Scunny Stag

Every Sunday through the winter (apart from Christmas Day and New Year's Day) there will be an open practice at Scunthorpe Speedway. The cost is £35 with a TEN POUND DISCOUNT FOR RIDERS AGED UNDER 15. The track post code is DN15 8RR and directions are below. There is NO NEED TO BOOK places but WEATHER AND TRACK UPDATES ALWAYS AVAILABLE available via me on 07832-402167. As we know riders invest time and money to come and practice you are welcome to TEXT OR CALL ME AT ANY TIME (we know some need an early start to get to us). Whilst predicting the weather isn't always easy you can be assured of honest and practical advice. All ages and abilities are welcome (including grasstrack bikes, sidecars, short trackers etc)and the gates are open from mid-morning and signing-on is from midday. I take great care to ensure any riders out at the same time are happy to be on track together (and not mismatched ability wise). We also have Scunthorpe As always the practice sessions have: - medical cover - track spares van (Rob Manchester 07816-200482) - FREE day licenses. Just sign-on on the day. For anyone who hasn't been before Scunthorpe's 285m track lies just one mile to the north of Scunthorpe on the road to Normanby Hall Country Park. Whatever direction you approach Scunthorpe from, you will pass the track entrance if you follow the signs for Normanby Hall. You can now just look out for North Lincolnshire's first wind turbines which are now just behind the track.

Final 'winter' practice this coming Sunday, 18th March. 1pm to 5pm. There were doubts whether numbers will justify running this extra practice. Hopefully we can prove them wrong

There are still some places available on this all day training school. With lots of track time and limited to just 12 riders this represents a great opportunity to practice, test or get some great tips from Elite League veteran Wayne Carter

After a break because of the winter weather the master of mini-track training; seasoned Elite League rider Wayne Carter; is running a third training school on Scunthorpe’s main track. It will take place on Saturday 24th March from 9am to 5pm. There will be some bike prep/maintenance work plus lots of track time. Numbers are limited to 12 and there is space for two riders to hire a 500cc bike for the day. However, those using Wayne's bike(s) should have some motorcycle/speedway experience (if only with Wayne on the minitrack). Cost is £85 for riders with their own bikes (£200 for those who need to hire). Anyone who wants to book a place please e-mail me at richard@scunthorpespeedway.com, contact me via Facebook on www.facebook.com/rh1967 or text/phone on 07832-402167. Cheers, Richard

Is 17th March not going ahead now?

Unfortunately, just a week after announcing the dates for thirteen amateur meetings there is a need to amend the dates of three. Two of the changes are because of clashes with the British Youth Championship. The amended dates are: Sunday 22nd April replaces Sunday 15th April Saturday 16th June replaces Sunday 17th June Saturday 8th September replaces Sunday 9th September Simon - I do work closely with Linda at STR to try and avoid clashes but we both have lots of restrictions and this year wwe seemed to have more problems. We have a plan in place to, hopefully, reduce the clashes in 2013.

Two weeks to go and 32 booked in so far: Open Class: Tom Young, Andrew Blackburn, Adam Wrathall, Tommy Fenwick, Daniel Phillips Support Class: Paul Quarterman, Lee Springthorpe, Mike Russell, Arron Mogridge, Trevor Bebbington, Martin Wrathall, David Lidgett, Freddie Owen Novice Class: Mike Russell, Kraig Holt, Adam Richardson, Lee Coates, Lee Baldwin, Andy Yates, Wayne Gosling, Derek Holt, Ivan Howarth, Mick Keeling, Gary Krelle, Rick Bridge Youth 250: Dan Miles Youth 125: Kyle Bickley, Jamie Halder, Luke Woodhull, Ben Woodhull, Harry Jones, Jack Parkinson-Blackburn,

The latest weather forecast has it due to rain all day tomorrow so we have made the decision to cancel the practice. We definitely have a practice next Sunday 11th March (1-5pm) and if demand is good for that one then we will run one on Sunday 18th March.

Another great day today. Lots and lots of track time for everyone Just three more to go now (4th, 11th and 18th March)

Steady on Chris. Bizarrely it sounds like most meetings coincide with the British Youth Championship rounds. There may be a need to tweak some of the dates.

From www.scunthorpespeedway.com CLUB CONTINUES TO COMMIT TO RIDER DEVELOPMENT ONE thing that Scunthorpe Speedway prides itself on is the commitment of the club towards rider development. In addition to the mini-track, practices, training schools, amateur meetings and the Saints National League side, there will be not one, but two Midland Development League teams running at the Eddie Wright Raceway in 2012 – the Scunthorpe Stags and the Halifax Dukes. The Midland Development League is a second half competition, featuring two teams of four riders competing over six heats. The 2012 league has seven teams (Coventry-Mercia, Halifax, Long Eaton, Milton Keynes, Scunthorpe, Sheffield and Stoke) whilst each second half at the Eddie Wright Raceway will also include a youth class with races slotted in after heats 2, 4 and 5 of the MDL meeting. Stags team boss Richard Hollingsworth said: “The Stags team will, wherever possible, concentrate on bring through new riders for the Saints National League side. “The youth races will include all three youth classes (125cc, 250cc and 500cc) to ensure that, along with the Wayne Carter Training track sessions and the incredibly popular amateur meetings, there are plenty of opportunities for the league racers of the future. “We’ve already seen the likes of Ashley Birks and the Worrall brothers, Steve and Richie, progress through the ranks into the National League and now all three are Premier League regulars. “Max Clegg, who is 15 years old on April 11th and will be a reserve in our 2012 National League side, is another who spent a lot of time on our mini-track. “We are proud of our record of getting riders started in the sport, and I believe this is also something that means a great deal to many of our supporters.” The dates for each of the youth classes during the MDL matches are: Youth 500cc - 16th March, 20th April, 27th July and 14th September Youth 250cc - 30th March, 22nd June, 13th July, 17th August Youth 125cc - 23rd March, 15th June, 3rd August, 28th September Anyone interested in riding for the Stags or in some of the youth classes, should email Richard Hollingsworth at richard@scunthorpespeedway.com or call him on 07832-402167.

Thank you very much for all of your very kind words. To be honest I'm just the public face of a very fine team of people who work behind the scenes. There are so many who make great sacrifices to help out. I've no kids, a small family, live less than ten minutes from the track and have an accommodating employer so my sacrifices aren't as great as someone who travels from places like Lincoln, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Hull and most recently Kent, to spend the day flagging or doing other important jobs. I'm also the lucky one who people thank but I get immense enjoyment out of my involvement at Scunny. The real heroes are unsung. They are the ones who make what I do possible, they are the ones who are putting so much back into British speedway and the ones who are making Scunthorpe such a great speedway club. Thank you to each and every one of them. I, and so many others (fans, riders, clubs) are in your debt and for anyone else who wants to help British speedway then I suggest coming along to our great racetrack and paying your admission to be entertained. You will be supporting what we do at Scunthorpe by simply doing that but even better would be if some of you could come along to help at amateur meetings or practices, or both And most people will never realise the full impact that will have on the club. because it is largely behind the scenes. I do and I know that whatever Scunthorpe Speedway achieves over the coming months (and hopefully years) lucifer sam will have played a significant part in it's achievement. Thank you for accepting the challenge LS!

Track was excellent today. Slick and smooth. Just how it should be for practices. Four more left. Next one Sunday 26th February!

No problems with weather tomorrow (okay so it's today now). I can 100% gurantee tomorrow's practice will run (and that's not something I've ever said before and I've not had any alcohol today). If anyone needs any info or doesn't believe that in 100% then by almeans give me a call on 07832-402167 and I will give an update. Good night!

All looks good for Sunday's practice. Track should be good by then and weather forecast looks promising. Afraid cafe probably won't be open but we will have FREE tea and coffee in the signing-on office. Anyone wanting to know what the track is like on Saturday night or Sunday morning feel free to call/text me on 07832-402167 although I should post an update on here at some point.

Just a reminder that we have another practice on sunday 12th February. It means we have just four more before the season starts plus one on 18th March. Of course we also have competitive racing for all levels on 18th February and 17th March.

Due to the frosts we've been having and the forecast of snow tomorrow's practice has been cancelled. Remaining winter practices are on 12th,19th and 26th February plus 4th, 11th and 18th March. Amateur meetings are on 18th February and 17th March. Anyone wanting more information or to book in for the amateur meetings can call Richard Hollingsworth on 07832-402167.

Michael Neale has come a long way since starting out with Wayne Carter on our mini track (sorry for the blatant plug). On Saturday he rode for the first time against adults and in the one race he finished before his engine blew up he defeated Lewis Rose who went on to win the Support Class. It is great that Buxton have given him his chance and in the long run I know they will be rewarded.

Sun never materialised yesterday so left the track greasy. Fingers crossed for this Sunday.

Just a reminder we've got another practice this Sunday. Despite what weather other people have been having we don't have any problems with the track. We've 60+ races on Saturday and a good forecast. By all means call/text me on 07832-402167 for track/weather updates but not expecting any problems at this stage.

Very strange to switch from pairs riding for the final. Please can someone remind me of what the team building rules are in Denmark?

Hi Barry, I'd recommend starting a separate thread for your schools with contact details so people know how to book. Cheers, Richard

We have the latest of our winter practices this Sunday, 22nd January. If anyone can produce a great track in the winter it's Graham Trollope and 'Farmer' John Priestley. Bookings not required but track and weather updates at any time from me on 078332-402167. Looking forward to another great session. Richard

Sorry but the minitrack isn't fit for use tomorrow but there isn't a problem with the main track.

Just a reminder that we have another practice this sunday, 15th January (1pm to 5pm).