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Going to use them for collections, doubles the money

I think you're burying your head a little bit here, Back in the 70s the wage was around £50/60 a week, and petrol was 6 bob a gallon ( 30p), I could take the wife and the kiddies, buy 2 programmes, drinks and burgers all round for less than a tenner. The night was full of enjoyment and exciting races that kept everyone interested. Looking back at a 74 programme that cost 1 shilling (5p), here were 23 races starting a 7.30 pm on a Saturday night against Hackney, (we lost 36-42.) The tenner probably equalled a 1/6th of your weekly wage, but we had nearly 3hrs of enjoyment watching 23 races. The same day out now is very different, with considerably less to watch, A lesser program, perpetually drawn-out to make it last does nothing to enthral the fans. Everything you buy, you pay through the nose,. Petrol £ 7/ gallon, Admission £18 a head, Programmes £3 each Drinks £3/4 a throw. Before, it was excepted as a normal price for a night out and each believed they received VFM, not any more.... It would be wrong to pin all the blame on costs, for the sport was much different then, the Bike were slower and the competition was much closer. Missing the gate wasn't the be-all importance then as it created more excitement. Every race was competitive and closely fought. Today's super fast bikes, that cost the earth, produce a different race from the ones we use to watch. All the low torque engines have been replaced with high revving ones. Exhaust and tyres play their part . The throttles now are either open or closed, very little control how there once was. The emphasis has moved from the rider to the bikes, meaning far more follow the leader races, and these don't pull in the punters. You only have to look at the dwindling number over the years to see the effect it has had. But nobody takes any notice of these facts and continues in the same old pattern. Regardless of how you dress it up, the sport today is not working. and unless they address the important issues of Costs, VFM and excitement, the sport will continue to die ...

Congratulation to Robert Lambert on an impressive showing. He seems to have started this season on top form. He can only get better as he races against the very best... I do hate this format where someone could go through the card and still lose the final race. Surely it would be much better to add those final points to the ones gained in the heats to recognise the true champion on the night, rather then the one who just wins that solidary final.... Conner coming 2nd illustrates how bizarre it is , He never won a race, yet Bewley won 4 races and was only placed 4th.....

"British Speedway's Premiership will be ran on two fixed nights on Monday and Wednesday to avoid clashes with Championship clubs" "British Speedway's Premiership will now be ran on three fixed nights, Monday and Wednesday and Thursday which will now clash with Championship clubs" "Riders must not get off their bikes at the tapes and prepare their start area".... "Riders can now get off their bikes at the tapes and prepare their start area"... "We won't be using rolling averages this season".... "We will be using rolling averages this season"... "To me Barry".. "To you Paul"... "To you Barry" "To me Paul".... "To you"... "To me"... "To you"... "To me".... etc etc etc for the next six months... British Speedway, sponsored by Chucklevision...

It's still early in the season - I think Wethers and Wilkinson are doing OK and have decent starts to build on. Robson has simply not been on a bike long enough to assess although I was pleased when he was announced...Rose has, yes, underperformed, but his crash with Danny at Brough Park and his accident riding for King's Lynn shortly after seem to have taken their toll. But for those 2 accidents he might have been working towards #1 - what a shame. Tero looking a very decent rider this season. Can't comment on Ashley as I have run out of superlatives. My biggest concern so far is my favourite rider Ludvig - big machinery problems, but if he's riding in the Swedish league that won't help to make time to sort them...I expect the promoters will give him more time, but he can't carry on scoring only 5 on home shale...

Really? That's asking for average manipulation is it not? Might explain Poole's slow start.

Missing riders have made UK Speedway a joke in recent years.... Injured riders are one thing - however when 3 of your team are known to be unavailable due to other commitments this fixture should have been rearranged. THe BSPA Chairman should be leading by example! The sport has to regain CREDIBILITY to survive. I would like to see any team with missing riders (other than injury) pay £100 (per rider) to the BEN fund. This might help as a deterrent.

Makes you wonder why that in a season of less league meetings that matches are still being run when one team hasnt got its own full team of riders,

I hope tonight's meeting is called off. It's a joke to have half a team missing in only the second home match. It seems most people will be at the Walks tonight including me.

Ditto Chris and you have given the British fans much to cheer over the years & WHO CAN FORGOT CARDIFF IN 2007 - ONE WORD - BRILLIANT !!!

This is one of the things that is my biggest gripe with British Speedway, which is shared by many others too - I highly expect the one over 8 has been sorted out amongst promotors but it isn't ever seen worth while spreading that knowledge with their paying customers. Neil Watson a promoter came on here earlier in the year and told everyone that the rolling averages were being reset and everyone would be issued new averages after 4H and 4A. It now seems that's been changed again and we are back to rolling averages with no explanation again or confirmation, other than new averages being published. Fans continue to be kept in the dark and treated like mugs... probably for fear of them understanding and knowing the rules better than themselves!

I just don't have enough stamina left to go to lakeside again this season.

I think it changed under Labour by Abbott.

Isn't he allowed to comment on a Poole thread? I thought the idea of a forum is that anyone can comment on any thread.

Back in the day of Michael Lee and Terry Betts and that old wooden stadium we had at Saddlebow Road, there were a group of 22 people who religiously brought their Grandstand tickets for the seated areas next to the pit gate, entering the first bend. This group of people attended every Lynn meeting for years and frequently away meetings as well. Where ever the Stars raced that group was represented every time. Everyone was on first name terms, and bantered with each other over their favourite rider. Such was the closeness of that group of people Christmas and birthday cards were and are always sent . The point I'm making, These cards are still sent and it is through them that contact is still there. Through these cards, last Christmas I actually questioned those about their once devotion of speedway and asked their feeling now. I except most have moved on and are now considerably older, but some of them still watch when its on the tele, Quite a few had visited Lynn and didn't like what they saw, Some said their weren't enough races , other said there was no excitement, but all said it cost way too much for them to be interested. Of them 22 people, 4 have since past away, 8 watched it on the television, and 4 more said they read about when possible. Of those one still purchased the SS to keep abreast of the news . Which meant I am the only one remaining that continues to go and support the Kings Lynn Stars... How many other clubs can say of similar occurrence.... The big question here is: If the sport cannot tempt those fans, who once had a devotion , to attend now, What chance has it of attracting new fans who know nothing about the sport..

nothing yet- when they are on are listed here https://www.tvsporten.dk/speedway/

Nobody is saying don't have a final, all that has been suggested it to add the final points to those already won in the heats. similar to the format of the SGP's. It would point importance those heats, rather than going through the motions and mean nothing.... The fact Connor never won a single race all night illustrates how bizarre this format is .

Rosco is not too complimentary about the situation in todays Advertiser, saying it's ridiculous that the PL is protected on Thursdays, yet we have teams riding on Wednesdays when they don't have priority, with only Swindon riding on a Thursday.

Read somewhere that those road works have finished. Hoping the resurfacing between swaffham and dereham have finished. Normally just over an hour to get home for me, but with two lots of roadworks was over one and half hours last time!

It needed clarifying from the off, ditto all the rules they make. The ruling only one over 8 is pretty clear if you take it by the intent. So when the averages become new for 2018 it could be assumed that you can't bring in any rider over 8 if you started the season with an 8 pointer. Could Poole's poor start to the season allow them to sign a rider over 8 ??? If you want to fudge the rules yes. Typical of the BSPA to allow a rule to be interpreted in another way. And typical of ANY team trying to fudge that rule too. Would Tai/Piotr/Zagar be allowed back on their 7+ averages or be forced to use the reassessed 9 they were given at the start of the season. One thing that can be sure is IF Piotr signs for Poole in place of someone else is that Poole will get tons of stick for under performing to make the move happen. Plus it would have the stinkiest odour to it as well. Poole haven't got new averages yet so how can you say you don't have a rider over 8? You do until the new averages come into effect.

Exactly... I find it hard to believe people still hand their cash over week in week out . I no longer do. I suppose it's easier to do so at the showground though.as the racing is normally always top drawer.

The best way to reward a sportsman for their efforts on your team's behalf is to support them later when the going gets tough. It seems that Rye House has quickly adapted to the top tier, love them when they're winning but the moment anything goes wrong put the boot in. As for the pathetic excise of "We pay their wages, we can say what we like", well firstly you don't pay the wages, the promoter does, and with the state of modern speedway in this country the 'fans' only make a contribution. The proof of a true supporter lies not in how they deal with victory, but how they deal with defeat. Constant calls to sack this guy or that guy do NOTHING to help. Yes, you can say what you like, within the law, but it doesn't mean you should. A grain of intelligence might be useful.

Where's he going on holiday.

That’s because not every rider is lucky enough to have a GB race suit.

I forgot Starman needs the full explanation!