Bryn

A further development! Vegemite pulled from Sainsbury’s as debate over Australian visa restrictions in Britain continues www.adelaidenow.com.au

Wot no Rosco?

Sad, sad news indeed and my thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. He'll be much missed by myself and everyone who knew him and it was a honour and pleasure to have known him. RIP Eddie

I wonder if Veggie Jnr has been trying to negotiate some sponsorship with the manufacturers of the Aussie delicacy Vegemite whilst he's been Down Under?

Although it's a 'no go' for the return of the sport to the Isle of Wight this year, who knows what the future will bring. Any news will be carried on the club's official website at www.iowislanders.co which contains some fine photos in the archive section of many notable riders who've ridden for the club.

Indeed it was sir - he was a really great bloke and it was an honour to have known and worked with him. Much missed still. I was reading those two gems in the Kestrel News - Vol. 7 No. 20 to be precise which was composed on my first computer, the very early volumes being typed up on a portable typewriter as I recall!

Think you'll find it was 1990.

No R&R it's not him either I'm afraid. Perhaps it'll be third time lucky as far as your guesses go? If no correct answer before Monday morning I'll reveal which Michael was being referred to.

Alas TWK & r&r both your guesses are incorrect.

Needed a break just now from having a sort out so made myself a coffee, sat down and found these two gems in an old magazine: USELESS BIT OF INFORMATION (1) We've discovered ONE of the secrets of 15 years old Ben Howe's rise to success - he uses TEENAGE MUTANT TURTLE HERO SHOWER GEL! and USELESS BIT OF INFORMATION (2) Michael's girlfriend Rita came rushing into the office before last week's meeting yelling, "anyone got any elastic bands?" I figured he needed the objects to secure his plug lead or for another mechanical use but NO! Turns out they were required to tie his flowing locks of hair into a ponytail at the back because he was feeling hot! As an aside anyone want to guess which Michael was being referred to and what club he rode for?

Like Bear_Bottom I've got something like 250 (maybe more!) VHS Speedway videos that I'd like converted to DVDs. With my arthritically-deformed mitts I have now accepted that I couldn't do so myself so anyone out there can convert them for me (and themselves of course!)? I'm based in the London Borough Bexley near Dartford, don't drive so they would have to be collected. PM me if you CAN help please.

What prompts you to think it might not last long term then Ian, other than another possible failure at a future date to get permission to start meetings at say 7.30pm rather than the current 6.30pm start?

Please explain in what way Mother T.

Team by team, what are everyones views on the number of British riders included in their 2014 Premier League side's declared 1 to 7? Should there be a change in 2015 - YES/NO and the reasons why. Would be interested in reading YOUR views.

Fair point regarding unfair riding but it might well be that the ref decided under 15.5.1 that Bomber was the primary cause of the stoppage and disqualified him for that reason (I haven't seen the ref's programme - have you?) and used his discretion under 15.5.2 in awarding the race and Fricke a point. Not that any of that made any overall difference to the ultimate outcome

Ref's decision to award Heat 3 was correct in accordance with rules 15.5.2 and 15.5.3 as race leader Janowski had completed two laps prior to the race being stopped and Harris being disqualified for unfair riding.

Strewth Phil!!! I've heard Clarky, Scunny and Dave F called a lot of things over the years BUT.....!!

Is 256 metres "tiny" chr? On that basis both Buxton (240 metres) and Plymouth (even smaller at 207 metres!) must be classed as "minute" then! Mildenhall's not much bigger than Lakeside - a mere four metres in fact at 260 metres, Rye House 262 metres and Wolverhampton just 264 metres! And delving back in time Crayford's circuit, when the Highwaymen were formed in 1968 by Mike Parker & Bill Bridgett was just 265 yards in length which some flash website I managed to find is according to them 242.316 metres! As I said though all individuals have their own likes , dislikes, foibles and preferences and so they should!

My own personal thoughts are that if sheer speed is the B-all and End-all then drag racing and/or Grand Prix motorcycle racing and/or Superbikes etc should be for those who crave it? Average race speeds have nothing to do with my 48 years (so far! ) enjoyment following speedway, like you starting at Custom House and taking me to all the current British tracks except Devon, Northside & Redcar, various tracks across Europe & Aussie plus loads of UK venues that sadly no longer exist. I can honestly say that I'm really not bothered whether a race is won in 58.97 (hand held stop watches are good aren't they! ) or 72.53 seconds! What I do appreciate is close, competitive racing especially in team matches with riders looking to try and 'team ride' with their partner when they can and fully appreciating the different skills they (and their mechanics) require to both set up their bikes pre-meeting, race on any circuit whether it be 230 metres of 400 metres in length - whatever those measurements might be in yards! - and make any alterations to the bikes and/or riding technique that's necessary as the meeting evolves. Others will disagree with me I know but so be it, that's their prerogative.

Seems I was spot on with what I said in my last posting before this one!

No but I wouldn't mind betting that later on tonight and over the next couple days at least there'll be postings on this thread from various folk moaning and whingeing about tonight's match in some form or other! Um I do hope it's not too warm here tonight for anyone wearing fleece jackets or the like!

4pm WEATHER CHECK: Direct from stadium I can can tell you all that it's warm, bright,the sun is trying to peek through the high cloud, there has been NO rain so far today and NONE is anticipated. So see you later!

Well I don't know how many times you've made contact with the Lakeside Hammers speedway office for weather updates this season "Claret73," but I can assure you that the guy who mans the phone on raceday afternoons/early evening answering all the "is it on" calls from around the country has never been as you put it, " "extremely economical" with the truth." He even goes to the trouble of asking callers where they live/are when they phone and, if appropriate in terms of any doubt regarding a meeting going ahead (which wasn't the case yesterday), suggesting that they phone again before they leave for the track. That man, although not a meteorologist, gives an honest assessment at the time of any call on current and forecasted conditions.

5pm update: Still dry here at track as I look out of the office window aqnd look at the surface of the road down to the pits. Can't speak about M25 as I'm already here so check your radio traffic reports / SatNavs!

3.20pm Here AT the circuit: Cloudy but not raining and doesn't look like it's going to rain either!