Tsunami

He passed an alcohol test the following day in Poland after the Cardiff GP. A fellow countryman didn't even make it, which is probably just as well he said he was 'ill' to his team. Great party I hear in the Walkabout.

I think the start marshall wasn't at his best either. Nige and Kev missed the reason why Steve tried to go to gate 3. The start marshall lifted three fingers up to denote 'only three riders', and Steve thought he meant 'go to gate 3'. When he tried to, Garrity thought he would block him by trying to also take gate 3. After that it was a farce with communication, despite the walkie talkie, being very poor between the Start marshall and Robinson. Steve chucked out, Oh Dear. A shambles by the officials, who obviously had not talked to the riders and TM's beforehand on procedure, and also the existence of a clock to be used for the 2 minute count.

I would agree with that.

It would have been sensible, but that's only if the problem was overwatering. It was no more watered last night than other tracks at the beginning of the meeting. As someone else has said, the main utility vehicle, which does all the work, broke down with no diff, and could not be used from lunchtime onwards. Fortunately that was after all the overnight rain had been pumped off before it packed up. This meant that other vehicles had to be used for jobs like tyre packing, and IMO last night the shale didn't bind as it normally does. Riders such as Robbo, Kerr, and Danny were giving feedback to Jonny Swales where there was some breaking up, hence the surprise use of the blade. Easy for some to become experts, who weren't there, and are trying a solve a problem that was not the problem. The race that was stopped was on the second lap so there was no expectations of an awarded result, despite what Monarch fans wanted. It doesn't really matter how much lead Steve had on the rest in the first running. It was his teammate DEEK that got the race stopped and fortunately we benefited from the rerun. I had thought that the meeting would and should have been abandoned after heat 12 with a draw with the rain starting to get really heavy. Now that's when the track was too wet. Settle for a draw, but we were unlucky with a couple of falls which stopped us getting a win.

Stranger things have happened. It may be 7 points, as you point out, but that excludes the possibility of any points from our home and away against Glasgow, and home against Peterborough. That must be another 9 points. Add in what TWK said with Worky's rain record, it now looks a certainly.

Kept his leathers clean so they didn't have to wash them. Mike Watkin, Mauger, Goog Allan, Peter Kelly, Bill Andrew, Ken Sharples, all used to wear them mid sixties for the same reason. They were the 60's team suits. Kneckerchiefs went out of fashion when Neil Collins finally retired. Shame.

Puzzling isn't it. It's usually bloody Glasgow that does us at their place, and get stuffed by everyone else. It happened last year.

As unfair as it may be, what would you do instead. Rules were agreed at the beginning, and teams like the Diamonds got on with their busy schedule, and still had rainoffs. This during a time when everyone was puzzled who to drop with poor results. You can't just drop the playoffs and award the title, or expect the diligent or lucky teams to sit around doing no meetings, till the last team gets their last matches in. It is nothing new, as I seem to recall Brum losing out a few years ago, with meetings not completed, but eventually going on to be second in the PL table when they caught up after the playoffs were underway. George has done his best to slot in outstanding fixtures, and we are still on track even though we had blank weekends around the Cardiff GP.

Obvious to most, but not to some. Just a dig.

Ended up as an OK final score, after looking like we could get humped, especially with Robbo a bit off song. Is he doing too many meetings at the moment. One more point, and only two meetings to fit in. If we win them both, it could be we will not be caught by teams unable to complete their fixtures, so we would then qualify for the Playoffs. Would be just reward for us having to ride so many meetings early in the season, when we had a troubled septet and any two could have been dropped. Hope Danny is OK, but wonder who will now ride at reserve as if Mills is ill, is he entitled to ride tomorrow with it not being speedway related. We shall soon see.

Get away now. What other national disaster are you now forecasting. BTW it's suRprise.

Genuine answer. You will never know, because of variables like, the strength of the home team, the strength of the away team, the proximity of that team to the home team, the weather, if it's a dead rubber, if it is televised etc. What is known, and is generally accepted, is that the build up to the ties will create interest, and more than likely deliver an above average attendance. It is the chance to end the season on a high with a profit being made, to offset against losses such as made during another season badly affected by the weather. Like the last throw of the dice, hoping to make a bit. If your not in it, you can't win it.

Max doesn't need that excuse.

I have mentioned it a few times, especially coming off the forth bend and nearly clipping one of our lads. Dave Meldrum used to also do it at Berwick, especially going into the third bend. Got Bjarne one time.

Also has a nasty habit of riding at the rider in front's back wheel, coming off the bend. Very dangerous.

Which "experts" would those be. You yourself seemed pleased about what you saw, and things seemed to be in hand TILL the RAINS came. It happens, natural phenomenon, nobody's fault. What would 'your' experts have done differently and got this meeting on. Ouch.

You talkin bout meee ??

Wrong again, and on the same point. Nowt to do with the promoters getting to the match. All about making it a time convenient for those supporters and track staff to get to the match and also attend their speedway meeting. Plenty of promoting goes on which you will never know about, but keep saying it and you'll think your right.

Lots of unqualified negative comments on here. The world is full of experts, it just they can never show it.

So it's a relay then.

You volunteering George or suggesting Paul.

I would surprised if Paul hasn't ridden at the Dale.

Yes, I think he was only on loan to Redcar.

You can get a run as well of course chasing the furry ones. Liquid to refresh yourself is served in the stadium.

There's plenty of grass area after the Tesco roundabout, where cars park outside the ground.