False dawn

Any chance we can get in on the act please?

I agree. I've never seen so much attention given to so little shale, sorry dust. The momentum of this meeting was completely destroyed by the constant grading and watering. Some attention to the track every 5 races would have been acceptable but 20 minutes?

Why start apologising now old friend? You never did back in our day. Just keep telling those rude jokes and you'll be fine.

Go Danny Boy The best of British (not counting Joker points). Okay I'll admit it. I didn't think he was a good choice but I was proved wrong. A solid third place performance from Britain

The form book says you'd be silly to bet against Greg. But that cost me £5 last year. Oh well, once bitten, twice a winner.

Thanks to all concerned. My PDA is suitably loaded and ready to go.

Fear not my generously proportioned friend we'll get you there. Google will show you a bunch of empty paddocks because that is where we go racing. The clue is in the name, "grasstrack". We shift the cows or sheep out of a field, stake out a track and go racing. The information I have so far: The grid reference is TL616137. Go to http://www.multimap.com to find this location. Practice starts at 11:00. First race is 1:30 In fact if you want the complete details of this meeting, go to http://www.grasstrack.net/regs-pdf-z/500-12-july.pdf

There had to be someone somewhere racing sidecars on ice! Here's a link to a site in Canada: click here

Thanks for all those links etc. people. But 2 things..... 1. Nowhere is there any evidence that a 1000cc outfit has ever been seen on ice. I'm still thinking there is an opening to become a member of the first crew ever to do this. Hmmmmm! 2. And don't forget the real reason for this thread. I'm still looking to car share with 1 or 2 people to this year's meeting.

You're right, I was forgetting. They have that sidecar at Assen that has a snowplough and rotating brush that prepares the surface between races.

No I'm not extending my CV although I'm always open to offers. Just off to watch a very exciting form of racing that I fell in love with 2 years ago at the same venue. Why don't you come with us? I've never have seen sidecars on ice. But I did offer to organise a 1000cc outfit to appear at Telford a few years ago (with me on the back of course). However I was told that this had been done at a previous Telford meeting. Actually I think it was a 500cc outfit but I never found who it was or which year it took place (anyone know?)

Two of us are going to Assen for the ice speedway. We're flying into Amsterdam (details below) and are considering hiring a car. If there are 1 or 2 other folks who want to share the car with us it will obviously keep the costs down for all. Plus we have the flexibility of a car during the 3 days while we're there. Arrive Amsterdam Friday 13th March 09:10 Depart Amsterdam Monday 16th March 18:55 We're staying in a hotel in Groningen PM me if you're interested

Happiness is 40-38. Hmmmm

The Barry Briggs patented "Double Action Flicker" no less!

Hey, I'm from Mars, same as you Bob! P.S. Silly me, I now see to what you were referring. For the record, it's a quote from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that I "borrowed".

I did used to like the mechanics bringing the bikes onto the track prior to each race and seeing the riders walk out from the pits. It always had the sense of gladiators coming out to do battle.

How I wish I hadn't! I've now got over 30 years worth of Bees programmes (home and away) plus other major meetings. They're all nicely boxed and happily sitting in my loft. What the devil do I do with them when I move house???

You'll have to be quick. My source of the astonishing aroma is the world of grasstrack and our season finishes this weekend. We all go into hibernation then, till the beginning of March, to avoid the withdrawal symptoms. Footnote: It's the smell of burned methanol that's so appealing. Be careful of the unburned stuff; it causes stinging, runny eyes and nasty feelings in the throat. Not nice I assure you.

If you wanted a close up sniff of that unbeatable smell, I could arrange it. Keep posting choccy and watch out for hustlers on Wordscraper

Funny that. On Friday at Brandon, I was thinking about the Golden Sash competition that used to be run during the second half at Coventry. It was always a chance for the top boys to gain some revenge for defeats during the main meeting and ensured that the crowd stayed until the end of the meeting. The good old days eh? As to the TR/TS debate; it does seem to be rather strange to any outsiders that a rider can be awarded double points just because his team are not doing very well. And to catch up 7 points in a single heat is surely bonkers. The old TS rule seems to me much more defendable.

Love him or hate him, you can't argue with real class. Trick is the best and he will carry on winning unless the others raise their game. How often does he cruise through the early heats apparently not working that hard? But when it comes to the crunch, having done the work, there's only one race worth winning. If you weren't sure that Tony was working to this principle last night, watch again that first bend in the final. Full out commitment and real joy in victory. He hasn't lost his appetite for winning; some others need to go back to the drawing board. And don't get upset with TR, it ain't his fault he knows how to win. It's like Ole used to say in times past, "The more I win, the more they'll boo me". Of course, Ole had the answer, "The louder you boo, the faster I'll go".

One £32 ticket for sale. 3rd bend. Good company and might even arrange transport if you live in a convenient location (I'm driving there and back on the day from Coventry).

I figure that to leave it a decent period before posting all the incriminating evidence might be appropriate. Besides, I am a touch busy this weekend. As you will know (if you've read the grasstrack section, hint, hint) amoungst other things, I'm trying to get throught the British Masters Qualifier at Ugley on Sunday. So I won't have time until Monday (when I have a whole day to play on here) to load all those lovely pictures someone took with my camera in Cardiff. I still don't remember even being there. But the camera never lies (apart from in my fantasy album) and I'm in some of the pictures. Mind you. At least I had the decency to keep my shirt on. Who would ever pull a stunt like that? Frightening the children indeed.

After landing mine with a bill for over £600, twice in the past 2 years, I nearly didn't have one either. In fact, two years ago, due to a mix up by the ticket agent, I had Barclaycard ring me up to see if there had been fraudulent use of my card! P.S. Thank you all for your appreciation of my efforts. Despite my comments, I was more than pleased to do it. Especially when I saw all of us "playing together" at Sam's Bar.

Let me just be clear. 1. I ain't upset with anyone. My decision to not organise next year's block booking (if there is one) is born out of fatigue (mine and my credit card's) not out of spite. 2. I would be as upset as anyone if this block booking idea dies a death. But I ain't doing it again, sorry. But I will tell whoever what's involved. 3. If we're all sleeping in one room Addy, can I book the side of the (big) bed near the loo?