Jump to content
British Speedway Forum

Theboss

Members
  • Content count

    405
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

Posts posted by Theboss


  1. 1 hour ago, poole keith said:

    one scenario matt could be there wont be enough planes,many have been seriously mothballed and parts removed,will there be enough pilots?airlines might decide "if you want to fly thats the price" 

    Also the demand will be lower because a big recession is on the cards and people will choose paying for food and accomodation over taking holidays on credit. Also businesses will want to cut costs and use online meetings to save on the cost of face to face ones.


  2. 6 minutes ago, MattK said:

    I agree that airlines will be disrupted for the rest of this year and maybe early next year. However,  I cannot see any scenario where the market for budget airlines doesn't get back to its original position in the medium term.

    I disagree with that however no one can be sure. I guess it is my nature to prepare for the worst rather than hope for the best.

    • Like 1

  3. 48 minutes ago, MattK said:

    No one is saying to do nothing. However, I don't think tinkering with the league structure, race format or eligibility of riders will make one iotas difference to the number of paying customers thorough the turnstiles.

    The answer in my mind is marketing. You can fluff up the product as much as you want, but if no one knows about it then you'll only ever be attracting a diminishing number of diehard fans.

    I agree marketing is key however I think you have the wrong idea if I am suggesting we tinker with the sport. I am suggesting British Speedway will have NO OTHER OPTION but to completly REBUILD itself due to CV19. 

    Surely you can see it will not be possible for the sport to operate as was planned? If so then what should the clubs do? 

    • Like 1

  4. 15 minutes ago, DC2 said:

     

    Spot on and perfect.

    Oh, apart from the last sentence!

    And you could have a large, old fashioned cricket style scoreboard to please Grachan (which is a fair point).

    I can understand why that may not be ideal but I am struggling with ideas on how to share around the limited number of riders that will be available?

     

     


  5. So according to yesterday's national newspapers, when Poland start their 2020 league campaign they will only use riders who are willing to committ solely to their league AND LIVE IN THEIR COUNTRY. 

    The PNZ obviously see the problems ahead with air travel and want to protect their league, so don't be surprised to see this also be implemented in 2021 and beyond.

    Surely this news will make British speedway promoters realise that the current set up with three leagues will no longer be possible and they need to use the time they have now to start again with a clean sheet of paper?

    I believe valid fans ideas which should be considered by the promoters are:

    - £10 entry

    - Regular meetings over a shorter season

    - Semi pro riders

    - Better sound systems and interviews (score    boards are a good idea but too expensive)

    I would add that to reduce costs for everyone involved a fixed appearance fee rather than points money in year 1 which should be deter riders from spending money on fancy carbs and engine rebuilds.

    Then in year 2 move to standard engines and introduce money per point.

    If rider supply is an issue then it would be a good idea to set up north and south league and allow riders to ride for a team in each division.


  6. 13 hours ago, RobMcCaffery said:

    It works in Sweden but that is a different society and economy to ours. 

    I think the Isle of Wight meeting mentioned by someone earlie=er is this one:

     

    These bikes look good enough to me, they are smooth due to not being too highly tuned. If they are reliable and reduce the amount of crashes because they are not picking up mid corner then they could fit the bill.

    Could stick to riders bringing their own bikes and engines or each club could provide the engines on the night which are drawn by ballot, riders only need to bring their frames and each club provides a practice session prior to the start of the meeting. For practice sessions riders would have their own stock engines.

    Any ideas how much these engines are?


  7. 1 hour ago, HGould said:

    With age dynamic of supporters and cost of modern electronic boards not sure how either are going to have any impact at all.

    Standard engines are fine as long as a single manufacturer can make enough. Jaws who supplied ice racing engine to IOW Nice Challenge would struggle to make enough available.

    Could be real milage in R2 and bring mainstream manufacturers in to the sport.

    One big regionalised league, set pay rates per win, 2nd, 3rd 4th like the 80,s, and a max admission of £12 with Clubs forced to adhere to pay rates would be a start.

    Abolish BSPA and create a new independent body.

    Think you final idea would make sense if nothing is being done to create a new blueprint for the sport!


  8. 4 minutes ago, Garry1603 said:

    I agree with all of that - maybe have a 'speedway app' that could enhance the experience for the watching fans as well (and the ones who can't be present at the meeting).

    The bikes don't have to be tuned up thoroughbreds, a good race is four riders closely racing, not follow your leader at high speed.

    I was literally writing about an app for hearing intervioews as you wrote this. I agree, an app could contain all the race information, scorers and advertisers. It would reduce the cost of attendance for fans as programmes would no longer be required.


  9. 11 minutes ago, waytogo28 said:

    This is a great way forward IF it could be replicated as much as it has been in Sweden. But this is a medium term possibility as I doubt if it coul dbe "sold" to councils and or comminuty groups in a few months.( even in 12 months ).

     

    I suggest that it is entirely renamed - perhaps as "Dirt Track Racing" or somesuch. It needs to be on standard bikes with no tuner add ons and therefore easier to have a go and start riding for youngsters . F2? Perhaps even 250cc bikes ( as the 500cc rockets ships have inherent problems in their use inc safety & cost ) . Perhaps on a single manufacturer's machine. Get the empahasis on talent winning ( and having a beter chance of proving more reliable exciting racing ) and not the increasingly "first away wins". Boring! Include handicap racing - maybe in ability bands to offer a better on track experience for the younger new supporters. What is clear that the same old, same old of at least the last 20 years will not attract a sufficent new audience for the sport to survive. Definitely improve the P.A. everywhere ( so that interviews etc can be heard ) and Please DO change the music played and general style of 1970s presentation. That's the dim and distant past and a turnoff in trying to sell the new style action. Get those yawning time gaps deleted from meetings! Concrete starting grid - so NO gardening and more time wasted. I could go on!

    I like the idea of 250cc bikes prior at the start of a meeting and then 500cc standard spec bikes for the main event. 

    No idea why music is so bad at some tracks, many moons ago you could understand it as the cost of a DJ was prohibitive for some tracks but now we have spotify and can upgrade to ad free music for just £10 per month! Speaker systems have also been an issue for many moons because of the cost, however it would now be easy to broadcast through an app so supporters could hear it through their headphones connected to their mobile phone.


  10. 41 minutes ago, Garry1603 said:

    As others have said, it looks like there's virtually no chance to have any meaningful team meetings this season, all we can hope for is to be allowed to run some open meetings.

    If, and it's a big 'if', we get the go ahead (say in August / September), how about each track hosting a 'Festival of Speedway' round for the British based riders (of any division) - maybe with a 'final' at the NSS on tv for the top scorers? Maybe even have under 15s in their own category and / or sidecar racing if it were feasible.

    As has been said though - any costs would have to be outweighed by the revenue generated.

    People will be desperate to get out and about again and if it were marketed properly it might just attract a few new fans / sponsors for next season.

    Some say that I'm a dreamer...………...

     

    I think a 'festival fo speedway' is a great idea

    • Like 1

  11. 14 minutes ago, RobMcCaffery said:

    It won't simply because someone will always have the idea "Hey, what about four guys racing on a stadium track that all spectators can see, and have a team to support"

    It might fade away temporarily at the top but at grass roots there will always be speedway, it's a simple sport. The trick is not to mess it up by making it complicated. As long as there are bikes, tracks and guys mad enough to use both it'll survive. 

     

    Could community run/owned clubs be an option?


  12. 1 hour ago, Fromafar said:

    It’s pretty obvious that if there is any  meaningful Team speedway this season(doubtful IMO)there won’t be many foreign riders or Aussies that have gone home available.Most Aussies that went home will have used their return ticket, so who will pay for them to return in present climate and if they do return they will be heading for a Poland IMO. Riders wanting to be full time riders in GB might have to rethink.Writing this season off would be the best option for many Promotions.IMO.

    I agree that team meetings should be written off, however if the government restrictions allow it I would hope a few open meetings could be held before end of October

    • Like 1

  13. 2 hours ago, FAST GATER said:

    Becoming at least short term semi pro one league and long term second feeder league something like the late 60's early 70's ( Gulf league and NL)  with fixed costs  for points  /start money.Riders can boost their income through their own sponsorship deals but some form of engine/ mod control ,maybe club engines with their own running gear .

    I think this a great idea


  14. Just now, lynnboy said:

    But the promoters only want to look after themselves and not the sport can’t see them wanting to give up assets. I think it sounds a good idea though but a lot of the old promoters are old school as you well know and don’t and won’t do change even if it’s for the better

    Then they will fail as it can not carry on as it is, the world post CV19 will simply not faciltate it.

    • Like 1

  15. The top two leagues of British speedway has for many years relied on cheap airlines to enable riders to race in multiple leagues around Europe, however with the aviation industry collapsing the knock on effect for British Speedway is simple….. it will not have access to riders who wish to race in more than just the British league as the logistics will just not allow it.

    No star riders will mean a significant drop in crowds (I am guessing levels of 50% pre CV19) which will lead to lower revenues from ticket sales along with a significant drop in sponsorship/advertising revenue as well. If clubs have less money to spend then riders will also be paid less and some will probably turn their back on the sport as they cannot afford to ride, thus reducing the pool of available riders down even further.

    In my opinion British Speedway needs to give up on the idea of their rider assets holding any financial value and press the reset button to create a new blueprint to survive post CV19 ready to be launched in March 2021 (subject to government restrictions).

    I believe now is a great opportunity for supporters to share their thoughts and ideas on what British Speedway ‘reborn’ should look like and which clubs should be part of it so I can send them on to the current guardians of each club.

    I look forward to reading the thoughts you may share on this.

    • Like 7

  16. On 8/20/2018 at 7:00 AM, Bagpuss said:

    Awful news. Having recently become a father myself for the first time this kind of tragic event really resonates, my sympathy and best wishes go to Niklas and his fiancé.

    Me too, I can not imagine the devastation for Niklas and his fiancée. I hope they receive the support needed and take the time to heal and rebuild so they have the strength to try again.

    • Like 1

  17. 1 hour ago, Haza said:

    They could even hand out a voucher on the way out £9 off the next meeting you attend as long as you leave the stadium prior to heat one of the second meeting I’d have thought that wouldn’t be too difficult for the club - So the club lose £36 because they are unable or un willing to help customers. 

    A very simple solution and a great shame if not offered.

    Never know I few may go because of this offer with the intention of leaving after the first meeting, but enjoy the racing in the first meeting and decide to stay.

    • Like 2

  18. Sorry for late reply to this thread, but it was hidden away under a section I don't often look at.

    I don't think raising funding is the issue anymore as the only way to take the sport forward is to start from ground zero.

    This essentially means an amateur/semi pro sport which is run by promoters who want to rebuild speedway as a sport with 'grit' which every working person in this country can afford to be part of. 

    I believe speedway needs an entrepreneurial type of leader to take this challenge forward, one with a track record in sport and business would certainly be helpful. Whilst truly flattered at the suggestion I am the person for this, I am restricted within my employment terms as Chief Executive of the British Assessment Bureau to take on ANY additional roles of responsibility (professional or non professional) without board approval.

    However, I would and could, happily offer my services as an unofficial advisor to a person or group who wished to take this challenge on.

    Hope that helps.

    • Like 7
×

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy