drew2

Did the 'spectacular east european rider' mentioned fall through then???

Absolutely fine other than a bit of fence being blown down around some of the terracing. Luckily the stadium is not that close to the worst parts of the county's floods. The ground is saturated (well the golf range is next door) though so wouldn't fancy the chances of the car park taking too many cars at present! Hopefully this stormy season will all end soon and Summer will soon being showing its face again down here. **edit for spelling**

How long have you followed speedway OT? Rarely does any team retain that many riders for the following season, successful or not. Circumstances have acted against the Somerset club this winter but the 7 riders in a Rebels racesuit come March will be doing their best for the club. 2013's success would have been unlikely to be repeated even if the same 7 that finished the job in October could have come to the tapes. In Garry May we have one of the best managers in the league and he will undoubtably get the best out of whoever is riding for us. I don't personally share you view of crowds dropping off as i hope we are Somerset speedway fans and not some gloryhunters. I am looking forward to seeing some great racing as we always do at the Oak Tree Arena.

Not sure it was just a better offer but an amazing one he couldn't refuse! Good luck to Josh at Worky. None of the 2013 riders have left on bad terms as far as i am aware and all would be the first ones to phone should the Rebels need a guest during the season. (maybe not Alex now though!)

I think this is a bit bigger than you imagine Oldtimer and they will have a few days of setting up camp, digging trenches etc!

I think the answer as to why is here Oldtimer http://awalkthroughhistory.co.uk/page2.htm This seems to be becoming a sizeable event hosted by the Oak Tree from talking to one of the organisers(who is himself a keen Rebels fan BTW).

Had quite a long chat with James late last season at Somerset following the golf day we ran and he took part in. I found him a very pleasant young man to speak to just as many have have said before. He said he had just lost his enthusiasm for racing but had not officially called it a day yet. He intended to keep a bike and maybe have a blast somewhere this year, possibly not in the UK to see if he has re-kindled his love for the sport. He also has a decent job now outside speedway and had this to consider as well now as with him it is either working or racing and not both. I think he got frustrated with himself as he knew he was a better rider than the level he was currently performing at when he called it a day at Glasgow and the nett effect of that was it was putting him in positions on the track that were a danger to him and other riders at times. He had seemingly got into a vicious circle of trying harder but not getting the results and putting more money into it resulting in him just not enjoying his speedway. As a professional sportsman myself i know that if you don't enjoy what you are doing then you will not perform well so i fuly understand where he is coming form. I don't think you will see him start the season anywhere but mid season if the a gap occurs and the timing is right and he feels he can do the job we all know he can (that isn't a PL second string or reserve) he might be seen again on a speedway bike. He will still be around the sport i'm sure as he supports Charles in his racing and enjoys his time at Somerset!

Thought he had signed for Plymouth not Somerset!!

Seems to me to be more the BSPA's incompetance than Somerset's as the club were given assurances all the way through last season when they asked the powers that be about Brady's average. Mind you i believe another agreement that was made regarding important fixture planning at the end of last season with a BSPA committee member which went out the window when it should have been implemented meaning we had to win the League on a Monday rather than a Friday. Feel sorry for Nick in all this though.

He certainly is! He would have perfect to test the new air fence out.

Is that Ray's younger brother then? :-)

Completed!

I know Somerset's fence has been ordered and over £6K was added to the fund from two of many fund raisers the club have had namely the Golf day and the Darts night. At both of those events i know people attending/taking part had a fun/enjoyable time as well as helping to raise money for the required fence for the OTA.

Looks like the PLRC Champion is going to have his work cut out to defend it!

Nick is back as well. Started the day without a team and now has two!

Paul Starke has been added as well

Looks like a different looking Rebels for 2014 with if rumours are right of Alex not being included and Josh now going to Worky. I wonder if Todd Kurtz and Olly Allen both following the club on Twitter recently are any clues? I would guess that Doyley will be back now to lead the troops again. I certainly hope so!

Cannot see Nielsen coming back as the change Garry May made, i think, had a lot to do with the Rebels becoming League Champions and possibly even being the KO Cup Winners. Stefan did improve his average yes but was poor away from home and you never really knew if he was going to complete the race or not, when he did finish at home yes he was good but Wrighty was a different class home, away and ultra reliable. I would like to see as many as possible retained as from getting to know a few of the riders during this year i can assure the team spirit was amazing, especially at the business end of the season. With a bit of 'May magic' added why can't the bulk of the same riders retain the League?

Is that not Nick's 4th PL winners Medal on the bounce? Thats impressive!

Congratulations to all involved at Somerset from the riders, officials, sponsors, trackstaff and other helpers in whatever shape or form but most of all to the Hancock family who made all this happen! Somerset Cases Rebels 2013 Premier League Champions!

Just hope the golf range next door survives as well! Didn't i read that he is in hospital with a broken shin bone and had an op which must make him a bit more than very doubtful. Think its R/R for Joe, who i wish all the best to and hope he gets well soon.

Or Wednesday or Thursday!

I can assure you that no sheep are ever in the car park fields any more as the gates to the A38 are open most of the day and night. I will agree that the food is superb at the Oaktree. I am also happy to provide weather updates from 10am until about 3pm next Monday ** as i am due at work on site next door to the track. PM me and i will let you have a number to call/text. ** subject to Mrs Drew not deciding that our son should be born that day.

Obviously you never seen this Rebels side race at home then! Got to be joking with only 11 points from Alex and Wrighty combined at the OTA, more likely to be closer to double that figure. Either Josh or Nick will have more than 10 from 5 rides i would expect as well. Sneddon may score 6 if he remembers his stabilzers, think he had a coconut last time he came to Somerset so unlikely i fear. I think we may have Lewis Rose back at reserve as well for both legs. Must admit the weather forecast doesn't look good for Monday. Never ever going to happen as the season won't be extended. Edinburgh must have the option of Friday, Saturday or Sunday to get their leg in as Somerset have got Monday til Thursday onwards avaialble for the second leg (as specially agreed by the local council following the refusal from the opposition to allow their usual Friday race night to be used). I know Doyley (on the 5th i think) and probably a few others already have flights booked back to Oz in first few days of November that i sure won't be changed. Oh dear Starman, obviously not a local to Somerset and the Burnham on Sea area then. Can anyone remind me of what is happening in Somerset from November 2nd in Bridgwater and arrives in Burnham on Monday the 4th November??? CARNIVAL SEASON! Roads are closed all around BOS and Highbridge from early evening that day including the main A38 outside the track between 6.30ish and midnight. Even if the roads were open the promotion would never in their right mind try and run against that.

No you don't seem to realise that we only have so many off nights each year and they have been used up i think. Time to play ball, surely in this situation the league winners should have seniority!