Tsunami

There was no cost cutting or papering over the cracks RD. A decision was made to give more racing lines, and try to improve the racing, and that quick fix has lasted over 20 years till shale has been spared later.

It wasn't an issue then and it has taken over 20 years before it became a problem, more through lack of shale covering the area. Never good to dig big holes on a racing line midseason and then getting the correct compaction to save it breaking up. Big changes like Glasgow did, are usually carried out off season to allow some natural settling in period. Shale and water react to each other pressure and that takes time to be complete..

No chance of that. Someone had to hold the fort.

No. When we reintroduced speedway in 1997, Sundays was thought to be best day for us, especially with having the full day to prepare the track, and more chance of track staff availability with it not being a work day for most of the public. Bjarne Pedersen hinted that he was looking to go to Poland in 2021, but he wanted to stay with us if we could change our race night. We agreed and we started to race on the Monday. After we sold him to Poole, we reverted to the Sundays afternoons, which also allowed us to do combined meetings with first the Diamonds and followed by the new original Gems team. We copied Newport's format.

To increase the number of racing lines on the 1st and 2nd bends, we decided in about 2000 to widen the track by taking the inside kerbing in by 2 metres. The same kerbs stones were used to create the new kerbing, and you are right that the kerb foundation was left in place and the shale level increased by Tony Swales the then track curator. It was never thought to be a risk being deeper, and never showing until now when there appears to be a less shale covering. I remember in the 60's I think, that there had been an earlier concrete track under the 1st/2nd bends and it broke up and started to appear on the exact same spot as the present problems. The concrete block was removed and I think most people will have forgot about it. Looking at the photo, I would guess someone has spotted something and deliberately scrapped the groove out with their steel shoe to show the foundation. The track action would not have caused the shale to be divided and dumped in two straight lines either side of the concrete. Opportunist I think. BTW the 3rd and 4th bends had the same modification to the kerb line and there has never been a problem there, mainly I think, because it tends to be ridden out wider due to it being 2 metres wider, and also because the inside line of the 1st bend gets significalty more heavy traffic impact with all 4 riders from the tapes, hitting it in every race and more than any other part of the bends. The drainage has always been a problem with our track. We had some plans which showed a diagonal drain across the centre green, but tests proved they were cracked and blocked and beyond use. There was a plan with a previous stadium owner to instal some new drains for the dogs and speedway, but after looking likely to proceed, the owner backed out hoping we would still go ahead and we would pay for them.

Does anyone. ?

He's certainly done well so far.

It may well have been Dave Tinning, but Steve Pate is also a Promoter, and also the Team Manager, so he would have been in the pits managing the team and the changes. Like you I could not see clearly who the others were.

Be interesting to know who he was with (all had Newcastle jackets on), and luv to have been fly on the fence listening to what was said.

Can't beat Whitley Bay, that's where I live.

Think it must be a long time since you visited then, that's an old chestnut and far from true about the current track.

He was never half a lap behind in any race, except when his back wheel shifted and he still got a third place.. He couldn't gate, but was mainly on the pace towards the end. Archie had been asked to be No 7, but refused as he knew he wasn't ready. After all the other 7's were found to be useless Rob asked Archie to fill in for the rest of the season to get more experience and got a guarantee not to be dropped. The deal was get to that experience this year(2021) and be given a teamplace next year (2022). Pity you spout rubbish on here all the time without checking for the truth. At Newcastle we all know Archie's potential, like also Edinburgh and his new team Belle Vue does..

I give Richie only as an example, but I knew he was leaving Edinburgh and he had already signed for another club. Brummie's got Vissing and then got Ellis late, so it can be done it you get up early which we haven't these last 2 years. People can't say yes but we know we will have speedway this year, be happy with team initially and now criticise.Iit was never going to work being understrength again.

At the time several 8 pointers, including Richie Worrall, were not announced to have signed for anybody. Yes, we couldn't get a decent 8 pointer, but if you go in that late you have to take what others have left.

It's happened many times over the years to most teams. One year we had Andrew Tully injured at P and P, and we got a guest right through till he was fit. Jirout was another example from the mid 00's. It's not unusual. By getting a guest early in the season gives the unlucky club a fair chance to be at strength in those opinion forming early meetings.

Newcastle should have went for an 8 pointer and honoured the contract with Archie, instead of being hijacked by signing BWD and his protege. I have highlighted that many times since all the signings were in, but I was told many times on here they were just happy still having a team. Still think that now ?

And what would happen if someone became available for say just the first 2 months of the season, because of other commitments.

Thanks. The sizes quoted for Swindon Old were not the sizes of their present track now or then..

Working for me. I find the sizes for Swindon a bit odd. It can't be the old Swindon or the Swindon now. Was there a previous Swindon track other than its present home.?

He is overweight. I read he had been up to18 stones, and he has now got it down to 12 1/2 stones. Still too heavy, look at the Worralls and their athletic figures through losing weight and Excercise. The days of heavy riders in league teams has gone some time again.

I think he is too muscled and losing weight would help to made himself more manoeuvrable. He looks too muscle bound IMO and was pointed out in an earlier post..

Well with both Lee and Rob going to shed loads of weight to ride in the first Memorial meeting for Dave Tattum, probably should give the meeting sponsorship of the meeting to WeightWatchers, Very apt.

The first time I heard of Dan was when he was announced he would be riding on his own in our second half, and someone said "he's worth watching". He hadn't rode for anyone at that stage and looked very raw on our tight bends. I particularly noticed he rode too close to the inside of 1st and 3rd bends, clipping the kerb practically every time. In his later rides he moved out, as you should, so he came out of those bends with a better line that he could maintain, before coming out of the 2nd and 4th corners wide like everyone else does. I obviously watched his progress after that as he was being treat very well with lots of second half track time.

He changed to commentating on the final lap at Reading and was just as annoying.

I thought Steve Cram and Rhona were brilliant with the curling commentary knowing and explaining what shots were on to not on, and why. Once again Curling, after a major completion, will be the talk of people who never go to the rinks to watch it. Fascinating sport, played in a good and fair competitive sport, where the tactics and their execution are unbelievable. Pity there is no rinks beside me where it is played.