The appeal to help get Steve Bishop on track for the 2002 season for the Somerset Profile Rebels after he was let down over a promised two bike sponsorship has started to gain momentum. With Richard Scriven having already pledged support for Bish's tyres in 2002 he came forward immediately with a cash donation towards the appeal. Richard, a long term Rebels supporter, met up with Bish at the New Year Classic at Newport whilst he was mechanicing for new team mate Neil Collins.
Following on from this came a substantial donation from Peter, Maureen and Karen Leigh. Peter is the Rebels start marshall and one of the volunteers who spends hours at the Oak Tree Arena and has put all the plumbing into the stadium.
Bish is totally overwhelmed, " I can't believe how superb the fans are at Somerset. I must admit I thought my season was all over even before it had started. There's still a fair way to go yet but with the help of Richard Scriven and Pete Leigh and his family it's starting to come together. I'm buying a bike off Alun Rossiter and Glen Cunningham's dad Arthur has a Hans Zierk tuned engine that was used in last years' World Long Track Series that he is part sponsoring me with having reduced the price. He wanted to help me out. I can't thank them all enough. I still need some more backing and have a few people to call but if anyone else wants to help they can call 07801 429304 for details."
"Glen and I are on a fitness campaign and he has stopped smoking and been out running. We are also on a carrot diet and I've lost about ten pound so far. Basically instead of bacon butties, crisps and chocolate we nibble on vegetables. This satisfies the appetite and does not put weight on. Perhaps we can get one of the local farmers by the track to sponsor us for some veg!"

Does this now mean that Steve and Glenn are now fully fledged  'carrot crunchers' ???

Whilst the name that the Somerset Conference League side will race under in 2002 is due to be released very soon it may well also allow the club to announce a team sponsor for the side. Negotiations were almost complete last week and the directors of the company were due to meet with Ray Dickson and Andy Hewlett this week to finalise everything.
Ray Dickson has done the groundwork on the backing and is rightly pleased with the outcome, " The firms concerned have offered us a four figure sum to become our team backers and we just need now to make the final arrangements and we can coincide this with the announcement of the team name we will ride as in the 2002 Conference League. It is all agreed now and I am in the process of designing our race jackets which will , of course, incorporate our team sponsors."
"Also with the Conference League meeting due at the end of the month in Rugby we will know more about what is going to happen this season. I have forwarded a plan for consideration to the League Co-ordinator Peter Morrish that I believe will suit everyone. Once the league format and regulations over riders is known I'll announce my starting seven and other squad members."
In addition to taking over the team boss role for the Conference league side Ray Dickson will also be looking after the track maintenance in 2002 and has completely relaid the Oak Tree Arena circuit. "The lads have asked for it to be grippy this year with plenty of dirt on so we have added some four to six inches all the way round leaving it to bed in before packing it. By the time we have some pre-season practice sessions it should be just as they want it."

Would -be squad member Jessica Lamb is getting in some winter practice in sunnier climes based down-under in Australia. As reported last week she crashed in her first ride going out on a grippy track that she is not really used to damaging her bike and hurting her rear end (bike or bum??). She was however back on track at the third Australia v England test at Gilman and on a very rough track had an exclusion , 3 and 2 points in the support events. Well done Bah-Bah!!