singy13

Aye righto marra...........................no chance

At the start of coverage they showed a message from Tai saying he had hurt some ribs and MCL , and said he wished he could be there but good luck boys. It's a fact that he was lucky not to have suffered worse.....

And Carlisle Border Raiders RLFC were a very good team during their Gillford Park era.......Sadly the good sporting public of Carlisle preferred to support soccer so dwindling crowds forced Carlisle to merger with Barrow and move to south Cumbria.....the merger was basically just the end of Carlisle.

I see Championship Rugby League is to be shown live TV (Premier) on Monday nights for next two seasons 2022 and 2023. This will probably clash with Speedway coverage on same night, both being summer sports. There are Championship Rugby League teams in Manchester, Sheffield and Newcastle for instance, which may cause some fans of both sports commitment problems? Obviously the record facility will help.

Pardon my ignorance, if I've missed something, although I have searched a tad for info. However I'll ask anyway.....Is there, this season, going to be a PLRC, and a CLRC ? Presumably the Premiership being at the NSS and the latter as usual at Owlerton. Or given the 'doubling up' by so many riders are both meetings therefore too difficult to arrange accordingly? Anyone know?

Yes I believe so.....Workington were lucky to have such a genial promoter at the helm, twice in fact. During the 1999 re-incarnation, the 'Stoney' era that was, when asked about crowd levels his stock answer was...'the honeymoon isn't over yet'.....he was a class act for sure.

Yes there was an Ian Scott who was a good player for Town in early 1990's....guessing it's the same 'Scotty' then. And yes he did sign for Leeds Rhinos, wish he hadn't though ha, ha. Re the Ian Thomas/Geoff Brownhutt intro of Speedway to Derwent Park in April 1970 I have read of that attendance being anywhere between 4 and 6 thousand......I remember the queue being massive....I know exactly which 'pipe over the river' you say was used to get a freebie....never used it myself though...honestly. Also on bend three people used ladders and planks outside fence to watch for nowt every meeting....the fence was raised to counteract this....but they just brought longer ladders... the evidence of those freeby folks escapades is still visible to this day....sadly no speedway for them.

Think I might have an idea who THJ.......and if I'm thinking right he was well worth it....sadly missed.

Not sure what you saw there. The plan a few years ago now was for a new shared stadium {football and rugby} being built on the soccer stadiums land....and the Rugby/Speedway stadium i.e. Derwent Park was to be flattened once the new stadium was complete....therefore no speedway facility planned at all....but as yet nothing happening, probably won't.

1400 at Town match yesterday, despite it being a non event with league placings already sorted. Wish Comets could have still attracted similar 3 years ago... Can't really see Northside being viable.....but would still support it if it happens.

What I do recall was knowing there was a track of some sort nr Sittingbourne, so yes at Iwade, from reading of the racing in the Speedway Star of that era. I was determined to have a peek considering 'er indoors Aunts house was so handy. Although to make amends I did take my better half to Sittingbourne's main shopping street for a strict max of 30 mins shopping...bad man was I? Must add that I was very impressed with the Canterbury speedway set up later that night...a large crowd, good atmosphere....Much better than the next day's visit to Arlington's mish mash of a venue, with a weirdly shaped track giving too much home advantage...although Mr. Lanning on the mike did whip up lots of enthusiasm....great memories!!!!!!!!

They were both sponsored by 'Happy Faces'...............they both ended up - 'all shook up'.......they both ended up in - 'Heartbreak Hotel'...they both were let down by George Best........ oh I give up geoff....?

It doesn't seem that long that Brian Havelock was pressing some alarm bells at that place though......

So it requires a very quick fix then......hopefully THJ picks the correct lottery numbers asap. I see you were originally from Barra Marra.....did you attend Barrow speedway at Holker St in the early 70's....happy days v Comets.

It's sad news for sure when a promoter decides to walk away, I've suffered it twice with my team. But I've highlighted your opening sentence THJ because is it really gonna be the final nail after 92 years?...(I hope not.. ). The facts are those 92 years were not actually 100% active for Newcastle Speedway...there has been at least 4 periods of non speedway action at Brough Park.. when other promoters packed in..With therefore something like 20 seasons of no speedway racing for Newcastle's fans during your long history...92 years yes - but 72 years of racing realistically. Ok speedway is perhaps in a worse position nationally regarding fan bases today than when Diamonds were halted in the past....but the phoenix culture is nothing new at Brough and so why not be something on the future horizons again ?.... Hopefully, yet again, you geordie fans can rally round and keep the party going for many more years...practice makes perfect.

Yep in1973 we travelled to Wimbledon to cheer on Lou Sansom in the Div Two Riders Championship a major event..he finished third after 3 man race-off...It was a very impressive stadium, for example to have your own worktop type seating, handy to lay drink and programme on it....Although being behind glass made for a quiet atmosphere. Didn't stop us returning next year to shout for Mitch Graham who was a top star in Div 2 but failed to re-produce his form that night, he fell and was injured in his second ride...oh well it was still worth watching lol. We did, one of those years, move on to Crayford (having stayed at Sittingbourne)....we arrived quite early to be greeted by a Crayford riders mechanic...he asked where we were from. 'Workington' we added - to which he said "ahh yes the stadium that is always empty of fans". Such cheek the fact was crowds were in decline but Derwent Park grandstand held 1100, still does, and was always heavily populated - the stand wasn't very visible from the pits which is probably why the Crayford guy formed his opinion? 1100 nowadays would be deemed excellent... and anyhow I wished I could have met him later that night because there was hardly anyone supporting Crayford...who then folded later that year.....so up his wotsit to that. Thanks for inspiring some of my Comets memories...so many more to recall but don't want to be soooooo boring.

Very sad to hear of Taffy passing away. He signed for the Comets during the first Ian Thomas ( with Geoff Brownhutt) regime in 1970. The season was almost over when Taffy signed from Rochdale in September of that year. The fans took to him straight away..it was noticeable how immaculate his bikes were. Sincere condolences to the family, RIP Taffy Owen.....top Comet.

We can always live in hope of a Comets return..but...your mention of Iwade brought back some nice memories....My late wife had an Auntie residing in Sittingbourne, so after the Comets had finished on a Friday night we would speed off to stay with her (not too fast in an Austin1300 _ but it was ok) this was to take in the Comets weekenders v Canterbury and then on to Eastbourne. On our first such trip we called in at Iwade on the Saturday afternoon (after a nice kip on Aunties sofa lol)...correct me if I'm wrong, it was 50 years ago, but I think it was grass track racing? Very entertaining whatever. The Comets put up good performances too..it was a long trek back to Cumbria on Sunday evening though.

It's a bad prognosis for Speedway then...as that's something like 3,000 @ £20 each (? just a guess for entry but will be near enough) = £60, 000 gate receipts...very nice income indeed. Outgoings? .I've no idea what stock car drivers earn........has anyone? But let's say at each meeting there are about 20/30 cars partaking?......say they take £1000 each that still leaves a good profit......speedway can't compete financially with the 'stocks' and promoters know it.......so sadly...bye speedway.

Backed Ian and Comets.. .Was a Brummie promoter until they were losing money.......sounds familiar for Perry Barr that.

whoops..and Tony Mole.

I know who runs the Workington Town business........yes Comets funding did help big style when Ian Thomas brought it back in 1999.

Good luck today for the Diamonds, I've enjoyed some great visits to Brough with the Comets over many years. Good racing and friendly home fans always helped. I hope the grim reaper can be kept at bay long term. I enjoy reading these posts as my sole speedway fix. And THJ is pure gold ( in many eyes ha ha) and full of facts/figures. I've picked up on another of his mentions of the 'Comets'. And sadly he is right regarding the strained relationship at Derwent Park between Rugby League officials and Speedway management. I have felt the bitter wind of non-compliance so often. I worked for the Rugby club (voluntary) in two quite important roles. This brought me close to the Rugby directors who in the main saw speedway as an irritant, and not worth bothering with. I also stood (still do) with worky Town RL fans, mainly Maryport lads, THJ may know some lol? And these guys literally hated the Comets. Making claims that they (the speeding bikes) made DP look a right mess, shale everywhere including pitch. Those with longest memories still recalled how Messrs Thomas and Brownhutt covered many rows of terracing utilising the first and second bends, not popular with RL folk. Some steps are now uncovered. I would invariably defend speedway functioning by reminding the Town directors/fans that speedway crowds brought the RL club funds via rent and bar profits, but still found it hard work to convince them of that fact. Another dig at speedway would be the 'guest system'........I couldn't properly defend that....always a bugbear of mine too. I love both sports and wish both were available on my doorstep........you lucky Diamonds fans also have an RL team nearby too, support the Thunder. Who sang Big Yellow Taxi ? can't be a*sed to look.. but the chorus says - 'you don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone'................hear, hear!!!!!! (not here, here)

Great committment, as ever, from the excellent THJ...but 'Fromafar' has hit the nail on the head this time. The people on this forum are usually genuine speedway fans...and if they have a team, locally, to support they'll do so, certainly in most circumstances. It hurts like hell to lose your team, the Comets were my passion for many years and boy do I miss them. I was interested in THJ's maths re population catchment available. Newcastle being able to contact 300,000 folk......wow that pales into insignificance the 25,000 folk residing in Workington doesn't it? Even nearby jameaters Whitehaven only add 24,000.....small wonder Laura had the inability to persuade a profit making audience to rally round when the rot set in. I'm afraid speedway is losing(lost) it's appeal to 50/50 committed folk....so many riders being team mates, then another night enemies, it's just so farcical. Second now in my view to WWE crap. I do sincerely hope the Diamonds carry on....but when the significant warning signs are sounded it does just remind of the 2018 season and a fond goodbye to the Derwent Park heroes. Sorry geordie guys, good luck.

The two pics show what is left of the Comets track nowadays...i.e. The concrete base that Ian Thomas and Jeff Brownhutt put in before adding shale, the grooves are from the scraping machines blade ....their is no shale there at DP now at all apparently all taken and dumped at Northside awaiting next track development???