Grand Central

Actually I think both Tony and James Easter are missing several points here. First of all, the goings on over Billy Sanders were an attempt to operate a cartel. To create a system where there is no free collective or individual bargaining; that the wages for all would be set at the dictat of the 'employer'. There were times in the, now distant, past when this was acceptable. Those times were on their way out in the early eighties. It is frankly bizarre to lament their passing in the way you both seem to be doing. Wages for Journalists and Travel Agents are not set in such a fashion, so why Speedway Riders? Speedway Promotions should have only paid riders what their own business could afford and have negoitiated with the riders accordingly. The fact that the promoters have found that they have not been up to this is a seperate issue. And one for which those poor, poor men deserve every criticism going. Secondly, if the man's words have been taken out of context in any way, then who is to blame? Possibly the man giving us the carefully selected segments of quotes? It seems fairly clear from the snippets that you have given that Mr Easter definitely does think he has more entitlement to offfer criticism specifically because he briefly was a Promoter himself. And that others who have just paid at the turnstiles throughout the whole of their Speedway-attending life do not deserve to be heard with the same respect. Frankly he made it personal right there.

He had a free choice to do. And he took it. But in doing so he did not 'buy' himself the entitlement to an opnion that he would deny lesser mortals. The fact that he seems to think it did could say more about the man than we need to know.

A thread that got just 14 replies, 422 views and the last contribution was made over a fortnight ago. So I hardly think it would have been a critical factor. The current thread where a chap is complaining that his Speedway Star was a bit late arriving has an almost identical level of interest. For Goodness Sake. No this is a really welcome surprise. One Hundred Per Cent Earned by the young man himself. And yet another opportunity for us all say 'Well Done, Tai'.

Clearly, help is now needed quite urgently. I will leave it to others much better qualified in this area to come forward.

I think people are being very unkind. Poor Colin asks a perfectly civil question and had to do so whilst overcoming his own limitations. It would be cruel to send him in the direction of Amazon, Ebay or even Google to search for his Book. The search facility would clearly be beyond him. An audio book, a picture book or an easy-to-read large print edition may be the way to go. Perhaps he could speak to his key-worker, or his educational access point will have a designated SENCO who could assist him.

Of course they are. That's why it's been a little amusing to p!ss-take such a nonsense. Excellent idea. Could I put a word in for the idea of Egyptian Hieroglyphs, like those on BBC4's OnlyConnect. I would love to go to Cardiff and cheer for the 'Eye of Horus'. .

I think you need to do a serious bit of re-evaluation on what is 'cool' in the UK before your next visit. If you think you wil be 'getting down wiv the yoof' by ordering a 'Bud' in a Yank accent here. Just stand back and wait for the p!ss-taking to start. Thinking 'bud' is 'cool' in the UK is as far in the past as thinking 'cool' is really 'cool'. Unless you wear your knitwear over your shoulders, Bud.

.Although the real origin of Numbers is a little involved to get into here. It's safe to say they go back a couple of thousand years in some form another. Those fine people at BSI have given us many wonderful innovations. But others got in first on this. .

.A slightly odd view. Considering it is the heat formula that determines who rides against who in those races and off which gate position. And what arrangements are being made for replacement riders etc. I dare say it would make quite a difference. Especially if they choose a bad formula. .

Generally I don't think anyone who has selected Greg Hancock for this 'honour' has said much BAD about him. That's just the point. He inspires my apathy. There he's been in every single GP, has had a good chance of winning many, and has done a fair few. But not once have I been moved to cheer him on. But neither have I booed. When he's won, I've just been flat. There just seems to be nothing there to take to. And the the very fact that some others think he is so wonderful just makes it that little more obvious that I don't! .

And here was I feeling that we were all as pure as the driven snow. Next we will be getting lectures on the demon drink. And - heaven forfend - FORNICATION. I think I will make a placard to walk around at Oxford Circus. THE END IS NIGH.

I think some element of delay was first mentioned by the 'Sky insiders' we have on the forum whose knowledge of the technology to be employed is greater than mine.The current Greyhound coverage does not use the methods envisaged for Speedway. But I find it rather comical that people here would try and tell the bookies not to take bets on a race that has already been run. As if they had not thought of that! All the other concerns about races and betting are equally amusing. Does everyone think that all trainers, jockeys and horses are always putting in the same effort in every race. There are a multitude of concerns and suppositions to be made when betting on anything. Speedway will be no different on that regard to a meeting at say Leopardstown where a certain trainer may have two horses running in a race only to find that his odds-on favourite gets beaten by his yard's supposed 'no-hoper'. And someone 'in the know' could make a good profit. Personally I cannot imagine that this gets 'big' at all. Speedway just does not appeal to the masses. And betting on Speedway won't either. But if it adds to my enjoyment of the next season I'll be all for it.

Fair enough on your part. But I am not so sure the others were having fun at all. On the money side. A coverage fee for each meeting would do, fine and dandy. But is that on the cards?

Are the naysayers against this innovation being deliberately thick? It has been pointed out already many times that betting has been available online for individual races for quite a few years. And yes, in team matches on Sky. The whole Speedway world has not caved in. That will continue but there will now be an option to actually see the action on your ipad or computer from many more matches, all week. Obviously there will be no ability to bet on a race AFTER it has actually started at the track. The betting on the race will close as soon as the tapes go up and we watching at home will get the time delayed view of the race just that little bit later. This is not complicated. I think it just sounds like a great idea if it can be made to work well for the benefit of the Sport. As yet my only query just concerns how Speedway itself gets it's income stream flowing from this. At the moment the statements announcing this do not make that clear. .

That is my recollection too. It was Philip Rising, in the BSF thread on the AGM, who said the word 'protected' as he had 'heard' it.

Not that I can find. It was Jon Cook that said about an extra reserves race being included in the programme. And it was the ever-cryptic Philip Rising that said that he had 'heard' that the reserves would be 'protected' in the format. But no, I can't find anything that categorically states that reserves would definitely not be programmed against heat leaders at all. Not official anyway. Can anyone help as it seems a little wasteful to spend all this effort thinking of race formats that are not even working on the same wavelength as the people creating the real thing.

Yes, at 50p per heat as a minimum bet would be the sort of thing I would expect. But I would not be planning on spending 15x50p. The idea would be to WIN at least some of them! Arthur Cross makes some excellent points, as always. If it really is the case that this would operate WITHOUT Speedway getting ANY income then this would be madness. If all goes well I'll spend evenings at home idly putting the odd fiver on the right races at meetings all over the country. It will be great, if it works. .

My understanding of this thread was that it was not asking about 'Who do you hate?' But more about the riders who just have done nothing to excite or elicit much emotion, negative or positive. Despite their success and others idolising them, for no real reason they just do nothing for you. That would be Greg Hancock for me.

On the gee gees it's a 50p minimum to see a race. I've always watched them live on my netbook. And it works fine. I'm looking forward to this particular innovation more than most it would seem.

Just on the subject of the Munich 1989 attendance. Being there at the time I remember it as being quite a good crowd more as Humphrey has said. I don't know what the PR figure was, what the true figure was or whether it had been 'dressed'. This set of images I found pretty much show the whole arena. So someone who really cares can start counting! Munich .

Now then, Now then. The official figure released by the BSPA at the time was 26,418. Is there a suggestion that a BSPA Press Release may have been inaccurate? That would be a sensation. .

Who the hell do the BSPA get to write these statements? Such a tragically obsequious message is quite pitiful.

No interviews ... just purely races. It's getting to sound better and better.

This is a far more interesting story to me. It seems to be a much bigger deal than 25 meetings on Sky if EVERY EL and PL meeting is to going to be able to be watched Live in this way. I'll be holding back on my Sky renewal until I get to know lot more about this potentially far more exciting deal. PS I've already emailed ATR to make sure they are not going to have the grusome twosome of Webster and Ermolenko. .

I knew I would find a photo online somewhere.... http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7NH9B839yYU/UulRoKvo50I/AAAAAAAANok/bszRk3QkPRE/s1600/USA+Bruce+Penhall+(21).jpg