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Fortythirtyeight

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Posts posted by Fortythirtyeight

  3. Posted

    5 hours ago, phillwhitewasmad said:

    No the point is that certain teams namely Eastbourne and Glasgow insisted that teams were ever possible should remain the same so the starting point  was that . So with Eastbourne having a 3 and 4 star riders already in for 2020 they could remain for 2021 .Newcastle and Redcar had to make changes anyway because of riders not coming back Riss was known well before the announcement the two foreigners at Newcastle had said weeks before so not in the equation for team changes under rising star programme. As previously said poole had to change due to 2 Aussie riders at reserve and Edinburgh because of not having a British rider who met the criteria. I don't understand why people are concerned about 2021 as it is just an expansion of 2020. Let's see what 2022 brings .

    the list is finalised for this year as teams were picked 20 months ago

    ps all promoters vote for this not just the directors :t:

    Your point about promoters votes is not true. The mafia re instated the no votes for new promoters for 3 years at the 2018/19 AGM so that’s Berwick, Birmingham, Redcar , Newcastle , and now Poole and probably Plymouth. That’s half the division !

    • Like 2
    • Confused 1

  4. Posted

    Whilst the National League does have to abide by the BSP Ltd decisions and regulations it does have its own, independent conferences and any decisions it makes have to be ratified by the BSP Ltd. Mr.Pipe answers to them also.

    As the league is ‘ professional ‘ it has to abide by its governing bodies regulations.

  5. Posted

    3 hours ago, mac101 said:

    I think Stock cars were the main problem at Stoke 

    Stock cars have shared many tracks over the years without major issues but a good track curator has been required to keep it right for speedway.

    Jonny Swales is highly regarded and did very good work at Newcastle considering its limitations . A ‘professional’ gets paid to do a good job or he gets sacked, a  volunteer ‘ does a job because he/ she wants too but may not necessarily have the required skills. Brough park track was a challenge for a very good track man let’s hope the volunteers can maintain the standards he set.
    I believe Redcar had issues when Tony Swales ( Jonnys father and another very experienced track curator ) was moved on as a cost cutting exercise and they then had major issues with the volunteer track men that followed hence the employment of Terry ‘ the track ‘ as he is known. They then had one of the best race tracks in the country, just like Terry’s work at other tracks Coventry, Wolverhampton and Birmingham as well as him being called in to rectify tracks that had issues like Stoke, Somerset and the Isle of Wight.

    A good track curator is essential if the sport is to survive these days and they are worth their wages, whatever they are.

    • Like 3

  6. Posted

    1 hour ago, ch958 said:

    its low because there's nowhere for them to go!! The championship is full of div 1 riders that it can not afford

    Or the so called  ‘ Premiership’ is full of championship level riders which it’s paying too much.

    • Like 4

  8. Posted

    1 minute ago, Ringitsneck said:

    I think you’ll find they won’t.

    Crowds and takings up from Thursday nights, bar sales up and more children attending so they will stick to Fridays for sure.

    They certainly won’t t go back to Thursday under the current race night format as they’d lose their heat leaders.

    Think again Mr.Park.

  9. Posted

    6 minutes ago, BuxtonTiger said:

    A bit like the covenant on the Old Altrincham Ice Rink, had to be used for sport and leisure. Now houses. I assume Rye House must have speedway will be similar.

    Same happened to the Middlesbrough Stadium in the 90’s. “ Must be used for sport “ so they built a college on it and added an all weather five a side pitch at the end.

    • Thanks 1

  10. Posted

    2 hours ago, Najjer said:

    What is the problem with doubling up and doubling down? The teams in the Premiership and Chanpionship never race eachother and they no longer ride on the same nights to create a clash of fixtures, so what’s the problem? The only thing it does is create a solution to potential rider shortage and fill up the quota of riders needed across both leagues.

    The problem is the guest rule - where you have one rider ride for several teams within a week before then riding against them for his actual team at the weekend. That is madness and should be limited and/or stopped. I’m a strong believer in that guests shouldn’t be allowed full stop if only one rider is missing. In which case rider replacement should be used. If two or more riders are missing then a guest should be allowed, but only on the value of their home or away average depending on whether they are at home or away. I remember back in 2008 at Somerset when we had guests like Craig Watson replacing Simon Walker away from home because of his inflated home average, when he was pretty useless away. A guest replacement should never make a team stronger. There has to be some sort of limit imposed either on the rider, the team or over a time period restricting how many times they can be used in my opinion.

    You obviously haven’t been following the speedway forums for very long as EVERYBODY was kicking off about too many riders doubling up, no club identity, no club loyalty, no difference between the divisions and outsiders thinking the sport was a joke .

    If your happy with doubling, that’s your choice but don’t then try and use the guest rule as an excuse. If there isn’t enough riders to fill  teams in the first place then guests are going to be used , and abused , like they have done. Hence the arguments about too many Friday night tracks, lack of available riders!
    If we haven't got enough riders , don’t have so many teams or even perhaps so many divisions?

    • Like 2

  11. Posted

    12 hours ago, Biffa said:

    Instead of lowering the team point limit, why not open up the premier/championship conversion allowance. It may enable a better rider to double down to get all teams out of a hole. Would also maybe strengthen the championship in the process

    Which is exactly what they were trying to avoid by reducing doubling up/ Down!

    Do you not remember Scott Nicholls threatening court action ?

    There is supposed to be a deliberate difference in standards between the Premiership and Championship, wether we actually can see it or not.

  12. Posted

    Not sure where you get your facts from THJ but I can assure you, riders in the Premiership team I assisted at got a sign on fee. I should know , I helped negotiate them and some of the fees paid by certain clubs would blow your mind!

    Exactly the same when we dropped into the championship just less of a fee.

    • Thanks 1

  15. Posted

    17 hours ago, enotian said:

    According to the facebook post Smetana had to be replaced as the promoters dont have the licence to employ EU riders

    They've done well to act soon but I do wonder what this means for Vissing?

    Something doesn’t add up here. Let Smetana go and sign a much lesser average Brit but then say you've applied for the right to employ foreigners which will take a few weeks ....so why not wait for approval and keep Smetana ? Diamonds were already 2 points under the limit so now it’s 5 points under.

    Unless the rumour of lowered team points limit is actually true?

    As the rules haven't changed, as yet, Vissing doesn’t need a visa.

  16. Posted

    4 minutes ago, HGould said:

    I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

    12 Teams in the League

    Tuesday - Kent

    Wednesday - Poole / Brummies 

    Friday - Edinburgh / Glasgow / Redcar / Scunthorpe / SOMERSET

    Saturday - Berwick / Eastbourne / Leicester

    Sunday - Newcastle

     

    So presumably the other 4 Friday Clubs take precedence over Somerset for CL Fixtures as they are changing dates?.

    Leaves most Friday's with 10 Teams therefore in action?

    You only need a few Friday rain-offs and it will be complete carnage.

    Would only also need one of the Teams not involved to refuse to release Guests and it would be a complete joke! 

     

    As Workington / Lakeside found out the Chairman does not like to be left without Guest options.

    The fact this is a Management Committee Member Club really does not look good for the transparency of the Sport.

    Unless of course one of the other Friday Clubs are seeking to change their race night? 

    Could Redcar move to Saturday or Sunday , could Glasgow move to Saturday or Sunday, especially as most foreigners won't be back so needed on the Continent

     

    Will have to wait for it to all come out in the wash! 

     

    As Glasgow started world war 3 to get Fridays ( “ We are running Fridays or we will sue )  I can’t see them changing now. Godfrey did the same ( “ I’m running Fridays or I close “ )

    Redcar probably can’t do regular Sundays because of the closeness of Newcastle and the car park is shared with the other race track ( plus shared staff, crowd etc ).

    Would make no sense whatsoever to let Somerset run on a Friday.

    But the mafia will do what suits them and sod the rest, as Workington found out to their cost.

     

    • Like 2

  17. Posted

    16 minutes ago, OveFundinFan said:

    would all the riders in this years British Championship be all on the same pay rate? I assuming it would £x per point and per start, plus travel. Anyone know?

    They don’t pay points money or travel  in BSPA meetings, it’s a set price for finishing positions.

  19. Posted

    51 minutes ago, foamfence said:

    Football clubs still have wages to pay and are running matches behind closed doors, the majority of promoters are just biding their time and have no costs (unless they are bound by rental agreements).

    You think it costs nothing to maintain a stadium / track even without rent ? 
    Even a house with no mortgage has bills to pay!

    My local clubs costs are around the 25 thousand mark wether they use it or not as they do pay rent and for 12 months not just the 6 that the ‘ season ‘ takes place.

    • Haha 1

  20. Posted

    3 minutes ago, cinderfella said:

    No matter what the meeting is called it is nothing more than an invitational meeting with contestants more than likely chosen with a calculator and phone book.
    As you say The British Final, along with the BLRC, lost all credibility years ago and that is reflected  by the apathy of some riders.
    Sadly this pandemic has put the red lights on and if ever the sport had a chance of a total rethink,  restructure and rebuild this is the time to do it. The Promoters' Conference should have a lot to discuss this year even though there has been no competitive racing.
    Time to move the sport forward.

     

    The ‘ Promoters Circus ‘ event will be via Zoom ( if at all ) as can’t have more than six attending. You think the same clowns on the top table that got us here are now going to completely change tactics?

    Time for a revolution but don’t hold your breath.

  22. Posted

    6 minutes ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:

     

    It' not snobbish it is an undeniable truth that better riders will produce a better standard of racing.  You are advocating watching a couple of pensioners racing around a track has the same appeal as watching World Class athletes at the Olympics...people going around a track the same time close, doesn't always equate to good purely because they are involved in a "race". 

    I meet loads of people who don't give a sh it and want to see the best riders and their team win...there are very few speedway purists these days there for the buzz of a good race no matter the score I mean crowds do reflect that, the sport is on it's arse in this country 

     

    You have your very biased opinion , I have my open opinion.
    I DO agree it’s on its arse, but it’s only the true fans keeping some clubs going.

  23. Posted

    42 minutes ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:

    You are using instances that are the minority rather than norm, I am not denying what you are saying happens happens, but it hasn't been the typical chosen choice and nor have they chose to move to the National League, the NL has been a rehab league for teams who couldn't get out it quick enough. 

    And the standard of cost paid to a rider without question does lead to a better standard of racing. It's just gibberish to suggest racing is better at National League level, the notion the National League can produce racing the standard of the Final of the GP the other day for instance is hilarious. 

    Awaits YouTube clip...before it is even posted I can state the following - It's slower, it is mistaken ridden, it is technically flawed racing which is why it is a National League and not a Grand Prix race, the National League is poorly attended, there are very, very few "true speedway fans" who simply attend for the love of the race irrespective of who is in that race

    When have I ever stated NL racing is better ?

    I was making the point that racing can be just as good at an amateur meeting as an Elite meeting, you clearly don't agree , but as some one who attends all levels  ( and in different countries ) I’m not snobbish enough to think that a top name produces better RACING . Watch some youth meetings , you will see good RACING.

    I obviously don’t agree with your statements,  as a former Comets fan who attends different tracks I regularly meet many fans from tracks not competing at the venue ( Sheffield fans at Redcar, Berwick fans at Newcastle, Glasgow fans at Edinburgh ) and they are there to see the RACING, not the names and wage packets .
    without “ True speedway fans “ there’d be very very few clubs left.

     

     

    • Like 1

  24. Posted

    1 hour ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:

    I think the mythology around the NL is one that has been romanticized on this forum to the point people simply ignore reality.  You only have to look at the name of the league, the purpose of the league and standard of rider in the league.....a lot of the racing is utterly turgid - sure the occasional race might pop up on YouTube and people think that is evidence that every meeting is an instant classic, but it is complete bollocks. It is also a league that has been in place for years, and years and years in many different forms and never had the crowds to back up what is a feeling from some that it is a standard of racing to bring in a crowd. The vast majority of teams can't get out of it quick enough. It is a league that shows "racing" alone is only a selling point to very, very few. 

    In relation to your point on crowds. I said in my previous post, there will be instances of larger crowds at certain tracks on occasion and yes people will make mention of Glasgow as a Championship side who attract great crowds while also then also completely overlooking that most crowds are rank rotten, as they are at most tracks in the NL. It is the few rather than the majority who attract a better crowd in a lower league, again, hence why most teams typically look to move back up leagues rather than down. 

     

    Clubs move leagues for business reasons. Somerset, Peterborough, Leicester all found they got the same crowd for Elite as they did for championship matches but the wages were a lot less , and often, the fans preferred the standard of championship RACING.
    Ive seen fantastic RACES at amateur meetings , just because someone gets paid more doesn’t mean it produces better racing.

    • Like 1
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