cyclone

If you post on a Forum, you should accept that others will reply to your comments. None of us can dictate who can or cannot reply to our comments - if you don't like it, then you can either stop posting or become less sensitive to feedback you take exception too. P.S. your response to a post by me earlier on this thread could also be described as "smartass" & "dumb", but I didn't respond with blubbering indignation.

Dave Dodd, Poole & Liverpool 1960 Clune Johnstone Marine Gardens 1939

Well done to Scunny - nice one

Not as confident, given that our 2,3, & 4 are in uncharted territory. Erik Riss's early form is impressive, so he looks ready to take the third heat leader role. However Clegg was poor in the Scottish Open and his displays for Wolves have been very mediocre, so he will have to improve rapidly, given he is now in the main body of the team. Pickering's debut reminded me of how Jason Lyons first started out, namely determined and fast but prone to overcook things at times. Also riding at no. 2 means he will not have the benefit of observing how others ride the track before he appears.

You are meant to join up the 6 Cardiff Picture jigsaw tokens printed in previous issues, and yes, they do display 3 riders

This topic would be more credible if the reality was that Australian newcomers were flooding the UK and depriving able British youngsters of similar ability of team places. So how many Australian newcomers have been signed on for 2017? - answer one, namely Josh Pickering at Edinburgh. IIRC in 2016, there were two rookies from OZ, namely Jake Allen & Jye Etheridge.( Bradley Dean Wilson is a Kiwi, who appeared in the NL in 2015 btw) Remember that such riders are already restricted by the employment visa criteria, as well as the 5 pt minimum assessed average in place for all new overseas newcomers. Is not more effective to do as already suggested, that all riders, including British, are contractually obliged to honour their UK scheduled fixtures, the exception being clashes with their own national calendar. If they break this commitment, then they are immediately barred from UK domestic Speedway. So where is the impending crisis that Shovlar is bleating on about? Just because a couple of his Poole side (Jack Holder & Brady Kurtz) have signaled their intentions to head to Poland asap, the drawbridge should be shut to all future talent from the Antipodes? The same scenario applies to Danes, Swedes, Germans, etc. and come Brexit, we can no doubt bar them as well, to be replaced by the flood of super talented British youngsters ready to take their places. Aye, Right .

If as you claim, the Poles continually fail to pay the full amount to the non Polish riders, can you explain why the likes of Chris Holder, Doyle, Woffinden, Lindgren,Pedersen, Iversen, etc. keep returning there? It's not as if the same stories of riders experiencing problems getting fully paid by their UK promotions are unknown and I'm sure you being a Belle Vue fan, will be aware of this

The early sixties Monarchs white crown on yellow & blue halves was naturally my favourite. The black Maltese Cross on an orange background of New Cross was a distinctive simple design.

Re Ronnie Rolfe, he had the distinction of winning the first ever meeting held at Estadio Bello Monte, Venezuela on 27th November, 1959 (I have the programme for this).

Re Fred Priest, I remember hearing the anecdote about the time he appeared for a short handed Edinburgh team at Cradley. Apparently after the match, Ian Hoskins commented "that they (Cradley) gave us a Priest but we would have preferred a Monk"

Jimmy Tannock & Doug Templeton were an unsung pairing for the Monarchs between 1960 - 67. JT started at Ashfield in 1952, then moved on to Motherwell 53-54 & 58, before appearing for Edinburgh in 1960. Never more than a second string but had his moments, including beating Gote Nordin at Old Meadowbank in the BL. Remember in the PL days on the parades Jimmy would ride round on his bike wearing a cap, with a fag dangling from his lips. Doug rode at White City (Glasgow) around 1953/54, ,Motherwel44 & 58 l briefly at Ipswich 56, then rode for the Monarchs from 60 - 69, then Tiges& Bandits up to 1976. A hard uncompromising rider who was one the top guys in the PL and had a decent record against the best in the BL also, but never made the big time in World Championship. Another unsung hero in my books was Jimmy Squibb who was also a fearsome competitor who apparently first rode in 1939 and finished in 1975. Great to watch him & DT jousting at Old Meadowbank in the PL.

Reg Reeves can be scored off for Liverpool - he rode there in 1951 & scored 2 from 4 for Walthamstow., likewise Allan Kidd only scored 3 from 2 there on 21/6/52 and Eric Hockaday 9+ 3 from 5 on 3/6/57. Reg R also only scored 5 from 4 @ Yarmouth on 9/5/50 and Stan Stevens scored 4 + 1 from 4 there for Rye House on on 14/7/59. Russ Dent had an e/f in his 4th ride for Newcastle @ Cowdenbeath but did score 12 from 5. However I remember seeing Alan Wilkinson scoring a 12pt max for Newtongrange Saints in his only appearance there at the opening meeting of 1970. I believe this might also have be AWs first ever appearance in an Official meeting. Agree Hans Nielsen only appearance @ Powderhall was an 18pt max for Denmark in 1978.

Soldier Boy was known to loudly support Ray Wilson at big meetings, so perhaps this was why it was assumed he was also a Leicester fan . Over the years I recall he switched his allegiance to Peter Collins, as he came to the fore and Ray's star began to dim. .

So was it a different Shane Parker that rode for Ipswich at Powderhall on 29/4/1990 who was listed with a GSA of 3.00 Gavan? Or has dontforgetthefueltapsbruv been providing you with the "facts"

Witnessed an horrific crash there, where Brett Saunders went through the fence, then across the stock car track, and iirc, had to have his spleen removed, as result of the injuries he sustained.

One of his party pieces when the Monarchs were visiting was to stick on a Dagenham Girl Pipers record, to make us feel at home. Gentle humour that we all recognised it as, and appreciated his effort to add a little bit extra atmosphere to the proceedings.

Don't think Rising is trolling your posts, but instead provided some historical facts (unless you dispute them), that contradict your assertion that "Briggs manufactured the first ones , so they were instantly approved without question"

Nice sidestep to avoid providing hard facts to support your thinking

Where did you get this information from ? I can provide some hard facts regarding National League newcomers in 1990:- Edinburgh's Danish newcomer, Frede Schott was assigned an initial GSA of 2.00, whilst Aussie first timers, such as Ipswich's Shane Parker, started on 3.00 Can you provide provide actual facts to support your memory/thinking

UK Speedway would be more credible if it did not impose artificial averages on any rider based on nationality, once they have achieved an actual GSA. No problem with overseas riders being given an assessed starting average which reflects their previous experience (foreign league exposure, SGP participation etc.), but once they have an actual GSA , they should then be treated the same as UK nationals. When Speedway was thriving in the UK, we did not have this nonsense of discriminating against overseas riders. If they were not good enough, they were binned, and if anyone believes that a Promoter would hang on to foreign duds, I'd be interested to know if anyone can give examples and whether they sought an explanation from the said Promoter.

. Mark Riss's real average was 3.27 so he will still be penalised by starting the 2017 Season with an assessed higher average, namely 4.00 Compare this to Dan Bewley whose final real average was 4.00 and who will benefit from a further 2.5% reduction for being a less experienced British newcomer. No problem with Dan's reduced team building average, but I would consider him to be more of an "absolute steal" than Mark. Don't see the logic of your argument and IMO it comes across as "Little Englander's" prejudice towards "Johnny Foreigner"

Do you really believe this would be enforced?? Also you have not answered my original question, namely:- "Why should the employment status in Speedway be any different from other jobs or sports?"

Why should the employment status in Speedway be any different from other jobs or sports? Given that your suggestion would further reduce the availability of potential signings, you would probably end up with the "favoured few" demanding financial rewards that do not reflect their actual ability. The clubs with the financial clout would get the best, and the rest would be scrambling to sign overpriced wobblers.

Good suggestion. You get a great view from the back straight, but unless you grab a place at the front early, your view is greatly diminished by the folk standing in front,

You obviously haven't