singy13

Was hoping very much that this fixture clash could be avoided.....is it now too late to change tapes up time???? (or soccer kick off delayed ha, ha)

Correct Geoff....Workington isn't a 'holiday resort'.....ha, ha. The almost certain scenario is that next Sunday will see less through the turnstiles, this is usually the case with Speedway. In 1970 the Thomas/Brownhutt duo introduced speedway at Workington for a second look at the 500cc bike action (Lonsdale Park were the first one). Now Speedway hardly ever gives regular attendance figures (unless as evidence that more fans are urgently needed...help us etc.). But in 1970, April, the Comets faced Berwick in front of a reported 6,000 spectators - fantastic - but that figure soon halved as those who came via the curiosity/novelty factor didn't attend on a regular basis - nothing new about that as I said earlier it usually/always happens at Speedway. After that second era disappeared for many years Ian Thomas and Tony Mole revived the Comets in 1999....and a reported 4,000 plus attended the meeting v Newcastle....soon to see half those fade into oblivion re Speedway. A regular feature of the sport. However I think this latest revival can outdo those other Comet efforts i.e. more long term fan base by continuing to improve the already top facilities...for example add seats, have other attractions - things that Derwent Park couldn't/can't accomodate The track will probably be available for rider training, Derwent Park never was because of the rugby taking precedence. Good luck to the latest Comets regime it's definitely a case of so far so good.....UTC.

I'm also wondering where our forum pal thj has gone....? He did mention broken ribs in an earlier post....I hope all is ok with him?

Don't care what anyone else says on here - for me this afternoon that was indeed13 quid well spent...........Yes some will quibble about food/beer prices but all in all the whole arena, packed as it was, gave me exactly what speedway at its best can do for total enjoyment. Comets are back and it was great !!!!!......... Crowd estimates for me were above 2000..well packed in all available areas....the weather obviously added to the overall experience but roll on the next fixture..UTC.

Not sure re track food outlets as yet, but will probably be in the scheme of things???? However in the Dunmail Park shopping/cinema/Asda building alongside the speedway arena.......( on other side of railway line) there are indeed some decent food outlets.

Ok that's enough....I give in...tell me where all you Comets posters are hiding...

Might have been THJ................did have something of that nature prior to going to bobo's............probably to disperse the taste of the compulsory spoonful of malt forced upon us. Little did I suspect one, or perhaps a combination of both, would bring about my follicle challenging future. Anyway roll on the 2023 season.....my heed will get tanned, I hope....BTW ..Don't forget to seal off that possible rouge/cheaters free entrance next to bend two !!!.......UTC.

Yes................it was actually a cycling track.. great banking..(Comets won, Easter Sunday...1970's)

Well that's something that was discussed at length i.e. age concessions, on this forum, many moons ago. And, if my memory still serves me well, I think a top poster wasn't keen on such discounts? I'm old enough to qualify for some age benefits. (wish I was younger).. And must add that thankfully I'm also lucky enough to reach these milestones.......yes certainly lucky enough. I don't really want to have another written exchange on this - and whatever it costs me to watch Comets I'll cough up the readies.........hopefully many others do too....UTC.

I can vividly recall taking a normal service bus from central London to Hackney speedway stadium....(or as close as it got to stadium).....it was a nightmare(ish) journey of what felt like about 2 hours...all I could think during the awful trek was "Friday at eight, don't be late".....we got there just as Heat One was at gate - having set off at 6ish.....I would have been more stressed if Comets had been involved though ha, ha.

Yeah I agree with your last sentence. I'm a fan of both RL and Speedway and have missed my fix of Comets action. My niggling worry regarding Comets is the stadium is not as amenable for 'walk up' support as Derwent Park is/was.........and all the years experience of following both teams tells me Worky folk like 'home comforts' as it were..........hopefully they'll prove me wrong. UTT and UTC.

Tut tut ........sad news marra,

Workington Town RLFC season 2022.........Total attendance for 14 home games at Derwent Park = 13,303..(for confirmation pls see RL Record Keepers site). Which by my reckoning = an average of 950 per home game............................quite close then to 1,000.........would you care to agree marra? (Town won twice in 2022, three if you count Ike Southward Trophy). I would just love, love it, if Comets had similar attendance figures this season. See above H20...................cheers

Ha, ha.......Not really that relevant but this has brought back memories of seeing the first ever Comets superstar Bob Valentine (Bluey was his Oz name) when he was living in a caravan too........right outside the Crewe Kings track, think he did track work as well as starring for Ian Thomas/Jeff Brownhutt and their Comets. I was on way to see Worky Reds v Crewe soccer match and had made a diversion to have a butchers at the Kings speedway track.......Bob appeared, prob to check us out, and we certainly had a great craic with him. Think Reds won too. ..

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?