Mr. Clemens

Surely the fact that Matt Ford has no sympathy - is irrelevant to the death of British Speedway, by definition. Most people don't have sympathy for organisations that bring about their own destruction.

I don't think anyone cares. I think, from reading the star, that everyone sees Poole winning the league as a foregone conclusion. I think this suits the other Elite League teams as they don't have to make the effort. As such, it renders the competition a waste of time and the result pointless.

I would have thought they'd have run a few low profile meetings to ensure everything was in order then held the Grand Opening. It was the logical common sense thing to do, as such you reap what you sow.

Scunthorpe Amateur Meeting 6/12/15 Responding once more to Richard’s cry for help, I found myself on the well trodden road to the Eddie Wright Stadium at Scunthorpe. The days previous to Sunday 6th had been wet, windy and cold. The weather forecast said it would be fine and dry on Sunday. You wouldn’t have thought so driving along the M1 and the M180. Strong winds were blowing and heavy rain falling. The guy on the radio said ‘it will clear up in the afternoon and the sun will shine, in certain areas.’ I thought, ‘I hope you’re right mate, it doesn’t look promising to me. It had stopped raining when I arrived at 10:15. Richard was in a bit of a flap as the starting gate magneto wouldn’t allow them to use the tapes. I grabbed my red flag and chair placing it in the sea of mud that still filled the area around the third bend. A fellow lady flag waver commented on the efforts made to get the tapes to work. I said, ‘they don’t really need them, the riders have come to race and I think they can manage to do that without tapes.’ Finally, Richard obviously came to the same conclusion himself and gave it up as a bad job. Later I found out that Richard couldn’t get into the storeroom to get the equipment he needed to get the tapes to work. Rob, that’s Mr. Godfrey to you, was at a christening and didn’t arrive till later on, during the meeting. Richard said, ‘I can’t kick the door in can I’? I said ‘well actually you could, if you really wanted to.’ The racing started at 11:10 am, only 10 minutes later than the scheduled start. It had been fine when I arrived but was overcast. As soon as the racing started a deep black cloud formed overhead and it began to rain. A couple of races had already taken place when the rain fell heavily. I expected the racing would be stopped for 15 minutes while the shower passed. You expect these things when you are ‘elderly and infirm’, don’t you? But no the racing carried on. When riders come out in those conditions, it proves how dedicated they are to their racing. Young kids racing round, not just pottering around, but getting right into what they were doing despite the rain. I often wonder while watching them race, how many people, who have influence in the sport, take notice of the efforts these kids put in to what they are doing. I know they take note at Scunny, which is the reason they do these meetings. I was particularly impressed by Bailey Fellows, who had a very neat and relaxed style of riding. The way he put his left leg out reminded me of pictures I have seen of an old world champion, who put his leg out in exactly the same way. Another rider, who I also thought had a good relaxed style was a ‘flat track’ rider on bike 79, I think is called Storm Stacey. I said to the photographer that I would like to see how he goes on a 500 speedway bike. Kyle Bickley and Kean Dicken also looked good all day, except for engine trouble in what I think was the last race for Kean. I noted that despite the intermittent rainfall , there weren’t that many falls, on a tricky wet track. There was one fall out on the first bend that turned out to be Bailey Fellows, who ended up spending a night in hospital. The word is, from his father, I presume, saying ‘Nothing broken just battered bruised and a nice headache’, and he will be ‘back riding soon.’ I hope he is as it was a pleasure to watch him ride. There was another fall of note involving the erstwhile Richard, always wanting to keep things moving. This incident involved Lewis Millar, who was riding in the same races as Kyle Bickley and Kean Dicken. Lewis had come out and his bike stopped. He got off the bike and proceeded to run with it to start it again. I was going to go and assist him but saw Richard running up behind him to assist. It’s just a pity Lewis didn’t realise he was there. He was in the process of begining to push the bike forward. Richard arrived at the bike and gave extra thrust forward. Lewis tripped over and wrenched his shoulder in the process and needed medical attention. Previously I noted Lewis had a Scotland flag on his leathers. I thought, ‘I hope he’s not come all the way from Scotland to get pushed over by Richard’!!!! Turns out he came from Glasgow, a long way to come, to get ‘the push’ from Richard, don’t you think? You couldn’t predict it, but it happened. Lewis and his father took it all good naturedly which was all to their credit. Despite the wind, the rain and the cold, racing began at 11:10 all of it ‘done and dusted’ by 2pm. 45 races in three hours, all of it going like clockwork. All of it a testimonial to those who make it happen and the dedicated young riders and their families. All in all it was another good day out, as it always is. I look forward to the ‘Christmas Do’ on 27/12/15.

No it was a 'practice farewell meeting​' so they could find out what they shouldn't be doing at a 'proper farewell meeting'. So next time they say 'farewell' they will get it right. Not only that, they will be able to have the 'farewell meeting proper' when it's really time to say farewell. Then they will be able to say 'a proper farewell' to all those they really want to say goodbye to properly. I will leave it to the informed to fill in the appropriate names, when it comes to saying goodbye, to all those they really want to say a 'proper farewell' to, in the 'proper manner'. Not only that they will be able to have the 'proper farewell meeting' in the last week when they say 'goodbye properly' to the old stadium and have a 'Hello meeting', to welcome folk to the new stadium, the following week. But the 'Hello meeting' will probably be a 'practice Hello meeting', to find out what they shouldn't be doing at a 'proper Hello meeting'. Then at the end of the season they will have the 'proper Hello meeting' so they can say 'Hello properly' to the new stadium. But, not only that, as it will be the end of the season, they will be able to say 'Hello' and 'Farewell' at the same time. They will be playing 'Hello Goodbye' by the Beatles at this meeting so as to avoid any confusion as to what the meeting is about. This will enable them to complete the circle of meetings, to the general satisfaction of all concerned, other than those they want to say a 'proper goodbye' to at the old stadium and never see again. Talking about circles, in 'speedway circles', all of the above is known as 'good business'. I hope all of this clears up any confusion that you may have had regarding as to what is proper and what isn't proper at Swindon Speedway.

I think what they meant to say, Shaun, was, How many OAPs do you think 'thought' for this country? They thought , when they were paying their 'dues and demands' all their working life they would receive 'the benefits' they were paying for, in their old age. The fact that they have been told 'well you might think that but you're not going to get them anyway', might be the reason they feel a bit 'miffed' about the situation. The same reason they might feel 'miffed' about paying full price to see their speedway. But, as we all know, life's a bitch innit, then you die!!! Not soon enough for OAPS, some might think. That's the reason I think TWK started the 'Oldest contributors to this Forum' thread, so we could all be named and aged, then be ejected from stadiums, all for the good of speedway.

​ Amateur Speedway Meeting Scunthorpe 15th November 2015 A Sea of Mud I woke up Sunday morning, the wind was blowing, rain falling , roads flooded, so I double checked on the net. The meeting was still on. According to the post on Saturday night, Richard said, ‘ Forecast is pretty good for tomorrow so the meeting is on. It should be mild and blowy so track should dry nicely.’ Seeing as Richard hadn’t posted anything else, I thought, ‘I hope so a 114 mile round trip for nothing wasn’t something I wanted on a day like this.’ It was fine when I arrived I spoke with Richard, told him it was nice to be there, despite the wind and the rain. He said ‘it’s a gloomy day’. I said ‘It wouldn’t be the same for me if it wasn’t cold, wet and windy.’ Richard said the third bend corner of the centre green was a sea of mud because of recent stock car racing. We walked onto the green and he said I could stand over on the first bend if I wanted, has here wasn’t any mud there. I said I would do so as I understood he needed to be by the pits gate. Then he changed his mind for some reason. He said I could stand on the third bend if I wanted to do so. I wondered if he didn’t fancy the mud and thought I’d be better off stood in it than he would be. The sky became overcast the wind was blowing and rain threatened at any moment. The track looked like a ploughed field. It struck me that the meeting could still be off if it proved too dangerous for the riders to race without falling off all the time. There were approximately 30 riders there in four different classes, with 48 races to get through. It seemed to me to be a small group of people and not as many races has I have seen there in the past. The first race began a fine drizzle developed and I wondered how long this could go on. The riders rode round regardless of the conditions. By the time a few races had passed the drizzle stopped the sky was clear. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all. It’s always good to see the different classes of racing. No matter who is riding they go at it full tilt, despite the bad conditions. It doesn’t matter what age group the riders are in. Young and old get on with it. They are all full of enthusiasm for what they are doing. One rider was walking the track checking on the surface. I asked him what he thought of the track. A none rider has a certain opinion of a track that can be completely different from those who have to ride it. He said it was rutted and I am sure he had taken note of where they were. I noted he didn’t have a local accent and asked him where he’d come from. He said he was from East London. I asked him if he’d come up this morning and he said he had. I told him I’d only come 57 miles to be there. It shows you the dedication these riders have to get themselves involved in racing. It’s also good to see riders like Luke Harris and Josh Bailey etc at these meetings. What impresses the observer is they ride in these races as if they are riding in an official meeting. It’s always full blooded no holds barred racing. It’s difficult enough for them racing in the height of summer. When they are racing as they do in cold wet windy weather with drizzle in their faces makes this type of racing exceptional. There wasn’t as many falls as I expected. There were a few falls which is a regular occurrence at amateur meetings. The paramedic attended one faller on the second bend. He was with the rider for some time. Thankfully the rider eventually got up and appeared to be fine. David Brayshaw had a spectacular fall when his bike hit a rut when he was leading the race. The bike flew up into the air, Dave while in the process of falling from the bike, looked up at the same time, fully aware that the bike could have fallen on top of him. The bike didn’t hit him but when Dave tried to wheel it away he couldn’t as the back wheel was locked solid. It took three people to carry it off the track. It was nice to see other riders assist in these situations. There was one rider who had the number 32 written on his bike. He was a pleasure to watch. All the time he was riding round the boards trying to get extra grip to thrust the bike forward. Many times he looked has though he was going to fall off, but never did. Another rider nearly ran into the fence coming out of the second bend. There were too other riders close behind him. He laid flat down on the bike to bring it back under control. It seemed that the other two riders behind him couldn’t decide if he was going to fall or not. Fortunately he brought the bike back under control and the race continued. Thirty eight races went by in what seemed like no time at all. Then there was a break as the riders assembled to find out riding positions for the finals of each class. While they were doing that it gave me time to look round at the people who had gathered there. It struck me that these amateur meetings embodied the heart, spirit and soul of speedway. When you looked around, you saw a group of people like that of a ‘family’ come together to have a good time. There were no airs and graces involved with those who had come to race here. They knew how these meetings were arranged to get through the amount of races involved. They knew how bad the weather was and that it could change at any moment and the meeting would be off. There wasn’t any time for ‘fussing and fighting my friends’. While the riding order for the finals was being decided, the sky became overcast and the fine drizzle returned. It didn’t make any difference to the quality of racing. The riders got on with it as they had done before. Because you can’t hear the announcer speaking, when stood on the centre green, it was difficult to determine who was riding in the finals. No doubt Richard will post the correct results regarding who won which races Despite the drizzle when finals were won Richard assembled the riders at the pits gate to receive their prizes. I sat on a chair while these presentations went on. It struck me there was no thought for the ‘elderly and infirm’ sat in a sea of mud with rain falling, on the third bend, but not to worry eh. Then it was all over till the next time. A good time was had by all. It was another great day out despite the weather. It’s been awhile since I wrote something about an amateur speedway meeting. The last time I went I got a request to write something in the future. I hope the ride who asked is satisfied with this little offering.

Perhaps they could get Lech Walesa in to give Ole Olson a hand. He knows a thing or too about organising 'a bit of a do'

And I bet you would have given her a sausage sandwich too eh

I think this thread should be renamed Ha Ha Hancock's Half Hour It would be a situation comedy starring Greg Hancock with Nikki Pedersen as Sid James guest starring Darcey Ward as Bill Kerr It could be set in a cosy speedway stadium in East Cheam The team could be called the East Cheam Fencers That should do it 'A pint of blood, that's nearly half an arm full'

Too true he should be banned from the rest of the meeting for dangerous riding well spotted

I have quest on my freeview and if you fetch the tv guide screen up and move it along till next Thursday you will see it is advertised

I couldn't possibly say which stadium it is, but what I can say is Florence is freelance and when she is 'high' can be in many places at the same time. I wouldn't want to narrow it down as it would lessen the tension, as the Unit, move in for the 'kill'. No doubt it will be every bit as exciting as watching a GP when you think about it. That's if you do think about it, that is

I was going to put sandwich bar attendant, but I thought toilet cleaning lady would be, you know, more controversial, hard hitting, things like that.

It will be Florence the stadium toilet cleaning lady

I think you hit the nail on the head there, once Blatter got the call from the BSPA !!!!!!

Halifax Dukes - never heard of em I will consult Uncle Sepp right after the meeting of the five families, to elect the FIFA Boss of Bosses, in Geneva tomorrow He will have a word with the BSPA and make them an offer they can't refuse!!!!! Word is one of Uncle Sepp's underlings is already at the stables grooming one of the horses

There is always a mystical bond between him and those of us who knew him then, the strength of which has not diminished since and never will. He was and is the embodiment of the 'Once and future King'.

Hope the FIM report on the Warsaw GP is as comprehensive as this one on Darcy Bored (sorry Ward)

For whom the bell tolls. A day of shame and chaos. A flagship sailing too close to the wind. All of it is as plain as the nose on your face. Before making any comment, on the meeting in Warsaw 18/04/2015, I waited to read what was said in the Speedway Star. All the questions expected to be asked were asked. It is said the PZM is contemplating legal action, therefore it needs to be made plain the reasons why, if they do so. It also needs to be made plain the reasons why if they decide not to do so. It is said the FIM have launched a major investigation into the Warsaw travesty (or tragedy). It needs to be made plain what this investigation involves on every level. It needs to be made plain when the investigation begins, who is involved in it, what are the speedway qualifications of those investigating and when the results will be published. All the details involved in the investigation need to be made plain so that justice can be done and the paying public can plainly see that justice has been done. It also needs to be made plain to the FIM that anything less than the truth of the matter would be deemed unsatisfactory and detrimental to speedway in general. It is suggested that people involved with the meeting didn’t do their job properly, the FIM therefore has no excuse if they don’t do their job properly. Jim Easter of Travel Plus Tours ‘wants assurances’ before committing to taking customers to anymore GPs held on temporary tracks. This piece suggested that Mr Easter can’t afford to ruin the reputation of his business when inviting people to an event that is expected to take place in the expected manner. Mr Easter saId his customers ‘were lovely on Saturday, they were understanding and very kind to my hard working team’. Therefore if needs to be made plain to Mr Easter and all of his customers and his potential customers that this won’t happen again. The piece entitled ‘Silence wasn’t golden’ concerned the reaction of the riders to all that was happening on and off the track. One of the questions asked, by Tony Hoare, was why didn’t the riders explain to the audience the reasons for their final decision not to ride, on the night? One answer is a possible ‘media blackout’. Therefore the riders either as individuals or as a group, at some point soon, need to make plain, and in depth, to those in attendance at the arena and to the speedway GP followers in general, their reasons why they refused to continue riding. Individual riders making seperate individual comments in other words ‘a little bit of this and a little bit of that’ does not constitute the plain truth The writer also classed the statement on the Speedway GB website as a ‘dismissive gesture’. He points out that no one from the FIM or BSI ‘was prepared to front up and answer questions on what had gone on and why. The 53000 deserved more respect than that.’ Recently Tony Blair made a comment stating why there should not be a referendum regarding the UK staying in the EU or not. He indicated that the British voter did not have the common sense to make the right decision. Perhaps the FIM and BSI have much the same regard for speedway fans as Blair does for the British electorate. Perhaps they believe speedway fans don’t have the common sense to understand the plain truth of what went on Saturday night. Some people may think politicians get angry, when put on the spot, if they are asked to give an honest straight yes or no to a specific question when, in their opinion, it is not possible for them to do so. Perhaps politicians don’t get angry because they are put on the spot about a particular issue, they get angry because as far as they are concerned it’s got toss all to do with us. Tony Hoare calls into question the lack of a response by FIM and BSI. Mr Hoare is it possible that neither party made a statement regarding the meeting to the 53000 because it had toss all to do with them, (the 53000 that is)? In the piece entitled ‘Humiliating’ the write describes the state of the track and the remedial efforts made to rectify the situation. The article also goes on to cite’ the Gelsenkirchen debacle of 2008 and the near chaos of Cardiff 2013’. The ‘FIM Probe article refers to ‘that pantomime night in Gothenburg’ and ‘who can forget the farce of the Latvian round last year which was called off and the meeting transported 140 miles from capital Riga to Daugavpils because of what were termed safety reasons- is scandalous and unforgivable’. The real point of all these articles in the Speedway Star is the damage done to the reputation of speedway and how to rectify it as soon as possible to everyones satisfaction. I read all the articles a number of times. Paying special attention to all those ‘hairy moments’ where other meetings were in danger of being called off, but for last minute remedial action. In the end, the article that stuck in my mind was that by Tony Hoare. He said ‘the people who emerged with dignity (regarding the whole business) were those fans, most of them Polish’ He also said, ‘When I covered GPs regularly for the Speedway Star in the 1990’s there would have been fears of a riot. In the stadium on Saturday , there was a hostile atmosphere, but it never turned nasty. The fans dropped their heads and walked out.’ On the Speedway Star letters page the first post is from someone who attended the meeting. Towards the end of the post they write, ‘ The first we knew it was off was when a photographer was making gestures to the crowd on the home straight that we should make for the exits.What other professional body with a responsibility for the organisation of such an event and the safety of the crowd, would leave matters to leak out in such a haphazard way? It was lucky that the crowd leaving the stadium proved to be as compliant as they were and lucky too, that the reported calling of the police to the stadium weren’t needed to marshal the fans or take control of what could have been a very incendiary situation.’ So again it can be said the real point of all these articles in the Speedway Star is the damage done to the reputation of speedway and how to rectify it as soon as possible to everyones satisfaction. Therefore it is not unreasonable to ask for the plain truth to be told regarding all the questions everyone is asking. While the FIM, BSI and all the other bodies involved in the organisation and running of the meeting that took place on Saturday are contemplating revealing the plain truth to the speedway supporting public, here is something else for them to contemplate. Speedway is a ‘family sport’ meaning men women and children attend who belong to the same family, that is one of speedways ‘main selling points’. Something for all the family to attend.The words ‘pantomime’ and ‘farce’ have been used to describe other disrupted meetings that were called off . Something to be ‘pissed off about’ when it is happening, but something ‘I can laugh about now’, years down the line. But think on this, the FIM, BSI and all the other bodies involved in the organisation and running of the meeting, while contemplating the plain truth. What if there had have been a riot? What if a photographer had been indicating to the crowd (the meeting was off and they might as well) leave the stadium and it turned out the meeting wasn’t off after all and people started returning to their seats against the rush of those trying to get out of the stadium? What if there had have been a riot and the police had been called to the stadium in force, to take control of what could have been ‘a very incendiary situation?’ Think on this, the FIM, BSI and all the other bodies involved in the organisation and running of the meeting, while contemplating the plain truth. There could have been a disaster unfold like the ones at Heysel, Hillsborough, Bradford and Ibrox. A disaster where people were killed or injured. What then the reputation of speedway? Overstating the issue? Look at the headlines used, ‘FIM probe, ‘Humiliating’, Fans must come first’, Silence wasn’t golden’ and ‘Black Day’. Look at the comments ‘a day of shame and chaos’, ‘Warsaw Travesty’ etc. If a disaster did unfold then perhaps the headline might read ‘Oh what a price we paid (speedway) for loving you’. If a disaster of that nature did occur what then of the plain truth? What would the FIM, BSI and all the other bodies involved in the organisation and running of the meeting have to say? That question brings to mind the old rhyme, ‘Who killed Cock Robin? Not I said the...........................’

Scunthorpe Amateur Speedway Meeting 01/03/2015 Slick or what ????? The call went out on 28/02/15, is anyone willing to wave a red flag at Scunthorpe, Sunday March 1st. ”Please Mr I will,” says I via facebook. ‘Wrap up warm a cold wind is blowing around these parts,” said Richard in reply, ‘We don’t want you to get your nether regions frozen or get blown through the air like Mary Poppins or Nanny Mcphee” A cold wind was blowing, it nearly blew me across the motorway at one point. The things we do for speedway eh!!!! Richard was also expecting rain, so he decided the meeting would begin at 11 am and finish by 3pm before the downpour began. Richard also wrote on facebook, ‘you probably haven't received your SCB 2015 license yet so you will need to fill in a day permit. Rules are rules I'm afraid.’ Well I didn’t know you had to be licensed to wave a red flag these days. But has paranoia rules the roost in speedway these days, I thought I’d best get there early and fill in the form. Otherwise I might have to undergo a FIM investigation and not be able to wave a red flag for mmmm at least 10 months, unjust or what eh, according of course, to your predilection!!! But when I arrived, all the red flag places had been taken, redundant or what eh??? So much for the SCB 2015 license!!! ‘Never mind Mr C”, said Richard, “someone will need a break at some point and then you will receive your flag of convenience”. Racing commenced 11 am, with four classes of riders, competing in 62 races. Looking through the listed riders on the racing sheet I noticed Greg Hancock was riding in the novices races. I thought Richard had done very well slipping Greg into the meeting without anyone noticing. I wondered if he needed a SCB 2015 license!!! While I was waiting my for my ‘flag of convenience’, in the pits area, I fell into conversation with a gentleman who said to me “ I notice Greg Hancock’s riding today”, I said it looks like it and probably Jason Crump and Nikki Pedersen will be there too, incognito. But it wasn’t Greg of course, it was Craig Hancock. “He will want to win a race, with a name like that”, said the gentleman. No doubt he would, thought I and I am sure he did. The racing began and the organisation was a sight to behold, the way riders lined up at the pit gate, ready to go out onto the track, while the previous race was still in motion. When the riders had taken the checkered flag, they rode round the back straight, were stopped at the pit gate, to let the next group of racers on the track. When those racers came on the previous group rode off into the pits. This was how it went from race one through to race sixty two, without pause, from start to finish. Slick or what eh!!! After hanging about for an hour or so, I was suffering red flag withdrawal symptoms and thought it about time I made my mark in speedway. Fortunately a red flag waver had to leave at that time so I ended up on the first bend with a worn out torn red flag that kept entangling itself round the end of the stick. But it is so much better to watch the racing from the centre green. You can see the racing close up and admire the technique, or lack of it, used by the riders in question. It’s interesting to see riders leave the tapes and power into the first bend. At that point they are all pursuing the line they want to take, meaning they come close together as they make the turn into the bend. Stood on the centre green you see this action close up. It’s impressive to see that even though they are travelling at high speed, how the riders are obviously aware of where they are on the track and where, those around them are also. You can also gauge the competence of a rider by observing this action and decide who is likely to come unstuck at some point during a race. Riders can misjudge the situation run wide or clip another rider as they try to find their position on the track. What is impressive is that for the most part the riders come out of the first bend in good order and proceed with the race, where you might expect them to collide and fall off far more than they do. This applies as much to the riders with experience and skill as it does to those with finding their feet in the sport. You have to be able to ‘mix it’ with the other riders if you want to make any headway in the sport. You also have to have confidence in the riders around you no matter what level you are riding at. I like to observe a riders technique throughout a race and it’s always better to see them ride close up on the centre green. The forty odd qualifying races proceeded, there were a number of riders coming off their bikes with one particular nasty looking fall involving two riders who had just passed through the first bend. Neither rider collided with each other, but the first ran into the fence, while the other fell behind him and a third rider also fell caught between deciding to lay his bike down or not. Fortunately all three got up, dusted themselves off and got on with it as speedway riders invariably do. After all qualifying races were over, which I didn’t realise at the time as the races went by so fast all the staff on the centre green suddenly disappeared. I thought, ‘is the meeting over already and I just don’t know it? Fancy leaving Mr. C all alone on his Jack Palance’!!!! Mentioning the name of the actor Jack Palance recalls an amusing anecdote from my attendance at the 1975 world final at Wembley. I was there with a group of friends, one of whom called Steve often used the phrase ‘on my Jack Palance’, when he was left on his own. Suddenly for reasons known only to himself, while we were sat in the stadium waiting for the meeting to begin, he suddenly announced loudly that Jack Palance was riding today. The rest of us chimed in saying ‘what you mean Jack Palance is actually riding”? “Yes,” said he “and a good job too, don’t you think” Suffice to say, we made a big and loud deal about this sudden unannounced additional rider in the meeting. People around us asked, “Who did you say was riding”? “Jack Palance”, said Steve, “top class American speedway rider of exceptional ability”. “Who’s he riding in place of”, they asked as this bit of ‘latest news’ gathered momentum around us? “Victor Trofimov”, said a very sharp Steve after a quick glance at the program. “Why, what’s wrong with him,” folk asked? “He couldn’t make it,” said the very quick Steve, “so they drafted Jack Palance in to take his place”. “Can they do that,” folk asked, something that would fill 300 pages on the BSF these days. “Well they must be able to do that,” said Steve feigning surprise at such a question, “otherwise he wouldn’t be riding would he”??? “Suppose not”, said folk who respected the fact that those who run speedway always know what they are doing. Steve strung this out for awhile till some bright spark suddenly said. “Jack Palance is an actor”!!!! “Doesn’t stop him riding in a speedway world final though,” said a laconic Steve, “if he wants to”. We finally told folk it was a joke just to pass the time with and being Halifax supporters we had to find something to laugh about!!!! So I am there all alone on the centre green wondering how long the break would be. But the treat of the day arrived at that very moment. Two little lads came out for a ride around. As the very young riders often do, for safety reasons, one went round to the tapes and the other went to the opposite side of the track and both set off to ride. They rode round in this manner for a number of laps realised they still had time on the track and did the same again. There came a point when it appeared they had had enough of riding in this manner and both of them came to the tapes side by side. It was obvious they’d decided to have a proper race instead of riding round as they had been. You could imagine the one saying to the other, “you be Emil Whereshefrom and I’ll be Darcey Laughitov the Siberian speedway sliders surfing round sunny Scunny on a blustery day.” Off they went side by side full tilt doing their thing racing as proper riders do and they did it so well, without any trace of uncertainty in what they were doing and no one was watching. The one passed the other a very smooth over take. The one overtaken didn’t lose his control but went off in pursuit, he didn’t catch him but he wasn’t far behind. They enjoyed it so much they did it all again and it was a treat to watch. Then it was all action again, the pits gate opened and it was ‘come on you two you’ve had your five minutes, get off the track, it’s time for finals”!!!! But they were, for me, the highlight of the day. The finals came and went, Richard will tell you who won what because the problem is on the centre green you can’t hear a word the announcer says. Craig Hancock was in there somewhere, or was it really Greg, but if he won or not I don’t know. Then all of a sudden if was all over. I looked at my watch and it was about 20 minutes past 2, impressive or what, slick too, just like the track with its three feet wide blue groove. The reason it was impressive is the meeting started at 11 am finished at 2:20 pm, subtract 20 minutes for the break, therefore the meeting took 3 hours to complete, in other words it took 180 minutes to run divided that by 62 races. This means each race took 3 minutes to complete. Three minutes from riders coming through the pits gate onto the track to race, completing the race and heading off back into the pits. It went on like that from first race to last race without a pause except for the 20 minute break. After the meeting I spoke with Richard and told him he deserved an MBE for what he did. Richard of course brushed it off as he always does stating that it is the staff and the riders working in tandem with each other that makes it happen as it does. But as I have said to him before you are the catalyst of it all. Richard would beg to differ but as he was about to do so a gentleman approached him and said, “another slick meeting Richard, well done”. Therefore I rest my case and leave it at that until the next time, I have to queue to wave a red flag!!!!! Link for audio account https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwJhqGhY-0s

Best wishes for a great New Year to the Ashworth Family

if you're indicating the link doesn't work it does for me ?

Recorded version of Amateur Meeting 7/12/14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liQ-z0LU5J8