Jump to content
British Speedway Forum

HGould

Members
  • Content count

    2,593
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by HGould


  1. There really is no excuse especially at dog tracks like Oxford where photo finish equipment is already installed and can be very quickly interpreted. 

    As a dog race tends to do a lap and a bit the beam is switched on for the finish and provides a mirror image down to one pixel or less. 

    Not rocket science is it, technology us decades old. 


  2. 2 hours ago, screm said:

    You wonder just how hard the Plymouth tried though, Berwick lost Lewis Kerr to injury on Thursday night, yet by Friday afternoon they had Richard Lawson booked as a guest.

    The answer has been given.

    Extortionate amounts asked for and guarantees.

    That'll be 4 figure, or near 4 figure sums and a minimum guarantee that's more PL level than CL.

    That's a problem that has been there for years, Heat Leaders used to money the Sport can't afford any more and massive credit to Plymouth for not taking the sort of risks that have seen other clubs fall by the wayside.

    Hopefully Plymouth can start their season enxt week after a drier spell and at least start getting some Home Match receipts in to their coffers.

    • Like 1

  3. 1 hour ago, Pirates Of Poole said:

    Not surprised to hear this Saturdays match is off! 

    When you have a year's rainfall in 3 months it's no surprise. 

    If they'd just left track as it was and done no changes it would still be off. 

    Going to be more off than on if weekend forecasts are right. 

    Needs a week of dry some sun and some high winds everywhere. Like March used to be. 

     


  4. 7 hours ago, Pauldoveyspeedway said:

    What was the size of the crowd.???

    If the average last year was about 500 it was at least double that. 

    I am sure he needed 1000 last year to break even and I'd say it was more than that. 

    Based on what was outside and what was I was told a much bigger than average inside, I'd say around 1300 to 1500 last night. 

    I would think his break even is not massively higher as he gets substantial tv money you don't get in the CL. 

    So he may even have made a few quid. 

    I have rarely seen great racing in March so am sure the racing will get better. 

     


  5. I saw on Countryfile that South West eg Devon and Cornwall had 300% of average winter rainfall from 1 December to 29 February.

    I cancelled a week in mates cottage from Thursday for a week on basis of forecast down there next 10 days last weekend. 

    Off to Portugal tomorrow. 

    Plymouth rain off won't be because of this week it'll be past 3 months. 

    Hopefully they can sign someone for a month as they seem confident Covatti will be back on early May. 

    We'll done them for not paying 4 figure sums especially after Crump did them over big time

     


  6. It surely begs a far more serious question that is at the heart of the long term growth and future of the sport. 

    Are the BSPL effectively "closing the shop at 15 or 16 Clubs in the professional leagues.?? 

    Where are the riders to fill Wolverhampton, Peterborough, Swindon, Rye House, Coventry and any others who may be seeking a way back in to the sport?? 

    6 man teams may create 2 new teams across a league each but that's assuming an increasing number of over 35s can be adequately replaced. 

    It's a terrifying scenario to consider. 

     

    • Like 1

  7. Birmingham have g got a Guest facility for a newly injured rider.

    Id imagine Plymouth may seek the same if they can evidence Covatti can be back by May. 

    Guests far better than RR for a month in my opinion. 

    Having said that, I vecjust cancelled an Easter week break in Exmouth as weather forecast next week is dire. 

    Late Booking to Portugal is safer weather wise and not much more expensive. 

     

     


  8. Putting 2 and 2 together 

    Always dangerous but... 

    Lewy has enquired about Danny Phillips average. 

    Was told it was 2.01.

    Jusr supposing they binned Jacob Hook 4.00

    Wouls allow 10.23 by my calculation to get a bid hitter with 1.99 saving plus Covatti average and the 0.48 they were under the limit with Covatti. 

    A 10.23 rider if they could find one, more likely on a Tuesday, would upset the proverbial applecart 

    ??? 

    • Haha 1

  9. 1 hour ago, szkocjasid said:

    I agree it looks a very small fixture list, plus I'm surprised that they have big gaps between fixtures. Although they'd only have 5 home matches if they raced in the NL, so 8 is an improvement on that.

    IoW tend to have all of their racing squeezed into a couple of months, obviously designed to get the most out of the holiday makers.

    Couple of points

    (a) I wonder if it's time to have a dedicated NORA section to make it easier to follow IOW and Kent (and anyone else who may join)

    (b)  I suspect the Owner of Iwade can make as much money / more money from hiring out for Track Days and Practices as he can from renting to Kent ?

    (c) I hope that IOW and Kent and other dormant Clubs joining in with the NORA supported Fixtures WON'T be black-balled by the BSPL for doing so, should they wish to return. It seems Kent were very shabbily treated last season, as IOW have been in the past. Other dormant clubs currently too must NOT be penalised for riding under NORA supervision.

    Sadly the treatment of Kent and IOW suggests that the current BSPL hierarchy will do all they can to try to punish and prevent them from running successful operations under NORA. The Sport needs all the participant it can find and not helped by the petiness of the BSPL. At least there seems to be more friendly overtures from the ACU according to the Speedway Star this week.  

     

    • Like 5

  10. 2 hours ago, Marky_Mark said:

    Signing Claus would leave Plymouth about 2 points under the limit, they need an 8 point rider to replace Nico but nobody obvious without a team already springs to mind.

     

    Gutted for them really as they don’t seem to get any luck, here’s hoping they can find a hidden gem 

    Erik Riss would fit nicely. 

    They might need to juggle some Saturdays back to Tuesdays though once the main European season kicks in. 


  11. Horrible

    I guess the only small comfort is it looks a clean break and not shattered many bones. 

    He's no spring chicken so you've got to fear may be career done, certainly season ending. 

    Great shame for Plymouth who never have any luck. 

    Moving to Saturday may limit options for replacement unless they try to get temporary one for March and April before European Leagues fully start

    All the best to both riders. 


  12. Looking through one of my Speedway Star yearly Binders I found some pictures of Graham circa 1882 1983 at Oxford. 

    It was noticeable that he must have been one of the last riders to switch from the Jawa 4 valve, which looked rather heavier and more cumbersome than the Weslakes of the day. 

    I wonder if they were ex Mauger or Briggo motors from his Hull days. 

    That was a golden era in both Divisions. 


  13. Incredibly sad news to wake up to.

    A very underrated rider especially at Hull

    An outstanding Promoter for Brummies and a man whose opinions were always worth listening to.

    A genuinely nice man and family and thoughts very much with Denise.

    It all sounds like a very sudden illness.

     


  14. On 2/2/2017 at 7:13 PM, bruno said:

    I remember Pepe hautamaki at Cradley struggling when he first joined but did he turn out ok in the end, it's been a while. Knocking on 40 years, unbelievable

    I remember Pekka had a habit of winning the reserves race in the 2nd half, then the heat that qualified him for and then a few times the final with some world class riders unable to pass him. 

     

    In those days the 2nd half was a real event in its own right, often with a sponsored points prize at the end if the season that home heat leaders would really race for. 

    You'd also see away stars wanting to get one over the home riders. 

    Sadly today's breed just want to earn more than Clubs can afford for minimal effort. 

    • Like 2

  15. 1 hour ago, geoff100 said:

    Team bonding! They will either be riding with or against each other every week pretty soon sick of the site of each other!

    "Hi I'm Charlie, ex British Champ, says so on me van. 

    I don't like upstart little rubbishs getting in my way, just ask Brennan

    Got it, get it and we'll be good" 

    • Haha 3

  16. 1 hour ago, 89buttons said:

    Rate Vaculik highly, but he was outperformed by Jack Holder in the GP's last season and I really don't think he'd be on the level of Doyle/Emil in UK straight away, really hope Brum have got him tho would be another great asset for UK speedway in 2024!

    On his day I think he's better / faster than anyone but Zmarzlik

    All about opinions I guess..

    I think the PL Tracks would really suit him.

    • Like 1
×

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