SBRC INDUSTRIAL ROOFING PHIL MORRIS FAREWELLALL roads lead to Birmingham's Perry Barr Stadium on Thursday 1st September for the Phil Morris Farewell Meeting (7.30pm).
The proud Welshman will be bringing down the curtain on his glittering twenty-year career with an exciting evening of entertainment planned on and off track.The line-up and format for the event has been confirmed and will see many of Britain's top riders taking on a World All-Stars team who are being led by three-times World Champion Jason Crump.The Brits will have most of the riders that contested this summer's World Cup, which includes Grand Prix star Chris Harris, Tai Woffinden, Ben Barker and Lewis Bridger, plus former GP man Lee Richardson rejoins his British team-mates.The two star-packed teams will do battle over fourteen-heats and then the top four scorers from the night will contest a Grand Final for an array of prizes which have been kindly donated by a whole host of sponsors.In addition to the main event, running alongside there will be a two-heat Young Lions Challenge match between Birmingham Bulls and Stoke Potters, plus a couple of additional 250cc Under-16 Demonstration races.And in a further commitment to the sport that served him so well during his career, Morris has also pledged that he will donate part of the proceeds from the night to the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund and British Youth Speedway development.With the planning for the big night now complete Morris is counting down the hours to when it all unfolds.He said: "It's been a hectic few weeks getting everything organised, but we've done it and all of our committee are really looking forward to the night. We can't wait for it to start."I'm eternally grateful to everyone who's helped organise things, but most of all I hope the supporters have a great night and enjoy themselves."With my involvement in the sport now I was always keen to have plenty of British representation in the line-up, so it's very encouraging that so many of our Nation's top riders have agreed to ride for me. I'm simply knocked-out by their commitment."Jason (Crump) is also a very good friend of mine, so once again I'm grateful to him for taking time-out from his heavy schedule to fly to England and lead the World All-Stars team."And something that is very close to my heart is helping the young British riders, so it's only correct that we also have some of them competing alongside the main event. I'm sure the crowd will get right behind them and give them plenty of encouragement."This is a big meeting for them all as most won't have ridden in front of a big crowd before and certainly won't have before shared a pit lane with such an array of high-calibre and high-profile riders."As well as the racing there will be plenty of other things going on. There will be an auction of signed race jackets after the meeting finishes, plus lots of other fun things going on during the evening, such as kids competitions. So there's something for everyone!
"I'd like to finish by saying a massive thanks to meeting sponsors BRC Roofing and also Grand Final Sponsors - Regina Chains, Wulfsport, GTS, Draper Tools, De Vere Hotels and Meridian Lifts."Finally, also a big thank-you to Chalfont Coaches and Ideal Video for their most generous support."Also available on the night is the Phil Morris Story DVD. This features a 3-hour extensive interview on Phil's career and also includes lots of racing action highlights. This exclusive item comes complete with a second DVD featuring all the action from Phil's original Testimonial Meeting staged at Reading's Smallmead Stadium back in July 2000.This specially produced double-DVD package costs just £4. Copies are also available to buy by post or online - full ordering details at philmorris.infoTEAM GB SELECT: Chris Harris, Lewis Bridger, Tai Woffinden, Ben Barker, Lee Richardson, James Wright, Danny King. Team Manager: Ivan Shears.WORLD ALL-STARS: Jason Crump, Richard Sweetman, Ty Proctor, Ulrich Ostergaard, Rory Schlein, David Bellego, Zdenek Simota. Team Manager: Graham Drury.Referee: Dave RobinsonYOUNG LIONS CHALLENGE (2 heats)Birmingham Bulls (Jack Hargreaves and Ben Taylor) v Stoke Potters (Tim Webster and Jaimie Pickard)250cc UNDER-16 DEMONSTRATION RACES (2 heats)Nathan Greaves, Josh Bates, Connor Mountain, Adam Ellis.ADMISSION PRICES (usual Birmingham Speedway prices apply):Adults: £16.00OAPs, Students (on producing of I.D. cards), Disabled: £12.00Children (aged 12- 17 incl): £5.00Children (aged 6 -11 incl): £1.00PROGRAMME (32-page, full colour): £2.50
