Parsloes 1928 nearly

Well I doubt there are many who study weather forecasts from a range of locations as much as us Speedway fans! I can confirm that in my experience over recent years and this week, the forecasts are virtualy never worth the 'paper they're printed on' - well they're actually on the internet so not on paper at all, but you get my drift!! Planning to go to Cov, I 'checked' on Wednesday and if you believed that, you'd have to had concluded, not a chance of the meeting going ahead. Said rain all day and all evening. But in truth, the '5 day forecasts' are ALWAYS utter nonsense - no forecast for three days hence EVER stays the same come that day. So it proved and I felt confident on the day to go. And it was inded fine. But even then - as has been pointed out - the forecast on Friday said showers expected early afternoon... When I got to Brandon was told: no, there'd been NO rain at all and indeed some last minute track watering was as a result needed.. There is one poster on this Forum (21CH...) who always leaps to the Met Office's defence, so I expect to hear from him; but in truth, five day forecasts are worthless and even on the day expect that a high percentage of the time the 'forecasters' (sic) to get it wrong!!

Hmm, what on earth was the motivation for the title of this individual event held at Kingsmead in 1976? Won by Canterbury rider who had something of a JC hairstyle back then, Les Rumsey. But why name a Speedway meeting after a Lloyd Webber Musical..?!

Mirroring the Olympique at Wolverhampton - during the Mike Parker days at Crayford there was this big indiv event. Anyone know how many times staged (was it all three years '68 to '70?) and who the winner(s) were?

Am really hoping the bloody forecasters have it wrong about the weather for Friday in Cov, coz I'm soooooo looking forward to going up for this one! Would be my first trip to Brandon since - gulp! - the 1980 British Final!!!

Thanks for letting me know. A shame but I can understand the logic

Anyone know if any MDL racing in the second half at Brandon next Friday (14/6) - after the Storm vs. Kings NL match?

But wasn't Brendan also a guest in the YS team that evening at Monmore Green..?!

Hmm, yes i suppose it is - though our own Adam was able to be drafted in by KL when they were short at Dudley so clearly not a hard and fast rule..?

What total and absolute nonsense!! It wouldn't sound good if it wasn't complete rubbish!! All I can say about this person's supposed counting is that (1) they must've struggled badly in Maths at school; and (2) they clearly should've gone to SpecSavers!!

Yes I think so - 'declared' is the correct expression. IMHO at reserve (especially when 15 & 16 year olds) there should be more flexibility and not need to be 'declared' riders... Not sure why that change was made - just seems to restrict options for TMs and for (young) riders alike.

21 points from reserves for the IoW vs. 2 for the Potters!!

The lad's only 15 years of age so I'd imagine he can't really 'sign' for anyone... He can RIDE for a club though and I understand he'll be riding in the NL when he can for the KLYS. It may well suit Dale to have Robert when he can, not exceed the 4 matches and then he'd be able to ride still as a three-pointer in the Play-offs. I'd suggest if that happens KL would literally walk the play offs and win the championship. Only possible flaw in that as a concept would be possibly not qualifying for the P/Os but I'd think the KLYS side strong enough to do that anyhow. Robert could ride in the KOC too without those matches counting towards the four qualifying for an average. Simples!

I wonder if any programmes have been printed...!!!

Hey John (aka JC!) - will be great to see you and the family! I'll be in the 'box' but try and come up and see me! Derek

Take the point about London. Train link to Sittingbourne very good and fares reasonable but time is against people. Can't expect people to do it every time of course, but maybe if people do want to come to the occassional meeting from the 'Smoke' that they take a couple of hours leave? After all everyone does have annual leave: well, most people who are employed do anyhow?

Right by my reckoning Steve & the lads will shortly be on their way to Europe then the UK for the (usually) annual tour.. Again it's my understanding (happy to stand corrected!) that following the Under 21 World Cup semi in Germany on 28/4 the lads are coming here. I've only spotted three dates though: at Rye House (4/5) for the US style handicap meet; then matches at Buxton (5/5); and the opener at Central Park, Kent Speedway on 6 May. Are these details correct and are there any other dates..? Also any confirmed team news?

Ah okay - many thanks for this. Has knocked on the head any plan to combine going to Stoke (Kings' opening away fixture on the 12th) with a trip to Beaumont Park but at least now have the answer!!!

Brilliant idea to have a live band on too..!! All power to the Fen Tigers' elbow for this one!!

Am I right in thinking Lee's still looking for a 2013 club - or has he got an PL berth..? Lee is a good rider and a real crowd pleaser. Of those who were there, who can ever forget the race he had with Buzz at Arena Essex back in his days with the Hammers. A classic Speedway race! NL/CL-wise I think it might be true that following his PL days his only spells in the third tier have been briefly with Newcastle and then an incredibly short spell with the Sittingbourne Crusaders (one match, paid 15 at Plough Lane vs. Wimbledon). Could Lee be ready and waiting for an NL side needing change later in the season as a ready-made number one..? I'd say so!

PLEASE, PLEASE - does ANYONE know yet the start time for Round One at Leicester on May 12th.?!

Ah Cyril J. Hart - what a gentleman he was. Contributed a column to the Wimbledon prog in the CL days and I regularly corresponded with him - was an honour to meet him when he came up to Plough Lane. A true great of Speedway writing and to me the epitome of what a great journalist should be. Much missed.

11 meetings out of 17 (including the last nine...): anyone still want to 'defend' the weather!!!!

Those words can and will be repeated time & time again... It's probably only us Speedway fans who check on the MO's forecasts in detail during the season, who realise how incredibly often they get it wrong... Can't envy any Speedway promoter, though, trying to second guess the likeihood of what are made out to scientific 'forecasts' just beng so patently and woefully inaccurate, so much of the time...

Cheers Tony - you're a star mate!! D.

Have already told you this on FB, Bryn! As the champs (ask our friends at Mildenhall about this last year..!) are decided by who wins the play-offs among the top four, it really only matters who that top four are and not the finishing order. I think it will be hugely competitive, but my predicted top four (in no particular order, as they put in on 'Dancing on Ice' - a topical allusion that one!!) is: Kent; IoW; Mildenhall; King's Lynn