cityrebel

and Exeter!

The weather looks a bit dodgy at the moment. I hope it's not a repeat of last weeks mudbath.

Not attractive to the majority of hammers fans though, that is the problem.

I've actually got one of the league champions shields that was given to the riders. I got it from the late lee dunton a couple of years ago.

Don't forget medical cover, which don't come cheap.

anders is a tidy little rider sid, getting better all the time. Riding for uncle Len obviously suits him. I can remember him having demonstration rides at rye when he was just a nipper.

The vast majority of my meetings this year have been At NL level. I've done a few top flight meetings, but only one at championship level. This is mainly down to geographics. Living in the south east everything is NL apart from rye, and that suits me fine. My last two meetings at Eastbourne and Kent were run in very wet conditions with full commitment from the riders, which is the way it should be.

the track seemed to be in a different place, compared to my last visit to the masters about three years ago. The surface was very tricky on sunday, even the chairs were struggling at times.

I was there as well Steve. From memory, didn't Tommy win the 2nd half final.

A lot of the greatest riders in the history of the sport have combined speedway with grass and long track. At the time speedway was a household sport, not a minority like it is now. Those guys were multi talented motorcyclists that could ride a variety of surfaces. Not like some of the modern day riders that can only ride dry, slick tracks devoid of any dirt.

I had the gods on my side this weekend. Big showers at eastbourne on saturday, same again at swingfield for the masters on sunday, and again at kent last night. It's nice when it goes for you in dodgy weather!

Regarding tape infringements. When I first started going to speedway as a wee lad in the late 1960's, it was common practice for riders to roll into the tapes in order to get a flyer. The great Ivan Mauger was a master at this.

maybe some of that is needed today.

that is the million dollar question.

Frank was a former Rayleigh rockets supporter, who understood the sport from a fans point of view. I loved his no nonsense approach to refereeing. No mucking about at the tapes, just get the races run so we can all get home at a decent time!

The mugs that make the rules are the ones who should be banned!

Gale force winds and showers. All the ingredients needed for a buster off!

The problem is, most of the clubs in the present NL couldn't afford a raise in standards if the sport went to two leagues. Sadly i think some track closures will occur this winter.

I'm not a lakeside fan, so why should I care what league they race in. Any level of speedway is better than no speedway in my eyes.

there were quite a few speedway riders racing on the field today, that I'd hardly call amateurs.

1pm dave. Grasstrack meetings can run for 4 hours plus, but today was a much quicker affair because of the dodgy weather.

Harris did ride in the masters today, I saw it with my own eyes!

Harris had a fall in his first ride and retired in his next two. The track was very tricky today due to rain on the previous couple of days. The masters was won by James shanes, with Paul hurry second and Eddie Kennett third.

Fair play to all of the riders, for trying to put on a show in horrendous conditions.

That's why I love the NL. No nonsense from these boys.