Jump to content
British Speedway Forum

geepeeargh

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    63

  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by geepeeargh

  2. Posted

    Damian Bates is a breath of fresh air in speedway and I hope that through his involvement in our two clubs his influence can grow with the ruling hierarchy of UK speedway. His energy and ideas could be the saving grace of our great sport.

     

    Amen to that. Let's all get behind him and help make it happen.....

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    Eric was always in favour of making Owlerton slick to make the home team happier on slick away tracks.

     

    Recently the argument has been that the high powered engines with the new silencers behave poorly when they run into deep shale. I think we would soon learn how to set the bikes up to suit deep shale and then Owlerton would become a nightmare for occasional visiting riders.

     

    At the last S*T*A*R*S meeting Peter Mole said good shale was hard to find, and not cheap, but certainly not unaffordable...

  5. Posted

    The North/South divide has been achieved by stealth. Look at the comparative geography of the two leagues and anyone who fails to see that geographic location played more than a small part in determining the makeup of the two leagues is deluding himself.

     

    Wow. So if the Championship winners beat the Premiership wooden spoonists, all the Southern clubs will be relegated and the Northern clubs will be the new Premiership! :t:

  6. Posted

    I seem to recall Somerset benefiting from some useful guest appearances. How many of the guests we have had to call upon have out performed the riders they were replacing? Simon Stead's experience is hard to replace, and he's good for a points anywhere he goes. Jason Garrity was flying before his arm injury and European Champion Dmitri Berge was always good value so I think we would have finished the season better with our own assets rather than the guests we had available to us. Thanks to Stuart and Cameron for their efforts at Ashfield, but I believe Dmitri, Jason and Simon could have done even better.

    • Like 7

  7. Posted

    The forecast was for the rain to stop at about 7.00. The Referee said to give it until then, before a decision was made. If the rain had stopped by 7.00, the meeting would be on, although the start would be delayed and the second half probably cancelled. The rain showed no sign of easing, so he called the meeting off. Nothing to do with the Promtion.

    Peter Clark is the culprit. We got out of the car at 7:10 and by 7:12 it had stopped raining. At the track at 7:20 it looked as though a quick scrape and the meeting could have been on. The clouds were lifting and there was no more rain all evening.

     

    People who saw the track walk said that Ed K. was pointing animatedly at every wet patch and he obviously didn't want to make a spectacle of himself again.

    Just out of interest, did it stop raining? And if so, what time......?

    19:12

  11. Posted

    Question.

     

    If Liam had suffered a broken femur in his heat 14 crash as first reported, what were the paramedics doing for 35 minutes while he was lying on the track before being moved to the medical centre?

     

    What were they hoping to achieve on the 3rd bend which they couldn't in the properly equipped medical facility?

     

    Surely his well being would be best catered for in the medical facility, so even if he was suffering back pain why not put him on a back board and get him to safety as quickly as possible?

     

    If a rider suffers an injury which necessitates a trip to A&E then order the ambulance pdq and get him to the medical facility as soon as possible ready and waiting.

     

    Thursday night saw hundreds of the thousand or more fans stood waiting in the slight chance they may see and end to the meeting which was balanced on a knife edge only to be robbed of a proper conclusion to the meeting and also the entire junior meeting which should have followed.

     

    "The riders safety" mantra was eventually run out after nearly an hours silence from the meetings presenter and the remaining faithful meekly left before the paramedics had even completed their paperwork and poor Liam was still sucking gas and air.

     

    It really isn't good enough for either the riders or the paying public. I'm sure the paramedics have got the riders well being as their top priority, but I'm doubly sure that they have never been reminded that the supporters are paying for their attendance. If they want to play doctors in their own time that's fine, but when I'm paying them I want quick and effective action.

  13. Posted · Edited by geepeeargh

    Back in 2006 we staged a World U21 Qualifyer at Owlerton. It's interesting to contrast how they finished on the day, and where they are now...

     

    Karol Zabik won the final after a fall/exclusion in the heats. He won various junior honours in Poland and rode for Peterborough and Poole before walking out on them early in 2009.

     

    Chris Holder finished second. The World champion needs no further...

     

    Troy Batchelor scored 10 and qualified for the next round.

     

    Lewis Bridger thought it more important to ride for Elite club Eastbourne than to attend the practice at a mere Premier League track which he'd never ridden before. Confidence is a good thing, but when you're experience is predominantly of Eastbourne then you can't really complain when you only muster 3 points at Sheffield.

     

    Steve Boxall may be a force to be reckoned with around Rye House, but 5 is what he mustered at Owlerton. Can't see him figuring on the world scene.

     

    World champion elect Ed Kennett scraped 10 points together to qualify for the next round. I was surprised. He scored 7 in the British semi-final this year, failing to qualify for the final, and just 5 for Rye House in Sheffield's biggest home win of the season so far. When you learn your trade on a tricky little track...

     

    On the other hand, back in 2006 a certain Martin Vaculik was at Owlerton. To be honest he looked even less capable than Filip Sitera and scored just 2 points. I guess the difference was that he persevered on the big continental tracks and today is a presence on the Grand Prix scene.

     

    The Americans realized their only chance to make it on the world scene was to turn their backs on their tiny home tracks.

     

    The Danes and Swedes used us for experience to become great speedway nations.

     

    The New Zealanders and Aussies have milked us for everything they have achieved, and continue to this day.

     

    Until we invest in our young talent, and ensure ALL our important meetings are held on big tracks where machine set-up has to be learned we will continue to struggle on the world stage.

     

    Restrict the number of non-BRITISH riders per team. (Sod the EU, Poland do). Let's have more test match series against anyone who wants to take us on, but NEVER at any small track where you have to lock back into the corners. We must learn how to beat everyone on the full throttle big tracks like Berwick, Workington, Peterborough and Sheffield.

     

    Any big meetings held at the likes of Wolverhampton, Edinburgh, Rye House, Plymouth, Ipswich, Eastbourne are just nails in our coffin.

     

    PLEASE let the new Belle Vue be a proper (Polish style) track!

     

    If up and coming english lads can't cope with the big tracks then it should be a case of thanks..., next please.

    • Like 4

  14. Posted

    That's surprising from Robson he normally has perfect machinery. Shame for him then.

     

    How did Robson and Kerr ride?

    Stuart shed a chain on the parade lap, was a poor third behind Harris & Wright, then passed and re-passed Compton behind Cook in his second ride. Fell in third place in his 3rd ride and retired from the back in his fourth. Not a good night for Stuart.

     

    Lewis was great when he gated, pants if he didn't.

  16. Posted

     

    So, that is now four Sheffield riders riding at Sheffield!!

     

    When I were a lad the Sheffield riders were all seeded to the Leicester semi. On the other hand the British rounds also included the likes of Mauger, Moore, Briggs, Airey, Valentine etc.

     

    If Bates does get a start then I imagine he'd be quite happy to go to Rye given his penchants for the smaller circuits.

  18. Posted

    Scott did ok at commentary (Deadpan is ok & not false hype)

     

    Steve & Scott get a massive thumbs up from me. They agreed to differ on some pronunciation rather than making up their own and didn't hype every race up way beyond belief. It was heat 17 before I realized that I'd still got the sound on. The words "I'll hand you over to our commentary team" normally have me reaching for the mute button !!!

    • Like 1

  21. Posted · Edited by geepeeargh

    Just like Ove Fundin used to be then. He either comes 1st, or loses.

     

    Just like everyone then. There is only ever one winner.

     

    I hope Simon can inspire the new team. I hope we can tell the stadium owners that we need a free hand over track preparation, and that we can have a prosperous and entertaining season.

    • Like 3

  22. Posted

    http://www.staars.co.uk/

     

    So do Sheffield fans, some do it through the official organisation others do it on a personal basis.

     

    And you know I am not allowed to wear my cardy anymore. :lol:

     

    I wouldn't describe S*T*A*R*S as the official organisation although we do currently enjoy a very good relationship with the promotion. We have currently distributed just over £40,000 so I guess we've made some kind of impact.

     

    I do my best to ensure the S*T*A*R*S funds are distributed where they are most needed and always take good heed of members feedback. If anyone feels they would like to offer help to our riders without making direct contact then S*T*A*R*S is the way and I would be more than welcome to hear from you.

     

    If you are already a member and have any great ideas about how best to distribute funds then please let me know.

     

    If you would like to join us helping the Tigers my email is g_ridsdale@hotmail.com

     

    I can't wait to see our new assets on the track but won't be indulging in a season ticket this year for the first time for over ten years as holiday commitments mean it would be a complete financial faux pas. Especially considering I don't use the car park and prefer to drink real ale.

  23. Posted

    Charlie had the unenviable task of filling the gap left by the departure of Jim Airey and was only ever going to be pale by comparison. I agree he was a poker-faced old charmer though.

     

    Jim Airey replaced Charlie Monk who returned to Glasgow. I was at the supporters club meeting when Frank Varey announced Jim's signing and there were people booing!

     

    Nothing changes at Sheffield does it!!!

    • Like 1
×

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy

  I accept