Bryn

And Bill still has a weekly skid taking to the Isle of Wight's Smallbrook circuit alongside fellow club machine examiner Rob Snow after main match has been declared closed.

Just to confirm 'gustix' - the meeting has been POSTPONED.

Hope there's a good-sized attendance at Central Park on Monday for this fixture and fully agree with the sentiments expressed by "AJ is King" above. Much as I'd like to be there myself alas I can't be in two places at once and will be at Swindon but, as I said, I really hope it's a good night down there and that any ex-Dons fans in attendance enjoy themselves.

Surely both incidents are of a similar nature - that's the relevance! So I ask you again did you advocate similar action be taken against Boycey after he chinned Tomasz Gollob - yes or no? I'm making no comment on what actually happened at King's Lynn as I wasn't there other than to say I'm sure everyone is, like myself, really pleased to learn Lewis's injuries have not proved to be serious as seemingly initially feared.

So if you're classifying Robert Lambert, who looks a fine prospect to me having seen him in action several times, as a child, would you therefore be advocating that opposing riders should treat him differently on track to others - i.e. with kid gloves?

One quick question for you 'pirateandi' and that is to inquire whether or not you advocated similar action being taken when Boycey chinned Tomasz Gollob live on TV?

In response to the last two postings above let me firstly say to "KWB" that I fully accept his apology, not that one was really necessary in that whether or not someone likes an announcer at any track is always a matter of opinion in any event. Reflecting on my response to your posting perhaps I would have been better delaying same to later in the afternoon / evening as I'm definitely not what you might describe to be a 'morning person!' I'm sure the Central Park PA system, perfectly adequate I assume for greyhound meetings, will be enhanced when practical to cope with the demands of the speedway spectators. And yes "gammy73" I would imagine thought will be given to having a presenter with a roving mic in addition to the box announcer but whether that would be feasible might be governed by the strict noise restrictions placed upon the club when planning permission was approved of course. There's no CD player as part of the equipment in the box but we did have some music on BHM thanks to Derek Barclay being able to fathom out how to connect his Ipod to the control panel and get it to work - far too technical for me! Lol See everyone later when I'm just there to watch and I think we will witness a cracking match, well at least I'm hoping we do!

I've got my hands held high in the air "Kent Whistle Gang" for confession time it is and, not being perfect as I'm sure with the greatest respect you're not either, I make mistakes! And yes I made a couple of them on Monday and corrected them once they'd caused hilarity amongst the others in the officials box after they'd pointed out my faux pas to me! You obviously don't like me announcing which I accept is your prerogative but Monday was the only full meeting I've announced at Central Park and I did so because I was asked to by Derek Barclay who I believe, unless situations change, will be back in the hot seat this coming Monday. But please don't blame me for what everybody as far as I can see 'behind the scenes' at Central Park accepts are problems with the PA system and are all working hard to cure. Rome wasn't built in a day nor will perfection at the club be but it's been a good first season for it everyone must surely agree. With DB back announcing on Monday unless anything changes, why not come up to the bar area where I'll be sitting, introduce yourself and we can have a chat regarding why you think I should give up unpaid mic work and I don't!

Some fair comments within that posting 'greyhoundp' but with regard to the decision to re-run heat 14 (not ideal a solution I grant you) can you 100% confirm the positions of the other three at the exact time the ref pressed the stop button (forget the finishing line as the stop button was pressed as they exited the second bend with Jack falling) - it was certainly close? Had Benji Compton sneaked through on the inside to pass a Heathen? The ref was not sure, her attention like most including mine alas I'd say, was focussed on the faller and so the re-run was ordered. We should bear in mind that races don't HAVE to be awarded - without looking up the exact wording I believe it gives the refs power to if they want to!

As I said on the mic at the meeting, to loosely use that well known phrase..... "If you can understand all that, then you're a better man that I am Gunga Din!" Our journey to the Norfolk Arena wasn't helped by an hour's delay as a result of a crash about a mile ahead of us that brought the M25 to a halt before we reached either of the M11 or A10. That left us getting to the Norfolk Arena just as the riders' pre-meeting practice was about to finish and it was straight into the 41 programmed events, timekeeping and announcing (I need more hands!) so trying to keep my scorechart up to date given the, shall we say, "unusual" system implemented (how does Russell think 'em up??? ) wasn't exactly on! Two separate matches for which Mike has given you the results of but for me, one of the highlights was seeing the latest of the famous "Banks's Racing Dynasty" - Harvie (DO correct me if I'm wrong but believe Trev's his dad) whom I'm surprised is based down in the West Country rather than near Folkestone!

I'm certainly NOT trying to be confrontational "gustix" as I've got to say I was being somewhat 'tongue in cheek' as it were but I don't know what happened to my second edit of my last post! In that I did ask my old mate Parsnips to bear in mind that "gustix" had stated that Steve B might well need a late fitness test on Monday morning (that's an early fitness test surely???). And whilst I don't know whether that will be the case, or indeed if Kent WILL be tracking him tomorrow, I've sneaky feeling in my bones (it MIGHT be arthritis I'll admit!) that he'll ride if at all possible. And furthermore (although I can't confirm of course!) that feeling also indicates to me that he WILL ride. But we'll have to wait and see won't we?

"Gustix" knows very well when programmes are printed compared to meetings taking place Parsnips old fruit having written many articles I'll wager for inclusion in several over the years and also for magazines etc that also have print deadlines!

Very sad news indeed - RIP Tony. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

But unfortunately the position regarding your posting Parsnips old fruit, is that there's not exactly a plethora of riders currently without team places of a suitable standard to be on standby as it were ready, willing AND most importantly able to step into team places overnight is there? I don't necessarily disagree BUT what would you suggest as an alternative in the current economic situation of both the country and the sport? We can all say "do away with guests," and/or "do away with double up riders" but not so easy to suggest and explain alternative strategies to them.

So 'gustix' what do you suggest? Steve Boxall turns down the chance of an extra money earning opportunity? Would you subsidise i.e. pay what he'd potentially miss out on by turning such an opportunity down? Or what would you put forward as an alternative to the use of guests to replace injured NL number 1s or when a team has two or more of their top five out of action?

And for those fans unable to get to Loomer Road tomorrow (such as myself stuck in here courtesy of a flipping flu-type virus!) the great news on the Stoke official website this morning is that the meeting will be broadcast live on line! Go to the latest news section at: http://stokepotters.co/

Like many others I would think, I'd be interested in finding out how young Robert has been faring in Germany this year. Can anyone provide a link to suitable website please that would provide such info?

I don't know the answer to your question 'gustix' but I very much doubt that it was a matter of someone spotting Will at the track, going up to him and saying, "Oh really glad you're here today Will, and as you've got the necessary licence, could you do the Kent Kings a favour and team manage them today please?"

You don't like them commentating so why not use the 'mute' button on your gogglebox remote control then? Afterall you don't get race commentary at UK speedway matches when you go to watch them in person do you? Soon after I had arrived in Australia on one of my first winter visits I was asked if I'd mind doing the announcing / commentating at a meeting and whilst the announcing of results etc.etc, I'd done hundreds of times previously, actually commentating on racing ain't easy I can assure you!

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!