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Fortythirtyeight

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Posts posted by Fortythirtyeight

  1. Posted

    10 hours ago, iainb said:

    All those that are in the pits could/should be wearing branded clothing with the league sponsors blazoned all over them that Phil could bring with him and hand out at the start of the meeting, if clubs don't want to provide their own. These are the little things that he was looking into and addressing last year when he first took over, so he may very well have it all in hand. 

    Well it doesn't take a year to sort it so lets assume it isn't happening, as it hasn't !

  2. Posted

    38 minutes ago, NeilWatson said:

    In the good old days :-)  there was a dress code for all officials, with colour-coded blazers for promoters, team managers etc.

    But we are no longer ‘in the good old days’, we are just about at rock bottom with clubs closing , shortage of riders, poor crowds at a lot of  tracks ( that Birmingham crowd won’t have covered the wages ) and poor leadership from the top with the current news that Mildenhall being given the ultimatum that they either race on a Sunday or don’t race at all !

    The 60’s/70’s aren’t coming back!

    • Like 2

  3. Posted

    10 hours ago, iainb said:

    First TV match of the season last night and a couple of things occurred to me...

    1. Has anything been done for those attending the Speedway meeting live to while away the long delays while Eurosport are away at advert breaks and doing interviews? This really needs addressing for the paying punter on the night.

    2. Eurosport do like to pan in on the team managers during a meeting and I've got to say when they do I often cringe at the sight of the people stood around them it doesn't look very professional at all. A collection of people of all ages from school kids to pensioners wearing a variety of different clothing, compare this to a football managers bench, team wear and branding should be compulsory for all people in the pits and there should also be a minimum age limit. Coventry were doing this years ago!

    Get real, who’s going to pay for the whole of the pits attendees to be dressed the same ?

    The pits attendees can be two teams plus their mechanics , promoters and their ‘guests’ , various staff such as clerk of the course, pit Marshall’s, environment officer , tea ladies , track staff , second half riders, with parents in some cases, invited sponsors, ex riders ( if allowed in at that particular track ) and if it’s a double header there can be upto 100 people around.

    Even track staff do not get provided with club clothing , usually just the team, team manager, promoter and his/her partner !

  5. Posted

    3 hours ago, A.N.Other said:

    As a separate issue, I and may other Comets fans saw something distinctly odd happening during track grading and watering at Redcar.  The tractor and the grader were often travelling in opposite directions during preparation. ie they were travelling TOWARDS each other !

    I was told that this is against BSPA rules. As it appears some time ago an accident occurred at another track where the tractors collided with each other, causing injury. Since then, I AM TOLD a rule was introduced to stop this, and both vehicles had to travel the same way at all times. 

    Is anyone up to speed on detailed rules regarding track prep and can they confirm an offence has taken place, or is this method still allowed ?

    Incidentally, Steve Lawson remarked that he too thought it was odd, and he has rarely seen tractors travelling in conflicting directions !

    I have no idea if what I was told, IS correct, but maybe someone out here can confirm or deny it ?

    No such rule in the 2024 SCB rule book, but possibly good ‘policy’. Redcars current track staff are very new to the job and very much learning as they go.

    It certainly wasn't the method used by the previous two excellent track curators.

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    3 hours ago, scaramanga said:

    Tate went down in first heat off camera so don't know what happened 

    But Danny went down on his own and no obvious reason to fall I suspect he wasn't fit to race after his bad crash at workington 

    Looks to have done more damage by coming back too early 

    Are you for real !

    You obviously weren't watching as Danny went in too hot trying to go round the boards on a greasy surface and lost the back end so slid off.

    At the same time Tate had too much grip on the exit and lifted , crashing on the straight.

    Try watching the racing or even understanding what its like riding a speedway bike.

  7. Posted

    21 minutes ago, FishersGate said:

    I wasn't really following speedway much when Garity got put away, so I asked around last week at leicester and some folk explained what had happened and about his release. 

    I actually spoke to ex promoter/team manager on Thursday about Garity just to see what he had to say about his attitude and personality etc. What I will say is I didn't hear one shred of positivity about the bloke. When he was riding apparently his so called 'friends' from the travelling community were entering the stadium without a ticket. They were in the pits and just generally causing abit of a trouble. They were eventually thrown out but apparently it caused a lot of tension between the rider and management. There were other things said but I'd rather not go into it. 

    Now in my opinion this is a really tough subject, does the guy deserve a second chance in life? Probably he does. Does he deserve a chance in speedway? Not so sure. I don't know the guy and can only say what I have been told. I personally wouldn't go near him if I was a promoter/team manager. 

    But the head of British Speedway, Godfrey , says it’s all fine, welcome back Jason, ride on my track first , setting a great example to the sport.

    • Like 2

  9. Posted

    On 4/8/2024 at 12:04 AM, szkocjasid said:

    Newcastle dropped Connor Mountain because they needed a "rising star" then for whatever reason, Claus Vissing left the club & Mountain came back in.

    I was pointing out a flaw in the RS system, that a developing Brit was dropped because of a system designed to help developing Brits.

    Any chance of you renaming this thread MIDDLESBROUGH ?

  11. Posted

    4 hours ago, ONTWOMINUTES said:

    Maybe Archie's dad or faithful mentor Dave could confirm as it seems very last minute if it is the case. 

    So YOU dont believe it when it comes from the horses mouth ?…..Wow.

  13. Posted

    16 minutes ago, highside said:

    Who will the tigers sign to replace the retired Archie Freeman ?

     

    With points to play with….how about Tom Wooley ? Was very popular at Redcar and is a proven NL scorer.

  15. Posted

    ashfield_giants_njl_champions23-773x439.
    JUNIOR LEAGUES

    NORTHERN JUNIOR LEAGUE SQUADS

    MONDAY, MARCH 25, 2024

    THE five teams competing in the 2024 Northern Junior League have confirmed either their team or squad for the upcoming season.

    Each team will consist of two riders riding a 500cc motorcycle and two riders riding a 125cc/150cc motorcycle.

    Armadale Devils  – Dayle Wood, Owen Booth, Lewis Hague and Callum Hague

    Ashfield Giants – Billy Budd, Tim Colley, Stene Pijper, Ollie Binns and Rhys Harrow

    Redcar Bear Cubs – Katie Gordon, Daniel McTeer, Ed Davison, William Hocaniuk, Charlie Fletcher, Oliver Bovingdon, Reuben Marsh and Harry Fletcher

    West Lothian Wildcats – Mark Parker, Lee Harrison, Rocco Webb and Liam Morris

    Workington Meteors – Callum Foy, Laylan Richardson, Casper Kluczniak and Charlie Luckman 

    There have also been three fixture changes from the original schedule. The changed fixtures are as follows:

    Workington v Ashfield (was 31st March) Now 4th May

    West Lothian v Ashfield (was 5th April) Now 17th May

  16. Posted

    They should have been told to not select a middle age rider from the other side of the world ( again ) who couldn't average 5 points last season and give the place to a ‘developing’ Brit , isn't that the point of this league ??? but this is how British speedway is now being run.

    • Like 3
    • Haha 1

  18. Posted

    42 minutes ago, phillwhitewasmad said:

    He is probably the best untried 3 pointer available. Looked quick and smooth at workington the other week. 

    I hope the lad goes well but they have 4:65 to play with and even though it’s a development side the team looks very weak compared to all the rest.

    I know there’s only 5 home matches but it’s a big gamble.

  19. Posted

    18 hours ago, ch958 said:

    what do you think Dave?

     

     

    I would suggest Dave doesn't know and neither do I as this lad hasnt been on a 500 before the last few weeks but someone obviously rates him as they have selected him before several other candidates including Katie Gordon and local prospects Goldsbrough and Davison.

     

    • Like 1

  20. Posted

    On 2/28/2024 at 5:22 PM, StevePark said:

    I'm pretty sure it's a SCB/BSPL rule that all pit staff must wear hi-viz jackets/coats.

    There is nothing in the rule book regarding any officials clothing , only the riders.

    However, it is advisable in their specific job description, for those old enough to have been staff from several years ago when such a document was available.

    • Thanks 1

  21. Posted

    20 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

    Not really interested in what goes on in the GPs but league racing is getting too bloated for its own good, you only need one mechanic per rider, everyone else can watch from the terraces, British speedway long time problem is the sport being run by the riders for the riders and look where we are 

    To some degree you are correct but perhaps you  have the old ‘rose tinted spectacles’ on as a former rider. Times have changed and we all know it’s not for the better. Riders have promoters by the round things, they have all the aces and dictate just about everything now which is why the sport is dying a slow death. The promoters hands are tied if they want to attract a very demanding crowd these days and it’s a catch 22 situation.

    Having clowns who are self interested at the top isn’t going to change things.

    • Like 1

  22. Posted · Edited by Fortythirtyeight

    4 hours ago, Diamonds85 said:

    Are Middlesbrough ever going to announce their final rider? It looks set to be a reserve so why not just give it to Alex or Katie?

    As theres ages before the first fixture there is no rush , maybe someone is coming out of retirement? Having an old average reassessed ? Having a new average reassessed to fit him in ? ( like Edinburgh ) .

    Edward Davison was head and shoulders above Gordon last season and was lined up for Belle Vue so someone rates him .Goldsbrough not having ridden since he broke a wrist early season and wasn't seen again although he is a club asset, unlike Davison or Gordon.

    • Like 1

  23. Posted

    1 hour ago, geoff100 said:

    Few riders down today ,no comets though thought some local riders might have been down !

    As it was a private hire it was by invitation only , and it appears non were invited, I’m sure they’ll get plenty of track time on their own.

    • Like 1

  24. Posted

    1 hour ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

    I agree and in league racing each rider should be limited to one mechanic and get the rest of the hangers on out of the pits and that includes riders not riding, girlfriends, and any other hanger on and there are many 

    But they are allowed a full team of mechanics  , a masseur and a mentor in a GP so what’s the difference ? Most club riders have two ‘assistants ‘ in their pit, are you going to tell Gary Havelock he can’t be a ‘mentor’ to Ben Trigger at Redcar?, or can’t be in the pits when a Poole is visiting ? You going to tell Glasgow they can’t have their full entourage of 12 hanging about in the pits ?

    Its in the rule book as to who should be in a pit area and it’s down to the club to enforce it, but every club is different…..it’s British speedway !

    • Like 1

  25. Posted

    15 minutes ago, Sotonian said:

    Absolutely this - they should pay to get in like anyone else. Frankly, they should consider themselves lucky that they get to watch their partners at work. Mine can't get near my workplace.

    Great attitude for a ‘family sport ‘.

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