manchesterpaul

Glad you made clear the list, rightly, is for active tracks. To get over the problem of tracks that haven't staged a meeting recently or are planning to stage one down the line, one should make the list for the CURRENT year. Some of the one-off GP tracks are pretty unlikely to stage a meeting again or at least in the near future, which makes a listing for each specific year the right path to follow. One can always add a couple of extra little lists of tracks planning to hold meetings or having held meetings recently, particularly in respect of one-off tracks. The more i think about this topic practice tracks should not be included in the main list. If a rich speedway rider builds his own practice track in his own grounds or a field somewhere you would then have to include that. 80cc i now think should not qualify as the sport itself is for 500cc bikes. Certainly Ice Speedway should have it's own section such as Long Track and Grass Track ie separate sports in their own right. Again if one uses qualification as 'current' then any new tracks to have planing permission will pop into the list as and when/if they are up and running. Once more training tracks need to have their own list?

Because Hi-Fi, TV's etc. are graduated in decibels below the nominal maximum output, which is 0dB of attenuation. (now tell the truth, dontcha just love it when a bloke gets all sexy by talking technical to you lol)

I trust that there is no fiddling of the figures going on? By that i mean surely we are not counting Grass Tracks towards the total. It may be worth having a closer look at the German, Dutch and other countries. Also, i personally, would not include a track if it only stages Long Track racing. If, with a little more time, we are able to establish a firmer list, it would only be right to categorize tracks to differentiate between a training track and one that stages bona fide meetings for paying spectators, be that in a league competition or a single annual meeting. On the subject of training tracks, i feel 80cc ones should be kept in a separate section. Possibly, even if, people pay entrance to watch the meetings??? - not too sure on that, leave it to others opinions to establish. Interesting thread and hope (i'll try) people can find a little time to make it accurate.

Does anyone have any decibel figures for previous Cardiff meetings? Just wondering where it fits into the following levels and established facts. Children's hearing is particularly sensitive to noise. While the inner ear is completely developed at birth and has the complete complement of hair cells, the ear canal is much smaller, and sounds entering the ear canal become louder because they develop in a smaller space. That can translate into as much as a 20-decibel difference between adult and infant ears; thus, infant ears can be damaged more easily than adults' hearing. A normal conversation is about 60 decibels, lawnmowers and shop tools run at 90 decibels or so, a chainsaw at 100, a rock concert at 115, and a jet engine at 120 or higher. In testing the decibel output of toy musical instruments, dolls, MP3 and CD players, and more, many exceeded the 80-85 level at which it is safe for children* to be exposed to the sound for extended periods of time. In general it is best if toys do not exceed 80 to 85 decibels. *(let's not forget we are fearing for a child on the baby end of the scale of childrens ages) As a general rule, if you have to shout to be heard, then you should avoid the situation or use ear protection. Normal levels: 60 dB = normal conversation 35 dB = whispered voice Very loud: 80 dB = alarm clock, city street traffic 70 dB = vacuum cleaner Extremely loud: 105 dB = helicopter 100-115 dB = iPods used at maximum levels 100 dB = snowmobile, chain saw, pneumatic drill, night clubs 95 dB = motorcycle 90 dB = lawnmower, shop tools, truck traffic, subway 90 dB = noisy toys 80-96 dB = restaurants Unsafe Levels of Exposure: 110 decibels or louder : regular exposure of more than one minute risks permanent hearing loss. 100 decibels: No more than 15 minutes of unprotected exposure is recommended. 85 decibels: Prolonged exposure to any noise above 85 decibels can cause gradual hearing loss. Dangerous levels: 150 dB = rock music peak 140 dB = firearms, jet engine 130 dB = jackhammer 120 dB = jet plane take-off, amplified rock music at 4-6 ft., car stereo, band practice 120 dB = ambulance siren 120 -140 dB = Motorcycles, firecrackers I do presume that the little one's hearing won't be sacrificed in order for Bertie not to have to stand on his tod at Cardiff

I should make clear that i wasn't suggesting their statto should be hung, drawn and quartered. It was just an observation and i was more chuckling away at the fact that they insistently kept saying that Gollob and Hampel were level, and i'm sure the majority of fans knew that was wrong. Not for the first time this season after watching a GP (and domestic Sky matches) i went off out for a few hours on a high. Then had another few hours of entertaining sport watching the UFC (as in boxing is dead, long live the UFC). As mentioned their coverage is superb, i was well entertained and happy, and although slightly annoying their clanger made me chuckle more than anything. The thread was meant in a lightish vein, i've not really been thrown into deep despair and anguish gnashing me teeth because i've had enough lol.

????? Yawnnnnnn! (and you know why)

I have always been one of the staunchest supporters of both Sky and the SGP. Like many others i only came back to speedway after catching sight of it on Sky Sports. The production of the whole programme, save for the basic maths side, is superb. As for the SGP well wow! 11 World Finals in a year and all the surrounding publicity that attracts for the sport in each of the markets. Certain newspaper sports editors must be seething at having to give up more than their one article a year in the old World Final days. Also, it evidently is a better and fairer system to decide the best rider in the world. With the old system a rider could dominate everyone all year long only for a single engine failure, missed start or fall gift the title to someone else. Even on rare occasions when i do agree with a criticism of the commentators, i make clear that the job itself is not easy to do. As for the use of cliches being so critically targetted on here, well i suggest people record themselves and then play it back and see how often, in order to describe a race, you develop your own list of cliches.

Well chuffed and bursting with pride lol

I enjoyed every second of it. I was the one who ages ago started a thread predicting that this season's series would be one of best ever. It's just that i suggest to many non speedway fans to watch the SGP (and on the whole even the normal weekly speedway has been very good on Sky this year) but they get very confused when the commentators repeatedly make a statement only to (usually without apology or admission) totally turn it on it's head. Many scratched heads ensue.

I'm so glad i made my own spreadsheet for my computer that after each race instantly updates a meetings standings and in the case of the SGP the series standings. It's nearly always a farce when it comes to them working out the impending semi-final qualifiers. They often get the permutatons so wrong. At least i'm safe in the knowledge of always being aware of what is at stake for each rider in the final round of races. Tonight was just plain comical. Ad nauseum they repeatedly said Gollob and Hampel were level at the the top of the series standings.......Nooooo they weren't! Too be honest one didn't even need a spreadsheet to work out the points of the riders, they went through the workings and still got it wrong! Who on earth does their simple mathematical tasks? It is not rocket science.

I've just been puzzled myself as to why there was apparently no interest in these qualifiers whilst looking in the SGP section. Then as i was logging out i had an thought to check in the 'international' section of the forums. Sure enough, once again, annoyingly a 100% SGP topic has been started in the international section rather than the SGP section. Regarding earlier pleas for information as to the line-ups and results (sorry been out all night, was a good one lol), I'll take the opportunity here to link to an excellent source for line-ups and results with all the subsequent quality links to the SGP itself past, present and future Wikipedia 2011 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification Apologies i wasn't around earlier to supply that link.

I've just been puzzled myself as to why there was apparently no interest in these qualifiers. Then as i was logging out i had an thought to check in the 'international' section of the forums. Sure enough, once again, annoyingly a 100% SGP topic has been started in the international section rather than the SGP section. I'll take the opportunity here to link to an excellent source for line-ups and results with all the subsequent quality links to the SGP itself past, present and future Wikipedia 2011 Speedway Grand Prix Qualification

With respect some people on here need some SERIOUS mental therapy. Once again this year, a meeting on Sky (particulary a GP) has been great entertainment. Yet again tonight i feel so proud of this great sport. Superb entertainment with a plethora of subplots and twists. A great fantastic and ENJOYABLE spectacle and it's certainly put me in the mood for a rollicking night out, well on a high after that meeting. FF(lips)S you got a life enjoy it. Great evening of entertainment.

Very nice write up in the Copenhagen Post; '2010 FIM Dansk Metal Danish Speedway Grand Prix Danger, excitement, thrills, spills and entertainment; expect it all at this years Danish Speedway Grand Prix. Parken plays host again to one of the most skilled sports ever and whether youre a motorsport maniac or not, everyone is welcome at this breathtaking event. Never been to speedway? Dont worry, its simple to follow. Four riders keep turning left over four laps of an oval track and each race is over in less than a minute. Its simple not for the drivers though with a great deal of technique involved. They race 500cc single-geared machines with no brakes. Blink and you may just miss all the fun. The engines are single cylinder, fixed gear power units, fitted into the chassis of the bike frame horizontally and fuelled by methanol. The engine makes up the major weight of the bike as there are few other parts to the machine. They are not allowed to weigh less than 80kg. Copenhagen welcomes round number four of the speedway season, following last months event in Prague, Czech Republic. Danish rider Kenneth Bjerre leads the current championship standings despite an average performance in Prague. The rider from Esbjerg is joined by his fellow Danes, Nicki Pedersen and Hans Andersen, who are the elite in a long line of Danish stars of speedway. Last years race was won by Jason Crump from Australia, who will be on view again this time around. Some 28,000 tickets are available for this extraordinary event and demand is set to be high with six temporary tracks in place for the riders. Visitors come from far and wide from all over Europe and BSI Speedway managing director Paul Bellamy puts this down to the excellent work of Parken. The Grand Prix in Copenhagen has developed into one of our biggest events and we are looking forward to working with Parken, Wonderful Copenhagen, Dansk Metal and our Danish suppliers to ensure each year the event gets bigger and better for the fans, he says. The supporters - who come from across Denmark, Europe and the world year after year - make this event very special for everyone involved. One man who has been integral to the continued success of the grand prix at Parken is current FIM race director Ole Olsen. All six speedway tracks at Parken have been constructed under Olsens watchful eye and he, more than many, knows what it means to the riders to take part in such a big event under the floodlights of a national stadium. Parken creates its own unique atmosphere, the former three times world champion explains. As the stadium fills up with spectators, you can feel the excitement and anticipation building. As a rider, you feed off the fans and when a stadium is full you can hear them from inside your helmet and you automatically respond to that reception. It is a very special occasion for both riders and supporters and Im looking forward to being part of that experience again.' The FIM Danish Speedway Grand Prix is the largest single sporting event in the country and it has developed into a genuine Copenhagen event, broadcast to over 100 countries on TV.' It will live up to the hype won't it

It's speedway grand prix night so, with sunshine days either side of the event, expect tornado's, monsoons, hellfire and a little damnation thrown in too. Otherwise latest forecast is Saturday Clear. High: 22 °C . Wind SW 14 km/h . Saturday Night Scattered Clouds. Low: 12 °C . Wind NW 10 km/h .

My german is a little rusty, however, fairly sure the following is pretty much the story. It would seem team chief Rene Schafer has cut off their nose to spite their face?, not sure, confirmaton or negation would be nice. Christian Heffenbrock was indeed nominated in the inital team. Thomas Stange was merely a standby reserve for training on Sunday. On Thursday the manager phoned Heffenbrock to say he would have to attend the practice. Christian had already signed contracts and was eager to link up with his sponsors in the East German Whitsun weekend classics that are a highlight of the year. He claims that compulsory practice in Abensberg was never mentioned. The manager it would seem took a stand against Heffenbrock as i understand he is under more criticism because Tobias Kroner also missed practice! Heffenbrock's parting comment was that he must accept the decision but hopes it isn't the wrong one for the German team.

RESULT 1. Czech Republic - 53 pts. QUALIFY FOR WORLD CUP EVENT 1 1. Ales Dryml - 12 (2,3,2,3,2) 2. Matej Kus - 10 (1,2,2,2,3) 3. Lukas Dryml - 11 (2,3,2,2,2) 4. Michal Malek - 9 (3,2,2,1,1) 5. Zdenek Simota - 11 (1,3,1,3,3) 2. Germany - 50 pts. 1. Martin Smolinski - 14 (3,3,2,3,3) 2. Tobias Kroner - 12 (3,1,3,2,3) 3. Kevin Wölbert - 8 (3,1,1,1,2) 4. Thomas Stange - 5 (w,1,1,3,w) 5. Frank Facher - 11 (2,1,3,3,2) 3. Latvia - 43 pts. 1. Viacheslav Geruckis - 6 (1,2,1,1,1) 2. Maksims Bogdanows - 12 (2,3,3,1,3) 3. Jevgenijs Karavackis - 5 (w,2,1,2,u) 4. Leonids Paura - 9 (2,2,3,1,1) 5. Kjastas Puodzuks - 11 (3,1,3,2,2) 4. Norway - 4 pts. 1. Kim Rudi Juritzen - 0 (0,0,0,d,d) 2. Tord Solberg - 0 (0,-,0,0,0,0) 3. Marius Rökeberg - 2 (1,0,0,0,1) 4. Stein Roar Pedersen - 2 (1,0,0,0,1) 5. Henrik Bauer Hansen - 0 (d,-,-,-,-) Latvian riders names as spelt on Latvian site Norway a bit of a shocker even thought expecting them to finish last. Also thought Germany might have pipped Cech but was hard to predict.

Does anyone know if this is being televised in any shape or form?. Ideally live and with an internet stream to access. It's due to start 13:00 BST and looks to have the potential to be a good meeting with only one team going through. UPDATE Found a video preview of the meeting here http://www.tvaktuell.com/default.aspx?ID=5164&showNews=728085 so hopefully at the very least there may be highlights to come???

If so they bribed him to make the wrong decision for them, as i won a very tidy four figure sum on Gollob.

I'm very surprised that despite repeat showings of the rear angle view the commentators claimed Jonsson's leg was taken away. A perfect parallel is when a footballer stays on his feet in the penalty box despite the close attention of a defender and doesn't get a penalty given when it would be easier to fall down and gain such a decision. It was Jonsson's amazing speedy and dexterous ability to avoid the back wheel of Gollob that meant he was never touched. He lifted his leg over from the leading front of Gollob's wheel to behind the dirt deflector. Whilst that likely saved him from a horrible crash it also meant there was no contact and therefore Jonsson was excluded for coming off his bike and as such the cause of the stoppage. I agree i also cringed when the commentator often said this is outstanding speedway etc when IT WAS NOT. The exact thought went through my mind at such times that, if anyone takes that statement at face value they will indeed think that this is the peak of the excitement and 'big deal'. I knew there was plenty of superior races to come - which there duly was. He doesn't seem able to read a race either, he'll say this is an amazing battle and it is clear that at the exit of the bend or down the straight the riders are about to be spread out. It's a very stupid and damaging exaggeration that does nothing but harm to the sport as far as keeping non speedway viewers tuned in. Overall i enjoyed the meeting and there were plenty of subplots, too numerous to mention here, that made it a lively event and for Prague a fair smattering of good racing and incidents.

Not too sure why you seem to often have a pop at my posts but 'State Of Emergency In Czech Rep, Floods, record rain fall ongoing and more to come' were all true. I did update the forecasts as forecasts, like the weather, CHANGE

Please, please keep in touch with your emailing friend from Prague. As mentioned earlier the most accurate weather status is by somebody sticking their head out the window and if that head is in Prague...perfect. It's the forecast that another poster gave earlier that is still quoting thunderstorms. The link i use that is 'usually' accurate predicts only a little rain http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/11518.html

The storms are forecast for Friday and Saturday. As of 11am Thursday on Sandie's site they are still forecasting thunder and lightning over tee two days mentioned and on the link i use the chance of rain has now increased.

Nooooooo! Sandie don't go back to the site you mentioned, it now has lots of little pics of 'Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me (Galileo) Galileo (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro Magnifico-o-o-o-o ...etc etc' I think best thing to do is as in this country, ignore the forecasts and see what is there when you get there. No point wasting time in worrying about something until it's there to be faced lol. Best of luck and fingers crossed for everyone going over there.

A big decrease in the severity of the rain now forecast. This taken from this afternoon's forecast for PRAGUE specifically. Tuesday Night Chance of Rain. Partly Cloudy. Low: 6 °C . Wind NW 25 km/h . 20% chance of precipitation (trace amounts). Wednesday Chance of Rain. Partly Cloudy. High: 14 °C . Wind West 25 km/h . 30% chance of precipitation (water equivalent of 0.71 mm). Wednesday Night Chance of Rain. Partly Cloudy. Low: 7 °C . Wind West 18 km/h . 20% chance of precipitation (trace amounts). Thursday Chance of Rain. Partly Cloudy. High: 18 °C . Wind NW 18 km/h . 20% chance of precipitation (trace amounts). Thursday Night Chance of Rain. Scattered Clouds. Low: 11 °C . Wind NNW 14 km/h . 30% chance of precipitation (water equivalent of 1.38 mm). Friday Chance of Rain. Partly Cloudy. High: 17 °C . Wind NNW 18 km/h . 30% chance of precipitation (water equivalent of 0.73 mm). Friday Night Chance of Rain. Scattered Clouds. Low: 10 °C . Wind NNW 18 km/h . 20% chance of precipitation (trace amounts). Saturday Chance of Rain. Partly Cloudy. High: 19 °C . Wind North 21 km/h . 20% chance of precipitation (trace amounts). Saturday Night Chance of Rain. Scattered Clouds. Low: 10 °C . Wind NNW 18 km/h . 20% chance of precipitation (water equivalent of 0.31 mm).