GWC

Looked like Mrs Horley didn’t like letting the riders move an inch at the start with the number of re-runs! These riders are mostly inexperienced so for the sake of the paying public you would think a little bit of leeway would be introduced - or is that not allowed at this level.

Great performance from Gilks last night saved Oxford from certain defeat. Personally think Plymouth can use r/r if PT back as Gilks and Bowtell showing good form at home.

If you are referring to the CO and Ronnie Greene they were all about closed shops when Mike Parker appeared on the scene panic struck the cartel of the National league. Stories of malpractice and corruption flew around but it goes back to the nature of the sport looking after your own it’s just a bit more nastier these days.

The leagues are a balance of need over expenditure. Doubling up gives the promoters a way of paying riders less and also having enough riders to go round. Unless they can get away from this cycle then the 2 leagues will remain almost the same with the addition of a ‘star’ introduction. Mind it was like that 50 years ago in the top league as I recall!

The Mildenhall team of 2007 or 8 was it …. be afraid !

These are still ‘covid’ times so a U.K. based rider attracts as a better option. If he had a poor attitude at Leicester then he is going to have to show the management greater effort to repay their faith in him. Like Bridger you only have so many chances in this sport.

I think we all know the answer to that one Mike! Governments pumped billions into the system just to stand still but we the public pay for it. A system run on ‘confidence’ will always have crashes - and a very small minority profit.

The financial crash of 2008 had a marked effect on attendance at some tracks but the impact was softened by interest rates reducing to near zero putting money into peoples pockets. Sadly that’s not going to happen this time but let’s hope their savings will compensate for this!

This is the official address of the stadium. Sunday midday appears to be the time of the meetings but as mentioned check into the British speedway website for clarification. The NDL fixtures tend to come out nearer the start of the season. Iwade Speedway,The Old Gun Site,Old Ferry Road,Iwade,Sittingbourne,Kent,ME9 8SP.

Majority of young riders who have come through NDL and into CL have been developed via the 125 250 and 500 schemes. Proper racing from a young age whereas the journeyman of the NDL play just as an important part of the league as without them how would the league exist?

Yes spectators allowed turn up and pay!

He (Mulford) might end up at Oxford NL I guess. Two clubs haven’t announced their no.8’s and who is left really comes down to Bickley Gilkes or Edwards.

Only 17 and no experience on U.K. tracks which are very different to where he comes from. He’ll do well to keep his average as up against seasoned campaigners in the Premiership.

Or painting your own programme board including a very big bulldog clip! That's what got me into speedway as it was much more interactive than football.

https://youtu.be/jAoNvwdVFCQ bbc east documentary from 1997 and features Kings Lynn - pretty depressing which reflects todays problems even then.

Will it ever end ? er no the ‘thin end of the wedge’ has now brought in a system where riders can earn good money by just having 2 teams. I’m sure the current stock of riders will be concerned if the U.K. was ever to produce more riders to fill all their teams. The alternative is obviously money - to pay riders enough to ride in just one league but as mentioned it’s maybe too late now.

Considering in 1965 the new British league had no Craven (killed) Moore Fundin Knutsson (retired) of the big 5 and only Briggs left. So it wasn’t the big stars that saved speedway in the U.K. but bread and butter riders and a variety of teams week to week. Could it happen again probably no as people are far more informed these days and the ‘mystery’ aspect of an unseen rider coming next week in sos and so teams doesn’t happen any longer.

Just to add to the general level of gloom there’s another video on YouTube - ‘The future of British speedway’ - in two parts apparently.

Birmingham Newcastle and then Kent faced these rent demands I understand. Some of these operations value the speedway others see it as an inconvenience sadly.

I think Belle Vue are now where speedway should always have been and that’s a community run operation. The sport doesn’t afford the sums to finance stadiums and riders alike and has been shown in the south east that cash strapped promotions and development pressures have meant we have no speedway to talk of sadly.

Agreed and films about the sport have been similar. However I watched a ‘look at life’ short film from 1961 (talking pictures) recently with speedway as the subject and the upbeat music gave it a whole different feeling.

In that case you are advocating a form of ‘ rider control’ that will even out the riders over all teams? That used to take place back in the day when promoters had the welfare of the sport in mind and supporters turned up whoever was riding. Maybe is these desperate times a similar system needs to be reintroduced for the benefit of all teams - however money takes precedent now.

If you go onto the speedway plus website www.speedwayplus.com - and then click on ‘stadia pix’ in the top section you can scroll down to U.K. active circuits Sittingbourne is listed and some good pics from awhile ago.

Don’t you believe it I’ve got seriously sun burnt once as it’s a sun trap in that part of Kent - never cold.

Put some decking along the starting gate area so as to give people a level and raised view and safe standing area - similar to Rye house before the wreckers moved in! There’s viewing all around the track as I recall and raised banking although it’s grass so dry days are better.