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Post by jimblanchard on Nov 17, 2007 20:20:24 GMT
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Post by jimblanchard on Dec 1, 2007 16:48:42 GMT
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Post by Genghis on Dec 1, 2007 17:02:29 GMT
Freezing cold again there today but had nice chat with Mr. Clemens (got a feeling he might be on later..) and there were quite a few taking part. Blimey, must have been cold, Mr. Clemens has got that terrific Halifax shirt covered up. Hope the injured rider is OK. |
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Post by schumi on Dec 1, 2007 17:12:43 GMT
Mr. Clemens (got a feeling he might be on later..) Yes I did mention it to him last night. Blame Wacks.  Here are a few of the 200 odd shots I took today including Mr. Clemens himself. Aha, now I see why he wanted the Father Christmas thread - he fits the bill quite nicely himself.  |
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Post by jimblanchard on Dec 1, 2007 17:57:48 GMT
Here's another of Mr. C remonstrating with Richard (Scunny Stag) about the riders ignoring his red flag. Actually, he has a point really, as with a serious injury occuring earlier, I agree with him that some of these lads need a good talking to. Track discipline there (practising starts whilst others are on fast laps..) leaves a lot to be desired.   Above I think is Adam Roynon?? Any know for sure? Who does he ride for etc? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2007 18:18:55 GMT
Yep, that looks to me like Adam Roynon, Jim.
Rides for Rye House in the PL, and is owned by Coventry.
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Post by jimblanchard on Dec 1, 2007 19:40:57 GMT
Thanks for the Info.  The lads often ride with different names on the bikes and Kevlars etc. I do go around and try and find out who is actually riding though just ask Mr C and Steve Dixon.  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2007 22:50:54 GMT
As soon as Jim took my picture I thought it wouldn't be long before it was posted somewhere
Here is the text of the post I posted on the BSF concerning practice at Scunthorpe today for those who are interested
Today at Scunthorpe Practice Session
The sun was out, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky with nothing to spoil the view for miles around until a helicopter appeared on the scene landing in the car park
I arrived at Scunthorpe at 11–15 am with riders already on the track. There were numerous people in the pits who were ready to do the business so it looked like a good day ahead
Armed with my red flag I found a corner to stand on waiting for the riders to take to the track. Riders came out and things were looking good. Unlike last week were there was only one fallen rider all day we had a number of falls this week
At approximately midday two riders came out separated and rode competently enough round the track. Unfortunately one of them over cooked it on the fourth bend colliding with the fence. This rider fell in exactly the same place as the rider last week. This fall looked just as routine but last weeks rider got up immediately bowed to the people watching and went back to the pits unscathed
Not this rider he demolished two sections of the fence and stayed down. I waved my red flag towards the ambulance people to tell them to get out there right away. The rider stayed on the ground for a while before being lifted into the ambulance by his fellow riders
Time passed and when the ambulance set off out of the pits I thought they were off to the hospital. But the ambulance swung round in the car park and stopped. No one seemed to know what was going on. Sometime later a helicopter appeared in the sky that turned out to be an air ambulance. People were beginning to think something serious was going on.
No one found out exactly what the rider’s injuries were but it seems that the air ambulance took the rider away as there wasn’t any road ambulances available. People speculated on the rider’s injuries making different suggestions that made me realise no one knew exactly what the problem was
As the air ambulance took off though people were looking up into the sky. Apparently it was the first time this rider had practiced at Scunthorpe. All the same you could sense all those looking up there were wishing the rider well. Silently waving him goodbye for the moment, being there with him and for him, as he was taken away. Hoping then everything was alright with him and that we would see him riding here another day
After this rider’s departure the other riders took to the track and got on with the days work. I met people there on the centre green I have got to know in the time I have been back in speedway besides those who accompany the riders. All of us watching the proceedings as they unfolded throughout the day
It’s a pleasure and it remains a pleasure going to Scunthorpe practice sessions. I have met some good genuine people there. But today highlighted the question for a number of people and that question is this. What exactly are the people who wave the flags doing there?
The reason this question was being asked was that despite flags being hung out to relay information to riders on the track. Some of the riders on the track either don’t even notice the flags being waved or decide the information being sent out there isn’t for them and as such carry on their merry way regardless
Three riders were out on the track at one point. One of these riders was having bike problems and was out of the picture. The other two were proceeding around when a large piece of ‘something’ dropped off one of the bikes onto the middle of the track
My first thought was to flag the riders down to take this object off the track. Either of the riders could have run onto it, got caught up with it and wrapped it round their bike. They could have locked up who knows what could have happened so I flagged them down.
Both these riders continued on their way regardless of the object in the track. Eventually they slowed down and rolled round the track. I handed the object to the rider in question and he rode off back to the pits
I don’t know what anyone else thought but I had seen one ride off in an air ambulance and I wasn’t going to see another on his way to hospital. What incensed me was the seeming indifference to all this and I called Richard over and simply said to him ‘tell those riders that they must stop when I wave the red fcuking flag.’
Riders were coming and going all the time getting on with what they were doing. Another four riders came out and rode round. Two of them stopped at the gate in the middle of the track and set up a Christmas stall selling baked items. A third rider rode past them at speed. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing
A veteran of speedway, who I know well now, came over to me from that side of the track. He was indignant at what he saw and said to me that something must be done about things like that or someone was going to get seriously hurt. I told him I was thinking the same thing myself.
You could feel the dark shadow creeping across the circuit and it made my blood run cold.
Time went by and more riders took to the track riding round. Another of them fell off and the riders continued round ignoring the red flag. Yet another person came over to me complaining about what was going on. He was waving the flag to no avail and no one was taking notice of him
I am the first to accept that some if not most of the riders on the track have no interest in the flag wavers, no knowledge of them and perhaps even think they have no need to be there. Perhaps because it is practice and not the real thing they might think there is no need for these people to be around. People who they feel might just be there to take the opportunity to be around those taking part in the sport.
This might be true for some people but not for me. People keep on asking me who the individual riders are. I tell them I have no idea that they are all the same to me. Riders out there on track learning their trade and honing their skills.
I used to go to training practice with my boss’ son years ago. When we did that we got on with and we neither knew or bothered with who the riders were around us. We were there so this boy could but his ambition to the test. I am there to wave the red flag for the same reason to help those with the ambition to get on with what they are doing.
I spoke with Richard again about the problem we were facing and that the riders needed to understand the flag wavers are there for a reason. The reason is so the riders themselves can be assured there are people looking out for their welfare.
This message has to be relayed to all the riders and taken on board by them no matter which rider they are. For all this is about discipline and self-discipline not this self – ish – ness that casts a shadow over the events taking place.
For it is discipline that makes the rider a successful rider. You don’t turn this discipline on and off. It has to be there all the time. I drilled this into the boy I took riding. He asked me what he should do and said ‘I want you to do as you’re told.’
He said two words to me ‘I will’ and never let me down.
And his father admitted to me, a man who had been involved in speedway himself as a mechanic , that I’d done something with his son he thought impossible as he had already decided the boy just could not be a speedway rider
Recently a young lad informed me he was going to ride speedway. I have no doubt he could do it too. He asked me to inform him what was required of him I told him and I haven’t seen him since. What he was saying was ‘I won’t’ and he hasn’t and most likely never will.
My nephew asked me to manage his band. The drummer decided he disliked me from the word go. I spent weeks, because it was my nephew, drilling into them that they needed to work together as a unit. One day I arrived for the band practice. The drummer came out to greet me with a big smile on his face.
He said to me, ‘I want to apologise to you’. I asked him why. He told me he’d thought about all I had said to the band. Then he said to me, ‘I realised if we do what we are told you will make us famous.’
I told him I was glad he had realised that and said to him ‘now you know what we have to do don’t you?’
He said, ‘what?’
I said, ‘get the other three to see that. Do you think we will?’
‘No,’ he said and left the band three weeks later.
It is a sense of discipline that makes the novice rider become a speedway rider. Discipline is what leads to that proper spirit and the shining goal each of them say they want to achieve. Every aspect of track discipline is essential to the progress of any rider.
One of the key aspects of track discipline is the understanding that all the people there serve a purpose. All of this is said for one reason. The reason is this, if a rider falls and one or two of the following riders run into the fallen rider and all of them are seriously hurt. People are going to look for scapegoats.
Flag wavers might get fed up of waving their flags to no avail. They might stop waving their flags altogether. Deciding there is no point in doing something for the sake of it.
Then riders get hurt and perhaps seriously hurt. People will go to the flag wavers and ask them why they didn’t wave their flags. But don’t walk over to me. I will wave the flag till someone takes it off me and bans me from the centre green.
The young riders there once again got on with it and did as they were instructed when they had a flag waving in their faces. Young Ash looked good on his 500 cc bike and even he fell but I think that was more to do with ruts in the track than being on a bigger machine.
If you wonder why I have taken it upon myself to point these things out a little incident illustrates the reason.
A few years ago, after visiting the wife working in Poland, I was on a coach making the two days trip back to England. It was around two a.m. People were sleeping. I was awake watching the driver of the coach in action because people who drive for a living often watch fellow drivers as a matter of course.
The coach was drifting from one lane to lane and it was apparent to me the driver was falling asleep. After a few minutes this guy walked up from the back of the bus. He’d obviously noticed what was happening and decided to do something about it.
But when he got to where I was sat, four seats from the front of the bus, he stopped and spoke to me
‘Have you noticed the bus is drifting in and out of the lane we are in?’
‘Yes,’ said I
‘What are you going to do about it,’ said he?
And I did the same as I am doing here I told them about it and the driver was woken up by his co driver. The driver grunted something in deep dark Polish in our direction and got on with his job
I thought ‘yep and fcuk you too mate,’
Everyone did well when they finally got down to it but the spirit that should drive them all wasn’t really there today but I am sure it will be next time.
My pleasure of the day was bumping into Kenny Smith. He looked like the cat that got the cream. He told me Scunthorpe was elevated to the Premier League. No one deserves that promotion more than Kenny himself.
They have worked wonders at Scunthorpe and this promotion to higher things is the natural progression for them.
That spirit of speedway I mention in this write up is alive and well at Scunthorpe. It strikes me this is what Scunthorpe speedway is all about. This being the major reason I go there to feel the spirit and to know it’s alive and well
It was also my pleasure to meet Mrs Kenny Smith but I didn’t have much time to talk with her as I had my job to do. Mrs Smith who seems to like my long essays. Here’s one to get your teeth stuck into. I hope to be able to speak to you again sometime but who knows after posting this essay But don’t worry I won’t be deleting this post before anyone asks.
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Post by jimblanchard on Dec 1, 2007 23:01:44 GMT
Er Thanks Mr C . (I think...  You could have mentioned my name on the BSF without getting arrested. Well, maybe not. ;D Good post and agree with you totally, and welcome to a proper speedway forum. |
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Post by Genghis on Dec 1, 2007 23:05:00 GMT
Mr. Clemens,
Found myself in a similar capacity at Oxford earlier in the season - was even promoted to start marshal for the final practice session, which meant I had a red flag, a last lap flag and the chequered flag.
How do they do it at Scunny? At Oxford, it was four laps and off, then another four riders, and so on, in quick succession. Meant the riders got plenty of track time each.
Seemed to work, and the rider discipline wasn't too bad.
Ironically, it was the league riders who caused most problems, stopping and starting to do practice starts, etc. Made it difficult to keep track of them at times.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2007 23:36:25 GMT
I could have told them it was a well known photographer Jim but they would have thought they meant Steve Dixon lol
I thought I'd sign up in here Jim as Schumi was kind enough to give me the invite
So this counts as my first long post there could be many more of them
At the end of the day genghis we did get them doing the four laps so the other riders could get on and have a quick turn round
But on the whole the rules of procedure should be laid down and people have to adhere to them
Then everyone would know what they were doing and why they were doing it
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Post by jimblanchard on Dec 1, 2007 23:54:05 GMT
Mr. C. You might have said a well known artist. But perhaps not as that would have had other connotations. ;D
As we discussed I agree with all your post and they really need to look at a stricter rider briefings before they are allowed on track. I hope you have some public indemnity as if as we discussed there if there was a serious incident and they claim they did not see the red flag - you could be implicated.
Once again welcome though.
'The Veteran' ;D
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2007 0:16:04 GMT
What I should have said Jim was 'It was that fellah over there,' lol
And that what you said in your reply Jim was my bottom line to Scunny Stag. That if something major did happen they would be looking for someone to blame and the 'innocent bystander' would be dragged into the debate With riders asking 'what's these amateurs doing on the track?'
But in the end it depends on just who the amateurs are doesn't it
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2007 9:27:41 GMT
I'm sorry but rules is rules and a red flag is a red flag. If you ignore the red flag you are out, no ifs, no buts your out sonny, come back when you have learnt the rules & have the sense to obey them. They are after all there or a reason and that is rider safety. Sorry for sticking me bugle in. I look forward to Mr Clemens contribution to this forum, I have always found them a good read!! fog |
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) who took a little spill but got up OK with no problems.
The lads often ride with different names on the bikes and Kevlars etc. I do go around and try and find out who is actually riding though just ask Mr C and Steve Dixon. 
You could have mentioned my name on the BSF without getting arrested. Well, maybe not. ;D