PHILIPRISING

HOW many fans attend speedway in the UK on a regular basis? 30,000? 40,000? More ... or less?

NOT sure but Steve (Saint) told me that the guys on duty have done it before so it could well be Telegenic.

THIS is part of a feature in speedwayXtra this week (speedwaystar.net)... THE British Grand Prix at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium is the absolute jewel in the sport’s crown but the event just doesn’t happen like magic. Preparation for the big night goes on throughout the year as Paul Bellamy and his team at BSI/IMG meticulously ensure that nothing is left to chance. Although Saturday’s event will be the 13th (hopefully not unlucky) staging of the British GP under the Millennium roof, mounting such a huge operation doesn’t get any easier. It all begins on the Sunday prior to the meeting when the material used to build the track, stored locally under environmentally controlled conditions, is transported into the stadium by a convey of trucks. The safety fence along with the air barriers will have arrived earlier in the SGP articulated truck that travels from one Grand Prix to another. It is now a well-oiled operation, under the guidance of Ole Olsen and his Speed Sport team, and amazingly by Tuesday morning the track is laid although it will continue to be rolled and tyre-packed throughout the week in readiness for Friday afternoon’s practice. Ole’s younger son Torben, Events Director at BSI, also arrives over the weekend to start a whole series of meetings with stadium officials to examine and re-examine every minute detail of the week’s schedule. By Wednesday morning more members of the BSI team are in situ, going ahead with a general run through of everything that will take place over the next few days. On Thursday Event Manager Gemma Fordham will co-ordinate meetings regarding Health & Safety, Security, Hospitality and general ticket arrangements. Gemma is also the key figure when it comes to handing out passes and tickets for officials, riders, guests and media. Her feet will hardly touch the ground over the next four days organising all the activities of her colleagues. More of the BSI team will now be at the stadium, co-ordinating with TV (for the first time this will be under the Eurosport rather than Sky banner), stadium lighting and sound, the big screen operators and checking all the hospitality facilities. SGP Race Director Tony Olsson will also be on hand on Thursday along with referee Krister Kardell, ensuring that the track, pits and paddock are as required. On Friday the whole operation swings into top gear. There will be meetings with the announcer and the camera crews, a rehearsal of the opening ceremony, a run through of what will take place at the CIP Methanol Club and much, much more. At 15.30 the first riders’ briefing will take place under the direction of Olsson but Paul Bellamy will be there as well to inform about the opening ceremony, which will be unique to this particular GP. At 17.00 practice will commence and should run for two hours. Once that is over the Speed Sport team will be back on the track, cleaning the air-fence and getting the racing surface back to pristine condition for Saturday evening. Much of this work will carry on throughout the night. On Saturday a whole series of rehearsals and sound checks take place and at 13.00 Torben Olsen will chair the Production Meeting which details, minute-by-minute, and even second-by-second, the schedule for the rest of the day, who does what, when and where. It is a comprehensive document, running to several pages, but it is a veritable bible for everybody concerned in ensuring that the big day goes without a hitch.

THIS is part of a feature in speedwayXtra this week (speedwaystar.net)... THE British Grand Prix at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium is the absolute jewel in the sport’s crown but the event just doesn’t happen like magic. Preparation for the big night goes on throughout the year as Paul Bellamy and his team at BSI/IMG meticulously ensure that nothing is left to chance. Although Saturday’s event will be the 13th (hopefully not unlucky) staging of the British GP under the Millennium roof, mounting such a huge operation doesn’t get any easier. It all begins on the Sunday prior to the meeting when the material used to build the track, stored locally under environmentally controlled conditions, is transported into the stadium by a convey of trucks. The safety fence along with the air barriers will have arrived earlier in the SGP articulated truck that travels from one Grand Prix to another. It is now a well-oiled operation, under the guidance of Ole Olsen and his Speed Sport team, and amazingly by Tuesday morning the track is laid although it will continue to be rolled and tyre-packed throughout the week in readiness for Friday afternoon’s practice. Ole’s younger son Torben, Events Director at BSI, also arrives over the weekend to start a whole series of meetings with stadium officials to examine and re-examine every minute detail of the week’s schedule. By Wednesday morning more members of the BSI team are in situ, going ahead with a general run through of everything that will take place over the next few days. On Thursday Event Manager Gemma Fordham will co-ordinate meetings regarding Health & Safety, Security, Hospitality and general ticket arrangements. Gemma is also the key figure when it comes to handing out passes and tickets for officials, riders, guests and media. Her feet will hardly touch the ground over the next four days organising all the activities of her colleagues. More of the BSI team will now be at the stadium, co-ordinating with TV (for the first time this will be under the Eurosport rather than Sky banner), stadium lighting and sound, the big screen operators and checking all the hospitality facilities. SGP Race Director Tony Olsson will also be on hand on Thursday along with referee Krister Kardell, ensuring that the track, pits and paddock are as required. On Friday the whole operation swings into top gear. There will be meetings with the announcer and the camera crews, a rehearsal of the opening ceremony, a run through of what will take place at the CIP Methanol Club and much, much more. At 15.30 the first riders’ briefing will take place under the direction of Olsson but Paul Bellamy will be there as well to inform about the opening ceremony, which will be unique to this particular GP. At 17.00 practice will commence and should run for two hours. Once that is over the Speed Sport team will be back on the track, cleaning the air-fence and getting the racing surface back to pristine condition for Saturday evening. Much of this work will carry on throughout the night. On Saturday a whole series of rehearsals and sound checks take place and at 13.00 Torben Olsen will chair the Production Meeting which details, minute-by-minute, and even second-by-second, the schedule for the rest of the day, who does what, when and where. It is a comprehensive document, running to several pages, but it is a veritable bible for everybody concerned in ensuring that the big day goes without a hitch.

THEN why won't you be?

BRIGGO spoke to his mate Eccelstone several years ago. Answer was simple: only way to run it commercially would be to have all the teams and stadiums under one ownership. Total control with the riders effectively allocated to tracks. I believe Barry Hearn did take a look but wasn't keen on what he saw. But he would probably take the view as Bernie. Dictatorships work.

COUNCIL won't allow it ...

PLUS, of course, in the fanzone you can meet the Monster (can think of a better description) girls and have your photo taken with the World Championship trophy...

THERE has been a change in emphasis in recent years. When John Postlethwaite first took the British GP to the Millennium he was conscious of fans sitting in the stadium for an hour or more with nothing going on. He wanted to see the fans entertained before the actual meeting started, hence a number of acts that were actually quite renown. Now, of course, there is the fanzone and people are coming into the stadium later than before. This year it will be bigger and, hopefully, better than ever and as a consequence less importance and expense is placed on the entertainment inside the Millennium. This year I believe plans are afoot for a spectacular introduction for the riders but until rehearsals can take place whether or not they reach fruition remains to be seen. As far as the fanzone is concerned, BSI tell me it will run from 11am to 4pm in St. Mary's Street and include: - Rider autograph sessions - Titan is back! - The Magoos - Bigger and better Monster Energy rig - Vintage speedway bikes - Mr Gater machine - Territorital Army stand - Real Radio patrol - Grid Girls photographs - Interviews on the big stage Plus lots more

MUST found out who will actually make the decision...

JUST a bit of fun ... but are there any outstanding candidates currently not in the series?

IF the current GP standings were the same at the end of the year, who would you pick as the four wild cards for 2014?

QUITE agree but somehow he survives year after year... perhaps it's his tractor!

UNDERSTAND there was four hours (between 6am and 10am) of heavy rain this morning which, hopefully, will have done the track some good. Biggest problem at the Marketa is the guy who drives the tractor. Listens to no one!

THE fanzone will be there again this year.

SORRY guys but I am not in Prague this weekend. Prior commitment in the States.

NO quite ... it's like England having a game at Wembley and the Premier League having no say whatsoever

IT didn't go up in price... we always make a big effort for Cardiff, not least by putting on 16 extra pages

ONE seasoned campaigner told me the other day that Cook has lots of potential but needs to stop riding like a moto-crosser and more like a speedway rider. Suggested he spent his time at the Cardiff practice watching Hancock and Gollob. Sound advice...

GOOD post...

BUT June 9th was the only date PARKEN was available after BSI were forced to push back the British GP because of the Olympics. Just unfortunate.

WHAT you don't seem to understand or accept is that many do not share your view about Nigel. You are quite entitled to your opinion but I would wager that the majority of viewers think he does a great job. But more importantly his employers at Sky and BSI are huge fans.

THE anti-Harris brigade seem to forget his performances in the SWC last year (17 at King's Lynn, 11 in Malilla) ... and especially compared with any other Brit apart from Tai in the race-off. Sadly we don't have youngsters to compare with MJJ or Beck. With regard to the SCB regulations for the British Final ... would appear there was a lack of communication between the SCB and the BSPA despite them being housed in the same building.

WRONG, wrong, wrong ... how can I change my name by the way? Had it for 67 years!