We've all seen the track directories published in the Star at the beginning of each season but what are you actually likely to encounter when you a visit a particular track.

Some companies employ mystery customers to find out what kind of service they provide - well we are those mystery customers. I know that we only visit some tracks on a fairly infrequent basis - but first impressions count - pretend it's the first Speedway meeting you have ever seen - would you go to see another one ? Well I have to say in some cases you probably wouldn't.

The aim is to eventually report on every track and to systematcally update the reports as the tracks are revisited. Anyway here goes with those tracks regularly visited by members of the committee .............

Belle Vue

This track and team saw major improvements during 2005 season and I think anybody visiting the circuit was unlikely to be disappointed. Unfortunately for the 2006 season the track seemed short of dirt was usually slick with little or no passing.
The track is tight and short and can make for some interesting racing when there is some dirt on it.

The advertised start time is 7:45pm and like a well-known brand of wood treatment the promotion does exactly what it says on the tin er programme. The parade is at around 7.35 -7.40 with the first race at 7.45 - fully in keeping with what it says in the rules - one of the few tracks to comply I suspect !! The presentation is slick and the meeting will be over at around 9:20pm barring any problems.
On the down side viewing, mainly on the start/finish straight, is not the best, apart that is from in the bar, but not everyone wants to be separated from the action by a pane of glass !! There is no real facility on the back straight for viewing but there is some terracing on the 3rd and 4th turns and a grass bank on the 1st  turn. However the P.A. wasn't too good over there.
The stadium facilities are in general good if a little old and are in keeping with what you would expect at a registered Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) Track  - glass fronted stand, comfortable seating restaurant etc.   

Berwick
One of the biggest tracks in the country and while this produces some fast racing it does suffer from the same problems that most big tracks suffer from - processional races. While you can't rule out the possibility of the odd overtaking manoeuvre its generally all over after the first two bends - at least it was when we visited it. On the positive side the track has apparently been improved from how it was last year since the new promotion took over. It quite smooth now as it was when we last visited quite some years ago as oppose to the alleged ploughed field of the last couple of years or so. One unusual feature is the fact that turns three & four have fairly steep banking - turns one and two don't, so its quite interesting to see the different lines taken by the riders. Facilities, for a speedway track are pretty good with two covered stands and terracing however as it's other user is Berwick Rangers F.C. its probably pretty basic for a football stadium !
The presentation was pretty good the night we visited, good banter from the centre green presenter Mr Barrie - he seemed to like my hat !! and no major delays between races. The meeting was completed by around 9.15pm. However it was on off-night (Wed) the weather was a bit threatening and I suspect the neighbours may be on to the Council if things go on too long !!  Hopefully though the presentation is ordinarily this slick !

Birmingham

A new track for the 2007 season and as it's at an NGRC greyhound stadium it is as you would expect  - well appointed. Well for greyhound racing that is !  It seems that greyhound spectators only venture outside to deal with the bookies and that most of the time they prefer to watch the action from behind glass in the stand. The stand at Birmingham offers the best view of proceedings but being behind glass means you lose some of the atmosphere. Similar to Belle Vue outside viewing areas are somewhat limited, the only terraced viewing areas being two small temporary stands. There is no access to the back straight and most of the 3rd and 4th turns.
The track itself can produce some decent racing but it does not seem to have many different lines. On the evidence seen so far the white line is not necessarily the fastest but those who are tempted to the outside of what appear to be quite wide bends can end up in no-mans land. No doubt the track will improve with time and riders will find different ways of getting the best out of it. Can be quite an expensive night out if you park on the stadium car park !

Buxton

Speedway on the top of the world - or at least it seems like it ! The track has a good shape with wide bends. Being quite short it is ideal for this level of racing. The track is fair and offers a few racing lines - and therefore generally good close racing. The track surface also appears well drained - it needs to be in this exposed location. I have seen racing here when most tracks would have called it a day !  The facilities are  pretty good and well looked after. Always take warm clothing and a waterproof just in case you can't find a parking space trackside - it doesn't matter that he sun is out in Leek, the wind up there can cut you in two !!

Coventry

This track has always been notorious for being a gater's paradise.
Even though some work has been done on the circuit - its now 2m shorter according to the programme - nothing much seems to have changed for the 2006 season. During the match against Wolverhampton over Easter there were only two overtakes all night. For the most part the length of the straight separated 1st and 4th - not good as a spectacle! I only hope what I saw was a bad night and that the racing is normally closer !
The match was professionally run starting at 8pm and finishing at 9.40pm with a 10min interval - not too much hanging around then !!  The only downside being the PA on the back straight - not too clear and very easy to miss rider changes/times etc and the excuse why there was a great big ambulance in the centre of the track obstructing the view of the start.
One other interesting thing was the parade - the bikes are on the speedway track,the riders line up on the dog track, they then leap athletically over the fence ! Let's hope no-one turns an ankle over before a wheel turns !

Newport

This is the only track in the league where I was once told I was lucky. Not fully understanding the point that the particular home fan in question was trying to make, I asked him why. He replied, "Because you only have to come here once a year". As the meeting unfolded this sad indictment was proven beyond doubt. When first opened some years ago Newport was probably the best-supported track in the Premier with a new track and stadium that suggested great things ahead. However the outstanding work on the main stand is still outstanding and support has dwindled. The stadium still has no track lights.
Maybe the lack of support has something to do with the way the sport is presented ? Meetings appear to rarely start on time and can take an inordinate amount of time to run. Take a good book and possibly a sleeping bag! Racing at least on the occasions I've visited there takes place either on an overwatered or a dry and dusty surface - one of the drawbacks of operating on hot summer afternoons. The track is sometimes better for the new year meeting ! The track is of a medium size and there seems to be limited opportunities for overtaking.
Viewing is available all around the track from the embankment and from seating in the main stand for which an additional charge is made I understand.
The facilities in keeping with the rest of the bar area are in an unfinished state but are generally reasonable.

Poole

The first visit of the committee to this venue for some years (approx 25) and there's a definite  contrast between the two sides of the stadium - old meets new. Which is the best ?  Well its for you to decide - one  straight has a large glass fronted stand - a la greyhound stadium, whereas there is a seated but open stand on the other side which has been like that for years. You get the full smell and noise of the bikes along with the roar of the crowd of one the best supported speedways in the country over here. Ahh it takes me back to the old days .
Anyway the track can produce some classic racing as evidenced by our visit but it again all depends on the preparation of what appears to be quite a narrow track.  

Redcar
One of the league's newer tracks and as a new stadium it has to be said that facilities are somewhat sparse. This is not the place to be if the weather turns a bit septic there's no cover and not much terracing - just two temporary structures similar to the ones at Birmingham so if you're a bit vertically challenged you may have problem viewing the action unless you get there early enough to stand right by the fence. There is clearly a comparison with other reasonably new tracks such as Somerset and Scunthorpe and as they have become established and improved facilities no doubt the same will happen here given time. 
The emphasis has been to build a good racing circuit and then the rest will follow. And I would suggest that on the basis of what we witnessed on our visit you would be unlikely to witness a dull meeting at this track. There seems to be numerous lines and the racing is close. Interestingly bends three and four are banked at this track and the first two aren't, this in itself makes for interesting close racing. The presentation was good with no undue delays and no excessive tractor racing, the meeting closed at around 9.20 pm.

Scunthorpe

While only one visit has been made to this circuit the progress that has been made in a single season is indeed impressive. Unfortunately the day the committee attended the already poor weather deteriorated further and we witnessed a six heat special, but having said that on any other day the track look entirely capable of providing a good number of different lines and interesting racing. There are two small stands under construction and if the apparent level of support continues it looks like a good future ahead. Facilities are basic as you would expect from a conference track but are well looked after and clean. There is a general feel-good factor at the stadium and quite rightly so.
  
Sheffield  

Another good well appointed stadium with a big fast track that can provide some very exciting racing but it has to be said; the racing is for the most part processional with little or no passing. Usually the home riders make the start and it's all over. If they miss the start the homesters can usually quite easily pass the opposition because they are not on the one racing line or not pulling the right gear. Viewing is available from the start/finish straight on a sloping tarmac area under the main stand, on terracing under the stand on turns 3&4 and in the stand on turns 1&2. Viewing on the start/finish straight can be a problem for those of us who are vertically challenged when there is a big crowd. The stadium and facilities are one of, if not the best in the Premier league. 

Somerset   

The 2006 season sees the third visit of the committee to this track and the standard of racing was again top drawer.
The track has a number of lines and gating while still important does not seem that critical - that is if you know where the drive is !!
There is no cover; viewing is from grass banking or a small seated area on the back straight - on one of our visits we must see some sunshine !
The facilities may be a bit limited but are good quality. The presentation is good with a prompt start and the main event over at a reasonable time - this last visit it was a bit hard to judge, with bad weather looming the main meeting was over by 9.00pm. There then followed a second half (a concept some tracks wouldn't understand) of 6 junior races. The only negative comments would be regarding the track lights. I do seem to remember that they are positioned low down to keep the Council happy, but because they face you the resulting dazzle means on certain parts of the circuit you can't see the riders. - not sure why they don't shine straight down on to the track surface.
    
Stoke

Probably one of the best racing tracks in the premier league by virtue of its size and shape, although in 2005 the surface appeared somewhat slick and short of dirt with a consequent effect on the standard of racing. Most away teams seem to be willing to give it a go so it would be unusual to be bored by the racing. The situation for the 2006 season was pretty similar but it is the only Premier track with an air sfety fence.
The advertised start time is 7:30pm but the actual racing in deference to the rules rarely gets underway until around 7:45pm. If visiting during midsummer on a bright sunny evening be prepared for a lengthy wait while the sun goes down as it shines directly down the start/finish straight. Viewing is from the bar or terracing on the start/finish straight or from the grass bank on the back straight. You can also park your car on the back straight and view from your own grandstand if
You like, but don't under any circumstances move your car during racing otherwise the centre green announcer will try to make you look a pillock because your brake lights have stopped the racing !  The facilities have seen better days and are not particularly well looked after. My assistant Miss Lou Rolls when enquiring about the lack of paper in the ladies was I understand, told to bring her own! - nice ! However the antics of the Chuckle Brothers may keep you entertained in between races !! New for 2006 is the  air fence  -  the only one in the premier league. With this, the fairness of the track and the central location,Stoke ought to be hosting some major events - perhaps some attention should be given to the facilities !!

Swindon

One of the longest established tracks and one of the biggest (363m) so a bit of an advantage in the Elite League. I'm told that the size and shape bears a great resemblance to the old Belle Vue track at Hyde Road. Maybe, but the racing can be processional - not particularly unusual at big tracks. Probably the main difference with the old Belle Vue was that they had P.C. and Mort - two riders not known for their gating abilities!
However the circuit is well prepared and regularly graded (every 3 races on our visit). The facilities are good with viewing from stands on the home and back straights with grass banking on the turns. The general presentation is also good with the first race at 7.45 and the meeting likely to be over by 9.20. (This assumes a 10min interval - the interval was cancelled on our visit due to the weather).



Wolverhampton

It has to be said that a lot of other tracks could learn a lot from what goes on here. It is helped by the fact the stadium owners invested heavily in the facilities a few years ago and all the bar and eating areas are all fairly new and modern.  Add to this a well-prepared track along with slick presentation and you have a very good advertisement for the sport.
The track is short and fairly tight and usually makes for good racing - passing is the norm not a rarity. The meetings start with a parade at 7:30pm and the meeting usually concludes at around 9:20 - 9.30pm. There is also likely to be junior racing following the main meeting. Viewing is good from the terracing on the start/finish straight and the bar/restaurant. Unfortunately no other areas are accessible.