Tsunami

21st CH You can have a testimonial during the qualfying year so perhaps JL is right.

Can't really comment on the rights and wrongs of this case but when Davey Watt is amongst the desenters you do get a bit of a bias. I remember the days when he rode for us in 2002 and he would say before the meeting the track is s**t and he would not be performing. Exeter and Stoke come to mind.

Rema and Ben. Eventually got through to pay last night and also went with the e- ticket option. Last couple of years they did not have the 'tent' signin just straight to the gate and crossed off by computer. See ya all there.

Ticketstream is taking the bookings but not accepting the payment by creditcard. Aaahhh.

JJ82 See the thread "Travelodge Gp, Cardiff" in this section.

Details might be wrong but the event is true. Ian Thomas and Brian Larner used to be joint promoters at Newcastle in late 70's early 80's. At each home meeting they took it in turn to drop the other one off at Wetherby and the dropped off one had to make his own way to Newcastle within a certain time. Bets on.

seanisnumber1 We usually stay at a hotel in Newport for the same reasons as you. This year we decided to try for a Cardiff hotel and could not get in leaving only the Travelodge option. When that closed off we went back and the Newport hotel was also fully booked. Can vouch for the Newport Holiday Express Hotel as I have stayed there when we have had a doubler at Newport. All booked now and will have to get a provisional booking earlier for 2007.

MK1 Unlike you, I am not into 'camping'. Loitering intent is not me. Timbo Why were the reviews awful, was someone singing. Gorgeous looking but. The events I refered to was the alledged overdose attempt by her mother.

Yes. I waited for the red sticky to come off advising about the 6 month in advance restriction. When it did come off in mid November (12thish) it declared that it was fully booked. I rang the hotel direct and they confimed that it was fully booked. Just who booked it so quickly is a bit puzzling. Was there a list and an allowance for last years customers or has it been block booked for foreign package deals. A bit annoyed as I had waited since the date was confirmed. Even contacted Church Hotel which is run by Charlotte's Mam and Dad. In view of this week's exploits I am pleased I did not book there. Eventually got accomodation at the new Holiday Inn Express, beside the Airport, on a good deal but hardly handy. Had tried to get in anywhere in Newport but apart from everything being fully booked up, I heard there was a lot of riff-raff lived there all year long.

Ian Of course you can use them. My day at Edinburgh always used to start with a visit to Princes Street, game of putt beside the station, more walking along Princes Street then late tea in Woolies cafe where the pillars were covered in different tartans. Being a Campbell on both sides we always looked for that one. Off to Old Meadowbank to sit in the main stand and try to avoid being beside, or getting into an argument with, that mother and son who used to abide there. After exchanging 'pleasantries' with some home fans it was off to the chip shop just up from the stadium or down to the sitin chip shop in Mussleborough. 2 hours later home and to bed. Great days. BTW Mike Watkin was at Sunday School and in the same boys club as me. We both worked for Parsons as apprentices and he married a girl I was at school with. Spoke to him in about February and he is now a Swimming coach at a Middlesex Swimming Club. He was a county swimmer as was Paul Bentley. I would be delighted if you could make it to Brough next year and I will show you around the joint and have a pint. Either that or I could see you at Armadale.

Ian Certainly would. Used to love going to Old Meadowbank for our usual arguements. All the riders then were personalities. Never thought that Berto would ever make a speedway rider then ends up riding for Wembley. Young Briggo was interesting to watch, you never knew which race was going to kill him. He must have had more injuries in the early days than the rest of the team put together. Jimmy Tannock never looked like a speedway rider more like a young grandad. Dick Campbell was a canny rider. The Temps were rough and ready especially Dougie and I would not have liked to race against him. Lastly, the Ladybank Express. Unfortunately in his meetings with Mauger he was so geed up that he either broke the tapes or made mistakes that he did not do against say Brian Craven or Bill Andrew. I liked Georgie, good honest rider with a bit of flair about him. Always seemed happy to be with fans and always seemed to have a tab in his mouth. Didn't realise you were as old as me, it certainly was a great time to follow speedway and all of my holidays were spent going round the tracks living in the car for about 12 days at a time.

The Reading team, under Geoff Mudge, used to do their Northern tour in an adapted bus in the early 60's. In about 1961, a rider called Jimmy Cox(the Buckskin Kid), was riding at Old Meadowbank, Edinburgh and after the finish rode to the backstraight fence. In a lightening single move he stopped the bike and then punched a supporter in the face who had been barracking him during the race.

SwissPosition Like Lanzilla, I just want to say that you are spot on with the core problems. With stadiums and the outlets being owned by others it is very difficult to improve on or comment on them. Owners feel that if it's good enough for their doggy patrons it should be good enough for you speedway lot. Speedway will always be speedway, despite dodgy rules, and internally we all moan at the wrong things that new fans really aren't bothered with. If we all bring others and help spread the word, that is the must effective way of introducing and adding to the fan base. Let's all make an effort before the start of next year and see what we can do about it.

rabbit The most sensible and relevant posting on this subject so far. Reality rearing it's head.

morganbike You are wrong. It's Terry not Ronnie that owns Swindon. Ronnie owns Arena Essex.

Jack was also at Newcastle's 75th Anniversary riders get together earlier in the year at Brough. Despite his age, the 'Chorley Pig Farmer' was still instantly recognisable. It was nice to meet him again as he was a good steady rider for us in the early 60's with his armchair style.

speedyguy I think iris123 was referring to the birth place of our own Mark Loram. Just to confirm that Kadirov was the Russian 'Beatle'. Kurilenko I think became European champion, had a more Euro style and used conventional bars rather than the clip handles they used to use for easier transportation. Interesting when the bikes were lined up they were all identical except for that one.

pirate paul You're not wrong. Surprise, surprise Sam E once again holds the grudge and devalues his integrity. Why should anybody have respect for Sammy.

Great performance by the Brits, young and old. Like Nige, I didn't think we would do it but the Danes really have to ask themselves some questions. Could KB come into the team for the raceoff meeting ?

Phil No offence taken either. I frequented it last year because Sunderland were getting knocked out of the playoffs by Crystal Palace and I didn't want to miss that. The conversation I heard about fixing the girls up was as we were passing and the 'fixer' was outsite on the front.

Tigerblade You are right, it was the Hotel Alton. I was a bit surprised that there did not appear to be any speedway fans in The Prague Centre. Atmosphere was very subdued and foreign but it was still a very good hotel. The tram going from Vypich direct to Pavlova after the GP was a godsend given how heavy the rain was. From what I gather Prague is now seen to be the destination for stag do's. I suppose it brings a lot of trade but some of the drunken scenes doesn't do anybody any good. On the other hand it was funny seeing big goups of guys getting their breaky and tea/coffee in the mornings wondering where they were. It was the same faces every morning. Didn't like the presence of the 'lucky boys' on all the main corners. They covered all main routes on Wenceslas Square and obviously weren't there to get a suntan. I have seen their infiltration in places like Tenerife and I think the authorities will regret giving them the freedom to operate like they do now. If anybody does not know what I mean think drugs and prostitution. In the George and the Dragon pub, in the Old Square, both my wife and I heard a fixer ordering the 'girls' for the evening for the stag party. I know it's part of life but it was just too much in your face and will spoil a lovely city with nice people. Last year 2 'girls' approached me for sex twice even when I was alongside my wife. This year I didn't get a nibble so they have obviously raised their standards. Will still go back and enjoy a nice visit.

My wife and I were staying in the Prague Centre on Legarove which was just down the road from the Hotel Anton. Anybody notice the blood that was on the lefthand side pavement alongside the Horse statue at the bottom of Wensaslus Square on Sunday morning. Must have been some fight. Love the city and the atmosphere but I think the hoards of stag parties does nothing for the city.

When tracks can't get the exact grade of tape, they can always cut a nick in the tape at midpoint of each start gate. This was done at Glasgow for the pairs, as I saw it being done, and they broke for both Stoney and Mark. Grant MacDonald caught his helmet on the tapes at Newcastle coming back from his broken neck and I think missed his later rides because of the pain.

Subedei I am regularly challenged to change money, once 3 times in the same street. I think they work as a gang as I later saw the 3 in question talking together. It happens a lot beside the slope leading upto the Charles Bridge. Also look out for prostitutes working the streets and the trams. I was asked even though I was standing next to my wife on the tram.

Gregs taking Nikki out certainly blows a hole in the Mr Nice label. Note that Greg does not even look for the other 2 riders and is just intent on pushing Nikki straight to the fence. It's nothing to do with past incidents, irony, racing accidents, all 4 back, etc, it's call 'exclusion for being the primary cause of the fall'. Mind you, I blame Nikki for the tapes failure. Thought someone would.