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Fortythirtyeight

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Posts posted by Fortythirtyeight

  2. Posted · Edited by Fortythirtyeight

    11 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

    I find it incredible that riders can ride for months without the proper Visa’s. BSPA probably too busy working on riders averages.

    Visa’s are not a BSPL issue, although they do check the club have one for the rider, it’s down to the rider and the employer ,the club. A correct visa can be voided for a number of reasons , by the DOE,  change in circumstances perhaps or operating outside it’s parameters. 

  4. Posted · Edited by Fortythirtyeight

    5 hours ago, The Dog said:

    I'm not sure what the consortium leader is going to get out of this meeting, surely he has all the information and figures he needs to know whether it's worth investing or not? Fans will obviously want a decent track for a good team to perform on and no increase on the gate. The rest is down to the business men. 

    He could be pleading for extra funds? extra help or going to tell the fans exactly what’s going on ?

    Best way to find out is by attending.

    • Like 2

  5. Posted

    7 hours ago, phillwhitewasmad said:

    And yet the big 6 don't want it that's the boys club that needs looking at if speedway is to progress 

    So that’s Buster x 2, Bates, CVS, Louis, and Smith ( who we understand has tried to rattle the top table ) .As Godfrey was Busters right hand man and supporter , Bates has power in both divisions and the newest promoters don’t get a vote for 3 years, how do you think you can break up the boys club?

  6. Posted

    4 minutes ago, Pieman72 said:

    So why is British Speedway on life support and European Speedway is healthy?

    Outside Poland which country do you think is healthy ?

    Sweden matches are mostly run infront of three figure crowds , the rest a lot less. Sponsors pay the for the clubs to run because of TV coverage.

    Long Track gets bigger crowds than speedway in both Germany and France , the others don’t even have proper leagues.

    Poland is huge because their football is poor in comparison to other countries and they price speedway correctly to attract family’s , that attracts sponsors, which brings cash , that attracts stars!

    • Like 1

  7. Posted

    34 minutes ago, Pieman72 said:

    I can see where you are coming from but entrusting our fragile sport with these remote individuals is rather naive. There are genuine supporters who will empty their pockets to keep their beloved sport but the way in which the sport is managed is rather haphazard. Ultimately no fans equals no speedway this is conversation that needs to be carried on.

    I’m not naive in the way speedway is run , non of us have any choice of how the sport is run. We can simply not attended, that’s a ‘ fans ‘ prerogative but don’t kid yourself that fans are going to have a say on how the sport is run under it’s current set up. An independent body might change that . This ‘ conversation ‘ has gone on since 1928 when the sport was brought into the UK and has gone on , in changing volumes, ever since !

  8. Posted

    6 minutes ago, Pieman72 said:

    Just asking why was it silly? I'm just so worried about the number of tracks closing or in dire straights. Now Birmingham are making changes for survival.  Unfortunately the BSPA are sitting on their hands while genuine supporters are organising and addressing the critical situation. Realisticly 6 teams for 30 race nights is financially unsustainable.

    It was ‘ silly ‘ because the powers that be will release news as and when it suits them, not the fans so what were you expecting ? a personal email ?

    Clubs have closed because of bad management , others for slightly different reasons , that has always been the case in speedway.Speedway is now a very minor sport, probably only fit to be called semi professional but just won’t accept it.  Can you enlighten me what ‘ genuine supporters ‘ are addressing ? . Most are on this forum complaining about anything and everything and whilst I’m not going to defend the BSPL , it’s their money that’s keeping what little is left of the sport running so they are entitled to make whatever ludicrous decisions they wish until such time as an independent body comes along and sorts the mess out, if that ever happens. They will be the judge if 6 teams for 30 race nights is financially viable, not the fans.

    Meanwhile , they’ve told you what to expect, more of the same….

     

  9. Posted · Edited by Fortythirtyeight

    2 hours ago, *JJ said:

    No, too far. Edinburgh is about 350 miles from here! Plymouth, at over 200 miles, was far enough in one day, certainly at my age.

    Then please don’t make sweeping statements that aren’t true. Quite a few clubs do care and take great effort to encourage youngsters in the sport.

    Oh, and a local lad from Redcar travelled to Kent for his home meetings and we have a very young junior regularly attending Redcar sessions from Plymouth so, if your dedicated enough, there are opportunities !

  10. Posted

    21 hours ago, *JJ said:

    The promotions of 'major clubs' don't care about training; everybody knows that speedway riders come from Denmark and Poland!  My experience was that training schools, amateur racing and Development League (ie MDL/SDL) teams were run by fans and enthusiasts who were barely tolerated by the official promoters; which is why they are struggling, and it is difficult to start riding.

    You never did come to Redcar, did you, or Berwick who also have a great enthusiasm for junior speedway, or even Edinburgh despite their restrictions. 

  11. Posted

    10 hours ago, Arson fire said:

    Of course i blame British speedway, because they removed the stipulation to have them.. had they not, Newcastle would have had too.

    my post was more about how young kids are used every other year by the collective promoters/rules to cut costs and then left to hope they get a spot.

    Either they use them or not, for the right reasons…but stop pi55ing them about and making them the fall guys to prop the sport up when it suits.

    But Newcastle have made the decision to drop Archie, a local prospect who the club threw in the deep end and said there would be no pressure on him , and said this would be a good move for the future of Newcastle and now they drop him and bring in another untried but non UK youngster , and that’s British Speedways fault ???

    No, that is the Newcastle promoters decision nothing to do with the rest of speedway.

    • Like 4

  13. Posted

    3 hours ago, ShyTalk said:

    More teams looking to enter NL per BSPL statement. Wonder if Buxton may be one of them?

    Is that the same BSPL who stated the rising star programme was a 2 year scheme and each club needed two this year ?

  14. Posted

    6 minutes ago, Pieman72 said:

    Has anyone noticed the silence emanating from riders and promoters?

    Not sure what you are expecting ?

    Probably because they , the promoters, aren’t supposed to announce any news from the AGM meetings until there’s been an official press release.

    As for Riders, most are advised to keep stum until the club issues it’s release.

     

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    Richard will keep you right, he’s the godfather of amateur speedway. Depending where you live makes a big difference to what’s available. Up north you have Scunthorpe , nearly every weekend, Redcar , now closed for the winter , Northside and Duns ( near Berwick ).

    Your budget will get you a rough and ready old lay down nothing more , no chance of an upright. You will need an ‘ amateur ‘ licence to race in those meetings ( much cheaper than a full licence ) but not for practices. Loads of mature gentlemen riding lay downs in amateur meetings so no problem there.

    Good luck.

    • Like 2

  17. Posted

    18 hours ago, f-s-p said:

    So had I written ”contact the local promoter” instead of club it would have been ok? It makes me smile reading that I just cant ring a promoter in the UK and tell him I want to organise a training day. Why the heck not? If I had the money I’d call Lemon tomorrow :lol:

    I dont know everything about how speedway is run in the UK, but I know enough. Think my first post mentioned also finding the money that is necessary to run the said training session.

    I know how speedway is run and how it operates over here, and contacting the local club would be the first step in order to organise a training day or school or whatever…

    No, because of unlimited restrictions on UK tracks with stadium use, days they can operate and how many times etc. Life in UK speedway just isn’t that simple.

  19. Posted · Edited by Fortythirtyeight

    18 minutes ago, HackneyHawk said:

    So if there were more 'domestic' riders  then this would save speedway?

    Isn't the fact that no-one comes anymore and/or most stadiums are under threat of closure the most pressing problem???????????

    F-S-P obviously hasn't got a clue how speedway is run. An individual cannot just contact his local club and say “ I want to run a training session “. The promoter is the only person who can run events on his track, he has to be present, it has to be insured , qualified medical personal in attendance and will need a track curator. Anybody conducting ‘ training ‘ is supposed to vetted and competent ( insurance companies insistence ) and that’s just the basics.

    Then we can discuss smaller crowds !

  20. Posted · Edited by Fortythirtyeight

    2 hours ago, DBP said:

    Can anyone explain why there is a pay  difference between the championship and premiership when apart from around 5 riders both leagues use the same riders 

     

     

    It’s simple. The championship pay rates are basically historical and they , mostly, pay what they can afford based on gate receipts , sponsorship etc.

    The ‘ Premiership ‘ has historically taken the majority of the TV money ( a big sum during Sky times ) to run the club and then had more cash available to pay the bigger wages to attract international classs stars to appear on TV , attract more sponsors and so it goes round in circles, more coverage , bigger crowds ,more money.

    Now the two leagues are virtually the same but with no TV money to speak of but the ‘ Premiership ‘ still pay the higher wages to attract a rider from the championship but who will probably score less points in this division ( in theory ).

    Obviusly this hasn’t worked in 2021 when several championship riders have a higher average in the Premiership.

  21. Posted

    14 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

    Can see their point ,what is the point of trying to break into a sport where most of the Competitors have 2 Clubs and chance of aTeam place is a long term prospect.The leagues need a restructure to help riders break into Teams.It won’t happen though.

    Isn’t that what they have done with the NDL this year ? and everybody is moaning about it.

  22. Posted

    53 minutes ago, JanAndersen said:

    I get what you’re saying and I have great admiration for (most) promoters - it is a thankless task for the majority of the time. While they do finance it I would argue that fans finance it more or just as much - albeit not with the same pressures and risk. 
     

    I just feel a fresh and different perspective in the BSPA meetings would help. 

    A fresh and different perspective has been put across by just about every new promoter for the last several years, the problem being they may get listened too but don’t get a vote on affairs and the old guard just plod on doing whatever suits them no matter what. Buster Chapman had a new perspective, didn’t change anything, Godfrey …same so far.

  23. Posted

    5 minutes ago, JanAndersen said:

    I think most people would agree that British Speedway isn’t in great shape and needs something of a kick start. 
     

    A couple of suggestions for starters from me:
     

    I feel much of reason for the situation is there not being any sort of strategic vision for the sport because we sit and wait for the promoters to make up rules/league structure etc each winter. British Speedway needs a two/five/ten year plan that would allow potential sponsors, supporters and riders to see the direction of travel. Targets for measures such as percentage of riders home grown, British representation at GP level, sponsorship ambition etc. 

    Secondly I believe there should be significant supporter representation at board level. This would help hold promoters to account and also ensure our voices are being heard officially. 
     

    There’s a million things we could change but what would your suggestion be?

    Your right about a lack of an apparent plan for the future but your point on fan representation on the ‘ board ‘ is one that will not be welcomed by the people in control. Why would individuals who own their own clubs and therefore fund it, with all its is current stress and financial loses, want a fans rep saying “ your doing it wrong “ ?. Your ( our ) voices are heard, every home match if you actually speak to the promoter before or after a meeting. Happens every week at Redcar , usually over a pint after the meeting, but you have to take into account that the promoters voice is one of many at AGM’s and the like so whatever point you put across has to be agreed by ‘ the board ‘ and even if your club promoter agrees with you, it might not get accepted higher up, which is possibly why there’s been a recent trend of new promoters not lasting long in the sport and giving up bashing their heads against the wall. 
     

    • Like 1
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