BriG

Great, great rider always a joy to watch when Newcastle visted Weymouth in the early 80s, some of his battles with Martin Yeates were simply superb. Bri G

For new tracks to have a realistic chance of opening up in well populated areas more work needs to be done at the BSPA / SCB level to develop a uniform strategy for noise reduction and implementation of the appropriate measures. In this day and age the technology exists it's all down to costs and when individual promoters are left to fund all that it takes to 'soundproof' a speedway stadium it just isn't going to happen. The only way I can see it happening is if funding was made available to build stadiums to a blueprint in terms of environmental issues. The concept of soundproofed indoor tracks has been discussed elsewhere and it could be achieved if the funding were available. They don't have to be grand affairs like the Millenium stadium but more modest with say 5-10,000 capacity. Some of the smaller circuits alreaduy in league speedway would be swallowed up inside some of the modern industrial structures or old aircraft hangers. If I win the lottery I kn ow what I'd do.

Dan only took two rides - crashed on last lap of his first ride while 2nd and on lap two of his second while a long way in front and then had to be withdrawn with a shoulder injury. Fotunately he was back on song at Scunny yesterday in the competitive training session with four wins and a second in the races. BriG

i sincerely hope George makes a full recovery without too much discomfort. With two sons racing, one aged 15 one 17 I have thought long and hard about the danger side of the sport. It does raise the question as to whether the young riders have been thoroughly tested on ability to react and put a bike down quickly when needed, it also raises the question as to whether it is right to put minors (and lets face it that's what they legally are) in danger in the first place by letting them race when they are not legally old enough to make their own mind up and truly understand the consequences. Plating and pinning young bones is not an ideal start to a potential career. It was also very scary when I heard of another young rider injured recently with a leg broken so badly broken that doctors considered amputating, I don't know how I would cope with that if it happend to one of mine. It does raise the question in my mind as to who we as parents and adults are satisfying bringing these youngsters to the shale, our own egos or theirs and I would suggest each parent of an under 15 asks themselves that question. BriG

You cannot sign to become an asset of a club until you are 16. Only PL and EL clubs can have assets. BriG

Great performance from young Brendan Johnson at Somerset last night winning all three of his races and only 4 seconds off the premier League times. It looks like he's got a great future in the sport. For those of you who weren't there Bren and Dan Kirkman were having a great battle in heat one until Dan clipped Bren's back wheel exiting turn two on lap three. Bren stayed on but Dan was catapulted at high speed into the back straight fence, his bike written off but thanfully he was able to walk away if a little dazed and confused. Anyone who has witnessed the races between George Piper, Bren and Dan will know the competitiveness between them and the entertainment they have given this season, they are great mates but trouble is they don't wanna give an inch when they race each other! It was also good to see Ben Hopwood riding well and to see Bob Charles back in action after his nasty injury last year. A nice gesture after the final race from the Somerset management was to present each of the four lads with a new tyre - Dan just needs the rest of the bike now! To see the damage to Dan's bike visit bossracing.org and go to the Latest News - Lucky Escape BriG

Place taken Ben Hopwood is racing. Brian

Ray Dickson is looking for just one more under 15 rider to compete at Somerset this Friday in the second half where there will be three programmed races alongside Dan Kirkman, Brendan Johnson and George Piper. Its a great opportunity to race at one of the countries finest circuits. Each rider will have a choice of free fuel or oil for the night, it will be first come first served so call me (Brian Gay) on 07768612872 or email me at Brian62@mac.com Regards Brian

Dan was back in U-15 action at Scunthorpe yesterday, two wins a second to Josh Auty, a fall while well in front in one ride and his saddle came off and he fell while dicing for second in another! News report here Saddle Sore! BriG

Go to www.bossracing.org go to the news page and click on the link for'Injury Forces Weymouth Withdrawl After Edinburgh Leaves It's Marks' Peter Oakes is a man of his word - tapes are now being checked by officials at tracks after refs and track MO's have been shown Dan's pics. Regards BriG

Bill I know from Morgan at Joe Hughes that Chris Van Stratton has been enquiring about stocks of tape material and that the stuff that is supplied through speedway outlets is in short supply. Maybe the rules should be that only approved products are to be used i.e. ones that will break quickly under the momentum of a rider having dropped the clutch and moved forward. <(but not linen, plastic or other material likely to cause injury to a competitor colliding with them)....> .....maybe there's cotton and there's cotton. I don't know what the Edinburgh stuff was made of but I do know that Peter Oakes was concerned enough that they did not break quickly and to the extent of Dan's injury enough to refer the matter and pics to the BSPA and SCB with a view to having referees check that the tapes break easily before racing commences. I mean these bikes accelerate at 0-60 in about 3 seconds and Dan isn't the slowest starter in his age group so you would think they would and should break easily. Dan's not the first rider to suffer this sort of injury in speedway but everyone I've spoken too in the last week reckon this is the worst instance they have seen. It would be nice to think he would be one of the last though. Don't get me wrong I and Dan understands that this is a very dangerous sport and that if this is the worst thing that happens to him in his speedway career that he will probably be a lucky lad. However the sport's authorities have a duty of care to it's competitors especially the minors. As an ex-copper and now professional photojournalist I have been quite shocked at the lack of adherence to rules at various training sessions across the country in the past 18 months, in fact if one wanted to document such practices and do an expose the sport would be in serious danger of closure on health and safety overnight, especially when it comes to minors. One doesn't jump up and down about these anomolies because like so many before you have to accept that if you want to ride that is the way it is. I do fear for the future of this sport crowds at Somerset, Newport and Weymouth have been garbage this year, atmosphere virtually non-existant. Every week I hear riders and mechanics talk about how many dangerous and poorly prepared tracks there are, just look at the injury list already this year. I love this sport and don't want to see it go down the pan but it's definitely heading that way. BriG

Thanks for all your good wishes but unfortunately as soon as Dan pulled his helmet on at Somerset last night he knew he couldn't ride - the buckle rubbed against the dressing and pulled part of the scab off and the wound started bleeding again. We considered a smaller dressing or no dressing at all but really there was no decision other than to let the thing heal properly before he resumes racing. That means he won't be riding in round four of the U 15s at Newport on Sunday. Tough this game int' it but he's got a long time ahead of him and it's sensible to let things heal properly at his age. The thing that really annoys me is something that was so preventable has knackered up his chances of a decent run in the U-15s but good luck to the rest of the lads at Newport on Sunday. Bri

Thanks for the good wishes - Dan's a determined young man and is already looking ahead to tonight at Somerset - if the weather is okay that is, we are 5 mins from the track and it's raining quite heavily and has done most of the afternoon. His neck still looks unpleasant but it mostly scabbed over now and the risk of infection, which was the reason they wouldn't let him ride on monday, has pretty much gone now. Regards, BriG and Dan

For those of you who saw the tapes catch round Dan's neck at Edinburgh last saturday there are pics on his web site www.bossracing.org that show the extent of the burns, taken three days after the incident they show why he was ruled out of Monday's 3rd round. To see the pics go to the Latest News column on the left and click on Kirky's injury latest link. The lad was pretty gutted about missing Weymouth which has been his 'home' track and George and Stevie P will tell you just how fast Kirky has been around Radipole Lane in the second half racing this season! I have heard that there is a shortage of the official tape material and that tracks are using other stuff. Obviously those tapes should have broken long before Dan was dragged from the bike and I know Peter Oakes is taking this matter further. Dan will be back in action on Friday night at Somerset and then at Newport on Sunday. BriG

Thanks for your posts, sad to hear that he's passed on, sounds a real entertainer. My friend is really interested to know if Trevor has any living relatives in England. If any one has any info we'd be obliged. Regards Brian

I have friend who is interested to know if a Trevor Redmond is still about or if anyone knows what happened to him? i was told he rode for Aldershot and then Exeter in the 50s or 60s so if anyone rememebers him or has any info contact me at Brian62@mac.com Thanks

www.bossracing.org is the new web site for Dan Kirkman and Oliver Gay