*JJ

You're so right ...

That is NL. For the DL, there is no travelling allowance, no fuel, no oil, no tyres, no prize money, no nothing. And quite often no racing if the main match drags on too long, or if the promoter can't be bothered. Although actually, you occaisionally get something; at Somerset this year, we got a can of methanol. And a couple of years ago, the rider got £20 expenses, which I confiscated, as it cost me £40 or thereabouts in diesel to get there.

Well said, Sings; I can confirm that all of this is only too true!

Well, if anyone wants to sponsor fuel (or oil, which is expensive) there are any number of Development League riders out there who would be grateful! As they don't get paid at all.

They are the ones who do all of the moaning!

Because of his age: he is about 84!

There is an amateur meeting at Leicester next Sunday, midday. You could go and see that, to see what goes on; but if you want to take part, and in most practice sessions, you will need your own equipment.

Most unlikely; the CH fans don't like Perry Barr, and the Birmingham fans won't go to see Cradley. As for Horton: I have heard that Tony Mole won't speak to him. The rumours I have heard is that Dean is right, but I hope that sanity breaks out and that they will promote Birmingham Brummies.

If Mick Horton does take over Perry Barr, he would be insane to call it Coventry (or Cradley). He would lose all of the Brummies supporters (including me) without the Coventry supporters wanting to go all that way.

I saw Drew Kemp at an amateur meeting a couple of years ago; it struck us straight away that he was mega-talented.

Considering all that Australians have done for British speedway over the years, this post is remarkably ungrateful. And stupid.

He could still have given good advice. But this is Cradley we are talking about ...

Why didn't they ask Tony Mole for advice or help? He has a lot of experience in planning applications over many years, including Cradley applications.

Try 'National League Speedway' on Facebook. I have always been, shall we say, not very impressed by his mighty mental powers.

For the benefit of those who weren't there, he didn't roll the starts. But when the Cradley fans get something into their tiny minds, they won't give it up.

The fact is, Birmingham's heat leaders were the best, Cradley's second strings and reserves were better, so it evened itself out to some extent. Dwyer, who was excellent, won the point for Cradley almost single handed!

Actually, it seems to be only two teams in the SDL who are doing this (Kent and Reading). The others are mostly giving rides to beginners. I am helping a rider in the SDL - we are going to a meeting tomorrow - which is why I have been argueing about all this.

As they say, It's all perfectly legal! But still not right.

Um ... they ARE amateurs! Although using riders like Brennan in the DLs is not playing the game. I see that Plymouth is using Henry Atikins, who I saw winning Heat 15 some weeks ago, in an SDL match this Friday.

What happened with the SDL match?

The real problem IMO is the chicken-and-egg business. F2 will never take off until there is a supply of cheap second-hand bikes; remember, you can buy a pre-used ordinary speedway bike for £1,000 - £1,500. And, of course, there won't be a supply of s/h F2 bikes until after it has taken off! Also, F2 bikes are more complicated and cumbersome than ordinary bikes, which are very simple. The only drawback with these is the cost of having the engines rebuilt.

Quite possibly - I believe Cradley have some - but given that nearly all of the NL teams are standalone, it is a piece of dishonesty which shows what the people who are running speedway are like.

Assets? What assets? NL clubs are not allowed assets; and someone asked if Chapman was good for the sport ...

The standard in speedway, in all leagues down to the MDL etc., has improved incredibly over the years. A present day rider who is just good enough to ride in the DLs would have been a second division heat leader 40 years ago! And people moan about 'dumbing down' ...

I was told that he had fallen out with Drury; not difficult of course. This may not be true, of course!