Newport Speedway promoter Tim Stone, who died at the weekend, was a big man with big ideas.

When the sport disappeared from Newport in the late seventies it seemed for many years that it would never return.

It was Stone, single-handedly, who finally made the dreams of Welsh fans come true in 1997 when the Wasps set up home at what is now Hayley Stadium. Such was Stone's commitment and energy that he built the stadium himself, then the team.

He wasn't always popular on his mission to promote the sport he loved and he wasn't afraid of rubbing people up the wrong way. A few years ago he was involved in a dispute with the Argus which, happily, was eventually resolved to the benefit of all - particularly Welsh speedway fans. But to achieve what he did he had to be tenacious and his success speaks for itself.

Stone was once a mechanic for Newport speedway legend Phil Crump, former world No2, back in the days when the team rode at Somerton Park. When speedway moved to Bristol for financial reasons he set up a bookbinding business, but one suspects the desire to see the sport return was always with him.

People with Stone's drive are a rare breed and he is a huge loss to the sport.

Wasps skipper Tony Atkin said today Stone was Newport Speedway.

Few would disagree.