Shane's
Day
Posted 19/07/05
Sunday saw the much anticipated and long
awaited Party with Parks, a well deserved testimonial for the man
known as Mr Testimonial, Glasgow's Shane Parker.
The weather was kind - perhaps a bit too kind as Glasgows
water bowser broke down and to say things got rather dusty as the
meeting went on is perhaps a bit of an understatement.
It didn't detract though from a good day well put together.
Racing tends to be incidental at testimonials and in all
honesty it was the same for Shane's day although the quality of the
riders taking part meant that racing was close and fast.
There were still a few racing talking points. How Paul Thorp
stayed on his bike in the fourth heat when he locked up on the fourth
bend I doubt if even he knows. Heat 9 saw Shane storm pass Joe Screen
at the end of the third lap, Harris doing the same to Boyce a lap
earlier in heat 15 and again Harris stealing the victory on the line
in heat 19 when it looked as if Screen had it all sewn up. Heat 17
was one for the home fans featuring four of the current Glasgow team
with reserve Adam Roynon coming in for James Grieves and certainly
not looking out of place.
Prior to the meeting there was a hot lap contest, won of
course by Shane because we are biased after he and Chris Harris posted
the same fastest time. We had wheelies, Joe Screen being the undisputed
champion of that by completing two complete laps. There was jousting
which was hilarious, the competition apparently being between teams
from Australia and the Rest of the World with the Aussies winning
thanks to the rest of the world including centre green announcer Michael
Max in their line up. Even Jim McGregor had a go but the promotion
missed their opportunity for revenge in that one!
Shane is renowned for his almost naked lap at other riders
testimonials and was outdone as a few of the riders competing went
out in their undies in his honour for a couple of laps, Stefan Ekberg
even doing wheelies.
Racejackets were auctioned off at the end of the meeting
and it was then on to the party at night with an excellent sell out
crowd although such is Shane's popularity it could no doubt have been
sold out twice over.
An excellent day followed by a superb night for one of speedway's
nice guys. I only hope he and his family got to enjoy it as much as
the fans did.
Pictures from the day will be posted here
by Tuesday evening.
