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Scunny Stag

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Posts posted by Scunny Stag

  1. Posted

    You are right Blackbird "It was a deliberate policy" to use our develop riders rather than pay another team's more money. However, John Leslie is also right. Buxton and Devon didn't finish the season with a team any stronger than the Stags, largely due to the lack of enough riders to go around a nine team league with a forty point limit.

     

    The biggest problems with last season was the points limit. Cradley and Scunthorpe built team to the rules within their budgets. Thankfully common sense has prevailed and next season looks like being fantastic with 10 fairly equal strength sides. Some fantastic decisions have been made and whilst I have heard a few team managers complaining about the difficulty of building teams for 2015 it is only because a bit of thinking is having to be done and focus is on the new riders coming into the league. I would have loved to have run the Stags in the 2015 National League. We might still have been towards the bottom but because of sensible team building rules we would have been competitive everywhere we went.

     

    The big budget clubs will still cherry pick the talent and be competing for the playoffs, as in every league, but I am really excited about the prospect of competitive meetings and a whole host of young riders being given the track time the competitive league racing they so desperately need.

    • Like 7

  2. Posted

    Finally got round to reading your 'report' Mr. C. and just wish I could write like you. You have a real style I could only dream of (stats are more my thing). You said some very kind things, thank you very much, and I'm glad you approve of what we do at Scunny.

     

    With regards to the volunteer situation last weekend was the first time I started to roster roles to people in advance rather than just seeing who we have when I turn up. For your information we are changing the format of the winter meetings from later this month. Instead of trying to run 10 classes over one day we will split them over two separate weekends so the days aren't quite so long, we can get back to giving five qualifying rides plus at least one final for each rider (we had to cut it down to 4 qualifying rides on Sunday because of the high turnout). It will allow us to deal with higher turnouts if we can attract them and hopefully finish before it gets dark.

     

    There is still a full list of fixtures on here and Facebook and if you, or anyone else on here, fancies giving us a hand then please let me know in advance (not on here though, please text/call 07832-402167 or email richard@scunthorpespeedway.com) and I'll get you on the roster. Hell, I'd love it if you just came and wrote about the meeting. Thank you!

    • Like 2

  3. Posted · Edited by Scunny Stag

    All Scunthorpe track activity will be put on this one thread per year (please separate thread for 2014 track activity). It prevents us from having to maintain lots of different threads and it also gives people one place to look for all track activity. I will put a few descriptive notes at the bottom of this thread about each type of activity

    Where it states "book via Richard" or you want more information (including weather and track updates) please contact me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rh1967 - there is also an excellent Scunthorpe Amateur Group on there), email (richard@scunthorpespeedway.com) or via text or call 07832-402167. If you call and I'm unavailable (this is done in my spare time) please leave a message with your number (if my phone hasn't got reception then the missed call number doesn't display) or, even better, send a text.
    Last updated: 28th DECEMBER 2015
    ​Dates now switched to 2016 thread
    DETAILS ON EACH TYPE OF ACTIVITY:

    Wayne Carter Minitrack sessions are run on our 92m track. It is the perfect entry level for riders who are learning to slide a bike and a great 'experience day' for fans who are just looking for a one-off day to see how it is to ride a speedway bike. It is also a great place for the slightly more experienced riders to really get used to turning a bike although the track isn't really suitable for 500cc bikes. The club have a range of 125cc and 150cc bikes that can be used, along with all the safety equipment (including steel shoes now) for £70. Wayne is a fantastic tutor and there are a long line of riders coming through the ranks who have started out being taught by Wayne. Any rider with their own bike can also ride for £25.

    Wayne Carter Main Track Training Schools came about because so many of the people who had been taught by Wayne on the minitrack wanted further one-on-one tuition on the main track. However, the sessions are suitable for all abilities. If a rider just wants to practice then they can ensure plenty of track time because sessions are limited to just 16 riders. The 2015 format now sees sessions run from 11am to 4pm but if anyone wants some tuition on bike maintenance or bike set-up they can have an additional two hours from 9am to 11am for £20. The five hour on-track session costs just £50. It will have a break in the middle of the session with free drinks and snacks provided. There is also an opportunity for up to two riders to hire Wayne's bikes for an additional £100 for the full day. Ideally Wayne likes to have seen those wanting to use his 500s on the minitrack to ensure they are safe enough. To book a place please send Richard Hollingsworth a text on 07832-402167 or contact him via Facebook. Simply adding your name as an attendee to the Facebook event is not enough.

    AMSA Andy Meredith Speedway Academy regularly hire both tracks and bookings/more details are available by contacting Andy on 07816-874781. Whilst all session are suitable for ladies Andy does also run 'ladies only' days.

    Amateur Meetings have been hugely successful and more and more classes are being added all the time. We have reached the stage where the winter rounds are split over two weekends. All meetings start at 11am (signing on 9.30-10.30am) but many of the meetings are split into two halves with the a later signing-on and start time for the second half. There are now ten classes being run with four adult speedway classes (Open, Support and Novice Classes plus a separate Upright class for those with upright engines who don't want to ride in the other adult classes. Novice Class riders vary from those who aren't sliding much at all to those who, given decent conditions, have a full slide on around the bends. Typically once a rider is winning races under 70 seconds they move up to the Support Class and then when a rider is confident enough or they are breaking something like 63 seconds they move up to the Open Class where there is a wide range of National League plus occasional Premier League standard riders mixing it with the best second halfers.

    There are four youth classes with three youth speedway classes (Youth 500, Youth 250 and Youth 125/150 plus a Junior 110cc class for youth riders with pit bikes, moto X bikes etc. up to a maximum of 110cc )

    In addition there are also Flat Track and Adult Pit Bike classes to take the current class count to ten.

    Costs are the same as a practice (£40, but just £30 if the rider is under 15 years old and for riders in the Flat Track and Adult Pit Bike classes where up to 12 riders per race can compete) and typically we have Anji's food van selling food and drink close to the pits. Trophies are always presented to the top three in each class and regulars can also compete for the Summer Championship and Winter Series titles (subject to riders completing more than half of the completed rounds).


    WISS Skids Main Track Private Practices
    Ivan Howarth runs private practices throughout the year. He has paramedic first aid cover and he can be contacted through Facebook or via 07909-086969.

    Mini Track Open Practices
    The minitrack is often available for riders with their own bikes and equipment when we run on the main track. However, it is sometimes booked out and sometimes the track team have to focus their efforts on getting the main track ready. With that in mind it is definitely always best to contact me to make sure the track is available for use.

    Track hire
    Both tracks are available for hire at reasonable rates so please contact me if you are interested. Whilst we do have 24/7 planning permission we do have to fit track hire around the the track team's availability (they also work at Sheffield). The cost of hiring the main track starts at £300 (plus £100 deposit in case of air fence damage)

  11. Posted

    Another great amateur meeting today. Results will be on the website and facebook page late on Monday. Next one is Saturday 2nd August but next week the focus is on Wayne Carter and his excellent training days. Saturday (5th) is on the mini track and Sunday is on the main track (just a four hour track session rather than the full day version). Spaces are available on both. Easiest way to book is to text me on 07832-402167 or email richard@scunthorpespeedway.com. If you really need to speak to me please leave a message if I am unavailable and I will call back at the earliest opportunity.

  15. Posted

    Still two places left for this coming Saturday's session with Wayne Carter on the minitrack (Sat 3rd May) but Sunday's training school is fully booked. The following Saturday (May 10th) has plenty of spaces available with Wayne on the minitrack (10am to 2pm because of a stock car meeting later in the day) then on Sunday May 18th we have an amateur meeting. The Open, Support, Youth 500 and flat track classes will run in the morning (signing on 9.30-10.30am) with the Novice Class, Youth 250, Youth 150, Adult Pit Bike and Youth Pit Bike classes in the afternoon (signing on around 1pm). Contact me to book or ask questions: richard@scunthorpespeedway.com or 07832-402167

  17. Posted

    This coming weekend Wayne Carter still has spaces on his main track training school (Saturday 11am to 3pm, £50) and for his minitrack session on Sunday morning (9am to 1pm because of the Scorpions meeting at 3pm) whilst I'm also taking bookings for the following weekend's amateur meeting (Saturday 5th April). Text or call me on 07832-402167 or contact me via Facebook (www.facebook.com/rh1967)

  18. Posted

    Just spotted that we still had two practices listed for 23rd and 30th March. Please accept my apologies but they were cancelled some time ago because on the 23rd we have the first round of the British Youth Championship whilst the Scorpions and Stags seasons start with a home double-header on Sunday the 30th March.

     

    However, track time is possible at Scunthorpe over the next couple of weeks with Andy Meredith running a training school on the main track on Saturday 22nd and Wayne Carter also running a main track training school on Saturday 29th. Bookings for the Wayne Carter TS is through myself with the 29th being the last of his four hour winter schools. After that they will revert to the full day versions. All details are listed at the bottom of the first post on this thread.

     

    Finally, we are counting down to our next amateur meeting, which is also the first in our Summer Championship. The date is Saturday 5th April and once again I am the person to contact (see my signature or the bottom of the first post for options)

  19. Posted

    Okay, last weekend was a great success with 97 races in the amateur meeting on Saturday, a good turnout for Sunday's practice and a really good session for Wayne Carter's group on the minitrack.

     

    This coming Saturday sees Andy Meredith running one of his popular speedway academies on Saturday with a 'Ladies Day' on the minitrack and a group on the main track before Sunday sees the club run our penultimate winter practice from 12-4pm on the main track. Anyone wanting more info on the latter then contact me (text is better if possible) on 07832-402167.

     

    The next Wayne Carter Minitrack session on Saturday 15th and the next Wayne Carter Main Track Training Session is on Sunday 29th.

     

    All bookings are done through myself.

  21. Posted · Edited by Scunny Stag

    Josh Bailey and to be fair Danny Phillips unless he is classed as having ridden a season for Scunthorpe. RTD does have some experience but guesting not declared although that was questionable. I suppose it depends on what you are classing as experienced.

    All the best with your project and hopefully more will follow. It's to be hoped that PL take the bull by the horns to as I think that is where the problem has lay in the past PL or scrap heap and it is notoriously difficult to get a PL spot without the pressures put on reserves by mediocre foreign 2nd strings but the tide is changing.

    You are right I forgot to include Josh Bailey but Danny had a full season with Scunthorpe in 2012. Of course the league should definitely allow second and third year riders to continue their development.

    Josh Bailey and to be fair Danny Phillips unless he is classed as having ridden a season for Scunthorpe. RTD does have some experience but guesting not declared although that was questionable. I suppose it depends on what you are classing as experienced.

    All the best with your project and hopefully more will follow. It's to be hoped that PL take the bull by the horns to as I think that is where the problem has lay in the past PL or scrap heap and it is notoriously difficult to get a PL spot without the pressures put on reserves by underperforming foreign 2nd strings but the tide is changing. I would take it a step further and allow a certain number of foreign riders in the NL give the Brits a fair playing field could show a few of the overseas riders in a truer reflection :-)

    I like your idea of the PL doing something more for British riders but dislike the idea of introducing foreign riders into the NL

    What a dreadful idea and they will ride for £10 per point?

     

    The places in the League have to be for British riders after all it is the National Development League not the International Development League.

     

    For too long we have encouraged very average foreign riders the tide is turning and it must not turn back. Whilst I am sure the Elite League introduced the measure of national League reserves to help with costs, British riders benefit with experience and working with top riders close by to guide them. It is a major step forward. It would never be agreed to allow the National League to go back to any overseas riders. Lets not forget we had Aussies and Kiwis once. Nothing against them but those 63 places are to develop our lads and help Brits returning to the sport.

     

    It is imperative that they be retained for that purpose.

     

     

    Malcolm Vasey

    Well said Malcolm and if the league reduces the points limit so that more spaces are filled by prospects then the resulting cost reduction and increased chance of a club actually finding someone of value then more clubs might enter the league. It is a simple pyramid. The more we attract new talent at the bottom the more Craig Cooks, Worrall brothers and Matt Williamson's the league will find. Is it coincidence that lower budget clubs like Buxton, Kings Lynn and Scunthorpe have found more talent than others over recent years?
    • Like 6

  22. Posted

    I suppose the only thing is if everyone did that then there would be the need for 54 3.00 riders. Are there that many waiting in the wings? because if there are then yes the points limit should be dropped.

    If the points level was reduced I'm sure every team could have two or three without too much trouble. It would also reduce the costs of running a team and with the increased prospects of actually developing riders might even attract others clubs to run teams. By my fag-packet reckoning the other eight teams only have three untried riders in their lineups so far (Adam Extance, Connor Mountain and Rob Shuttleworth. An absolute travesty in my opinion. Of course you have to remember we won't always have six three-pointers in the team. If we have chosen well several will be riding for us next year. However, I can guarantee we will always have places for new talent :)

  23. Posted

    I hope Ryan has also signed a Glasgow contract. :neutral: If not why not? :mad: Or is that too much for the promotion to think about?

    Just to clarify we aren't developing other club's assets any more (with the possible exception of a number one). Ryan needs to be in the NL and we have offered him a team place with him signing for Scunthorpe. We will invest time and money into Ryan (e.g. track time, training and the expenses of running an NL team) and if he makes it we have an asset but so does British (and in this case Scottish) speedway. No disrespect to most clubs in the country but they can't offer this kind of deal/experience. That is why Ryan and others should sign for clubs like Scunthorpe and not their local side.
    • Like 8

  24. Posted

    Please note we are trying to develop riders for Scunthorpe and Poole without worrying about the match results. The NL points limit is too high meaning that to compete we couldn't even go with two three pointers never mind any more. We would also have to pay big money to compete with the top four from the off and what a waste of money and team slots it would be. The plan is to have one experienced rider at number one and six prospects. It is going to be very exciting to watch these rider develop and with six prospects in the side who is going to bet against at least three of them being in a PL or NL line-up by March 2016?

    • Like 9

  25. Posted

    Sadly we have had to cancel this weekend's track activity. Thursday wasn't the drying day that was predicted earlier in the week and with a lot of rain set to fall on Friday we will be back to square one. It means there will be no main track or mini track activity this coming weekend. The next track activity is due to be the amateur meeting which has been rearranged to replace the practice on Sunday 9th February. Any riders wanting to enter the meeting needs to contact me on 07832-402167. The next minitrack activity is now planned to be a Wayne Carter session on 15th February and once again people need to book spaces with myself.

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