Mr Snackette

Just to let those that are on the Travel Plus Tour know, we're heading off to Leszno on the Sunday. Looks like it could be a cracker!

Looking at the 1st Round of the Play offs on 7th August I see its 6 v 3, and 5 v 4. Assuming results go to plan, we could have Wroclaw v Torun, and Leszno v Czestochowa. Bearing in mind that the SWC Final is due to be raced in Wroclaw on the Saturday before, is it likely that the 1st leg of round one will be switched to Torun? Assuming of course that they end up 3rd.

Has the SWC Run off date been put back 24 hours? Whilst the programme showed the original date of Thursday 4th, the ad that appeared on the scoreboard at Cardiff showed it as the 5th. Has it been changed, or was the ad a BSI cock up?

Travel Plus Tours are very much alive. Over 50 ice fans will be winging their way to Russia for one the ice meetings, and places are going fast for the trip to Assen. Now that BSI have confirmed the dates, Jimbo is feverishly putting together the 2005 brochure. I know that last week he was in Sweden sussing out hotels, and plans trips to Polski and Czecho for the same reason. Plans are now at an advanced stage in putting together a tour that will match, if not surpass, the Two Capitals Tour. You can contact Jimbo on 01473 217838.

30th APRIL POLAND .....suggest Wroclaw 14th MAY SWEDEN ...... suggest Avesta 28th MAY SLOVENIA .......Krsko 11th JUNE GREAT BRITAIN CARDIFF CONFIRMED 25th JUNE DENMARK COPENHAGEN CONFIRMED (9th JULY) suggest Barcelona or Pocking 13th AUGUST Sweden .......suggest Malilla 27th AUGUST Czech Republic......... Prague 10th SEPTEMBER Polski....... Bydgodscz (or possibly Tarnow) (24th SEPTEMBER) as per 9/7. Pure guesswork, and a couple of hunches!

I think the BSI site is probably a tad more reliable! For more info go to: http://www.speedwayworld.tv/en/sgp/a3751

The dates as listed previusly now appear on the BSI website. However it is worth noting that the GPs scheduled for 9th July and 24th September are "reserve dates". The site goes on to say "The two ‘reserve’ dates are interchangeable, therefore a Grand Prix will be held on one of these dates, this will be confirmed by the end of November." Consquently judging by that, the GP series could be done and dusted by 10th September. This would of course free up the weekend of the Czech Golden Helmet.

With the news that the U21 Final has been brought forward to the Saturday night, an opportunity now exists to take in a meeting on the Sunday. However from looking at various sites it appears that Sunday 12th September is a blank day. Does anyone know of any planned fixtures?

Companies use many sources to get accurate audience information. In fact you may remember a few years ago El Presindente organised a survey at tracks to determine the type of people that watched speedway. That was in the days before the Sky deal, and he hoped to use this info to strengthen his case. Sadly it didn't provide the results he was looking for. A major source of consumer information are the BARB figures. They use various methods to collect data, amongst which includes having a representative sample of viewers and monitor their viewing. I have had experience of this as the family of the former Mrs. Snackette ware part of the sample. If you’re interested a good source of info can be found at: http://www.viewingfigures.com

Not only are viewing figures important, but the type of viewer. As mentioned in a previous thread, advertisers are seeking a significant proportion of viewers from socio economic groups ABC1. These are the groups that have individuals / families with the highest level of disposable income, and consequently are demanded by advertisers, who will pay a premium to reach this audience. According to the last figures I saw, a large proportion of the speedway audience is in the less attractive C2DE grouping. This is much less attractive to potential advertisers. It probably also explains that despite live television coverage, a major sponsorship deal with a major PLC has not been forthcoming. As result rugby union, horse racing, and cricket will always been seen as more important in the Sky portfolio.