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British Speedway to be reborn?

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24 minutes ago, DC2 said:

 

Well, it would if you’re looking to reduce their wages.

Isn’t that the whole point of the discussion?  Getting costs down so we can lower the entrance fee or spend more money on improving the stadium or track?

Are riders wages linked to their costs or are they linked to supply and demand of riders?

For example does Jason Doyle have double the costs of Anders Rowe - because I'd bet he is on at least double the points money?

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1 minute ago, MattK said:

Are riders wages linked to their costs or are they linked to supply and demand of riders?

For example does Jason Doyle have double the costs of Anders Rowe - because I'd bet he is on at least double the points money?

 

Almost certainly.

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59 minutes ago, MattK said:

Are riders wages linked to their costs or are they linked to supply and demand of riders?

For example does Jason Doyle have double the costs of Anders Rowe - because I'd bet he is on at least double the points money?

Lets be honest here JD is head and shoulders above anyone in the PL (making hay while the sun shines) but IMO most riders would have less leverage on pay with lower racing costs .What you have to take in account that if you had a standard engine not requiring an ace tuner the riders would be able to take a pay cut   and still make a living be it as a semi pro.

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The other thing that really surprised me when my lad started riding Speedway was that hardly anybody did their own servicing any more, not even the most basic stuff.

In the NL at least most riders could easily buy a standard engine and maintain it for the season themselves with perhaps one full rebuild by a good specialist between seasons after all engines don't get much more simple. The problem only comes because the odd lad in the league has money to throw at the sport and turns up with better equipment than most PL riders, then the others have to try and compete with that. How much difference it actually makes to points scored is debatable but if somebody has better bikes than you then you'll always be convinced that's why he beat you!

Jason Doyle and Anders Rowe per meeting costs will be very similar for sure.

Semi- pro racing is so much more difficult in this 24/7 era than it was for previous generations, at least for those who aren't self employed.

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1 hour ago, FAST GATER said:

Lets be honest here JD is head and shoulders above anyone in the PL (making hay while the sun shines) but IMO most riders would have less leverage on pay with lower racing costs .What you have to take in account that if you had a standard engine not requiring an ace tuner the riders would be able to take a pay cut   and still make a living be it as a semi pro.

Why would riders accept a pay cut if they were able to reduce their overheads, any more than I'd request a pay cut because I bought a more economical car?

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Now different tracks same competition 13 years apart look at the difference in the crowd levels. That's why something needs doing to save the sport and that poor crowd was 18 years ago god knows what it would be these days

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21 minutes ago, Spl77 said:

Now different tracks same competition 13 years apart look at the difference in the crowd levels. That's why something needs doing to save the sport and that poor crowd was 18 years ago god knows what it would be these days

Kelvin Tatum on his old track - How the mighty had fallen!

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1 hour ago, MattK said:

Why would riders accept a pay cut if they were able to reduce their overheads, any more than I'd request a pay cut because I bought a more economical car?

 

Now that your news is out, Matt, my guess is that your salary is down to 80%.  :)

 

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I recall David Howe, soon after he'd finished riding, airing his views on this forum and although not remembering the detail, they seem to be similar to much that has been put onto this thread. And that was long before the havoc being caused by a global pandemic. Much of his rational thinking was focused on costs and equipment, and about the UK scene needing to prioritise its own survival by establishing and operating at a realistic level.

He also talked about how he did not rely on speedway and other motorcycling to provide him with a living, with HGV driving work as his other income. It's long been something which intrigues me - how do speedway riders get other income, or do they have other sources at all? 

People like David Howe should be involved in planning and decision-making in the current crisis. 

Edited by Big Al
thought of more
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44 minutes ago, Big Al said:

I recall David Howe, soon after he'd finished riding, airing his views on this forum and although not remembering the detail, they seem to be similar to much that has been put onto this thread. And that was long before the havoc being caused by a global pandemic. Much of his rational thinking was focused on costs and equipment, and about the UK scene needing to prioritise its own survival by establishing and operating at a realistic level.

He also talked about how he did not rely on speedway and other motorcycling to provide him with a living, with HGV driving work as his other income. It's long been something which intrigues me - how do speedway riders get other income, or do they have other sources at all? 

People like David Howe should be involved in planning and decision-making in the current crisis. 

I would have thought delivery driving would be one of the main opportunities for those that dont have a so called Trade, or money behind them, LGV/HGV driving is what i would classify as a Trade, and something most reasonable drivers can progress to, I should know b,cuz even i qualified as an LGV2 driver ;). I know Neil Evitts has his own Transport company now so thats something most riders could combine their racing with or the more technically gifted could do as Richard Andrews does as i believe he is a qualified mechanic, Window cleaning is another option its possible to earn £100+ per day at that, all that needs is to get some leaflets printed, canvass your local area, knock up a website, and build the window cleaning round up, Iv also done that in my time.. Jeff astle the former Baggies and England centre forward did window cleaning when he retired, Ron Flowers Wolves and England ran his own Sports shop, where their is a will their is a way if someone wants it badly enough..

Even Barry Bishop is a part time promoter, as he combines Promoting with his day job, and he makes a pretty decent fist of things down on the Island..

Edited by greyhoundp

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35 minutes ago, Big Al said:

I recall David Howe, soon after he'd finished riding, airing his views on this forum and although not remembering the detail, they seem to be similar to much that has been put onto this thread. And that was long before the havoc being caused by a global pandemic. Much of his rational thinking was focused on costs and equipment, and about the UK scene needing to prioritise its own survival by establishing and operating at a realistic level.

He also talked about how he did not rely on speedway and other motorcycling to provide him with a living, with HGV driving work as his other income. It's long been something which intrigues me - how do speedway riders get other income, or do they have other sources at all? 

People like David Howe should be involved in planning and decision-making in the current crisis. 

George Hunter used to be an HGV driver and when living in the midlands it was reported that he would drive to Immingham Docks on the Humber then drive back home to pick up his bike and then drive up to Edinburgh to ride that same evening.

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3 hours ago, Spl77 said:

Now different tracks same competition 13 years apart look at the difference in the crowd levels. That's why something needs doing to save the sport and that poor crowd was 18 years ago god knows what it would be these days

That’s hardly a like-for-like comparison, one photo is of the main home-straight stand at Peterborough, the other of the third bend at Brandon.

Edited by NeilWatson

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All these plans seem to me to to have an even worse effect on getting this country back at the forefront of international Speedway

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34 minutes ago, NeilWatson said:

That’s hardly a like-for-like comparison, one photo is of the main home-straight stand at Peterborough, the other of the third bend at Brandon.

I think you'll find they are Video clips, it you play each one, the crowd difference becomes apparent. 

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2 minutes ago, pvm said:

I think you'll find they are Video clips, it you play each one, the crowd difference becomes apparent. 

Fair enough, thanks for pointing that out.

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