BigFatDave

Rather like a one-legged man in an ar$e-kicking contest, would you say?

Good piece in this week's SRN about this; great to see the Oz Media picking it up - how's the local papers doing on it?

I've edited your post but appreciate the extract: just wondered if you knew the length of the visas that Jake and Micky were on this year and also if you were aware of the difficulties and costs involved in shipping gear from the UK to OZ. I know Mark Jones had to return earlier because he'd agreed to take part in Ashley's Memorial meeting in March and his visa ran out before the season finished. I'm not sure if MA organised a Container this year or if the lads have to sort it out themselves, but obviously if they're taking part in any MA-sanctioned comp down here they'd have to be prepared properly, wouldn't you agree? As soon as I saw a certain Nationality mentioned in your opening line I had a pretty good idea why you started this thread; in fact it was elementary, my dear NeilWatson.

Have we got any teams declared for this yet? More to the point have the Mighty HORNETS got 7 riders? Apologies to the Branford Clan but I won't be barracking for Robert - in the first leg, anyhow!

Just heard about two Swedish riders coming Downunder for a few weeks and hopefully a fair few meetings around the Traps - Dackarna and Eastbourne's Ricky Kling and Rospiggarna Young Gun Pontus Aspgren. They should add a bit of colour to our scene; I hope I'll be able to check them out soon.

Erm - these Calendars - have they got any tasty photos of the Start Tarts?

I should never have taken up Origami!

Don't know how you work that out; Australia invariably ride their Round 1 in the UK. They rode there this year if you may recall. Easier for Polish & Russian riders to ride their Rd 1 in Europe. Anyhow, I'll be at Lynn for this one, then on to Gorzow.

Well Done Hornets!

A message from Lunchy!! I've deleted the personal abuse! It would have been a perfect day weather wise but for the breeze that made it to a wind several times. Track was really good with the rain during the week helping deliver nearly optimum conditions. A bit down on numbers due to riders still in the UK but in A grade solos Mark Jones was the stand out ahead of NSW visitor Tom Armstrong from Griffith. A grade solos had 7 nominate, that was down to six by tapes up because of illness, down to five after turn one of heat one when Adam Bond came off and head butted the track, and down to four by the end of the meeting. Two rounds of solos had 5 in the heat so the scoring will seem a little strange with some 4,3,2,1 races and some 3,2,1 races Mark Jones 3,4,4,3 = 14 Tom Armstrong 3,3,3,2 = 11 Beau Evans 1,0,2,1 = 4 Tony Nagel 2,2,0,dns = 4 Matt Jones 2,1,1,0 = 4 Adam Bond Fx,dns,dns,dns = 0 B grade solos had seven in it and some interesting scraps between Wayne Morrison, Jody Mason, Steve Shaw and Brad Tillett. Morrison had a bit too much class throughout and reeled off four wins on the trot. I must make mention of John Doolan in this class, he said after the meeting he has lost about 20kgs in the off season and he rode far better than I have seen him ride before, The improvement was noticeable and I was really pleased for him. John is a lovely bloke who knows he will not be world champion but to see him being competitive rather than off the pace was great. Wayne Morrison 3,3,3,3 = 12 Jody Mason 3,3,2,1 = 9 Steve Shaw 2,1,2,3 = 9 Brad Tillett 1,2,3,2 = 8 John Doolan 2,0,1,2 = 5 Shane Benbow dnf,2,1,1 = 4 Andrew Havers 0,1,0,0 = 1 Next meetings at Broadford will be Nov 14 - Club Day #2 Dec 11 - Club Day #3 (Sat meeting, 1pm start) Jan 23 - Practice day Feb 12 - Vic Sidecar (TBC) Mar 19 - Club Championships Apr 9 - Classic Day May 15 - Final club day

Coupla Frothy Chops?

Thought I'd better get this one going early so's we can add to it as we find out more. Thanks to the Mildura Motorcycle Club and the Speedway Sidecars Riders Association of Victoria for the info. Australian Legend Leigh Adams has announced that 5th January 2011 will be the date of his Testimonial meeting, to be held at his home track of Olympic Park, Mildura. Adams has just about wrapped up his final year of European competition and hopes to go out with a bang on January 5. The meeting will feature a very strong field of senior riders, some Junior competition, as well as Australia’s top sidecar riders and a host of other cameo appearances by champions past and present, including Swedish Champion Tony Rickardsson as well as ol' mates and seasoned visitors like Simon Stead. As is Leigh’s specific wish, the senior meeting will be preceded by a full Junior meeting, which will start around 6:00pm. Following that the senior meeting should kick off around 7.30pm. “The Sidecar field is nearly sorted” Leigh reckons, “and all but one of the competitors rode in the Australian Championship this year”. The odd men out are actually the brilliant duo of four-time Australian Sidecar Champions Glenn and Nathan O’Brien, on the comeback trail, who jumped at the chance to take part. Don't forget there's a Testimonial dinner being held the night before, Tuesday 4th in the Auditorium of Mildura Motorcycle Club's main sponsor, The Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club, which for those of you who dont know is on the Silver City Highway in Dareton, NSW, 20 kms north of the Murray River, between Mildura and Wentworth Hopefully there'll be a coach laid on for this as I can't see too many wanting to drive from Mildura, and a taxi'd not be cheap. Still, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do to get there & back!

First Club Meeting of the Season at Broadford today; mainly locals as our International boys are mostly still O/S. Lunchy will be announcing and telling his god-awful jokes as usual: I'll attempt to interrupt him later and see if I can get some updates. For all you international visitors Broadford is about 80km up the Hume Highway from Melbourne; marvellous complex just down the road from one of - that's me in the red skivvy about 4 minutes in - Trust Me, Sucker! Full Gillman program for 2010/11 is available here.: this is the Vic. Speedway site.

If you're not returning to it why did you bring it up?

Don't you mean "updatesh on Shunday", Shquall?

What's to be disillusioned about an Aussie rider who leaves the UK when his visa expires? I would have thought you'd have been dancing with your Little Englander buddies at Heathrow waving him off?

Ivan Mauger will be at North Brisbane Speedway to sell and sign books at the Queensland Sidecar Championships from 1pm 23rd October.

Courtesy of Mr Qld Speedway Gavin Elmes, the first of the big ones at Brisvegas on Saturday arvo; main feature is the QLD Sidecars Championship; I'll put that on the Sidecars section, but there's Solos and Juniors on the bill as well: The solo line-up looks good; could be a day out for Nick Morris once he's thawed out. Field was limited to 8. Bad luck for SE Qld's most promising 350cc rider, Jayden O'Malley, who missed out when the entries were limited to 5. TYSON NELSON HARLEY HORWOOD TRENT LEVERINGTON SCOTT SMITH TIM HEFFERNAN MITCHELL WEISMANTEL ASHLEY CATHCART NICK MORRIS 350 Solos: HARLEY BRIGDEN JAKE MOORE JAKE ALLEN ROBBIE GOTTARDI TYSON SNOW Juniors: ZAINE KENNEDY MATHEW DAY BRYCE BRIGDEN BEN DOWLING ELLIS PERKS

Thanks for that, mate. 500cc singles I'd imagine.

Try the Ibis Cardiff Centre - close to the Walkabout & Stadium: only problem would be the BigFatAussie staying there.

That's really great news: I wish I could be there but unless the numbers come up on Tatts there's litle chance of that. Here's hoping Tai keeps his Kevlars on this time!

I think you may have cause to eat your words in the next couple of years, AM. Newport have produced a play-off team in NL and a very promising PL team this season; the crowds will return next year. (If you build it they will come.) The big advantages for them are that owning the stadium takes away a large percentage of costs; that and the existence of a dedicated, (mostly) united team of promotion, management and volunteers.

Go HORNETS!! Hopefully no delays so the hardy few can head off to Swindon.

Never been to Prague but I enjoyed Gothenburg when I was there in '04; handy to the town centre and good racing. Price of beer was a bit exxy, though but not as bad as Denmark, and the wall-to-wall Blondes more than made up for that; maybe we could have all the GPs in Polska - apart from Cardiff of course?

Freddie was out here for the 2008 Solos Championships, along with the much-maligned Filip Sitera and the incomparable Joe Screen. A few enjoyable evenings ensued; I'm too much of a gentleman to name names. Its shaping up to be a ripper Downunder season, Superguest, why don't you Come On Down?