Terrace Grumbler

...is the right answer. Good luck to you all.

I was sorry to read in the SS that Daryl has sold up. His heart has always been in the right place and it's a pity his Elite League dreams of many years ago didn't come off. Nicki, Bjarne and Kenneth, what a heat leader trio that would have been. Do we have a new co-owner and if so who? I understand Ruffdiamond is loaded, and my money is on him unless Tsunami is making a shock return, of course. Anyway, thanks Daryl, much appreciated.

Well done to George and the other members of the promotion - this looks like the best team we have had in years and fitness permitting we should have the chance of a good run in all competitions.

He reminds me of Peper Franc. I hope we sign him. Most successful sided have an out-and-out gather. I just wish we could sign Robert Rooks son in his prime - now there was a class gating #1

Yup, all the best everybody. I'm standing on Durham station at the moment, it's cold enough for snow and Santa has just told us he'll be riding at #4 for Glasgow next season (only they could afford his signing on fee, apparently).

Ty Proctor would be an excellent signing: if anyone can get him back to where he was a few years ago, George can. I remember a few meetings at BP when he was Redcar's no. 1 when he was dominant and looked as though his future was at world level. Are his work permit issues behind him now?

Good question Daniel, I'd like to know too

Seems about right. We've forked out. I don't want too much - a season running from 6 March to 30 October would appear to be reasonable (!)

Season ticket wise, I cant get the links on the "Contact" page of the Club website to work, so if anyone can answer a couple of dim questions I would be very grateful...if a child under 16 and does a full time student qualify for a concession (#2 son is away at University but will be back at Easter and I the summer and likes the idea of having a season ticket - if he counts as a concession I 'll get him one, if not I 'll pa o the gate for him while he is here).

Howarth's a proper racer, I would like to see him in our colours. Has Wilko signed anywhere yet?

You are quite right and I stand corrected - thank you!

If only in the interests of having new faces in the team, and of putting up a decent show on larger tracks, I would be happy with Kus. Don't all the young Danes go straight into the EL now? Another Nicki, Bjarne, Kenneth or Rene would be great but I haven't forgotten Rene Knudsen yet.

What is that sound I hear? Ah yes, it's the noise made by the rearrangement of the deckchairs on the poop deck of the RMS Titanic...it doesn't matter where the pits are, or the two minute clock, if the product isn't good or well-promoted enough.

Sadly I think Christian may have had too many injuries now. However, may I just say, in case @ The White Knight hasn't realised the extent of the groundswell of support for this, that the return of Ludwig is essential.

Roy is the best presenter I can remember at Newcastle - he is very good indeed. Against that background, what I'm saying is that at the match in question he gilded the lily - it was clear to everyone there that it was a no-contest but he (perhaps bravely) kept on as if it were a nail biter; the problem was the same as when Sky football commentators describe a dull goalless draw as if it were the 1966 World Cup final - everyone could see that it's just hyperbole, and in that - one - instance I think that only Roy was, or was pretending to be, excited. My (entirely tongue in cheek) question was how he had the chutzpah to do it...

That match was a case of the Emperor's new clothes - the Australian team was so under-strength it was a walkover ("Test" match, ha) and an insult to the paying public - I for one go to speedway to watch racing, not just to see one team win.

Sadly, Robbo is too injury prone: also, iirc he left because Redcar would pay him more, and I can't see Newcastle getting involved in a bidding war any time soon. If you're referring to Ben Barker, he very rarely shows up at Brough when in the opposition*, so why should he want to travel up on a weekly basis? Your team would be fine (and perhaps more manageable financially) if Wilko replaced Robbo and Summers Ludde was included for Barker. I don't know how the compulsory wobbler system will work but it would be nice to get Lewis Rose in the team. El Grumblero * Off topic, he did rock up for the so-called test match against Australia the other year. I challenge Ranting Roy to explain how he maintained such a fever pitch of excitement at what must be one of the worst matches in the annals (use your spell checker) of Byker speedway history.

Three thoughts: 1. In my view Ludde is as close as there is to a "heart and soul" of Newcastle Speedway at the moment (on the track, obviously). Sometimes it looks as though he is trying so hard, it hurts. He may not be Craig Cook but he's fine by me; let him skipper the team from #4. 2. Time catches up with all of us (me included!) and the Andre of today isn't the swashbuckling rider who was my elder son's hero when he was our #3 (I'm looking at a photo of them now, which is still on my office wall). Look at Compo's scores round Brough recently - my heart would love to see him back, but I'm not sure it would be the best move. 3. Bjarne or Kenneth would be brilliant signings but I imagine both will have contracts in Poland and would be unaffordable anyway. Great memories of Bjarne and Robbo's "job share" - many years ago, now.

Ludde, please.

If Workington want Rosen, may we have Rene?

A critique is a critical evaluation. As for the rest of this post, you continue to misread and misunderstand entirely what I have written (and, I see, don't answer the question I put forward). I could go on, yeah, but....I don't come on these boards to learn. if I find out interesting and new things, that's great, but for me at least, basically it's an exchange of views and a laugh now and then. It's not about pseudo-intellectual grandstanding, anyway. Enough said, I think.

I'm not mocking the proposal, I'm offering a critique of it - there is a difference! Do you agree that protected races spoil the purity of the contest? I am concerned that they would for me. I can imagine Ian Thomas laughing - he'll put his harp down so he can read the new rules and work out how to circumvent them...

In theory, yes, but I just doubt that it will bring on many more PL quality riders. To state the blindingly obvious (sorry!) it seems to me that a young (in this case, British) rider needs first a liking for the sport, second determination to get on and third talent. I can't see there is much stopping British riders who fulfil all three requirements from getting to the top, or at least to a place in a PL team's 1-5 (which is a long way from the top, but I'm sure you see what I mean) - at different levels, e.g. Tai W, Jason Garrity. What this new system may produce is riders who love the sport and are determined/resilient, but don't have the natural ability to kick on. I could name some, but I don't think it is necessary - we can all think of examples, I'm sure. This looks like a cost cutting measure to me. If we have to cut our cloth, then fine - but aren't there better ways to do it than this?

If true, this no. 7 idea is a real blow, on a par with (if not worse than) the abolition of the tac sub. Subject to the points limit, PL speedway has been a "pure" product, and better (in my view) than the EL because of that. I don't want to see "protected" races, false averages and the devious ways some people are bound to find to get around these rules. I'm not bothered about developing British riders - the world cup is a meaningless bauble and in my experience most speedway supporters are happy for the riders in the team they support to come from just about anywhere. The worry is that the patient is bleeding to death and this is just another sticking plaster which won't stop what sadly looks more and more inevitable. I have no original solutions but, rather than protected wobblers, how about saving money with, for example, the six rider team format that someone mentioned a while ago? Johnnie Hoskins must be turning in his grave.

It could be if one is of a cynical disposition