Ian Hawkins of the Edinburgh track staff won the 2007 Blunsdon Blog Quiz (not something that you would really want to be remembered for, Ian) and has been in regular contact since then.

Ian has sent me through some fascinating photographs of the work that the team are undertaking at Edinburgh and I am delighted to be able to cover it through the screens of the Blunsdon Blog.

The brilliant "Methanol Press Speedway Yearbook 2008 edited by Robert Bamford" is an essential resource for any speedway fan. It tells me that Edinburgh Monarchs ply their trade at the Armadale Stadium in Bathgate Road, Armadale, West Lothian (EH48 2PD).

260 metres in size, its track record is held by new Swindon acquisition Theo Pijper, who set his 54.6 seconds mark on 22nd September 2006. Under the expert guidance of Alan 'Doc' Bridgett, the track won an award over the closed season as being the best prepared track in 2007.

A "before and after" series. The first was Saturday 24th February, the second on the 20th February.  Still very wet in patches shaded from the sun and wind but we seem to be getting there. The boards, which had been left face down on the track over the winter, are now up and in place. Clearly the track is very wet but by fluffing up the surface at least some air can get in to start the drying process.

More sorting/painting of fenceboards on Saturday 1st March. Another dry day after very wet Friday but able to get the blade on track to sort out a lot of the wet and lumpy top surface. 

Things are looking a lot better fingers crossed for practice day on Friday - very cold with snow showers today.  Back on Wednesday 5th for final preparations.