Bryn

I'm NOT knocking this forum 'Grachan' and accept that if using a nom-de-plume floats people's boats as they used to say, that's up to them if they use them although I personally don't see the point of hiding behind a barrier but that, I stress, is my OWN personal opinion on that subject. No I'm not knocking this forum, far from it otherwise I would not have been a member of it for the past ten years. What I AM doing though is pointing out it is NOT necessarily the most effective way of communicating with other persons and getting one's own opinions / suggestions across to them and acted upon where appropriate. You've written,"Fan forums at the stadium for face to face discussion are a good idea though. But clubs tend to get all huffy if anyone criticises them at these and then don't do it again." Have you any examples you can point to in order to back that claim contained in the second sentence of that?

I'm not going to get into an online spat with you 'BWitcher' - I merely suggested what I considered to a more positive way of ensuring your views were heard /noted and even acted upon if appropriate than posting something on this and/or any other forum under a pseudonym of 'RumplestiltskinsBrother' or the like! Having said that I still respect the rights of 'RumplestiltskinsBrother' regarding anonymity on this forum but rather than being "afraid" of what I posted earlier 'BWitcher' I'M afraid that the mere thought of face-to-face conversations from those able to partake, seems to fill some with a great deal of trepidation!

I don't know about music to remind me of speedway as such but sometimes when reading certain postings on this and other speedway forums, that old Bo Diddley classic "Hey Mona!" springs to mind!

I'm fully aware of the point you're making "BWitcher" and fully accept that they weren't made as any sort of attack on myself. Several promoters I've known / know have arranged "Fans Forums" with their respective club's fans over the years to hear their views on a variety of matters BUT it is not always feasible and/or economical to do so as potential likely venues do charge rents and sometimes do not want to specially open on normal 'Off nights.' And I'm sure you'll agree that those promoters certainly (and please don't take this personally as I'm using you as an example!) cannot go around on home racenights asking folks attending, "Are you BWitcher who wants to raise a query with me or has a suggestion?" My experience is that they all have enough to do as it is, accepting that we could ALL do more couldn't we? I'm merely suggesting that it might well be it be easier for those posting views under nom-de-plumes on this and other forums to go up to and/or phone and arrange a meeting with the promoter they want to talk to, introduce themselves and ask them at the appropriate time (it might well prove to be there and then!) the necessary question(s) they want answers to or make any suggestions (within reason of course!) to them. Afterall as I pointed out originally, promoter's names are freely known aren't they and they don't bite - many of them like me have false molars!

Well then 'SCB' why don't you go up to and query whatever's troubling you with your own promoter (whoever that might be!) face to face rather than posting over forty thousand times on this forum? They won't bite!

Somewhat surprised that you're not out skidding at Sittingbourne with the rest of the Kent crew then showing him how it should be done Parsnips old fruit!

You can believe what you want 'gustix' but I would firstly point out that I wasn't a spectator as I was, as I usually am at meetings organised by both the Dragons and STRA amateur clubs when other commitments permit, the announcer in the officials box at the Norfolk Arena alongside the referee and incident recorder / timekeeper. These clubs simply hire the tracks and organise meetings for their club members to ride in, not to attract spectators.

If you're referring to the old 'Conference League,'it does get plenty of encouragement for it is now known at the National League of course having replaced the Conference League back in 2009.

I fully accept that you personally have the misgivings you've referred to 'gustix' but others, including myself and, no doubt, the club organisers who named the sides, have no such misgivings. I personally enjoy watching speedway at ALL levels starting with training schools and moving on up from there, and at Amateur Club level feel it is totally inconsequential as to what names are given to sides in any team events organised by them. Amateur speedway gives the opportunity to riders of various ages and ability to take to the tracks that the clubs hire to stage their meetings and enjoy racing on them. One worrying aspect for myself though is the realisation that the ageing process has well and truly caught up with me having recently seen, out on track racing bikes at either or both amateur and National League level, the likes of Arron Mogridge, Connor Coles, Kelsey Dugard, Mark Bibby etc., etc who were just a glint in their fathers eyes when I witnessed them from start to finish of their own careers!

Fair enough but as an ex-chairman of the Crayford Speedway Supporters club, and having been present at many meetings at both Exeter and White City plus having attended many World Finals at Wembley, I personally don't think it's wrong keeping alive memories of these clubs in this way especially given the quality of racing I've witnessed at this and many other amateur meetings.

Is their any reason why it should have any creditable value 'gustix' any more so than a recent amateur team event involving teams named "Full Throttle", "Spinning Sprockets", "Whizzy Wheels" and "The Clutchplates" ?

Should there have been in then in this meeting for members of the Dragons Amateur Speedway Club?

I wouldn't go by that line up shown by that update from eleven days ago - for starters Brendan Johnson won't be riding as he's injured.

500cc Class: Scott Campos 14, Kelsey Dugard 13, Hunter Anderson 12, Jamie Couzins 11, Adam Sheppard & Danno Verge 10, Joe Exley 9, Alec Wright 7, Jon Vernam & Charles Wallace 6 (4 rides), Rich Pearce & Sam Chapman 5, Adam Briggs 4 & Martin Pearce 4 (4 rides), Simon Tillman 2, Mark Bibby (res) 1 (4 rides), Simon Pearce 0 (2 rides). In addition we had support races in: 250cc involving Tom Brennan & Lewis Whitmore. 140cc involving Kai Hubbard, Sam Stead, Kyle Bickley, Nathan Ablitt, Jordan Jenkins, Tom Brennan & Jason Edwards.

Myself, BFC and Canterbury Dick will be there! For BFC and I, that makes three amateur meetings in six days - the STRA on the IOW on Tuesday, the Ride 'n Slide Dayz Amateur Champs at Lakeside last night and now the Dragons at Saddlebow tomorrow.

Ever since reading Paulco's post above, I can't get this picture out of my mind of that infamous duo of Mike Hunter and Norrie the proggieman warbling "I'm forever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air....!!!"

Had already left for the IOW when you posted "Ramsbottom." It did take place and saw 30 heats completed in just about two hours on a scorcher of an evening! Was a 'Team Event' between four six rider sides, Result & Scorers (all from 5 rides unless stated): 1. WHIZZY WHEELS: Sam Chapman 15, Adam Portwood 12, Richard Hutley 11+1, Martin Pearce 9+3 (6 rides), Paul Robinson 3+1, Alec Jones 0 (4 rides) 2. THE CLUTCHPLATES: John Markham*** 12, Mark Anderson 11, Niall Strudwick 7+3, Trevor Bebbington 7+2, Wayne Beckett 6+2, Syd Sherman 5+2 (4 rides) *** John recorded second places in his first three rides before being besieged by autograph hunters (er... two young girls!) and boosted by that adulation won his last two races! 3. SPINNING SPROCKETS: Shane Waldron 11 (4 rides), Sid Higgins 10+3, James Peters 9, Simon Pearce 5+1, Phil Spencer 4, Kev Holloway 3+2 4. FULL THROTTLE: Shaun Tedham 15, Kieron Davidson 7+3, Bill Haynes 7+1, Paul Chester 5 (3 rides)**, Rob Snow 5, Richard Pearce 0 ** Paul suffered EF in his first race, missed his second and third rides then came out on Brendan Johnson's for his last two and scored all five of his points on it!

49.68secs to be precise Parsnips old fruit - remember, they have one of those flash stop watches at West Row! Now deep in my memory banks (too deep to retrieve at my age!) I seem to recall a track years ago saying they intended to put in a laser beam finishing line - anybody else remember that? And where was it?

Hope it's a great day for all involved. Had hoped to be there myself but alas looks like I won't be able to make it.

Spot on 'RocketBen1.'

Anybody take any piccys at King's Lynn last Sunday? If so, please PM me as Daniel Winchester's mum down there in Perth, WA is after some! Bryn

Lack of kip making you grumpy MM? Or that you lost your bowls match before arriving at the NA? At least you finished second in that! Certainly was a load of good action yesterday - tad hectic at times with riders for the next programmed outing (there were 60 in all) arriving at the tapes seemingly as soon as the riders from the previous one crossed the finishing line but had to be done to get so many races into the four hours! If you've never been to an amateur meeting before - go on, try it!

I will never forget that tragic night at Waterden Road. It's hard to believe it was 34 years ago and as well as it costing Vic his life, we mustn't forget that Steve Weatherley sustained serious life-changing injuries in the same incident. A sad, sad day indeed and a reminder that all speedway riders risk their lives each and every time they go out to race to entertain us.

With respect "Gustix" you are obviously baseing the above posting on what you have read on Facebook. I cannot see that the club in question have stated anywhere that they are looking for a "guest" as, of course, a guest is not permitted for an absent NL reserve providing the other six team members are set to ride. The absent rider must be replaced by a rider with a 3.00 NL average currently NOT in any other clubs' declared 1 to 7 although, of course, the injured rider's club COULD, if they so required, sign a new rider whose NL average would not take them over the NL points limit and redeclare their 1 to 7 omitting the injured rider. I would be very surprised indeed though if they opted to go down that route.

In reply to several posters, I wonder if people fully realise that confirmation of the fact that it would be the Lakeside v Coventry fixture being televised on Sky on Monday just gone was, as I understand the situation that arose, only finalised five days before i.e. on Thursday of last week. Both sides are Friday night tracks, the previous scheduled match between them had been rained off and thus there was a printed programme available and, most importantly, both teams were willing to ride in this hastily rearranged fixture.Please do bear in mind that originally it was scheduled to be Peterborough v Wolverhampton that would be shown on SkySports on Monday of this week.