Halifaxtiger

It was shown to be even worse tonight because Barker fought like a tiger in every race.

What is interesting here is that I am at Berwick tonight and there is a payslip from 1968. Riders were paid 10s a point and 10s a start......

Doesn't cost a penny to get involved with paying customers and the rewards are substantial. There's someone on the Plymouth v Kent thread asking why their promotion should need to explain their actions to fans. Pretty much sums up the situation down there, although to be fair they are by no means the only ones. All credit to Redcar for having a completely different approach

When is the last time you had any rain, Screm ?

Posted 15 minutes ago on the Berwick Speedway facebook page that its still on.

I think what this highlights is just how difficult it is to make a decision regarding whether to run a meeting or not. Its hard enough when the weather forecasts are the same but when they are different - and in some cases entirely inaccurate - that makes it all the harder. I learned a lesson once when I criticised Isle of Wight for calling a meeting off in the face of most weather reports - only for the one they used to be correct. To quote a phrase, even if the promoter gets it wrong, he's right and given the financial loss involved that's fair enough to me. Sun shining brightly in Norham, but I fear we haven't seen the last of the rain.

Now who's being pessimistic Most forecasts say showers from 9am stopping at 6pm. Met Office says 30% chance of light showers after 3pm. XC has 5mm of rain between 10 am and 6pm. Compared to the forecasts last night, that's a drought I think the crucial thing is whether its coming down at start time and fingers crossed it won't be.

I agree with Boz on that one. Had he hugged the white line, Wright would have beaten him. At that stage of the meeting, the major riding line was on the outside or at least mid track.

Very decent meeting tonight Both teams played a part even though the score flattered Birmingham a bit. Redcar were always in control. The Bears will be a real threat at play off time. With an excellent heat leader trio, two firing second strings and a points scoring reserve they will be a handful for anyone. Having been both furious and appalled at the actions of no less than three promotions over the last week or so (and those three won't get any money off me for a while) I was most impressed tonight. For a start, in the programme Jitendra Duffil directly addressed fans concerns (are you watching Plymouth) over entry fees last week, and agreed to fund reductions where necessary. He then went to express his gratitude for the support that he had been given after the previous weeks meeting. The programme also had an interesting article about set ups, which we here a lot about but which to some are a complete mystery. Then we had the brilliant sight of youngsters on the centre green dancing with Smoggy the mascot, some of whom were from the radiation affected arears of the Ukraine and Belarus, who had all been equipped with the requisite Redcar flags. Finally, there was Roy Clarke speaking to a young lady who had just got engaged and the playing of Cliff Richard's 'Congratulations'. All in all, 10 out of 10 for the promotion and to pay them a huge compliment, in terms of family atmosphere you were right up there with Isle of Wight. PS Pleasure to meet Sidewinder tonight but slightly perturbed that he knew who I was. One promotion will definitely have me in their gunsights

Tonight at Redcar they all got it wrong. Every single one predicted rain and there was none.

One visit a year and it could be rain. I am entitled to panic a bit

Looks like they might need them

Do Berwick still have the track covers ?

When Ashley Birks broke his back at Plymouth ( an injury that ended his career) the delay was around 15 minutes while they fixed the fence. They had two ambulances and two paramedics. I stand to be corrected but I believe that Newcastle still do. Injury needn't cause major delay.

If they have not investigated, then these fans are being barred without any substance at all. That's not only unbelievable and unthinkable, it merely adds fuel to the arguments that the real reason is that the promotion simply don't like criticism and that the charges laid are entirely trumped up. I have described the people concerned above. Do they really sound like 'bad eggs' ? The fact remains is that there has been a flat denial that things are wrong at Plymouth. Period. That's unlikely to change in a face to face discussion, and someone contending that things are wrong - and badly wrong at that - is hardly likely to get a reasonable hearing.

One last thing. For as long as you are out, so I am.

I agree. That's a bizarre decision. Morley is averaging way higher than Bowtell according to the club website.

I think you are wasting your time here. You and your pals have been attending Plymouth Speedway for years. You have worked in the track, raised funds for the club, sponsored riders and the team and travelled all over the country to watch the Devils. Few can match that and, lets face it, that's the kind of supporter every club wants and needs. In all those years, not a word has been said about your behaviour. Its nonsense to suggest that you have turned into a foul mouthed sexist overnight, but that's precisely the reason for you and others being barred. I find it hard to believe that anyone is so naïve that they actually believe that. Truth is you have been barred because you have been vocally critical and, far, far worse, a lot of others agree with you. If you were alone, you'd be laughed at. You're not. Personally speaking, I think meeting with the promotion will be an utter waste of time - and they are not interested in talking to people around you because that will blow apart the reason for the ban - because they have flat denied that anything is wrong. What precisely will be achieved if that is the attitude that you will face ?

I disagree. I thought this was a decent meeting. The track was definitely better for the final, though. I count 9 fallers. Not good, but there were 6 at Mildenhall yesterday, 5 at Plymouth on Friday and 5 at Isle of Wight on Thursday, all from 15 heats. That's about the same. I thought that in the final there was some highly entertaining racing, made even better by the knife edge closeness of the teams. Certainly wouldn't put me off going to Stoke again, quite the opposite in fact.

Says someone saying 'bollocks' on a public forum Until the Plymouth promotion issue a clear statement that any person found using bad language will be banned and take clear and ongoing action to enforce it (and that's anyone, not just those that criticise them) your remarks have no credence at all. Speaking to the Dads Army mob last night, they denied any swearing. I suspect, however, that that might have been the case at times. The sexist remarks, however, are just I repeat : how is that that this lot have never been barred - or even accused - in 13 years of attendance at Plymouth ? Or is that in their dotage they have suddenly become intimidating sex pests ? The other thing is the monumental stupidity of barring four paying customers. Its entirely possible that another few, angered by what has happened, will stop going as well. Including entrance fees, programmes food etc over a season that would probably be about £1,000, and that doesn't count any sponsorship or Cornishman Len's rip off race lottery, which no-one ever wins and whose proceeds go to the riders. For a promotion reportedly losing money hand over fist, it seems to me that they are doing their best to lose some more.

In my experience, talking to promotions (in most cases) makes absolutely no difference whatsoever (I was be absolutely stunned when it did following criticism of Isle of Wight). Indeed, in this case one of the Dads Army lot offered to speak to Mark Phillips but got no response, and anyone who makes a statement on the lines that 'if you stopped coming to Plymouth Speedway it would make no difference. If I did it would close' doesn't inspire confidence that they would be a good listener. Just one final thing. Is it absolutely and definitely the case that swearing at Plymouth Speedway leads to an automatic and sine die ban ?

Can't say I am.

I could accuse you of one or two things but not that. Its aimed at someone suggesting (quite ridiculously) that I am 'knowledgeable and most respected'. For those unaware of the situation here, it should be pointed out that this vicious mob of foul mouthed, abusive, leering thugs are - with one exception - all in their 70's. I can well imagine how intimidated and terrified members of track staff and females spectators would be by this aged gang of appalling hoods - especially when 'Private Fraser' starts waving his walking stick about. The simple fact is that they have all been attending Plymouth Speedway for 13 years without a single allegation or accusation of bad behaviour - until they started criticising the promotion, that is. They won't be the first or last refused entry to a speedway stadium on trumped up charges simply because they are vocal and if it is believed that banning some paying customers - and as I have said before, at least at one time loyal, committed and passionate paying customers - rather than trying to engage with them reasonably is good practice some training in PR is needed. Try Isle of Wight's Barry Bishop. He's a master at it. One final thing. I am due to come to Plymouth in a few weeks. Presumably if I hear someone swearing and report them, they will be similarly banned ?

That's because you're one of them rich buggers. I was with the scruffbags in south stand No worries

I don't think that's correct. True, most of the time they hit the starts but when they didn't they were perfectly capable of getting past their opponents. It was only in the last few heats - when they had won - that they took their foot of the pedal. Reading updates merely confirms my view. I don't think Flint, Bickley or Kemp let anyone down and really got stuck in. Simply truth is they were out of the depth but it has to be remembered that Flint and Kemp are just 16. Lambert was absolutely imperious and Bewley battled hard, let down on occasion by his inconsistent gating and the need to battle through the pack. He nevertheless sealed points (that in the end made a big difference) on the final corner by a refusal to give in. Well done to them all. A word, to, for Neil Vatcher and the professionalism of the GB team. The race suits and bike covers with sponsors well to the fore were impressive. Overall, a cracking meeting with some excellent racing. To echo Hyderd, the Polish fans were simply brilliant, all credit to them. It was a pity that there weren't a few more British ones because at £15 for 20 races this wasn't much dearer than a Colts match. A final word for track curator Andy Meredith. A very sunny, hot day with a strong breeze down the track made absolutely no difference - as always - to the quality of the strip.