BongoBrian

Some interesting photos I came acroos by accident on the net of the Cardiff track Preparation in its' early stages... Millennium Stadium Speedway Track Prep

Dunno who told you there was a 25,000 sell out crowd... was that on Sky Sports? Anyway, sitting in Poznan today, I can inform you that you were lucky if there was 14 to 15,000 at the GP... lots of empty seats. As for the silencers, being at the Gniezno v Bydgoczsz meeting yesterday, wow I'm telling you the noise was deafening compared to the GP and the PL matches I have been to so far... it really added to the atmosphere. It is so easy to forget the difference. From this experience this weekend, I hope they go back to the old silencers... who cares what the neighbours of UK speedway tracks think!

The London Pub is calling

The Glossy GP programme was sold for a tenner in Cardiff in 2009, which contained a blank scorecard in the centre spread. However, they also inserted a lose colour scorecard insert with the riders names filled in as the draw had been made on the Friday. So you get the best of both worlds. It also means that you don't ruin your programme by making (usually alcohol related) mistakes. You can make these on the insert and correct any mistakes if you wish at a later date on your programme. Only one day to go!

Some videos of the atmosphere etc at Gniezno... search for Star Gniezno on this site find vids like this one...

Hampel now being the number 1 at Leszno in place of Leigh Adams I believe will put him in a very good place to build a strong Challenge this year. I think Crumpie will be there or there abouts, but don't think Gollob can keep up the intensity of his work rate for a second year running... from reports, he put so much of himself into last year, I just feel that this will take its' toll. Emil is still an unknown quantity to a great degree, he could be incredible or average! Bomber could again be a dark horse and has the potential to be top 3 or 4. I'll predict the top 15 as... 1 J. Hampel 2 J. Crump 3 C. Holder 4 T. Gollob 5 C. Harris 6 E. Sayfutdinov 7 J. Kolodziej 8 N. Pedersen 9 K. Bjerre 10 R. Holta 11 G. Hancock 12 F. Lindgren 13 A. Jonsson 14 A. Lindback 15 A. Laguta

For me it's Hampel all the way for Poland to get back to back world champions

Falubas!!! Falubas!!! Looks like its' Gniezno now, so maybe Zielona later this year or next?

It's not the Friday you have to be worried about... it's the Monday, Tuesday and possibly even Wednesday after!

Brilliant absolutely excellent news! Gniezno was the fixture I had pencilled in on the first page of this thread before the worries about it being cancelled. The train takes only a tad over half an hour. Happy days

I was hoping this was on on the 1st May, as it is easier to get to from Poznan! If not, then I guess its' about 2 hours each way to & from Zielona for me.

I agree Screamer, Cardiff should be re-named the Welsh GP and we then could have a Scottish GP at Hampden Park

Thanks for the info Mateusz I was looking for the Sunday Speedway options. I am also staying in Poznan, so think i will head to the Gniezno v Bydgoszcz meeting also. Looks good from this following photo from the Gniezno website... Aerial Photo of Gniezno

Many of these figures are inaccurate. I was at two of these events (Cardiff and Bydgoszcz). The figure for Cardiff is an approximation (ie 45,000) The figure for Bydgoszcz is completely wrong. Without the temporary seating, the stadium holds 17,000. there was another 3,636 temporary seats added From GP Site That takes it to well over 20,000. However, as anyone will tell you, the stadium was completely over sold. Folk were standing on my seat and in the isles without a seat, the bars were permanently packed throughout the meeting and there were tons of folk piled up at the back of the stands with no seat. Estimates range from 25,000 to as high as 30,000 in the stadium. My own guestimate would be 27,000, maybe 27,500... but like I said, anyone who was there will testify to there being far more than 20,000.

It was absolutely amazing, I said to Ian Patterson exactly that about the work that has gone into it. What a decent bloke Ian is also. I would say that it is an absolute must do for any speedway fan. The bikes were incredible and despite some of their age, they all look like they have just come straight out of the showroom. Fantastic stuff and also there is just bags of information on the exhibits. You really cannot get through everything in a couple of hour visit... You could literally spend weeks in there talking to Ian and going through the stories behind each of the bikes and other memorabilia. A big thanks to Ian for the opportunity to see the fruits of his labour of love of Speedway.

Ironic that 'Sudden Sam' is an anagram for 'Maddens Us' Really looking forward to the visit on Sunday

Bydgoszcz Parade Lap & Gollob Song Leigh Adams Farewell Final

Yup, was a pleasure mate Definately going to do a league meet next year. probably Torun, Just to go to the Mariana Rose Stadium.

What a brilliant weekend Cheers to everyone I met... even those pesky Monarchs What an atmosphere at Bydgoszcz! To be honest, I have only hazy memories of the actual Speedway due to being too busy diving around talking to folk and having a laugh with a load of Zielona Gora fans, an Ex-pat Aberdonian and his Polish wife among others... as well as drinking a considerable number of beers. Amazing day at Leszno too, Just wish we could watch Speedway at that venue every Sunday. I could watch Speedway there every second day and never get bored with it. Incredible venue and facilities and superb racing track... The speed of the bikes was frightening. Down with a bump and back at work today though. Ah well, always next year to look forwart to

I'll see you on the other side mate. Safe Journey

If there is a spare Scottish one, I will pick it up at the Stadium !!!

Pandorum, Wocky Channels is the best... good banter with fellow speed freaks if you want too. Cheers Lawrence for the link... even saw my seat next to the pits Getting excited now

Sorry, deleted now. I think the server was still processing and I hit send a few times as I thought it had not been posted The e-mail address for you bank details is BigBongoBoozeBender@ripov.Pl btw