skydog

I never had any opinion of him until Reading ran MSDL at Swindon in 2019, Jason made a point of finding the team managers and handing over a box of used parts to distribute amongst our riders. That makes him a decent bloke in my book!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danny_Bird_(speedway_rider) He rode for Glasgow in 06 and Reading in 07, their 2nd year as the Bulldogs. If he'd tested positive in 06 he wouldnt have been riding in 07.

Absolutely. This is just another episode in the Clark Oborne Takes The Piss Out Of Speedway box set.

Wonder what the completion date is, 12th of never?

He was riding for Reading when it happened, but no apparently he never did pay it.

I do get the point, but it also sounds silly to suggest dropping a rider because he takes risks. This is Speedway, it's meant to be exciting... I was part of the Reading set up when Dan rode for us in SDL, I honestly think he has something. But he needs a decent home track (Sheffield being a good example) and to avoid injuries, and I think he will make it

Yeah we dont want people taking risks and making things exciting do we?

You'd be crazy to get rid of Gilkes, theres a lot more to come from him given an injury free season

Pretty sure Aldershot is still a tarmac track. Could be changed obviously but I reckon word would have got out

True, but my fear is that by then there will be nobody with the inclination to even suggest that they let Speedway back in...

We were told by the planning dept that the land is now owned by Foudry Estates, or something like that. Arnie probably has better info than me as to whether this is still something to do with the Pru. Foudry Brook runs past the land so I suspect it is a sub company owned by someone else just for the purpose of owning that piece of land. A bit like Brandon Estates. And AEPG come to think of it. I'd guess this is a fairly common thing when it comes to big money and big land deals, again Arnie would have more experience in this.

We have asked the council 3 times about Speedway returning to Smallmead and been given very definitive "No"s every time. The land has apparently been sold to a developer who is happy to sit on it for years. The company seem to be like Brandon Estates in that they have only been set up to buy that land, no other history.

I found it was never the same after Reading closed. I put it down to not caring who won, it takes all the passion out of it.

Some of you must have better eyes than me, I couldnt see movement in heat 5 or heat 15

Hi Laurence, do you still have the meeting with Mr Vatcher every year like we used to? If so do they still give you a hard time about rider replacement being used?

He was riding for Reading at the time in Elite League, must have been 2007.

North of £250000. Plus buying tractors etc and league entry fees

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Not knocking Richard in any way and am sure he does a stirling job. Just interested in who runs these and under whose rules, what with all the talk about Nora. Thanks again.

Pardon me for thinking that a club that runs under the BSPL and SCB was running an amateur meeting under that particular umbrella.

Ok, are these amateur events being run under Nora? If so I get it. Then we're back to Scunthorpe being allowed to run Nora but not Plymouth, which is where this all started I think!

Bottom line is we were told that to run in MSDL we had to prove we were actively looking for a new home (we were, and sent emails to prove it). This was regardless of whether we were giving any money to the riders or not, so that is clearly not the difference. And no, I'm not asking these questions because we want to enter a team - the BSPL have severely dented our enthusiasm - I'm asking to see if there is indeed a difference between how we were treated and how others are being treated. I'd say it's a fair question.

Thanks for the info, but I would dispute that MSDL riders were being paid. We helped them towards expenses, nobody made money out of it. However if the riders are actually paying to enter, and there are other classes apart from the team event, then that is a difference. Sticks in the craw a bit though that we were told we couldnt use the words Reading or Racers, even for a 6 heat challenge cos we werent making sufficient effort to find a new home. Are Boston and Hull trying?

And who puts these teams together and runs the event, any idea? I suppose if its RG or on his behalf, they will say the difference is that they are being run by a recognised promotion.

What ghost teams are taking part? Considering Reading, MK, Weymouth and Carmarthen were all told they couldnt use those names in the Development Leagues any more, this would be the biggest piss take of all.

Same story different location. The man is an arsehole of the first degree. Dont know how he hasnt been lynched by now.