Hamish McRaker

In my many years of involvement with Speedway (and I have to confess, mostly in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's) I've known a whole busload of promoters and you know what, the vast majority have been absolutely top quality gents (and ladies) who really and genuinely want to do the best, from the heart. This Forum saddens my old heart, because so many of the contributors are posting nasty, uninformed and harmful comments about people who really do have the best of intentions, and who treat riders in the right way. Shame on you people who do that. But there have been a few "bad apples" among promoters,too. They don't treat riders with respect, they dish out abuse to the supporters, and its even worse when they do that publicly. I'll tell you something for sure, and that is they don't last very long as promoters, because people start giving them as wide a berth as they'd give to a skunk on heat. This is when the supporters are so important for the riders who are on the receiving end of such lack of respect. Riders make mistakes, they have bad spells, but they're not trying to do that. So, if you support a team with one of those (rare) "rotten apple" promoters, take a bit of advice from old Hamish, and don't slip one millimetre from your support to the riders, because they will appreciate you for it even more, I guarantee it. Like i said, promoters come and go, but the good ones tend to stay around, the ego-maniacs don't last!

Bring your own bucket next season, folks, or contribute to the track watering perhaps?

So, hello from my remote island from where I keep my beady eye on things thanks to the miracle of wireless communication - still seen as something of a marvel in these far flung parts, when it works. I see the Hunters will once again be in Division 2. If the current shenanigans being orchestrated by your neighbours the Peterborough Panthers are anything to go by, this is no bad thing. Are they trying to hold the rest of Division 1 to ransome? I can well imagine a heap of pig slurry appearing on their track overnight, conveyed there by farm vehicles from rural Norfolk and Wiltshire. Indeed, some would say their track has been formed mainly of pig slurry for many years now anyway. You team could do very well indeed. The versatile Mr Taylor has explained his decisions most clearly, in my view. Mr Doolan is a direct replacement for Mr Karlsson and should prove to be a more chipper fella to have around the place, and on the track you must hope he will be the Redcar version rather than the Ipswich one. Replacing Eklof with Roynon is like replacing grey concrete with glittering spandex. I just hope for your sakes that the wee laddie stays away from ambulances this year, otherwise there will be some re-jigging needed. I suggest he invests in some buffalo-hide racing leathers like we used in the 50's and 60's for better protection. That's if they can still be found. I might have an old set out in the barn somewhere if he's interested. Probably need a bit of softening-up though. Now, I have been reading some assorted comments about your racing track. The versatile Mr Taylor seems to have located a new supplier of good quality cinders, after the local supplier proved unreliable. But to change the track shape in mid season last year would have been utter nonsence. They did that at Coatbridge one year in the early 60's and we took a long, long time to adjust. We were like the away team for the rest of the season. You see, once the track has been stencilled onto the home riders brains its the devils own job for a rider to get used to the same track, but a different one- if yas see what I mean!! No, no, far better to change the thing in winter, then give the lads plenty of time to re-programme their brains with practice sessions and meaningless early season fixtures. So good luck for a great season at Blackbird Road, and you never know I could get the Norton out and head down there for a Friday night 'ere long!!

The best approach is just to ignore the idiots who act like children, and let them either rant to themselves, or with other idiots. With a bit of luck the moderators will remove them anyway.