Tsunami

The 2 promotions used to rate the referee in previous years, but I believe the SCB stopped that a few years ago. Pity .

But he is right Ian. And remember, they take ages to polish their balls by rubbing it in their crotch. Women and children watching

Yes, but remember it is from robert72.

All the rain has gone now, with the improved forecast. A sunny night for a cracking speedway meeting and the track looked it's usual good surface when I left. See ya there.

A rider pays a small premium for every race they ride in, and it is deducted from his wages. Doodson are the insurance company, and they pay out a set weekly figure for the absence, until the rider is available to ride again. I believe there is a qualifying period before the rider receives the payments. In addition, riders often take out additional personal accident insurance(Combined America ?) to take care of other fixed payments for loans, mortgages etc. The bigger the payouts, the bigger the premiums.

But that's not the point being made. Like SCB, I still think that the points system was good for keeping a meeting interesting right to the end, and a team just missing out would get a point for their efforts. Aggregate scores were just unfair, unless you were Sheffield and Exeter. SCB is making the point that he thought the original scoring was brilliant, and often it's said one of the more sensible things to be introduced. Giving the winning 3 points anyway, does not improve on the formulae.

Yes, I did see that, and Henry's post. My point was that the repair work should have continued, as it still looked streaky, and a lot more work could have been done, even if it was just to make a return to the track more likely, but likely to give some anticipation that all things that could be done was being done. Track not right, and no further work, were clues that racing would not restart, probably before that decision was actually made by the riders. Quite agree with the two latter lines. We visit as a family to see friends, visit Walkabout, meet acquaintances, walk the shopping area, and enjoy each others company. The races fill the night in, and can be entertaining before the fireworks. Lubos, who lived with us, used to go to see the fireworks.

Don't disagree with that but, apart from that one year, the track has generally been improving with a good one a couple of years ago. Like you, the socialising is the highlight of the weekend with a family holiday for the 6 of us, with the racing chucked in. This won't stop us from going in future years.

Yep, they do usually use a double starting gate, so that a second set of tapes is available if the first set are demolished. Unfortunately there also appeared to be a problem with securing the inside gate to the base, and it that was true, it would probably have affected the double starting gate as well. Tapes operating inside a dry stadium, should not be a problem for anybody. There has been some good tracks at Cardiff and one not so long ago that drew high praise from most on here. No good now rubbishing Cardiff, except for that one year which was a disaster.

I couldn't understand that nothing was done to the track whilst discussions were taking place. A light blade, and tyre packing, together with a light watering, could have retrieved something to allow them to finish the meeting. The issue of the gates could have been forced on the riders as it was plain to see, except Doyle, that the gates off the green light were relatively decent and even.

Current cost £98 Kevin.

Football, some cricket, Golf, some Ice Hockey, American Football and Superbowl, Squash, some Tennis and Badminton. Of course Ladies Beach Volley and Curling.

Cynic.

Unfortunately, she is back to normal Ian. Rumour had it that a third of the 3776 passengers on board were restricted to their cabins for a couple of days. Made eating in the Buffet less frantic mind.

Thought i had seen enough water. Went well, except going through the Bay of Biscay in a Gale force 9 winds and 5metre swells. Jen very ill and in bed all day. Had to drink on my own.

With the earlier call off, the loss would be lower with reduced track rental, and lower travel for both teams and the ref. Still a loss though, which all teams hate, both promoters and fans. BTW. Love the choice of riders in your signature, especially Gil.

Sorry about the call off tonight. An early call was made to put sheets down on the inside half of the track on all the 4 bends. This done, the rain continued as predicted but, with the sheets overlapping, the rainwater went through the gaps, and there was still a head on water underneath the sheets as well as on top. The amount of water on the track surface, due to the banking, meant there was as much water on the track as you would expect at say 8.00am after overnight rain, but of course Jonny and his team would have all day to remove it and then get the track ready. When the sheets were examined at 1.30pm, it revealed the underneath water, but they didn't have he same time to get the track rateable for 6.30pm. Maybe an answer as to why sheets aren't used at speedway. For them to work the sheets need to be joined, cover all the bends, and to have big drains on the kerb line, for the rain to drain down the sheets into the drains. I think the covers would have worked, but for the rain not to be as heavy and not for the number of hours. Fortunately, there was enough staff initially to put them down, but we would have needed extra staff to remove them and reposition, before the meeting start time, onto the dog track where they are usually employed. We only raised the air fence on the 1st and 2nd bends to save labour initially. Ironically the sun is out and drying the track out. So now you know what happened.

Sorry, but i've just been advised that the meeting is OFF. Any sheeters fancy coming in to help taking the sheets off the track ?

We used the dog track covers. We are not Voyens you know. 2 weeks and just got back late last night. So from sun and heat cruising in the Canaries, to putting sheets down in the rain at Brough this morning. Doesn't get any better than that.

Yes, and I can confirm that sheets were down this morning before the track got wet. The rain started just as we were finishing the sheeting so the track is OK. The rain is forecast to stop at about 2.00pm, when the sheets will be lifted to prepare the track for tonights meeting. Now in the hands of the weather gods. If it stops raining, we have a meeting with a good track. I will give further updates through the afternoon, especially for those who have to travel.

Times 5.

Robbo has a large lump on his leg but the leg is otherwise OK. He has had a CT scan and that is clear.

I understood in the early 00's, that Sheffield riders had their engines serviced by the promotion as part of their financial deal with the club. The initial problem is obviously expense, but it does/did give riders the opportunity to expect greater things from their engines, that they wouldn't normally afford if they were paying for it.

I am sure that Shads does have the right stats. Very rarely does Len get it wrong. A couple of disaster forecasts, but he usually gets it right and prevents a lot of fans, particularly away fans and teams, from having a very wasted day and save them travelling.

I see the 'imagery friends' syndrome, appears again to push the old arguments. Yawn.