Have completed a busy week preparing for our 60th Anniversary celebrations. Track preparation was mainly concerned with spiking and getting as much water as possible into the track as the surface on Wednesday was not dissimilar to concrete.
However Ronnie and Doc performed their usual miracle and race times for the meeting were consistently good, including the fastest time of the season so far.
Our old mate Stoney recovered from another brush with our third bend to become a well-deserved "King of the Monarchs"
A neat touch was the "rider replacements" where former Monarchs Kenny McKinna, Wayne Carter, Bert Harkins and Alan Bridgett had laps of honour. My personal highspot was former captain Dougie Templeton doing a lap as passenger with present captain Derek Sneddon.
On Saturday evening a 60th Anniversary party was held at Tynecastle Stadium, a well attended function with quizzes, lots of nostalgic photographs and three immaculate vintage (real) machines on display.
Past Monarchs attending for the weekend included Bernie Persson, Doug and Willie Templeton, Bert Harkins, Neil Collins, Rob Hollingworth and Robert Eriksson. Robert took part in the meeting and was very much on the pace.
I think that's enough for now, so until next time,
