westhamboy66 599 Posted October 13, 2008 I'd love to get hold of that pratt Bellamy. When we arrived at 5PM there was obviously something wrong as the place was so quiet. When we eventually got to the stadium there were three Local Lads acting as security staff behind the turnstyles and in broken English we were told that the meeting was off. We were handed a press statement in German along with Shalke FC's phone number...Nothing for non German speakers. So they couldn't even be bothered to organise that. The BSI IMG pratts had obviosly cleared off much earlier the cowardly lowlifes. I have tried in vain to contact seetickets as I am being told to contact them via the website and of course they don't answer the emails either Not sure what to do now other than go to Barclaycard to block the payment and get the money back that way and they can stick the GP tickets where the sun don't shine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
racers and royals 8,723 Posted October 13, 2008 That would mean spending MONEY - all people at the top seem interested in - is making it. Dont under-estimate IMG,they are a very successful company and will not want this fiasco to tarnish their reputation-major changes will be made after this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SPEEDY69 1,258 Posted October 13, 2008 This will now make it the third Polish GP this year and with so much hanging on this meeting I'd have preferred a different venue but I suppose they were short of time. Who will it favour (apart from Gollob), Holta, Nicholls or B Pedersen? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MRY 0 Posted October 13, 2008 Has anyone actually got a reply from anyone about getting a refund or replacement tickets for next year? I have tried BSI and the ticket agents for the stadium, but as yet no reply. If anyone does get a contact e-mail address that responds, perhaps they could post it here? Apologies if someone has responded later in the thread, but I had an e-mail within 1 hour of the event being called off advising how to obtain a refund - that took some organising! To those that were in the Arena over the weekend, anyone know what happened to the Freestyle Motocross boys? they were at the hotel on Friday, and I'm sure they were practicing on Friday night, but were nowhere to be seen on Saturday (along with any programme sellers, refreshment kiosks, merchandise stalls.......... I did see 3 cleaners dusting some seats but they got bored after a bit! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
driver17561 0 Posted October 13, 2008 what a farce got back this morning after ryanair got cancelled at weeze at least ryanair looks after you when things go ** up they could not do to much for us thumbs up for them . olsan and gang well what can i say zippos circus comes to mind Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
colincooke 0 Posted October 13, 2008 This will now make it the third Polish GP this year and with so much hanging on this meeting I'd have preferred a different venue but I suppose they were short of time. Who will it favour (apart from Gollob), Holta, Nicholls or B Pedersen? Interesting question. Earlier in the season at Biddy, Nicholls accumulated 10pts & reached the final Holta got 6 & Bjarne 4. A repeat would see Nicholls get 8th spot by 1pt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Humphrey Appleby 13,955 Posted October 13, 2008 Dont under-estimate IMG,they are a very successful company Which is why one wonders, they got involved with speedway in the first place? IMG should this winter hire a giant warehouse or un-used stadium and spend all winter if neccessary,perfecting laying one-off tracks-with a new track team of the best track curators in europe(money should be no object)this cannot be allowed to happen again. Money of course, is an object with the whole thing. And surely all the track laying practice in the world won't help if you do something as basic as leaving the shale out to get wet? But I have taken the trouble of highlighting the one word that makes the whole statement totally redundant, as it will never happen. I agree. The lack of vision and foresight is why the speedway promoters allowed the SGP concept to be hijacked by outsiders in the first place. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nikkif 0 Posted October 13, 2008 what a farce got back this morning after ryanair got cancelled at weeze at least ryanair looks after you when things go ** up they could not do to much for us thumbs up for them . olsan and gang well what can i say zippos circus comes to mind Pleased u had a good experience - they couldnt get us out of the airport quick enough! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
colincooke 0 Posted October 13, 2008 Pleased u had a good experience - they couldnt get us out of the airport quick enough! Feel so sorry for you & all concerned Nikki. So glad now i decided to go to Lonigo instead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigFatDave 258 Posted October 13, 2008 I dunno - just seen some piccies of the track and it looked like there was a bit of dirt there for once!! (Deep Too!!) Maybe a truckload of Blue Circle Cement would have helped? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Parsloes 1928 nearly 495 Posted October 13, 2008 Well I plan to try and sue the powers that be!!!! I suggest everyone writes to them informing them of what they intend to do, send an itemised invoice for hotel bills/flights etc...... In the letter give them a date which you would like a reply by (e.g. 2 weeks or so) and advise them that if you don't receive a reply by that date you will commence proceedings in the small claims court!!! THAT IS WHAT I SHALL BE DOING!!!!!!! I went over with my 2 daughters and my friend I have never been more angry and upset, everyone had there own story as to why they chose ths GP, and most was because and indoor meeting could not be cancelled by the weather!!!!! My Husband I go to quite a lot of GP's abroard but I think we will think twice in future, I HOPE IT PISSES DOWN NEXT SATURDAY AND IS CALLED OFF. the officials whoever they are a bunch of tossers and should be shot!!!!! Now THIS is what I would've posted if I'd have gone and been a victim of this near-criminal act!! Up to now there have been far too many people willing to shrug their shoulders and say it's one of those things..! Admirable "British upper-lip" stuff sure..: but IMHO unacceptable as it gets these charlatans off the hook.. I'm still intrigued (from afar!!) by the story about the programmes. Being involved with producing programmes over here I know that if a meeting is called off and is rearranged, say the next week, one would certainly use the same already printed prog. But at the venue on Saturday we've already heard it said that no progs were for sale.. I still haven't heard if any were seen. Can someone clarify this..? IF the prog. for the rearranged meeting in Poland next Saturday turns out not to be a copy printed for this Saturday (and that'll be easy enuff to identify containing references to Gelsenkirchen/Germany etc.) then it's further evidence that something potentially very underhand has happened here... I also agree that the extra prize money next week should be forsaken and passed on as compensation instead to those who travelled... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ianmartin 7 Posted October 13, 2008 I doubt very much that the Star will kick up a stink about this. Managing Editor Philip Rising & that bloody eegit Olsen have been pals for a very long time. Speedway Star will not say very much at all. The journalistic integrity seems to have disappeared where that Magazine is concerned - it has become a Photograph Album - a nice glossy one true - but still - just an Album. Eric Linden from the old Speedway Star would have had a field day with this farce. He probably would have torn the organisers to shreds. Now he WAS a Speedway Journalist...................... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandie 53 Posted October 14, 2008 Yep the buck stops at bsi, on the other hand we had a great weekend. More to life than speedway and no point in getting up tight about it. S--t happens. With the greatest respect its okay if you can throw away money but for those that havent yet made their fortunes it was nothing to laugh about. My daughter took Friday off work which was now a wasted days leave. Flights possibly not refunded as she chose to use a cheap carrier (cant afford BA etc!!!), additional flights needed paying for as did the hotel bill, and land travel costs included taxi's fuel and parking costys. Some of these are down to incompetence some down to weather - but it all leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and if she wanted to have a 'fun' weekend she probably wouldnt have chosen Gelsenkirchen!!! I assume you were not this weekends sponsors!!!! I know you are a good person but I do think your post was extremelly selfish Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigFatDave 258 Posted October 14, 2008 (edited) Don't think anyone's whacked this on yet so Earwiggo - From the Coventry Chipwrapper: ( Sorry !)Telegraph Bees hit after GP chaos in Germany Oct 13 2008 By David Rowe COVENTRY'S home leg of the Craven Shield Final will have to be re-arranged - after Saturday's German Grand Prix was sensationally postponed. There were major track problems at the indoor Gelsenkirchen stadium, which were blamed on adverse weather conditions during the transport of the material and at the stadium itself, and after an aborted practice session the meeting was called off six hours before the scheduled start. It was a major embarrassment for series organisers ahead of the last round of the season - but the knock-on effect is that the meeting will be re-staged this Saturday at Polish venue Bydgoszcz, which will host its second GP of the season. And that will be good news for track specialist Tomasz Gollob, who will now be hot favourite to edge out Greg Hancock and Buildbase Bees' No.1 Hans Andersen for third place overall. Bees co-promoter Colin Pratt will speak to his Lakeside counterpart Jon Cook regarding the Craven Shield Final this morning, but the home leg at least will need to be moved as the Grand Prix riders will be attending practice on Friday. The most obvious solution would be for the meeting to take place on the following Friday, October 24, but that is unconfirmed at this stage. It is an unhappy reminder of 2003 for the Grand Prix organisers as the Scandinavian event in Gothenburg was abandoned after three farcical races, and they were clearly not willing to risk a repeat. But once again, a swift rearrangement of a GP meeting for the following weekend is set to play havoc with the domestic racing calendar at a crucial stage of the season. Pratt said: "I wasn't out there so I'm not fully aware of what went on but it's an almost unbelievable situation with a track not being able to be laid. "here have been all sorts of different rumours going around, but whatever the case it's a pretty poor show to have an indoor meeting that can't go ahead, and I feel sorry for the people who spent money on flights and tickets. I'm sure there are plenty of riders who are unhappy too as there is big money on this meeting and going to Bydgoszcz obviously favours certain riders, whereas the German track should have been even for everyone. "It's also a major disruption to domestic leagues with Cup Finals and so on. We had a good arrangement with Lakeside to run back to back on Thursday and Friday and that will now have to be changed." I love the bit where he says "Bydgoszcz obviously favours certain riders, whereas the German track should have been even for everyone." I think instead of "Even" he could have used another word. Edited October 14, 2008 by BigFatDave Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sadiemae 0 Posted October 14, 2008 We heard programmes had been printed with the Swedish line up and that is why they were not available. Also, QUOTE FROM SPEEDWAY STAR DATED 20TH SEPTEMBER - PAGE 36, starts: "Tony Steele will referree the FIM German Speedway Grand Prix" FINISHES WITH! "Incidentally, BSI Speedway are bemused by rumours circulating in Poland that the German Grand Prix would not go ahead. It will!" Anyone else find this strange!!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
