Tsunami

As has been already said, don't even think about money change with someone in the street. A hoard of Czechs, usually men, are on the streets at all hours trying to get you to exchange currency. It is dud currency and just paper is most cases. Don't spoil you hols just to try a make a quick buck.

Robyn1972 The referees are tightening up this year on unsatisfactory starts. There is more warnings being given for delaying the start, and moving at the start, and more £50 fines than I can recall.

A couple of years ago there was a guy riding a Westlake at Reading in the second half when we were visiting.

Read somewhere that he was pulled up for speeding after living here for years. After the cop had finished, Trevor told he was just a visitor to England and the cop let him off.

I think I need more GP's for me to make my mind up. The old format was constant hassle and change and very disappointing when a rider goes home after 2 races. The new format is returning to the standard 5 rides and meet everybody format with 3 extra rides to give more value to the fans. My biggest problem is the big difference between the points of the winners in the final and the remainder. We will know after about 3 rounds that about 12 riders cannot be in with a shout because of the gap. That can't be good for the series. Only TRick and Crump seem able to take the crown with only Lee A capable of doing a charge. Still, it's no different to F1 racing I suppose.

Mine arrived this morning.

watto No probs.

watto If you want a block of tickets, Newcastle are selling their allocation slightly cutprice and could supply your demand. If you want to follow this up, record that it on here and I'll post a number for you.

richtea and Steve S If you reread I think you will find you are both on the same side. Nicki getting the stick wrong again.

Steve S Quite agree. What's Kelvin Tattum on about 'Nicki nearly sent Jason into Russia'. Get over it. What with Nicki's other big 'fan' Sam in the studio methinks he aint going to get a fair hearing. Go Go Nicki and Bjarne.

Peter Kelly, who was a painter and decorator, moved his family to New Zealand in the early 70's. Mike Watkin is a qualified swimming coach and head of a swimming club in Middlesex. Spoke to him in February. Alan Butterfield recently retired from his plant business. Well you do when you win the lottery, don't you. Taking about that, Rod Hunter is back residing in Aussie after he won their lottery in mid 90's.

Chris Fenn Re your posting of the 8th March. At the reunion of Newcastle and Sunderland riders at Newcastle last night, George Barclay spoke on the subject of fund raising for the museum. I believe Newcastle will be involved in some fund raising especially for our visit this year.

Trees You could factor the riders. The heatleaders would keep their full actual average. The second strings averages could be multiplied by say 0.75 and the reserves by 0.50. The racing would be great because the riders would only meet their own standard. Could be interesting to try out at a Challenge match.

Trees One major problem would be the comparison of Averages. A junior 6 or 7 could end up with a higher average than a heatleader and how could you then equate one rider against another.

stevehone Unfortunately I don't know why Rolf was called the Bullfighter. He was always just Rolf to us. Gordon and his wife Margaret used to be Newcastle fans who packed their bags to live in Manchester to be full time with Ivan. Margaret's dad stayed up here and stayed around speedway for a long time. One of Ivan's other mechanics was Tony Shelley who like Gordon and Margaret were big followers in the Newcastle Supporters Club in the early 60's hence how I know them all.

Ian I can't really remember which year but there was a period when he looked very jaundiced. Peter Kelly once told me he bumped into Ivan in Manchester in the Winter and his only line of conversation was Speedway. One thing he always did was practice, practice, practice. After a meeting he would fill the bike up and just go round and round Brough trying every line. He would throw the bike in from further and further up the straight such that he was often just passed the start gate and still made the Ist bend OK. None of the other members of the team followed him as they would rather be in the bar. His chains had always to be in oil and he used to bollock Mike Watkin for not putting his in oil. His obsession paid off mind.

Remember when Ivan first came across to Newcastle, he was accompanied by Rolf his mechanic. Ivan bought several bikes and travelled and slept in a square Bedford Camper van. He went to as many tracks as he could get rides, building up a couple of bikes from the others trying everything out such as handlebar positions, seat positions and setups. He was methodical to the point of obsession until he was happy with everything. When he rode with his bars down everyone in the Newcastle team rode with their bars down. With the introduction of Eso's he would ride one ride with it and then revert back to one of the Japs. Initially his scores for home meetings were ef,3,3,3 until he eventually got the thing to work. It was great to see a great talent develop on the Newcastle strip.

ML Haven't seen the article but he is the promoter of the Extreme International Ice series as well as one on the leading riders. The event seems to be very successful, if you read the attendance firgures published in the Speedy Star.

I thought that Ivan was trying them out 64/65. I knew Briggo was also riding them at the time and they originally were not very reliable. Ivan used to use them for 1 ride per home meeting and for a while his scores were ef,3,3,3.

iris123 Kathrine Tickell played the Northumbrian pipes at the opening of our new Sage building (looks like a silver peanut) beside the Millenium Bridge. She looks a bit Sheryl Crowe ish and is probably the only female exponent of the pipes. A nice local lass.

Graham I had information that Birmingham was going to open in 2005. I did not know the venue but just assumed it was Perry Bar. Was the 'Wheels' the last possibility or is it still possible for Perry Bar.

J of D I had heard you were a bit if a bike.

BilaHora

BilaHora Yes. but now you have the opportunity of visiting your favourite city twice, GP and your birthday.

Let me explain Bryn Whacko Aussie Jack was an early 90's rider who rode at Newcastle. Aged about 50 looking, he had a beard and long hair and could have been out of ZZ Top. He was a bit of a cult(sp) figure looking like a jolly swagman. Best of luck to him and pleased that he is still getting the burn.