SCORPIO

I dare say in Speedway's 76 year history there has been many a debate on who won etc because of "Home Track Advantage". Perhaps now is the time for Speedway to build a track entirely fit for the purpose of being the Showpiece of British Speedway capable of holding ALL the major events. To make it a true Centre of British Speedway, an adjoining building or incorpated into the design of the Stadium, space for a British Speedway & World Of Speedway Museum. Just take a look at all the "Big" events in British Speedway....... Speedway Grand Prix, ELRC, EL Pairs, EL Play Off 1, EL Play Off 2, EL Play Off Final, PLRC, PL Pairs, PL Fours, CLRC, CL Pairs, CL Fours. The Championship Of GB. The KOC for all Leagues could all be made into a 20 heat "spectacular" as the KOC Final. Plenty to keep it going through the Summer and to keep it in use during the Winter, hire it out as a corporate venue also hire it out for Concerts etc.

Congratulations to Jason Crump on a superb display, If Jason goes on to win the SGP overall, I might actually get at least one of my predictions correct,

If Mr Pedersen didn't make a name for himself by making "debatable manourveres" then people wouldn't have to jump on a "bandwagon". I think you will find 99% of people that you and others say are jumping on the "bandwagon" are only calling it as they see it. Just one final thing, Has there been any other World Champions that have attempted to retain their Crown by pulling stunts on their rival competitors?

I think Mr Steele called the correct decision in Copenhagen tonight, come off it, Mr Pedersen has got away with some debatable manourveres in the past and was surely caught out big time hence the toys & dummy being thrown out of the pram. Mr Crump had nowhere to go. Now, Mr Pedersen did throw a big tantrum and I think he can count himself very lucky indeed Mr Steele didn't fine him (providing he already hasn't) for insubordination towards an Official. I was and dare say most others will be apalled at the way he (Mr Pedersen) reacted towards others on his way to the pits phone and after coming off the phone. Please people, listen to what he says whilst trying to claim his "innocence", he more or less said he didn't know Mr Crump was there but later on when he is interviewed he states he felt the pressure from Mr Crump. I rest my case, However, I must give credit to Mr Pedersen for the way he reacted in the Final and should be commended for trying to clear the track in time for the race to continue.

Set of from sunny Wycombe about 830 yesterday, drove down with Cute Welshy arriving in Wales (Glynneath) about 1115. Got the bus then train into Cardiff arriving around 230ish. Had a little wander around Cardiff before spottin Gemini, Summit & Pawprint of which I introduced to Cute Welshy. Nice to meet you again Gem & Co. We made our way to the POW about 4ish where we sat upstairs having a quiet drink before taking a slow walk towards the stadium & meetin up with the family after they had arived on the Oxford Coach. Shame we didn't get to meet a few fellow/fellowess websliders tho' The racing was great, atmosphere superb. Shame the speakers wasn't up to much on the 4th bend, Was great to see Greg win it with Leigh 2nd. The Brit boys all put up a great show, got a bit of a sore throat from all the cheering of the lads. Cute Welshy and I made our way back to the station for our train back to Neath where we stayed with her Gran. Left there about 9ish and got back here about 1200ish. All in all, a very good weekend, thoroughly enjoyed my 10th Brit GP, roll on 2005...........................

Tis ok Joanne, you wont have to worry about the Severn Bridge, You will have the pleasure of travelling through the Severn Tunnel,

Depending on which way you look at it, lol. I have some good news or is it bad news, mmmm, lol. It's kinda goodish news that I will be there in Cardiff to watch my 10th Brit GP and it's bad news as well, to do so I'm having to give up a 12 hour Rest Day Working on a Saturday, (starts to sob uncontrollably). lol.

Bear in mind there will no doubt be a queue of people trying to get trains on Sat night and boarding controls will more than likely be in place at Cardiff Central. It should be ok though, so long as plenty of time is allowed between stadium and platform you should make it in time for 2310 Caerphilly, I'm booked on the 2305 Swansea service so I'm hoping there will be no problems,

Anyone that is travelling by train from Cardiff Central after the GP, please be aware that Boarding Controls will be in place to prevent overcrowding. Ticket Checks may well also be in place so Please have all Tickets/Railcards ready for inspection. Many Thanks.

Hopefully I will be able to meet a few of my fellow websliders , but Im not sure if I am going yet, Still waiting for confirmation as to whether I can have the day off,

Some useful links, Rail Information: Arriva Trains Wales First Great Western Wessex Trains National Rail Information Bus Information: First Bus in South Wales Cardiff Bus Stagecoach Bus in South Wales Cardiff Central Departures between 2055 & 0100. Please note times are subject to alteration/ammendment for operational reasons. TIME DESTINATION 2055 PORTSMOUTH HARBOUR (WE) 2102 SWANSEA (GW) 2105 RHYMNEY (AW) 2114 PENARTH (AW) 2115 ABERDARE (AW) 2118 BARRY ISLAND (AW) 2130 WARMINSTER (WE) 2134 CARDIFF QUEEN ST (AW) 2135 FISHGUARD HARBOUR (AW) 2145 TAFFSWELL (AW) 2146 CARDIFF BAY (AW) 2150 HEREFORD (AW) 2151 BARRY ISLAND (AW) 2153 MERTHYR (AW) 2201 SWANSEA (GW) 2210 RHYMNEY (AW) 2215 CARDIFF BAY (AW) 2215 PENARTH (AW) 2219 BARRY ISLAND (AW) 2220 GLOUCESTER (AW) 2229 TREHERBERT (AW) 2238 CARDIFF QUEEN ST (AW) 2305 SWANSEA (GW) 2310 YSTRAD MYNACH (AW) 2310 PENARTH (AW) 2322 PONTYPRIDD (AW) 2330 BARRY ISLAND (AW) 2330 NEWPORT (GWENT) (AW) 2337 CARDIFF QUEEN ST (AW) 0001 CRAVEN ARMS (AW) 0020 SWANSEA (GW) (AW) Service Operated by Arriva Trains Wales (WE) Service Operated by Wessex Trains (GW) Service Operated by First Great Western

Last Trains From Cardiff Central. 2130 (WE) To Warminster, calling at Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Patchway, Bristol Parkway, Filton Abbey Wood, Bristol Temple Meads then Stations to Warminster. 2145 (WB) To Fishguard Harbour, calling at Pontyclun®, Pencoed®, Bridgend, Pyle, Port Talbot Parkway, Baglan, Briton Ferry, Neath, Skewen, Llansmet, Swansea and Stations to Carmarthen and Fishgaurd Harbour. 2150 (WB) To Hereford, calling at Newport, Cwmbran then Stations to Hereford. 2153 (WB) To Merthyr Tydfil, calling at Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest, Pontypridd then Stations to Merthyr Tidfil. 2200 (GW) To Swansea, calling at Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway, Neath and Swansea. 2210 (WB) To Rhymney, calling at Cardiff Queen Street, Heath High Level, Llanishen, Lisvane & Tnhill, Caerphilly, Aber then Stations to Rhymney. 2231 (WB) To Treherbert, calling at Cardiff Queen Street, Cathays, Llandaf, Radyr, Taffs Well, Trefforest, Pontypridd then Stations to Treherbert. 2300 (GW) To Swansea, calling at Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway, Neath and Swansea. 0001 (WB) To Craven Arms, calling at Newport, Cwmbran then Stations to Craven Arms. 0020 (GW) To Swansea, calling at Bridgend, Port Talbot Parkway, Neath and Swansea. Other Last Trains Maesteg, 2200 Swansea service and Change at Bridgend for Bus. Aberdare, 2014 and Change at Pontypridd. London Paddington, 2050 and Change at Bath Spa. Last Trains to Newport 2220 (WB) Gloucester Service. 2335 (WB) 0001 (WB) Craven Arms Service. ® Request Stop, Intending Passengers should notify Train Crew before departure from Cardiff Central. (GW) First Great Western operated Service (WB) Wales & Borders operated Service. (WE) Wessex Trains operated Service.

Seats may be Few and Far between at this stage, as with most events at the Millenium Stadium, Trains are very busy in and around the Cardiff area. I'm going to be giving First Great Western and Wales & Borders Train companies a ring tomorrow at work on the internal phone. I will also get details of Last Trains From Cardiff and will post them here.

For Details of Buses in and around the Cardiff area, these sites may be of some use. www.firstgroup.com/firstcymru/ www.stagecoachbus.com/south_wales/ www.cardiffbus.com

Those of you that are wishing to use the Train may find these sites useful. www.walesandborderstrains.co.uk www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk www.nationalrail.co.uk

Im gonna take Carton's of drink in, they aint been banned have they.

If I have a banner it will either be Aussie, Yanky or Czech. (Adams, Hancock & Dryml respectively.) If anyone waves a banner & blocks my view of the racing I will strangle 'em with it.

INTERNATIONALE RACE om de "ROELOF THIJS BOKAAL" This Meeting was run Grand Prix Style. HEAT 1 R....JIRI PETRASEK, ACCR B....SAMI RASANEN, SML W..HENK JAGER, KNMV Y.. MARK UZZEL, ACU R, W, B, Y, 65.63 HEAT 2 R...CHRISTIAN HULSHORST, DMSB B...THOMAS CAVIGELLI, FMS W...ROGER NEWTON, ACU Y....HANS VAN DER STEEN, KNMV R, B, Y, W, 70.10 HEAT 3 R....RENE VERHOEF, KNMV B....ROBERT ABRAHAMSSON, SVEMO W...AREK KUCHARSKI, FMS Y...ANTON WEBER, DMSB B, R, Y, W, 66.09 HEAT 4 R....TOMI KIRILOV, SML B....OLA WESTLUND, SVEMO W...GRAHAM HALSALL, ACU Y....MARIAN KREKLAU, DMSB B, W, R, Y, 63.26 HEAT 5 R....SAMI RASANEN, SML B....ANTON WEBER, DMSB W...ROGER NEWTON, ACU Y....MARIAN KREKLAU, DMSB Y, R, B, W, 65.19 HEAT 6 R.....HANS VAN DER STEEN, KNMV B.....TOMI KIRILOV, SML W...MARK UZZEL, ACU Y.....AREK KUCHARSKI, FMS B, R, W, Y, 68.16 HEAT 7 R....JIRI PETRASEK, ACCR B....ROBERT ABRAHAMSSON, SVEMO W...THOMAS CAVIGELLI, FMS Y.....GRAHAM HALSALL, ACU B, R, Y, W, 64.00 HEAT 8 R...CHRISTIAN HULSHORST, DMSB B...OLA WESTLUND, SVEMO W...HENK JAGER, KNMV Y....RENE VERHOEF, KNMV B, Y, W, R, 66.06 HEAT 9 R...MARIAN KREKLAU, DMSB B...TOMI KIRILOV, SML W...GRAHAM HALSALL, ACU Y....CHRISTIAN HULSHORST, DMSB R, W, B, Y, 65.15 HEAT 10 R...HANS VAN DER STEEN, KNMV B...SAMI RASANEN, SML W...HENK JAGER, KNMV Y....THOMAS CAVIGELLI, FMS B, W, R, Y, 67.12 HEAT 11 R...JAROMIR LACH, ACCR B...ULF ENGENSTROM, SVEMO W...ROBERT ABRAHAMSSON, SVEMO Y...RENE VERHOEF, KNMV Race was Re-Run without Rene Verhoef (Y) after he Fell on the 4th bend of the 3nd lap and went into the straw bale fence. Heat 11 (Re-Run) W, B, R, Y(exc) HEAT 12 R...JURGEN LIEBMANN, DMSB B...ROBERT EIBL, DMSB W...OLA WESTLUND, SVEMO Y...JIRI PETRASEK, ACCR B, R, W, Y HEAT 13 R...MARTIN SCHMID, DMSB B...MARKUS SCHWAIGER, DMSB W...MARIAN KREKLAU, DMSB Y....HENK JAGER, KNMV B, R, W, Y, HEAT 14 R...OLEG ZACHAROV, MFR B...MARKUS SKABRAUT, OAMTC W...SAMI RASANEN, SML Y....GRAHAM HALSALL, ACU B, R, Y, W, HEAT 15 R...JAROMIR LACH, ACCR B...MARIAN KREKLAU, DMSB W...JIRI PETRASEK, ACCR Y...SAMI RASANEN, SML B, R, W, Y, HEAT 16 R...OLA WESTLUND, SVEMO B...GRAHAM HALSALL, ACU W...BENJAMIN HEGENER, DMSB (Replaced Rene Verhoef) Y...HENK JAGER, KNMV R, B, Y, W HEAT 17 R...ROBERT ABRAHAMSSON, SVEMO B...MARKUS SCHWAIGER, DMSB W...JURGEN LIEBMANN, DMSB Y...OLEG ZACHAROV, MFR Robert Abrahamsson ® fell on the 3rd/4th bend of the 1st lap which meant the race was Re-Run without the rider in Red. HEAT 17 (RE-RUN) B, W, Y, R (exc) HEAT 18 R...ROBERT EIBL, DMSB B...MARKUS SKABRAUT, OAMTC W...ULF ENGENSTROM, SVEMO Y....MARIN SCHMID, DMSB B, W, R, Y HEAT 19 R....MARIAN KREKLAU, DMSB B....GRAHAM HALSALL, ACU W...OLEG ZACHAROV, MFR Y....MARTIN SCHMID, DMSB R, W, Y, B HEAT 20 R....OLA WESTLUND, SVEMO B....JAROMIR LACH, ACCR W...ROBERT EIBL, DMSB Y.....RENE STELLINGWERF, KNMV (Replaced Robert Abrahamsson) W, R, B, Y HEAT 21 (Semi Final 1) R....MARKUS SCHWAIGER, DMSB B...ULF ENGENSTROM, SVEMO (Had an Engine Failure coming out of the 2nd bend on the 3rd lap) W...MARIAN KREKLAU, DMSB Y....OLA WESTLUND, SVEMO R, W, Y, B HEAT 22 (Semi Final 2) R...ROBERT EIBL, DMSB (Hit and damaged straw bale fence on the 2nd bend of the 2nd lap in the 1st re-run) B...MARKUS SKABRAUT, OAMTC W...OLEG ZACHAROV, MFR (Fell coming out of the 4th bend on the 2nd lap, rider literally slid along the ice surface whilst the nike continued upright and rider less all the way down the "home" straight before toppling over just before the 1st bend on the oginal staging of the race) Y....JURGEN LIEBMANN, DMSB (Fell on the 1st bend of the 1st lap in the 2nd Re-Run) Re Run 1, W, EXC Re Run 2, R, EXC Re Run 3, stopped after Jurgen Liebmann fell and the Race was then awarded. B, Y, R, W HEAT 23 (Consolation Final) R.....OLA WESTLUND, SVEMO B.....ULF ENGENSTROM, SVEMO W....ROBERT EIBL, DMSB Y.....OLEG ZACHAROV, MFR W, R, B Y was a Non Starter HEAT 24 (Final) R....MARKUS SCHWAIGER, DMSB B....MARKUS SKABRAUT, OAMTC W...MARIAN KREKLAU, DMSB Y....JURGEN LIEBMANN, DMSB Race was Re Started after Marian Kreklau broke the tapes R, B, Y SVEMO = SWEDEN DMSB = GERMANY ACCR = CZECH KNMV = NETHERLANDS ACU = ENGLAND SML = FINLAND FMS = SWITZERLAND MFR = RUSSIA OAMTC = AUSTRIA

I wasn't a Canterbury Fan but I can remember many times standing on the terraces of the old Kingsmead Stadium. Mum and Dad used to take us when we were on holiday at the family Caravan in Herne Bay.