Raising the Curtain: Cheetahs vs Pirates

After a false start last week, it’s time to raise the curtain on 2023. We’ve been busy in the Supporters Club over the winter giving the club a new look and a few new things to try out.

We’re still running the raceday jackpot, but we’re changing the way it runs a little bit on some racenights. Last year we ran a 50/50 draw on Chargers racenights because historically (pre-2007) the money we raised on ‘third tier’ speedway wouldn’t support a top prize of £100 like the senior side did. However, with such a good level of support for the Chargers last year – and the anticipation it will continue this year – we’ll be offering a £100 top prize on their racenights, too. This will make it more transparent for you guys, and easier for us (and Mr Palmer) as we don’t have to remember what sort of draw we’re doing. As well as the top cash prize there will be other prizes on the night, including the money-can’t-buy Centregreen Experience, and a couple of other special prizes we’ve got lined up throughout the year, so keep your ear out and make sure you get your tickets.

This year we’re offering the opportunity to become a member of the Supporters Club, and your membership comes with a whole host of benefits. We’ll be offering members discounts on OSSC travel, like the annual pilgrimage to Cardiff for the British SGP, and we’ll be offering members money off entry for every one of the SGP barbecues we host throughout the season at the Ampleforth in Risinghurst. If that wasn’t enough, by signing up as a Supporters Club member you get an OSSC ballpoint pen to fill in your programme, a reusable OSSC cotton tote bag to put your programme in, and a limited edition, exclusive for 2023 OSSC engraved steel travel mug. What’s the price for all of this good stuff, I hear you ask? A measly ten pounds. Membership packs have been selling fast, so to secure yours come and see us in the upper bar next to the track shop and we’ll take your details. If you’re reading this at home after the meeting, you can email us at info@ossc.me.uk to reserve your membership pack for the next meeting.

2023 also sees the return of both Mark Dean’s Cheetahs Chronicle and the OSSC Coach to Cardiff for the British SGP. This month’s Chronicle includes another fascinating mix of articles, interviews and statistics that you won’t get anywhere else, and all for only £2. Mark will be selling in the upper bar on racenights, and all proceeds go to the Chargers. We’re about to start taking bookings for the Cardiff trip, so if you want to go to the biggest meeting of the year (at least, the biggest meeting of the year that’s not held at Sandy Lane) come and see us and get your name on the list. Don’t forget that OSSC members get a discount on the coach as well…

So the Pirates come to town for the first meeting of 2023. They always put together a strong side (don’t forget they ruined our reopening celerations last year), but I’m sure the new Cheetahs – no matter how familiar the faces – will put up a good fight. Here’s to the start of another successful year.

Go Cheetahs

Gavin