Interviews with the motley crew (that's you.)

[schumi]

Thought it would be fun (?) to see what your average Joe's answers would be to some interview questions, and would alleviate the boredom. So what would your answers to these be (guests can post too):

1..What was your first meeting, and where?

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?

[marron]

1..What was your first meeting, and where? Newcastle v Swindon at Brough, whilst Speedway on Teesside wasn't about

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why? Birmingham vs Redcar in the 2007 YS as it was our first piece of national silverware since we came back (beating the Geordies in the TTT is always good, but everyone expects that anyways)

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why? Newcastle, for obvious reasons

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years? Gary Havelock, Chris Kerr + Matthieu Tresarrieu. Captain fantastic and two other natural, exciting racers. Bomber and Complin are other favourites.

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge? The guest rule for reserves when your allowed to bring other PL riders in, should be made to use CL racers.

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year? Leigh Adams

[Deleted]

schumi said:

Thought it would be fun (?) to see what your average Joe's answers would be to some interview questions, and would alleviate the boredom. So what would your answers to these be (guests can post too):

1..What was your first meeting, and where?

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?

1. Bysarna v Vargarna, sometime in 1987. Galgberget, Visby. Don't remember much, except Eric Gundersen was riding for Vargarna.

2. Don't really have one that really sticks out. Beating eventual champions Vetlanda at home in 2006 was good though.

3. Smederna. Because they are just pathetic and are too pathetic to ever realise just how pathetic they are. ;D

4. Dennis Löfquist-Per Jonsson-Tony Rickardsson-Nicki Pedersen.

5. I would abandon the current system where SVEMO arbitrarily sets the points limit, and have it set after the team-average of the current champions.

6. Andreas Jonsson

[Deleted]

1. Too long ago to be specific, but would have been when Nigel Boocock rode for Bees, at Brandon.

2.British Final 1984 for obvious reasons, big KC fan.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv4z1INjt-4

Also Wembley 1981 fantastic occasion and atmosphere, Cardiff last year for same reasons.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Z8-vy61-k

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-av3XuRA8m0

Both of KC,s BLRC wins when they still meant something special, but for sheer quality of racing on the day the final ENG vs USA test match at Sheffield in the early 80,s was awesome.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vX-Icx8UAs


3.No one in particular but just lately ,Poole is always nice to crush because of a certain loud mouth.

4.Peter Collins, Kenny Carter, Michael Lee, Chris Morton, Sam Ermolenko, Jan o Pedersen ,Gary Havelock.


5 Stop Meddling with the averages every season, build up and not dumb down.

6.Crumpy.

[Deleted]

1..What was your first meeting, and where?

Cardiff 2003. Nicki Pedersen, the showpiece villain won it. He was absolutely sent flying by Nicholls in the Semi. Picked himself up and won it. Basically, Speedway came over to me as a simple sport which is loved by simple people and it can make an awesome showpiece.

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?

Bydgoszcz 2004. Foreign culture, different atmosphere, it was probably my most memorable week of my life and would make a great story for a book or such. Then the King of the Mecca stormed ahead with the GP - shame it was a Ole-ruined Bydgoszcz arena, in the practice the day before the track looked in cracking nick. It's all about the moisture in Bydgoszcz. ;D

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?

Well it's a n/a question for me but Cov's latest successes obiviously stick in throat.

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?

Realtively new to the sport. Initially built up a rapport with Nicholls but then that went by the wayside. Jonsson stuck out to me like a sore thumb during my debut meeting - I'd simply follow him around like a groupie given the chance. Nicki Pedersen in latter years of my period watching Speedway has been an interesting figure and of course Gollob who has the mystery behind which attracts us Brits. The younger likes of Holder and Bridger I follow simply because of their effort and strong willed character. One's humble, the other one is a naive plank but them on a bike and they simply 'go for it'. Holta has been a whirlwind romance since his little trick in Wroclaw.

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?

The guest rule if at all possible - just out of morals, stick a no.8 there or even r/r. Keep an average limit at a workable limit for a number of seasons.

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?

The romantic in me says someone will make a challenge like Messers Jonsson. However, I'd go Nicki P again. Some say his lack of riding in the UK will make him slack. I say he will be as switched on as ever.

[Deleted]

1..What was your first meeting, and where? Ashfield Classic, 2004. Not the best meeting to start with - it was cold and damp and miserable - but it got me hooked.

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why? Don't have one.

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why? No one team, but it's always nice seeing the underdog win. So any team that comes north expecting a large away win and is then soundly beaten is always good.

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years? Only been watching for a couple of years so no real favourites but have a soft spot for the riders who make time for their younger fans - Tai Woffinden and David Howe spring to mind.

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge? Can't think of any which really annoy me but would try to put in place a system to bring through young riders.

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year? Don't know - would love to see Leigh Adams win it, looking forward to seeing Chris Harris improve this year.

[braveheart]

1..What was your first meeting, and where?

Weymouth v Boston in July 1980 at Weymouth.

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?

1981 World Final, the atmosphere, packed stadium, the racing especially BP v TK and BP v OO

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?

Edinburgh, cause they think they're superior to us and not just in speedway.

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?

Tommy Knudsen, Charlie Mckinna, Hans Andersen, Jim McMillan, the late Craig Featherby, Brian Andersen, Jimmy Nilsen.

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?

The points limit. I am sure there is some other way it could be done.

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?

Andreas.

[Deleted]

schumi said:

Thought it would be fun (?) to see what your average Joe's answers would be to some interview questions, and would alleviate the boredom. So what would your answers to these be (guests can post too):

1..What was your first meeting, and where?

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?

1 When i was a wee boy my father took me to Glasgow White City , but i cant remember who the Tigers were riding against .
2 There have been many memorable ones , but one that really stands out was a league meeting at Sheffield in 1991 . A fantastic meeting came to a delirious climax when Shane Bowes and Jason Lyons headed home Neil Evitts and Peter Carr after a nail-biting 4 laps for a 5-1 to give Glasgow the match 46-44 . I floated from Owlerton that night .
3 An easy on that - Edinburgh Monarchs . There's nowt better than beating your local rivals .
4 From a Glasgow point of view - Shane Parker , Shane Bowes , Robert Nagy , Steve Lawson and Jim McMillan ( the list could go on for ages ) . From a speedway in general side - Peter Collins was a joy to watch .
5 The double points tactical ride .
6 I would really , really love Hans Andersen to do it , but my head says it will be Jason Crump's year again .

[Deleted]

1..What was your first meeting, and where?
19 September 1983. Swindon -V- Leicester at The Abbey. We won and I was hooked.

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?
Either the first one I went to (see above) or the England-v-Denmark test Match circa 1984 at Cradley when I insulted Chris Morton only to realise that his missus was stood right in front of me - she took exception to me using the word "bastard" in relation to her hubby (can't think why), or my other favourite - getting into a slanging match with a BV fan of a certain age at Hyde Road (BLRC I guess) circa 1987 and having to have the last words - which were, I believe "up your arse, little old lady". How proud my mother would have been....

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?
In the old days, it was always either Reading or Oxford as they were our closest rivals. We used to love giving the Speedway Star fella at Oxford (Bald Eagle) some stick!. When we went PL it was always Exeter and now it's Coventry. Mostly for the same reasons as we never seem to be able to "get one over" on them! And when we do, it wipes smug smiles off smug faces.

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?
It all started with Per Sorensen and Bjorn Andersson. Then I had a real thing for all good looking Danes for a while (Peter Ravn <sigh>). My absolute altime favourites were: Per Sorensen, Bo Petersen (Me 'n Lupus ran his fan club for a while), Shawn McConnell, Phil and Jason Crump and now it's Mr Clean, Captain Fantastic himself - I give you the one, the only.....LEIGH ADAMS! I will also admit to having a soft spot for Michael Lee in the good old days - IMHO one of the naturally gifted riders to be seen on a bike. And the same goes for Per Jonsson. Bart Bast was a sweetie and I loved a relatively unknown New Zealander who rode at reserve for us in the late 80's - Steven Rose. Such a trier - we completely embarassed him and ourselves at KL once - chanting "Rosie, Rosie" every time he came out. There's many, many more but I'll stick to these few for the time being!

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?
I'd start with banning ridiculously low team averages and then move on to Gold Showers (sorry - golden doubles) or any double points tactical rides. Complete tosh IMO.

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?
My heart wants to say Leigh, but my head is overulling me and says it's more likely to be Nikki P, Crumpie or the dark horse - Andreas Jonsson - who could come good this year.

[Deleted]

1..What was your first meeting, and where?
It was a 4-team tournament at Ellesmere Port in 1979. The other teams were Belle Vue, Coventry and Cradley Heath.

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?
There's not one that stands out really. I went to the 1990 World Final and 2001 British Grand Prix, but I remember the occasion more than the racing. Ipswich were involved in some exciting away meetings when they had their all-conquering 1998 team. I went to ones at Belle Vue and Coventry. They always brought a large following which raised the atmosphere.

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?
It was Poole because of a small number of their fans. These days, it's Coventry. They beat us in the play-offs in 2005, after we had finished top of the league.

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?
Exciting riders like Mark Loram. Tomasz Gollob is great to watch when he is in the mood. Mark Burrows is another entertainer. In the last few years, Chris Harris has become a favourite of mine.

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?
The play-offs. Okay, so they bring in a couple of big crowds - whoop-de-do! In my opinion, fairness should overule excitement. I'm not just saying it because Coventry beat us a few years ago. I've never been a fan of play-offs in any sport. I don't see why a team should suffer after finishing so many points ahead. I'd also get rid of the R/R rule, but only in the Conference League. It goes completely against what the league what set up to do, which is to give young riders as many opportunities as possible. I would also scrap the guest rule and the tactical ride rule. The old tactical substitution rule worked really well so why change? The green helmet would revert back to white. There's many times where green looks likes yellow. I believe the change was made because Sky were going to show interactive speedway and it co-incided with the four coloured buttons on the remote control. We've never had interactive speedway in the Elite League, yet the change happened a few years ago!

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?
Jason Crump

[Deleted]

1..What was your first meeting, and where?

1965, !st ever meeting at Lynn was an individual meeting the name escapes me.

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?

World Final at Wembley won by Ole Olsen. Not sure of year but there was an announcement of a bomb scare, they asked everyone to check under the seats. We were that cramped it was all up, all bend, all sit. Only saw 3 coppers all night, place was packed. After Olsen won, one fan ran onto centre from the 2nd bend did 2 somersaults and ran back into the crowd. As for the racing....can't remember lol.
closely followed by a Pride of The East, crowd of about 15000 at Lynn. Didn't see any racing over the heads of others relied on commentary from my hubby's 8year old nephew who was perced on hubby's shoulders but the atmosphere was unsurpassed until the virgin Cardiff GP.

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?

Dipswitch.....do you really have to ask, it's tradition ;D

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?

Terry Betts, Henka Gustafsson, Bo Brhel, Jason Crump, Nicki Pedersen. (think there's a common link there ;D)

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?

All of them that add nothing to 4 riders, 4 laps, first past the post wins.

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?

Don't gamble, but he'll be Danish or Australian

[Deleted]

1..What was your first meeting, and where?
Plough Lane.Sometime around 1964.maybe earlier but don't know for sure

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?
Bit like Peter.I have been to a couple of World Finals.75 memorable for the occasion more than the racing.So i would say the Danish Final,Holsted in 2006.Really all because of the fantastic final heat where Nicki went from last to first after almost coming a cropper on the first bend.One of the best heats i have ever seen

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?
n.a as i don't really have a team any more.

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?
To many to mention,but i'll try.Olle Nygren,Ronnie Moore,Tommy Jansson,Peter Collins,Martin Ashby,Ed Jancarz,Kelvin Tatum,Todd Wiltshire,Nicki Pedersen,Gollob,S.Nicholls,Nicolai Klindt,Kevin Wölbert

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?
There aren't really the silly rules in Germany or Denmark you have in Britain,but i don't like the joker(double-points)in the DSL

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?
Nicki

[Deleted]

1.I'm not exactly sure who the Bees we're against as i was only a wee lad, i've asked my old man& he can't remember either but it was in 1971, fairly late in the season, possibly the Midland Cup Final which we won.
2.There's a few here Last years Cardiff GP fror obvious reasons.The 1981 World Final at Wembley was unbelieveable though i still debate that Penhall actually beat Knudsen in that heat. The league title decider at Brandon between Ivan Mauger's Hull & Ole Olsen's Coventry in 1978 was pure drama.
3.Nowadays it's definetly The Wolves 1st & foremost, though my dislike of Mr Elbows means i love to see The Bees do 1 over The Panthers.
4.In the 70's i think my member name answers that for you.In The 80's i admired Mr Olsen for the way he inspired our team but these days the guys idea of racing just makes my blood boil.The emergence of Michael Lee as a natural talent also excited me, such a shame how things turned out with him.Then there was Mark Loram, i could go on forever about this guy.Today it's Chris Harris & Billy Janniro for different reasons, Chris cos i still genuinely believe he can be Britain next World Champion, & BIlly because of his selfless attitude towards being a team rider.
5.Why the double up allowance has been abolished this season is beyond me. The only riders it's hurting are emerging British lads.I'd also get rid of the guest facility & opt for a squad system.
6.I genuinely believe Nicki will suffer for his absence in the EL this year though he'll still be one of the top 3. Crumpy will be on top again.

[stuartroad]

schumi said:

Thought it would be fun (?) to see what your average Joe's answers would be to some interview questions, and would alleviate the boredom. So what would your answers to these be (guests can post too):

1..What was your first meeting, and where?

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?

1.my dad was taking me when i was no more than a babe in arms from 1960,but as i have not seen him for 15 years,i cannot be specific.

2.would have to be england usa test match at poole in the 80's,i was working for television south,who covered the match,and fred dineage took me as his assistant as he did not know who anyone was.

3.my dad always disliked poole,so it stuck for a while,but as one of my daughters rae was born there,and is now an avid follower, i have to at least tolerate them.

4. apart from the great man,it would be chris blewitt,tommy sweetman,john boulger,tommy jansson,vaclav verner and today hans andersen,who i feel mainly does things for the right reason,but often goes about it in the wrong way.

5. i think its time to let teams build/buy who ever they want.i feel the biggest problem in speedway is none of the division 2 teams have any aspirations to be in division 1,and that needs to change.

6. not yet convinced nicki is 'champion of the world'.this season could be one of the most open for years,and i think if leigh adams truely believes in himself,it could be his year.

[Deleted]

1..What was your first meeting, and where?
Hackney -v- Bradford - I think it was 6th June 1987 - although I beg leave to be wrong about the date. (I've had a few beers since then)

2..What's your most memorable meeting, and why?
The two meetings (Yes, sorry about that!) at the end of the '88 season with Hackney - the whole season was great but beating Wimbledon twice at the end of the season - once to clinch the league title and then again for the KO Cup - was the icing on the cake.

3..Which team do you always hope to get one over on, and why?

That seems to change. Back then it would have been Wimbledon of course, then later with Ipswich it was Kings Lynn. Now probably not one specific team, although I have to say getting beaten by Poole always rankles a bit - largely because their fans are totally incapable, for the most part, of being gracious in either victory or defeat!

4..Who have been your favourite riders over the years?
Back in '87 it was Andy Galvin - however he well and truly fell off his pedestal after behaving like a flapperjack, and in March '88 a certain Christopher Louis made his debut and has been my favourite rider since. Others favourites would be Tobi Kroner, Tony Rickardsson, Mark Loram, Jarek Hampel and Tomasz Gollob.

5..Which rule(s) would you abandon if you were in charge?
It's not so much abandoning anything, in my view. It's more making a long term plan for the sport and then sticking to it, rather than the constant year on year chopping and changing that seems to happen for the most part now.

6..Who's your money on for World Champion this year?
I don't bet!! ;D