Ben Fund Meeting

[Ben91]

Correct they do it for themselfs not for are entertainment ...

 

pedant

 

if we are being picky it's themselves too, however this thread is about today's meeting if I'm not mistaken.

Edited March 14, 2010 by RocketBen1

[orion]

pedant

 

if we are being picky it's themselves too, however this thread is about today's meeting if I'm not mistaken.

 

fair enough

[tocha]

"The other guy" you refer to was me 'Blazeaway' - sorry don't know exactly who you are - and I went along today to watch, paid my admission bought a programme, began to wish I'd worn a heavier coat and jumper pretty quickly was then asked circa 90 minutes before the start time if I wouldn't mind doing the box as Craig was going to go on the radio mic rather than be up there. Sorry if I was a "tad dull" but having only had five hours kip last night, having done no preparation as I just didn't expect to be doing anything other than watching and enjoying the meeting, I can only apologise for my dullness!

 

Just glad to see such a big turn out for a very worthy cause for which, hopefully, much money was raised.

 

Bryn Williams

 

Well it might have been worse Bryn. They could have had me!

Edited March 14, 2010 by tocha

[Trees]

Correct they do it for themselfs not for are entertainment ...

Correct and they MUST always remember that they wouldn't bloody get paid for it unless we turn up to watch!

[Tony The Tiger]

"The other guy" you refer to was me 'Blazeaway' - sorry don't know exactly who you are - and I went along today to watch, paid my admission bought a programme, began to wish I'd worn a heavier coat and jumper pretty quickly was then asked circa 90 minutes before the start time if I wouldn't mind doing the box as Craig was going to go on the radio mic rather than be up there. Sorry if I was a "tad dull" but having only had five hours kip last night, having done no preparation as I just didn't expect to be doing anything other than watching and enjoying the meeting, I can only apologise for my dullness!

 

Just glad to see such a big turn out for a very worthy cause for which, hopefully, much money was raised.

 

Bryn Williams

 

Bryn, take no notice of those so called fans. We all know your vast knowledge of our great sport and i'd gladly love to hear your dulcet tones over the mic at Sheffield, regardless of how much sleep you've had.....Its not that bad 'up North' you know!

Edited March 15, 2010 by Tony The Tiger

[Shadders]

Reading most posts it seems my original post was right why was it held at the worst prepared and worst racing track in the country.

But not the worst Stadium, that's Stoke.

 

Unless you were actually there your comments mean zit.

 

I've seen a lot worse, every other summer Saturday evening on Sky Sports during the GP's.

[RPNY]

Any pics?

[MFE]

Having attended the meeting yesterday,I think some of the comments regarding the track are unfair, you have to remember this was the first competitive meeting for the majority of riders since october last year, new equipment was being set-up and tried out, and you also had the issue of Premier League riders up against the Elite which tended to provide an inbalance of track ability and a little bit of foregone conclusion in many heats. There was not that much wrong with the track once they had sorted the dust issue out, and we have had the worst winter for years to consider, so i think they did a pretty good job on that score!

 

My only negatives was the atmosphere, yes it was cold and we were grateful for the glimpses of the Sun, but where was the music, chat and meeting presentation other than an occasional interview with a guest, the crowd entertained themselves totally from 11.00am - 2.30pm, on that score, not good enough in my opinion.

 

However, lets not forget why we were there, and that was to boost the funds of the Benevolent Fund which was a total success, however i think better equipped stadiums should be used for crowds of this size in future years as Rye was creaking at the seams yesterday!

[BobC]

Well,we had a smashing day out.

 

Arrived good and early,around 11.30,and just managed to get in the car park.Almost got fleeced by Ash and Paul,who were selling the programmes. Didnt see you Rob? Then we saw the 'Ben' character mincing around.............had to be you!

 

Good job we got our fish n chips early as well.The queue formed behind us and was still lengthy right up till past start time!

 

KevH introducing various folk to Rabbit and myself by the start.

 

Sure,the track wasnt perfect in Ht1,but what a great race all the same.Rarely do you see a rider go round the outside for a whole lap like Nicki did.Superb first lap.Adams rightfully exc/disq.

 

I didnt think the racing was too bad at all.This type of meeting should be enjoyed for what it is.Riders can practice all they like,but until they get to the tapes with 3 others do they actually get back into it.Took some riders a race or 2 to wake up.Like Scott Nicholls.Dire first time out,then got going and was pleased for him.

 

We all listened to the silencers.Yes,there is a difference but not too bad at all.

 

Overall,not a bad meeting at all.Definitely better than the New Year Classic.No moans from me

 

Although I was cheering for my favourite rider,KK,I have to say Nicki was the best rider on the day.

 

He fully deserved to win it.

[zonkers]

Highlight of the day probably saying hello to Zonkers and meeting KevH.

 

Awwwww......!! In that order? Lol !

 

 

[zonkers]

Any pictures from todays meeting?

 

Here's mine....

 

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2052...mp;l=cad99e9970

 

 

[davidba]

Can't undertsand the whingers, all those weeks without speedway then the sun shines on some of the top riders in the world and lots of money raised for the SRBF.

Yes i missed the first heat incident 'cos of the dust, and the meeting was no classic, but it was never going to be, the riders were just warming up and enjoying themselves, but as i've said before, no sport ever has constant classics, real fans go for plenty of other reasons and interests.

Only true down side was the effect on the noise of the silencers, really don't see why they should be used on tracks where noise not an issue, they are removable after all, on the back straight the lack of noise was very noticable.

Shame Eddie couldn't keep his gating going against the big guns.

Took it out of me going though, don't think i can really contemplate going to peterbro/Birmingham as originally planned, but hey the season has finally started, about 32 weeks of fun!

[NWS]

Overall,not a bad meeting at all.Definitely better than the New Year Classic.No moans from me

 

You can't compare this meeting to the NYC! A small matter of GP riders, and top EL riders seperate the two, how can you compare the NYC (Mainly 'average' PL riders, 3 EL riders) to this meeting with 13 EL/GP riders and 5 top PL riders. Doesn't make sense. Please explain?

[superguest]

I enjoyed the meeting, there were some decent races. Nicki and Crump were so fast out there though, you need them to miss a gate to make it interesting!

[KenB1]

http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/Sport

 

The full dvd (multi camera) will be available later

[smelly]

The presentation of the meeting was something from the 70's. Things move on but Len hasn't. People expect more entertainment for their pound nowadays, not a bunch of blokes marching out to no music. I have seen more atmosphere in space ! There was no excuse for the track, the base was harder than the M1 so don't tell me they couldn't prepare a track because of the winter, when that dust cloud went up in heat 1 Len lost 3 months worth of dust, god knows were he is going to find some more for next week.

[flyin rocket]

I am pleased plenty of money will have been raised for a very worthy cause. I would have happily contributed more if I'd seen a collection - unfortunately I must have missed it.

I agree

they should have sent Briggo out with the collection bucket - I'd have willingly have dipped in a bit deeper!

 

[lucifer sam]

Arrived good and early,around 11.30,and just managed to get in the car park.Almost got fleeced by Ash and Paul,who were selling the programmes. Didnt see you Rob? Then we saw the 'Ben' character mincing around.............had to be you!

 

Hi Bob, I was over in Assen over the weekend for the Ice Racing, so unfortunately I was double-booked. To begin with, I felt a bit guilty to being with that I was going to miss the Ben Fund meeting, so when I found out that Paul Ackroyd was after a format for a 20-man line-up, I worked one out for him. It looks like the heat format worked quite well (it was designed to get off to a flyer in the opening race and then have some big races later on), it was a bonus that Eddie Kennett stayed unbeaten to give the Pedersen/Crump showdown in Heat 17 even more edge.

 

Glad to hear Rye was packed out yesterday to swell the coffers of the fund, and it sounds like there was some really good racing as well - there was certainly plenty of passing according to the updates.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited March 15, 2010 by lucifer sam

[Sandie]

Hi Bob, I was over in Assen over the weekend for the Ice Racing, so unfortunately I was double-booked. To begin with, I felt a bit guilty to being with that I was going to miss the Ben Fund meeting, so when I found out that Paul Ackroyd was after a format for a 20-man line-up, I worked one out for him. It looks like the heat format worked quite well (it was designed to get off to a flyer in the opening race and then have big races later on), it was a bonus that Eddie Kennett stayed unbeaten to give the Pedersen/Crump showdown in Heat 17 even more edge.

 

Glad to hear Rye was packed out yesterday to swell the coffers of the fund, and it sounds like there was some really good racing as well - there was certainly plenty of passing according to the updates.

 

All the best

Rob

But you didnt come up with a formula to decide who goes through in the event of equal scores!! DOH.

Three to final was my call as well. Seemed the right thing to do. BUt poor old Johno would have loved the chance of a semi. Did anyone check that Ben didnt supply a two headed coin for the toss up!

 

Good fun meeting though and I am sure LOTS was raised.

 

But as someone has just mentioned - why no collection buckets. Would have made a fortune.

The little lady with the raffle tickets tried -but bless her heart, she wasnt assertive - it was a case of "Raffle tickets anyone, or maybe not! Okay"

She was sweet, a lovely volunteer but not a goer!

 

Please do not take the above as critism as it most definately isnt. Lots of people doing lots of work yesterday for the cause - excellent work and thanks to all of them.

Just thoughts for future years.

[lucifer sam]

Hi Sandie, nope I didn't supply details of what happened in the case of riders finishing on the same points - I think in a meeting like this, a bit of fluidity and common sense is the better solution. Putting Crump & Kasprzak both into the final seems like a fair solution.

 

As for not having collection buckets, everybody attending yesterday was already contributing to the Ben Fund. Therefore it would have something of a cheek to also have a collection at the same meeting. Don't worry, we will be bugging you with a bucket later in the season (notes are easier, they are less heavy)

 

All the best

Rob

Edited March 15, 2010 by lucifer sam