brumspur

Prior weather conditions permitting, the Perry Barr track is likely to be prepared grippy anyway because Adam Ellis is generally the only consistent fast gater in the Brummies team whereas Tom Perry and Zach W often have to work their way past faster starting riders. But whatever the track conditions turn out to be, the ongoing situation remains that, unlike Eastbourne, the restrictive planning permission for Perry Barr does not permit any track practice / training days whatsoever for the Brummies (or Cradley) riders to prepare for meetings and tune engine setups for raceday track conditions, etc. The Eastbourne team will be starting the Perry Barr meeting on a far “leveller playing field” than is afforded to visiting teams at Arlington and both teams will be seeing and adapting to riding the prevailing track conditions at the same time on raceday. Furthermore, the Brummies team will not have ridden at Perry Barr at all for a month with only one extra fixture ridden by the top three at the “Golden Hammer” meeting. Nevertheless, Eastbourne riders invariably enjoy riding at Perry Barr anyway and Daniel Spiller can surely be expected to be very competitive around the nicely proportioned Perry Barr track particularly against the Brummies struggling bottom 4. A very tough home meeting ahead for the Brummies for sure but it will be up to Eastbourne to ride consistently strong enough to take maximum advantage of the Brummies team's “long weak tail” situation!!

The Plymouth v Somerset challenge meeting also sees Barker released from Plymouth to ride for Brum tonight but Paul Starke not released by Somerset to ride for Brum in the same EL fixture? A catalogue of double up rider availability inconsistencies in just one evening of speedway!

Hi stressed, Thank you for the information about the taxi service and "Wightlink Flyer" ticket. Much appreciated.

I am intending to travel over to the island to watch some of the meetings this year. I have looked at the travel information on the IOW website to find that a taxi service has replaced the stadium bus service since I last visited Smallbrook for a speedway meeting. The travel information given is somewhat conflicting as it initially states: "Wightlink Ferry services to the island also run on the Lymington to Yarmouth route. There is also a Wightlink Flyer available. This is a foot passenger inclusive ticket. It includes return travel on the Wightlink Fastcat from Portsmouth Harbour, return travel on the short train journey to the end of the pier, travel by Ryde Taxi's to Smallbrook Stadium and entrance to the Wightlink Islanders race meeting. RAIL - Take the train to Portsmouth Harbour, and then by Fastcat Service at 6.15pm and 6.45pm (terminal at the end of the platforms) to Ryde Pier. Then take the pier train to Ryde Esplanade. The above information appears to indicate that supporters, holding the "Wightlink Flyer" ticket, should catch the train along the pier to Ryde Esplanade station to get the taxi service as was the case with the previous stadium bus service. However, the "TAXI" information, as shown below, states that the taxi service is "available from Ryde Pier Head" and therefore the train ride along the pier would, presumably, not be required anyway? TAXI - A shared Taxi service is available from Ryde Pier Head on race nights. Taxi's leave at regular intervals and are free for fans that have purchased the Wightlink Flyer Ticket. I would be grateful if someone could clarify where the taxi pick up point will be, either Ryde Pier Head or Esplanade, and also what the Wightlink Flyer ticket will cost this season? The Wightlink website does not currently indicate any reference to a "Speedway Flyer" ticket offer whereas it does have the information for a "Raiders Flyer" ticket offer for travel to the Ice Hockey meetings!

To clarify the situation about parking on the "one-stop" shopping centre car park, Birmingham Speedway have an agreed deal with the shopping complex to use the car park on speedway race nights. This deal was sorted when the Brummies relaunched last year. There are loads of spaces and, of course, it is free aswell!