micman

Just rehearsing the ad libs for speedway World cup at the Norfolk Arena tonight. Orange jacket at the ready so come on peeps, let's back team GB and do this for Rico!!! Looking forward to seeing a "white-out" with those #Rico tee shirts Too much negativity about the Brits so let's turn that around, get the crowd behind our boys and help them through to the final! See you there :-)

Too much information!

Well, what a night that was! Can I say a HUGE thanks to the amazing crowd last night? You guys were awesome and the noise levels were fantastic. It had the right effect on the boys and all I heard from the riders was how amazing the crowd were. The flag waving and general enthusiasm was just superb. I also want to praise the great work of Kevin Moore in the box who was an absolute joy to work with. He kept the results 100% up to date all night and was totally professional throughout the meeting. Ben who looked after the music also had a really tough job putting up with me every few races , the sky live feeds and all the other distractions but he coped very well indeed. Shame we didn't manage to use even half of the pre race music or play offs that I had recorded but the time just didn't allow for any of that. No sooner had the riders gone back to the pits, the 2 minute warning was on and off we went again! Sorry I wasn't allowed to do the shout outs or interviews before the meeting - I didn't realise that until 5.30pm!!! Obviously I would have been much happier on the centre all night but that was never an option so I found a good place in front of the Royal box and it all seemed to work OK in the end. Credit to the Chapman family who have put so much time, effort and money into the stadium and to Rob Lyon the best team manager I have every known! We've come a long way from my first spell on the mic there in 1988 when you had to wipe your feet as you left the stadium! All I can say is I felt very proud to be British when our National Anthem was played at the end presentation - and I'm a Scot! Good luck to all the boys for Saturday and here's hoping we have another chance to hold such a prestigious meeting at the Norfolk Arena! Mike Bennett

If you are joining us for the pre meeting party (gates open at 5pm!) and you would like a mention, shout out, dedication etc then PM me today or send via my facebook page or twitter @mikebspeedway Chance for lots of you to be interviewed before the meeting too so don't be shy!!!

Well done for that - it is indeed that track! Thanks a million

For those of you that could actually hear the music played after each race. . . . there was a rock track sounding very much like AC/DC that was used as an end of race play off. It features quite a lot towards the end of the meeting. Any idea what the track is and who it's by?? Tried my entire AC/DC collection and it's not TNT, Thunderstruck, Hells Bells, shoot to thrill or heatseeker so any suggestions?

But you know I could never compete with you. . . . . . . anyway, I get paid for being an idiot, what's your excuse???

Can I just ask what they do for a village idiot when you go on holiday????

Isn't time the GP riders all "grew a pair" and got rid of Olsen and the rest of his "even slicker than last time" track preparation team? Stevie Wonder and David Blunkett could prepare better tracks! Look at the Sky coverage last week from Scunthorpe and the previous evening from Wolverhampton? Let the guys who prepare these tracks on a regular basis do the job and keep Olsen and his meddling crew out of it. As someone who has been involved in the sport since 1986 as a presenter, interviewer and producer of programmes for ITV and MotorsTV (and followed it since 1969) I have seen some fantastic racing over the years but when it comes to the GP it's the exception as opposed to the rule. For god sake, the guy couldn't even prevent a rain off on an indoor circuit in Germany last year (our family were amongst the many Brits who wasted a fortune on that farce ) and he's still the GP director? When riders like Leigh Adams are struggling on their home track there has to be something wrong? Give me Premier League racing any time compared to that!!!

Bugger! I didn't know that he was going to miss this one - any reason?

Surprised that there isn't already a thread for the best night of the speedway social calendar - so here's one now! Apart from one certain Shazzybird from down Canterbury way, what other forum members will be mingling with the legends from years gone by? Don't be shy - come up and say hello. . . . I only bite if it's requested!

Someone in the media take someting out of context? Perish the thought! I'm pleased that Phil, and I guess everyone else who attended last night, is indeed in favour of these meetings. My point is, as I said last night, I really want the individual promoters to wake up to the fact that we need these meetings more than once a year to encourage even more youngsters to take up the sport. As a parent, if I knew that there was a chance of several meetings at different tracks during the season, I would be more willing to invest in bikes and all the rest that goes with it. There are more opportunites to ride grass track than speedway at the moment and I think we would all like to see that change? The under 15 250cc boys also deserve all the encouragement we can give them and that should mean an opportunity to ride everywhere and anywhere that school holidays and family budgets will allow. Now, shall we talk about a national training school........................

Why over the top Phil? What other chances do these lads have to race a competitive meeting in front of a paying crowd? What would you rather see, The M1/M6/A47/Dudley/Ace challenge (fit meeting name of preferred choice!) between a couple of teams where most of the riders are testing their engines and looking at the night as a bit of spare cash or, a group of keen youngsters who want to learn to race. Every club in every league will have some spare dates to fill during a season and if the reaction to last nights event is anything to go by, I know what the public would prefer. Some Elite league clubs go for several weeks without a meeting due to lack or riders, GP commitments etc so why not stage a junior meeting then? As for costs? If you charge £8 for adults and even have a crowd of 200 paying at most tracks you will cover costs. Tell me Phil, do you have two kids who are just starting out and learning to race on grasstrack and speedway? We do and, apart from Buster last night and Stephen Lambert at a Boston meeting a couple of months ago, nobody is prepared to give the kids a few laps around the track on their 250cc grasstrack bikes so where do they get the chance to learn? Training schools( make that highly expensive practice facilities) are few and far between so opportunities are limited. Yes, I'm an old dinosaur who would love to see a return to a proper second half and not this mad scamble to get four laps in before the St Johns leave and as the starting gates and flags are packed away. That's why I stick by my comments made last night. Every track in every league needs to stage these meetings more than once a year or we can simply watch as the Danes, Swedes, Poles and every other nation keep pulling away from us on the international circuit. Last year, at Mildenhall's final meeting, we took several of the grasstrack boys along and they took part in exhibition races during the "Big Bang" meeting. The reaction to them was first class and many fans have said they would love to see more of this. They (correction make that we the parents!) all pay £42 each for an ACU licence to let the boys and girls ride their bikes so why should they not have more opportunities to get laps in? I would like to offer my congratulations to everyone who made last night possible and thank the many fans who stayed till the very end to see the grastrack boys go round. Here's hoping for another opportunity before the end of this season. Mike

I'll remember that!

Only 50? Any less than 60 and we 'aint going!

Good Grief I haven't seen rainbow for years!!

Yes, my animal listener list is increasing by the week! Still, Honey the Rabbit gets a mention now! You, Honie AND Mother T in the studio? Now that would be worth setting up a web cam! On second thoughts ..... that means I would have to shave so cancel the web cam idea

Do my best for you Tracey will be happy with Tony so guess that would leave Gary free??? By the way, what happened to Shazzy? I was waiting for the grand reunion and the chance to talk about my great times at Canterbury in 1987! After all, I do like to meet up with my radio listeners - I think we're up to double figures now if you count Honie and Sarah!

The last time I wore a kilt this woman came up to me and said "what are those threads hanging down from your kilt?" She stared for a minute then said "Och don't worry laddie, it's your legs!!!" Now, when I get the call for Cardiff (ha bloody ha!)

Just found this thread people - so many mentions, what can I say???? It was superb! To mix with true legends like Ivan (Had a drink with him in Honie seniors room before the dinner!!! ), Briggo, Ove and all the rest was just brilliant. I know we met loads of forum members during the evening too.... just didn't catch all of their names. One of the many highlights of the night....? an interview with Ove Fundin for the radio show plus ints with many riders for our special tribute DVD. Jason Crump was just superb on camera , so was Shane Parker and Dave Allan. Sincere thanks to Honie and Sarah for the invitation and for being great company all night! Also to Ken and Jackie who were with us until the very end of the evening.... I think we put the world to rights in the end eh Ken? Alan (Team Man) was very helpful when we were sorting out our interviews and stood as camera guard when we were trying to get Ivan on his own for five minutes - never an easy thing to do! As for Tracey??? Her only disappointment was the non appearance of Young Briggo but Barry senior said he would bring him next year - just for her! Guess that will guarantee us coming back again next time! Thanks again to all involved - roll on the Scottish version in 2007!