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2000 North American Archive of International Speedway
Message Section
April 8, 2000
From: kevin@meynell.com
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List"
Subject: Re: Euro Classic Result
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 12:16:04 +0100
Adding to Chris's comments:
>I thought for an individual meeting it was a good one. I generally don't
>like them but this was pretty good.
I also thought it was reasonable for an individual meeting. There were
several decent races and some good performances from Ferjan and Povazhny.
In addition, another trophy for Dugard to put in his loft! Shame the crowd
was dreadful.
I didn't particulary like the GP format that was used. It might seem like a
good idea for GPs, but it's not so clever having to write in the rider
names for every heat in poor lighting conditions when your hands are cold.
I also didn't see the point of Heats 1 & 2 which just seemed to be practice
for the 'not so good' riders.
Kevin Meynell
From: johnlowe@callnetuk.com
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List"
Subject: Match Report: Under-21 Final
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 21:15:49 +0100
British Under 21 Championships
Final
Lothian Arena, Armadale
Friday 7th April 2000
The Final was won by David Howe after a ride-off against favourite and
current World Under-21 Champion Lee Richardson. This gave Richardson the
incredible record of being runner-up in the event for four successive
years, once behind Leigh Lanham, twice behind Scott Nicholls and now behind
Howe. David Howe was on balance a deserved winner and the Armadale crowd
warmed to him.
The original field consisted of:
Six seeded riders (Lee Richardson, David Howe, Simon Stead, Ross Brady,
Danny Bird, Grant MacDonald),
Five qualifiers from the Newport semi-final (Paul Lee, Chris Neath, Andrew
Appleton, Aiden Collins, Blair Scott),
Five qualifiers from the Isle of Wight semi-final (Barry Campbell, Matt
Read, Oliver Allen, Darren Groves, Paul Clews),
The runners-up from the two semi-final were to be reserves (Jamie
Birkinshaw and Gary Corbett)
Some changes were enforced. Darren Groves and Paul Clews were injured. They
were replaced by the next two down from the Isle of Wight semi-final.
Armadale specialist Gary Corbett was promoted from reserve and was joined
by Glen Phillips. Adam Allott replaced Jamie Birkinshaw at reserve and
Derek Sneddon came in for Corbett.
The extreme weather conditions made life difficult for the track staff.
There was a hard frost every morning and the track was slick. The track
offered little for outside passing opportunities. The outside gate offered
the best prospects for starting. The day was cloudy and while there was a
hint of rain in the air the showers forecast never materialized.
Heat 1: Lee Richardson, Simon Stead, Chris Neath, Ross Brady [57.2]
Lee Richardson made a brilliant start from gate four to head Simon Stead.
Ross Brady from gate 2 was squeezed between Neath and Stead and trailed.
Brady tried the Peter Carr inside line but made no progress. He then
switched to his normal outside line. Despite a number of surges that seemed
set to get him past Neath he failed.
Heat 2: Paul Lee, Barry Campbell, Gary Corbett, Aidan Collins [59.3]
Paul Lee, also from gate 4, made the start and was never challenged.
Heat 3: Danny Bird, Grant MacDonald, Matt Read [60.1]
Bird made the start as Olly Allen failed to take advantage of gate 4. Matt
Read hit Allen on the exit from the second bend. While Read somehow managed
to keep going, Allen hit the fence. For some reason Allen was excluded
although it mattered little as Allen was taken to hospital and took no
further part in the meeting. Bird won the re-run from MacDonald.
Heat 4: Andrew Appleton, David Howe, Blair Scott, Glen Phillips [59.7]
Appleton made the start from the outside trap and David Howe could do
nothing to get back on terms but stayed ahead of Blair Scott.
Heat 5: Andrew Appleton, Chris Neath, Matt Read [59.9]
Andrew Appleton won a second successive heat with Chris Neath weighing in
for a Newport '5-1' Aidan Collins looked good for third until his bike
produced a shower of sparks and he fell on the last lap.
Heat 6: Gary Corbett, Grant MacDonald, Ross Brady, Glenn Phillips [59.3]
Ross Brady missed the start once more but quickly moved through to second.
He tried everything to round Gary Corbett but couldn't quite make it. He
made one last try on the last bend but hit a hole and lost a place to
finish third.
Heat 7: David Howe, Simon Stead, Barry Campbell, Danny Bird [59.1]
David Howe got back on track with a win over former teammate Simon Stead.
Barry Campbell took third ahead of Danny Bird looking rather wild.
Heat 8: Lee Richardson, Paul Lee, Blair Scott, Adam Allott [58.6]
Another very convincing win for Richardson. Blair Scott made the start but
couldn't live with Richardson. Blair seemed set for a second place until he
allowed Paul Lee to pass him on the inside of the third bend.
Leading positions after two rides each:
Lee Richardson 6, Andrew Appleton 6, David Howe 5, Paul Lee 5.
Heat 9: Danny Bird, Blair Scott, Gary Corbett [59.4]
Blair Scott again made a start but Danny Bird had enough momentum on the
outside line to pass on the third bend.
Heat 10: David Howe, Ross Brady, Aidan Collins, Derek Sneddon [58.7]
David Howe won from Ross Brady.
Heat 11: Paul Lee, Simon Stead, Matt Read, Adam Allott [59.1]
Glenn Phillips taped and was replaced by Allott. Other great win for Paul
Lee over Simon Stead.
Heat 12: Lee Richardson, Barry Campbell, Andrew Appleton, Grant MacDonald
[59.4]
Another good ride by Barry Campbell gave him second place behind the
dominant Lee Richardson. Andrew Appleton dropped his first points.
Leading positions after three rides each:
Lee Richardson 9, Paul Lee 8, David Howe 8, Andrew Appleton, Danny Bird 6,
Simon Stead 6.
Heat 13: Barry Campbell, Chris Neath, Adam Allott, Derek Sneddon [59.6]
Glen Phillips was two-minuted. This brought in Adam Allott to join fellow
reserve Derek Sneddon in for the injured Allen.
Heat 14: Paul Lee, Danny Bird, Ross Brady Andrew Appleton [58.8]
Paul Lee kept up his form with a win over Danny Bird. Ross Brady again made
no impression although he did keep Appleton at the back.
Heat 15: Grant MacDonald, Simon Stead, Blair Scott [59.5]
Blair Scott made a fair start but got into trouble on the second bend and
slipped to last. Aidan Collins spun straight onto the centre green. Grant
MacDonald won from Simon Stead.
Heat 16: David Howe, Lee Richardson, Gary Corbett [59.1]
David Howe used the outside gate to make the start ahead of Lee Richardson.
Howe held on to tie the scores overall with one heat left for each rider.
Matt Read fell.
Leading positions after four rides each:
Lee Richardson 11, Paul Lee 11, David Howe 11, Simon Stead 8, Barry
Campbell 8, Danny Bird 8.
Heat 17: David Howe, Grant MacDonald, Chris Neath, Paul Lee [58.8]
Paul Lee missed that start and was stuck at the back ending his
Championship hopes. Howe won from MacDonald to ensure at least a ride-off
against Richardson.
Heat 18: Blair Scott, Barry Campbell, Ross Brady, Matt Read. [60.1]
Blair Scott kept his qualification hopes going with a win from the gate.
Ross Brady was second but couldn't keep out the marauding Barry Campbell.
Heat 19: Simon Stead, Gary Corbett, Andrew Appleton, Derek Sneddon [60.2]
Simon Stead won his first heat, while Corbett beat Appleton to set up a
three-way tie for the final qualification place.
Heat 20: Lee Richardson, Danny Bird, Aidan Collin, Derek Sneddon [59.4]
Lee Richardson won the heat to deny David Howe an outright win.
Scores after five rides each
David Howe (Peterborough) 2 3 3 3 3 14
Lee Richardson (Coventry) 3 3 3 2 3 14
Paul Lee (Sheffield) 3 2 3 0 3 11
Simon Stead (Sheffield) 2 2 2 2 3 11
Barry Campbell (Workington) 2 1 2 3 2 10
Danny Bird (Isle of Wight) 3 0 3 2 2 10
Grant MacDonald (Workington) 2 2 0 3 2 9
Andrew Appleton (Newport) 3 3 1 0 1 8
Gary Corbett (Arena Essex) 1 3 1 1 2 8
Blair Scott (Edinburgh) 1 1 2 1 3 8
Chris Neath (Newport) 1 2 0 2 1 6
Ross Brady (Edinburgh) 0 1 2 1 1 5
Matt Read (Arena Essex) 1 1 1 F 0 3
Aidan Collins (Glasgow) 0 F 1 X 1 2
Adam Allott (Sheffield) [Reserve] 0 0 1 1
Glenn Phillips (Isle of Wight) 0 0 T M 0 0
Oliver Allen (Swindon) X 0
Derek Sneddon (Linlithgow) [Res] 0 0 0 0
Ride off for eighth place: Andrew Appleton, Gary Corbett, Blair Scott [59.5]
Blair Scott didn't realize he was still in with a shout because he had
forgotten that Richardson was not eligible to progress. He had packed away
his bike but got it out to contest the ride off. Blair was drawn in the
unfavourable inside gate but managed to make the start and moved wider and
seemed to have things under control when Corbett fell off at the back with
no one near him. He was controversially allowed back in the re-run.
Appleton made the start the second time with Blair trying all the way but
eventually finishing third.
Ride-off for third place: Paul Lee, Simon Stead [58.9]
Paul Lee took full advantage of an outside gate to beat teammate Simon
Stead for a rostrum place.
Ride-off for the championship: David Howe [58.8]
David Howe, also from the outside gate beat Lee Richardson away and held
on. Richardson had a last gasp attempt on the fourth bend and fell.
Qualifiers: David Howe, Paul Lee, Simon Stead, Barry Campbell, Danny Bird,
and Andrew Appleton.
Reserve: Gary Corbett
Howe is seeded through to the Semi-final in Germany while Lee, Stead,
Campbell, Bird and Appleton will be in the quarter-finals in Poland or
Portugal or the Czech Republic.
John Lowe
http://johnlowe.net
Edinburgh Monarchs Official Website
http://www.edinburghmonarchs.org.uk/
From: jangrainger@bigpond.com
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List"
Subject: Re: Gosford Speedway Closure??
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 07:19:15 +1000
There is no truth in the rumour the Gosford City Speedway is closing. I
was with the promoter last evening and he denied the story. Love to know
who the little bird is, Anthony.
Regards, Jan
From: jangrainger@bigpond.com
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List"
Subject: Re: Grant Bond
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 07:33:37 +1000
For those in Australia who know Grant Bond and the dreadful situation he is
in regarding the upcoming court case, I am delighted to report that over 70
supporters and friends gathered last night at a private drive-in theatre
for a BBQ and movie evening. An amazing amount of money was raised to help
Grant with solicitors fees, sadly many thousands short of what he requires
to prove his innocence. It just goes to show that one of our most popular
sidecar competitors can rally this tremendous support when faced with a
situation that should never have arisen. For those of you who aren't
aware, Grant is being sued by a sidecar passenger for a racing
incident......which was clearly not his fault....and it seems that
Australia is sadly following this American trend of litigation. Does this
sort of thing happen in other countries? It's certainly something we don't
need in our sport.
Jan Grainger
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From: barrowfan@clara.co.uk
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List"
Subject: Eastbourne 48 Ipswich 42 Report
Date: Sun, 09 Apr 2000 00:47:54 +0100
Eastbourne Eagles 48 Ipswich Witches 42
Elite League
8th April 2000
Eastbourne Eagles 48
Joe Screen 3 2 1 1 7
Dean Barker 2'1'2 2' 7+2
Martin Dugard 3 3 2 3 3 14
David Norris 2'X 1'3 R 6+2
Paul Hurry 2 3 3 0 8
Brent Collyer 3 0 0 3
Petri Kokko 1 1'0 0 1 0 3+1
Ipswich Witches 42
Chris Louis 1 2 3 2 3 1' 12+1
Lawrence Hare 0 1'1 1' 3+2
Toni Svab 0 2 0 2 4
Matej Ferjan 1 1'3 2 7+1
Tomasz Gollob 3 3 3 2'1'2 14+2
Jason Bunyan 2 0 0 2
Savalas Clouting 0 0 T 0 T 0
Referee : Barrie Richardson
Heat 1: Screen,Barker,Louis,Hare 58.7 (5-1)
Heat 2: Collyer,Clouting,Kokko,Bunyan 59.0 (9-3)
Heat 3: Dugard,Norris,Ferjan,Svab 56.1 (14-4)
Svab did a 180 on the first turn and never recovered.
Heat 4: Gollob,Hurry,Kokko,Bunyan 57.7 (17-7)
Heat 5: Dugard,Louis,Hare,Kokko 58.6 (20-10)
Norris' bike stopped at the tapes and he was
excluded for not being under power after
2 mins. Replaced by Kokko whose own bike
Stopped during the race only to restart.
Heat 6: Gollob,Screen,Barker,Clouting 57.6 (23-13)
Another win by the impressive Pole.
Heat 7: Hurry,Svab,Ferjan,Collyer 57.2 (26-16)
Heat 8: Louis,Barker,Hare,Kokko 57.1 (28-20)
Ipswich brought in Chris Louis as a tactical sub for
Bunyan. Kokkos bike problems continued as his bike died
at the tapes and had to rush back to the pits to collect
Dugards bike. Hare gated ahead of Barker but Barker passed
him on the 3rd bend.
Heat 9: Gollob,Dugard,Norris,Bunyan 57.0 (31-23)
Bunyan was brought in for a reserve ride in place of
fellow reserve Clouting. Dugard tried very hard but
could not pass Gollob who looked unbeatable at this
stage.
Heat 10: Ferjan,Barker,Screen,Svab 57.1 (34-26)
Had to be restarted after the taped stuck on the
first attempt. Both Barker and Screen passed Svab
to make it another drawn heat.
Heat 11: Hurry,Louis,Hare,Collyer 57.0 (37-29)
Heat 12: Dugard,Svab,Kokko,Clouting 57.7 (41-31)
Dugard dived in under Svab on the 3rd bend of the
last lap to make it into a 4-2 to the Eagles and
restore their 10 point advantage.
Heat 13: Louis,Gollob,Screen,Hurry 57.7 (42-36)
Brilliant team riding by Louis and Gollob brought
the Witches first 5-1 of the night and set up an
exciting last two heats.
Heat 14: Norris,Ferjan,Gollob,Kokko 57.9 (45-39)
The Eagles brought Kokko in for Collyer while Ipswich
used the unbeaten Gollob as a sub for Bunyan, however
Norris gated quickly and Gollob who was on gate 4
was too far behind to challenge. This drawn heat
guaranteed Eastbourne the match.
Heat 15: Dugard,Gollob,Louis,Norris(EF) 58.3 (48-42)
Ipswich needed a 4-2 to get the bonus point. Gollob
gated first but Dugard shut the door on Louis on the
1st bend allowing Norris to pass on the outside.
Dugard and Norris passed Gollob on the 2nd lap before
Norris' engine gave up on the third lap to make at a 3-3
but that was also enough to give Eastbourne the bonus
point.
I was impressed by 13 year old Edward Kennett whose
laps in the second half were as fast as the older
juniors (Simon Moon). Obviously going to be a decent
rider.
--
All the best
Darren
Surrey, UK
From: steve.ruskin@cwcom.net
To: "Internet Speedway Fan Club List"
Subject: Re: [speedway] Coventry v. Kings Lynn
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 11:50:01 +0100
> Coventry 48 King's Lynn 42
>
> Referee Graham Flint
>
> Bees
> Greg Hancock 2 1* 3 2 3 11+1
> Stuart Robson 1* 2 2* 2* 7+3
> Lee Richardson 1* 3 0 3 7+1
> George Stancl 2 2* 1 0 5+1
> Billy Hamill 2 3 3 1* 0 9+1
> Shaun Tacey 3 0 3 1 1 8
> Scott Robson 1 0 0 1
>
> Knights
> Jason Crump 3 0 3 1* 7+1
> Steve Masters 0 1 0 1
> Craig Boyce 3 2 0 2 3 1* 11+1
> Shane Parker 0 1* 1 2* 4+2
> Leigh Adams 3 3 2* 2 3 2 15+1
> Travis McGowan 2 0 1 3
> Tom Madsen 0 1 0 1
>
> Heat 1 Crump, Hancock, St Robson, Mastera 61.8 3-3
> Heat 2 Tacey, McGowan, Sc Robson, Madse 61.9 7-5
> Heat 3 Boyce, Stancl, Richardson, Parker 62.2 10-8
> Heat 4 Hamill, Adams, Madsen, Sc Robson 61.7 12-12
> Heat 5 Richardson, Stancl, Masters, Crump 61.8 17-13
> Heat 6 Adams, St Robson, Hancock, McGowan 61.4 20-16
> Heat 7 Hamill, Boyce, Parker, Tacey NF62.5 23-19
> Heat 8 Tacey(s), St Robson, McGowan(s), Masters 62.8 28-20
> Heat 9 Crump t/s, Adams, Stancl, Richardson 62.2 29-25
> Heat 10 Hancock,St Robson, Parker, Boyce 62.8 34-26
> Heat 11 Hamill, Adams t/s, Crump, Sc Robson(s) 62.2 37-29
> Heat 12 Richardson, Boyce Tacey(s), Madsen(s) F 62.4 41-31
> Heat 13 Adams, Hancock, Hamill, Crump 61.8 44-34
> Heat 14 Boyce t/s, Parker, Tacey, Stancl (on StR m/c) 63.2 45-39
> Heat 15 Hancock, Adams, Boyce, Hamill EF in 3rd place 61.9 4842
>
>
> Dry Track loads of dust but rain threatened. Crump m/c problems. Richardson getting there.
Bees greater depth proved the deciding factor.
>
> Bryn looked very cold and kept muttering about programme errors. . . . .
>
> Dave
>
>
>
You will no doubt have read Dave's comments on the above...... My
opinion:
This match showed exactly why speedway is not gaining the
crowds that they should. A new spectator would never go back to a
speedway meeting again had they attended this as their first
meeting. I have to say that the track was probably the worst
prepared track that I have seen in many years, giving the riders no
chance of racing at all. Any passes after the exit of turn 2 after the
first lap were extremely rare, and the "racing" could at best be
described as processional.When the top riders are having problems
entering the turns (The track was so slick, that many were coming
in to the turns backwards), and even George Stancl admitted
beating Jason Crump on a very slow bike ( and that was nothing to
do with Track craft, and I suspect that George would admit that ). I
fail to see why dust should have been an issue at this meeting,
even with rain predicted. The presentation as usual at Coventry was
mixed, the initial presentation was pretty good (very nineties), but
after that went downhill at a rapid rate of knots, with a radio mike
that works when it felt like it (unfortunately, you could hear Yorkie
most of the time, it was the riders that you couldn't)- How many
years has it been like that ?. Was it my imagination or were there
only about 5 records/CD's played all night.It has to be said that the
presentation was very much from the era when speedway was big
in the UK, and doesn't seem to have progressed at all.
There was also a classic example of the discussion thread
about leaving the meeting early last night . The vast majority of the
crowd seemed to disappear before the flag had fallen on heat 15 of
the speedway. The side-car meeting that followed was exceptional
( other than Yorkie trying to commentate on the racing - God, I find
that annoying), and all of the crews deserved praise for entertaining
the sparse crowd that was left - something that was definitely
missing in the first half.
As an aside, can anybody explain to me , why the Bar closes
at 10:30, when the law of the land quite clearly states that closing
time on a Saturday is 11PM - they obviously make too much profit
whilst they are open.
In conclusion, based on the evidence of last night, I would
suggest that if you are intending to go to see a meeting at
Coventry, save yourself a tenner, it just isn't worth it !!!
Regards
Steve Ruskin
King's Lynn , GB
steve.ruskin@cwcom.net
ICQ 5726300
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