singy13

Yeah THJ in July I entered the track via a path beside the railway line and scrambled in at the corner next to freight thingys and tractor......that's the second time I've done that. Think I told you I thought it was too handy for the 'travellers' to do same. On that second visit, a proper sunny day, I wandered around took several pics....no other soul in sight...came home tried and tried to upload my pics on here but couldn't..yet again.....And again my thoughts were if I can sneak in as it were those Gypo's (I saw four vans nearby) would manage even easier. At my age, and fitness level, the scramble wasn't that easy. Maybe I should get an aforementioned zimmer ha, ha. But thankfully you say they didn't get in....therefore have you blocked that corner? Hope so THJ......if not I hope they don't read this.

Maybe even 1 pm would do? Also allows Sunday dinner addicts time to get full belly's. I haven't had a look at Northside since summertime.....must go soon...anyone know if those 1200 seats are in situ?..............hello THJ? ?

Fair comment marra, and no I'm not surprised at Comets fans travelling from other towns - I do/did and have resided in all of those places down the years.....Sadly though not enough folk made the journeys from the areas you mentioned or we wouldn't have said goodbye to the Comets following that remarkable 2018 campaign.

Good point Mr. churchhill...At Derwent Park the Comets ( i.e.the second phase promoters from 1999 - 2018) were not allowed to hold Sunday afternoon meetings. Therefore, as an alternative to the regular Saturday nights, Sunday nights were used - on rare occasions. Obviously such meetings being held when Town were playing away...Haven would have no effect on speedway crowds though. I believe the Sunday afternoon 'block' was made by the church behind the scoreboard end, that was bends 1 and 2 of course. However, given that the new track is several hundreds of metres away from said church, perhaps the Sunday afternoon' block' will not apply.....personally hope so. But again, as you point out, any clash with Town would be foolish......I'm a Town fan too and wouldn't like such a fixture tangle.

Good last night.

Great to see, and hear, Dan on Border TV last night.....showed you him doing a few laps......Plus very good interviews with Dan and Andrew. The studio presenter certainly bigged up the sport, nice to hear such positive stuff.

That will never happen marra.

Sorry M.D. It's just that I don't like to hear what is bad news for all us hoping our new track succeeds. Speedway is clearly an expensive sport to administer. And somehow that needs to filter down to the riders who, rumour has it said, bleed the promoters almost dry. Common sense needs to prevail for the long term future of what I believe is a fantastic sport.

Wow that sounds so idyllic......and being on my lonesome these days I don't have consider the latter, hurrah ( I do miss her tho). I can actually remember ( here I go Mr. Nostalgia) however, back in the Stoney era, watching my RL team - up the Town- on a Sunday aft then dashing home to Egremont (12 miles ish) grabbing a sarny and tekkin the dog out on a rapid walk - toilet sorted, dog, and then back in vehicle and off again to Derwent Park for the evening speedway treat....great stuff. Don't think I could stand that pace now, although I would give it a go........whoops don't have dog -oh well much easier then . Hopefully Andrew and gang get this major northside operation ship shape and he can afford the scary BSPL agenda....roll on high noon!!!!

Sometimes in 2018 at Worky less than the 600/700..........................I remember a very poor Newcastle team attracting hardly any Workington/west Cumbria folk...think that was the 387 gate referred to earlier.....Comets also lost a cup match at Armadale by 59-31.....so 24 hours later at Derwent Park I was sat amidst loads of empty grandstand seats - locals obviously thinking why bother Comets are out of cup? - But.... the great Danes and co. amazingly turned it around ,albeit aided by a stupid error that got Ricky Wells excluded in heat 15 for 'delaying the start'......great stuff *ref, ha, ha. (remember that night THJ ?)...... That started the end of season bonanza, crowds returned, the grandstand was packed again, but sadly all too late to save the promotions losses. * that top quality referee has now retired.....thanks for the great service to the sport SW.

OK I bow to your superior speedway knowledge. It's just so annoying that a sport that is clearly dying on its wheels and yet those in control (ho, ho, ho) i.e. the scary BSPL seemingly make it so difficult for any new promotion - why, why, why? I will have everything that's possible crossed in hope that the Worky Comets manage to overcome the costs and fly around the Northside arena....................but who's gonna be left to provide opposition?

Go on then marras back up your words and give us some reasonable guesstimates............. + or - a few k will be fine.

12:00 might be a tad early for many riders, if they are to travel on the morning, and any away fans might not like it. Suit us locals though lol. Maybe such as 5 p.m. more convenient for the majority? Or 6 to encourage keen soccer element? Guess you'll need power at any time for starting gates and all the various lights, especially red and green?

The riders will bring about the sports downfall via track closures if they are too cash greedy - then they'll have no one to pay them anyway.

The thing is the Comets were initially very well supported (in both eras) - fans followed Comets both home and away-then the west Cumbrians began losing interest, quite rapidly in fact. And it's thinking of how fickle, yes the folk around here can be exactly that - Fickle, it's same with RL... Therefore it's probably a bit risky to serve up such as National League racing and expect large attendances - ok yes for a couple or so meetings. But my lifelong experiences as a faithful Comet make me feel worried if NL is used per se.............just my thoughts guys, I'll be there whatever.

Hope not it seems so many laps of complete mayhem.....can't for the life of me see the attraction....or do I need to get a life????

But those on ladders were still there on bend 3.

Yeah very poor crowds before the closure...I recall meeting the Comets announcer after one meeting and queried the attendance - he said it was 387......my worries of the future certainly leapt into panic mode. So speedway is a sort of 'novelty' sport, when those less dedicated fans disappear it's deffo doom and gloom for the diehards. I also recall the late great Ian Thomas claiming "the honeymoon is not over at Derwent Park" , that was approx 2006 and crowds were around 1200 then. Mind for the 2018 end of season play offs the crowds were very good - but the damage was already done of course. Hopefully the Northside 'experience will again prove attractive to the locals.

Sure miss ya marra.................

Does he miss the Comets?

Speedway can be so cruel as you say Dan is a tough nut as we saw back in 2018 v Lakeside....triple femur break (I think?) and the kid recovered so well.

Yeah he went over fence onto concrete terracing......................

Laal Dan Bewley apparently been in bad crash tonight in Poland....hopefully not too serious?

Total "fire sale"..................hmmmmmmmmmm I can taste his burgers, with relish.........hot diggity dog...is he selling that facility too??

Yep