Thischarmingman

Was it really a huge sport in the early 80's, I got the impression it had already passed the mini-boom of the mid/late 70's by then? Yes, the crowds in the UK were bigger domestically in those days than they are now, but it was the late 70's/early 80's, not the post war boom we're talking here. I know some tracks pulled in really big crowds at times and Wembley could pull a crowd for the World Finals. Speedway has always been a niche sport in the US, slightly bigger in those days than it is now, and pretty much concentrated in the California area. Why do you think the Coliseum had less than 40,000 there that night when the place held over 80,000? There was probably a regular season baseball game on at nearby Dodger stadium that had a bigger crowd. Other that that it was as popular in Eastern Europe as it is now, possibly more so, but I can't think of anywhere in the world that speedway was hugely popular 30 years ago and has disappeared now. Can you dirt?

That Leigh Adams, he was a quitter. Still one of the best riders in the Elite League and he just walked away.......... Every speedway rider quits at some point, unless nobody is interested in them anymore and they don't get the chance. At least Bruce did it with a bit of style.

Indeed, since when did taking up speedway and becoming World Champion commit you to carry on with it until you're seriously injured or old, past it and living on former glories? Returning to California rather than living half the year in the UK, what a crazed madman. I must admit I didn't start following speedway until a couple of years after he quit, but going out as double World Champion has a certain style about it, though no doubt a huge shock to the sport at the time. Dirt, do you even remember Bruce Penhall as a racer, I have my doubts? I can't imagine such rage building up against someone, based on a book you have read about a subject. Most bizarre.

Nice one. Hope it goes well for Lynn.

Are you going to get rid of that ridiculously childish signature/banner thingy when you go up to play with the big boys?

I'm not sure if 'loved' is the right word, but Darcy has every chance of becoming a liked and respected rider, if he becomes a top line rider in the years to come (which he's not at the moment, whether you agree or not) with a decent personality to match. Probably people would have said the same about Jason Crump when he came over at 16 if the Internet had been around then. He was a confident young guy, a little surly sometimes (what's changed ), but thse days he seems to be almost liked by everyone. If not liked, certainly well respected. I genuinely think you do Darcy no favours with the way you come on here and I'm not saying that to wind you up. But it's a free world and you're entitled so say what you like.

Although he doesn't seem the brightest bulb in the light socket, I quite like Darcy Ward as a rider, yet Dirt and his fanboy ramblings makes me like him a little less. Time to take a step back Dirty boy, you may turn everyone against your favourite.

Amazing how a thread about the Polish relegation play-offs can reduce into a fight about last year's Edinburgh and King's Lynn team, between Darcy's BMF and arch winder-upper Dekker.

That's great, thanks for the info Mateusz, knew there must be a simple explanation. 8PM start gives more time in the afternoon/early evening to explore Lodz.

Am going to Poland with my wife next Saturday for a holiday and we are hoping to watch the GP in Lodz either in a bar or in our hotel. What channel is it on in Poland? I though it would be one of the Canal + sports channels, but when I look at their schedule it doesn't seem to show live speedway, though they are showing a re-run of the Nordic GP earlier in the day? Also, if anyone could recommend any good bars in Lodz that might have the GP showing, would be appreciated.

These so called best riders in the world also don't have to put up with the pressure cooker situation of racing in front of 600 fans at Peterborough in front of the Sky cameras and perhaps 750 at Belle Vue the week after.

This is a very strange thread.

Much appreciated.

I don't understand why you say that, could you explain why you think so? Like has been pointed out previously, the US Army sponsors cars in NASCAR, which I have a little interest in, so thought nothing of this. I assume the ultimate aim of US Army or Royal Navy sponsorship would be to encourage people to make that their career? Unless you feel that we are in no need of any kind of Armed Forces, what harm can be done by raising the profile a little?

That just looks like an awful move for Stoke, despite Vissing being no world beater. Did he have some agreement that he could leave if an Elite League team wanted him mid-season as it seems a strange move from Stoke's point of view?

Taken from Sportowefakty.pl ; 1st Finland - 48 1st Joonas Kylmaekorpi - 12 (2,3,3,3,1) 2nd Juha Hautamaeki - 11 (1,2,3,3,2) 3rd Timo Lahti - 10 (3,3,3,1,0) 4th Kalle Katajisto - 4 (2,1,0,0,1) 5th Kauko Nieminen - 11 (2,2,2,2,3) 2nd Slovenia - 47 1st Matej Zagar - 16 (2,3,3,3,2,3) 2nd Matic Voldrih - 3 (1,2,0, -, 0) 3rd Ales Kraljić - 5 (D, 0,1,2,2) 4th Maks Gregoric - 12 (3,3,1,2,3) 5th Aleksander Conda - 11 (3,1,2,2,3) 3rd USA - 30 1st no competitor 2nd Ryan Fisher - 12 (3,3,0,3,1,2) 3rd Chris Kerr - 11 (2,3,2,1,1,2) 4th Kenny Ingalls - 5 (1,2,2, d, 0.0) 5th Tommy Hedden - 2 (0,0,0,1,1,0) 4th Italy - 24 1st Mattia Carpanese - 11 (1,1,2,3,3,1) 2nd Alesandro Novello - 0 (0,0,0 ,-,-) 3rd Guglielmo Franchetti - 7 (D, 0,1,1,3,2) 4th Mattia Cavicchioli - 1 (0,1,0, d, 0) 5th Marco Gregnanin - 5 (1,2,1,0,1) Race after race: 1st Kylmaekorpi, Zagar, Carpanese 2nd Fisher, Hautamaeki, Voldrih, Novello 3rd Lahti, Kerr Kraljić (d), Kerr (d) 4th Gregoric, Kataijsto, Ingalls, Cavicchioli 5th Conda, Nieminen, Gregnanin, Hedden 6th Fisher, Gregnanin, Katajisto, Kraljić 7th Gregoric, Nieminen, Carpanese, Fisher 8th Kerr, Kylmaekorpi, Conda, Novello 9th Zagar, Ingalls, Hautamaeki, Franchetti 10th Lahti, Voldrih, Cavicchioli, Hedden 11th Lahti, Kerr, Gregoric, Franchetti 12th Fisher, Conda, Franchetti, Katajisto 13th Zagar, Nieminen, Kerr Caviccchioli 14th Kylmaekorpi, Ingalls, Gregnanin, Voldrih 15th Hautamaeki, Carpanese, Kraljić, Hedden 16th Zagar, Nieminen, Franchetti, Ingalls (d) 17th Kylmaekorpi, Kraljić, Fisher, Cavcicchioli (d) 18th Hautamaeki, Gregoric, Kerr Gregnanin 19th Carpanese, Conda, Lahti, Ingalls 20th Franchetti, Zagar, Hedden, Katajisto 21st Conda, Hautamaeki, Hedden, Cavicchioli 22nd Zagar, Fisher, Gregnanin, Lahti 23rd Carpanese, Kerr, Katajisto, Voldrih 24th Nieminen, Kraljić, Carpanese, Ingalls 25th Gregoric, Franchetti, Kylmaekorpi, Hedden Link ; http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2010/05/...grali-w-lonigo/

I can't believe what I read on here sometimes. Somebody throws a red herring in the ring and some people gobble it up. I'm surprised anyone thinks that Andy's sentence is a 'disgrace' whether you compare it to some dopey rock star or not. Regardless of Andy's circumstances, which may be unfortuntate, he got what he probably deserved - a custodial sentence for moving about a fair amount of a substance that most consider it's not a good idea to introduce your kids to. Comparisons with Pete Doherty are just pointless.

I see what you're saying and like you, I remember Andy at his best - a very very good rider in the second tier. What I meant is that there are many fans on this forum who will not ever have seen Andy Galvin, or if they have they will remember his as a shadow of his former self. Even some of the 'older' fans who do remember him, will probably know little about him if they are top league snobs (e.g. Steve Shovlar and his ilk). If the facts are that he was only getting £250 for this little job (and that's his side of the story), it makes it even sadder. I'm not sure the sentence is that lenient, if you put it in that light. A really sad story.....

Don't really agree, it's a sad day for Andy's family (though I have little sympathy for the man himself). Speedway moved on from Andy Galvin many years ago.

According to the Lakeside forum Andy has apparently got 2 years jail time for being caught with £62,500 of Cocaine concealed in a loaf of bread. Doesn't seem to have any links to newspaper reports, but nobody seems to be disputing the story. I'm sure it was the first time he did anything like that, of course. Make of it what you will....

In no way is it Hampden Park, the terracing is far too steep, like a previous poster said, and I don't think Hampden ever had a tunnel/entrance on the bend. It also only had one stand and the seating did not go right down to ground level (there was an enclosure between the front of the stand and the track), like it does in this footage. My suggestion was going to be Wembley as well, based on some old pictures you can find on various websites.

And so begins the first 'Travel Plus Tours - a tad expensive or are they?' style debate of 2010.

Ah Henry, you must stop watching that Andy Galvin highlights DVD through the rose tinted glasses. He may well have been a very naughty boy.

This forum is ever so slightly two faced, no? If it was Joe Bloggs moving drugs about that your nearest and dearest may purchase for an evening's entertainment you would be wanting them hung up from the nearest lamppost. An old favourite speedway rider and it's more or less sympathy, internet hugs and hope he gets his life sorted out.

Like others have said, you'd be much better off staying in Poznan or Wroclaw and travelling up on the day. Leszno is quite a sleepy wee place with a nice little square and a few bars dotted around. Last year though, the first train back to Poznan wasn't until the early hours, but there are loads of beer tents at the stadium, makes for a great atmosphere before and after and they are open long into the night.