Conkers

I saw the pic of JT and wanted to shout "lean over more" at him. I bet these pics are from that Photographer that iris123 was telling me about in Berlin, his pics are just so good! Makes me sick just how good they are Sorry for the confusuion DGT, I've edited the post. Put it down to being up early! Any predictions for the opener? 1. Khomitsevich 2. I.Ivanov, 3. Krasnikov

As far as I know, there are four in Graham Halsall, Mark Uzzell, Roger Newton and Rob Irving, but Roger did say there were two others, one a mate of Rob, and the other someone from somewhere in the North. Perhaps Toonarmy could fill in the blanks. What about it, eh Malcolm? BTW ToonArmy, are you planning to spanner during the Ice season? EDIT: To avoid confusion!

Those photos were good DGT! Excellent pics. Those new leathers on Ivanov and Khomitsevich look very smart too, looking forward to seeing them in action in March. Does anyone know if they are showing this meeting on Russian TV and does anyone have a link? Iris123? Failing that a link for the results over the weekend? Franky Zorn is off to Sweden this week for some testing and a bit of practice, as he hasn't been invited to Russia for this meeting. whilst Roger Newton was telling me that the Brits have only one place in the World Championship (as usual), and one place in the European Championship instead of the two they had last year.

The Assen ticket order form can now be found THIS LINK. This is the English language order form - the German/Dutch ones can be accessed from this page.

Just checked the Sanok website, and yes - they are running the same weekend as Inzell AND are staging the Sanok cup on Friday so there are three meetings that wekend. Good stuff if it's cold. Now, where is Sanok........

from Svensk Isracing: SANTA CUP - Invited Riders so far: Antti Aakko - Finland Tommy Flyktman - Finland Franz Zorn - Austria Markus Skabraut - Austria Harald Simon - Austria Jan Klatovsky - Czech Rep Johnny Tuinstra - Netherlands Sven Holstein - Netherlands Sebastian Gegenbauer - Germany Dates confirmed so far: 2007 26 Dec Santa Cup - Örnsköldsvik 27 Dec Santa Cup - Östersund 28 Dec Santa Cup - Bollnäs 29 Dec Santa Cup - Gävle 2008 11-12 Jan World Individual Championship-semifinal - Östermalms IP, Stockholm 13 Jan World Individual Championship-semifinal - Saalfelden, Austria 26-27 Jani World Individual Championship-semifinal - Inzell, Germany 26 Jan European Individual Championship -semifinal - Sanok, Poland * 27 Jan European Individual Championship-final - Sanok, Poland * 16-17 Feb Team World Championship -final - Krasnogorsk, Russia 23-24 Feb World Individual Championship-final - Saransk, Russia 8-9 Mar World Individual Championship-final - Assen, Netherlands 15-16 Mar World Individual Championship-final - Berlin, Germany 18 Mar International - Vinterstadion Örebro Edit: *This may wrong as I can't see the Sanok meeting running against Inzell! The only other date I can add is the Roloef Thijs Bokaal on Friday 7th March is Assen According to the Erfurt Website, there won't be any racing there in 2008 as it's Easter the weekend after Berlin, and there are no suitable dates before or after available. Looks like the Golden Spike Series has bitten the dust for 2008! I just hope the weather turns cold this winter!

Mainly the accommodation situation. I am considering flying to Saltzburg, Saturday then train to Saalfelden, then back after the meeting to Saltzburg.

Ah-ha! Back on line after three weeks off because Orange decided to cut me off! I was talking to Roger Newton recently and he tells me that the British place in the World Championship Qualifiers is the Saalfelden Round in January. He also says that it is looking like the end of November for the Brits to practice, but I'm sure Malcolm can let us know the exact dates. If you are looking at Hotels in Berlin, I have booked into the Winters Hotel opposite the Stadium again, and it looks like they aren't filling up rapidly this year if you are after accommodation. Anyone know much about accommodation in Saalfelden BTW?

Sorry for the late reply - not been on the forum for a few days. The ice racing is at the Wilmersdorf Ice Stadium, next to Hohenzollerndamm S-Bahn station (well the other side of the ring road to it, but about 100 yds walk). From Schonefeld it's 47 minutes on the trains. (Take the S9 to Spandau, then get off at Baumschulenweg, then take the S46 to Westend, and get off at Hohenzollerndamm). The public transport is very good in Berlin. If you have a Smart phone, I recommend a little application on my phone called Metro which has almost every Tram/Train/Bus route for loads of cities, including Berlin, and is usually correct in it's timings and routes. Invaluble when traveling. (Get it HERE) Racing starts at 5pm on Saturday, and is over by 8-ish, then Sunday starts at 1.30pm and is over by 4.30-ish (if this is wrong no doubt someone will kindly correct the times) There is a good atmosphere at the stadium, but only the home straight is under cover, so waterproofs and a good brolly are recommended. The atmosphere is good, but personally I prefer Assen for that, although the racing in Berlin is excellent. And you get to see the World Champion crowned. Last year was a great meeting, especially the Sunday where the result was decided in the A Final and then we had a run off! I'm sure Wolfslayer and co can answer better as they are Berlin regulars, whilst I've only been three times to this venue in 20 odd years, although I'll be there come March.

If she is half as good as her brother she should be a really good rider in two or three years. Look out Johnny Tuinstra!

If Nikolai Krasnikov wins in 2008, he'll be the first rider since Sergei Tarabanko to win four on the trot (1975 - 78). Judging by his riding in Assen and Berlin this year you cannot write him off if he's in any of the A finals. Ivanov could be Champion, as he's aggressive enough, but Bogdanov? Great rider but compaired to Ivanov, Krasnikov and Khomitsevich, I think he's got his hands full with his fellow countrymen. I'd go for a top 3 which would include Ivan Ivanov, Vitali Khomitsevich and Krasnikov. Mind you, lets see which of the young Russians come through this season! Danil Ivanov and Dmitri Khomitsevich may be spoilers this year. On a personal note, I'd like to see Franky Zorn fulfil his potential and win the World Championship, therefore losing the nickname we gave him last year (which he quite liked) "King Of The B Final"

I'm glad you understood the Russian, as the translation site made reading it difficult. Mind you, the middle pic of the bloke in grey standing up - he is always in the Russian pit wherever they race and spanners for all the Russian World Champions, and the red haired man on his right (left in the pic) is Rais Mustafin. Interesting that Valeri Ivanov appears to be considered as a trainer (maybe I misread it) as he was the only one of the three brothers (Juri & Sergei are his older brothers) never to be World Champion. Doesn't Danil Ivanov ride for Togliatti on the shale? Maybe they might link up with Ufa to share the riders? As for Korneev, maybe he sees Posa (60 in March) and Graham Halsall (not far behind) and thinks "Why not?" Good luck to him!

Assen gets booked up quickly, but there are several hotels in Groningen which is about 30 mins up the road, and if you want nightlife, then you should stay there. Most of the tours have hotels block booked, but there are several in Groninen and in the surrounding areas. If you contact the VVV in Assen, they do have English speakers who can help you, or have a look at Groningen Hotels here. Tickets for the meeting are available on the day if you want standing, but the seats sell out fast but you can e-mail for Assen Tickets on tickets@ijsspeedway-assen.nl If you need any other help please feel free to PM me,

Just to upset fsp here are some pics from Russia to whet the appitite Ice Racing Pics

I didn't see anything about that on the UEM site - mind you it's not been updated for some time by the look - plus they still have the speedway pics reversed, and show a "Telford-style" pic for the Ice Racing. From what I was told, the Poles want to expand the Ice racing, beyond Sanock, and bringing their own guys through. They don't want a repeat of the last attempt to kick start the sport there. If you remember 1995, they hosted two rounds of the Ice GP, but they granted Russians Juri and Sergei Ivanov Polish licences, which I understand went down like a lead balloon. It probably stalled Ice Racing in Poland for some time. In Assen they had two Polish guys (have a look)who looked older than Posa on the Friday, riding a ridgid framed Russian museum piece (pic here ). They tried hard but as Roger Newton (British Ice Racer) pointed out to me, they tried hard with the outdated machinery. Without a rear spring, those ruts in the Ice are murder on the testicles As for the winter not arriving yet FSP - Buxton was allegedly like the arctic Sunday

Well,with the Santa Cup provisional dates announced a couple of weeks ago, (see here), I've been given the date for Inzell, who have taken the qualifying round 3 over the weekend of 25-27/1/2008. Full details are shown onInzell's home page. 2008 World Individual Ice Racing Championship - 2008 provisional calendar. 13/01 Saalfelden-AUT (Qualif. 1) 13/01 tba (Qualif. 2) 226-27/01 Inzell-GER (Qualif. 3) 23-24/02 tba-RUS (Final 1) 08-09/03 Assen-NED (Final 2) 15-16/03 Berlin Wilmersdorf-GER (Final3) Team Final: 02-03/02 tba-RUS (although the calendar says 2nd/3rd which is Sunday/Moday - FIM appear to have forgotten it was a leap year!) Assen will stage a meeting on the 7th March, whilst Berlin may well stage the German championship prior to the World Championship (I believe Iris123 thinks it may be the Thursday before - 13th/3) The Golden Spike series is still up in the air, although I was told that the Sanok Cup in Poland will be ran again, as it went down well. No dates as yet for any of them, unless someone can assist?

Johnny is doing well and has fully recovered, according to my Dutch friend. He's working all the hours God sends in his crane to ride next winter. Berlin next year BTW?

Iris123 - Did you bump into Lars & Jacqueline in Fjelsted?

Just checked with my friends in Fjelsted - Andersen is the champion, and they are currently celebrating with his pit crew.

Just had a text from a friend at the meeting: 1. Hans Andersen 2. Bjarne Pedersen 3. Nicki Pedersen 4. Neils Kristian Iversen

Pictures of Franky "King Of The B Final" Zorn doing some demonstration rides at an Austrian Ice Rink at the Austrian Ice Hockey Final. HERE

Mark! First can you contact me privately re Pete Devine! Second - will we be seeing you in Assen in March, and did you get the pictures Roger or I sent you? Third - Thanks for the Santa Cup dates Ian

Got to agree with Iris123 that Assen and Berlin are good meetings, mainly because they are artificial tracks (ie they use a freezing plant to make the track) so you are assured of racing. Assen has the better atmosphere IMO and it's under cover in case of inclement weather (unless you are a photographer on the centre!). Both meetings get good crowds and you can have a good time at both and see some great racing. Speaking to a few people Russia is best visited in a tour group, as only the hardy tackle a solo trip. To hear some of the rider's stories it can be expensive and/or slightly dangerous!

Sunday Times, Sport Section, Page 27 - a huge block with an action and an inset portrait with the article mentioned in the Chris Harris Thread. Headine: "Harris Speeds To Glory" Mail On Sunday - Small paragraph or two that I nearly missed. Sunday Post - Nothing I could find (but it does Have Oor Wullie and The Broons ) Expect better coverage in the Monday papers as they will be going to press as we speak. As Steve points out the Sundays go to press much earler than the dailies, and have a week to prepare. Bear in mind that The ST is owned by News Corporation, who also own BSkyB, so they tend to cover what Sky covers, and a Brit winning makes it topical. Plus it looks like they were prepared for a piece as it's on the pages that carry the late Wimbledon results and the French F1 GP preview

I think Nicki Glanz has dual nationality in that he has a Danish Father and an English mother, which means he can ride for either. I do think that the Danes probably entered him for the U19 AFAIK the ACU don't enter this competition, and that Thilo and Ottie may have been given duff info? Unless the UEM have got it wrong