Gemini

Can't wait to see Fd's on webshots as they looked really good, especially the one of Joanne. I will be printing some of them and putting them in my photo album for prosperity. And Addy....you didn't escape Fd's lenses even if everyone else missed you.

Anyone know what the format will be for 2005 as I believe there will be one third less riders? 16 instead of 24. Does that mean there will be less races? It's a shame it's being changed as I think the formula at the moment is the best yet, with the excitement of the eliminators etc., but this is Speedway. Can't have the same rules for more than a couple of seasons - everything must change.

Heat 12 was 59.7 Sorry can't help with the others as I couldn't hear. I've missed out loads.

You're keen Addy. Count us out of that. Not many would allow Pawprint like the brilliant hotel on Cathedral Road. Already booked up for next year, 2nd Saturday in June. I'd also like to add my thanks to FD for organising everything for the past two years. It can't have been easy.

Oh No! Not another one using profound signatures. Mystic Meg is very good at reading between the lines.

I think one or two on here might have, but I'm not naming anyone.

Very good. Just the sort of photo I like. What camera have you got? Ours packed in a couple of weeks ago (Christmas present from son) and as it isn't being made any more we can pay some more money and get another one if we like. My Cardiff photos should be on now but there are only a few. Here Nice to see Billy made a great effort to smile. I think I went wrong though buying his book for my birthday first and then going back about five minutes later asking if I could take his photo. He would have perhaps smiled if I had handed over the £19.99p at the same time. Him and Pawprint make a good pair together.

Join the club. I am always getting confused with people and have to meet them at least twice before my brain gets the message who they are. And I've still not sorted out Cheetahhawk's lads. Had to make sure it was Scorpio I was talking to at the Castle. Pawprint won't forget him though.

Presume it is okay to name forum members? Will be putting mine on Webshots soon. Thank goodness I've only seen a bit of the back of my head so far.

Here, here. The loudspeakers were definitely too low. Couldn't hear a word of what Sam was saying and I missed loads of the race times. Thank goodness for the air horns and supporter noise, which was at full blast, because I usually rely on that to clear my sinuses out for the next 12 months.

If you get to Coventry don't forget to have a chat with the forum group on the 3rd/4th bend, plus their mascot jammed underneath the chair. And please don't pick between July 10th and 24th because Summit, Pawprint and I will be away.

I know you'd had quite a few bevvies Addy, but I didn't realise you were seeing double that early in the afternoon. Must have missed him. And him.

I did get a picture of a little bit of the back of your head.... Gee thanks. That's the sort of photo I like rather than have a digital camera pointed about six inches from my wrinkled old face. I don't think I made myself very clear as usual. By 1st/2nd bend crowd I meant just that - not particularly forum members. I'm a bit fussy about which photos I put in my album you see and don't like to see loads of empty seats. Unfortunately from where we were sitting on the 1st bend I could only really take photos of the straights and 3rd/4th bend so there were quite a lot of spaces. I need bums on seats - loads of them - so the 1st/2nd bend would have been the best place as it seemed packed. Thanks for that Shazzy. I had already taken the liberty of down-loading it so I can print off a photo to scare Pawprint when she is being naughty.

Too much fraternising with showbiz "celebrities" perhaps.

Absolutely no criticism at all. They were brilliant. I'm not usually very keen on fireworks - not ones that involve loud bangs anyway - but these were just great. More of the same next year please.

Did anyone take any photos of the 1st/2nd bend crowd?

Ah! But that's what he wants you to think. Who knows what his next plans are for you.

Mmmmm...Funny you should say that as Joanne did ask me who the Grim Reaper was at the end of the G.P. I tried asking, but no-one owned up. I'm certain he was there. Only just caught up with this thread so I missed Joanne's latest about going over the Severn Bridge in a train. Classic. Aren't you going to spill the beans on what Addy said about Tony Hadley? Incidentally - put 3 Gemini's together and the result is confusion. Summit and I had seats 27 and 28, but when we arrived there was a bag on seat 27, which turned out to be Addy's who thought that was where she was sitting. After several minutes of confusion - enjoyed[?]by Dickiemint and B2BMad in the row behind - we managed to locate Addy's ticket and it was No26. All sorted? No! I think Addy wanted to sit next to Joanne in seat 29. (Are you following this so far?) so we decided to all move up one, but firstly had to check with Norbold that he didn't mind if Addy didn't sit next to him as originally planned. I'm sure those in the row behind were quite relieved when everyone sat down in their newly allotted seats.

Agree. I think the referee had a brilliant meeting and any decisions he had to make were the correct ones. We see loads of times referee's stopping a race because a rider has tried to roll at the start but has not gained an advantage. Re-starting the race gives another chance and is very unfair. The referee at Cardiff got it spot on.

Apart from Polly Parrot I can't think of anyone small enough to do that and I'm not going to insult Tom Thumb by saying it could have been him as he is quite tall really. Sure it wasn't The Grim Reaper? Well that's made me feel a whole lot better LW. I was talking to someone sitting behind me at Cardiff but had to ask who they were. (I seem to make a habit of this.) Turned out to be Born2bMad who I had spent the whole of the Cougars v Wimbledon match with a few weeks before at Brandon. So embarrassing.

Did one practice humility as well? You know just in case ones favourite rider, you know, didn't make the final, you know.

Do you want any help with the answer Sir L? Had a brilliant weekend, apart from having to sleep on the floor of the hotel room because someone was kicking their legs around all night and making noises that half a dozen pigs would have a job to compete with. Went to the Newport v Newcastle match on Friday night and bumped into Joanne, who had travelled by train and bus so we gave her a lift back to Cardiff afterwards. Quite a good meeting although I missed seeing one of my favourite riders - Carl Wilkinson. After breakfast on Saturday we set off on a marathon walking session to keep Pawprint on the go so she would be worn out by evening, when she'd got to stay in the hotel room. Firstly went on the park (Sophia Gardens), then on a Bus Tour round Cardiff, round the city centre a few times, ending up on the Castle grass for a couple of hours. Pawprint was happily spending the time chasing a ball until a certain forum member chucked it about 100 feet in the air over the Castle Wall. No names, but he does have a sting in his tail. Went to Sams Bar about 4pm and met Sting, Robbo, Bandits4Ever, Pinny, for the first time, also other forum members in various stages of err......."merryment." Then walked back through Sophia Gardens to the hotel in Cathedral Road. Left about 6ish for the walk back to the stadium. Must say that everything about the G.P. this year was the absolute best. The track, presentation, atmosphere, music, Sam, noise, racing. Fantastic. I've watched it again on video now and it just doesn't compare to actually being there. Anyone who missed it - get yourself down to Cardiff next year. You will be amazed. Just one small gripe - the loudspeakers weren't very clear and it was hard to hear. I missed loads of the race times because of this. Pump up the volume! Highlights of the night have to be the good performances of the Brits, Greg Hancock winning, Nicki Pedersen and Hans Andersen going out and Steve Turner's face as the night wore on. The fireworks were brilliant. I didn't want to leave and felt really sad it was all over for another year. Already booked the hotel room for 2005.

Well I've never heard of either of them.

I wouldn't normally be bothered either but we have to keep Pawprint on the move all day so she is that shattered during the evening she just wants to rest her weary paws in the hotel room for 5/6 hours. The last couple of years have been too hot if anything so could we please have lower temperatures than lately, but no rain.

Hope you know what you're doing Phil. Glad you could make it and I hope you have a great day.