Whisperer

Interesting comment Sidney for those who have come to the sport with solid business expertise and commercial acumen, in other words very successful businessmen elsewhere, have been eventually "driven" out by the intransigence and lack of foresight within the confines of the controlling bodies. From the FIM downwards the old school tie rules above all else; young blood, new blood and experienced blood all get battered by the "there's no need to re-invent the wheel" brigade. It's truly an awful experience having your investment in Speedway mis-managed, manipulated and squandered for the benefit of others. Strategic and financial planning are way beyond the knowledge, experience or will of the corner shop keepers who endeavor to manage the sport. Don't get me wrong they honestly believe they are doing a good job but without a robust structure and a core plan they will rarely see clear results. They spend hours, days even, arguing about the rule book, club politics, who owes who, who gets the plum events and when it comes to marketing and the future of the sport half of them leave the room "train to catch" "need to be back for a meeting", "my other interest are playing at home tonight". Honestly it's frightening.

It's ironic that on this thread there is a sensible discussion that is only just beginning to scratch the surface on some elements of rider costs, the SVEMO and DMU agreements are significant when looking to engage a rider who is registered with those federations. When it comes to PZM the "Premier League" as was had to insist on an ACU licence or no Polish riders the pull/pressure to ride in Poland was so great but the "Elite League" lived with the demands of the Polish federation which in turn created mayhem with EL fixtures. Other threads are extolling the virtues of non UK riders to build a winning or competitive team and others are indirectly supporting the demise of clubs without any understanding of the operating costs and the necessity to rely on the fans to try to make ends meet. Those who love their Speedway should endeavor to attend as often as they can to make a contribution to the losses generally incurred and extend the life support for the sport. Quarreling across the piece, regardless of where blame lies, will continue to batter the sustainability and negatively impact on the uninitiated, the undivided and the naive who know no better other than to follow the sport with enthusiasm and passion. This forum can be exceptionally good for the sport but when it ain't it's gonna bury what's left.

Please don't believe for even a second that the GRA will deal with anyone other than Tony Mole after the last "sub tennant" defaulted on the rent and subsequent new owners of Birmingham Speedway behaved similarly. As far as Speedway racing is concerned at Birmingham the GRA are twice bitten and have turned to the Mole to do the honourable thing, which he has and covered off other parties debts. Negotiations to put new owners into Birmingham following Tony's retirement will be very delicate and I guess may need a substantial bond in the GRA's favour or indeed Tony's personal guarantee again (ouch!).

There's a limit to how much sugar you can blow up your own arse Jonathan, keep on and you'll be farting candy floss forever!

You Scotsmen are all the same!

As you demanded with the Birmingham Elite League fiasco? - Not! "Whilst on the fruit'n'veg theme" - No mention of nuts then?

I find it somewhat ironic that Morton is being called and Ham is being hailed even after his own company became insolvent in 2007 - only on the BSF! https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00950114/insolvency

Speedway Control Bureau

Except the BSPA did not levy the fine

I think the special guest on the night is Pat Phelan off Corrie, he's bringing his card machine!

I guess finishing first and scoring three points is different to finishing first with a different helmet colour, best they all finish second or third and get paid for 2 or 1 instead of 3 - that makes sense. Don't get me wrong I dislike it and would prefer not to use it but riders want to win whether they are racing for 3,2,1 or even 6 points.

Muck Fe! I was looking forward to reading about the Sky Deal, 2 pages and it only gets 1 ish mention

Hello Rob, I've not read all the detail on this thread so apologies if I am repeating another's comments. I have years of experience in this sport as well as running a very, very successful business now whilst that doesn't make me Golden Borrocks it does hopefully allow me to relate some of my experiences. Having exhibited at shows, events, schools, conferences, clubs, pubs, hotels and businesses with riders, bikes, videos, merchandise, free or concessionary admission - even going through the probation service and local authority to provide activity free of charge for under privileged and the naughty boys and girls - I feel confident that I can tell you all that the problem isn't attracting the newbie, it's retaining them. In my experience the one thing that has brought them back is the spills but beyond that there is nothing to hold them. I like the WiFi suggestion, it's free in all of my businesses and we give access to the neighbours to soften any inconvenience we may cause. Retention is the sport's global responsibility and many clubs have worked very hard to attract new clientele, my most recent memory will probably cite Rick Frost and Julie Mahony who invested immeasurable sums into marketing and putting Peterborough on the map yet failed to retain a viable attendance. They're not mugs and like me prove themselves with sound business principles in the commercial world. The real reason I have posted on this thread is to try and open the eyes of those that cannot see. many in the past and maybe on this thread have hailed Barry Hearn as the potential saviour of this and maybe some other sports too. Barry is shrewd, very, very if not extremely shrewd and won't be insulted by the derisory offers of broadcasters who wish to be the exclusive partners in his success. It's tens of millions now for a deal with Barry, trust me. Barry is effective on a model based and created by Mark McCormack the man who invented the rankings for Golf and Tennis, he was successful in gaining sponsorship from Sony an International sponsor hence the Sony Rankings. Both are into sports management in a big way, sadly Mark has passed away but his legacy lives on in the company that he founded and chaired- The International Media Group or in the land of acronym, IMG. IMG have developed into a global sports management company and as many will now recognise diversified into Speedway some years ago, they are internationally the best Motor Sport marketing company and once there is realisation that they are not retaining the new customers they attract to Speedway then we can start to strip out wishful thinking from fact. In recent times no other company has done more to market Speedway than IMG, it's at a level that members of the BSPA can only dream about but whilst the average club is content to put a poster in the local chippy with two free tickets neither is locking customers into the sport on a weekly basis. I honestly don't know the answer but like many feel that significant changes in the Management of the sport will eventually match the needs of the customers we have, to continue to torch them will only lead to the inevitable.

Wasn't it Richard Hall who was denied permission to go to his sisters wedding when he rode at Leicester?

Probably best to let the Jury decide rather than talk about a potential victim as "a silly young girl" and the alleged perpetrator as "an innocent man ... over a drunken mistake" not that your mind is made up or that you are leaning towards a version of events that has been pedaled or influenced by the media reports. I wasn't there so I've no idea what went on consequently I haven't got an opinion, sorry.

Thank you for that helpful and clear explanation on how Speedway is financed. It's a bit like your previous comment referring to the cost of rider wages; Try taking VAT out of your revenue streams Think about bonus points Think about Track licence and SCB fees for Officials Think about medical and referees costs for each meeting Think about the cost of shale and repairs to plant and equipment Think about the cost of depreciating an air fence and other business assets (Not riders) Think about the agreed contractual travel expenses Think about budgeting for 95 - 100 points a meeting to cover bonus points Think about budgeting for the cost of a rain off before anybody leaves home Think about budgeting for the cost of at least two rain offs that don't get to heat ten Think about IT and communication costs Think about publicity, promotional and print costs Think about meeting insurance costs (public and "employee" liability) Think about the cost of aquiring and running at least one vehicle for the business owner What about signing on fees, vans, mechanics, accommodation, flights where applicable etc, etc,etc Stadium rent usually includes power and water but sometimes stewards are extra Once all this has had some constructive thought the conclusion you will see is that the business model is f****d with a capital F and just how much the sport has to rely on: goodwill, sponsorship, donations, supporters club events, share of the BSPA shared events, TV staging fees, advertising revenue, track shop concession fee, programme sales where charged for, car parking in owned stadiums, refreshments in owned stadiums. Now this just sets out a flavour of how it is, it truly galls me that well meaning terrace promoters use language like "rip off" (Not you SS) and that the people running the sport haven't got a clue when in reality they are drowning in a sea of rising costs and falling revenue. Their focus is understandably on survival and that does mean short term solutions, it's not right at all and I believe that some of the decisions taken were never intended to be permanent but there really does need to be a break in the vicious circle that the sport is in to give these guys the opportunity to improve. For me it begins with costs, unless they are firmly under control then the revenue streams cannot be nudged forward and it is an unfortunate fact that the greatest expense in the sport is rider costs that have almost doubled in 10 years yet you won't find many riders who's points money has doubled - it's the total costs that have. I'm trying not to make this a rant but maybe provide some helpful information to fill in some of the gaps to illustrate how a club promoter has to face the challenge of propping his business up on a daily basis, and NO, Sugar Daddy Promoters are not the answer, it is undoubtedly some of theses promotions that have chucked stupid money at riders in the first place that have caused competitive promotions costs to rocket.

That's how we got the current rule book, everybody airing/adding their respective point of view (personal interest).

The reason sports grants have been given to Olympic type activities is to influence and motivate some of GB's youth into participating in "everyday" activities that promote good health, excercise and begin to tackle childhood obesity. This is all part of a very long term strategy put together by the ministries of health and sport/recreation under the last two previous Governments when the dramatic increase in Diabetes became known. The medals are a means to an end in this context but in simple terms if a sport is accessible to children/young adults and participation benefits health and well being then the Government has a duty to promote it.

If both clubs had the same teams now as they had then you're probably right but they haven't

I can't get my breath over some of the opinions on this thread. So many people criticise the lack of blue chip sponsorship at all levels and when some elements succeed they get criticised too!!!! The Coca Cola company are a major shareholder in Monster, yes Greg has a commercial affiliation in Sweden but sponsors require significant product placement as part of their terms like it or not. I haven't heard any complaints recently about the Monster logo embroidered on the rear of the leather hot pants of the start ladies! (But no doubt I will now )

Funnily enough I didn't hear him mention the Cocxs on BSF either, did anyone else?

What is potentially unfair is the decision to publicise the outcome, there are many more occasions and incidents where disciplinary action or sanctions have been taken but NOT made public. Both the BSPA and the SCB adjudicate on breaches of the rules under their respective areas of responsibility including some of those mentioned but the outcomes remain in the minutes and communications of those bodies, the fines and suspensions get paid and served however the SCB clearly feel that there is a need to inform the public of the outcome when the incident has taken place in the public arena. I accept they are in a no win situation with supporters of the sport but yet again it lacks consistency

Many of you may have missed the point here, if Mr H resigns his membership of the BSPA he no longer has to be bound by it's rules leaving him to pursue whatever action he chooses to protect his business. Granted David isn't everyone's cup of tea but treating him with contempt isn't the way to get along with him, the EL begged him to join them when Leicester re-opened as another EL club would help them secure the TV deal. Now he is in it would be fair to say that he doesn't enjoy the support of all of his colleagues in that league, but they're alright jack (for the time being). I'm speculating of course, allegedly!

It's a paid practice ffs!

Let's be honest he's a c o c k , popular but still one all the same