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LionsDen

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Posts posted by LionsDen


  1. On 2/18/2020 at 7:19 PM, Skodaman said:

    This is the reply that I got from the management re the back straight:

    profile_mask2.png

     

    13:11 (6 hours ago)
       
    Thank you for your email regarding the naming of the back straight stand. We are forever grateful to the generosity of people who came forward during the build of the stadium. The donations pledged from fans was gratefully received and as you say each person's name has been recorded on a plaque.
     
    You have raised an interesting observation and we gave the matter considerable thought before entering into discussions about the naming of the stand and took into consideration the part fans played. 
     
    The total of monies raised by fans amounted to a contribution that paid for a stretch of concrete, whereas the total cost of the building of the back straight stand with terracing, steel girders, roof and back support ran into thousands of pounds. With this in mind, we came to the conclusion that in this instance there was no requirement for prior consultation beforehand as the highest significant proportion of the total cost fell to the club owners to find.
     
    I hope my explanation clears up any misunderstanding and once again many thanks for taking the time to write to us and we look forward to seeing you in March.
     

    As someone who was closely involved in the whole project of getting speedway back to Leicester, as both part of Leicester Speedway Ltd's organising committee and also as Secretary of the LSSC at the time, I'm assuming this 'information' has been put forward by Hemsley given that the present regime were not in place back 2011. The statement misses out an awful lot of the background story to the construction of that stand, and crucially, the paying for it. The LSSC raised well over £5k for that concrete terrace, with our people also helping to build it. The back straight was originally going to be a continuation of the earth berm around the bends until we put this proposal forward. The cost of the ironwork, which did indeed cost more than the terrace, was actually funded by the waste tipping but sadly, ended up as a legal battle that caused a lot of misery and discontent for some time afterwards, and remains the reason why Ken and I swore never to set foot in the place again.

    I honestly don't care enough about Leicester Speedway these days to be bothered about what the stand is called but I must admit, the expediency in that club statement did make me laugh out loud.

    • Sad 1

  2. 7 men make up a speedway team and yet just 4 months into the season, that's now 16 names on the Lions team sheet. Even allowing for the unfortunate injuries, that's quite a roll call...
    Martin Vaculik
    Josh Bates
    Danny King
    Krystian Pieszczek
    Hans Andersen
    Kyle Newman
    James Sarjeant
    Michael Palm Toft
    Kenneth Bjerre
    Todd Kurtz
    Ricky Wells
    Charles Wright
    Scott Nicholls
    Josh Auty
    Stuart Robson
    Connor Mountain

    A very long time ago (1969) Leicester Lions used the same 7 riders all season. We probably didn't realise it at the time but christ, those were the days. Even the odd change at reserve was greeted with a raised eyebrow and a visit to the track shop proudly showed photos of the riders that you'd be cheering on all season.

    Given the 'hire em fire em' culture of modern speedway it's easy to see why Matt Ford did away with team kevlars at Poole this season. Suprised any of them bother. The thing that bothers me, especially after reading the comments on the various Leicester Speedway Facebook pages, is that the fans now appear to have adopted the same mercenary standpoint taken by the promoters. It's become the norm and multiple changes are cheered. I think that's sad for speedway.

    I always used to think, and probably the main reason I became a fan as a young boy, speedway was superior to other motor sports because it somehow managed to embrace the 'team' ethic. You identified with the guys wearing your club's colours at your local track. They may as well just run individual meetings each week for all the value the word 'team' has these days.

    • Like 4

  3. Ila was one of my favourite riders when he first broke into the Leicester team and despite what seemed like a transfer request every close season, he was the mainstay during some particularly lean seasons if I recall. That said, both him and the team as a whole improved a lot in 1978…. we even had three Lions in the World Final that year!

    RIP Ila.

    • Like 1

  4. Having worked alongside Chris Popple both in the LSSC and as part of the original campaign, I've seen first hand what enthusiasm and energy he brought to the task. Whatever your views on him as a presenter (and one man's meat will always be another man's poison) there's been no denying his passion for Leicester Speedway over the years. Such a shame that certain elements seem incapable of either respect or appreciation. Speedway in the UK depends on goodwill and some promotions and management people would do well to remember that.

    Anyway, I would like to wish him all the best and hope that he enjoys his speedway down at the IOW, where it has to be said, they know how to look after people a whole lot better than they do at Leicester.

    • Like 5

  5. The options listed in Speedway Star this week were:

    1) Coventry & Leicester track share.

    2) Horton moves his entire team lock stock & barrel into Leicester

    If option 1 happened wouldn't this immediately undermine Dave Darcy, or would he be no longer involved in Leicester (there was a hint in the SS that he may not be. If option 2 happened, i can't see anyway that it would succeed. Does anyone seriously think that Leicester fans will turn up to watch Coventry in all but name, with Horton in charge? Utter madness.

    To be honest, if Leicester don't get their fingers out & sign some riders soon instead of waiting to see if they can grab any Coventry cast offs (& this isn't in any way meant to be detrimental to Coventry as i sincerely hope they ride this year), i fear that two sets of fans will very soon give up caring what happens. The current situation is completely farcical, no wonder speedway is hardly ever mentioned in the local media.

    I'm hearing a strong rumour about a necessary change of plan at Leicester from that publicly announced earlier this month, largely because of financial reasons. IF what I was told is true (and who knows what is and isn't in this crazy sport anymore?) Mick Horton could walk away from the sorry mess at Brandon, bringing his riders with him, remedy the aforementioned financial issue, and take on the promoting rights here instead.

     

    If you take the club loyalty, emotional side of things out of it, it makes perfect sense.... Leicester has a track and no team. Coventry has a team and no track (not with shale on it anyway!). Do the BSPA lose two clubs or save one?

     

    Can you imagine? Leicester Bees!

     

    A desperate situation all round. Is it too far-fetched?


  6. Who owns the stadium Mr or Mrs Hensley ?

    Beaumont Sports Complex Ltd own the lease to the ground that contains the speedway stadium so therefore, it's Mr H as opposed to Mrs H. He is the sole director of BSC Ltd whilst she is is the sole director of Leicester Speedway Ltd, the company that have until now operated the speedway club from the stadium for the past 7 years. LS Ltd have not been offically dissolved as yet and as such create a bit of an anomaly that Companies House presently have TWO different companies operating as 'Leicester Speedway'. No doubt that will resolve itself in due course.


  7. Just read the statement. Only 19 teams left standing now then. And there are doubts about 3 of those.

    So we're now down to 10 clubs in the Premier League (sorry, Championship) but up to 9 in Elite League (sorry, Premiership). That number of 9 is presumably to protect the Sky contract should either Leicester or Belle Vue not make it to tapes - a real possibility in both cases. And in the Championship Workington appear to be teetering too.

    Hardly a total revamp is it? More a case of desperately trying to hang on to what they have left.

    • Like 2

  8. He's been a disaster from the moment his ego got the better of him, thinking he knew best when he clearly didn't. Leicester Speedway came back because of a massive united effort from many people. He hijacked all that and instead made it all about him. 28 years to get it all back and just 6 years to screw it all up, with many people treated appallingly and many people not caring about speedway in this city anymore, let alone paying to go and watch it. That's his legacy. Good riddance to him.

    And good luck to whoever attempts to pick up all the broken pieces of the shambolic mess that is Leicester Speedway in it's present state.

    • Like 5

  9. Not having any personal experience of course in SCB/ACU disciplinary processes, but from my laymans viewpoint I'm surprised that DH seems to be attempting to turn the process into an investigation into the competency of officials and, by implication, a wider issue about competency of the SCB/ACU in the training and on-going professional development of officials.

    However, the disciplinary hearing and subsequent fine and other sanctions was brought about due to DH's own personal CONDUCT in relation to the rules which he as a promoter, was subject to abiding by.

    Surely the appeal needs to likewise focus on those areas, e.g. whether or not the comments made by DH (whatever they were), really were "fraudulent"?

    If he has issues with the official and his conduct and competency (including the competency of the SCB/ACU, and they may welll be valid concerns), shouldn't they be raised by DH separately. It does look as if he is trying to turn this around into putting SCB/ACU on trial, including the claim for damages, but is this the right way to be going about it?

     

    Spot on. It's his own personal conduct that is the issue here, and what the subsequent charges relate to, not regulations and practices to which he was already abiding as promoter of Leicester Speedway. As an appeal letter I think it's a crock of the brown stuff and the SCB should treat it as such.

    • Like 1

  10. There were presumably witnesses to the alleged/admitted offences?!

     

    Yes there were, including young children who heard all the 'industrial' language quite clearly as it wasn't just confined to the inside of the referee's box. To be honest, he'd have a harder job not admitting to the threatening and abusive behaviour!

     

    As regards the fine, surely it's as high as it is because there are SEVEN counts he is charged with. Plus the costs. Plus the original unpaid fine at the meeting itself. I'm not totally justifying it because unless you were at the hearing then it's speculation. However, the charge sheet is long and whilst I don't pretend to know the rules regarding this I'm sure they wouldn't have arrived at that figure if it was beyond the limits of what they can sanction.

     

    Regardless of that..... what a totally stupid way to conduct yourself in any event, let alone as the promoter of a professional speedway club to appointed meeting officials. It's not unusual though, as a lot of people who have worked with this person will know. When the first recourse to something you're not happy with is to 'lose it' and throw all your dummies out of the pram then at some point, and in one form or another, it will cost you.

    • Like 4

  11. So much has happened over the years with so many fall-outs with so many different people that my only surprise is that it's taken this long to come to a head.

     

    Having heard from witnessess what occurred, and assuming those accounts are accurate, then he only has himself to blame. He was doing a bit more than 'speaking his mind about his own business interest' as R72 put it.

     

    These fines wouldn't be imposed if they were not within the rules and you simply can't behave like he has continually done so with various individuals, and not at some point expect to pay the price for it. Being beligerent, confrontational, dictatorial and egotistical rarely ends well.

    What an absolute mess for Leicester Speedway and it's loyal supporters.


  12. Funnily enough all the things that are on the list to be addressed now that they have seen sense got rid of Sarah.

     

    You are going to see a new Leicester speedway behind the scene's this season so cut them some slack & judge them once the season starts i think you will all be very surprised. People are working round the clock to tie things up before going public very soon

    So they "got rid" did they… as opposed to her leaving to have a baby as Flagrag stated? Interesting. Anyone else at BP you would like to see gone? First Chris P and now Sarah. Sounds a bit bitchy behind the scenes.

    Anyway, good to hear all those things are now being addressed... it's only taken 5 years! :lol:

    • Like 3

  13. A quality statement from a quality sportsman. Like everyone else, I wish you a long and happy retirement from racing David.

    My favourite memory is British Final night at Wolverhampton in 2007 and the sheer delight you showed in clinching the Cardiff GP wild card. I think everyone in the stadium was delighted for you because, not only did you deserve it on the night, but also because of how much it meant to you.

    • Like 1

  14. Thats up to the supporters; if they want to give, let them; if they dont, so be it!!

    Agreed. It's how it's dressed up though isn't it? It shouldn't cost supporters £2000 to simply rename a stand so as long as it's made clear to donators that only a small percentage is in honour of Denis, and that the larger amount is to help the owner pay for stadium improvments, then that's fine.


  15. I have heard threre is also a legal reason why the supporters have to pay to have the stand named after Dennis, I believe it is tied into the deal they did to sell the naming rights of the stadium to Jordan's Road surfacing back in 2013 as they said they would have sole rights.

     

    I am sure that there will be some money invested back into the facilities and in my view it would be better for the money to be spent on putting a new roof on the home straight grandstand as that is now rather weathered and has holes in it. I would have a guess that more fans may donate if they sit in the stands as would get a direct benefit:

    So who gets the two grand then, assuming it gets raised? If, as you suggest, it's compensation for Jordan Road Surfacing is it them? Doubt it. The LSSC facebook page states that the reason for the cost is "new fittings to the stand Ie., acoustic barriers, speaker system and general upgrading etc". What's that got to do with any naming issue? Everyone can appreciate there's a cost for a plaque or two but surely the whole idea is to honour a fine man who actively carried the torch for a Lions return long before any of the present administration were involved - not raise funds to pay for things that the promotion should be paying for anyway.

    • Like 1

  16. I used to attend Blackbird Road, amongst other places, and my recollection is that the old track rakers used to do their bit between the races, not actually hold them up! They'd be out doing the raking whilst riders were getting ready, being pushed off and riding to the start line. As a result, there was definitely a better continuity about speedway meetings back then.

    That said, there must be a good reason why clubs prefer to use tractors these days so maybe a track man can come on and explain? Shale Searcher makes good points above regarding laydown engines needing slick tracks so maybe it's just that. It's detrimental though because these grading breaks don't go down well with the new, or even casual, spectator. And most especially the younger ones. Committed speedway fans do probably just about accept grading as a necessity - and an opportunity to visit the loo or the bar - but they're not the ones that need converting.

    When I mentioned this subject in another thread the discussion was about where speedway has gone wrong and why it isn't attracting a larger following these days. Thousands of people came to Leicester in that first year they re-opened and way too many haven't become regulars when the expectation was that they would. One of the most often quoted reasons to me at the time was that they found too much of it a boring night out and not worthy of the money spent. 15 heats, lasting about a minute each, isn't a lot to see and the regular, sometimes quite lengthy spells of tractor grading make meetings drag on and on to the casual observer. They stop the flow of what they've paid money to come and see.

    • Like 2

  17. I was involved in the campaign to get Leicester back and went to each meeting that first year. I spoke with many, many visitors at that time who were either returning after 28 years away from the sport or were simply excited about having another Leicester sporting team to follow and keen to see the sport for themselves.

     

    Sadly, so many of those tried it once, or even a few times, and then didn't come back. Even though they compare favourably to some tracks, Leicester's crowds aren't anywhere near what was expected in the original business plan. The most common thing I heard from those people was this... it's boring and not worth the money. Leicester is the perfect example of where a stadium (albeit one comprised of two tented stands and numerous portacabins) was put above the track. That was one reason, the racing was rubbish. The other thing that made it boring and was constantly moaned about were the long delays between the action, especially the endless laps by tractors, something experienced virtually everywhere as we all know.

     

    People new to the sport, which is what speedway is crying out for just now, need to be convinced by the spectacle in order to consider spending their money on becoming a regular attendee. To see every stoppage accompanied by returns to the pits, referees who don't bother with using 2 minute warnings, lengthy track grades after every 3/4 heats, and so on. It all combines to make meetings drag on forever. Speedway should be fast, exciting and get the adrenaline flowing. It's capable of that but all too often we're stood around getting bored with nothing to watch other than a tractor going round. Throw in the constant team changes that remove any chance of continuity and affinity with your own team, the double points rule, the guest rule, rider replacement and the constant need to cross things out and re-write half your racecard and it all adds up to a product that simply doesn't attract people in the kind of numbers the sport needs to survive financially.

    Surely it's not that difficult for the custodians of our sport to get right these basics, and think about what kind of product they're trying to sell to the wider public, and most of the above can be done without spending the aforementioned vast sums of money on new stadia. Sadly though, that appears to be exactly the case. I for one get extremely frustrated when I hear certain promoters speak utter nonsense in trying to convince the world at large that everything's great at their particular track. They talk the talk but then sit steadfastly on their backsides whilst the sport declines with each passing year as existing fans reduce in number and promoters do nothing to encourage new ones by making speedway meetings something that people want to buy.

    • Like 6

  18. Like most clubs if somebody approached the Promotor and says can I buy the club for X amount then most would sell it, that is all that has been said if anybody has the money and wants to take over Leicester Speedway then Mr Hemsley will listen.

     

    I don't think he particularly wants to get out but was a little bemused by it all towards end of season, mainly caused by other promotors attitudes,an over zealous council who are very difficult to work with along with injuries to a number of he team. But on the plus he has said they have had a good year financially and with crowd numbers.

     

    Now where did I put that spare million pounds that I won on the lottery

    This is the same council who were on his side big time during the planning process, and since it opened have turned a blind eye to numerous breaches of the conditions that were approved back in 2009. They have also allowed Beaumont Park to become an appalling eyesore construction industry spoil tipping site, to Leicester Speedway's financial gain, and with no sign of the multi-sports complex they bought in to. My understanding is that following numerous complaints from local residents and local businesses, combined with political gesturing within the council itself about how it had been allowed to develop as it has, the relevant officers are now starting to pay attention to what's happened at BP. That's not being 'over zealous' - more a case of finally doing their job and Leicester Speedway have to comply with the same rules and regulations as anyone else.

    To imply it's been a bit of a nightmare to run hardly sounds like a sales pitch though. Who'd buy it anyway? No speedway track is a sound investment these days is it?


  19. Interesting comments from the promoter in this week's Speedway Star where he's openly questioning his future. Strangely this is combined with stating how well Leicester Speedway is doing financially and how it's benefited from increased attendances and a much improved quality of racing entertainment (though that last point is the subject of much debate as we all know).

    He has a dig at his fellow promoters by suggesting they're not as mature as he is. He also bemoans some of the criticism (presumably from fans?) and unnamed colleagues are accused of "turning and twisting" (wonder who he means?). Finally he complains about "local authority shennanigans" after having on previous occasions proclaimed how supportive they've been. The council's job is to make sure everything is above board with planning conditions adhered to and they are his landlord so they are entitled.

    All sounds rather odd.


  20. Nobody wants him out......we just want a reasonable track...........is that too much to ask?

    David Hemsleys programme notes in last nights programme were eye-opening or was he taking the Michael? He says...

     

    "I now feel that we have fully arrived on the speedway scene with the meeting being broadcast live tonight.I hope that viewers experience the special atmosphere that is generated here at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium on match days which arises from the feast of exciting racing that the track has served up throughout this season.Last week it was very nice to see Jason Crump making an unscheduled appearance here at our stadium and he was treated to some excellent racing.Jason was really impressed with how the stadium has developed and the quality of racing the track was serving up"

     

    Ho Hum!

    Good grief! Is this for real? Be really funny if it wasn't so painfully deluded.

     

    The conclusion is you can all stop going on about track changes because they'll never occur if the 'boss' thinks this is the fact of the matter. One can only assume he's either lost the plot if he thinks the speedway on offer at JRSS is "a feast of exciting racing" (even his more vociferous supporters on here don't argue that for goodness sake!) or alternatively, he's just getting increasingly desperate in his attempts to convince everyone they're wrong and he's right - something he's not immune to believing anyway. Whatever, happens, it's his business, his call and therefore his sword to fall on. If you believe he's right you support him (as obviously some do) and if you don't, then you have no choice but to stay away. He wont change.

     

     

    • Like 1

  21. I wouldn't have a clue...I don't ride myself.

    But you do spectate don't you Tina? It's the spectators who say this - not the riders. The people who pay money to watch speedway racing. Simply dismissing the discussion as 'boring' doesn't alter their opinions, their future non-attendance and subsequently their financial backing of the club. It's a serious subject and when many of your customers aren't happy then any business should pay heed to that. It's common sense. Obviously it doesn't affect me as I don't attend anymore but this is a forum and issues such as the track will continually get debated until the issue is resolved. The only way to make it go away is for something to be done about it. The racing is the thing that's boring - and therein lies the problem.

    • Like 3
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