Bydgoszcz

[Splatty]

it did seem a bit of a waste of time - although exactly the type of thing that could do us no end of good on our own TV to get bums on seats

[Rico]

We popped along to the 'Party' as well and I thought it was a pretty good gesture on behalf of the organisers affording fans the opportunity to see the majority of the riders.

 

Wasn't particularly my cup of tea but it was excellent PR and given the crowd of between 3,000 and 4,000 I'd say it was pretty well received.

 

Hearing the adulation afforded to Gollob, Jonsson and Smith was pretty special with the fans chanting, pleading with AJ to stay next season.

 

Hearing the ill-feeling toward Nicki P both at the party and at the meeting made me chuckle as well (I'm neither here nor there but it's good to hear the fans creating an atmosphere.)

 

Rico

[Splatty]

i'd forgotten about the scrum that descended on tomasz at the end - I reckon he must have still been signing autographs 3 hours later!

[Rico]

As promised a brief diary of the Bydgoszcz trip.

 

Got train up to Stansted on Wednesday afternoon to meet HenryW who was flying in from Edinburgh and we stayed in the Hilton in preparation for our early start in the morning. A few of the worlds most expensive bottled drinks were consumed as well as a £28.10 round which included one hamburger and a pizza, a bottle of bud and a JD & coke. As they have a totally captive market there they really take the pi$$ on their pricing.

 

Anyway, morning broke far too early and we were off on the shuttle bus to the airport where we bumped into StartTart and Joanne at various points. I took the outrageous move of flying sober so didn't particularly appreciate the handbrake turn at 3,000 feet as we approached Warsaw, otherwise the flight wasn't too bad.

 

A taxi ride to our hotel (5* Sheraton no less, cheaper than the crappy Hilton at Stansted - well done HenryW) and a meandre round Warsaw for a couple of hours. We tried to watch the speedway in Champions sports bar, but they only had SS1, SS2 and SSE available - sods law dictated the Thursday match was on SS3. Anyway Legia were playing away in Austria and the locals were enthusiastic in their backing.

 

Friday morning saw us on our way to Bydgoszcz and as we pulled out of Warszawa Zachodnie our party number had been doubled as 2 forum watchers joined us. We arrived in Bydgoszcz around 1430 and got a taxi straight to the hotel, dumped the bags and then headed off to buy tickets and watch a bit of practice. Upon sitting down at practice a text was received asking me to look behind and good old Mateusz Kulka was sat right behind us. Once practice was out the way we went for a couple of beers on a river boat beside the very impressive arena that the 'party' was taking place.

 

After the party we wandered back to the hotel, had a quick freshen up and then had some food. Then it was onto the Brda to meet the rest of the forumites. The party took a little while to get going but we certainly were all in good spirits as the night went on. Just as we were appearing to wind down around 1am in pop another 4 Monarchs fans, including B52, and that seemed to lift everyone again to such an extent I think it must have been around 4 or 5 am before the Pod Orlem saw me again. Vague recollections of encouraging people to join in my Kenny McKinna songs

 

Saturday arrived (around 2pm) and hurriedly we joined the others for food (Capri pizza house in Bydgoszcz, fantastic place) - things were a little giddy but the food seemed to settle me down a bit. We headed to the stadium around 4pm and met Mateusz and a lot of his friends and settled down into the swing of things. Could have done with a beer or two in the stadium, but it was probably a good thing in hindsight. Atmosphere was awesome and we saw a few of our fellow drinkers from the Friday night in the crowd. Only downside was our seats were way to close to the smoke bombs that were let off, one of which seemed to go on for an eternity. That didn't spoil the overall occasion though. I went in the hope of seeing a Gollob win and Tomasz didn't let me down. Here's to a fourth in a row next year. As we left the stadium I had the pleasure of bumping into a Polish fan from Gdynia that I'd met in Chorzow three years ago and it was nice to catch up with him, albeit briefly.

 

The post meeting plan was to head to Chesterfields, underneath the City Hotel. After a few drinks in our hotel HenryW, B52 and I headed along and the place was its usual throbbing self. It really can be a sight to behold. About an hour after we arrived, in poured 4 or 5 of the Friday night crew and the party really got going as B52 continually refreshed a tray of odd-looking blue liquid and passed it around. I reckon HenryW and I must have been not far off being last out around 5.15am. I'm not going to mention any more about the Saturday night to protect the not-so innocent and spare the innocent from having their names mentioned in the same breath. It was great fun anyway and I'm looking forward to seeing the photos and of course doing it all over again next year.

 

I've not mentioned all the great people I met at the weekend as I'm too scared of missing some of them out or naming and shaming them.

 

But one or two I must say a big THANKS to - MK for looking after us over the weekend, Splatty for providing us with lots of amusing moments, B52 for having a camera to hand to capture some of the shenanigans, HenryW for putting up with me for a week, FSP for being Finninsh, Pugwash for his namebadge, PapaB for looking slightly less like Timothy Spall, Tony Hadley for changing career and driving trains for WAGN, Andy Smith for being a living legend and Middlo for being an honest sort (no I'm not John Poss !!).

 

Sunday meant the 1054 train to Berlin (how we made that I'll never know) which was met by some riot police - hooligans on the train. Don't they get a long lie on a Sunday ?? Three nights in Berlin followed and sadly back home.

 

Rico

[Splatty]

a hum muma hey muma hey mum mckinna.........(or something like that)

 

class

(although I didn't think so on the train back to warsaw when I couldn't get it out of my head!)

[Rico]

That's the one Splatty

 

Send me a note of your e-mail address via here - I've got a little something for ya

 

Rico

[HenryW]

Haven't actually added any comments as I was waiting for Rico to post his promised outline of the trip, which he has now done.

 

Thought I would add that it was a fantastic weekend, as can always be expected of the Bydgoszcz GP. The racing wasn't the best but the atmosphere in the stadium was superb.

If you haven't been, get yourself over there ASAP.

 

I echo Pete's thanks to Mateusz for his assisntance during the weekend.

 

Met up with a fair few folks from the forum and had a great laugh on both Friday and Saturday night.

Top marks to Rico, Splatty and TheStartTart who managed to last until closing time each night. I can only apologise to them for the irrelevant drivel that I was no doubt talking by that stage each evening....not to mention my closing comment to f-s-p on Saturday, which I hope he doesn't remember!

 

Unlike Rico, I give no thanks to B52 for having a camera on Saturday night, having seen the horrendous results which I pray will never reach a wider audience, although I suspect they will.

The photo taken while we sang the McKinna song was particularly bad!

Splatty, how are there no photos of you looking totally smashed?

[Splatty]

Send me a note of your e-mail address via here - I've got a little something for ya 

 

 

Splatty, how are there no photos of you looking totally smashed?

 

that must mean I wasn't smashed then!

 

so you should apologise Ryan - you wouldn't catch me talking such rubbish

 

 

 

I hope that all forum meetings in the future are as much fun - this one was double the fun for me as was able to share it with big bro

[TheStartTart]

great pics Papa - brings back the lack of sleep involved! 

 

good to meet you too Luckystar 

 

and there was me thinking that it was one of your dreams StartTart!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Fact or Fantasy Splatty?, Bydgoszcz = Fact, Hangover = Fact =, My Dream = Fantasy(will never happen)

 

Send email address, have photo for you

 

PS Made breakfast on the Sunday, just..............

[f-s-p]

....not to mention my closing comment to f-s-p on Saturday, which I hope he doesn't remember!  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well, I dont... Wonder why???

 

My head was so full of new spw info, that it seemed long into sunday afternoon that any beer found its place. During the weekend I had the chance of speaking about speedway under influence for 72hrs, which is about the same that I get this "quality time" in Finland for a year.

I made an interview with Olli Tyrväinen, spoke with all you people, Middlo, Mr. Posselw, Scotty, Havvy (thanks to someone for sorting it out!), Rune, Kaj and his mechanics and dad, and my own friends also, who gave loads to remember for B&T Briggs!!!

 

Thanks again!

 

EDIT: forgot Tony Steele

Edited September 28, 2004 by f-s-p

[2ndbendbeerhut]

I wish I had read the warnings about Air Polonia before I travelled because I think that I had the same pilot as Papa Bazarou on my outward flight - the landing at Warsaw was unusual to say the least. On my return I found out that the Etudia departure lounge is a complete joke! Scott Nicholls and Mark Loram obviously knew the ropes because they checked in just in front of me but then disappeared until just before boarding - presumably they went for something nice to eat and drink in the main terminal whilst I sat drinking lousy coffee from the vending machine in the overcrowded departure lounge. Next time I won't make the same mistake.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

my outward flight was simliar, or could have been the same flight, went out on friday from stansted at 14.40. I thought it was strange when everyone clapped when we got to Warsaw.

 

i was on your flight on the way back though, i was behind Scott and Mark in the queue aswell..... but then sat with them in the bar thats to the left of the terminal. Food was a bit like the flight though, what a great landing again, was it just me or did you think we would never land, and as for the abrupt left turn at the end of the runway!! oh well heres to next year!

 

Karl

[Addy]

We were on that flight from Stansted too.

[Lucky Star]

my outward flight was simliar, or could have been the same flight, went out on friday from stansted at 14.40. I thought it was strange when everyone clapped when we got to Warsaw.

 

i was on your flight on the way back though, i was behind Scott and Mark in the queue aswell..... but then sat with them in the bar thats to the left of the terminal. Food was a bit like the flight though, what a great landing again, was it just me or did you think we would never land, and as for the abrupt left turn at the end of the runway!! oh well heres to next year! 

 

Karl

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I travelled out to Warsaw the week before because I also went to the Under 21 Final at Wroclaw so it seems that this is a regular occurrence with Air Polonia. On the return flight I thought that the guy was going to turn straight onto the M11 when he almost got to the end of the runway before turning sharply left!

 

Next year I think that I will go to the GP at Wroclaw in May if Poland get two GP's again and I will probably fly with another airline next time. Apart from easyJet the following other low cost carriers also fly to Poland: Wizz Air, Sky Europe and Air Berlin. I've flown with easyJet loads of times and their pilots do seem to know what they are doing. Has anyone any experience of flying with the other airlines mentioned above?

[Rico]

Next year I think that I will go to the GP at Wroclaw in May if Poland get two GP's again and I will probably fly with another airline next time. Apart from easyJet the following other low cost carriers also fly to Poland: Wizz Air, Sky Europe and Air Berlin. I've flown with easyJet loads of times and their pilots do seem to know what they are doing. Has anyone any experience of flying with the other airlines mentioned above?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am hoping for Wroclaw and Bydgoszcz again next year - both were excellent trips this year. Wish I'd had enough holidays to be able to go out for the Under21s and stayed in Poland for the week.

 

I flew Wizzair from Luton to Warsaw on August Bank holiday weekend.

 

Flight out was excellent, near enough perfect (and I'm not a good flyer at all). Flight back was ok apart from a couple of sudden drops as we approached Luton - there were quite a few 'ooooohs' from the passengers.

 

Wizzairs planes are Airbus330s which are a bit bigger than the Boeing737s used by AirPolonia and there was definitely a lot more room on board. (NB I'm not a planespotter !!)

 

Haven't used Air Berlin SkyEurope as yet. I would consider flying to one of the South Eastern German cities and getting the train across to Wroclaw next year.

 

Rico

[beercellar]

Next year I think that I will go to the GP at Wroclaw in May if Poland get two GP's again and I will probably fly with another airline next time. Apart from easyJet the following other low cost carriers also fly to Poland: Wizz Air, Sky Europe and Air Berlin. I've flown with easyJet loads of times and their pilots do seem to know what they are doing. Has anyone any experience of flying with the other airlines mentioned above?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am hoping for Wroclaw and Bydgoszcz again next year - both were excellent trips this year. Wish I'd had enough holidays to be able to go out for the Under21s and stayed in Poland for the week.

 

I flew Wizzair from Luton to Warsaw on August Bank holiday weekend.

 

Flight out was excellent, near enough perfect (and I'm not a good flyer at all). Flight back was ok apart from a couple of sudden drops as we approached Luton - there were quite a few 'ooooohs' from the passengers.

 

Wizzairs planes are Airbus330s which are a bit bigger than the Boeing737s used by AirPolonia and there was definitely a lot more room on board. (NB I'm not a planespotter !!)

 

Haven't used Air Berlin SkyEurope as yet. I would consider flying to one of the South Eastern German cities and getting the train across to Wroclaw next year.

 

Rico

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[beercellar]

Next year I think that I will go to the GP at Wroclaw in May if Poland get two GP's again and I will probably fly with another airline next time. Apart from easyJet the following other low cost carriers also fly to Poland: Wizz Air, Sky Europe and Air Berlin. I've flown with easyJet loads of times and their pilots do seem to know what they are doing. Has anyone any experience of flying with the other airlines mentioned above?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am hoping for Wroclaw and Bydgoszcz again next year - both were excellent trips this year. Wish I'd had enough holidays to be able to go out for the Under21s and stayed in Poland for the week.

 

I flew Wizzair from Luton to Warsaw on August Bank holiday weekend.

 

Flight out was excellent, near enough perfect (and I'm not a good flyer at all). Flight back was ok apart from a couple of sudden drops as we approached Luton - there were quite a few 'ooooohs' from the passengers.

 

Wizzairs planes are Airbus330s which are a bit bigger than the Boeing737s used by AirPolonia and there was definitely a lot more room on board. (NB I'm not a planespotter !!)

 

Haven't used Air Berlin SkyEurope as yet. I would consider flying to one of the South Eastern German cities and getting the train across to Wroclaw next year.

 

Rico

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

me and my mates flew air berlin to berlin this year then drove to torun,must say i was quit imprest with the flight there and back,lovely air hostesses,wasnt so impressed with the polish roads tho,esp the E30,wot a joke of a road,we came back on the 20 witch was a lot better,only 6 hours driving instead of 9,roll on next year,shame the tracks are all dry tho.