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Thank goodness the vast majority of supporters do, it’s just a very few of the posters on here that quite frankly moan about everything that the club does that doesn’t. My worst fear is that I might find myself standing next to one of these people at a meeting, doesn’t bear thinking about.

Being critical of the management and 'supporting the team' are two completely different things. Indeed, it could be strongly argued the absolute worst fans are those who stand around happy clapping instead of voicing their displeasure at the decline in fortunes of the club/sport they claim to love so much.

Oh dear...you do have a fixation with people registering 'likes'. Because one may register a 'like' it doesn't necessarily mean one agrees with all of the statement made...perhaps just one part of same and it doesn't always require or justify a counter statement to clarify same. Many on here apparently do the same when registering a 'like' on some subject or other and if one reads any given response, if indeed forthcoming, often offers clarification. Infact some register a 'like' and then proceed to completely disagree with the post! In a nutshell one shouldn't read too much into a registered 'like'...it can mean one of many things. As regards the forming of one league I can see the advantages to this but as I've stated elsewhere it would require the full co-operation of all participating promoters and as history has proven many times in the past this has sometimes proved difficult although 1965 did prove to be a turning point and saviour of the sport when the National and Provincial Leagues were merged.

Very much looking forward to working with Nicolai this year, very impressed so far. Will be worth the investment I’m sure. Paid for his Poole race suit

Of course they are interested, the difference being they know their team line ups and are not as frustrated as the poor Lynn fans. They are being treated like mug punters in my book...

I still support the Stars and look for their results and want to gather up all the news that I can about them. I am a member of the Supporters Club ( and will re-join for 2019 ) I attend some of the matches and cheer them on but I do not like the way the club has been run over the last five years. Especially since Buster became The Main Man at the BSPA . His interest in what the broad spectrum of Star's fans think seems to have withered away ( unless you see things only through Buster coloured glasses ).

For a time I had the pleasure of being the person who turned the lights out and then back on again at the end of the race. A vital job!

Surely your worst fear is having nobody to stand next to... that in itself is becoming more of a challenge at meetings.

Have to agree, both great riders, Mavis was flash, brash, great gater ; Gordon was Mr Consistent, best white line passer I think of that era, so close to winning WC in 1978 and like Peter Collins couldn't gate, PC went round the boards and GK round the line. Hard to split them but would agree Steve GK was more complete rider for me.

Trevor Hedge was another Dons rider that was due a testimonial, but never got one. Like you say, that was the way things were in those days.

So the racing at Kings Lynn is now as good as it always was ? Not what I see on the TV. Used to be one of my favourite tracks. Can't remember the last great meeting I saw their on the TV

Makes you wonder how speedway survived during the 70s / 80s without 'team kevlars' ? I'd much prefer it if every team went back to race jackets TBH

The only ones who seem worried about the naming of riders are the doom mongers on here.The rest don't seem too worried about it all.We know there will be 7 riders come April that's all that matters really imo.

As I said, I was being pedantic, and I was having a bit of fun too! Now, this is what I was talking about earlier... I love numbers and statistics, and I love logic, reason, and fact. This is pure logic, reason, and fact, and PROVES why averages drop when there are fewer teams and riders. Yes, it is extreme. No, it would never happen. However, it shows the effect. Riders can still ride at EXACTLY the same standard, but their averages will not reflect that. I know that Bwitcher and Orion will get this, and I think you will get it too. O hope Sidney will, but he has to stop letting opinion (without any logical grounds for justification) get in the way of fact. This isn't the first time I've done something like this, either! A while back, I PROVED that it was possible for a rider to win EVERY GP - yet still not finish in the Top eight of the GP standings at the end of the season! People still argue that I am wrong on that, but I have ABSOLUTE PROOF. Anyway... Here is an example – albeit extreme – of how fewer teams and riders can – and will – reduce averages. The thing to remember is that speedway averages are not only influenced by a rider’s own ability, but by the ability of those around him. Ability can only be judged compared to those averages around him (and in that particular format and numbers of teams and riders) – not by another rider’s 20 years earlier or 20 years later. As I said, this is extreme, nut it is the easiest way to prove things, particularly using the old 18-heat, 6-rider team format (but still using the 4-ride CMA – we can all relate to that). Now, the basics are : The league has 16 teams Top average rider rides at No.1, second highest at No.3, third highest at No.5, fourth highest at No.2, fifth highest at No.4, and sixth highest at No.6 No.1’s only drops points to HOME No.1 No.3’s only drop points to No.1’s and HOME No.3 No.5’s only drop points to No.1’s and No.3’s, and HOME No.5 And so on… This means that all matches will finish like this. HOME AWAY 1 – 3 3 3 3 3 3 – 18 1 – 2 3 3 2 3 3 – 16 2 – 1 1 1 1 1 1 - 6 2 - 0 1 1 0 1 1 - 4 3 – 3 2 3 3 2 3 – 16 3 – 2 3 2 2 3 2 – 14 4 – 1 0 1 1 0 1 - 4 4 – 0 1 0 0 1 0 - 2 5 – 3 2 2 3 2 2 – 14 5 – 2 2 2 2 2 2 – 12 6 – 1 0 0 1 0 0 - 2 6 – 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 So, all riders at a particular number will finish with an identical average (and identical record), namely No.1 – 11.33, No.3 – 10.00, No.5 – 8.67, No.2 – 3.33, No.4 – 2.00, No.6 – 0.67. The following season, the league is reduced from 16 teams to 8, and all second strings drop down a division. The league is now much stronger, and consists of all the best riders. Each team in the new eight man league will consist of two old No.1’s, two old No.3’s, and two old No.’5’s. The old No.1’s will ride at 1 and 3, the old No.3’s will ride at 5 and 2, and the old No.5’s will ride at 4 and 6. All results finish exactly the same as the previous season, but look what happens... All No.1’s will again record an average of 11.33 All No.3’s (formerly No.1’s) will drop from 11.33 to 10.00 All No.5’s (formerly No.3’s) will drop from 10.00 to 8.67 All No.2’s (formerly No.3’s) will drop from 10.00 to 3.33 All No.4’s (formerly No.5’s) will drop from 8.67 to 2.00 All No.6’s (formerly No.5’s) will drop from 8.67 to 0.67 The riders are all riding at exactly the same level as the did the previous year, but they are simply facing top riders more often than they were, and that is the result of having fewer teams, fewer riders, and a more level playing field. You wanna talk about having fun??? Steve

I think that's Jack Rackett. He was the clerk of the course.

Of course all teams have three heat leaders, but I suspect that what Sidney meant was teams with 3 good heat leaders. In the early BL years the best teams usually had 4 heat leaders (Simmons for West Ham in the second half of 65, Roper for Halifa in 66 and Kilby for Swindon in 67 are just three examples). But equally, there were some woefully weak teams whose heat leaders would be second strings in most other teams.

Never knew that? There were TWO Dave Jessups who rode for Wimbledon! Steve

I also helped Simmo run the short lived winter training school. I operated the starting gate to give the juniors a taste of racing conditions. It's amazing what you volunteer for when you're young and keen!.

No, it was won by Reg Reeves. Trevor Redmond should have won as he was easily the best rider on the night. After four rides each, Redmond and Reeves both had 12 points. When they met, Redmond was well in front when his chain broke on the last bend and he finished last. He then beat Maury Mattingly in the run-off for overall second place.

Halleluiah !!! at least other people can see the truth of what is going on.... not like those blinded by them Buster coloured shades.... I am in no doubt, you will not find a speedway supporter from another club, who would agree with the way us Star fans are treated…..

You and me both. I worked in the refs box for a couple of seasons, from memory it was 1982/3. Ken Tozer was still the announcer. I also had the pleasure of updating the old scoreboards at both ends of the stadium, just after turning the lights back on!

Also in 1977, I still vividly remember when at the Boulevard Gordon Kennet passed the team-riding Bobby Beaton & Frank Auffret turning a Hull 5-1 into a 3-3. GK went around the outside of Frank and as Bobby looked ahead entering the 1st bend, he looked around in time to see Kennet slip inside as neatly as you like. Grr , blooming good bit of riding though. Then there is the WTC Qualy meet at Reading in 1979, it's on Youtube, when GK is battling the late Kelly Moran - and the mud - after both had lost their goggles. By 'lost their goggles' I don't mean out of tear offs; both had literally lost their racing goggles. Kelly was wearing a full-face helmet whereas Gordon wore an open face + monkey mask, which he had pulled down, so was copping the spray full in the face....

No definitely not there’s plenty of people where I stand AND they all support the team 100%

I went to Crayford over 80 times between 1975 and 83, including the reopener against Boston and the last ever v Newcastle. It was a small tricky track, but the stadium had great facilities and excellent grub. I started to go more regular in 1979 wnen White City shut. Unfortunately i never got there in the Highwaymen era, but i managed to squeak one in at Romford to make up for it. Thanks Dad!

We should have some faith in our management imo ......

Saw him at White City where he really rose to the top and subsequently back st Eastbourne.But was surprised he rode that last time at Plough Lane as when I talked to Barney it sounded like Gordon wasn’t that interested in speedway any more.Think Barney said he had tried to get Gordon to watch a meeting without any luck.

Gordon was/is one of my 'all-time' favourites...saw him race many times at Arlington also.

Ok,I just misunderstood ‘start their senior league duties’.One of those that slipped through our fingers,but for me a big surprise to see him out there at the last speedway ‘night’ and the one rider who really rode the track.Went up in my estimation

That's indeed true but Gordon moved up full-time with Oxford in 1973 having ridden in some matches towards the back of 1972 as did aforementioned John Davis (however I believe that he was initially on Poole's books?) so it was relelatively easy to compare their progress and differing abilities and/or styles whilst at Cowley.

Just to correct.Gordon Kennett started out at Eastbourne and Wimbledon in 1970.He made second half appearances and also 5 league appearances for the Dons that year.Sadly he we let him get away until his return in the 80s It was great to see him in the last appearance of speedway bikes before the track closed for good

I visited Wimbledon, White City and Hackney quite a lot and Crayford once. I loved Plough Lane, facilities in those days were excellent and the quirks were positive - the staggered start and finish line, the lights over the track rather than on the fence, the track was better than some gave it credit for in my opinion and truly a team of legends over the years. Great atmosphere from what I remember. Hackney however many times I went i always got lost, one of my favourite race tracks, fair and fast and Len Silver always put on a great show, sadly missed. Saw Zenon Plech ride there and always though Bo Petersen rode it better than anyone and of course Barry Thomas. White City, saw both WC/Internationals and League Racing there, some of the League crowds would have been decent anywhere but as been said "lost in the vastness"; a shame it could not have been saved and re-vamped as would make a superb venue now for 30-40,000 capacity major meetings, would have allowed us to have an English and British GP. Main gripe there was Car Parking from memory. I went to Crayford once but for a Dog meeting and could not believe how small the speedway track looked. Shame i never got there to see the Costa Mesa of UK speedway at the time, would it have been about same size as Plymouth?

Did averages ever come into your way of thinking Steve? i can't quite get my head around that part of the discussion.Hans for example from 1977 he was a good rider until he broke his hoodoo to win his first title then he was a outstanding rider did averages influence that decision i think not He was .the best of his generation mainly because of his longevity, also i felt in yesteryear a lot of the teams had three heat leaders Ex)( Belle Vue Collins,SjostenPusey. Ipswich Louis, Sanders,Davey Kings Lynn Betts, Lee, Turner, so that high standard of rider showed just how good some of the number one's were.

All five London tracks I've seen league racing at were different in many ways. Wimbledon was ala carte speedway with fine dining and fountains. West Ham had History all over it. Iconic stadium and great track. Wembley famous stadium, venue of legends, but not the best race track. Hackney not the best facilities of the five, but fantastic racing. White City fabulous White elephant of a stadium where the crowd seemed lost at such a vast arena. Produced some decent racing for a 440 yard track. I enjoyed them all and feel fortunate to have visited them on numerous occasions.

Not just modern days riders... I know of one from well over ten years ago who always tried to end up at 5.99 as he was seen as a 'solid six pointer' in the eyes of the promoters, and "5.99 always sounded as if I could improve it!"... He always started the season well, ran around a seven plus average, reached the point where he paid the bills for his riding for the season, then would get the calculator out as the season drew to an end as "everything else is bunce"... (He had a Full time job too unlike so many today, so any Speedway 'profit' was icing on his cake).. He was never short of a team place so his system worked!! Also he got lots of guest bookings keeping his average where it was, and reckoned some were "very good earners".. About 20 years ago I had a conversation one night late in the season with a Promoter and suggested he might sign a rider who we were watching perform well. The same rider had been quoted that week in the SS as "never wanting the season to end", such was his upturn in form.. The Promoter told me he would never sign any rider based on late season form as he could never be sure if it was actually the fact that rider had improved or that the others he was racing against were lowering their averages for the following season.. If you use such a daft, easily manipulated system, based on so many variables, then you will always have riders using it to their advantage as why do 'too well' one year and miss the next through your 'success'? Far more lucrative to do 'ok' for two seasons than 'do well' for one...

The way you have to look aþ the King's Lynn team is, what will it be like if Lambert gets injured?!? Guests are pretty much none existent with teams riding fixed race night's and certainly no rider on the continent will come in as a replacement, especially anyone as good anyway. King's Lynn have put a team together that is totally reliant on one man. This team without Lambert would struggle against a Championship side.

Agreed.. and that's why it's never going to happen or work.

i used to love it at Wimbledon where all the lights would go off around the stadium and just leave the track lights for the race, great feel about it

No I was being cheeky! There isn’t any team suits in 2019!

All times Polish time Round 1 Saturday March 30th Lodz v Ostrow Eleven sport 20.15 Sunday March 31st Gniezno v Gdansk Polsat Sport 14.30pm Round 2 Saturday April 6th Rybnik v Lodz Eleven sport 20.15pm Sunday April 7th Gdansk v Tarnow Polsat sport 14.30pm Round 3 Saturday April 13th Tarnow v Ostrow Eleven sport 20.15pm Sunday April 14th Gniezno v Rybnik Polsat Sport 14.30pm Round 4 Monday April 22nd(Easter Monday) Lodz v Gniezno Eleven sport start time TBA Sunday April 28th Rybnik v Tarnow Polsat Sport 14.30pm

Well first, let me say, I must be a Doom Monger' because unlike you I am concerned who the riders are. I have witnessed many poor teams, in my life of supporting the Stars, and quite frankly, if the promotions doesn't think it necessary to inform the fans of that team then why should we bother to attend. I admire your nonchalant approach of not giving a hoot who the riders are, or how good they might be. You and the rest who are not bothered, merely illustrates how unimportant the whole sport has become.... I wonder if your attitude would change when the team is being beaten every week, languishing at the foot of the table getting hammered each meeting. I wonder then if the names of the riders will be important, after all you say, as long as there are 7 riders that's all that matters.... Once upon a time, winning the match wasn't important, there were many things going on that made a speedway match an enjoyable night out. But that has changed, all that is left now is the excitement of seeing 4 men racing on bikes with no brakes . but the novelty of that eventually wears off when the racing become processional and predetermined... Its little wonder the fans stay away now. If the truth be known, of all the sports, Speedway must more supporters who don't go any more, compared to the ones that do, and that should speak volumes So yes I am bothered who the riders are......

I wouldnt have cared if Bomber rode round in a wet suit. He put bums on seats and did what he was brought in to do .

Not necessarily true though is it. We can't compare last to this season due to different rider's. Even with all the pre-season training in 2018 we were a dire team until Riss, Palm-Toft and S.Lambert came in and only then did thing's change. These 3 didn't have access to pre-season yet improved on those that did. Not a good advert. Yet again, the predicted line-up looks awful compared to other sides. If this team stays together and finishes top 4 they've had a great season. If we have to go down the route of 2+ changes again in 2019, what exactly is the point of this training programme?? It's money wasted imo as it's not benefiting the club at all when half the pre-season trained rider's don't complete the year.

Remarkable that Ricky continues his story, who knows how far this will go.

From a sporting perspective, it's a fairly interesting development...no more. The idea that the fastest rider gets to choose the best riding position is a bit underwhelming. But there is potential here. If there were bonus points to be gained from qualifying, that might make it more interesting, say 5-3-2-1 for the top four? From a tech perspective, this could open the door to more interesting developments. I find swimming a very boring sport. But at the Olympics and major televised meets, I do like the red line of the world record that is superimposed onto the race. I wonder if something similar could be used for speedway? In a boring race for example, it becomes a whole lot more interesting if Tai Woffinden is chasing down the track record. I have also long thought starting tapes to be very old fashioned. Surely, the GPs could easily use a laser beam device, which could provide absolute accuracy for any 'tape' touching. It could also be used to decide any particularly tight finishes - the winner breaks the beam first.

I was brought up on race bibs I prefer them to team kevlars. I go to watch the racing not bothered about looking professional as long as I see good speedway that's what will bring the fans back

I just don't get it with Matt Ford. He even said in an Echo interview prior to getting the new team sponsor that he would consider outside sponsorship for the kevlars even at individual level. Yet he gets a sponsor and is only to pleased to be quick off the mark to say he will now be able to afford mid season changes if required. Of course ultimately we all want to win the league, but to me in the teams sponsored kevlars looks so much more professional. When you look at say Woryna last season he looked so out of place against the rest of the team in his red kevlars. I can only give my honest opinion which I think is like the majority, that it does not convey the right message and for the life of me I can't see why it can't be done in conjunction with both individuals or companies to contribute towards it. Unless of course this is all about making sure that he does not have to invest a single dime more on outgoings as part of showing no negative costs on the books as part of the sale. I am not saying it is but why when the majority of clubs also in Champ have Kevlar deals for the team. Heck this is supposed to be the affluent South Coast area of Dorset where plenty of money is washing around yet a Club with the profile of Poole can't afford to deck out its riders even if a number of different supporters/sponsors step up. Won't even need new bibs will he if he recycles last seasons ????????????

Did it stop us from winning the league, no but that isn’t the point!! Most clubs did actually have them! Easily get 7 fans who could pay say £500 to sponsor the team suit for the year, at the end of the season you get to keep them. Backward step in my eyes, not that hard to look uniformed and professional! There is options if money is the issue, which I now find hard to believe with a few new sponsors on board for 2019. Maybe I’m just a far too passionate supporter & sponsor who wants the team sport look more professional.

I am almost certain that these figures contain a lot of inaccuracies, so much so that conclusions really can't be drawn. Most tax returns I've seen, including business ones, never show the real amounts of money flowing, the value taken out or offset against costs that are lower in reality than stated. This is even more true of cash businesses where income can be difficult to audit. Accountants are paid a lot of money for a reason!

Tiger Cubs had a big end that would disintegrate within a few seconds as a secondary rev limiter though

Hopefully my Club Birmingham will be a breath of fresh air too and if we could see likes of Kent; Plymouth and Mildenhall try to venture up too in next few years and no one else lave it could be a cracking League. Mighty impressed by what's happening at Eastbourne though.