Bryn

Mike, you are up in the area so what was your rush? The club's organisers were, I suspect, en route to Norfolk and may not have had, nor yet have access to the internet (we haven't all got all-singing, all dancing mobile phones!) under those circumstances. I personally got up at 7am as the intention was that I would be picked up at 8.30 to travel up there where it looked likely I would have to act as ref and announcer. I was still racing (as best I can as an old git and bearing in mind i'm not, and never have been what might be regarded as a 'morning person!') when I received a text message at 8.25am to tell me today was off. I updated my Facebook profile AND the STRA page on Facebook - you could have looked there - and then carried on with such things as making a coffee for myself, taking pills etc. Having done all that, only now have I taken the option to look at the BSF and seen your postings. What I'm basically saying the info has been out there if you really needed it earlier and you'd searched for it. Bryn

Well I'll get you started! Please tell me (at every track?) and tell me why they shouldn't please. MY experience over the years is that clubs have specific people who are listed as able to get in free e.g. trackstaff, sponsors etc. Would you say they should be charged?

Re-Run Productions' (I'm still having trouble adapting to their new posh name!) position on the gantry at Lakeside is situated beyond the start/finish line and therefore their camera is 'looking back' at an angle at any close call finish. Steve, I'm sure, would be delighted though if you were to buy yourself a copy of their DVD of the match at the Vortex Hammers next home meeting to view their take on what everybody agrees was a very tight finish. However it won't change anything for the referee's decision is final - as it should be!

In terms of placings in heat 15 last night, good to see that one person or indeed maybe more, can see the chalk finishing line clearly from the back straight as others apparently could from the pits! I was sat next to the ref in the officials' box and the said ref called out, 'White, Blue, Yellow" as they crossed that said chalk line. It WAS close but that's how the ref called it - end of story eh?

5.15pm WEATHER UPDATE: No real change here at the track with clear blue sky interspersed with occasional white fluffy clouds. Still looks as it might be somewhat windy so I don't expect you'll need much suncream if any! 8-)

3.10PM WEATHER CHECK: Had no rain here today just across the Dartford Crossing since I arose from my pit this morning. None really anticipated either although it's a blustery sort of day so don't think you'll be okay standing watching in shirt sleeves.

Sad news indeed. RIP Tony.

Direct from circuit at 4.40pm: NO problems with the weather - meeting goes ahead with first race at 7.45pm Bryn (bored as haven't received a single "is it on?" phonecall! )

Alas not for I won't be at Coventry on Monday "CB252" as I'll be travelling from here to Sittingbourne and back (more than likely by cab to Dartford station and public transport including the dreaded 'bus replacement service' for part of the rail journey) to announce at the Kent CTA FIRE Kings home National League match against Mildenhall.

I "assumed' you were of working age because your profile states that you're "over 40" and not that you are retired. I've no problem with you making the choice not to buy a programme at any meeting, it's your decision. And talking of assuming things, isn't it fair to say that you are doing just that when you state, "I would rather spend my money on going to a speedway meeting then on a bit of paper with a load of rubbish in it written by people like you which I have no wish to read?' Surely by not reading what's written you are assuming that it's 'a load of rubbish?'

With respect I don't know either of your ages but, assuming you both work, apart from the cost of travelling to and from your place of employment, when you get there do you pay to go into the premises / site? And once in either, do you work for nothing? Just asking! The simple fact of the matter is that you have the choice of buying a programme or not and it's up to you to make that choice!

You could always take one of your own blank scorecards to a meeting and filling in the rider details when the teams are announced over the PA system couldn't you? Or, may I ask, have you no interest in buying pens either?

I wonder if "Liam Gallagher Fan" would care to try and justify his description of Adam Ellis as a "ringer?" I suspect not as it is patently untrue but his posting is sadly indicative of the level that the BSF has sunk to nowadays.

UT OH! Suggest you get hold of some top quality body armour and head guard Philip after referring to Mother T as a "tough man...!"

Thanks for the link "SteveO" which I'll follow when I get a spare moment. Meanwhile, in terms of the two music tracks you mention, if you really think they would help improve the atmosphere at any speedway meeting, I assume you'll nip up to see music man Steve & crew and ask them to play both at some stage during Thursday's Robins v Brummies match at Blunsdon as they won't be providing the music at Lakeside until next Saturday when the Hammers take on Coventry.

Ok - care to list the current top ten in the charts then and give your own personal assessment of each of them in terms of whether they'd help improve liven up the atmosphere at any speedway meeting? And with regards to last night's meeting, have you read and noted what "Bryce" said in his posting no.86?

So what would YOU suggest should be done then to improve presentation at tracks given the final sentence within your posting? And, bearing in mind you state that you're "a bit of a music obsessive," care to list say ten to fifteen tracks that you would want to hear played at speedway meetings?

No reason why the meeting shouldn't run at the moment as there's been no overnight rain and none so far this morning. If there's any change to that situation then the club's official website will be updated accordingly with the next update scheduled for 1pm unless things alter dramatically before then.

And what would have happened if they hadn't watered the track earlier in the day at all and the forecast proved incorrect with rain not hitting the stadium until after the meeting was over? I'd hazard a guess that there would have been just as many pages on this thread moaning about people being covered in dust! For track curators it's always been, and always will be, a case of "damned if they do, damned if they don't!"

And I doubt if you'll get any answers on this forum so there's no point in you continuing to ask for them is there? Why not seek the views of your club's promoters who are much more likely to be in a position to give you some answers at least to your queries? I personally would say that it's a question of seeing how things pan out with the new system over the next two or three months at least before the EL promoters start seriously discussing if any alterations will be necessary for next year and, if so, just what those alterations are likely to be with the nuts and bolts being put into place at the end-of-season AGM. The overall direction of the system is clear to anyone I would have thought and that is to 'Fast Track' the development of Young British riders. Finally having see 7 matches under the new system at 5 different EL tracks so far plus those on TV, I can confirm that I personally think it's great!

Go to the latest EL team declarations and averages (issue 4) on the speedwayGB website at: http://www.speedwaygb.co/ and scroll down to the second page i.e. the Fast Track Riders Grade List. System regarding guest replacements is fully explained thereon.

I think, knowing Ben as I do, he won't be all that amused to find out via this thread that he's ten years older than he thought he was!

Ok on his Second visit there then!

Can I just point out that last night's "Matchday Magazine" stated that as well as Mikkel Bech it was also the track debut for skipper Davey Watt

Doesn't look as if I'll be able to get to Leicester tonight as, alas, I haven't managed to secure a lift offer from either Junction 1A (Kent) side of Dartford Tunnel or Junction 31 (Essex) over the Thames from here. Neither of my two usual friends can help - one being on holiday and other being on official duty elsewhere. Never mind, you never know after I've had some needed shuteye (it's 2.30am!), there might be such an offer later this morning eh? All car/van fuel costs for the trip on me in return promised plus other benefits including navigation and parking in stadium confines rather than the shopping centre up there and having to walk a fair way as it is from there! N.B. I would cross my fingers that someone could help but can't given how mangled my mitts are thanks to 'im called Arthur Itis! Please send personal message to me if you CAN help and I'll gratefully contact you.