BigFatDave

Almost finished packing, there's just one more thing - ahhh!! There it is!! http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protecti...lags/aus-nt.gif Go ROOBOY!!

Forecast for the Hunter Region, Friday: Isolated showers developing. Moderate to fresh south to southeast winds. Gosford: Chance shower. Min: 16 Max: 23 Forecast for Saturday Isolated showers. Light to moderate southeast, turning northeast later. Newcastle: Shower or two. Min: 17 Max: 24 Now where did I put my souvenir of Adelaide Long Johns? Stuff the Beanie, I'm takin' tha Panama. Mildura: Forecast for Wednesday Mostly sunny. Winds southeast to southwesterly averaging about 10 km/h, reaching 25 km/h at times, tending west to southwesterly 25 to 35 km/h during the evening. Precis: Mostly sunny. Min: 19 Max: 36 That's better! Adelaide - see South Pole.

Busy day today - after waking up to find I was still alive after last night (and checking in the Bathroom mirror just to make sure) - I've been tying up all the loose ends - making sure the menagerie is taken care of, feeding the critters (chopping up bits of beast for the doggies, sacrificing some live Quail & Rats for the Joe Blakes and ensuring the Tadpoles are OK - yeah, Tadpoles you read right, we're breeding up Green Tree Frogs to combat the Canetoad menace, GTFs eat Cane Toad Taddies) and packing the plethora of goodies I need to keep me alive and well, I've just gotta have a haircut - Number One - and find me shorts & singlet, socks & jocks and I'm off to all points South. What's worrying is a scurrilous email I received by accident warning the residents of the Southern States to be on the look-out for a particularly unsavoury-sounding character who seems to be going to the same places I am. Maybe I've got a stalker? Whaddayareckon? "Public warning. Caution, please look very carefully at the picture below - if you sight this man do not approach. This person is wanted in 15 countries for excessive alcohol and substance abuse. Dont be fooled by his rather large size and jovial nature as these are his main weapons. He can be found; At speedway venues In bars close to speedway venues Low cost accommodation establishments close to speedway venues Houses of ill repute close to speedway venues If you approach him you will suffer bad jokes Excessive drinking And a general good time Approach at your own risk Police reports indicate he will be on the move during January 2009 You have been warned." He even LOOKS like me!!

Couldn't agree more Ozyace!! I think BJ might find out a few of the pitfalls of live broadcasting but I'm sure the Oz Speedway Community will cut him some slack: good on him for having a go. Mildura's got a good track announcer so if the broadcast can use him somehow that'd be great. Sad that Nev Riseley won't be over but I'm sure he'll be doing his thing in Perth to ensure everything goes well - Onya Nev!!. ****!! I just got a call from QANTAS - my flight from Newcastle to Milly via Melbourne on Monday is now leaving at 6 0'*******clock in the ******* morning FFS! - I can see me having to keep awake Sunday night - luckily I'm staying at an Irish Rock Pub in the centre of Beaumont St Hamilton so I can't see too many problems with that. I'm catching up with a few ol' Thespian mates who're heavily involved with this year's Sydney Festival: hopefully everything will be Crystal Clear on the night.

........I can think of other uses..................

No need for me to stir the pot, the presence of Master-scout Brynbach will be enough to get the kids worked up. Besides, Wasps have got a full team at the mo! Mind you I'll be jogging his elbow on a few points! (Usually when he's got his can of Bundy raised! )

To be honest I wouldn't have a clue. Best to check with Oz House, I suppose, or if he's got some Pomgolian Rello that'd help. There's a few Websites available to choose from, www.workpermit.com, www.globalvisas.com, www.skillclear.co.uk, etc, etc.

From the Gosford Speedway site, http://www.centralcoastspeedway.com/ - Rod Colquhoun's pen-pictures of the qualifiers field 1/Tom Hedley– MILDURA (VIC) Mildura’s Tom Hedley was the ‘next big thing’ according to some judges a few years back, but hasn’t quite found his rhythm since suffering a serious head injury just over a year ago. He is ready to re-launch his career and tonight would be a great place to start. 2/HUGH SKIDMORE – COFFS HARBOUR (NSW) The current NSW Under 21 Champion, Hugh is a top kid and a real racer in every sense of the word. Has really come on since teaming with renowned engine tuner Steve Langdon last year and tonight will be his biggest test to date. 3/LEE HERNE – Lumeah(NSW) Lee is entitled to win this meeting, but nothing is ever straight forward in speedway and there are a dozen young kids trying to stop him. He is a multiple Australian finalist and former international. Hard to stop tonight. 4/KOZZA SMITH – NEWCASTLE (NSW) A Gifted motorcyclist who has channelled his skills into speedway and is starting to get the rewards for his efforts. Outstanding second place in the recent NSW Championship and one of the favourites tonight on his local track. Mr Excitement! 5/KURT SHIELDS – MULBRING (NSW) This bloke has a great riding style and wants an international career so bad it hurts! He knows tonight is a very important meeting in terms of his future and recent form suggests he could get through. Part of a family that knows nothing except speedway! Solid chance. 6/RYAN SEDGMEN – MILDURA (VIC) Ryan is a top kid and has and enormous amount of skill. A crash last summer at Gillman seems to have taken the edge off him a little and some recent health issues aren’t helping him at all. Has the skill, but he’ll need to bounce back to his best tonight if he’s to progress. 7DARCY WARD – BRISBANE (QLD) Strap yourself in! This kid is as fast as any 16 year old in the recent history of the sport. Eats, sleeps and breathes speedway and this will be his toughest test on home soil yet. Could win it, or may be found out as being a little inexperienced at this level. Great talent and a huge future, regardless! 8/JUSTIN SEDGMEN – MILDURA (VIC) Like his older brother Ryan, Justin has bags of skill and so far has not put a foot wrong in the senior ranks. Top young bloke with a big future in the sport and could prove a dark horse tonight. Great text book riding style too. 9/SAM MASTERS – NEWCASTLE (NSW) This bloke can ride anything fast! He’s just a kid at heart but if it’s got a throttle he’ll make it work. Has a burning ambition to ignite his international career and knows that tonight is a great place to start. Not too far behind Darcy Ward in terms of potential. 10/MICHAEL PENFOLD – NEWCASTLE (NSW) This kid is a real surprise package. Looked handy as a junior, but not overly special, however his efforts on the 500 have been enormous. Starting to gain a reputation as someone to be reckoned with and fears nobody. One to watch. 11/RICHARD SWEETMAN – NEWCASTLE (NSW) Supremely talented youngster who would probably be the bookie’s favourite tonight, but still has to get the job done. Top young bloke with a promising international career ahead of him and really loves this Central Coast layout. Hard to stop. 12/MITCHELL DAVEY – TOWNSVILLE (QLD) Mitch has a really nice style and loads of potential. Will need a good first ride tonight to get a roll on. Just returned from debut UK season and could qualify tonight but will need to ride out of his skin. Top young fella too. 13/AARON SUMMERS – ADELAIDE (SA) Very neat rider with a solid UK season under his belt, Aaron will be looking for a podium finish tonight and hopefully won’t get swamped by riders who know the track better than he does. Deserves to get through but there are no guarantees. 14/ARLO BUGEJA – ADELAIDE (SA) Nice young bloke with a massive heart. Gives every race everything, but might find this hurdle a little hard to overcome. Would be a threat on his home track, but might come up a little short tonight. That said, he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t good enough – has a puncher’s chance! 15/JAMES HOLDER – APPIN (NSW) This bloke is a solid competitor. Doesn’t win too many meetings, but rarely finishes outside the top four. He’s desperate to get through after riding a couple of races in the Australian Title last year. He’s not a certainty to make it, but he’ll be very close that’s for sure. Good chance. 16/JAY HERNE – lumeah(NSW) Jay is very good around here and has just done a full year in the UK. Has been threatening to do something amazing for a couple of years and tonight would be the best time to do it. Should qualify. The Quals is always a great meeting with real Cut-throat racing - Australian Speedway at its best - should be a ripper, I'm looking forward to catching up with Bryn, Ron & Lunchy and giving them a hard time!! (Plus there's this U-Beaut massage parlour just up the hill from the hotel................hopefully I can give them a hard time too!!)

The Sprintcars meeting at Archerfield would be well worth a watch, Andy - they're excitement machines for sure!!

I heard that Darcy won the Ivan Mauger Golden Helmet in Qld from Josh Grajczonek , Trent Leveringham and Taylor Poole 4th. I haven't heard any scores yet but should know soon - I've been out & about!

Arlo's won a fair few fans over your way this season among both spectators and promotors alike, 'cos he's always willing to have a red-hot go at anything. Fingers crossed he can take that next step.

Pretty sure the only dirt action around there is at Archerfield, and that's Sprintcars on the 24th and Modified Sedans on the 31st. SA Solo Champs at Gillman on the 24th. Gosford is the closest on the 31st, Oz under 21's Championship.

Thanks Gatesy!! Looks like the Qualifier will be a cut-throat night of racing - hard to pick a winner there.

The word is he's just doing a few meetings to keep his hand in, but you never know..........

If I don't state I'll lose the weight I won't fit through the ******* Gate, Mate! (Oh, well, it could be Verse! )

Surf Carnival, eh, Brynbach? Right!

I wish!! Just back from my Dietician (yes go ahead & cack yerself!), I've lost 200 grams in the last month!! At this rate by the time I'm ninety I'll be NotSoBigFatDave!! Should be a ripper meeting; Go ROOBOY! I see Ronny Bar - ooops, sorry, Parker is making good on his latest threat to retire.

Sam Martin has come into tonight's Jack Young Cup line-up as a late replacement for Brock Gates who has been injured at work.

.......probably means you don't pi$$ against a foul-smelling Corrugated Iron Fence anymore.

There is a cure for that you know!! Its called "Emigration"!! (34C in Darwin yesterday!! ) Take care Jimbo!

Oh. All Right then - but try not to snore this time!!

I did a couple of away trips; Cradley stands out and Poole, and played a couple of games of Rugby for GKN, - I think they were in Cwmbran, also played for BNS up in Pontypool but its a while ago now, sport! Omigod the Song!! That brings it back!!

Bloody Hell, Bob! I can't remember last week, let alone 44 years ago, but I was probably there near the start/finish line with me Donovan Cap and me home-made clipboard. I've changed a bit since then but so you may not recognise me!!

No more Toxic Waste oooops, sorry, Mango Chutney for you!!

Many Thanks, boys. See you in July; you can't miss me - I'll be the one blotting out the sun.