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Being a tad mentally challenged, I had booked a totally inappropriate seat for this meeting - I can't get my bent and twisted body up steps. I contacted the ticket office at Belle Vue to see if they could sort out my self-inflicted mess. I can say without any hesitation that Christine and the staff are SUPERSTARS. My ticket problem was sorted out in flash and the level of customer service was superb. So, thank you Belle Vue and it is such a refreshing change for the humble customer to be treated with dignity and understanding rather than as at some alternative venues where you feel that you are tolerated rather than appreciated. Can't wait!

Wow! Look at the expression on Wilkie's face. You can see why it's taking 3 blokes to hold him back. Great days when people had a bit of passion for what they did rather than constantly thinking how much money they can screw out of it. Anybody who can identify all the riders gets a bonus point.

A free brew at the "press and practice" day would be a good start. I went a couple of years ago and it was all pretty embarrassing. There might have been 20 or so supporters there listening to the riders telling us how they were going to be the team to beat. Even Ben Wilson sounded a tad unconvincing. It was freezing cold outside and it was even more freezing cold inside the Loomer Road "restaurant" building. Then of course, there was all the usual guff from messers Tattum and Vasey about how the glory days for the Potters were just round the corner. The smell of brewing coffee at least offered some comfort to the bored rigid fans who would soon have to go outside and be the frozen rigid fans watching the latest band of Potters mercenaries do a couple of pointless laps each. You might have expected that as a gesture of goodwill to the hardy souls who had pitched up for this sham, then at least the Potters' coffers might have stretched to a bit of hot water and a few cheapo coffee granules. The outstretched, taloned hand of Mrs T indicated that you get nowt for free at Gloomy Road. I wouldn't mind but it was a pretty sh*t cup of coffee. I watched a few minutes of riders taking it in turns to have a spurt around the uneven surface that was pretending to be a track. The young lad who had trolled all the way down from Scotland with his dad and was meant to be one of the reserves went out twice, fell off twice and was never seen again. I mounted up, rode out and vowed that would be the last of those that I would be pitching up to. A press and practice day is surely a great opportunity for promoters to get the fans involved, give 'em a free brew and make them feel involved with the club that they try and support. Perhaps now that Stoke have a "commercial manager", this year's jamboree might have something of a more professional and inclusive feel to it and hopefully, should anyone decide to go along, they might be kind enough to let us know how it pans out.

That is most helpful, Philip. I shall send for a copy without delay.

Hey Argos, do you enjoy your visits to Loomer Road? Every track has it's good points, so I'll list one good point and you tell us some of the other things you like about Stoke:- 1. Excellent track shop run by nice people. ok, over to you Argy:- 2. 3.

I don't think they actually print them out. You just pull up at Gloomy Road's gates, wink at the 2 happy souls who hover about there and tell 'em your a mate of Dave's. They wave you straight into the executive car park and your reserved seats are polished and waiting for you. What's not to like?

Yes, Sidney and moxey are so right. Speedway riders used to be like sticks of Blackpool rock - the name of their team ran through them from head to toe and the team's name became synonymous with the name of their top guy - Ole Olsen's Coventry, Doug Wyer's Sheffield, John Louis' Ipswich, Kenny Carter's Halifax, Bruce Penhall's Cradley and so on. When you pitched up to support your team, you were 99% sure who would be riding for you and pretty nearly as sure who the opposition riders would be - they would be the same crew who rode last time. Now you turn up for even an NL meeting and you are greeted by the mind-numbing experience of guests and rider bloody replacement.

I remember when one of the F1 teams, perhaps it was Renault, sold off some unwanted kit and donated the proceeds (a few thousand pounds) to Wilkie, he said, "I can't believe that anyone would still remember me and Jean". I'll always remember you Alan because you were the genuine article and in today's world full of lightweights you were a superstar before they even invented the word.

So, is there anybody left?

Hey Hodgy, thanks for the heads-up on the Alan Carter book. I sent for it a couple of days ago and have not been able to put it down! The Haslams and the Carters were knocking about in my younger day and I always remember getting lapped by young Ron on his TZ Yam after 7 laps of Mallory Park. Mal Carter always came across as something of a bully and Alan's book confirms this suspicion. With regard to Kenny he was a hell of a rider and his visits to Hyde Road were always hugely anticipated, Soldier Boy used to give him stick though and I'm not sure he had much of a sense of humour because he always looked pretty po faced about it. Clearly, his demons were never far away. Ta muchly, Hodgy.

Well I hope that Lee Payne wasn't going to be giving Paul Bowen a lift down from Wigan. If Paul Bowen can't get there, who will bring the pies?

Friend Adonis, thank you for your interest in my well-being. I am a Buddhist. We Buddhists go through many cycles of death and re-birth which we call samsara. Obviously, we are seeking release from this constant cycle (nirvana) but this is not easy to attain. It is quite possible that you knew me as somebody you refer to as "Bundy" before my latest re-incarnation and I am sure that you will see that my behaviour and actions (karma) have enabled me to come back rather higher up the pecking order and I may soon be a deva or assura. If my karma had been bad then I would surely have returned to this place as a tortured soul such as an earthworm, an earwig or most desperate of all, a Loomer Road season ticket holder. Since I only appear to be granted about three postings a week, I hope that you will be suitably grateful that I have used up my valuable allowance to deal with your enquiry. Namaste _/\_

Hey J, nobody getting back to you? Perhaps they have mislaid your number. Probably worth getting back on the jelly-bone and chivvy these malingerers up a bit.

Can't wait! Bought my ticket this morning. Hope it warms up a bit in the next couple of weeks.

Can't wait! Bought my ticket this morning. Hope it warms up a bit in the couple of weeks.

Hooray for the Colts.

I hope you don't have a painful let down here, Ouchy. I'm not sure that I've ever seen Kean Dicken manage 4 laps at proper racing speed. I'm sure his dad loves him but I'm not totally convinced that he is quite up to the required standard to ride for the country's best NL side. But hey I could be wrong and perhaps he'll be racking up shed loads of points in no time flat. Keep the faith.

Testing 1,2,3.

with 6.09 left to play with, any idea who might fill the last sheepskin race suit?

I see that the Pride of the Potteries is scheduled for 7 April. Do you think it will be an illuminating experience or should I give it a miss?

You have to feel for these speedway boys. They have a bit of a prang and it bins a whole season. If you are Rossi or some other Moto GP wallah, you get operated on and you are racing again within days. But as Friend Fozzie says, the Colts are probably a tad stronger now. Get well soon, Lee.