Tsunami

Godfrey was always a thinker and though of many ways to try and improve speedway. He supported speedway financially and always had views on how it should develop. He was good to talk to, and did good work to further the sport in his county Cornwall. RIP Godfrey

A little while ago, a high profile rider was threatening to sit out a race to get excluded, to get out of the meeting, thinking his ride would count for his mandatory three rides. He was told it wouldn't count , and was advised not to think about breaking the tapes either. Hmmm, top man as well.

Trevor will still be eligible to attend even if he has retired.

Not sure, but I understood that the AGM starts at the end of next week. The AGM used to be around he 25th Nov years ago, but it was brought forward by a week some years ago, in order to get the fixtures out earlier to match up with the other countries fixtures. I don't think the decision to withdraw or continue will be released until it is advised on the first day of the AGM.

You are alluding to the quality of promotional teams. Well do you blame Horton or Sandhu for closing Coventry ?

and the quality and actions of the guy who allowed him to promote Coventry.

Especially to your team Middlesborough. No one would release a second heat leader to the 'Boro and you had to take Shane Parker who was not up to it at that stage at that time.

I would have thought the opposite was true. The more rules the stricter the controls, as long as they don't contradict each other. Let's say the bikes rules just said a 500cc engine on a two wheeled bike. Just imagine what some bikes would look like and what advantages taken with monster bikes. They would still be within the rules, and therefore not manipulating anything, but the results would be laughable to speedway fans and others. Far better to have more clear rules appertaining to everything, so less or no fiddle factor. With situations like the above and 0 points and 0 rides, quite frankly I don't think rule makers have enough time on their hands to give rulings on anything and everything that could happen during a meeting. History would suggest the main rules were once thought to be sensible, but after misuse, the opportunity to cheat has been closed, but possibly then in conflict with another hastily rule introduced to patch over a similar situation. I think the rule book will always be large, and suggestions like having rules on one side of a bit of A4 paper are incredibly naive.

NEWCASTLE SPEEDWAY Many thanks to those attended today and work at the track. We set a target to achieve and completed the tasks spot on 2.00pm that was planned. We had a busy small team, supplemented with new man Derrick(thanks), and got all the kick boards removed, sorted and damaged ones destroyed. Bend 1 air fence washed and folded and put away in storage. Bend 2 air fence washed and to be stored next week along with bends three and four to be washed, folded and stored for the winter. A good start, and a few more helpers, we could easily finish all the tasks next week, starting at 9.30am and planning to go on to 2.00ish. Once again thanks for a very good effort today.

Could well have been Steve. I think the Doctor spotted that Brown got hit or fell a certain way, and he gave them advice to examine something in the base of his back for a potential bad injury that they might have missed.

I remember the Wills Internationale being broadcast on BBC on a Wednesday night. One time a rider had a bad crash and a Doctor who was watching it on the tele spotted something, and contacted them to give them some advice that was important. I understand he suggested they did something that eventually was very important in the treatment and his healing from what he had spotted. Not sure who the rider was but first thought was Ivor Brown. Any advance on Ivor. ?

Yes he is, probably hence the similarity in the contents.

It would have been a catastrophic bigger nail if the 2 nights big league, with big riders returning, was the only thing on offer apart from the NL. There are poor clubs and some richer ones, and they all could not have afforded to hire 1 big hitter each.

I agree.

Yes Coventry, and nearly Peterborough.

So did I but only if all the engines been been sold. The BSPA made a contribution to every sale to Mercel but that agreement is now finished, so the original costs to the BSPA were not realised And might just possibly be dead wrong. Now let me think who started it, oh Yes a guy call Sandhu, where is he now and what did he do to Coventry and for the sport. What happened to Rick and Julie, oh yes, they took their sponsorship to Poole, whose promoter was apparently at the height of the accusations. Fans looking on never learn, even when given the truth, but both promotions did nothing for speedway after that, whilst Sandhu was criminal in his actions to stop speedway at Coventry and reneged on his promise to build a new stadium before he would sell on the stadium for houses. Coventry fans only want to believe what they want to believe.

Why should they have to explain where they hold their AGM. They are paying for it regardless if it is in this country or abroad and it is handy to some to include a small holiday for their family at only a marginal increase. What they discuss and decisions that are made are the only factors that fans need to know.

Might sound like it Taffy but my reply is honest and true. I know it doesn't fit in with the image that some have of the BSPA and an AGM but they haven't been there, and I have.

Be honest DEAN, you have never been positive ever.

I think you should read it again. The promoters have 5 months yes from 1st November to beginning of March. The AGM in usually in November and some stay on after the AGM with their families so yes they are arsed to turn up cos they are there. Read it again. With the UK locations those who have a business to run still try to do so as well as attending the AGM, but have been known to be late doing both. Going abroad limits that. Nowt to do with your conclusion of "not being arsed to turn up". That's just you and your negativity to everything rearing it's head again. Pity the other following poster have jumped to the same conclusion as well. Totally disagree with you Taffy. Any opportunity to get away is yes an opportunity to have a piss up if you want. During the day of course you start business at 9.00am in the morning, and usually end business at about 5.00 - 5.30pm. those with family share their night with their family and those on their own can quite frankly get pissed if they want. It is their choice what they do after business has closed for the night. Actually there is also a lot of business done at night, in particularly sounding out who might become available for the next season. I remember in 1997 the "HONDA" issue discussion went on till 9.45pm, so not so much a piss up and jolly as you and others see to think. Perhaps you have listened to Peter too much. Not true that they only have to put their hands up for a decision. Yes there are PreAGM meetings to try and get a consensus of all promoters, but having got there, after studying the consequences, there is usually more discussions, in particularly between the leagues. Sometime a decision indicated, is not agreed and the new proposal has to be thrashed out with different affects of both leagues. One year Terry Russell commented that not one preAGM meeting resolution was agreed, and a host of new proposals had to be discussed and agreed, and that sort of thing takes a lot of time to achieve a harmony with both leagues. Obviously none of the Championship promoters would have that opportunity and how would Premier promoters know when the gaps were going to be and how would their families take time off at the drop of a hat. Not really sensible is it.

And countered it by charging £150 per meeting for the van parking. It was taking business off the main outlet in the bar upstairs, so they made our burger van not viable with the extra rent. The sad thing was that the van also did hot drinks and meant that disabled people did not have to go upstairs to the upper bar. The eventual compromise was the setting up of the vacant track shop on the terracing, having also lost the previous track shop next to the office which my wife Jen used to run.

No I won't, cos that is just your stupid comment on it. The AGM was and is now being held abroad cos for a lot of promoters it is the only opportunity some get to take a holiday. It also means they attend all sessions, which was not the case with UK venues. I agree in principle about the loyalty of politicians, but the system of having representations is better than not having any at all. Why not try humour, you might even be good at it. Sarcasm you obviously are not.

Sorry DEAN but I think you are way off, and being very narrow minded on this issue. Speedway was one of the last sports to have a Parliamentary Group. Obviously other sports recognise the need and insurance of having 'people in high places' to help promote their sport in a higher spectrum, and can represents speedways interests in House debates. We at Newcastle have always had very close relations with our local councillor, our local MP and the Lord Mayor. If we were ever to be thrown out of Brough Park, I know there would be a considerable lobby at the top to protect our interests. We have twice being invited to the Mansion House for a Civic Reception by the Lord Mayor to receive their congratulations for the success that we have brought to the City in 2001 and 2010. It is called civic pride and forms a very important part of networking, which in business is usually considered very desirable. The benefits to a team in the future could well heavily exceed the lightweight cost of a Parliamentary invite to the House.

It was after come on Eileen.

NEWCASTLE SPEEDWAY We are working at the track on Sunday 5th Nov starting at 9.30am. The jobs to do are washing and taking the air fence down, and removing the kickboards off the mesh fence. We need a reasonable number of workers so why not pop along and help us out. Don't forget to wear old warm clothing, and there will be hot drinks and biccies available all day. We will work on till it gets really cold so I would anticipate finishing at about 2.00pm. This will continue for about 3 weeks to get it all finished. Hope to see everyone there.