Chris Rattue: Congrats to supporters who cared

Congratulations to the speedway supporters who have won a victory to retain Western Springs as the venue for their meetings, albeit with a reduced programme.

Whatever your view on the often bitter stoush with the Western Springs neighbours and the outcome, it was great to see passion on the streets of Auckland - people who cared enough about what they cared about to get off their butts and do something.

Such a large, agitated crowd of what turned out to be speedway backers appeared outside my Grey Lynn house one day that I thought, initially, that a new bus-stop had been installed there.

I do have one concern, however, relating to a speedway-supporting letter writer who equated a race meeting to the sound of a "sizzling steak" at a barbecue.

Clearly, our speedy friend has been using the sound and duration of a speedway meet as a gourmet guide. There are better ways.

A suggestion: you may need to buy a conventional barbecue rather than rely on some sort of rocket launcher, and it would also pay to reduce the cooking time significantly. I find about four-and-a-half minutes on each side does the trick for steak, especially if it is marinated.

Then you can test how well done it is by pressing your finger lightly on the top, rather than having to call in forensic scientists for help.