Gemini

Did one practice humility as well? You know just in case ones favourite rider, you know, didn't make the final, you know.

Do you want any help with the answer Sir L? Had a brilliant weekend, apart from having to sleep on the floor of the hotel room because someone was kicking their legs around all night and making noises that half a dozen pigs would have a job to compete with. Went to the Newport v Newcastle match on Friday night and bumped into Joanne, who had travelled by train and bus so we gave her a lift back to Cardiff afterwards. Quite a good meeting although I missed seeing one of my favourite riders - Carl Wilkinson. After breakfast on Saturday we set off on a marathon walking session to keep Pawprint on the go so she would be worn out by evening, when she'd got to stay in the hotel room. Firstly went on the park (Sophia Gardens), then on a Bus Tour round Cardiff, round the city centre a few times, ending up on the Castle grass for a couple of hours. Pawprint was happily spending the time chasing a ball until a certain forum member chucked it about 100 feet in the air over the Castle Wall. No names, but he does have a sting in his tail. Went to Sams Bar about 4pm and met Sting, Robbo, Bandits4Ever, Pinny, for the first time, also other forum members in various stages of err......."merryment." Then walked back through Sophia Gardens to the hotel in Cathedral Road. Left about 6ish for the walk back to the stadium. Must say that everything about the G.P. this year was the absolute best. The track, presentation, atmosphere, music, Sam, noise, racing. Fantastic. I've watched it again on video now and it just doesn't compare to actually being there. Anyone who missed it - get yourself down to Cardiff next year. You will be amazed. Just one small gripe - the loudspeakers weren't very clear and it was hard to hear. I missed loads of the race times because of this. Pump up the volume! Highlights of the night have to be the good performances of the Brits, Greg Hancock winning, Nicki Pedersen and Hans Andersen going out and Steve Turner's face as the night wore on. The fireworks were brilliant. I didn't want to leave and felt really sad it was all over for another year. Already booked the hotel room for 2005.

Well I've never heard of either of them.

I wouldn't normally be bothered either but we have to keep Pawprint on the move all day so she is that shattered during the evening she just wants to rest her weary paws in the hotel room for 5/6 hours. The last couple of years have been too hot if anything so could we please have lower temperatures than lately, but no rain.

Hope you know what you're doing Phil. Glad you could make it and I hope you have a great day.

Shire Horses? That's what they reminded me of anyway. Perhaps it was the flared trousers and the way they walked.

You're right there. Anything grim is usually male.

Mmmmm....is there a hint in there somewhere? So it's a he which rules out The Stranger, so that narrows it down a bit.

Watch him Joanne!

Does anyone know yet what the pre-meeting/interval attraction will be? The unveiling of The Grim Reaper perhaps?

That's the e-v-i-l face Woody. Grim is trying to be frightening. ....That is the angry face.

Scrooge! If Wizzer was riding perhaps we could change your mind. Is that the Loch Ness monster's missus?

Depends if you're on a camp site or not - they can't damn well touch you on there. If you are in a car park or lay-by I should think the same rules apply as for a car - no-one inside should have access to the keys if they have been drinking.

Not if I see you first you won't.

But not if you have been drinking, unless you are prepared to leave the ignition keys somewhere where you can't find them to drive.

Just checked with my son-in-law (who's also a policeman) and that's correct Woody. If there is any chance you could drive, i.e. having possession of the keys, then you could get done. Shame. Hope you manage to find somewhere to sleep. Have you got a tent?

Gosh - I wish I had a better memory! I saw a programme a few months ago and Ian Cartwright was being interviewed in the workshop. He now owns the company which originally belonged to his grandfather (or great-grandfather!) I think Simon also works for him when racing commitments allow.

What's up? Have you just found out you can't sleep four in the car after all?

I hope you are successful in tracking down some riders and loads of fellow supporters. I know Shoddy on here was a very keen Halifax/Kenny Carter fan. How about putting another post in the Speedway Discussions area because you might get more of a response in there?

Brilliant magazine and very interesting reading. It's great to read about things "behind the scenes" as the Speedway Star very rarely publishes anything remotely controversial. In view of some of the opinions on the forum about wrapping the riders in cotton wool and don't dare criticise them, it was interesting to read Bernard Crapper's way of dealing with Simon Wigg. "Just tell someone else, in his earshot, that he was useless! That ploy worked a lot and he'd always go out and prove me wrong." Can't wait for the next issue.

GP2 Prague....Saturday 29th May at 7am. GP3 Wroclaw....Sunday 6th June at 7.30am. GP4 Cardiff....20th June late night??? GP5 Copenhagen....Sunday 4th July at 8am. GP6 Gothenburg....Sunday 29th August at 7.30am. GP7 Krsko....Sunday 12th September at 7am. GP8 Bydgoszcz....Sunday 26th September at 7.30am. GP9 Hamar....Sunday 10th October at 7.am.

Glad I don't hang around the pits then. Actually Steve I think you will find we were mostly dismayed at Nicki's nostril clearing antics with his fingers, not so much the spitting. You tell me one other rider in the G.P's who does this then I might believe you that they all do it.

Try the park'n'ride on the way to the bay. It's nice and quiet up there. Not that I've done it myself but 4 years ago Pawprint spent about six hours in the camper van sleeping off all the walking she did around Cardiff during the day time.

I wasn't that daft to get up for 7am on a Sunday, even to watch Speedway. I have to get up at the unearthly time of 6.30am during the week so I like to have a bit of a lie-in at the weekend. Yes, I taped it but you're right - it was all rather boring.

Anyone watch this? I was really disappointed Julia Bradbury wasn't doing the interviews etc. as she had a good rapport with the riders last season and is a lot better than Sophie Blake (?) in my opinion. I always used to keep the Channel 4 G.P programmes because they were different to the normal Sky coverage, but now it's just run-of-the-mill highlights condensed into an hour. Okay if you don't have Sky but now not worth bothering with if you do.