January 2007
Along with the New Year comes new hope for some positive news regarding our Licences to recommence work on the project. 2006 ended with us awaiting Melchi愀 return from holiday on Jan 2nd and our chance to present the project to her. For various reasons of availability we don愒 actually get to present until Wednesday the 3rd. Although this is another major step in the right direction we are once again in the lap of the gods and the in the hands of the authorities.
Claires 3 week stay at the site comes to an end and she returns to the UK.
Russ recommences moving the tyres that have bordered the circuit for most of the year to enable us to mark where the safety fence will be erected and enable us to bore the holes for the posts. In total some 4500 tyres have had to be moved and once the safety fence is in place these will then form a secondary barrier between the track and the banks around the circuit.
With the project now with the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) for a week a call to Ricardo finds that he has had no feedback from Melchi.
For two solid weeks since December 30th temperatures have remained mid 70愀 to mid 80愀, perfect concrete setting weather!!!! (second thoughts, don愒 go there!!!!!!!) Bart calls to say that Ricardo has had to go to Madrid but upon his return the following day he will call in at the Town Hall and see if their is any progress. Hear nothing at all the following day.
Jan 12th and Russ goes down to Vera to pay Ricardo a visit. He was unable to stop off at The Town Hall as he was delayed leaving Madrid. He calls Melchi and she says that she has looked the project over and must now run it by Miguel who is the Head of Planning. So much for once the paperwork has been presented we would recieve our provisional go ahead!!!
She will meet with him later that day and Ricardo is to ring back later and see if any amendments are required, if not and he is happy then she will be able to issue us the temporary licence. Could this finally, after much pain and torture be what we have been waiting for???????? NO ! (obviously!), The day ends and once again we hear nothing!
Monday 15th and with tyre shifting completed Russ begins re-weeding the centre green (well, its actually brown but you know what i mean!). He receives a call from Bart telling him that Miguel does indeed have an issue with part of the project and its regarding the lights. We can only assume at this stage that it is the floodlights that he is talking about. Ricardo tells Bart that he will go to see Miguel and see if he can sort the problem.
Tuesday and Wednesday pass with no news and half of yet another month creeps by. The following day Ricardo calls to say that there is actually two issues with the project not one, the second issue is to do with water?
Russ goes down to Vera once again to see if he can find out what the problems are. Unbelievably, the water problem is that we hadn愒 named the company that is going to be emptying the sewerage tank from the toilet block and the changing rooms!!!!!
Ricardo was unaware that this was needed as surely when the time dictates then an appropriate company will be employed to undertake the task. The second issue is that of the floodlights as we suspected. They are concerned that the lights on the back straight will shine onto the motorway and be dangerous to drivers. Russ explains to Ricardo that this will not actually happen as it is imperative that all the light is aimed directly down at the track and the essence of the lights being flood-lighting and not beam light this will not cause a problem. Ricardo says he will work on the amendments over the weekend and his son will take them to the Collegio for stamping on Monday. In a bizarre twist, for some reason the plans included a spectator stand on the bank between the track and the motorway in the strictly no-build zone and nothing whatsoever was said about this, everyday another mystery baffles us, still in turn its a real bonus.
As the hot weather continues Russ decides that as there are far too many weeds to bag and dispose of he will burn them. Completely underestimating the potency of dead dried weeds and petrol (I know!!!!) early one evening he goes about his task only to be engulfed in flames. He is lucky not to be badly burned even though his fleece top actually melted!! and upon telling us he mused that how bizarre it would have looked to people on the motorway seeing a human torch running up and down the middle of the track as if it were a stunt out for a film!!! Is he really safe to be there alone we wonder, and more importantly, if anything serious happened who悲 feed Arai, Diamond, Daytona and Sprocket. the newly acquired baby bunnies!!!! Monday 22nd and the amended project is taken to the collegio for stamping.
Russ pays a visit to our good friend and star concrete producer Simon Brooker. Slowly recovering from a broken collar-bone following a quad bike accident, (see, its not just me沖uss adds) he finds that Si is returning to the UK for 6-8 weeks to undertake a large air-con job so won愒 be available if we ever get the go ahead until his return, bugger!!.
2006 deja vu luckwise is starting to take hold and that is the very last thing any of us want or indeed need.
Wednesday 24th and Ricardo calls Bart to say that the stamped amendments are due back today and we will represent the following morning, although i don愒 think we will be holding our breath just yet!
The following day torrentail rain dominates. This does not bode well for our winter training opportunities in years to come although with proper drainage in place and covers for the track it may not pose too much of a problem. We hear nothing from Ricardo until a call on Friday morning tells us that he cannot collect the project until Monday, and low and behold another week of time wasting passes.
After abating for a few hours the rain recommences with a vengence and major flooding takes place at the site and in Huercal Overa.
To complete the nigthmare Russ awakes Saturday morning to SNOW!! The mountain behind the site is covered from head to toe and parts of the site have a light dusting. Some of our friends it turns out were housebound by over two feet of snow in some areas!! Despite the snow the rain continues throughout the day finally ceasing mid afternoon Sunday. Russ is able to take in the devastation. He can already see what the coming week holds for him!! A puncture on the bowser tanker doesn愒 help but thanks to help from neighbour and allround thoroughly great bloke Johnaton Taylor the wheel is off, repaired and replaced. Once again, hear nothing from Ricardo.
Come Tuesday the outside of the track is firm enough to take the tractor and the water removal operation begins. As this is sitting right where the remainder of the kerb has to be laid we cannot wait for the water to disperse itself and we need the ground to be as firm as possible when we come to start laying. In the time available before darkness descends Russ is able to remove ten 5000 litre loads from the 1st/2nd bend, only to see the level drop just two inches which, bearing in mind at the apex of where the kerb will go the water is actually almost three feet deep!!
Bart calls to say that the amendments STILL havn愒 been stamped off and agrees that this is now beyond a joke.
A full ten hours pumping water from the track the following day sees Russ finally clear the 1st/2nd bend with a further 21 bowser loads making a staggering total of 155,000 litres of water that yet again we cannot store and have to release in the Rambla. He is also able to make a start on the other end, removing a further five loads before nightfall, leaving a probable similar amount to clear the following day, a day that will see Claire return to Camp for one last visit before she embarks on her new job, having left the ineptitude, mismanagement and misdirection of an excuse for a healthcare supplier that she did work for. With a new lease of life her positivity will hopefully return fully having had the lifeblood sucked out of her over the previous eighteen months.
The last day of the month and still no news from Ricardo. He has actually been to the Collegio with the intention of coming away with the paperwork but on both occasions he returned empty-handed and even he is baffled as to why it is taking so long, considering they turned the original project around in three days!
So, another months strolls by and although maybe a small step closer to the all important paperwork we need to proceed construction of the complex we can愒 help but feel a little miffed at the time it takes to get anything done here. The more people we speak to the more they tell us that that is the way it is and you just have to accept it, great!!!! The real problem for us now is that whenever we finally get the go ahead it will mean that following completion of the remaining work neccessary at the site our opening celebration/introduction to speedway meeting will now have to take place during the domestic speedway season. This will hamper severely the availability of the riders that we hoped would take part and with airfares on the rise due to the oncoming summer period it will make the whole meeting a much more expensive occasion for us and restrict the number of spectators visiting for the meeting which will be a history making first ever speedway meeting on the first ever purpose built track in the country.

February 2007
The month begins with Claires arrival as Russ completes the water removal from the 3rd/4th bend. Estimates were correct and he removes another 25.000 litres making 50,000 in total from that end of the track and 205,000 litres (45,000 gallons) in total !!
Another week comes to an end and still we have no stamped project from the College. Ricardo says that he now thinks we should present an ammended copy signed but not stamped to Melchi to allow her to give it a look through while we obtain the stamped ones. Claire returns to the U.K. to start her new job, one that in turn will mean that Russ will be able to stay in Spain and continue the battle against beauracracy. Monday 5th and Russ collects a copy of the ammended project plus covering letter explaining that the stamped projects will be with her at the latest on Wednesday and goes to the Town Hall only to be told that Melchi is on holiday until Thursday!! but we are given an appointment to see her so thats something.
Back to the Town Hall on Thursday 8th only to find out that Ricardo is unable to make the appointment. This is a real blow as he has been dealing with Melchi and would have had the stamped projects. He intends to go later in the day and Russ passes on that information to her.
The following day Russ acquires the help off their agent Peter De Roy and they spend the morning inspecting various Hotels and Hostals with regard to accomodating the riders and officials that are coming over for the opening meeting once the date is set. They also have an extremely productive meeting with one of the construction companies that are tendering for the building of the Changing, Workshop, and Storage building. A deal is also struck with the local Ambulance company (these are all private here in Spain) to provide medical and emergency cover on the day of the meeting and for the future training schools and track hire.
Bad news returns as Russ finds out that friend Jonathan Taylor who will be undertaking the digging of the foundations for the building and Pit area has been involved in a quad accident and has suffered a broken collar-bone along with three ribs!! Are the gods seriously trying to tell us something??!!
The weekend sees Russ go off to the Cartagena Race Circuit with friends Ian and Zoe Waine. Ian is a former UK Supersport rider and also took part in the 600cc Andalucian Championships in 2006. We meet up with one of his very close friends, World Superbike rider Dean Ellison who is testing his new Ducati at the circuit. In discussion over lunch he expresses great interest in what we are trying to do and says that he and brother who this year is racing in the American Superbike series very much look forward to coming over at the end of the year to have a go at speedway after coming close a couple of years ago at Sheffield only to be beaten by the weather, (theres a surprise!!)
The following day its back to the serious business in hand and Ricardo hears nothing after delivering the projects last Thursday. Russ goes to Vera to see Ricardo to find that Melchi not only needs the paper copies of the project but also an electronic copy on CD. He is currently unable to download this as the computer system at the College has crashed and is down. Yet again this is just typical of our luck, what price a break, however tiny !!!! The week comes to an end, Friday 16th and another half month passes. Bart calls to say that Ricardo at last has the electronic copies needed and has forwarded to Melchi at the Town Hall. He hears back that she is happy with the ammendments and only has to run it by the Mayor on Monday morning and he can go and collect the provisional licence that we have been so desperately waiting for, roll on Monday. For once, excitement builds for us all but the weekend drags as if on purpose just to make us suffer even more !! Finally Monday comes, but also goes and Russ hears nothing. A call to Ricardo the following morning finds him still waiting to hear from Melchi.
Some fantastic news does come however from Linda at STRA. She has conferred with co-organizer Steve Cook and they have been able to rearrange the meeting that was the same weekend as our prefferred date which allows us to start making plans and talking to the riders that we wish to come and ride at the opener. This means the absolute world to all of us involved and our gratitude to Linda and Steve is unabounded, huge thanks to you both.
The week creeps on and Bart presses Ricardo for some news. He contacts the Town Hall and is told that we will definately have our Licence by the weekend. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday all pass with no news until Bart calls Russ to say that he has received a call from Ricardo and must go there as soon as possible. This call comes at seven-thirty in the evening and Russ is puzzled!
Bart calls again some time later to say that, and now Russ is more baffled than ever (not difficult i know!!, Ed) Ricardo now has all the stamped paper copies of the project and the electronic copies and that he must present them on Monday morning to Melchi !!!!!! Upon this news we are now questioning all that we have been told over the last couple of weeks and wonder how much of it has been true.
Over the weekend Russ plays carpenter, making up frames for marking out where the safety fence support posts are going to go along with others for doing various other jobs.
Monday 26th and Russ along with Bart go to present the projects. One of Melchi愀 assistants looks over them along with the application forms and tells them that she can愒 accept them as there is numerous bits of paperwork not with them. These are passport copies, copies of the deeds to the land and registrtions for the business and social security. It seems that we have been so preoccupied with the project itself, that these items were overlooked. Russ shoots off to frantically photocopy the required documents while Bart speaks to the Gestoria (solicitors) in Town that David his boss uses to see if they can help. He gets good feedback and upon Russ愀 return the wheels are set in motion to get these last few bits and pieces sorted.
Had we been made aware of these earlier this could have so easily have already been done, but too late for that now, although we do wonder what other 塶es愒he Town Hall will have up its sleeve for us once we扉e got all this together!!� Cristobal from Gestoria Ballesta calls Bart to say that he will take the whole thing over now including the final presentation. He takes Russ to various departments of Social Security and Land Registry to obtain the appropriate documentaion and registration numbers to put together with the applications and projects. The biggest problem they encounter is what code of work they are going to register Russ in but after much deliberation they settle for Teacher !!!
This done Russ speeds to the showroom in Vera where he is working for the next two days while David and Bart go to Madrid in search of more cars.
On Wednesday 28th another month comes to an end and we still have no licence to recommence work. Claire and Russ speak at length about the opening meeting and with the date set take the biggest gamble of the project so far and book the flights for the invited riders due to the prices and seats available. Only one of the invited riders is unable to make it and they are extremely pleased with the response they receive. A couple of the acceptances are subject to final confirmation due to individual situations but on the whole a fantastic result for us.
Russ awaits news from Cristobal regarding presenting all the paperwork and hears that it will take place the following day March 1st. With only eleven weeks to the proposed opening time has NEVER been more of the essence and we enter month sixteen of being on stop needing desperately to get the go ahead more than ever before.

March 2007
It𠏋 the first day of the month and as promised Cristobel has collated all the necessary paperwork and he and Russ make for the Town Hall to present the hopefully completed project. This time the project is accepted as complete, with all associated additions and changes. Momentary elation turns to dismay as upon enquiring about the long elusive provisional work licence they are told that there is no such thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Russ is understandably stunned as that, more than anything is what they have been working towards. He immediately contacts Bart who calls the Town Hall, and is told that there is no such thing as a provisional licence on paper, this is done as a favor by the Mayor and upon questioning we can refer the Police back to him should he give us the go-ahead. An appointment is made for the following week (the 8th), so once again we wait.
Claire𠏋 best friend Morag arrives for a short break and offers her assistance with the management of the project as an objective observer, this proves invaluable as sometimes you can be too close to something to see the obvious.
Things are going well but trouble and disaster is never far away as we have found during our time here. After going out for an hour or so on the Sunday afternoon Russ and Morag return to find that the Bunnys that have kept Russ𠏋 sanity have been attacked by a dog/dogs and are gone. The hutches are completely wrecked and there is no sign of any of them. The babies that one of them, Arai, gave birth to just six days before survive although two of the six are to die later that day. Russ is distraught beyond belief and by the grace of god Morag was there or it may just have been the final straw for him and this could be a very different story altogether. It is now down to him to try and hand rear the babies but information on a reliable rabbit website gives more or less no chance whatsoever of success.
Tuesday 7th and more bad news, David calls to say that Bart will be unable to make tomorrows meeting with the Mayor, however, another call sometime later from Bart tells Russ that the Town Hall have cancelled the meeting and have rescheduled it for a week later, and yet another week goes begging.
Wednesday 15th, Russ meets Bart at the Town Hall, could this be it at last we wonder? With all the paperwork now in order and the Mayors support throughout surely this is what we𠐔e all been waiting for. They sit waiting for almost an hour and only when Miguel Bertrand, Head of Planning comes to speak to the Mayor and asks Bart what they are there for something actually happens. He speaks to the Mayor and tells them that he has been told to re-look through the entire project and if there are no other problems we will get an answer the following day. They return the following day only to find that Miguel has had to go to Almeria and not only won㦙 return that day as it is Bank Holiday Thursday afternoon (the day of the old apparently!!!) but is also on holiday the following day so we will have to wait until Monday and time slips away even more.
One by one the babies die despite Russ𠏋 best efforts until only one remains. A foster mum is bought to hopefully allow babies to bond, however the following day one of the original four is spotted out the back of Russ𠏋 home and with a bit of coaxing with treats is caught and brought home.
Having no choice, the remaining baby is put with the other two and they take to him straight away. He begins eating hay and pellets and all looks good however, Daytona𠏋 attempts at cleaning him repeatedly end up with him being knocked over!
Claire arrives for a weekend catch up and is amazed at what Russ has achieved with the little one. They talk at length about what we now have the possibility of achieving with regard to the Opening meeting as time ticks rapidly by. With the changing/shower/workshop complex now not a possibility they must turn there attentions to temporary fixtures for the day.
At Bart𠏋 suggestion we contact a friend of his, Hilario Sanchez. Bart thinks he has what it takes with to his connections in town to get us what we so desperately need. A keen bike enthusiast he is more than willing to help and only wishes he had come on board much earlier. He immediately sets up a meeting with Miguel and within a day we have a list of points that need addressing within the project. Russ takes the list to Ricardo and explains that time is very much of the essence now and he must sort these problems while Miguel looks through the second half of the project. The meeting does however have a silver lining as on the very day March 19th, two months to the opening meeting he gives us verbal permission to recommence work at the site but only on the condition that the work is not completed in the next few days while the problems are being sorted, WE WISH!!!!!
Russ spends the evening ringing around passing on the fantastic news and begs for anyone𠏋 help that can manage a few days with us. It is now a mammoth task, it always was going to be but now its time for all those that have talked repeatedly of there undying support for us to stand up and be counted as we have never needed there help more than now. He speaks to our good friend Becky Harris, current licensee of our local Bar/Restaurant to talk of arrangements for the evening of the 19th only to be brought back down to earth when he𠏋 told that she is pulling the plug due to the unreasonable behavior of the owner.
Buzzing with positvity at last Russ begins work at the site only to be devastated once more when he wakes one morning to find his remaining baby bunny dead at just four weeks old, the rollercoaster ride continues.
Russ gets good news from Hilario that Miguel has found no more problems with the project so once Ricardo has sorted the amendments we should be well on our way to getting our licences.
Russ begins marking the line where the posts will go for the track safety fence and clears all of the dirt from the drainage gulleys, using this to make good the rivulets that had been created during the last lot of torrential rain. He also begins putting dirt down on track and in just one day manages to lay over 75 tonnes. At long last there is an air of optimism around the site and this is heightened when Russ heads north to Torrevieja for a meeting with a television company. The meeting is extremely positive and the company is very keen to be involved. He returns home to talk the deal through with Claire and they both in turn seek the advice of close friend and advisor Morag Inglis.
They all agree that the deal is a good one and Russ returns the following day to sign the deal that will involve appearances on their main show, a feature on what we are bringing to the Costa𠏋, a more in depth 40 minute feature, to be filmed on the opening day and production of an advert that will go out through June, July and August to their 250,000 viewers from Barcelona in the North to Malaga in the South.
Making the most of a lull in the showers and to save some time Russ makes the journey by bike however on the return journey just 6-7 miles from home rounds a corner on the motorway and rides headlong into a blanket hailstorm.
At around 120 mph and with visibility down to nil for once the lap of the gods is kind and he is able to slow and despite being sandblasted with pieces of ice the size of grapes he makes it home in one piece. The storm lasts the rest of the day, the hail finally abating leaving torrential rain that lasts until the following lunchtime. When he is finally able to go outside he sees that almost all of his work that week has been washed away and the track is once again under water, this time by far the worst to date.
We wonder once again if the gods are trying to tell us something, that said (and as per usual!!) we choose not to listen if they are and press on. The month comes to an end and Russ begins the torturous task of sucking the water of the track and once again pumping it away down one of the Rambla𠏋.
He begins at 2pm on the Thursday afternoon working non-stop through until 9pm on the Friday night. Thirty one hours, 60 bowser loads off the 1st/2nd bend, 15 bowser loads off the 3rd/4th bend and an incredible total of 375,000 litres of water or even more disturbing almost 1400 Euros worth of water pumped away as we have nowhere to store it.
With Russ𠏋 spirits again broken Claire flies in for the weekend to lend support and take stock. Once again she is devastated by the damage the storm has caused. This latest blow now puts unbelievable pressure on the team as we work hard towards the opening and is a setback that we could very much have done without.

April 2007
April starts with the receipt of our terms and conditions from the Carreteras. This a really positive start to a new month as it is their go ahead for us to do what we need to as long as we adhere to the conditions they have laid down. There are twenty-seven in total but include some extremely baffling ones such as "throughout construction of the project we must under no circumstances leave any building materials on the motorway overnight!!!" (does that mean we can during the day?????) Bart runs through them with Russ and both are happy that they include nothing obstructive or detrimental.
Russ visits Ricardo to see if there is any progress with the project rectifications only to find out that he is still working on them. It is very dissapointing as he knows how urgent this is as Hilario had badgered Miguel Bertrand at the Town Hall to go through the project as quickly as he could now once again our engineer is slowing things down.
A second letter received from Carreteras tells us that the water deposit that we dug out on the corner piece of land back in 2005 must be filled in within ten days or we will be liable to a fine of up to 10,000 Euros. Russ immediately contacts friend and neighbour Jonathan Taylor to see if he will come and do the necessary only to find that his JCB has been transported to the South Coast where he will be working for the next month or so. This is now a double nightmare as, with our own JCB not being reliable enough to do the job ourselves we will have to find someone else to come and fill the hole (some 25m x 12m x 3m deep!) but our plans for getting dirt down on the track in layers to build up to a raceable height for the meeting now looks to have hit the buffers.
Jonathan assures us he will do everything possible to get finished and back to work for us as soon as he can. He also recommends someone he knows that could do the hole for us. He sets up a meeting at his daughter Laura愀 bar in nearby Urcal and within 24 hours the hole is filled and we can rest easy.
Without Jonathans help throughout the two years here we would have struggled big time and be nowhere near as far down the road in construction as we are, we are indebted to you Jon.
Another side to the paperwork that is required for us to operate is an affiliation to the Andalucian Motorcycle Federation. To obtain some help with this Russ makes the trip to the Guadix Road Race Circuit near Granada to speak to circuit owner Clive Greenhalgh. Clive, a very good friend of our friend and touring car racer David Hardwick offered any help he can when Russ and Claire met him last year while watching David in action at the track. The meeting is an extremely positive and beneficial one during which Clive makes a call to the Federation secretary to find out exactly what we need to do and have in place for not only affiliation but the opening meeting as well. They tell him that a member of the Federation lives and works in nearby Vera (where David has his showroom and Bart works) and they will get him to contact us to set up a meeting to talk through all the relevent details.
Claire transfers the first payment to Sol Productions so there is definately no turning back now. With such a large viewing audience over such a vast part of the country we feel very much that this outlay will have a fantastic effect on the awareness of what we are trying to do and offer to all.
To continue work on the circuit Russ hires a dumper truck to enable him to spend more time shifting materials around the site as is not possible with the JCB due to the overhaeting problems. He is also able to start collecting the large stones that will sit in the drainage gulley behind the kerb.
Claire arrives at the site for Easter. Her and Russ get stuck into marking out the pits base straight away and begin laying the hardcore on which the concrete will be layed. Good Friday and they load up a bike and head north to Torrevieja to do some filming for a slot called 愀o who am I� that goes out on their flagship magazine show. The weather is not good but after meeting with the film crew they head out to the site they have chosen for Russ to ride only to find that it is a site that has been ploughed and levelled ready for planting and that he would have had to have ridden around a huge electricity pylon!!!! Though unsuitable the rain does not abait and the idea is scrapped.

Claire has put in a tremendous amount of time and effort on posters and the programmes for the meeting. Russ is gobsmacked at what she has achieved are now just reliant on feedback from the riders involved to complete them.
As she returns to England she is replaced by good friend Phil Hindley, one of the many many friends the couple made through the Southern Track Riders Association. Without doubt THE best amateur speedway club in the world today and something both Claire and Russ can say they have been very proud to be a part of. Able to continue the momentum of the weekend the pair crack straight on and begin the mammoth task of borring the hole around the edge of the track where the fence posts will be concreted into. With traces of the perimeter line that Russ marked and was almost completely washed away in the storm the boys are able to mark where the holes are to be borred using 愒he special cross of Antioch� that Russ made some weeks ago. This was to be a heavy cross for Phil to bear!! (see gallery) We receive our invoice from Carreteras for their Informe (approval certificate) however we still have no rectifications from Ricardo and Russ is starting to get the hump. We are now some two and a half months on from presenting the project and following Ricardo愀 guestimate that the whole thing should be through in 3-4 months back in July last year maybe understandably so.
Russ receives confirmation from our building material suppliers in Albox that they wish to have an advertising banner at the track for the opening meeting. Although in most peoples eyes this would seem most trivial it finally signifys to all involved a gesture of intent to put money into the project and serves as a timely boost to moral.
The boys begin hole-borring. With half the site now some three metres lower than its original height and the other being made up of the earth that was dug from it it is by no means an easy process. At last, the hole borer lent to us by Buster Chapman at Kings Lynn has come into its own and with much gratitude to him. Should they have had to undertake the task with a hand held borer Russ is quite convinced that they would both be dead by now having been thrown violently when the machine hit stones and snatched. Over three days the 150 holes are borred, tidied and cleared of loose material ready for concreting. Having someone like Phil to workwith has been such a bonus for Russ although how he has not got gills, fins and a tail with the amount of fish he eats is only a mystery!!
Monday 16th and Gina and Peter from Sol Production visit the site to film the 巽o who am I slot� The boys are able to make the 3rd/4th bend rideable to get the footage they require and follow that up with an interview. All concerned are pleased with what they get so we look forward to seeing how it comes over when it goes on air.
Having to return to the UK and back to work Russ drops Phil at Alicante Airport and shoots across town to film a small four minute slot at the TV studios. This too goes well and all concerned are happy.
Two weeks on from the meeting with Clive Greenhalgh and we have still yet to hear from Pepe in Vera. Bart contacts a friend of his who works with him to try and speed the process up. We also send an e-mail to the Presidente of the Federac甐n requesting his help and advice.
Russ visits Ricardo once more. He is given two more copies of the still incomplete project. One for the Carreteras (Now not needed!) and the other for the Ramblas people. This department have jurisdiction over all land in a vicinity of these dry river beds of which our land has two. He also gives him a copy of the annexe to the project with all the rectifications. Russ heads st6raight back to Huercal to see Hilario but while waiting for him at his office he notices that the annexe has not been stamped by the Collegio in Almeria so is basically worthless. Hilario arrives and understandably is not happy. Miguel at the Town Hall has contacted him a couple of times to find out what is happening and it puts him in an awkward situation trying to explain and reflects badly on not only him but us as well. With regard to the Ramblas, they visit the Town Hall (avoiding Miguel!!) to find out where these people are based and to find out what we need to do with the project.
Two telephone calls later and we have a meeting booked with the Head of Ramblas in Almeria for the Wednesday 18th. Two days later and Russ and Hilario meet up with Civil Engineer Alberto in Almeria and go to the meeting. It turns out to be a bitter/sweet one as yet another bombshell is dropped on us. It appears that our project is of no interest to them and they must do a survry of their own. This then has to be assessed and go up on the wall of the building for four weeks, YES; FOUR WEEKS!!!!!!! Once it has run its course and there is no objections it can be signed off and sent to Malaga for stamping, the whole process taking approximately eight weeks when we have only a month and a day to opening. Our only option is to ask the Head of Ramblas if he would give us his blessing to go-ahead with the meeting if we got the approval of the Town Hall. To our delight he says that he has no problem with us doing that whatsoever so Russ and Hilario speed back to the Town Hall only to find that Miguel and the Mayor are both out and not back until Friday.
Russ visits Ricardo once more to have it out with him as to why we haven愒 got the correct paperwork only to be met at the shop by his brother who proceeds to hand him four fully stamped annexes (talk about saved by the bell!!!) Russ hot foots to Hilario who immediately takes the three copies needed by Melchi to go with the Project. At last, everything has now been presented.
D-Day comes and Russ meets up with Hilario and Jaime his father and a very very good friend of the Mayors for the meeting. It has a positive outcome as Alcalde Collardo says that as long as all of our paperwork at the Town Hall is correct, (which thankfully it now was at last!) and that the Ramblas survey has been done, presented and that he can call the Head of Ramblas and get confirmation that he does not forsee any problems then he will sign off our permissions for the meeting and will be happy to come and open the Circuit and do a speech. YE-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
Work continues at the site with a new air of positivity. Bob Coles comes down to help Russ set up the shuttering for the pits base. With land levels being so all over the shop they work from one corner and find that a considerable amount more of hardcore will be needed before concreting.
April 23rd and its the first appearence on Sol Today. All comes over really well despite Ed Wallace, one of the presenters introducing Russ as Graham Paine!!!! (He has apologised profusely since; sorry Ed!) Russ continues work on the pits base as Claire continues work on the programmes and advertising as well as organising travel and accomodation arrangements. (all while holding down a demanding full-time job!!!)
April 24th and a massive day for the project. Russ has a deluge of help from arrive England. More good friends from Southern Track Riders, Stevie Cook, Dave Smith and returnee 'El Sid' Higgins fly in to Murcia while earlier in the day Russ collected former rider Paul Regan from Alicante. Paul contacted Claire after seeing our plea for help in the Speedway Star and offered his services. Times like this help soften the blow of being repeatedly let down by people we liked to think of as friends and who promised much but when it came to the crunch were nowhere to be seen. We have made a very good friend in Paul and hopefully he has in us and we look forward to him returning for a spin round once things are complete.
Day one with our massive workforce. Sid and Russ complete the shuttering of the pits in readiness for the following days concrete delivery. Paul, Steve and Dave prepare the plastic tubes that will form the uprights for the spectator barrier that we have to put in place and also prepare the plastic tubes that will form the sleeves for the safety fence posts. During this work Russ receives an urgent call from Hilario and he heads into Town straight away to find out what the problem is. The news could not be worse and our whole world falls down around his ears. Hilario tells him that in a meeting with the Mayor earlier that day the Mayor informed him that he would not be able to honour his word to back our opening as he had been strongly advised that with Mayoral elections just five days later it would not be a politically smart move to be seen to be condoning and taking part in something that can be classed as technically illegal due to incomplete paperwork. He is however happy for us to go-ahead with the meeting with us taking full responsibility on the day. Hilario was quick to point out that although possible with all the publicity and activity on the day it would only be a matter of time before the police turned up wanting to see the appropriate paperwork and upon being unable to produce this they would close the whole thing down straight away. Shellshocked is not a word we use lightly but for all of us involved in the project it doesn't even scratch the surface of how we all feel. Not only had we got within touching distance of the elusive carrot at the end of the stick but Russ firmly believes he was close enough to actually give it a lick!!!
Hilario calls Deportes in Almeria, (the government department for Sport and Tourism) they tell him that our best bet is to contact the Motorcycle Federation in Seville and try to obtain their support and backing. Russ explains to Hilario that we have made numerous attempts to get help from the Federation but have so far struggled, although a reply from the Presidente to our e-mail a few days previous told us that our form of bike racing does already exist in Andalucia although it goes under the guise of dirt-track racing. Further investigation into this has so far drawn a blank so we are none the wiser. Hilario speaks to the Federation secretary who sounds very interested and assures us that they will do whatever they can to help. This is all well and good but he also informs us that as of today Seville is now on fiesta (holiday) for a week!!! so nothing can be done until next thursday May 3rd. Never ever before have not needed such a delay with the meeting only just over three weeks away, but as is almost usual now it is out of our hands and we must cling on to the faintest of hopes with both hands.
Russ returns to the site to break the news to the boys. His dad has also arrived to lend a valuable hand with a full lorry load of concrete arriving the following morning. All are devastated but try to remain positive for Russ愀 sake and to avoid him grabbing a length of rope and heading of to the nearest tree!!
Concrete arrives bang on time and the gang along with our very own concretemeister Bob Coles we begin laying two of the four slabs that will form the pits base. All goes well and the bases look fantastic while the rest of the concrete is put in the first twenty-six of the holes for the safety fence posts. The boys spend the rest of the day flat out mixing a continual flow of concrete (Cookie, Sid and Paul on mixers) while Russ愀 dad transports it via JCB around the track where Dave and Russ continue to fill the holes around the track,place the posts in and level once concrete has become firm. This continues the following day and by Friday lunchtime only twelve holes remain unfilled and the STR boys prepare for their return to the UK.
The following day Paul too returns to the UK in a swap with Claire who arrives at Alicante as Paul is in the queue The majority of the weekend is spent going over the plans for the 19th however at the back of our minds we all know that a decision has to be made whether to proceed and publicise on a massive scale or take the step we never thought we悲 have to and pull the plug severing our lifeline to the future of the project. With costs for the meeting increasing rapidly we need a substantial crowd to allow us to cover our costs and have the finances left over to finish work at the site and open for business.
Claires visit lasts only one night but they get a huge amount done and sorted. Travel, transfers and accomodation is now all arranged and just the paperwork from the Federation is needed.
Monday April 30th and Russ visits Hilario. He tells Russ that the President of the Andaluician Federation is contacting the President of the National Federation in Madrid who in turn will contact the President of the European Federation for his blessing. Under there guidance and through the Cuevas de Almanzorra Moto Club we can run the meeting as we had hoped. However, we decide that we can only give them until two weekends before the meeting to have the paperwork in place or we cannot afford to take the chance and proceed with the massive publicity and awareness campaign only to try and rescind it shortly after. With only two weeks available its never going to do the meeting justice but nonetheless we have to take it to the wire.
Russ also meets with Ken Wildsmith, David Hardwicks neighbour to go through the designs for the banners that people wish to have up on the opening day at the circuit. The drafts, our own logo especially look fantastic and he heads off back England the following day to get the ball rolling, hopefully returning with them in a week or so愀 time.
The month comes to an end with us receiving the invoices from the Town Hall for our projects. Just under 3,000 Euros for our Building and Land-Movement Licences and also our Opening Licence. Although almost a thousand Euros over what we had been lead to believe it would be it now signifys that as far as they are concerned all our paperwork is now correct and complete, however the actual Licences will not be released until the Informe has been received from the Ramblas Department. We all now hold our breath and pray for the unthinkable not to happen and get a negative response from Ramblas.
This is a bizarre possibility as we are told that they will put all the details of their study into a computer that can forecast up to five hundred years ahead and if, god forbid, they see that in the year 2388 it is going to rain non stop for a whole week and we will be flooded out then they will decline our application despite the fact that none of us will be around to be worried!!
If we扉e said it once we扉e said it a hundred times "welcome to Spain"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May 2007
May begins, Russ is on his own once again and the realisation that we are fighting a losing battle weighs heavy at the site. He makes a start on unshuttering the first two slabs that will make up the base for the pits. The hardcore is re-levelled in the two remaining sections and re-inforcing mesh is laid, ready for the second concrete delivery the following day.
May 2nd and a plea for help comes up trumps when good friends Becky Harris and David Ormerod along with Russ𠏋 Rock, Bob Coles and Dave, one of his friends arrive bright and early in readiness for the second delivery of concrete. It𠏋 a shame that the same can㦙 be said about the lorry itself as it arrives over an hour late, slightly baffling when its only come from 4km up the road!!! It also doesn㦙 help that it𠏋 raining and quite heavily so. Despite the conditions the team do the very best they can completing the pits base and using the remaining concrete to fill the few remaining safety fence post holes, job done!!! However, the day is to turn very very sour as after cleaning up all the tools they had been using and just as Bob and Dave were leaving, our friend David collapses, hitting his head and gashing it on his way down. The three boys rush to David� aid and are able to get him comfortable although somewhat dazed. After a few minutes he is coherent and they get him up off the floor and into a chair. After a few more minutes he slumps forward, goes into unconsciousness and stops breathing. Bob immediately begins CPR and gets David breathing once again. An ambulance is called and within minutes they arrive and whisk David off to Hospital. We can only pray for his speedy recovery as he has played a major part in keeping Russ𠏋 moral going, being a regular and very interested visitor to the site, speedway being one of his main passions. Indeed he had a few outings himself at the now defunct Aldershot Circuit in his younger days so is very much looking to having a track on his doorstep.
Later that day Jaros and Dariusz, the guys that carried out all the original groundwork arrive at the site to re-mark the ground levels to enable Russ to re-plot the heights for the second half of the kerb that will eventually form the inside line.
There is no call from the Hospital, Russ goes up and is told that David has been transferred to the main Hospital in Almeria for a scan. Whilst there he arrives back and is in good spirits. The Hospital keep him in for observation due to the bang on the head and after some considerable wait he is taken up to a ward and made comfortable.
Russ returns to the Hospital the following day only to find that after a bad turn in the night David has been transferred again to Almeria. He rallies some very much needed fluent Spanish speaking support in the form of one of David𠏋 neighbours and they set off for Almeria𠏋 Torrecardenas Hospital, the largest of Almeria𠏋 hospitals consisting of some 4000 beds !! They are directed to the intensive care unit of the Hospital where they are asked to sign a consent form enabling them to perform an extremely serious operation on their friend. With time very much of the essence and David𠏋 ex-wife and son arriving the following day consent is given and he is taken away almost instantly to theatre. The operation is a success and it is now down to David to recover at his own pace and get back on his feet.
Hilario contacts Russ to say that he has heard back from the President of the Andalucian Motorcycle Federation saying that he has spoken to the President of the National Federation who will do what ever he can to help and is currently trying to speak to the President of the European Federation for his blessing. He also says that the National President is extremely excited about the prospect of having speedway again in Spain and hopes that the project will take off and develop a hot bed of national talent that will go on to represent the country in the future.
We receive the drafts of the advertising banners from Ken Wildsmith and are very impressed, however wherever there is good news there is usually some bad lurking just around the corner. Russ receives a call from the co-founder of Speedway Amigos Europe, Alan Brett who tells him that the trophy they have ordered and have had engraved to be presented at the meeting has been stolen from the shop, it could only happen to us !!!
Never needed more than now, Russ𠏋 spirits are lifted by cousin Mark Dutnall who flies in for a week to lend a hand with construction. A former builder his help at the site couldn㦙 be more appreciated. They make a start on the spectator barrier that will run around the bank from the fourth bend along the start straight and right around to the exit of the second bend. The holes are bored and cleared of loose dirt ready for concreting the uprights in.
Claire sends over proofs of the posters for the meeting and first draft of the programmes, they all look superb and are given the thumbs up.
D-Day weekend for news from the Federation passes without hearing a thing, there is now only two weeks until the opening meeting and hopes of it actually happening are fading fast. Claire and Russ discuss the options and agree to wait until Monday to speak to Hilario and see if he can extract any news from the President of the Federation. The news later that day from Hilario is not good, the National President has been unable to contact the European President to sanction the meeting and so with only twelve days to go the decision is taken to pull the plug on the opening being left with no other sensible alternative. This is by far the bitterest pill we𠐔e had to swallow on this rollercoaster journey and as news goes out to all those concerned and involved everyone is stunned. Almost everyone we speak to is understanding and in full support of the decision we have had to take, however, and I suppose as is always the case, some people state that they are particularly unimpressed at the cancellation as they had put themselves out to be there!!! Press releases are drafted, posted on the internet and forwarded to the Speedway Star.
Just to rub even more salt into an already raw wound, Hilario calls Russ two days later (Weds 9th) to say that at last he has heard back from the Andalucian President, everything is sorted and we will have all the paperwork we need by the following Monday !!!!! Russ breaks the news and he too is devastated but fully understands.
Despite the disappointment work continues and the third delivery of concrete arrives to fill the holes that will house the uprights for the spectator barrier. The driver is happy to drive the lorry along the lines of holes, filling them to our commands, something that just wouldn㦙 happen in England and is a job easily completed. The posts are placed in and levelled just leaving the top bar to be put in place once the concrete has set.
Russ and Mark visit David in Hospital and although the operation was successful and he is stable he is still unconscious. They return to the site and begin filling the uprights, start positioning the top bar and securing it.
The following day they complete the barrier and head north to Torrevieja for a meeting with Sol Productions. Like the rest of us, Gina Marks, the owner and producer of the company is devasted but says its not a problem for them to put our plans on hold for the time being and invited Russ to appear on their magazine show to explain what has happened. This is Mark𠏋 last day and the following morning he returns to England and is replaced on site by Claire. The two are joined the following day by Russ𠏋 daughter Lauren.
Out of the blue they receive a phone call from the shop where our main generator has been for the past year to say that its finally finished, how𠏋 that for service !!
The week is just a continual stream of phone calls from the riders that we had booked and paid for to ride in the meeting saying that they won㦙 even be coming over, thanks for your support guys. Some though do have legitimate reasons and would rather change the flights and come out later for longer to help with the work on site.
Claire, Lauren and Russ head back up to Torrevieja to film the slot for Sol Today. While there they meet up with friend and ex-Canterbury rider Jake Rennison who introduces them to a friend of his who is interested in helping us in our search for sponsorship and advertising. Katherine has lots to offer and an impressive list of contacts so we very much look forward to working with her.
Upon returning to the site, they are met by Dingle Brown, his son Simon and one of Russ𠏋 ex-team mates at Rye House and Wimbledon Jonathan Stevens who had made the trip originally for the meeting. Dingle is impressed with what we have achieved and the plans we have going forward. He more than many knows how hard it is to create and run a speedway, his latest experience at Wimbledon being a particularly bitter and fruitless one.
Our Rambla engineer, Alberto is secured to produce the study and the deposit paid. This should take three to four weeks and will be the final piece of paperwork needed to obtain our necessary licences.
Claire𠏋 best friend Morag Inglis arrives on the 17th to lend both a hand and some moral support. The shuttering is removed from the rest of the pits base and although the laying of the second half of it was hampered by rain we are pleased with the final result.
Claire and Russ take a trip to see David in Almeria, pleasingly he is conscious however, still very poorly.
The weekend that would have seen the opening of the track arrives and some of our very best friends still make the trip out to be with us. Russ and Lauren go to Almeria airport to meet Referee Paul Carrington and his friend and ex-Ipswich Clerk of the Course Keith Barton, Julie, Rob, Matt and David Tutton and one of Russ𠏋 Arena Essex team mates from their 1987 championship winning side Graham 𣁽rubby� Wilson and his family. Also on the flight for a quick return visit are cousins Mark and Jo Dutnall and son Josh. This really is a massive boost for the team when they are at their lowest following the massive disappointment.
A good night is had in Town which much catching up done, especially as it𠏋 the first time Russ has seen Graham for twenty years.
SATURDAY MAY 19th, the day that was to open the door to our future. With a restocked workforce keen to get stuck in it𠏋 a day of activity at the site. Friend, saviour and neighbour Jonathan Taylor spends the day putting around two hundred tonnes of dirt down on the track while Rob Tutton starts work on Russ𠏋 sick van. The original prognosis that a new engine is needed proved wrong as Rob uses his expertise and sorts the problem. The job is almost completed until a trip to the local Ford dealership in nearby Lorca finds that the parts department doesn㦙 open on a Saturday !! More frustration.
As the girls continue to prepare for the evening get together the boys crack on with the kerb laying which was halted when the decision was taken to pull the plug. With what cement we had left on site we are able to lay almost 15 metres/51 feet of kerbing and start rounding the first bend.
All are joined in the evening by Bob and Di Coles, their daughter Mel, husband and ex-grasser Mark and family. Also Exeter legend Jack Gerran and wife, Dingle, Simon and Jonathan, and Claire and Russ𠏋 former next door neighbours back in England Mike and Maddy Froud who left the UK just before Russ and now have a business in nearby Sorbas. An absolutely brilliant night is had by all and goes on well into the early morning, on behalf of all of us involved in the project we thank you all very very much for your support, it meant the absolute world to us.
Serious discussions take place the following day as to where we go from here. We take on board a lot of views offered by our friends and further talks later in the week see us all agree that we desperately want to continue and see our dream become a reality. A serious financial input will be needed to enable this to happen as a lot of money was invested and lost in the opening and was to provide the finances to take the project on to opening for training etc. One example of this was Easyjet𠏋 lack of interest in helping us reschedule the twenty-two seats booked for the riders etc with an attitude of 𠀾se em or lose em!!!�, bye-bye two grand!
Morag, Claire and Lauren return to the UK one-by-one during the following week and Russ begins dragging out and levelling the dirt layed by Jonathan.
The 騌ol Today� interview goes out and comes over really well. We get some good and encouraging feedback along with further messages of support.
Good friends Julie and Rob Tutton return to complete work on the van and undertake a major overhaul on the somewhat troublesome JCB. By the end of the weekend it is up and running, not overheating and steering on demand, not when it feels like it! A huge thanks to those guys. With the newly refurbished machine Russ is able to lay tonnes of shale to mix with the dirt that will form another major layer on the track as we head towards its completion.
The month ends with Russ spending two days removing stones from the dirt before watering and tyre packing it through the night to avoid it drying out too quick.

June 2007
The first weekend of June following an illness laying Russ low, sees the final stone removal and grading of the track ready for the soaking. Due to the time of year it is after nine pm before he is able to start watering. He puts down 25,000 litres and leaves to part dry before commencing tyre packing around 1am. This continues through till around 4.30 when he is able to hit his bed for a well earned rest. The result later that day is a track very much good enough to be ridden and raced on (the chance would be a fine thing!!!) A few more layers like that and we will all be very pleased.
Out of the blue Russ receives a call from bike magazine TWO (Two Wheels Only) asking for some information on the project and a photograph that they can use in an upcoming feature to be called 騻he 50 Greatest Motorcycle Experiences Ever� this is a very timely shot in the arm for all involved and we look forward to its publication in August.
Russ receives a call from Maria, David Ormerod𠏋 next door neighbour to say that he has taken a turn for the worse and that it would be a good idea for us to go down to see him asap. This takes Russ very much by surprise as on his last visit he seemed truly on the mend and in good spirits. The conversation is cut short so he takes a trip up to see them and make the necessary arrangements to go to the hospital. On arrival at the house Angus, Maria𠏋 husband says she is on the phone to David𠏋 ex-wife. Upon finishing the call she tells them unfortunately David passed away at two-thirty that afternoon. We are all stunned and upset by the news, especially as we had all fought so hard to help him and he will be sorely missed.
His funeral takes place on Saturday June 9th and many friends and former colleagues turn out to pay their respects.
All the time this has been going on Russ has had to also contend with personal problems, a situation that has arisen out of his readiness to help out others that has now turned round and bitten him. Struggling to cope with all that𠏋 going on and fearing for his safety he returns to the UK following a manic day of packing, house clearing and organising the animals. His time back in England is well spent catching up with friends and family. He also attends one of the Southern Track Riders meetings featuring long time buddy Graham Wilson, who𠏋 taken to the track again after over fifteen years.
Towards the end of the month Russ returns to Spain. The situation he left behind not only awaits him but also takes a turn for the worst. A few days later his and Claire𠏋 friend Morag flies in once more for a short break before starting a new job. She is deeply concerned about Russ and the situation that surrounds him. She agrees that on both a physical level and mental level it is not good for him to remain in Spain alone once she returns. Events unfold during the week that push Russ dangerously close to the edge and a flight is booked for him to return to the UK with Morag for the foreseeable future.

July 2007
Russ meets with Hilario and they go to the Town Hall for an update/crisis/desperation meeting with Miguel Bertrand. They try to ascertain what exactly is left to do with regard the Licences as every time we take a step closer it appears that we also take six back. He informs them that there are five remaining stages.
1, The completed project must now go up on the wall of the Town Hall for twenty working days to see if there are any objections. This will only happen once every single department of the Town Hall is happy for the project to be passed. Miguel informs us that this is due to happen the following day, which is superb news and we breath a small sigh of relief.
2, The Rambla project must be completed, presented, displayed on their wall for twenty days and signed of it passes.
3, The Passed project and the Informe from the Rambla𠏋 must then go to Medio Ambiente (the Environment people) for them to look over to see if there are any glaringly environmental issues. This department will come into its own once we are up and running and they can test noise and emission levels etc.
4, On return of the project to the Town Hall and providing no more problems are found they will then issue us with the building and land movement Licences that we have already received verbally.
And 5, they will then produce and present us with our actual Opening Licence.
Miguel assures Hilario and Russ that that is the absolute total of all that is left to do and prints off a copy for the boys to take away.
Russ immediately calls Claire to pass on the news and although still down from May𠏋 disappointment and concerned for the future they are both lifted.
Morag returns for a short break before she begins her new job and she too is corncerned with what she finds. Discussions take place with all involved and it is deemed best all round that Russ returns to the UK once more before the problem there escalates out of control. With all the paperwork either being displayed or compiled there is little reason for Russ to stay at the site.
Russ returns with Morag after clearing out the house completely and securing all the equipment, tools and machinery on site.
On the very last day of the month our project completes its time on the display in the Town Hall and the feedback is positive that no objections have been lodged. At last, a physical step forward and a massive achievement considering how long it𠏋 taken and how much it has involved.

August 2007
August once again and Spain closes down for its holidays.
Whilst back in the UK Russ takes part in his first competitive speedway meeting with The Southern Track Riders Club since retiring in 2002 following his second leg break.
A bit rusty and extremely nervous first outing that saw him on the floor after two laps! But he soon gained his confidence and went on to record four wins in the rest of his rides. He feels that the whole experience has done him the world of good as being embroiled in all the problems in Spain you begin to lose sight of the objective and the reason for starting the project in the first place.
Our good friend (unfortunately soon to be leaving Spain and returning to life in the UK) Ian Waine, comes to collect the balance of our Academy stuff left in the UK.
With Russ𠏋 Dad and Uncle selling the yard that they have worked out of for sixteen years and has been home to all of the accumulated school stuff, bikes, spares, riding kit etc we are left with no alternative to ship it all to Spain for use should we ever, ever, ever get the elusive paperwork top open the business.
August Bank Holiday sees Claire and Russ down at Newport Speedway for another Southern Track Riders meeting. This time Claire as usual marshals the pits while Russ takes to the mike in the Ref𠏋 box to do the announcing and spin some tunes. The highlight of the day saw Rob Tutton leading the large crowd through 飡s this the way to Amarillo?� The people that support these meetings certainly do get fantastic value for money, around 54-60 programmed races involving around forty riders aged 15 to 74 all for the princely cost of absolutely nothing !!!! Check out the STR website for further details.

September 2007
After almost nine weeks back in the UK Russ returns to Spain.
He meets with Hilario who has no news on the Rambla Project front. As we have found over the last couple of years it can take up to two weeks after the annual holidays for things to get back to some sort of normality so it doesn㦙 come as a surprise.
Russ also meets up with Ian to collect the stuff that he shipped over for us and it is packed away for the time being.
He also tries to rectify a particularly unpleasant situation that has arisen in his absence but despite all his and his fathers efforts they have to come away empty handed.
Enquiries by Hilario regarding the Rambla Project draw a blank so Russ returns to the UK once again.
He takes up the offer to ride once again. A massive thanks goes out to good friend Terry Durdin for the loan of his bike and riding kit, he𠏋 either very trusting or completely mad !!! He rides as a guest in the end of season championship meeting at Kings Lynn and although unable to gain a place in the Open section of the Championship he rides to a 15 point maximum in the Intermediate section, looking extremely sharp on the day. His highlight being his fourth outing up against Arena Essex 1987 team mate Graham Wilson and very good friends and Spain helpers David Tutton and 䫿l� Sid Higgins.
The following weekend Russ flies back to Spain to meet up Julie and Rob Tutton.
Rob has flown out to undertake a major overhaul on our ailing JCB and give it some lights. By the end of the weekend its performing with a new lease of life and better than ever before. It can now be used for more than thirty minutes without overheating! Thanks Rob.
The situation Russ and his Dad were unable to sort a couple of weeks previous is finally sorted after a trip to Almeria, the Town Hall, the Police Station and the help of Hilario, Julie and Rob. Unfortunately there is still no progress with the Rambla Project but Hilario assures us he is on the case and hassling for an update but nonetheless it has still been a very rare positive weekend and the three return to the UK.

October 2007
Russ sustains a serious injury whilst playing football for Kimpton Rovers FC, the club he left after five seasons at the end of 2004. A trip to hospital and X-Rays reveal no break but torn collarbone/shoulder ligaments that will take up to three months to heal (and we thought speedway was dangerous!!!)
Some fantastic news at last, the Rambla project is finally ready, not quite the two-three weeks as we were lead to believe but nonetheless it𠏋 done. It appears that they will not sign it off until they have two copies of the Deeds to our land and see the original copy to check against the photocopies. If we had known this before Russ could have sorted when he was over with Julie and Rob, nice to know nothing changes !!!
16th and Claire and Russ travel to Spain to get the Deeds paperwork to Hilario and try to sort their entry onto the local electoral register (Empadronmiento) . This is a necessary part of the process that will enable Russ to obtain Residency in Spain that is in turn, necessary for them to create and start the motorcycle club required to run the Academy. This has been an absolute headache as the Town Hall is desperate for people to register so that they can claim greater funding from the regional government and yet when you try to they put every obstacle they can come up with in your way! Completely baffling. After a lot of going around the houses and the help of super-friend Jane Clark, they are able to get all of the relevant paperwork together but are too late to be seen at the Town Hall. They will try again the following day but top priority is the Rambla Project. Upon meeting up with Hilario it transpires that the project has not even been presented and therefore has not been up on the wall of the Government Water Department for the four weeks required. Claire and Russ are not happy to say the least but as always have to swallow it. Hilario has been absolutely fantastic for us and his tireless help has been priceless and we appreciate it is not his fault, but we are all nonetheless miffed to say the least.
They travel to Almeria to present the project and get the Deed copies verified. It is now imperative that they leave the office with the knowledge of when the project will be looked at and go up on the wall. This will have a massive bearing on the possibility of us opening in early 2008. They do get the information they require however it is devastating news. The Department is currently working on projects that were presented in June !!! some five months previous. This is the last thing we all need to hear and the three leave Almeria gutted to the core. This will without doubt be the final nail in the coffin for our project as we all agreed back in May after the disappointment of the aborted meeting that we would only proceed next time around when every bit of our paperwork and Licences are in our possession. In our heart of hearts, we feel that our best opportunity of success would be to open in February before the start of the speedway season in the UK but this is now well and truly in jeopardy following this news. Having spent most of the morning in Almeria the trio return to Huercal-Overa once again too late to apply for the Empadronmiento due to its closure at 1pm. This now causes another problem as Russ is due to return at the end of the month to go to Almeria for the Resedencia but this is now not possible as the Padron number is needed to book the appointment. That trip will now be needed to complete the Padron process and then go onto a waiting list for a Resedencia date. Thankfully, whilst at the site Claire and Russ are able to purchase more of the black plastic sheeting to re-cover the stored safety fence that has been ravaged by wind and rain since its completion of its refurbishment at the end of 2006.
The last weekend of the month sees Russ return once again and at last, successfully apply for and receive his Padron number. This is passed on to the Solicitors that the Resedencia will be done through and now he awaits a date to return for this. He also speaks to Hilario on his arrival to try and organise a meeting with the Rambla Engineer to try to see if there is anything we can do to push the project through any quicker, unfortunately this draws a blank as they are informed that the Engineer (who happens to be the only one in the whole of the Andalucia Region) will not be in the office all week. Hilario says he will try again the following week and once he finds out that the Engineer is in the office he will go straight down to see him. YET AGAIN MORE WAITING !!!!!!!

November 2007
The month begins with Russ aboard a speedway bike once again, this time during a private hire at Newport Speedway as a surprise birthday present for his dad. The pair ride with Russ𠏋 best friend Matt Tutton and his dad Rob. A brilliant day, many laps and laughs are had buy all. Russ𠏋 thanks go to Tim Stone for accommodating them.
Thankfully Russ𠏋 shoulder causes him no problems so that is a double bonus. (Although numerous pain killers and a can of freeze spray may have had something to do with that !!!)
16th and Claire and Russ fly to Spain to celebrate one of their best friends, Richard Clarks, 40th birthday.
Unfortunately, due to assuming that the party is taking place on the Saturday they arrive late on the Friday night at Russ𠏋 Dads to find that they have missed it!! Nevertheless they meet up the following night and celebrate with him then. As it is only a flying visit, (literally!) they are only able to catch up with Hilario, who has had no joy in meeting with the Engineer we so desperately need to speak to and share a wonderful Sunday lunch with ex-next door neighbours from England Mike and Maddy Froud. They tell Claire and Russ of the ongoing problems they are experiencing with their own project, a static home and camping site in nearby Sorbas. For once none of us feel that our combined problems are as bad as we thought! They too have experienced lies, continual goalpost moving, endless often fruitless waits and now their future hangs in the balance after a recent change in the law. The conversation certainly makes us feel that we are not special, we see that every one does get treated equally, just such a shame that its badly !!!
The last two weeks of the month run there course and still there is no news of the engineer, so we must waits until Claire and Russ return to Spain on December 8th to try get some sort of update or start speaking to people who may be able to put pressure on the Engineers department.

December 2007
The final month of 2007 begins with Claire in hospital following diagnosis of a suspected serious illness. She undergoes numerous tests, including ECG's, Lumberpuncture and almost two hours of MRI Scans over the six days she is in Hospital but thankfully our worst fears were not realised and it was deemed that the illness was down to a virus attacking her nervous system. She improves gradually over the next couple of weeks but is unable to return to work until the New Year.
The 17th sees Russ fly out to Spain to obtain his 'Residencia'. He travels down to Huercal Overa the following day stopping off at the site en route. Upon arrival he sees that once again his home had been broken into, this time it is ransacked. By all the stuff that is stolen, some of it bizarre to say the least, Russ has an extremely good idea of the scummy lowlife who did it. He does his best to re-secure the home and carries on down to the Gestoria's with whom he is to go Almeria for the Residencia. A mix up with the arrangements sees the whole trip over a complete waste of time and the visit to Almeria doesn't take place although the Gestoria himself, Bartolome Ballesta expresses an interest in the problems we have experienced and will speak to Hilario to take on board the full situation and he will visit the Agua (Water) Department in Almeria on one of his trips to the City and try to find out what the hold-up is. Russ takes the opportunity to visit Hilario and they are both buoyed by Bartolome's interest. He is also very well known at the Huercal Overa Town Hall and should be able to speak with Miguel Bertrand and Mayor Collado to ask for their help. Hilario fills Bartolome in on the situation and he tells him that he will visit the Agua Department at his earliest opportunity and see what he can find out.
Russ returns to the site and is able to secure the home to a satisfactory degree before he makes the trip back to his Dads ready to return to the UK the following day.
Three days later Russ returns to Spain with Claire for Christmas and some rabbit sitting !!!
Russ speaks with Hilario and finds out that with Christmas looming Bartolome was unable to get to the Agua Department so will try again in the New Year, although following the traditional Spanish Christmas celebrations on January 6th it will be well into the second week of the year before he will be able to visit and yet another huge chunk of our valuable time disappears into the ether.
They return to the UK on Friday 28th, deciding to see in the New Year in the UK and bid good riddance to another extremely disappointing year for the team behind the project. After the disaster of 2006 we all thought that this would be THE YEAR, and we came so close in May before the rug was pulled out from under us. With the three year benchmark arriving early in 2008 the future is beginning to look grim for those involved in the project as the inexplicable delay with the Rambla Licence and a final go-ahead from Medio Ambiente (the Environment Department) is still required before we can obtain our final Works and Opening Licences from our Town Hall.