifax all being Saturday night tracks.

That would be the x 0.6 Conversion factor on PL averages for riders without an EL average for next season then?

Bet 666 tonight then Gav?

just luv AJ when he rides like in Heat 15

Does Crayford being in the London Borough of Bexley fall under the scope of this too, with the Highwaymen operating in 1970? Not that I visited Crayford that year as my introduction to speedway only started in 1970 as a young teenager being taken to Brooklands to watch the Bombers on Thursday nights. And I was hooked from then on. The smell, the raw energy, the noise, the crowds, the simplicity of 4 x 'warrior' riders over 4 x laps. Made a huge impression on a 13 year old. Crowds of 5,000+ for league meetings with more for the Young England v Young Czechs match (don't think The Boro got a crowd of 500 for their home football matches). Health & Safety did not dominate in those days. One lone resident's complaints shutting down the sport by the end of 1971. Only 3 x TV channels in those days. No computers. Lots of hair. T Rex. There and back on the bus. A different age. Excitedly telling my class mates at school the next day about my visits. A reported £700 bid for John Louis at the end of the season. It started a lifetime of travelling to speedway tracks around Britain and provided the opportunity to visit Poland, Sweden, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.

As there are 8 teams only in the current EL, why not go the whole hog and involve all 8 in the Play Off's? 1st v 8th [A], 2nd v 7th , 3rd v 6th [C], 4th v 5th [D]. [A] v [D] & v [C] to determine Finalists. Give every team a 2nd chance - a bit like the use of GP Wild Cards which can allow riders a 2nd chance after not being good enough to qualify by right in an earlier round.

As alluded to in my earlier Post #11 then? So that's definitely NL and not PL on Monday nights?

And this is where British speedway ranks these days - fitting in fixtures around other countries' leagues and the GPs.

No problem. Steve Boxall set the current TR in July 2013. Track length, I guess, is somewhere between Lakeside and Foxhall and similar to Monmore (264m). https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3480408,0.7583342,249m/data=!3m1!1e3