Bert Harkins

Just to keep you up to date,there are always new exhibits at the Speedway Museum and it is well worth a visit, even if you have been there before. The Museum shop also has Speedway gifts for sale including the latest Grand Prix programmes (The Swedish GP programme will be in the shop on Tuesday), also a One-Off brand new Tony Rickardsson, 'Rickardsson Racing' pit cap as worn by the great man himself and now by Antonio Lindback. Scott Team jackets, pit caps and wallets will also be available plus back copies of Speedway Star for the collectors amongst us. Watch out for the new discount voucher for Paradise Wildlife Park and Museum coming soon in Speedway Star! Haggis

Get Well Soon, Lloyd and for the U15 fans reading this,...Have a look at the WSRA (World Speedway Riders' Association) website, www.world-sra.org.uk to see a great team photo from the Sheffield Bonanza of the boys along with team manager, # Name Removed # and former double World Champion, Freddie Williams. Go to the website, click onto "What's New" and have a look at the Sheffiled Bonanza story. Haggis

Having read the various posts about "The Celebration of Speedway" at Paradise Wildlife Park, I thought I had better get my tuppence-worth in. I can understand people feeling sad about leaving High Beech, but for all the various reasons given earlier in the forum, we are trying to make this event as memorable and comfortable as possible for everyone. I am sorry that a few fans have such a negative attitude to PWP and, as stated earlier, the Park makes no money from our Museum and were it not for the generousity of ex-rider and PWP owner, Peter Sampson, there is no way we could have funded or run a Speedway Museum. Apart from buying the land to build the Museum, just think of the running costs, building costs, electricity, security (at the Park we are protected by lions & tigers so no-one will break in!) business rates, staff, even down to paint for the floors and walls, etc. all of which have been funded by the Park, so for anyone to say that moving from High Beech is a money-making exercise, then they are very much mistaken. George & Linda did a fantastic job in fund-raising dedicating a part of their lives to the cause, but, George had said that once money was raised, he would like to take it a bit easier and take a step back. The Museum Committee and the WSRA (World Speedway Riders' Association) appreciate everything that George & Linda have done and although others played their part, G&L were the "public face" of the museum fund raising. Now that the Museum is well and truly up and running, 8th February will be a great chance for everyone to check it out and form their own opinions. Exhibits are forever changing, so if you have already visited the museum, then you are sure to see something new each time you drop by. I was also disappointed that one correspondent said that he, and many others had no interest in the Wildlife Park, well, I think he should reserve judgement until he visits as it is a great day out for all the family and now there is a Speedway Museum to visit too, so look on the bright side. Your kind donations have been gratefully received and the VOLOUNTEERS who run the Museum and the Committee are doing their very best to promote the sport we all love and keep it's history alive.. Hackney, West Ham and Edinburgh fans will be pleased to hear that one of our favourite Swedes, Bengt Jansson, is flying over for the event and invitations have gone out to many other riders, including World Champion, Nicki Pedersen and former double World Champion, Freddie Williams. So come along to the "Celebration of Speedway incorporating High beech at Paradise Wildlife Park on 8th February 10am till 3pm and enjoy a great day out FREE OF CHARGE! Bert Harkins WSRA President , Speedway Museum Committee WSRA Committee Ex-Rider and All Round Good Guy!! (I hope!)