WORKINGTON COMETS 2010
 SPONSORED BY THE THOMAS ARMSTRONG GROUP
                    ANDNEWTEAMPARTNERS
             PRESS RELEASE No 12 – March 26th
 
 
LOU Sansom is back in Workington looking forward to Saturday’s 40th Anniversary meeting at DerwentPark.
 
The Comets’ first superstar has already been back to the track for a look round and will be having a special spin round ahead of the meeting to wave to the fans.
 
Sansom, now 63, will be joined by Reg Wilson and Ian Armstrong two other members of the original team that launched the Comets in 1970. They will be among 30 former riders who have indicated they will be there for the meeting.
 
“It’s going to be great meeting with so many old friends – riders as well as fans – because I have so many wonderful memories of my time in Workington.
 
“I met my wife in Workington and both my children were born in the town so it is a special place,” he says.
 
Sansom still keeps in touch back home in Australiawith Mal Mackay, a former team-mate at Workington, while he occasionally hears from Chris Blyth – another Aussie who rode at DerwentPark.
 
Fellow Australian Mark Lemon will be taking part in the meeting alongside ex-Comets James Wright, Kauko Nieminen, Rusty Harrison and Joe Haines.
 
Lemon never actually signed for the Comets but was a popular guest when the Comets retained the Young Shield at the end of last season.
 
The new Comets team for 2010 will all be in the 12-strong field and it will be Lou Sansom who has been invited to present the trophy to the winner.
 
There’s also going to be a special challenge race between Steve Lawson (father of current second string Richard Lawson) and Geoff Powell – two former Workington riders who l;ive locally and maintain an interest in the sport at the DerwentParktrack.
 
Steve follows the fortunes of son Richard while Geoff is a mechanic for skipper Andre Compton.
 
MossBayMetals are providing sponsorship for the meeting and the start time has again been fixed early at 6-30pm.
 
Team manager Ian Thomas said: “It’s going to be very special for a lot of people seeing Lou and the other old riders back at DerwentPark.
 
“It doesn’t seem like 40 years since Jeff Brownhut and I launched the Comets at DerwentParkafter we had looked at various other sporting sites in the county. I’d like to think the Comets and speedway have provided plenty of entertainment and enjoyment for hundreds of people since we first started in 1970.”
 
*There are still a few tickets available for tonight’s event in the Washington Central when Lou Sansom will be talking with track announcer and local broadcaster John Walsh about his career, and then fielding questions from the fans.
 
The talk-in starts at 7-45pm and tickets are available on the door at only £5.