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Not going to happen. Fridays, Saturday's and Sundays have to be kept clear in case Scunthorpe have a match.

That is exactly the way I feel. Speedway evolved from "dirt-track" racing. Watching burly men wrestling bucking broncos through heavy cinders was a spectacle! It wasn't just about passing, or close racing; watching the skill and sheer strength that was needed to keep a bike upright was worth the admission price! Sad thing, it's not just speedway. Now, we have fancy "motocross" on man-made indoor circuits instead of "scrambles" in waist-high mud! We have cool looking indoor trials over man-made obstacles rather than run the risk of getting dirty outdoors. Football went from a man's game to a an over-refined non-contact sport. Hell, look at life in general. We see these Facebook posts about what life was like when we were kids. We went outside, we got dirty, we got wet, we ate dirt, we drank from hosepipes, we played football with metal studs, we fell off slides and roundabouts and landed face first on gravel! "Ooooh no, we can't do that now..." None of that is cool now, and a much duller world it is as a result... Steve

I sincerely wish Lakeside every success in their efforts to find an alternative venue. We certainly do not want to lose any more tracks to the developers, and when things looked so bleak at Birmingham, we were showered with good wishes from Lakeside supporters in particular and one did send us an anonymous donation of £100 with the message "from a Lakeside Supporter" - and these gestures are remembered.

Purely by chance due to work and getting stuck behind an accident on the m6 I ended up at Belle Vue last night, so I thought I would share my fan experience, I brought a ticket in the grandstand which was £21, now to me that is way over priced for league speedway, so I took to my seat a read the programme, around 7pm the crowd which was a good size crowd filled the stadium, the announcer said we will interview the team managers around 7.10 however belle vues team manager was working on the first bend with a rake while we were treated to 40 mins of tractor racing, no interviews, there were a family next to me with 2 very young lads who had never been to speedway before but thought they would try it, around 7.20 there was an announcement that the meeting would be delayed to let the que’s that were still outside in, however that turned out to be a bit of a lie as some rides equipment hadn’t turned up,think they were caught in the same motorway problem as me ,but by 7.40 the kids next to me had got a bit bored and quite frankly so had I, chase the ace works very well in raising some excitement in the crowd, finally what felt like forever we get what I thought was a very well thought out parade and then the racing started, 2 heats and then the tractor is back out, apparently the track was to grippy, another 2 heats then more tractor racing, at around 8.30 i had seen 4 heats and 50 mins of tractor racing, the first half the meeting was pretty much gate and go stuff with nothing happening after the first corner, the match being close kept the interest up ,we had a couple of jumped starts and riders going back to pit gate to fiddle with their bikes, more delays (make it so no mechanic allowed on track in between restarts ) then the racing livened up so they had an interval,the second half the meeting was excellent and Kings Lynn deserved their win but I just felt like a few little things added up to spoil the entertainment, the racing, chase the ace and the presentation was all great but it’s just those little things that drag it down and kill the buzz and as I said it’s too expensive, the family next to me didn’t seem that taken in by it left before the end, this is not just about Belle Vue but speedway in general

I want to see is my team v their team with the contracted riders and not a whole host guests and doubling up etc. Until they can get rid of doubling up and and guests no one can take it as a serious team sport. Its impossible to build up rivalry either between teams or individual riders if the following week some of this weeks visitors are riding for you. The blame for the chas that doubling has brought and the resulting lack of riders can only be placed firmly at the door of the BSPA. Before I get shot down and the 'guests are part of speedway and can't be helped' line comes out remember if you can the National League of the mid to late 1980s. That league ran for number of seasons with out guests and injuries were covered either with a member of the junior team stepping on or with rider replacement and a number 8 being named. So it could be done however the policy changes brought in over the years by the BSPA saw that system removed and changed to the shambles that we see today.

Only teasing, Steve. We all know you’re a top independent trader.

The race for the Play-Offs may be exciting to some as it's a close scrap for the final places, but turnstile clicks are the whole thing that keeps the sport going. The crowd may seem good but compare it to even a decade ago and the trend is worrying. The attendance may be good but it isn't good regularly, isn't keeping speedway in profit. Tracks will struggle and close. Or the diminishing number of fans will happily pay more to subsidise the ones that have gone. The confidence has been lost that our promoters can resurrect it any day soon. In fact, the slowing at the turnstiles will probably just see them order another can of WD40 and try to get another year out of the way with the promise of a fresh dawn next winter. Speedway runs entirely on short-termism.

Damn right, girlie! Last time it was two spots of rain at five o'clock, a panicky call-off 'cos the Witches were understrength and then a lovely sunny evening.

Something else not helping is that every time you see a video on youtube from speedway portal or speedway gb the tracks are dry, they are already down to the base on the inside even after just a couple of heats, you cant expect the track to soak up and store water when there is nothing to soak it up, in the summer you get dust as we have seen a lot recently, but at least the meeting can go on, and providing the vision of the riders isn't overly impacted its safe, but if tracks continue like this, when we start getting the wetter whether in September and October, meetings will be rained off left, right and centre because the rain will just sit there, nothing to soak it up and therefore you cant scrub the wet shale off because there isn't anything of substance to scrape off. What on earth is going on? are promoters en bloc refusing to buy any more shale in the hope that some miracle will present itself as a cheaper alternative?

Or even late march when the season starts

...Interesting views and I have watched speedway via you-tube and/or DVDs from the so-called Pioneer Years and it seemed so much rawer back then and less refined. Perhaps modern speedway is too clinical and less 'dirty' but I guess that would be a backward step in this modern age? I'm just glad that I followed the sport during it's last "Golden Era' which is commonly accepted as being the seventies but even then one could see changes taking place as the decade advanced towards the eighties and beyond.

No surprise to me. Boxall was like a second son to Silver at Rye. He thought the sun shone out of his a*se. Whenever he needed equipment (often), Uncle Len was there. Promising as a teenager, but thoroughly unprofessional

He has been riding for a decent club all season - Glasgow!

So worky had all meetings arranged...then they were told to cancel those meetings and re arrange, think that's a bit off if they are not given extra time.

You see, that's exactly the problem in a nutshell - who uses postcards anymore?!!

I don't mind the the truth...his name is Leigh Lanham. As for what you lot are going on about, you still remember it, we need more things in speedway that people will remember 20 odd years down the line. The sport needs a good punch up or fencing to get people talking.

If only we had covers

Ref is for equipment not injured riders in which it is a well supported cause

That "miracle" has been and gone. It was Sky Sports.

First of all let me set you straight. 1/ I am no longer a Poole Speedway Ltd sponsor, so I don’t have any direct access to the club or, it’s officials. 2/ I am one of the few on this forum that are against collections for named riders and have been advocating a “Poole Speedway Riders Hardship Fund” which would be available for a rider who is struggling either through injury or equipment damage. 3/ I would never disclose on an open forum any details of private discussions between two parties. 4/ I’m not sure any club promoter “cares” about “their” riders in the way you appear to believe the poole promotion should. Perhaps as an interim solution, you could make a case to the Swindon REF and, I’m sure poole supporters would contribute to a Just Giving Page if you were to set it up on behalf of Stefan. Please let us know the details if and when you set it up... Thank you.

Or April ☺

I think this has the potential to be a mauling if I am honest, apart from heat 2 and 8 Brum will have at least 1 heat leader in every race. Thomas should be good for around 12-15 points, The engine room of Rowe and Hampshire have performed above and beyond this season, but 6 rides against tougher riders away from home is a big ask, something I have every faith they can do but don't want to put any pressure of expectation on them for this. The reserves match up quite well, Spooner has been great and picked up points not expected of him and Couzins looked far better then many reserves in his appearance for Kent Monday. That leaves Perks who on Monday looked sensational and dare I say too good for the league. He interacted with the Kent fans well Monday as all his wins were applauded generously, so hopefully he will be 100 percent committed tonight. Kent have had very limited luck with guest number 1s over the years. Not seen a forecast but hope weather is set fair for the number of fans travelling up. With so much talent on either side a bit of rub of the green either way could swing this. The Kent boys have risen to everything thrown at them recently, and with so many young heads, Jack Thomas himself no veteran has galvanised the team unit and the composure of everyone has been a joy to watch. Gutted I can't go myself as whatever the score, with the riders on show there will be some entertaining racing pretty much garunteed. As a Kent fan if you offered me a league point now, I would take that and stick it in the bank.

You would think all the years he has been riding he might have been able to bring that forward a bit to say...................June?!!

So fortunes really went in the Stars favours. They say 'small drops of water, little grains of sand' can always make a big difference. the answer to this problems is to be on top of everything and keep these problems to a minimum... The main reason you lost was because you top riders didn't score enough points...

Connor Mountain was dropped due to the numbers for three changes. He has a brilliant attitude. Good equipment and always gave his all but he really struggled to get to grips with foxhall and rode much better away from home.

Every time a Scorpions rider gets injured the rest of the clubs start to wonder if their fixture list is safe.

Looking at Sundstrom's ave (with bonus) 7.48, only half a point behind Kurtz & Harris, doesn't seem that bad!

Yes it is a s**t hole but its our s**t hole, if I had Belle Vue or Poole on my doorstep I would go there but I don't, and unlike a lot of football fans, us speedway supporters follow our local teams.

No points no surprise, cant comment about the ref as I couldn't get time off to get down there, not really great from the No1 but Worrall, Tungate, and Drozdz cost us as they never turned up at all, Lemon should have got rid of the Pole and Worrall has really let the club down by returning when he clearly is not fit to do the job disappointed in him, tbh his return is looking a tad selfish as he must have known he wasn't up to it. I predicted not another away point and still cant see it, Leicester being the best chance but I fear that would be too little too late.

And there's me thinking you didn't want to change your loyal team!!

Brilliant against sub standard opposition

Zach is such a brilliant rider, so glad we’ve a rider like that in our ranks

They are all youngsters at the Hawthorns really, it's just that having to put up with the stuff TP & Pardew served up it's taken its toll on them.

It was very much about home form We were in the situation where Danyon and Connor were averaging a very similar total (just under 4) but with home and away form in complete contrast Connor 2.5 at home and over 4 away Danyon 4.5 at home and under 2 away With Danyon out and his replacement unlikely to score home or away Garcia was seen as a more solid option at Foxhall to protect vital home wins This so far he has done (and few wouldve been confident Connor wouldve scored as Coty did) so I would say it has justified the decision

There is a difference between confidence and cockiness. Speedway is a funny old game, might be well to remember that.

Maybe we just need to admit speedways a thing of the past ?

Very sorry to hear this. Always figures in anyone's list of the all-time greats and probably could have won even more individual titles if he hadn't been such a committed team rider. Probably, in that respect, he actually was the greatest ever.

An interesting account by an ex-rider who has experienced both sides of the fence. The family of new attendees will not be back in a hurry. Seriously, I find it insulting when there's a delay to prepare the track when they've had enough time to do it before the event. What was the problem, a sinkhole just appeared at 7.25? Even older fans become bored by the constant breaks between heats, as work that really should have been already done is now crucial for the match to take place. The speedway may be fine, but such things wear you down... like the false starts and re-starts. It should be a slick show. And to keep the new people through the gate that actually give it a try, have a way to show them how speedway scoring works. Riders going round and round does get boring if you don't know what's happening. Not as boring as track grading, but boring non-the-less. Even in a brand new stadium with brilliant racing, speedway doesn't half seem shoddy at times.

£8 for children, £48 family ticket in grandstand

It's pretty much how I see it now. Re-structuring with one medium sized league etc etc is NOT going to bring in new fans and grow the fanbase. Why would it when it offers more of the same strung-out racing with so many heats over within half a lap. Only another form of motorcycle racing on dirt track ovals is likely to do that. Smaller capacity 250cc or 350cc - standardised sealed machines are a must. Slower but closer racing with more likelihood of passing might catch on. But the starting area must be changed ( to stop all gardening and speed up races ) races run immediately after each other with as little delay as possible ( to avoid boring and turning off the new generation of fans ). Even the name of the sport should be changed. Without such massive changes, speedway is beyond rescue. Way past the "last chance saloon".

He didn't care about his rules. He just wanted another reason to slate Bellego and Smith so the other 12 names didn't matter!

Too young to have any significant memories of him but one of the long list of local riders that made the club at ipswich what it was as it established itself Perhaps overshadowed by those higher profile stars but still every bit a part of a team - the type of rider that was (and still is) vital to making speedway work

...The 1985 Knock Out Cup Final between Oxford and Ipswich drew fabulous crowds (I attended both) and both were full of atmosphere and incident. Some of those present said that it was the best meeting held at Cowley in many a long year...myself included. Why were they something special? Because both promotions treated it with respect and seriousness and that was reflected in the finished product which is how all meetings should be conducted. Wished I had witnessed the clash between Peter Collins and Anders Michanek (1973 KO Cup Final Second Leg) Many who witnessed it said that it was the best race they had ever seen. Personally I feel there is a place for the Knock Out Cup in one format or another...however I'm sure that there are those who would disagree!

In my opinion, every track should have a 2-minute clock. If the rider isn't ready to race in the two minutes, tough they are thrown out. I would allow rolling at the starts as long as the rider didnt actually touch the tapes. This would cut down on restarts when someone moves.

It does seem that some of the debate revolves around the fans/supporters. Older fans were brought up on a diet of mixed racing, league, cup, individual meetings 4TT etc and enjoyed the weekly fix which also achieved the desired aim of riders in having more track time. Today many will not turn up / support anything other than league meetings. That is fine and a choice we all make However with fewer clubs not always having their preferred choice of racing night and having to fight over a dwindling pool of riders given the pull of European clubs, it does make it difficult to get a settled 1 to 7 in any BL club with regular weekly racing particular when the customer base only want one form of meeting and will not turn out in decent enough numbers to support/following speedway racing except a league meeting. Up and coming riders have little chance of breaking in when the track time is so scarce. Perhaps the decline is not just due to the product and all the associated issues, it may well be that the punter has played a major part in the decline with their choices. Other theories will do the rounds as to who or what is wrong and lots of ideas on here have merit but perhaps the supporters need to look inwardly and think would I run a speedway team with such a fickle client base.

Get a successful GB Team and the media profile will increase. Rugby Union and Cricket latched onto that years ago to compete with a Football obsessed media and population.. When GB ruled the roost in Speedway, Terrestrial TV and the Newspapers were interested... Then along came all the Scandinavians and Americans who we trained and Terrestrial TV and Newspapers no longer wanted to cover something without the 'feel good factor' that successful National Teams bring.. Do that and the domestic scene will naturally start to see benefits (like it has done previously) through its association. (Ideally with the most recognised British lads riding over here!).. Have some kind of reward for the League Winners to make that competition relevant. Do this by paying 'Team Prize Money' each meeting rather than individual points money and have a Trophy at the end of the season for the team that tops the Leagues. (You can still divide up the cash individually 'off camera' as per each riders agreement..) Then have the play offs.. If, as now, the play offs are 'all important' why bother attending matches before that when they are nothing more than a warm up for the main event..? To encourage regular attendance flog discount tickets at each meeting for the next two/three/four matches etc, it is quite stark who 'irregular' the 'regulars' can be... Simply, get those who do actually know about the sport and do attend, to attend more...! Don't bother with season tickets as far too restrictive to encourage 'special offers' through the season.. And the 'die hards' will come anyway. .. Ride on the best night for your business with riders committed to putting GB first.. And No 'Mickey Mouse' "arr but this is Speedway" make it up as you go along rules. .. (Poland and Sweden never use "arr but this is Speedway" to justify nonsense administration do they?).. It looks like GB actually now have a 'proper plan' led by people with clear vision with, most importantly, Woffy well on board, so maybe, just maybe, there is a small light at the end of that long tunnel?

I may have said this before but I don't think the racing is actually the most important thing - a few more passes in a meeting won't make people flood through the turnstiles. It needs a more conducive environment for fans within the stadium. If the place itself is somewhere people fancy going to socialise with friends and see a bit of racing as well then people other than us purists may want to attend. Kids go free is a good incentive but what do they do when they get there? Maybe trampolines or bungees, maybe video games, food/drink for kids with seating, soft play area or sandpit/pillow. These things will attract them. Now, for older folks then somewhere warm, covered and seating are important. Motorcycle themed activities maybe - a speedway simulator or bikes to sit on/view, you could have motorcycle rider allowed to park together and encourage club meet ups, provide a room/venue for parties/events within the stadium with catering facilities. I'm just throwing these things out there but reducing the large payouts to some riders would give the money to be able to offer some of these things as attractions - when at a dull meeting what else is there to keep you entertained? So will you come back?

Sounding like they have might have cocked the track up. Loads of grading going on. When there’s a delayed start due to latecomers, I believe the meeting should still start on time. Very unfair on those that made it into the stadium before the allocated start time of 7.30. If a fan turns up at 7.30 it’s their fault they will miss some heats.

SWC at Gorzow is a million times better than a glorified pairs event at any track. And SWC at any decent track is a much better event than a glorified pairs event at any track

These landslide victory's must make really good entertainment, waiting on the racing is actually entertaining reply.