Papa Bazarou

Courtesy of the Polrail site. Bydgoszcz Główna Toruń Główny 0 21:45 22:37 0:52 Bydgoszcz Główna Toruń Główny 0 22:30 23:32 1:02 Bydgoszcz Główna Toruń Główny 0 23:16 0:06 0:50 Bydgoszcz Główna Toruń Główny 1 23:59 6:13 6:14 Bydgoszcz Główna Toruń Główny 0 5:20 6:15 0:55 Bydgoszcz Główna Toruń Główny 0 5:44 6:43 0:59 From, to, number of changes, depart time, arrival time and duration of journey. The last two are there just in case you fancy the party in Bydgoszcz Don't fancy getting the 23:59 though, that's for sure. Rico <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 6:14 journey ! That'll be the PKP steam train as seen in Papa's webshots below - the bit you don't know is you have to act as fireman and shovel the coal yourself. Seriously though, 6hrs 14, where is that via - Poznan, Wroclaw, Warsaw and Gdansk ! 1 change must mean a cold night on a platform in the middle of nowhere - party time in Bydogoszc then a mid morning train to Torun on the Sunday has to be the answer ?

Could be - he's got to have a blip at some stage. As much as i think Crumpy is going to achieve his aim this year - lets make sure he has to work for it - missing the next 2 grand finals to tighten the leader board up would make it more interesting for all concerned at the last round in Norway ! As for Krsko, how about . . 1. Gollob 2. Rickardsson 3. Jonsson 4. Adams

ok all sing along . . . Hong Kong Crumpy, number one super guy. Hong Kong Crumpy, quicker than the human eye. He's got style, a groovy style, and a bike that just won't stop. When the going gets tough, he's really rough, with a Hong Kong Crumpy kick (Hi-Ya!) Hong Kong Crumpy, number one super guy. Hong Kong Crumpy, quicker than the human eye. Hong Kong Crumpy, he's fan-riffic (gong!) Remember seeing Roman Matousek and Martin Dugard at Brandon in 1990 knocking 7 bells out of each other for 4 laps in one race. On one circuit both crossed the line side by side probably only 3 or 4 mtrs from the kerb, both with their legs on each others bikes ! get outta the way ! Roman got the race verdict but there was plenty of activity in the pits afterwards. Elbows are an extension to the bars and we sent plenty of the sharpening going on nowadays, but feet in a deliberate attempt to shove an opponent aside is taking it a bit far, at least everyone walked away. Anyone remember Gollob asking Henka Gustafsson to 'cough' mid race at the German (Abensberg) GP in 1995 - grabbed by the Pole literally !

1. Hancock 2. Jonsson 3. Crump 4. N.Pedersen

The Brda is very close to the station, but about 20-30 mins walk back through the town as Rico says. On the Saturday morning you'll start to see plenty of scarves and flags being banded around. The taxis are dirt cheap over there, so we often hop in one down to the stadium, BKS Polonia Zuzel normally gets the message across - zuzel is speedway in Polish. A couple of stories from our visits . . In 2001, when we got off the train, we were warily greeted by a local - whats going on here we thought, with a bit of broken English and the words Tomek Gollob we established a form of communication at a speedway level, he then burst into raucaus appreciation of one 'Marek Loram' and shook our hands. The level of English speaking Poles is on the increase. Last year this chap called 'Sebastian' greeted us in the crowd, he had very good English learnt from watching satellite channels - the amazing thing was his Gran (who he hasn't seen) lives in Blackpool ! In 2001 we met another good english speaking fan in the crowd (Michael) and last year we amazingly bumped into him on the crossing right outside the Brda - in fact he hollered me form the other side of the street - we'd not been in touch but he'd remembered my name and what I looked like. Also last year, our party of 5 crammed into the compartment of the train from Poznan to Bydgoszcz along with 2 elderly Polish ladies ( they had both been speaking Polish whilst waving to departing relatives - one presumes). One of them asked where we were from in very good english - we said England, half expecting them to think we were Aussies or Americans, she laughed I know that, but where in England ? Coventry we replied - well you couldn't pick her up off the floor for about 2 minutes for hers fits of hysterical laughter - yes I know Coventry is not the most inpsirational of places but, her laughter was real - she was also from Coventry (Willenhall in fact) She was on a 2 week visit to see relatives being an ex-pat Pole who moved to the UK as a child. It's a small world !

I'm learning . . Not sure what you've just said but just found an interesting one especially after too much piwo ! Przepraszam, gdzie jest toaleta?

Saturday night we have traditionally ended up going to Chesterfields, a club underneath the City Hotel. Usually quite lively and a good laugh. Always bump into Andrzej Kowalski and his entourage in there for some banter. Check the Polrail site for train times on the Sunday. I'd imagine the Torun v Tarnow match will start around 1700 and finish by about 1900. Bear in mind it's a fair trek from the train station to the speedway and you'll need taxis both ways - very reasonably priced usually. Rico Hutchie - Torun is 1 hr away by PKP train. I'll see if I can obtain some times. The track is then a taxi ride from Torun station, its the other side of a stonking big river. As for you language bashers - its amazing how much respect you get from the locals if you try a bit of native tongue ! (ooo-eerrr) Tak - Yes Nie - No Witamy - Welcome Bardzo mi milo - Pleased to meet you Czesc - Hello Do widzenia - Goodbye Dziekuje - Thank you

Pretty much Rico - CMSTV on tour ! But probably no tour T-shirts this year though ! Might bring out a Bydgoszcz 2004 flag for forummers to sign - see if we can round a few up ! Are you with the same folk - Davi & co. ? We're out and back via Airpolonia.com Stansted-Poznan, then a bit of PKP rickety-rail (its an adventure) Fri-Sun nights at the Brda this year, not sure what Sunday is going to bring, last year we did the upsticks and relocate to Gniezno - but I believe that it is Torun-tarnow Ekstraliga (Grump, Tomasz Gollob, Ricko, Pepe) which is only an hour away so more manageable, sounds a bit tasty that one ! When are you travelling out ?

Right on cue Rico . . Hotel Brda on Friday sounds like a fine starting place so that we can enjoy some Zywiec or Lech Premium Sport As well as british fans, you can also find a few EL promoters, a handful of BSPA officianardos and even a few ex-riders if you are lucky in the bar as well (Jan O Pedersen in 2001). There's a very handy kebab shop just 100mtrs down the road which must be tried as well. Is Tomek Elwood attending this year Rico ? For all you Bydgoszcz virgins, check out Papas webshots link below. See you all at the Brda !

The trotters are a delicassy in some parts

Don't forget pork scratchings Gem.

Swings and roundabouts is the phrase that springs to mind Agreed Hans slowed, and yes his interview was well . . uneconomical with the truth but PK would have betaen Scotty I'm sure. As many have said we've seen these things before (Aussies at Coventry) and I'm sure we'll see them again. Throughout the meeting points were won and lost with various re-runs, refs deciscions, the resulting restarts invariably showing a different result from the initial running at the point of stoppage (Havvy when Nicki Wiped out Max, and also Lee getting a 2nd bite and winning over Lindback in ht 23 as examples) Lets not forget Nicholls wiping out Bjarne early in the meeting but geting back for the re-start - btw how lucky was Bjarne not to hit the 4 inch square wooden post with his legs. Commendable that Poole have the old fence behind to give more rigidity to the air fence unlike Ipswich, but 90% of the time the rider goes to ground at kick board level and submarines under and through the air fence, thus if no kickboard on the old fence behind hes is at the mercy of whats there - wooden posts and mesh only in this case. Very lucky indeed. Looking at the last 8 heats Sweden outscored Team GB 19-12, deciscions aside that proved the difference. AJ had a torrid time all night (4 from 4 starts), but his ht24 ride against Loram was a very mature ride. We all know he loves the high line and it had not worked all night for him compared to Thursday (Gollobs downfall as well I think) But in 24 he clamped Mark for 4 laps to the pole line - just what the Swedes needed at the time. Anyway well done Sweden and comiserations to the Brits - a good weeks entertainment. PS Was the red light (from an infrared source on the digital camera) as used by the Snapper on the dog track - in the ensuing melee Sky zoomed in on a guy sheepishly leaning over the fence exiting the 4th turn/back striaght ? It was BSI's decision to remove all official photographers from the inside to the outside of the circuit in SGP and SWC events a couple of years ago - we'll never know I guess, Scott knows what he saw. At Wolves riders are occasionally distracted by the brake lights on cars moving around on the 4th bend.

Arh... Fond memories of Bydgoszcz. Roll on September, can't wait. It was great to see Tomasz racing some of the lines around Poole like he does Bydgoszcz. If you don't see him ride there it is hard to appreciate how awesome he is, but last night he proved it to all. I was jumping around the lounge in heat 25. Was really miffed that a team could go and qualify by using the joker in the last heat, but I guess Tomasz wanted it more. I think they shoudl have a re-think next year and say that the joker can only be used in the first 24 heats. Wilvurforce - tally ho ginger ! AJ was awesome - apart from his edge of the seat rides, lets not forget he also did the biz in a more safe and controlled fashion over Leigh in ht 24 when it mattered And Tomek was unreal - all that was lacking was the Polish crowd and atmosphere - you have to go to Bydgoszcz to see it and believe (airpolinia.com all you forumers get it sorted !) his 1st turn over Crumpy in 25 was amazing - then then 4 laps that followed was just . . . . . . It was interesting to see AJ making big long straights sweeping turns and cut backs, very reminiscant of Bydgoszcz and the way that Tomasz rides - perhaps as a result of riding for them this year Rico - see you at the Brda for a Piwo or 5 ! For all you Bydgoszcz 1st time-ers check out Papas webshots below.

No when Nicholls got hit by Hancock they were coming off the bend and Nicholls had his wheels back in line, when Pedersen hit Crump it was in the middle of the bend full slide, how is someone suppose to stay on the bike when there front wheel is taken from them when they are sliding sideways? But the impact was so minimal from Nicki (dirt deflector), it did not cause Crump's front wheel to wash away, Crumpy just got off it. Someone had to go (or did they ? who knows with some of the bizarre all 4 back calls we've had this year) did Tony make his decision using the footage from the 1st and 2nd bend only, which from that angle and distance did look liek beign more in favour of Jason. The viewing public saw the 4th bend camera work well after the decision had been made ? did Tony have and use this footage as a basis for his decision ? Anyway, all academic really, Nicki gets through the eliminator, makes th final has a massive off, credit where it's due, picks himself up and clears the track, Jason wins. Good to see pats on back between Nicki and Crumpy at the end. Great TV - the jury is split on who should have been excluded though.

Very nasty incident tonight for Tony, the way his helmet met the track was not pretty. Bad enough the once, but the second rear blow similar to a boxer going down looked even worse. Very happy to see him back to his feet, but looking second best in the eliminator, hopefully no lasting effects. Tony is not finding things easy this year, there a lot of hard chargers out there now, and some good performances from he wild cards, title no.6 looking unlikely - for this year at least ? Next year the rest will be stronger still. Tony aside, should those type of incidents force an automatic withdrawal from the meeting - concussion and head injuries are not to be take lightly, other sports force competitors to rest, and look at the Ralf Schumacher incident last week in Indianapolis. Ok F1 is different, the dynamics of crash are totally disimilar, the one common denominator being the chance of a head injury.

1. Nicki Pedersen 2. Crump 3. Rickardsson 4. Adams

Predictions as follows:- 1. Crump 2. Rickardsson 3. Sullivan 4. Gollob and 23 ya knows from Nikki during a 3 question interview

1.Gollob 2. Rickardsson 3. Hampel 4. Jonsson

Ahh Dunny . . . There's nothing like the back straight at Bydgoszcz Can I have my pipe back ? (only kidding folks !) Seriously though it is a very colourful and atmospheric meeting and must be savoured at some stage of your spectating careers. The gherkin box was something to behold though, an 18 inch long tupaware box awash with a sea of sliced gherkins - not for me thankyou ! and the vodka receptical was quite literally a Head sports bag with what looked like an old cars fuel tank slotted in with proably 4 gallons of Polish falling down water and 4 guys huddled around each with 3 foot long drinking straws - bizarre ! Oh and lets not forget the racing is top notch ! Check it out . . http://community.webshots.com/user/papabazarou

1. Gollob 2. Rickardson 3. Crump 4. Jonsson

'Ey up Rico - hows it going ? 2nd bend in the Polonia kop ? Is Tomek Elwood going ?

Crump, Trick, Jonsson and Max in that order

We've done it this way twice . . RyanAir Stansted to Berlin, then train Berlin to Bydgoszcz changing at Poznan - quite an adventure but good fun. This year though - airpolonia.com Stansted to Poznan, then 1hr 45 - 2 hrs by train to Bydogoszcz - no problemo ! PKP railways - Fantastico ! Check out the webshots below

SJW, have been twice now 2001 and 2003. We've always flown into Berlin then caught the train over the border through to Bydgoszcz - about 6.5 hours but a great way to see the country - quite an adventure really ! This year the choices look better with Air Polonia fyling direct to Poland as well now. From memory (have stopped in the Hotel Brda only so far, which tends to have half of the BSPA stopping there, a real whos who of British promoters and quite a few referees as well, plus one or 2 riders and ex-riders) the City Hotel is walkable from the stadium, but I'm sure Rico can clarify. Not sure how things will change this year though as Poland will be joinihn the EU, in May I believe. All in all, its a great place, pretty cheap. To wet the appetite, I've posted a seelction of pictures from our trip last year http://community.webshots.com/user/papabazarou Enjoy !

Yep you're harmless enough ! How's things going ? I've gotta admit that you cannot beat Bydgoszcz GP weekend having been twice now, 3rd time looking a strong possibility this year. Hotel Brda, Bydgoszcz kebabs, the Elwood troupe, PKP state railways, Tomek Gollob, the stadium, the build up, the atmosphere, the racing, the locals, zloty & pivo, ! Check the pictures at the following site (49 JPG's) http://community.webshots.com/user/papabazarou