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Hey, The challenges for a club such as ours are many - for example we have already spent for 40 AIr fence banners, plus A frame and trackside banners, we have invested in new media equipment, track equipment, we have undertaken Ferry TV and Newpapers marketing campaigns (although these are suspended), and there are many other expenses associated with the season starting insurances, pbs, machinery hire contracts and more... its pretty tricky right now. Luckily, we havent processed any season tickets and not all sponsorship agreements, but the worry is that if our sponsors pull out or reduce their sponsorship it could provide a much greater challenge moving forward for the sustainability of the club (as you know speedway is not my main work). I am sure that our club is not alone when I say that we have already had contact from sponsors raising such questions about the seaon ahead and what's happening and how that might reflect their sponsorship contribution. Nothing said in a bad way... just enquiring because for sure, they will also be hurting too and worried about their bottom line. It is a heartbraking situation for us all and even more so for anyone who has to make considerable financial investment to bring speedway to the public in the first place.. Riders, Promoters, Management, and I am sure our govening bodies too. But all this really does not compare in the effort of our nation(s) right now to protect us all against Covid 19 and I wish you all well and keep healthy and safe. As to the question of if we can all survive this... I am always very positive about the future and what lays ahead but it will take an effort from everyone involved in speedway from our fans to our governing bodies to ensure that we succeed. Promoters and riders cannot do it alone... never could, but even more so after this. Keep safe, check in with your elderly relatives and if you need a chat reach out to me anytime. No need to be lonely.

If I can do it, anyone can.

You can forget May, June and maybe July I reckon

The original King Erik Wunder Gunder

Oh do not get me started with those people. A few times I have had people come up asking what have I seen and it seems to turn into a game of trumps as they start going off a long list of birds!

Sadly we likely won't be watching any live speedway for a while I'd encouage people to subsctibe to Speedway Star, and possibly also the excellent Retro Speedway publications of Classic Speedway and Backtrack. Think the Retro Speedway mags are subscription only anyway, happy to be proved wrong there, but the Star sales will be massively hit by lack of track sales and now at supermarkets. I began 'subbing The Star' by accident so sick was I of the mag 'being late' according to newagents and you know what, I wish I'd subscribed much earlier, it arrives crisp and early on Thursday mornrings and one saves on the cover price of £3.00, paying only £2.30 per issue, the price of some programmes. A 3-monthly 'Star subscription of 13 issues is £30, a yearly sub to Backtrack (6 issues) is £25; both roughly the price of 2 meetings we won't be seeing anyway. We are in self-lockdown and need something to occupy ourselves, are lacking in speedway so I reccomend helping out Phil Rising & Co at the Speedway Star and also Tony McDonald & his team at Retro Speedway, if only for the current difficult times til we can enjoy live speedway once more. Stating the obvious disclaimer: I set up & pay for my own magazine subscriptions and posted the above only to express my own opinion. So, cheques in the post then Phil & Tony ? ....

Emil Sayfutdinov Czestochowa race

Depends how many he has sold I think? He did have a lot of stick when launching late and for high cost (on here and social media). Kent also sold a combined CL and NDL ticket, no option to buy one or other League. So he obviously realises just not enough matches can be fitted in now for both so either won't run NDL or CL. So may be announcement coming about no NDL who knows? Nice bit of PR hopefully premature. I think most Clubs will wait until end of May at least? Clubs like Brummies have done a fair bit of stadium work, some of it vital safety work, so may have already spent some of my season ticket money so, I'd be happy to have a pro rata refund or even carry over to 2021 if that helps my Club.I appreciate some fans might want money back though. Not many Promoters as rich as Len but if you're a Kent fan fair enough.

Post a heat of speedway off YouTube etc! Doesn't have to be a clasic. Don't give away the result of that race! If we want to know, we'll have to watch it (unless obvious). No more than 1 heat though! Keep it short and sweet! Just an idea to pass the time!

On a similar note, what are ppls earliest memories of speedway at Brough Park, mine would be the reopening in 1975 my dad worked shift work so we could only go once every three weeks, I was about 5 or 6 yrs old. The Owen brothers Robbie blackadder Phil Michaelides Ron Henderson Tim swales, many a time I'd be chased out of the pits by Ivan the pits Marshall whilst looking for autographs.. If I remember rightly they had the telephone to the referee next to the start gate which made for a brilliant watch when Ian Thomas tried to reason with the ref lol

Sean Wilson to blame in my view!

What a stupid plan to come up with at THIS time. Some people really should not be allowed in decision making positions.

Yeah I doubt that will be on this year though the programme is on a little later in the year but they would of been doing the filming for bits now. Brandon Nature Reserve is shut but if you are a member like you can still go in through the members gate with the code. Middleton Lakes is still open but that one you can gain access via the canal and a couple of different routes and you usually see people walking dogs and jogging round there so that one should be ok.

Well I had a similar but better experience last summer. A beautiful polish woman ,who was very well equipped I must say (camera wise) started talking and seemed to want to show me all the hundreds if not thousands of photos (most very good) she had saved on her camera. It did get a bit tiring as I am not only looking for birds and insects or in this case an area where snakes and lizards are seen. She even invited me to join here the following days to one or two spots she knew including a place Eagle Owls are known. But tbh I was glad to finally get away....I couldn't get a word in edgeways

I used to enjoy the Swindon v Oxford meetings but sadly those days have gone. Great meetings, great atmosphere, good crowds.

Bit of a dilemma for me. The spot I was hoping to go to for a bit of bird watching is in the next county and they have banned 'tourists'....so I don't know if me travelling over the border for a few hours counts as being a tourist. Did see one woman on FB ranting about day tourists though. The thing is, as I said before, I would just be in my car and have no contact with anyone. Whereas if I just go round by foot in my local area I have the problem of people coming up to me and talking to me, just like yesterday. An old guy who didn't look too healthy with his runny nose came up and asked if I had seen anything interesting and then carried on talking.........which normally annoys me anyway. Often I am stalking a bird trying to get a better look and then lose track f where it is. Or like the woman who came along with her dog when I had spent abut 20 minutes getting close to a kingfisher and she said quite loud 'i'm coming past.....oh,that was a kingfisher !' as it flew off . I really could have killed her

Thats pretty bizarre. Hopefully you can help the OP out then

Incorrect. You have shown a number of indicators but the riders make a massive investment in to their bikes etc. It is therefore possible for a rider to make a loss on the season. Riders are free to choose who to ride for e.g how many riders have chosen Polish speedway over British speedway. I’m not saying it’s morally correct but they can prioritise their work to maximise their income. The tool, CEST, should be completed in cases of status, as you say, to determine whether the individual should be classed within self-employment or an employee but it is only an indicator. The issue you refer to that has been delayed until April 2021 is IR35 and relates to Personal Service Companies, not self-employment.

Just my thoughts, but I would scrap SoN this season just to give dates for other meetings. SGP will most likely be ridden in some extent, but jamming all FIM WC meetings in to 3-4 months is not happening, something needs to go.

Most seem to think that he's doing a good job and so do I tbh in uncharted waters. Trying not to be too draconian and relying on individuals to be sensible, but we're in the "I'll do what I want until forcibly stopped" era, and much like Panthers alleged Blue Badge policy, everyone pays due to those who will not (some, but not all by any means, cannot with good reason in unprecedented tough and worrying times) play ball. According to the BBC: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he believes the UK can "turn the tide" against the outbreak within the next 12 weeks and the country can "send coronavirus packing". That's he believes that we can turn the tide in 12 weeks - all that really requires is to slow down the infection and make some progress on dealing with it. He's not saying anything more than that IMO and it assumes that people will do as they are told which seems unlikely. I'd lockdown totally London for starters as that's the worst place but I think that he said that he'll not do that which is a bit more of an own goal.

I'd turn me down!

Firstly, I apologise for the mistake regarding the removal of the facebook post in February. I made a mistake and hold my hands up to that error. I seemed to remember going back to the post to make a comment congratulating the NSSG on a job well done to find a message stating that it had been taken down at Mr. Grant's request. Obviously that was not the case and I am sorry. Secondly, I would like nothing better than to be able to come and help on Sundays. However, you don't know me or my circumstances. My mother lives with me and she is approaching 100 years old, and leaving her for any length of time alone is a no no. Last season I missed 3 meetings in total home and away. I usually have to pay quite considerable sums to organise care for her. Usually well over £150 if it has to be overnight. I have helped the club in the past as and when I could and will possibly do so again as and when circumstances permit.

TWO page spread this week