GWC

Len Silver ran second half racing consistently for years. It gave track time to the NL side Rye House ran alongside the rockets. It was professional but I’m told it didn’t come cheap but then Len was totally committed to young GB riders.

BMR acquired Rye House from Len with the club in considerable debt. Their plan to make it a then top league club back fired when they overspent considerably on track improvements and then the loss of Saturday night racing. It didn’t seem good enough for BMR to remain a championship club and grow they wanted it now! Scott should have stuck to car racing and I believe that also went pop something later.

Watching the likes of Danyon Hume , Jason Edwards and Jordan Jenkins I was thinking that they would have been star riders in times past. To complain that the standard is now too great for many riders seems a bit wierd but that is what it has become. Talent isn’t good enough now it’s money and lots of it.

If clubs did own their own track I’m sure ‘some’ owners would have sold the ground to developers as in football. Difference is relocation would be so much harder so the club dies.

Fathers and speedway riders !- I remember at Rye House some were ‘difficult’ but Len Silver would smooth troubled waters - he needed to because RH had a lot of kids!!

Yes he had a golden tone to his voice!

It’s the perennial problem of making riders fit into teams and the lower averaged guys tend to be the fodder for clubs. As long as we have this ‘reserve’ facility in our team make up then it will continue.

Ok a bit of fun from you but these are the riders who the so called stars need as well otherwise no speedway! Kennett has served speedway very well and is due some respect!

If they pay him more than Sweden then I’m sure he will.

We probably can but only if club sponsors provide the funds - otherwise where would the financials come from.

Even in those far off days Eastbourne didn’t join the Provincial league staying in the southern league with Rye house and California I think. That must show there wasn’t confidence in regular league racing unless there was another reason.

There is an argument for going back to a simpler system but it did have the effect of teams being built for home advantage. Since the current system came about it has seen a lot closer results imo.

I doubt ALL the Swedish clubs will fold but as in the U.K. their costs will determine their employment.

Sky money paid for the likes of Rickardsson Crump Adams Pedersen and they were top draw. Those that have come after them haven’t been the same and now the money has gone we are left to discover our own riders. UK is contracting and will continue as the sport loses its appeal. The idea that we will be able to attract GP riders (Doyle excepted) with no money is very unlikely.

I’m thinking Glasgow Leicester and (if they run - Poole) will be faced with a lower standard or Premier elevation next season. They are the clubs that appear to want the Championship at an unsustainable level.

Liked Jason Crump’s comments ‘we raced on worse didn’t we Scott’ ! All in all it made for a poor spectacle and now possibly brings Belle Vue into the equation - so long as it doesn’t rain!

It probably needs the commonwealth riders to come in to up the standard.

Do they use sea water?

No different in other speedway countries even Poland - some teams get regularly thumped!

Does it have a future and if not what is to be done?

Blimey I remember going to Brum v Hackney 1976 and I’m sure they used r/r for Gary Middleton and he rode too!!

I recall back in the communist days the huge crowds in Poland of any pictures we got of racing over there. Times change and like us they probably have more things to do now, especially the young. My take on speedway and it’s survival is for it to look at the tracks that can retain support - a classic example would have been Cradley who would support their team whoever was riding. Sadly gone now.

‘’Cannot believe Poland doesnt follow the UK operating model to be honest given it works so well, definitely missing a trick the Poles aren't they? ‘’ They don’t need to Mike as Poland has one advantage over all other Speedway nations - fanatical support!

If Woffinden Lambert and Bewley came back to the U.K. that would be a huge boost to the Premiership but can’t see it at the moment. Sweden is going (to go) the same way as the U.K. with interest falling alarmingly, again I would say through lack of top Swedish riders. I think after the pandemic U.K. had the chance to reorganise and have one professional league to employ the stay at home riders and from overseas - mostly Aussies and where would be without them! The sport is becoming Northern dominated as stadiums in the south come under pressure through ever increasing land values and housing requirements.

Newcastle closed at the end of the 1970 season and didn’t run again till 1975. It’s different times and the stadium might not be there after a few years sadly.