Tsunami

Let's hope so.

Lurking is better than SKY.

Speak for ya sel.

A light flurrie of fine snow about half an hour ago, but weather looking settled for the day. Very cold at the moment so wrap up warm. With it being the first meeting of the year , as usual, no second half is planned. 9 points is win is very achievable, especially as the usual good performer around Brough, Teo is out and Comets have RR for him and Neilsen in for the not arrived yer Campton. RR for Tully as well for us. Let's hope the Diamonds get a good win(more than 10 points like), get the Ian Thomas Shield, and everyone goes home happy and no injuries. Be great to see the Comet fans being back at Brough in big numbers like the old days in the 00's. Them and Newport were always top attenders at Brough, and brought their own atmosphere with them. So Diamonds fans, be nice to the Comets fans and and make them very welcome :D

Congrats to the new promotion for all their efforts last night, to promote their first meeting. There was a nice feeling about the meeting with a big crowd in, possibly 2000. A new Scot on the presentation mike, who sounded very like Scot Wilson of Edinburgh but it wasn't Scot Nichols with bike outside having pictures taken free of charge. Band playing alongside Scot outside. Programme sheet for everyone, in addition to the pay programmes with full reports and adverts. Free bag of sweeties for all the kids(but not Senior citizens ) Two very good girl singers on the centre green, singing three popular songs, although it was that cold that a few thought they should have got on with the racing. Big improvements by the rugby club in terms of carparks and tidiness around the stadium, including new popup seats in the main stand. Pleased to see the number and the variety of sponsors banners around the first and second bend. Someone has been very busy and got things right. Scot Nichols booked at a considerable fee for greeting and three match races. New track shop in outside container Lots and lots of positives, including the absence of the usual evil element in the backstraight stand. Unfortunately the big disappointment was the track. Looked OK in the first and second heat but after that it was breaking up and was treacherous, especially the third/forth bend. By the middle of the meeting most rider, with the odd exception, were two wheeling into the third bend and the winner of heat 14 was about 7 seconds slower than the first heat time. Riders sliding into the first bend(cue Lindgren) were fighting to combat the ripples to stay on. Everyone was wary about full throttle on the forth bend as they were drifting into the fence, and Rene dropped it there in the lead in his first ride. After that most riders played safe and just held position. The weather did play a part, especially when the frost came in the last couple of heats, but the real damage was a bad track before that, and all riders insisted on the track being graded after every two races. Severe grading later on when the two tractors virtually remade the third/forth bend, but one got the impression that the two drivers were working to different scripts. Just pleased that the riders were OK after the meeting, except Teo, who ran into the side of a rider, was clipped by Lawson, and excluded for his move. A bad shoulder and I gather he will miss tonight's meeting at Brough as a precaution. The two other match races were sensibly scrapped, and for those usual culprits( hiya Davidj) who usually, and predictably, have a go at the Newcastle track, ask yourself why allegedly 4 riders refused rides in heat 15 for the Comets. A good first meeting for the new promotion and I wish them all the success, and hopefully fill the stadium like last night. A good start for the Diamonds with some good rides, with a lot of promise from Lewis Kerr, well done.

Wors isn't.

As the heading says - Thank You Always perform better to a crowd.

There are spare seats on the special Newcastle coach to Worky on Saturday. Check out the situation on the Newcastle website. Remember it is only £5 per seat. Announced that it is R/R for both legs in place of Tully.

Do you frequent wor bedroom window like.

That's probably the one I am thinking about with it being local. Of course Lee got hurt in an actual meeting instead of official practice, so that might affect R/R. It was on your third bend, with DEEK involved, if I remember correct.

On the opening of Newcastle in 1997, in that year and 1998, I stood at the kiosk gates as a greeter before every meeting so that all fans had a chance of a chat or a discussion. Unfortunately it was time taken out at a very busy period trying to get things right on the night before the meeting started. After 1998, just made sure that during and after the meeting we were always available to fans wanted to chat about things. And it still continues today, as well you know.

The Worky meetings home and away this weekend, Newcastle have a choice of all the possibilities. R/R, a guest or a short term injury replacement with them being friendlies. Normally you can't have R/R for an assessed average rider and an injured rider, but I am sure there will be a case for Special dispensation for R/R if the time that Andrew is out is only a few weeks. The original reason if you recall was to stop a team riding with R/R through a season for an injured rider who was never likely to appear at all. Newcastle, or Thomas, did it one season and I think the rule was brought in to stop it happening again. Plainly Andrew was injured at speedway within a week of his first meeting(not including the called off GB outing at Swindon) so I think we will be allowed R/R, if George decides to run with that instead of an injury replacement rider. Ned could be considered due to his availability and knowledge of riding for Newcastle and the other PL tracks. A higher average rider being signed would not necessarily start with that knowledge and practice. NB. Did a team not lose a rider last year, just before the season started. Can't remember who it was but was he from Scunny or Worky. ?

There a several council employees within the speedway family and I think if they could, they would have already done so. The H & S decisions are not usually debatable. and it is between the Council and William Hill. It's just a pity that, if say the repairs are to be about £400,000, that it could not be spent over three 6 month blocks allowing 2/3rds of the terracing open at all times. What it means to the dogs fans is that the handfull who stand outside to be near the ontrack bookies, will stay outside or get shelter from the elements somewhere. Most fans are inside having their nosh whilst watching the racing. With the speedway fans, it is a lot worse. There is already a lot of fans inside the bars so there is not enough space to accomodate them inside. The upper terrace fans can stand on the lower terracing, being given cover by the mainstand from the winds. The problem is when it rains and not everyone can get cover from the rain. Be interesting to see how long these arrangement are in place.

Just the usual windup from you. BTW. The track 'needs loads of work' and folks complain about the late start. Obviously you miss the point, accidently or deliberately, that the 'needs loads of work' was to get last Sundays practice on, NOT next Sundays meeting with Worky. As usual you will read what you want to get the anger in. And you think you're a speedway fan. FFS.

To be fair, and I am one of our landlords biggest critics, It is the Health and Safety officers from Newcastle Council who have condemned the three blocks of terracing, when it is pretty obvious to see that only the middle section is bad. Common sense would have been to issue a prohibition order on the middle section and a correction order with a date by on the other two sections. But that is common sense and thinking of maintaining a business, or two in our case.

Andrew is getting fitted with a back brace.

Would stop him falling out of bed.

The 'he' is a 'she', and Andrew's crash happened coming out of the FORTH bend.

Not even worth a decent reply. Go play elsewhere.

Yes, it is a shame for this year. Over zealous H & S officers taking their job too seriously. The middle section of the steps, below the refs box, is obviously iffy and should be closed. That does not follow for the two flanks, where you stand, and common sense should have been applied. IMO they should have condemned the middle section, and given then 6 months each for the two flanks to be brought up to standard. Way over the top reaction with no regard to the continuence of a major dual sports facilities within the city. 'Jobsworths' at it's best.

Decent rides by all the team members over the two sessions. Track need loads of work to get it on on Sunday, but complaints from some fans that it didn't start 'on time' FFS. Christian didn't ride yesterday, but was impressive today despite a slidey fall, one of many on the third bend. Tully took a heavy tumble coming out of the forth bend hitting the fence and seemed in a lot of pain. Hes had a broken thigh I believe in the past. Walked into the ambulance but put on stretcher later. Weather was baltic for both days and snow flurries today, resulting in a shortened session after the photo shoot and few rides by most riders. Free tea and coffee for fans yesterday, to appreciate them making the effort to come and support their team in such weather.

No official curfew at Newcastle, a self imposed curfew on say a Monday nights at 10.00pm, to stave off complaints from neighbours.

1.00 pm start on Sunday, with a noon start on Monday for the press day. Don't forget that there is a Meet the Riders night being held at the Corner House starting at 7.30pm by the NSSC. Free admission and there is a quiz early on.

Now changed, thanks for that. Very encouraged by his comeback rides, and two big scalps in his first rides . Going to be tight for the number 1 spot at Newcastle as Richie adds more of this years scores to increase his average . His real average last year had him as our number 1 without rolling average.

Immense amount of work completed today by those who turned up, despite family considerations, and the heavy bouts of snow with a few whiteouts. Amazing how refreshing hot coffee is after a good spell of work. Just the kickboards to put back on and to fasten the plastic mesh to the new fence. Work restarts again next Sunday starting at 9.00am to get as much done as possible. If you have a few hours to spare next Sunday, and want to do a bit for Newcastle Speedway, then Brough Park next Sunday is the place to be. Thanks in anticipation. Dave R