old bob at herne bay

What about his start Marshall with the watering can :-)

Can the admin team please lock this thread - or better still transfer to the Speedway News and Discussions folder ?

Are we assuming that there will be 2 divisions (plus the ndl) racing in 2025? Seems a bit presumptuous IMO

"not open to the general public sadly !! " "ST holders only " That's the way to get British Speedway off to a good start in 2024 . Bloomin' hopeless the lot of them. "promoters" my a**e Kings Lynn appear to be more inclusive - good luck the them.

Assume the car park is a grass field ?

pedantics arnie g. Lord Shawcross banged some heads together and they joined the leagues.

The lack of teams (and speedway venues) will soon dictate that option 2 will eventually be the only option. Last time they merged it took a rebel league set up and eventually a government enquiry to force them to amalgamate. I see neither Sunak or Charmer getting involved, despite Sunak being a closet Coventry supporter. How long the present bunch of promoters will cling on to the existing 3 league structure is anyone's guess. They have an annual conference every season and other than tinkering around the edges show no concern for the future of the sport which must hinge on attracting NEW supporters.

Test Matches of 18 heats with 8 man teams, comprising 6 riders and 2 reserves..... no chance of ever seeing such meetings in the UK. With UK speedway now on a downward path to extinction, they can just about cling on to running a skeleton irregularly scheduled " league" programme during a March to October season. Last season saw unscheduled breaks in the league programme due to "cash flow " issues and clubs unable to field a competitive 7 man team. the p.offs were only just completed within the season. One competition was never completed at all. International Test Match organisation is well beyond the capability of whoever runs British Speedway in 2024.

Aside from the demands for punitive fines to be dished out to all and sundry for breaking planning laws, etc etc., oh and fining Len Silver for selling the club to BMR !!! After the blame game has ceased is there really any possibility that some magic fairy will instruct anyone anytime soon to reinstall a speedway track on he site at Hoddesdon ? Almost as much chance one thinks as an alternative Lakeside venue being resurrected by teh developers backed by teh bankrupt Thurrock Council. OR the Swindon track being reinstated 5 yards from the back gardens of the new des res housing developements. Let us not forget the hand that BSPL dealt to the enthusiastive new Rye House owners BMR by chopping of their prime time Saturday evening racing slot in the PL. Seems to be all too conveniently forgotten that little nugget.

Just being polite and answering your question.

Nope not interested, thanks for asking.

Think you have answered your own question - if there's speedway in Poland paying £1000 per point why would anyone bother racing at BV for £10 a point ? Expect the usual field of British Talent , with a few last minute "sickies" requiring a few NDL fillers to make up the numbers. Programmes £10 each , inflated admission charges, didsy track prep as its a "shared" event and sounds like over priced hotel accommodation. What's there not to like ?

Nothing changes. The last reply from a promoter I received was from Ronnie Greene at Wimbledon in the 1960's who sent a signed reply when I enquired about tickets fro the Laurels Meeting . A real promoter. Others I have sent letters include :- John Louis at Ipswich Ronnie Rusell at Lakeside Jon Cook at Lakeside Jim Lawrence at BSPA and probably a few others I have forgotten. None of them replied. Frankly I dont give a tuppenny damn about todays "promoters " .

The BSPA can be proud of their hand in closing down Kent speedway at Iwade, and extinguishing the last league speedway in the South East of England. it’s been fun - my family over 3 generations have been supporting speedway since the early 30’s at Crystal Palace, but finally old Bob has lapsed his speedway star subscription and with it my interest in a sport that has little appeal in far off locations …….

ITs a novel idea .... dont think it has ever been tried running teams in both the top 2 leagues? With mos clubs running only once a fortnight , weekly speedway alternating PL and CL might just attract a good regular crowd. Not so sure about the NDL. That comment applies to any NDL club to be honest. Not sure it is viable with so few clubs and such irrelgular fixtures? Did the "Spires" come wit ha sponsorship deal from the City Council ? Given the craft plying the Cherwell. Maybe The Punters . .

No leave it be. Renaming these competitions nearly 60 years later is wrong in my opinion. Think every speedway historian recognises and acknowledges that they did show who was the best rider in World Speedway at the time. BUT the authorities of the day named them as they did and not "World Championships" and they should remain in the record books as they were originally named.

Finances must of course enter the equation ....

Too close to the truth to be a joke eh ?

So a falling star is someone 24y + and an average of 4.00 - ?

What a load of TRACK MATERIAL (edited for politeness) Reading the comments got to marvel at what the 2023 speedway supporter enjoys from the sport. DELAYS ? TIME to Chew the cud ? TIME to watch aircraft landing at London City Airport (what I endured at Lakeside speedway) Seems the 2023 speedway supporter attends to watch tractor racing. With today's slick tracks the tractor boys are polishing a turd for many of their endless laps. The water cart then follows to give the track a nice slimy top. You only have to look at how few track rakers are needed at tracks to realise there's sod all to grade ! Now seems de rigeur for the tractor racing to take place every 4 heats to allow TV adverts, even when the meeting isn't televised. DELAY after DELAY. Drove me potty and away from the sport. Some say its all part of the entertainment seeing whether the tractor(s) do more laps than the riders ? I paid to watch racing not grading - and need to get through it at a reasonable pace to generate some interest. Still if that's what 2023 supporter enjoys lets organise official timed tractor races with each member of track staff giving it a go racing around the track.

Oh no the control board or whatever they call themselves nowadays haven't changed IMO ... speedway is still a sport with professional riders governed by amateurs. So many clubs continue to be destroyed by their decisions.......

You are correct New Cross closed in 1963 after an ill fated half season revival in the Provincial League by Wally Mawdsley. When you were used to seeing riders like Waterman Briggs Nygren it was a step or two down too far to watch Reg and Eddie Reeves and the young Bob Dugard around the frying pan. In my opinion the real end of New Cross Speedway occurred a few years earlier when Fred Mockford ceased promoting due to the control board refusing to allow him to track the team he chose. Anyhow notwithstanding the Martini factor (anytime anyplace anywhere) that riders enjoy in British Speedway still think Wolves supporters might struggle to visit Birmingham .. unless they carry over a good few of the Wolves riders and promotion .

Will be a big ask for Birmingham to attract former Wolves fans across to Perry Barr. That will decide whether Birmingham speedway will survive. Sadly speedway fans are a parochial and loyal bunch (including me) Never thought racing was as good as at New Cross after they closed down. Went along to support the opposition at Wimbledon for a while..... but couldn't ever support the "dirty dons" Wonder how many Cradley supporters still attend speedway?

Yes, the BSPL would rescind the track licences of Birmingham and Oxford and put them "on ice" I will watch to see what help Oxford and Birmingham receive from the other promoters.

Ivor Brown was certainly the "idol" of the CH supporters and it's fair to say had a "reputation" in the Provincial League, where he pushed and shoved himself around amongst the PL teams. Never really got a fair crack at BL racing due to his coming together with Ove Fundin at the Wills Internationale at Wimbledon. I was there sat in the glasshouse on the entrance to the first bend. Still think to this day he picked on the wrong man to mix with on the first bend. Saddened to read later that the incident pretty well finished Ivor's speedway career.