oldtimer

Someone else who feels like I do!

Who's Nora? Apart from things already mentioned, we didn't like losing most of the riders we got to support from last year and would find it difficult not to cheer for Josh, Alex, Kyle etc when they visited instead of Olly and co. Enjoy the banter with other supporters, but can have a good chat and a laugh down my local pub, no petrol cost, free parking, don't have to buy a programme, don't have to pay to get in. Get so frustrated the way speedway is run, can do without the hassle, and plenty of other things to spend money on. May see you at Taunton?

My friend and I were going to give speedway a miss this year mainly due to 2 things Double point tacticals in the Play Offs being retained and the new choose two extra teams to play, this in our view made the League lack all credibility. Luckily for Somerset they should pick up some easy away points in their extra Plymouth fixture. The second thing was the double up riders Elite teams having priority. If you are having a team like Peterborough coming down you want to see, barring any injury, their number one not a guest. Things will only get worse when injury’s kick in. However we attended the opening match, and may occasionally go again, but have decided any matches we miss will be the matches where riders are missing due to other commitments. Ryan Fisher will be missing this Friday and Nick Morris will be riding for Swindon who are away the following two Fridays the 18th and 25th April. On the 18th Plymouth are the visitors, Ben Barkers Elite team have a match but I think as he is not their asset he can ride for Plymouth. Not sure about Kyle Newman whose Elite team are also in action that night. If the powers that be ever run speedway in a sensible fashion again we may return as regular attendees, but I’m not holding my breath. Having said all that, well done on another trophy and I hope the Rebels have a successful and injury free year.

Don't agree with comment that Rebels won because they are always good at home as Rebels only had two home track riders, the other 5 are new Rebels riders. Thought Brady was awesome and obviously his bike a lot faster than anybody else, has he got rich parents who bought the best equipment or has he a brilliant mechanic. Even allowing for the fact he was fast, some of his passes were unbelievable for someone his age, also impressed by Paul Starke's efforts. Thought there would have been a bigger crowd for opening match, and sadly the presentation is no better, a real shame, seems a failing at most tracks, and no Rebels Rooster. Chili is back on the menu but had ordered pasty, mash and gravy before I noticed.

Is Brady fit to ride after yesterdays crash?

Burnicle hopeless, I spent most of the evening thinking have I got it wrong, have I mixed up who is who, I thought somebody else was in front, no it wasn't me. All the guy has to do is look at his programme, and remember 4 riders for 1 minute, not that difficult surely. Turned the sound down in the end.

Is Barker a Plymouth asset? Because he was absent on Saturday and would have been absent for the cancelled match at Somerset on Friday? I had Barker riding for Birmingham on following dates: LC April 18th Plymouth away to Somerset, Birmingham at home to Kings Lynn PL June 21st Plymouth at home to Somerset, Birmingham away to Eastbourne PL July 25th Plymouth away to Somerset, Birmingham away to Lakeside

Impressive win by Rebels, Plymouth not the strongest side they will meet but can only beat what's put in front of them. Impressive debut by Brady who seems to be as good as his reputation and no weak links in team on that performance. Looks like the Gary May magic has rubbed off on the team.

I was looking at this weeks Star and with nothing on TV and an hour to spare, I decided to see how many times a Premier match for the club I support would have a rider missing from either my team or the visiting team due to the Elite having rider priority this season. Of course we know the fixtures will change and things may be better or they may be worse, but looking at the current fixture list, and I cannot guarantee I have not made some mistakes, but, Our number one will be missing for 9 matches, 6 home and 3 away. There are 13 matches in total where a rider will be missing either from my team or the visiting team, 8 home matches and 5 away. Absent riders will be: Ryan Fisher will miss 1 match Ricky Wells will miss 3 matches Ben Barker will miss 3 matches Josh Grajczonek will miss 1 match Kyle Newman will miss 2 matches Nick Morris will miss 9 matches Four of these matches will have 2 riders absent, and one will have 3 absent. We used to moan about guests for injured riders!!!

You had a good record against Rebels last season, Rebels about the only team that could not win at your track beginning of last season. If current fixture list does not change, Barker will be missing against the Rebels on April 18th at Oak Tree, June 21st at St Boniface, and July 21st at Oak Tree. However to even it up, Nick Morris will be missing on April 18th and June 21st. Thanks to the new rule that Elite clubs have priority, there are going to be many matches where riders are missing and more and more guest riders.

Can't remember, but who has priority over Ryan Fisher should fixtures clash, Coventry or Peterborough?

can't remember, but who has priority over Ricky Wells should fixtures clash, Workington or Wolverhampton?

Ty Proctor is seeking legal advice to see if anything can be done regarding his axing from Somerset team. (this weeks Star) Will Brady be taking part in World Under 21 Championship's this year?

Not only will Nick be missing but Ben Barker also, not a good omen for the forthcoming season. I will also be missing, but that don't matter.

I didn't know that! If that's true, many thanks for all your efforts Nigel. Is it true that riders will not wear team race suits this season?

Good news

Don't worry about Ty, once he drops to reserve he will score a hat full of points!

What, you could actually hear them with the tractors going past?

I read there have been complaints about the lack of noise at Australian GP. Bernie Ecclestone confirmed promoters were unhappy over the lack of noise from the new turbo GP cars. The Australian GP Corp' said "We have to entertain the public, when you take the excitement away you have trouble selling tickets. You have to create a demand and part of that demand is people liking the noise of the race cars." BSPA take note.

I was interested to read in this weeks Star under "Museum Piece" the article about leaping Larry Huffman and the photo of him leaping in the air at Californian tracks. He apparently introduced the riders wearing a tuxedo, and I have to agree with the writers comment that, his unique style of presenting could inject some US type razzmatazz into a few lack-lustre British speedway meetings. I remember the Bristol Bulldogs flag man at Eastville who used to dress up and jump up and down waving the finishing flag. Occasionally I have persuaded new people to come to a match, and they all have one same comment, "There is a lot of standing around with nothing happening." So how would you improve the presentation at your track? More USA style presenting and announcements? more jingles? better and more up to date music? cheer leaders?

In this weeks Star, Team Manager Jitendra Duffill calls for all clubs to be included in the Pairs and Fours. He says including all 13 tracks would be beneficial for the clubs. Can someone tell him the AGM was weeks ago, and a bit late to bring this up now.

I see the club are looking for a match night DJ, one can only hope that the previous dire and un-inspirational offerings of music, will be improved. I have to say towards the end of last season the volume improved and you could actually hear the music from the home straight banking, whereas before you had to be standing next to or in front of the judges box. Also an old chestnut of mine, is that nobody will agree that the jingles we used to have, added to the entertainment, and broke the hushed silence of the crowd.

Unfortunately I think crowds will drop at Oak Tree this year, people will turn up at start of season to see Brady, but if he does not perform, it will be difficult to gather much enthusiasm for this team after last years success. I cannot see myself cheering Olly or Todd as they try to overtake Josh or Kyle, or Alex or Nick (if he gets a double up club) when they visit the Oak Tree. Not Somerset's fault just the way speedway is run. The League this year will also be more of a farce than last season, not content with double tacticals in Play Offs, we now have teams choosing two other teams to play, destroying all credibility in the league.

It will now be the Rye House and Plymouth Rebels! Or Josh yes, floods of tears.

Will he still have the title "Director Of Speedway"?