falkirkbandit

The forecast is looking better now than earlier in the week thankfully, so fingers crossed ! I'm looking forward to this one a bit more than i normally do when we're up there. And whilst reading another thread on here, i'd like to wish Dan Bewley all the best for his season. Christ, give the lad a chance, eh?

What a palaver. I work most weekends, and saw the Tigers Facebook post about the British Semi being a friday night and thought, "yeah, i'll drive through for that". I enjoyed the British Semi up at Armadale two or three years back. We'll see what transpires.... I'm just glad the The Moanarchs v Belle Vue is now the friday. That means i may make that, plus Berwick v Workington home and away after all (weather permitting), as i booked that week off. Not long now. Happy new season everyone

Fingers crossed mate. I'm just waiting for the date, so i can put a week off in at work as usual for that weekend

Great preview KJ, and great to see you at Sheffield a few weeks ago and catch up again. Gutted i can't make the Armadale leg tomorrow night, but i've a gig in Glasgow to go and see. I'm pleased Coty is getting a couple of bookings here though. I've seen some howlers in a Bandits race jacket try and get around the 'Dale in recent years....Gino Franchetti anyone? I thought Coty did well last week on his first visit to the place, and more than deserved his second place in the 1-8 with Hansen. It is pretty cool that Scotland's two speedway clubs are contesting this Final, so good luck to both sets of fans. When i get home from work on sunday evening, i'll be dying to know how it all went down, and i'll be straight onto my computer when i get in haha!

Roll on Sunday. Can't wait!

It was great to finally have part of a weekend off work, and be able to pop through for my first neutral meeting at sunny Ashfield without my Bandits head on. That meeting had a bit of everything today! Always a pleasure to catch up with my Tigers pals, and to meet up with Dietbowers again too! I won't be driving the next time i see you at a speedway meeting sir haha! Here's hoping i have a team to support at Glasgow next year....

I was out and about on my bike today again, and took the first four photos today. The fifth photo was one that i took on my phone when i visited over a week ago, at the padlocked gate to the Auto Grass track. I've made an album on Google+ so anyone can see, instead of faffing about with privacy settings on Facebook. To save writing a description here, i've left a comment about the photos in the album description. https://plus.google.com/photos/+MartinHastings/albums/6184753592486238561

I cycled out Avonbridge way yesterday. The Auto Grass track is signed, but as i was cycling, i could see it anyway over the hedges. I went up the lane, but obviously access to the track area was off limits by a padlocked gate. I've no idea where the training track will be being built, but there's certainly plenty land all around. I'll keep popping up now and again if the weather is decent on my days off and see how it's progressing. I had no idea the Auto Grass races even existed up my way. Shame i work weekends, as it's the Scottish Open this weekend. On the link here, there's a video of some of the racing. http://scottishautograss.co.uk/

Great to catch up with you that night too Scott. I didn't know what would be made of my post last night, as i've been out on my bike all day today, but i'm glad i've got a few "likes" for it. I'm actually enjoying frequenting the forum again, considering some of the grief i got myself into over the years with others, usually after i've had a few too many. Younger and dafter then haha! When i used to get down often a few years back, i used to chat to DB all the time and he knows who i am on here. My username's a giveaway really eh haha? But i always remember he said he'd loan me a pile of old Bandits videos from Poole, Bradford etc. I often went to Armadale then too on friday's, and that's where he'd give me the videos after the meeting. Well, that was the night Adrian had his career ending crash, and the meeting abandoned. I met him at the tea bar a while later though, and walked to his car to get them. The stadium was soooo quiet after the crash, and he was nearly in tears when we talked about it, after i'd asked if he knew how bad it was. That'll stick with me for the rest of my days. Fair play to the man for still waiting, then loaning me them, despite the circumstances. My respect for him went through the roof that night.

I've got my tin helmet on here ready for the backlash. But i really don't get all the DB bashing at times. Yes, i've cringed a few times over the years at his comments on the mic. But to be honest, i'm usually too busy yapping to my pals, to pay much attention to what he's saying unless it's after an incident. As i've stated before, i work weekends now and don't get down to Berwick much anymore sadly. But, when i was down for the Sky meeting versus Peterborough the other week, i always walk along to the pit gate via the home straight stand. Just for a nosey as you can't get in now like before, and to see any pals on the way. On my way back towards the 1st bend, i saw Dick Barrie and he shook my hand and said, "great to see you back Marty". I joked that i wished all meetings were midweek, or just on my days off these days. He laughed and off he went to the pits before presentation time. That meant a lot to me though. It's nice to know i'm not seen as a stay away fan, even with a 180 odd mile round trip jaunt for home meetings after a days work. I just hope my team pulls through this dip we're in at the moment. Everything's crossed....

Totally. Last week at Glasgow was woeful beyond belief. If i did half a days work, then tootled around for the other half, i'd be out on my backside. And people don't pay their hard earned to watch me at my work.

Even in defeat, i had a thoroughly great afternoon up until closing time at Ashfield yesterday. Mind you, the day starts at 12.30pm in the Horseshoe Bar meeting Paulco etc before heading to the track for 3pm haha. It certainly wasn't the best meeting i'll ever see, but i do look forward to Bandits meetings at Glasgow regardless. As someone who works every weekend, and doesn't get down to Berwick much in recent years, it's always a great day seeing my Bandits and Tigers pals together, sharing a few beers and having a laugh. Saying that. Taxi for Edberg!

I seem to remember Pam (Cara House) posting photos to Facebook last year of JCB's etc out there. One thing struck me driving that wee road again. How the heck did cars, vans and buses pass going opposite directions haha. Although i suppose the verges were maintained regularily back then.

A great start to my nine days off work. Well done lads

I don't get down to Berwick often anymore sadly, working weekends is a killer. But i took full advantage of the wednesday Sky meeting as i was off work that day. I became a tourist for the day on my way down haha. I'll just share the whole album as you can't add photos on here. But i drove on past Berwick and visited Berrington for the first time in five years i think. It's completely all gone now. It was very eerie being there and seeing it like that, as i was 12 years old when i first went in 1985. When i last visited in 2010. The bar, refs box, parts of the pits and track base was still there. But since the final demolition of the site, the old centre green grass holds up better than the recent plantation on the site. You can still see the shape of the old track. I've only my childhood memories of the place now, but good memories to have. https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/+MartinHastings/albums/6169599790070214961

I'm off tomorrow, so i'll be down. Mon the Bandits!

R.I.P Shazzybird.

Well done Bandits

I liked the old parades too. I'll always tell anyone that wants to listen, that Stevie Mac always did his practice starts in front of me on the back straight...cap back to front. But i quite like the way Edinburgh do the parades when i've been there the last two or three seasons. The Number 1's tootle round together, then the 2's etc. No helmets on there, but they do go on for the few laps of warming up, practice starts etc. Depending on the weather of course.

Same on friday night. 0, 1 then 3, 3. And he looked pretty classy in both his wins.

It was a decent crowd to be fair, just not many of us sadly. I did get four 70's speedway books from the stall by the tea bar for £8 though, including Peter Collins Speedway Books Volumes 1,2 & 3. So the night wasn't a total disaster haha.

Quite possibly the lowest amount of my fellow Bandits fans i've ever seen up there in the ten years i've been back in Falkirk. I'll be lucky if i saw half a dozen that i knew. Mind you, if i didn't live just 12 miles away, i probably wouldn't bother either. Highlight of my night - the fact that the roadworks folks had two guys manually operating the traffic lights on the main road outside, that enabled us to get the hell away from the place quicker than it would've been if they were just on automatic.

Just habit as i'm paid weekly on fridays. I pick up my copy when getting my shopping every week. I looked for you earlier tonight when i was over that way, but never saw you in your usual spot.

Brilliant preview issue this week. Since i moved back to Falkirk in 2004, i've always had my copy on order in a local newsagents in town. It moved location for a year or so then sadly just closed without any notice last summer. I'm so glad i can pick up my weekly copy in either Asda, Tesco, Morrisons or WH Smith on the High Street. Usually Asda on a friday morning before i head to work.

I had an absolute blast at the meeting yesterday, and a great way to start the new season for me. It was ace to catch up with speedway friends again too after a long winter, in the New Barrack Tavern beforehand and in the stadium. And i was chuffed to do my bit by winning Rory Schlein's race jacket in the auction afterwards. That'll get hung up on the wall tomorrow.