Preparing for an Exciting Season Ahead
Preparing for an Exciting Season Ahead
As spring approaches it’s time to reflect on a packed winter season at Poole Cycle Speedway Club. From indoor action to major track renovations and even some international connections, the past few months have been anything but quiet.
Pete Barnes’ Australian Adventure
Club legend Pete Barnes spent the winter soaking up the sun in Australia, reconnecting with old friends and immersing himself in their cycle speedway season. While there he was presented with a Findon Scorpions racing shirt by their captain Ryan Knights for Poole’s Under-10 Rider of the Year, Max Strong. A huge thank you to our friends at Findon.
Pete has a long history with Australian cycle speedway, having played a key role in its international development. His efforts helped modernize the sport including introducing new equipment in Poland. A special shoutout to Tammy Clarke for sharing a fantastic snippet from Spokesman publications highlighting Pete’s contributions.
Major Track Upgrades
Back home, the Poole track has undergone a complete transformation over the winter months. A dedicated team of volunteers tackled some long-standing drainage issues by removing the existing shale, taking out the starting grids, and installing French drains along the start straight. Given that the track sits just above sea level, this upgrade will make a huge difference in managing ground water.
From there, work continued with a brand-new starting grid, a better hardcore foundation, and, in recent weeks, the all-important task of relaying the shale. The incredible support from our volunteers has made all of this possible, and we can’t thank them enough for their time and effort.
Season Kick-Off: April 5th
Final touches—including a complete overhaul of the starting gates will be completed in time for our first home meeting on April 5th. On that day, the Poole Fantasy Floor Comets will kick off their campaign in the first round of the South & South Wales British Youth and Junior League.
We invite everyone to come down and support the future stars of the sport – racing starts at 11 AM!
