Tsunami

Just back from the track. Everything in place for tonights meeting with the track looking brilliant. No threat of rain now and it is very warm. Could be an interesting meeting and a lot will depend on which Auty, Carl and Toft turns up.

Annoying that the first cancelled meeting/s for electrical work that the Stadium did NOT carry out. Annoying that the first cancelled meeting/s for electrical work that the Stadium did NOT carry out.

No, I think we should be OK tonight. There is a dash of rain late afternoon, but bright sunshine after that. Less watering for Jonny I reckon.

Was actually timed about 3 years ago by a Police speed gun, and i think the recorded speed was about 72 mph. Fastest recorded on a speedway track.

Don't know why i remember that, but i did. Great holiday, sun everyday, and over 80's every day especially in Athens for the Acropolis ruins. Thanks.

My opinion was that Viktor was a replacement for Tero whilst injured, and that period was expected to be mid term. If Viktor continues to improve, I see him being kept on and I don't think Tero is a suitable replacement for anybody else in out side, especially with Lewis riding so well. I can only see Tero returning if we get injuries.

They certainly are. It's a NJL format (2 X 500 + 2 X 125) and it's at Brough on Sunday 14th August, after our home meeting against Sheffield in the PL.

Weren't they usually called 'corn crakes' or something similar.

I think the price for Sunday is £20, so with your readmission ticket you only need to add £4 to it. Sounds like good value.

We only accepted the booking on the understanding that their Robin Aspregen sp?, and our Ludde would both be missing in Sweden, and cancel each other out. Swedes did not pick Robin, but the Swedes did pick Ludde and we were penalised for being understrength by only being able to ride a NL rider, who was our Adam. This decision galvanised our team and management, and they took it out on the Bandits on the track. Great meeting.

Yes, and in the programme for our postponed meeting last Sunday, the originator of that quote withdrew his comments and apologised. In a meeting that we then found out that we couldn't track Ludde away in Sweden, and had to ride Adan McKinna instead. However Berwick were of course able to ride their Swede. I use that DVD for shows and presentations, good advert.

NEWCASTLE SPEEDWAY TRAINING GROUP Well pleased with our first training session of the year today. Track was perfect angled to some exciting riding great progress with the first timers. We had 13 riders with many first time youngsters who I am sure enjoyed it and will be back for more. Two big smashes but the fence did it's job, bikes not damaged and both able to pick then themselves up, dusted them down, with a smile on their faces and looking ready to getting out for their next ride. Tough guys. Very pleased with the response from everyone to get everything done in time for the training session. Many thanks, as we couldn't put the session on without that valuable help. So it is now to bike washing and mending the little broken things that happen riding speedway. On hols now, and it's then Cardiff, so the restart of the sessions will be mid July, but I will post details of future sessions when I am back. Great to see youngsters taking to it so easy. Dave Rowland

And the Doctor. Gone down with husband and 19 month daughter and they are back st the hotel, little one sleeping. Karen now attending the Jury meeting at 12.05am.

Very proud Dad tonight seeing his daughter as the senior Medical Officer of the meeting tonight. She's the blond girl in the centre. Yes I know, must take after her mother.

But that wasn't my point Steve. Compare man for man and the quality of the riders and winners, and the 1997 team was only a shadow of the quality of todays 2016 team. Back in 1997 we were coming back from a 3 year sabbatical from the sport, and all was great once we got over our early season injuries, so much so we finished 3rd in the league.

And it cost them £400 to do it.

I think he bought 6 engines off AshTec and had to offload them, and buy 6 new ones. Currently £50k in debt through it.

Which I believe still has to happen. A team brought Bewley up to Brough before he signed for Edinburgh, and he rode once in the meeting and then had his second ride in the second half before our juniors.

That's why I kept my comment to the 90's. Agree about 2001 and 2002. Cracking teams.

Quite correct. In 2002 Newcastle had more wins (21 to 20), but Sheffield won the league due to their massive home advantage, which was from a heavy grippy track than needed special fast engines which other teams riders didn't have, or had to hire for the night. Exeter used to have an even bigger advantage, being world beaters at home, but absolutely crap away at most tracks.

6 man teams ?

He found they were just not working this year, and he mutually agreed with Ash to try elsewhere. He was using them early in Poland, and they didn't work for him, hence the lack of interest for in Poland.

Quite agree. Many have forgotten the story in the SS telling what he has gone through with dud Ash engines in Poland, and has now switched to Peter Johns engines. Watch him go now. Remember how well he used to ride Brough and when he won the PLRC. He is no mug.

I would say that the Diamonds team of 2016 is way stronger than any of the sides early or late 90's. Compare rider for rider and we always needed to have 3 pointers to balance up the big hitters we had. Now there are more big hitters across the team. For example, compare the 1997 team man for man. Remember we finished in 3rd position that first year.

There was a lot learnt by having the trial with much discussion on several contentious issues during and later on. The format and the rules that were tried are unlikely to reappear, but they will with modifications. Use of TS's and loss of a rider before, or during the meeting, will need to be rethought out. The return of a number 8(but a 7 in this case) is important.