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I always thought that Tom Evitts and Les Powell just gave up as they'd had enough of the stock cars leaving the track in a state. That name does ring a bell though.

I vaguely remember that from memory some wealthy race horse owner had taken over the Brummies and was trying to turn things round but the Wheels complex at the time was pretty basic and although he invested a lot of money (sounds familiar) the crowds just wouldn't come. Corbett or something similar was his surname as I say like many promoters he was very successful away from the shale.

He isn't

Oh hang on, isn't Damien Bates a director on the BSPL ?.

sounds like enough to warrant a 2 point deduction at least 😉

I thought the same 👁️

I’ve missed the announcement - why is Howarth missing?

think they were pulling some part of your anatomy mate 😃

The “couple” of strange results was involving Leicester not picking up points expected to change the overall table involving the finishing order of all fours clubs, not just Ipswich and Sheffield. Belle Vue could still finish third but it would take some strange results for that to happen.

There's a joke there, but i won't 😃

I think back then though it was used more to help young riders gain experience and develop rather than make up the numbers because there was a rider shortage.

Of course, I meant in terms of the result not the racing. The result simply doesn’t matter here in the scheme of things. But I hope there’s some good racing for you and those that attend.

Asking them to lay out circa £40 for mum and dad, (over £50 if sat down as the kid gets charged too), to watch something they know very little about, will always be the challenge.. Even more so on a school day during term time... Seems daft to have all those empty seats near bend four for so many meetings, when some cheap tickets/freebies, may engage some parents and kids to attimes.. And you don't need the same ones attending each week, just keep flooding the locale with cheap tickets... When I worked in marketing for a couple of years, doing a head office secondment, I was amazed at just how low freebies, or low price offers, via coupons, were redeemed... Around just 11℅ to 15% was the averaged/expected/budgeted for, take up... Glasgow are giving away 3000 tickets which should therefore see a redemption of 330 to 450 using industry numbers, which shows how "big" the clubs need to think when doing these trade driving ideas... Hope it works for them, and they have a plan to keep those newbies personally engaged to revisit several times enough to become "hooked" and see the full admission costs as VFM..

Why a couple of strange results ? Surely all it needs is Sheffield to win at Ipswich ? They would be favourites to win their other 2 wouldn't they ? Admittedly it's very unlikely that Ipswich will lose at home, but maybe the lure of an 'easier' semi against Belle Vue could inspire the Tigers. 😉

Live-update: https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/980/european-under-19-pairs-speedway-championship-final-plzen.html

I think there was a fairly similar situation at Birmingham in 1986 at The Wheels. The season ended and then they didn't open in 87, that was it. I can't remember any mention of them not coming back, though the sands of time may have clouded my memory somewhat.

That's why Shovlar has got one! 🤩

I don't know why people still claim that. Doubling up WAS a feature in the 70's and 80's - actually from the time the Second Division started. Many BL teams adopted a second-tier team to provide riders. Riders like Eric Broadbelt, Ken Eyre, and Steve Waplington rode for both Belle Vue teams, and Gary Peterson appeared for Nelson and Newcastle. Terry Shearer turned out for Doncaster and Newport, while Peter Murray featured for Canterbury and Wimbledon. Geoff Ambrose was at Crayford and Wolverhampton. Later on, Hull and Newcastle were linked (same promotion, I know). Colin Richardson was a staple at both Plough Lane and Arlington, as was Andy Grahame at Birmingham and Milton Keynes. No, it wasn't called "doubling up", but it certainly wasn't uncommon.

Doesn’t suprise me, my mum used to work at monmore green and she told me one of the stadium managers hated speedway and it’s fans and would tell anyone who would listen to him but he left years before the speedway was kicked out, having read a lot of comments about greyhounds lately it sounds like their fans don’t care for our sport at all

Currently 42.41,,so unlikely

If they get smashed they could always use it as an excuse.

One of the problems now is the increasing lack of ready made stadiums to move into. When Division 2 was formed 6 of the 10 teams were able to move into existing dog tracks, 4 of which had staged speedway previously. Belle Vue Colts used their existing facilities and Berwick, Canterbury and Nelson rode around football tracks. How many stadiums are there today ready and waiting to stage speedway? Sunderland might be one, especially given the demise of Newcastle, but the sport has never been a success there. I read a facebook post recently from Brafield, announcing the opening of a new stand. There was talk a year or so ago that a promoter was looking there.

Whilst taking the sport to the kids again is worthwhile we have hundreds a year with their parents walking past a 50 foot image of Dan Bewley before walking across the speedway track to play football. https://www.playfootball.net/venues/manchester-belle-vue-sports-village/community-sessions

Have to say having worked in the hospitality area at Perry Barr in the lalst two years that the attitude of certain senior members of the stadium staff on Monday left a rather bad taste in the mouth. One or two of them made it pretty clear that they held Birmingham Speedway and it's staff and supporters with contempt

rushen would probably be 16 anyway when lynns fixtures begin but i think hed be better waiting a year before being an rs id go with luke or jody if the scheme remains