scampispeedway

With regards to Nick Brown MP, he stated when interviewed on television that he was an avid Newcastle fan and watched Newcastle since 1985, sorry Nick but that was impossible since we were closed that year after the ruinous season in 1984 when Ian Thomas took us back into the British League. Bob

Fromafar, THJ wrote to me on the 4th May last year to give me the reason why he will not be attending the speedway at Workington any more and I reported this fact to Steve Park at the time who did ask about him. As I said to him it is not my place to give his reasons on line on why he has made this decision and my position has not altered in any way so please do not ask me about this matter now. Bob

Johnnybegood, you will be pleased to know that at the end of the year I will be closing my account on here, for information I don't drink beer and stick with lager and also my life is my concern and not sad but I am always interested in what is happening with the sport. I am sorry to hear that Wolverhampton is closing at the end of the year since it was opened at the same time as Brough Park and the track layout was an exact copy of our track. Bob

Nickinho, someone who used to follow speedway 1964-2005 but no longer go because the entertainment spectacle I saw every passing year diminished to a point where I said to myself that is it and spent my money elsewhere. Bob

ianb, Kenny Carter rode for Newcastle in 1978 as reserve and took part in 41 matches with 1 full maximum 5 paid maximums and ended up with an average of 7.58, he also rode in 16 matches for the Halifax Dukes and ended up with an average of 5.40. On my way to see a Newcastle away meeting I called in to Kings Lynn Speedway in 1986 where he happened to be riding for the Bradford Team and it turned out to be his last match because the next thing I read about was that he had shot his wife dead and then killed himself. Bob

Anyone refusing to take a drugs test should be treated like a drink driving refusal to take provide a breath sample at the road side or taking a test at the police station and are therefore banned for the maximum time allowed when taking to court.

tyretrax, my condition seems to have got worse since my original planned trip and could have met THJ whilst sitting in my warm car but when he said he was not going to any meetings in the future, that made me decide not to bother making the trip over. No matter how good the set up is at Workington, it sadly will join the Redcar's new track that I've also not been to and get with other things. Bob

Neila, thanks for invite, unfortunately in later years because of my Type 2 Dibetes my legs are not strong enough for being on my feet for a long time and need a walking stick to get around also I cannot take being outside even on a warm day. Bob

Neila, I was planning a trip over to meet with THJ at the new Workington Track but later he did say that the situation had changed since I last sent him a PM and he would not be going to any meetings in the future. The reason's for this are a private matter between Workington and himself and I don't want to say anything about his reason's but I did say how sorry I was that things hadn't worked out and so I will not bother to visit the new Track as I did so want to meet up with THJ. Bob

ruffdiamond, in my time of watching the sport we closed in 1971 when the Stadium Manager at Brough Park, I think it was Dan McCormick would only allow a 1st division team to ride and so a new Team was formed and rode at the East Boldon Greyhound Stadium from 1971-1974. I went only once, because Newcastle Fans we were asked to support a Sunderland Team which had formly only run part season in 1964 and instead of paying on entrance 6 shillings and 6 pence as we had at Brough Park they had the cheek to charge 8 shillings and 6 pence for 2nd division Team. It was against the Rayleigh Rockets and not surprisingly Sunderland lost their opening meeting and I never went again until Newcastle re-opened under Ian Thomas in 1975. Bob

StevePark, you are missing the point of my posting, I have no objection to any one doing the jobs you have listed for the Promoter because he must have someone responsible before a meeting is allowed to run. What I objected too are the people who do not have a listed job but still expect to get in for nothing and will find ways of getting round that problem so that they can continue to watch free speedway. Bob

StevePark, I don't understand your logic in saying without Free-Bees meetings would not start, most of them do nothing in the running of any meeting. The people who got me annoyed waited until the opposition rider arrived in the stadium car park and jumped into Riders van and were taken through the pit gate without paying or are known to one of the second half rider's who are looking to ride after the main meeting so likewise they can get in for nothing.. Bob

Neila, that has been my biggest gripe about speedway when I was an active Supporter and the people who got in for nothing were not happy when I dared to say anything bad about many things. Do these Free-bees not realise not realise that not paying for admission is one of reasons why so many clubs are not around now, yes an attractive strong side helps is the main one but what will these people do when there is no speedway to watch. Bob

I posted a little earlier that I would like to pop over from Newcastle to have look at the new set up but unfortunately this will not happen now as I've been told that my car needs a part front end respray. This is because some nice driver bumped the offside lower part panel on my car and sprung the body work which I thumped back in shape but after a trip to my body repair garage because it also took off some outer paint work and this needs repainting to repair the obvious white streak on my main body colour which is dark blue. This will set me back nearly £350.00 and as I'm not claiming on my insurance, I have to stand the cost myself also I do have other things to pay for out of my works and state pension money that sadly means I have to drop my planned trip to Workington for now. Bob

Like Diamonds85, I am looking to pop over sometime when the weather is warmer, I have not been to Speedway for quite a while and found that as I'm now 75, I feel the cold very much and my legs are not great, so if I can find somewhere sit down using my folding camping stool and watch the racing, I'm willing to give it a go. Bob