Paulco Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 (edited) The snag is CRM, we have a 10 p.m. curfew. If they had delayed the start much longer they couldn't be certain of completing the meeting and that would have been a much bigger disappointment to everyone. You have my sympathy Tigerfeet, but to be fair the situation on Friday afternoon/evening was exceptional. As I have posted on another thread, there were actually 5 separate crashes on the roads in the area from about 4.30 p.m. onwards (and 15 people taken to hospital) STORY HERE We have lived here for 17 years and I cannot remember anything quite so bad before, not even on bank holidays. On a happier note. at least the weather was kind to us. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole evening, although obviously a little disappointed with Somerset's result. We are used to watching good racing at the OTA but Friday was just fantastic. Congratulations to the Islanders, a well deserved win. Holder was just amazing - what a weekend he's had! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yeah that was so frustrating being stuck in all that watching the clock ticking towards the start time and not being able to move anywhere . But we missed 5 heats of speedway - some people are lying in hospital . Anyway it was a great meeting and we were sooooooo close . For 3 laps we had it , but not to be . I passed a few Monarchs fans on the way out who were a bit relieved they weren't in attendance at another Glasgow triumph That would have made my night Cheers Kev and Joanne for your company and keeping me informed when i was stuck on the M5 . Edited July 2, 2007 by Paulco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dietbowers Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Yeah that was so frustrating being stuck in all that watching the clock ticking towards the start time and not being able to move anywhere . But we missed 5 heats of speedway - some people are lying in hospital . Anyway it was a great meeting and we were sooooooo close . For 3 laps we had it , but not to be . I passed a few Monarchs fans on the way out who were a bit relieved they weren't in attendance at another Glasgow triumph That would have made my night Cheers Kev and Joanne for your company and keeping me informed when i was stuck on the M5 . <{POST_SNAPBACK}> oooh,i bet that hurt passing afew monarchs,it`s always called stones down here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leigh Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Cheers Kev and Joanne for your company and keeping me informed when i was stuck on the M5<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sorry I missed you Paulco, didn't know you were there (serves me right for not being on the forum much any more I guess ) Great meeting, originally wasn't going to be there but decided on Thursday that we were and am I glad we did?! Wouldn't have missed Holder's rides around the Oak Tree Arena on Friday night for anything! Him beating Zorro (as much as I like the guy) was something I wasn't expecting to see! Great racing from everyone and a great night's entertainment all round! Nice to see all the fans from different clubs enjoying the night! Nice to see SCB, Silver Cheetah, Buzzybee, Kev H and Joanne again too, even if it was only briefly at the end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevcfc Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Super meeting, loads of good racing, big crowd, decent weather, great view of the track and well organised (can't blame the promotion for the traffic can ya!). Pity Wrighty kept making an arse of bend 4 or we could have been looking at a Comets win Holder, Capt Niemo and Pepe Franc stood out on the night, although there were plenty of other good performances. Credit to Glasgow as I didn't think Wato looked particulary fast but they rode well 'as a pair', which is what it's all about. Sheffield were crap, pretty embarassing for Compton after his pre-meeting dig about not getting into the GB squad Don't see to much of Ashworth but he strikes me as a tryer who's just not quite good enough against the PL big boy's Thanks to TinyTim, Swedebasher (never bumped into you though m8), John and Jane(?), Les (or Len?) the sick driver and the others I met at the meeting. Maybe bump into some of you next year with any luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Cheers Kev and Joanne for your company and keeping me informed when i was stuck on the M5 . <{POST_SNAPBACK}> No problem, Paulco. Pleased to meet you and hope we can share your company again. Thanks for the pint yesterday Took us a hour to get to Somerset from Bridgwater, knew there was something wrong straight away so put the radio on. Didn't seem to be that many in the stadium although it was quite full after heat 5 approx. due to the traffic. Not a bad meeting. Would have been better with a Glasgow win but I suppose the IOW deserved it more. We were only sort of average throughout the meeting. I think we must have been in the bar about 10 mins after the meeting in Bridgwater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobydoo1 Posted July 2, 2007 Report Share Posted July 2, 2007 Brilliant meeting, Took us 6 hours to get there from cheshire when it normally takes 2 1/2 never mind We came to sell wristbands in aid of Garry Stead so thanks so much to all thoose that purchased them we managed to raise £180 towards the Garry Stead Fund if we manage to sell them all there is a large sum of money to be raised for Garry . So if you have'nt got yours yet please pm us for further details Cheers Scoobydoo1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted July 3, 2007 Report Share Posted July 3, 2007 Well done to the IOW for winning the PL Pairs and especially to Chris Holder who was the star of the meeting as he was today at the Welsh Open. Glasgow had the more evening pairing collecting good team advantages throughout the night but just ran out of steam in the final. My 1st visit to the Oak Tree Arena and the racing was superb with riders always scrapping coming out of the 2nd bend especially and ride and pass of the night has to go to Josef Franc when he cut back on Kauko Niemenen..fantastic!! Sheffield just never got going and could not gate and even when they did there was just no pace in the bikes. Even if they have not ridden for 3 weeks that is no excuse the bikes should be prepared and ready for action..so much for Andre saying in the program "after Sheffield somerset is probably the best track to suit mine and Rickys style".. Oh well not gonna let it dampen the weekend just one of them all too commen poor performances this season from our boys and lets hope we can do get more than 15 at Lynn, beat Holder on Thursday, stuff Rye House on saturday and shut you lot up and then win the fours...yeah a no am hoping. As for getting their late no sympathy they should no the M5 would be busy at that time..Andre only got there early according to the man himself due to Peter carr doing some lunatic antics down the hard shoulder for many a mile. When Ricky turned up at 7.15pm you thought he might have got changed in the van like Ostergaard had done but no had he heck strolls out of van with a big grin on his face..sort it out Ricky..as some Sheffield fans were saying he is not gonna get any better am afraid and its time to move on!! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Have to agree with you about Ricky, getting far to comfortable at Sheffield, will he be moved on, I doubt it Sheffield Window Centre might have something to say about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Diamond Posted July 3, 2007 Report Share Posted July 3, 2007 Well done IOW for winning the pairs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoddy Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 Have to agree with you about Ricky, getting far to comfortable at Sheffield, will he be moved on, I doubt it Sheffield Window Centre might have something to say about that. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Said it before the season and still saying it now that I wouldn't have personally had Ricky back at Sheffield this year. I'm not sure how much further he can go in the sport than the level he is at now. I have to admit he has definitely shown flashes that he can be a very good rider but he is doing his career no good by just 'Birko-ing' around Owlerton at the crucial stage of his development that he is at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hannibal Thomas Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 If Ricky is serious about progression, he needs to change his home track. Riding alongside Lyons would be a good move for him next year, as he seems to learn from the old wizard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Third Man Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 (edited) There seems to be a number of riders who are well within their comfort zone at sheffield and if they do want to progress in the sport they have to take a long hard look at themselves, mainly ricky and ben, niether of which have made the expected progress this season, especially as the league is a lot weaker than it was last year. the only two riders who have progressed this season are paul cooper and joel parsons who need to be the first two names on next seasons team sheet along with kyle and lee complin, if either of those two will ride for sheffield again Edited July 4, 2007 by The Third Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoddy Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 There seems to be a number of riders who are well within their comfort zone at sheffield and if they do want to progress in the sport they have to take a long hard look at themselves, mainly ricky and ben, niether of which have made the expected progress this season, especially as the league is a lot weaker than it was last year. the only two riders who have progressed this season are paul cooper and joel parsons who need to be the first two names on next seasons team sheet along with kyle and lee complin, if either of those two will ride for sheffield again <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not much to add to that really - agree with every single word! Only additional comment is I'd like to see Cooper up his away form too - brilliant at home this year but needs to get better elsewhere of we're looking at another on our ever lengthening list of Owlerton only riders. Think I'd keep Andre at number 1 as I can't see where we are going to get better from but Andre, Kyle, Complin, Joel and Cooper looks like a pretty good basis for a side next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 Made my first visit to the OTA on Friday night and may I say what a fantastic little place it is, great racing surface, announcer in the box was superb very articulate and informative, good to see Craig Saul there on the roaming mike just love the guys nicknames for everone! and I love the way the track is below you when on the banking. Went along to see my second team the Mercom Brummies, who with the loss of Jason Lyons really ended their hopes. Great nights racing well done to the IOW. I agree with what everyone has been saying about the Sheffield boys, I have seen alot of the Tigers and must say Ricky really has hit a wall, as an opposing rider I would think you had a very good chance of beating him in heat one and thirteen, take Somerset both Kramer and Zorro are a great top two are very capable on any track in the country. Ben Wilson is another who really needs a move away from Owlerton to further his career. On the subject of Kyle I don't think he'll be back at Sheffield, I think a move to the Elite will be on the cards, the EOES would be a great new home for him ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marron Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 (edited) The tannoy system seemed to be the old version. I was stood on the back straight and everything the announcer said was echoed so you couldn't here what he was saying. I found the racing average and we were very poor. Edited July 4, 2007 by marron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 Must admit did fancy Havvy and Grieves at the start of the meeting, is Havvy still struggling with the injury a little or just getting back into the swing of things ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marron Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 Must admit did fancy Havvy and Grieves at the start of the meeting, is Havvy still struggling with the injury a little or just getting back into the swing of things ? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think he and grievesy just had an off night. He did well at Rye on Sunday and has been banging in the points for us Home and Away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 Havvy is a tope bloke, was fantstic in the few years he was with the Panthers, i'll never forget about four years ago he was guesting for us at time and run a lap with his bike to pick up a point, will never forget that especially only being a guest, a true professional and great ambassador for Britsh Speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marron Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 Havvy is a tope bloke, was fantstic in the few years he was with the Panthers, i'll never forget about four years ago he was guesting for us at time and run a lap with his bike to pick up a point, will never forget that especially only being a guest, a true professional and great ambassador for Britsh Speedway. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Very insirational captain and is a great motivator towards the team. I agree that he is a true honest pro who always gives 110%. Grieves has also been great this season for us and has surely got to be in the top 6 PL signings of the season so far. Espescially as he had so many doubters (including me). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 thought it would benefit from banking on the corners though to really make it a top circuit entertainment wise.Somerset already is a great circuit and doesn't need banking to improve it. On Friday once it had dried out you saw riders trying different lines, and all of them seemed pretty effective. A very good meeting, and just reward for Somerset who have brought the sport to a new area and as a club have come a long way in a short time. All credit to them and I sincerely hope that this becomes a regular eve-of-GP meeting from now on. Graham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
womble53 Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 (edited) I found the racing average and we were very poor.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> I take it you were watching from the back of the beer tent then ? ..............at least you got one bit right !! A great meeting (as you'd expect from the best track in British speedway).<{POST_SNAPBACK}> A superb meeting on a crackingly prepared racestrip.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> This was a great meeting...........It was a shame that Sky didnt cover the pairs, it was a great advert for the sport. Good close racing, overtaking<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Cracking night, I also hope the OTA get another top meeting next year before the GP, what a night.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> My first visit to the OTA. And what a treat..........The PL Pairs was a great meeting on a terrific race track.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> just back from whole weekend of speedway - though the track at OTA was superbly prepared and produced some great racing<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Brilliant meeting<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Edited July 4, 2007 by womble53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.