Got withdrawal symptoms....

[secretagentmo...]

Sometimes on a Sunday I stand on the corner, waiting for 4 blokes on bikes without brakes, to come screaming past me at 70-80 miles an hour. I miss it!

Yes I am a flag marshal at a speedway track. Mildenhall to be precise. Only National League (sort of like Division 1 football), but still a great afternoon out and some of the best fish and chips around!

Started back end of last season when I went to watch a live speedway match, now being an odd sod I decided not to support my local team (6 miles away) but one 50 odd miles away, being born in the heart of the Fens, I decided to support the team that bears the nickname of men where I was born, Fen Tigers! Well I went, I saw, I enjoyed the racing.

Came home and thought that was it, then I found their facebook page. Saw they were looking for a new flag marshal, had a chat with the chief marshal, it was something I could do, so I became a flag marshal!

Well you get closer to the action, a lot closer, 500cc methanol fuelled bikes, no gears, no brakes, basically everybody on the same sort of bike so purely down to set up and skill.

Looking forward to March when the tapes go up again!

https://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a449/mikecarter1969/IMG_20160918_180701_zps6uvxbsxr.jpg
View to the tape from where I stand!

https://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a449/mikecarter1969/IMG_20160918_180720_zpsgksnsm5c.jpg
A rider on formation lap!

[Dabura]

I was in Sheffield on wednesday watching the tigers lose the first leg of the final, was also there when Steady won the riders championshipl. Also got to go and watch the premier legue fours in peterbrough this year which was a great 2 days. As far as bang for buck speedway is by far the best. Plus the smell if methanol and shale is fantastic
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Past: Peugeot Speed Fight 50 - couldn't handle winter.Gilera Sc125 - Crashed and burned(literally).Aprilia Rs125 - Fell apart and Sold. Mk1Bandit Stolen

Present: Kawasaki Z500-B

[Mr Hammers]

I mechanick'd for Trevor Banks (and that french lunatic Thierry Hilaire) many years ago and did most of the circuits in the UK (inc Mildenhall i think) and some in Europe, but i always preferred it when he went grass track racing. Less predictable than speedway, and probably less glamorous tbh, but more fun to watch, imho.

Marshalled at Brands and Thruxton for road races for a while too. Being so close to the action was much better than stuck behind a fence well away from the track. It was always good fun, except when it rained a lot, or was really cold. Or both!
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A Guide To Powerbands

[c_dug]

The Hammers/Essex arena are a few miles away from me, I've seen them once or twice. I've a friend who's entire family is dead into speedway despite none of them having the slightest interest in motorcycles of any other sort.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.