Brian

After years of the threat of compulsory purchase, it's only a matter of time before that reappears and the arena goes for housing. That being the case, don't expect any money to be spent on facilities.

I was there last week and lights between bends 1 & 2 were on the ground. As I understand it, the stadium was being rewired. Looked an awful lot of work to be done to be ready for first meeting.

Norbold's hole, now that was an amazingly long but interesting thread.

Looks to me that the situation remains as Jon Cook said a few weeks ago, training days followed by challenges or possibly National Trophy. I see nothing different.

Eddie looked very fast and sharp guesting for Plymouth tonight, racing to a 4 ride paid maximum. If he carries that over to tomorrow, that only leaves 5 more to sort out.

Should be good for 30 points including 2 tacticals.

I was trying to be tactful.

Just to agree with the others, an enjoyable meeting. I suspect Konopka just has a problem with the tight confines of Rye, otherwise I would also question the signing.

As far as I am aware it's similar at all other major venues.

I can just imagine the fuss on here if it was a free for all at the start and a teams star man was pulling back when the ref released the tapes, there'd be 20 pages of conspiracy theories. I want riders to sit still at the start until the tapes go up and their start depends on their reaction.

Weather looks the winner again. Expect another early call-off.

No doubt someone will correct me but I thought the old tarmac track was still underneath the shale.

I seem to recall reading a couple of years ago that Len has never lost money at Rye in any given season. I suspect he is looking at his estimate of income for the season and signing riders to that budget. I can't see Len breaking the bank to build an expensive team, but does that mean attendances continue to dwindle. There is a tipping point but when ?

I think the terminology is 'a bit of a tonking'

Nice and sunny in Hoddesdon. When I visited the kart circuit at 1pm, the speedway was still all locked up.

Battle of the egos. Only thought was that as they appeared to be less than bosom buddies, how that impacts on Birmingham.

Popped into Hoddesdon on Sunday. New airfence up and looking good in blue and yellow.

Can't help but think that someone is on a monumental wind up and people are biting.

As far as I can see, this will likely result in the situation faced by Brands Hatch after houses were built close to Clearways. Brands have limitations on the number of times they can use the full circuit each year and strict noise and time limits. Most car race circuits have limitations on noise and curfews. If the circuit owner thinks noise at 3am is reasonable then I expect they will be given a curfew around 10.30 or 11pm.

I believe so. According to the website they use the traditional sandpaper bats. Found the info through Google but cant post a link from my iPad.

Ping pong is another minority sport picked up and promoted by Barry Hearn. I think they use standard bats and slightly larger balls. Remember reading somewhere it's about slowing the game slightly to have longer rallies Hearn promotes, puts the championship in Alexandra Palce the week after the darts, tinkers with the rules a bit & sells coverage to Sky.

Would they then run into the problem of lost continuity and need to apply for local authority permission again, with all the likely objections which come whenever speedway is mentioned? Just find the whole situation rather sad.

HOPES of the Isle of Wight rejoining the National League for the 2014 season have suffered a setback. The Islanders have been given until the end of January to declare their intention to race, and a recent shareholder’s meeting produced news of possible outside investment. However, talks have confirmed such investment will not be forthcoming and the club’s immediate future will be decided at the next meeting on January 21 – with a major financial investment or alternative viable solution required to compete next season. http://speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.23525

Now it appears the potential backing has fallen through, the dark shadow has one again fallen over Smallbrook. Such a shame to lose them as seems a possibility.

Looking likely that Lanham will be sitting out the season start until required due to an injury somewhere. Peterborough looking the only alternative option if they open.