TotallyHonestJohn

Honesty Is it a slow newsnight or what? Is me an you the only two Geordies on here tonight Ruff... Ave tried to speed it up then av tried to slow it down.... oh this Whyte & Mackay must have some Bucks Fizz in it... must try and stop doing that... Bored now... Just been turned down from that NHS volunteer scheme - they’ve got enough gynaecologists apparently. . Just waiting to hear back from the breast clinic now... Need to do summat... Regards THJ

No a think you are right I deffo don't think we were favourites for the wooden spoon either. .. At home we would have put a few of the so called top teams to the sword.... Right this Star Wars movie is doing my nut in av seen it that many times a could star in it...So how about a bit of mischief... just to stir it up a bit... rather than your favourite 7 Diamonds how about your 7 riders you wouldn't want to see riding for Newcastle... 1. Eddie Kennett 2. Gary Havelock 3. Josh Auty 4. Adam Roynon 5. Jordan Frampton 6. Gary Flint 7. Danny Phillips Not thst any of them were bad riders per sey (cough cough) they just didn't seem to perform at Brough... and we once went after Kennett would you believe... Now light blue touch paper and stand well back... May the force be with you... Regards THJ

Aye me too buddy.... we could have been awful to be fair but I prefer to look on the brighter side and after the sledging that Worky team got 2018 and then won the lot anything is possible... Regards THJ

So here's the thing 2020... NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS AVE -2.50% 1 Claus Vissing 8.43 8.43 2 Max Clegg 5.05 4.93 3 Ondrej Smetana 5.00 5.00 4 Nick Skorja 5.00 5.00 5 Matthew Wethers 6.92 6.92 6 James Wright 4.00 4.00 7 Connor Mountain 4.73 4.61 Total: 39.13 38.89 Remaining: 2.11 This is what we had and to be fair I appreciate we were 2.11 points under the limit but I think under the circumstances Rob Grant did a fairly decent job and I will be a bit gutted if we don't get to see this side on track sometime this season; and to be "Totally Honest" due to this virus carry on I can't see us getting any racing in this season to be fair... Sorry to be a doom and gloom merchant but we have 3 international riders in our team and with whole countries in lock-down and flights required it will be a big ask for the season to start (for any team not just Newcastle)... hope I am wrong but here's hoping... Anyhow what do we think this team could have achieved because I for one do not think it is as bad as many people make out... now I appreciate it isn't Workington 2018 however that triple winning side was totally written off before a wheel was turned and look what they achieved... So here is my daft turn on what I believe they could have achieved... Claus Vissing... "He's not a Number 1" Is he not? I would beg to differ and suggest he has the average to say otherwise and I could see Claus adding to his 8.43 starting average... Maybe not by much however I believe he is more than capable of maintaining an 8.5 point average in the Championship and from the No 1 berth; plus he is a rider who can lead the line... he's hard working; committed and (something I like) a hard riding Dane who as a breed tend to shine at Brough for some reason... Plus we have started seasons with Ludvig Lindgren; Stuart Robson and Mark Lemon in recent years starting in the No 1 role with very similar or lower averages for the club at the start of the season; and in 2018 at the end of the year; we had Tero Aarnio top of the averages with 6.83. So Claus Vissing would be ready to make the step up and deliver in my opinion... Max Clegg... Max will add more than a point to his average due to home track knowledge; he is getting better and better around Brough; he may not get many points away but his home track form will increase his average and to use Ludvig as an example again he was a rider who would regularly score double figures at home but not so many away and he regularly averaged around 7... Max can easily do the same IMHO... Ondrej Smetana... as a new boy from the Czech Republic what can you expect; 3 points average at the end of the season... well again I can not see that; and would suggest he will dip into the reserve spot but with Geordie Stancl in his corner he will be well schooled and well grounded.. with his backside well (and truly) kicked if he doesn't perform and I could have seen him maintaining the 5 average he has for most of the season sharing the reserve berth... Nick Skorja... another new boy from Slovenia who comes highly recommended but may be more of a talent on the bigger tracks however again I believe he may be a rider who dips into the reserve berth but again I doubt he would be there for the whole season and will just click over that assessed 5 point average... Matthew Wethers... What do you need to say about this guy typical Aussie with the "charisma of a crisp" (sorry) but totally dependable and totally reliable and a bloke who just gets his head down and gets on with the job with a brilliant work ethic; one of life's nice guys and another who is now getting well and truly dialled in to Brough Park and another who I feel will regularly get into double figures at home and between 5 and 8 points away and he will put a point on his average due to home track advantage.... James Wright... Well here we go "James the "Workington Whippet" Wright" now joined the flat cap brigade in the North East who invented Whippet Racing.... Been away for a while and I don't think he will be an instant success but on a 4 average he could be the steal of the season and I think with his racing ability (and if has the trigger finger well oiled and fired up) he will end up at No 5 and with an average at least 2 points more than he now has... Connor Mountain... Another rider who could end up doing the same as Max Clegg and I have seen Connor put some good competitive laps in around Brough and to be fair who doesn't like a racer and a genuine 100 per-cent trier and he will potentially get out of the reserve berth and rotate around our two new Eastern Europeans in my opinion. Will score at home no problem once he gets dialled in... So the year Workington won the lot they ended the season with the following averages Workington Comets 1 Rene Bach 7.19 2 Ty Proctor 6.96 3 Nicolai Klindt 6.94 4 Dan Bewley 6.79 5 Rasmus Jensen 6.59 6 Mason Campton 6.32 7 Kyle Bickley 2.00 Total 42.79 Look at the team total? 42.79... Now the Covid 19 may be addling my brain (or the drink) but is the following not more than achievable Especially if the guys can get dialled into the track and make the home track advantage pay? NEWCASTLE DIAMONDS 1. Claus Vissing 8.50 2. Max Clegg 5.65 3. Nick Skorja 5.45 4. Matthew Wethers 7.02 5. James Wright 6.25 6. Ondrej Smetana 4.98 7. Connor Mountain 4.95 Total: 42.80 Look at the team total? 42.80... The Workington lads made Derwent Park a fortress and there is no reason that this Newcastle Team couldn't do that as well... So there you go get stuck in and pull the reasoning to bits... Stuff Covid 19 the pot as ever is definitely half full Fantasy Football or Fantasy Speedway... Nowt like dreaming like is there... but is it achievable... Dream on... Stay Well and Stay Safe Regards THJ

To be fair Mala there were a load of names I could have put down and I did say of the riders listed that they had gave some brilliant individual moments and left me with special memories and if you start to list them all you could be on a month of Sunday's compiling a list and that the list I made certainly didn't detract from any other rider who had rode for the Diamonds they are all brave lads and I would have liked to have put every name down of the riders I have witnessed round the spot... some very memorable and others not so.... Unlike many Speedway fans I actually like our track and appreciate it's a bit "marmite" in most fans and riders eyes... but the one thing I do like to watch are first timers to Brough Park... a couple of stand out moments were the two Poles who rode for Ipswich watching their struggles on there first Brough visit and in the same meeting watching Scott Nichols giving a master class on how to ride the spot... although I think he had been once before... or when Darcy Ward came for his first visit and we watched him master the spot with a third a second then rounded it off with three wins... awsome... I enjoy riders like Eddie Kennett who hates the spot but when he does come you know something will happen... Adam Roynon was another who always fought with the track but provided great entertainment and spectacular spills... Josh Auty again a rider who hates the place I would say but turns up like a hero everytime and gets on his bike and gets on with it trying his best for his team... then usually comes off but fair play to the kid you can't knock him back he gets up and gets on with it... Riders we had a go at getting in their early careers but failed like Peter Kildermand Craig Cook and Jason Garrity were/are always a pleasure to watch round Brough and I again enjoy watching quality riders strut their stuff at Newcastle... Here's one for Tsunami... who may have a better memory because I was only a kid at the time but when I was looking at all them old programmes I was taking a bit of time looking at the old Workington meetings because of my connections and one name that was always missing at Brough with either R/R or a guest in was Mal MacKay... now the question is Was that due to a genuine injury or was he pulling a sickie because he didn't like the spot? Maybe a Worky fan has the answer? I am aware of many riders who dislike Brough many others who love the place and many more who don't have a bias either way seeing it as just another race track and I thank then all for some fantastic entertainment over ther years (and some rubbish as well mind) but they can only race on what's prepared for them... but is that not one of the reasons why we love the sport and find it so fascinating... I do hope we get some racing in this year and that bloody virus doesn't wreck the entire season.... If I get time at work tomorrow I might have a look at our team an see if my take on it does or doesn't stir a bit of debate... got to do something to keep people interested... lol... Regards THJ

Hey you never said what you normally score?

Doesn't look like I was far away with this prediction with the BSPA announcing that "With the latest information from the government stating high risk groups of people should stay at home for 12 weeks, it is unlikely that that there will be any British Speedway events taking place before June 15, at least" The big worry for me is the last two words of "at least" as the realisation that not only will this virus be around for longer than folks are predicting but the other issue what no one seems to have mentioned yet is once we have got on top of this outbreak how the hell will we switch everything back on? Will Boris just suddenly announce "that's it we have it sorted open the pubs"? Personally I don't think so... it will take weeks and possibly a couple of month or more the get things back to as near normal as possible once we have this situation under control and that's if we don't have the predicted possibility of a resurgence of cases once these measures are relaxed. Is Speedway (clubs in particular and possibly riders) ready and able to just hit the ground running and start a new season from fresh in the middle of June? and when would be the time to call it quits from the Championship clubs perspective and write the season off because I am sure that must now be in the back of promoters minds. As much as I don't want Speedway not to run this season there must be a cut off date when the BSPA say its just not feasible. However if that is the case what are the options? Could the season be extended to the end of November (obviously weather permitting) Would there be any value in running a couple of mini leagues 6 teams north and 6 south with 5 home & 5 away fixtures in the group and the top two of each league play across each other so 2nd north vs Top south and vice versa with the two winners playing for the championship title or if there is a shortage of riders due to travel restrictions still being in place what about running a series of four team tournaments on a league basis or as a last resort a Championship GP type series of individual events... Tough times and it may need some creative thinking if we are to get some Speedway this year... Regards THJ Another quick edit "The British Speedway Promoters Ltd (formerly British Speedway Promoters Association) made the announcement" Must get used to calling them them the BSPL rather than the BSPA.... sorry

Honestly Best ever score 24 points... but that's under debate... we normally do Pop Master in the office and if I get into the teens I do a lap of honour round the office as I always seem to get to 12 then get stuck... however I have managed 24 twice and once over I hesitated on a question and blurted it out the same time as the contestant and I claimed the points but the office crew wouldn't allow it so its a one time dubious 27 but two definite unchallenged 24's... and I have done 3 in ten twice once on Debbie Harry/Blondie and once on Rod Stewart but never anything as exotic as "Bucks Fizz"... probably would struggle making my mind up but when you think about it that could be a speedway song.... You gotta speed it up (definite speedway reference) And then you gotta slow it down (another speedway reference) 'Cause if you believe that our love can hit the top (we all love speedway) You gotta play around But soon you will find that there comes a time For making your mind up (reference to Rob Grant buying the club?)(or fans getting to see a meeting anytime soon?) You gotta turn it on (the engine) And then you gotta put it out (definite speedway reference) You gotta be sure that it's something Everybody's gonna talk about (speedway) Before you decide that the times arrived For making your mind up (who you support)(the Diamonds) Don't let your indecision Take you from behind (definite speedway reference)(or it could be rude but I wont go there!!!)(Giggidy!!!) Trust your inner vision Don't let others change your mind (riders going for the gap) And then you really gotta burn it up (definite speedway reference) And make another fly by night (definite speedway reference who doesn't like watching speedway at night under lights) Get a run for your money and take a chance (definite speedway reference) And it'll turn out right (slipped up here because we turn left)(or maybe the result will turn out right) And when you can see how it's gotta be (win lose or draw) You're making your mind up (to pick your meeting) And try to look as if you don't care less (when your team loses) But if you want to see some more… (definite speedway reference and we would all like to see some more speedway but this poxy Covid 19 is creating havoc) Sad I know but the next time you here this dross you may have a different perspective on the lyrics and it will be in your head all day now... sorry... Anyway back to the question of Pop Master. The office manager here is a lad called Malcolm and he scores well every day, anything from the late 70's to the present day and he generally knows the answer and he regularly gets high 20's to low 30's (smart ass) but anything earlier usually stumps him... and now the official office tea break is 10:30 to 11:00 to accommodate Uncle Ken and Pop Master... cant beat a bit of competition in the office... Hope everyone is safe and well and as an aside on a more serious note I got my first notification today of someone I know who has come down with Covid 19 and he is in isolation in James Cook Hospital and not very well by all accounts... hope he pulls through as the poor sod has asthma and this has proved to be an issue with anyone who has caught the virus... Regards THJ

Honestly I thought I had him down.... two Jason's must have blind sided me... Lyons was suppose to follow King... doh... and to think his lovely Swedish partner used to stand with us that seson he guested at No1 each week at home.for us... also I think in that 2004 season he averaged around 10+... You are spot on with that comment Regards THJ

To be fair I thought with everyone stuck in the house under lock-down and with very little to do (as I point blank refuse to do any decorating whilst I am off) that the forum would have been on fire... but maybe folk have more serious stuff to worry about... as for a dream team there are teams through the ages I have watched at Brough that have had some exceptional riders in and I started going in 1968 (Credit to Auntie Norma and Uncle Doug!) and was lucky enough to see the late great Ivan Mauger in his last season for Newcastle and many other riders who excelled for Newcastle... (Cant get back as far as Tsunami though)(Kudos) So not a 1 to 7 (unless you look at the first 7 on the list)... no... I am going to offer up the riders who I remember for a one off tournament and give 16 of my favourite riders who I would love to have seen going head to head around Brough. 1. Ivan Mauger (Although I didn't appreciate what I was watching at the time he was something else. The biggest memory wasn't his racing funnily enough but when he sat down in the middle of the track because he had been excluded and the place went mad) 2. Ole Olsen (My boyhood hero at the time and I watched him win the 1978 world final at Wembley and still have my rosette) 3. Anders Michanek (Although I cant really remember him being there for a full season; as much as I remember the previous two named above; however never mind Nicki Pedersen being a hard rider this guy could mix it up with the best of them) 4. Nicki Pedersen (another of my favourite riders "tough as old boots") (no not dirty and neither was Anders) (Hard ) 5. Joe Owen (70's as a kid this bloke was sublime around Brough Park) 6. Tom Owen (Another tough guy) 7. Robert Lambert (Another talented rider) 8. Kenni Larsen 9. Rene Bach 10. Kenneth Bjerre 11. Bjarne Pedersen 12. Richie Worrall 13. Steve Worrall 14. James Grieves 15. Danny King 16. Kenny Carter Not forgetting any of the under-card of supporting riders who all at some time or other offered memorable moments and just to mention a few who I can remember from the 60's Goog Allen; Allan Buterfield: Russ Dent: Dave Gifford: the 70's David Bargh: Robbie Blackadder: Neil Coddington: Nigel Crabtree: Andy and Martyn Cusworth: Robbie Gardner: Brian Havelock: Ron Henderson: Rod Hunter: Phil Kynman: Dag Lovas: Taffy Owen: Tim Swales: the 80's Bobby Beaton: Paul Bentley: Dave Blackburn: Keith Bloxsome: Alan Emerson: Eddie Ingels: Paul McHale: Dave Morton: Reg Wilson; the 90's Andre Compton; Dickie Juul: David Nagel; Jesper Olsen; Stuart Robson; Gary Stead; the 00's Pepe Franc; Christian Henry; Jason King; Mark Lemon; Trent Leverington; Kevin Little; George Stancil; Davie Watt; and the 10's to date Tero Aarnio; Lasse Bjerre; Matej Ferjan; Lewis Kerr; Matej Kus; Ludvig Lindgren; Claes Neddermark; Kyle Newman; Dakota North: Lewis Rose; Anton Rosen; Chris Schramm to name but few who have provided some fantastic entertainment over the years and the names above may not have been regular GP winners (or even won anything) but at times they have been world beaters and unbeatable around Brough providing some brilliant individual moments and this doesn't detract from any other rider who has rode for the Diamonds either. That Ladies and Gentlemen has just about filled my day in and I can confirm my Programme Boxes (all 7 of them) and Speedway memorabilia (another 3 boxes) from the late 60's to date are now all tidied up; ship shape and put back away in the cupboard until the next time I get totally bored out of my brick.... I started this exercise as what I thought would be a good idea at 10:00 am this morning and only stopped for Pop Master with Ken Bruce at 10:30 am and a cuppa and a bite to eat for my lunch... After something like 6 hours (enjoyable graft and a bit of sneezing with the dust) its time for tea now as I am one hungry fat lad... Regards THJ

Don't call him Boris by any chance do they? Regards THJ

Well thanks for clearing that up... Every cloud and all that... not all bad news then is it? Regards THJ Hes a clever lad that Ruff you know; definitely not as green as he is cabbage looking... Starting to suss him out... he just pretends to be daft...

Honestly No Ruff... Spring Forward Fall Back unfortunately... and while I have you on Please Be Careful If you receive an email or Whats-App with the subject line "Ding Dong"!!! Whatever you do "don't" open it They're Jehovah Witnesses working from home... Eh!!! Regards THJ

Remember... The clocks change on the 29th of March.. Really looking forward to another hour in the house!!! Eh!!! Regards THJ

Chatting with him last week... 4 stents fitted and found to have chip oil for blood... he's a lucky fella... the Doc reckoned if he hadn't had the procedure done he was a dead man walking... that was at the turn of the year... he's now lost 2 stone feels as fit as a lop and only has fish an chips once or twice a month now rather than three times a week... reckons he will retire early at the end of the year but I will believe that when a see it... lol... He had a bit of a scare but he's being a good lad now and feels much better for it an hopes to visit a few tracks this year to watch a bit of speedway once we get over this Covid 19 carry on... He's been told to save his chip day for the weekend he comes to Newcastle and I will treat him to a fish tea at old Christians now Oceans fish bar for some quality North Shields fish and chips... Regards THJ

Better keep you head down then Ruff x Regards THJ

Think you are right... It going from bad to worse... Regards THJ

Honestly If as rumoured; next week; the government tell pensioners over 70 to self isolate and dont venture out for the next four month the Newcastlse average crowd of 600 will drop to about 60.... Doh!!! Regards THJ

To be fair this Covid 19 is gonna cause chaos to the sport full stop I think... normally I'm pot half full but this bug will definitely cause some bother... The folks who don't like to see guest riders won't be very happy... Regards THJ

Like it but joking apart any club with foreign riders not already in the country will be stuffed as Europe goes into lock down... the season might not start till June or July at this rate... Regards THJ #covid19sucks

Looks like the 90th and the start of the season are in jeopardy due to covid 19.... Denmark locked down until the 4th of April stymie Claus... Czech republic closes borders tomorrow for God knows how long will stuff Ondrej as he is over there... and with the Jocks putting a block on gatherings of more than 500 people which will inevitably role down here... I reckon once the Ben Fund meeting is done the real action might not start till about 1st June 2020... Oh and I've got a ticket for the Czech GP in Prague going cheap if anyone is interested... Doh.... Regards THJ

Whatever gets your rocks off Biffa.... FOCUS ..... (google Jenny Talia from Australia and listen to the song.... it sums you up to a tee) Also you're convincing me you're sitting at the key board with a hard on... Regards THJ

Haha Champion this morning Mala bit hung over but just shifted a full english.... One of them all you can eat jobbies at a Brewers Fayre/Premier Inn in Barra Marra an ave kept the chef busy for the last hour and a half.... Get in.... slow drive to Maryport for a few pints an lunch... evening soiree at Antonios then back to God's country in the morning for Graft... Apart from having to go to work tomorrow life's good.... and Dilligaf about Corona Virus.... not likely... Regards THJ

Dunno about the cider am in Spoons in Barra Marra after a long day on the drink an a think am gonna have to throw the towel in am paggered... cheapest spot av been in for a long time... Time to go before a make a total HACKSAW of me self... an it's not 10 yet... doh... Regards THJ

By the way Ruff I have been watching Barrow AFC today at Holker Street... Have you ever been back in the day and if you have where the hell was the speedway track... not a trick question honest... I know Ian Thomas brought the Owen Brothers from there in the mid 70s but I couldn't for the life of me see how they could accommodate a football pitch and speedway track on the footprint I was looking at today... Must have been a very small football pitch!!! Regards THJ