keef

Depends if you have screen in way. You can move around anyway. I'm a skinflint so buy the cheapest seats at 29 quid. Last year was seeing Poles not beer flying over seats. Many families had to move from the area. Took ages for some old steward to scale the steps, before the law moved in to evict 2 Poles, who probably didn't start the bovver anyaway. My missus said thought you only had trouble at football matches!! Not sure what time meeting finishes to get train to Swindon or Robins supporters coach?

Aussies look hot favourites...would like to see Steady Cookie or Roynon in. Barker is in form at moment.

Why Berwick and Leicester in top division? I would probably go for a 1st.Div. of about 18 clubs to include Leicester, Dudley, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Somerset, Rye House,and hopefully Norwich or Bristol. 2nd.Div of about 16 clubs. Knockout cup competitions. Would give clubs around 20 home meetings per season. I remember the 18 club British League in the late 60s/70s heyday of the sport. Only met each other once home and away. Bring back Golden Helmet and second-half junior racing. Preference given to British riders. I like the play-off final, but the top team in the league should also be given a trophy, as in Rugby league.

Bratch is not best friends with Holder or Ward, but on his current form MAY have been a better choice than Watto. Dont think Doylo or Schleiny would have done better.

As Carlisle was an English city nicked by the Scots until the English regained it. Hadrians Wall cuts through it.

Should be interesting...obviously England would have had more of an advantage at Brandon, with Harris Nicholls Kennett Roynon. The Aussies with Holder Ward Watt Bratch Doylo will be favourites at Poole, but anything can happen as England won last time there. Woffy King Auty Bridger Barker Worrall(if fit) and hopefully Steady will be in the squad with the Cov quartet.

Congrats to Danmark..great team spirit, and superb riding from the Jensens.

lots of heroes..first one for me was Jimmy Squibb of New Cross, the first time I watched speedway. Others were Craven, Nygren, Knutsson, Briggo, and Clive Hitch was an unsung hero.

I remember Cake crumbled when he went out there, and went to pieces. I would guess you support Swindon.

Harris Protasiewicz Lindback

He's there nearly every meeting near the snack bar, sometimes with brother David who lives in Moredon. Barry Duke, the Penhill lad, also there most weeks, Keener from Minety occasionally. Don Rogers attends most meetings.

As Briggo said Ashby should have realised that at one time he was the best rider in the world. Would say those two racing each other at Blunsdon in the late 60s was the best race I've seen, Ashby riding for Exeter just pipped Briggo. Still speak to the modest Marlborough-flyer on the Blunsdon terraces.

Since seeing Ove win at my first world final in 63 I agree with your first 7..would be a battle between Sjosten, Waloszek, Jancarz, Harrfeldt, Jansson, Boococks, Wilson, Ashby, Betts, and the other 3. I would have to fit Sanders, Knudsen, and Jessup in with perhaps Wiggy, Wiltshire and Tatum. Be good to see Kildemand break through this decade, with Brits such as Woffy, Barker, Worrall, and young Aussie Kid Morris, and Masters. The Poles have Dudek, Janowski, Zmarzlik, Pawlickis etc.,the Danes the Jensens etc., and Ukraine Loktaev. Ward should be dominant.

Top Aussies Ward and Holder could overtake Jason Crump and Adams soon. Would put Nielsen as top Dane.

Cant really comment sid as never saw Farndon and Parker, but early 6os onwards would say Craven Collins Lee Loram with any from Carter Morton Louis Simmons Boococks Jessup Ashby Betts Wilson...would put Mauger above Briggo,and Rickardsson and Knutsson above Michanek. Morans and Schwarz might get into top 5 for USA. Who would you rate as top 5 Aussies, Danes, Poles, Russians?

If only there were a greater concentration of top riders in Britain. Most of the GP riders have deserted to Poland and Sweden for more dosh. Just 6 ride here now.Holder and Lindgren the only top riders.

Very good, but they've missed 1967 out, when the Robins last won the league!!!! So many English riders in top of averages, the good old days

The same shiny Izal toilet paper as well sidders, and it hasnt been cleaned since my first visit in 1968.It should be a listed building...it used to be so easy to climb in at the Abbey, but now its more secure than Colditz

Quite a few people have said Swindon, my local track. Was much better crowd atmosphere in the 60s/70s/80s than now, but when you've got a good meeting with a decent crowd. Not the best for viewing though. Was not impressed with the present Belle Vue Newcastle Reading IOW (too big)or New Cross(too small).

Swindon Coventry Wimbledon Hackney West Ham Workington for me

The Swindon Abbey stadium in Wiltshire is definitely the best speedway venue in the UK for top-notch racing action on a Thursday night(when it stops raining). Just dont visit the back-straight loos and you'll be fine.

Correct iris

Memories for me were around 66/67 sat on top of empty terrace above 3/4th. bend with Dad and bruv watching Nygren, Hedge, and Luckhurst racing. Saw Briggo easily win a British semi around that time from the grandstand. Seemed a massive stadium.

Seems to be a lack of grasstrack riders coming through to shale now. Followed The Dons in 66/67, can remember Nygren, Hedge, Luckhurst, Cowland who else rode in those seasons? I think he rode for New Cross in the last race ever in 1963, I was there, a 7-years-old Rangers fan. Onto Wimbledon after that, then Swindon 68 onwards.

After New Cross closed in 63 we used to go to West Am Ackney and Wimbledon occasionally. Can remember Knutsson(my favourite rider), Harrfeldt, MacKinlay, Hunter, Simmons, Trott.