MARK246

Trees, the problem you would have is, IMO if you use contracted riders you will get little help from promoters. In answer to Brian the St.Johns cost about 120 pounds (for a grasstrack meeting) which included a paramedic so you don't need a doctor,parents can rake tracks if needed. The oil,fuel and spares supplier comes free as normal. The public liability insurance at grasstrack is caculated on spectaors but normally less than 300 pounds. The interesting thing to me is everybody is negative, but, Buxton hold grasstrack meetings no problem. The 500cc sidecar association race at IOW no problem. Buxton can run training at 25 pounds per rider no problem. But noone puts on an U 15's champioship.....The only problem is no profits. Like I put before 2,000 pounds will cover your costs.

I'm not sure on price to be honest, but I was led to belive Kings Lynn was around 1,000 per day. There are people more qualified than myself to talk with on this forum. Maybe it's better to start a new thread on the subject. I'm sure if you contacted sittingbourne they could help,perhaps even with the hire of their facilities. When I was involved with S.T.R. they were always realy good. Also Stevehone sounds like he has good contacts at Kings Lynn. As iris123 said on another thread ask people you may be suprised who will help.

I'm just a frustrated fan worried about the future of British speedway. The problem of money for the meeting is easy to solve. You cannot charge admission to U 15's meetings, so you print programmes and sell them at regular speedway meetings. Then entry is by programme only, if you sell 2,000 at one pound each you have enough money and a good crowd, if they turn up. If the standard fan is not prepared to pay one pound then it's time to stop running British speedway.

I'm not a parent of a rider (just a parent), just concerned about the lack of opportunities for kids in sport. As for the others I have to hold my hands up and say yes. IMO if the Southern track riders can rent a track and run a championship, why can't fans and parents with an interest in youth development ? On this forum you have people who have the knowledge, know how and enthusiasm to set up and run this meeting. P.S, Sorry it's on the wrong thread.

I wasn't refering to the fans rather to the powers that be. But maybe if fans do care, do something. Is it impossible to get anything done in speedway ? Or just sign another foreign rider so GB fails again at the SWC.Then you can all start a new England (GB) manager thread next year

Anyone would be better than what we have. Does anybody but the parents even care.

How many are on 80cc's, there were no British entries in the championship this year ? The 80cc class is popular in Scandinavia but I don't hear much about it in the UK. Russia bought 60 new 80cc bikes (if the rumours are true) at the start of the season.

And trust promoters to play fair ?

Not a bad idea, he could try for 7 years nothing much will change. Middlo still manager of Poole. Rosco still manager of Swindon. Racing in a two team elite league, using 14 foreign GP stars in front of 20 fans paying 1,000 quid each for 15 races.Racing each other 14 times a year. The same s--- on the BSF, our tracks better than your's. The real problem is on another thread, the Under 15's championship at Weymouth looks like it's to be cancelled. Shouldn't the GB manager be pressing the BSPA to ensure this meeting happens. This is the only chance any manager has to improve his chances in future SWC's,to start producing talent. No one can make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Perhaps the pressure of combining club and country is too much, for one manager to do both jobs must be hard.The booking of guests,R-R etc sorting through rules for team changes etc. for the league must take considerable time.But it does not help the country who also look for success. If the kids that want to ride get some encouragement maybe it might help ? It's about ten years ago Eastbourne used to run the 125cc meetings on their practice track, nothing much has changed. Isolated pockets of reisitance to check- book promotion.

You must have a bigger TV than me, they wheren't in the same camera shot on mine.

Stupid question I know but, do normal punters bet on the speedway or is it just speedway fans ? Just out of interest, because for a walk in punter Chris Harris must look a good bet. He's in the top five, winner last time out etc. I don't gamble personaly but just an interested observer.

Of the tracks listed for the EL, IMO only four would be classed as certain to run next season, Coventry,Poole,Wolves and Swindon the rest I think will have problems maintaining the level of team required.In sport in the UK in general there is a decline in attendance. It will need promoters with deep pockets to cover loses incured by the lower clubs. The only way to encourage PL teams to go up? and the other EL teams to stay is to reduce wage bills.This would mean removing costly GP stars and then you have a weaker league, (not so Elite any more) but maybe getting a more even spread of the remaining talent. Effectivly this takes us back to the one big league that was tried before but with smaller costs. The only other altenative is a smaller EL consisting of eight teams running an A and B series. Quite why a PL club would risk financial security to join a dying league is beyond me.

This problem was faced in the 70's, British speedway had a season without foreign riders. It didn't IMO, alter the quality of the racing, but there was a strong 2nd division with British and commonwealth riders who filled the gaps in teams.this is no longer the case as all teams are now dependant on foreign riders.(catch 22) Because of ECU regulations it would be difficult to enforce a limit of riders as they will complain about restricted practises. The other problem will be promoters saying one thing doing another,they all want to win.It would need someone with real control to make it work (BSPA IMO not) The best way is to encourage promoters to run junior teams,run in the interval, so the assets they gain remain with the promotion.If you don't produce your own you buy others.When there is a larger base of riders to select from then you can reduce the oversea's riders. IMO there are not enough British riders to remove anyone from the league setup without effectingl the quality,but promoters must be encouraged to train prospects as none will do so on their own.

IMO you are looking through those specs again in Britain. The reason Stead, Mcgowan and Harris are reserves in the Elitserien are their averages. If you need a reality check the result from the SWC is on another thread.

The early season international series in Sweden,the Santa cup have provisional dates already 26-12-07 @ Örnsköldsvik 27-12-07 @ Östersund 28-12-07 @ Bollnäs 29-12-07 @ Gävle Most of the riders will be Swedish, but there is always the best from other nations as well.

As a lone travelling rider to Russia, I quite agree that Russia is best visited as a tour group (if visited at all). In my opinion it is better to stay in places like Germany or Holland for the viewing but not for the racing. Russia in my experience proved very costly for anyone travelling in a foreign vehicle. The roads are not good past Moscow but that is where the good racing can be found.

Ludvig Lindgren looks IMO a real good prospect.his ride when he lead Scott Nicholls (Indianerna V Hammerby) was exceptional for a rider of his age. But time will tell,it's hard to judge as Ghostwalker described,form in Sweden is different to the GB.

If you ride the motor regular keep an eye on the woodruff key on the camshafts. They are cut so only half of the raised part is left,the other removed section, is for clearance on the timing plate with the drive pin ,which sets the cam timing.These have a tendency to shear,because of the direct cam to valve position any failure on the key can lift the cam housing from the head casting.I was lucky when mine went ,I was "pulling back" the engine when it sheared.Other than having problems cleaning dirt from the head to change the spark plug it gave me great service for two seasons racing. Have fun and enjoy it, I still think it was one of the best motors ever.

No not shameful just a true reflection of the state of the sport in Britian.No riders with the ability or the experience at the level required.But it will happen one day, don't know how though.

Hope David Howe is ok with the SWC looming.

No maybe about Reading, he rode there with Bernie Leigh who was riding enduros but in poor health last I heard.

Sorry typing is not good missed a dot. The web site for Antig is www.antig.co.uk. Weslake Rye web site www.weslake.co.uk,

The DOHC I owned was built in Rye by the Weslake engine company. The company (or the speedway part ;unsure ) was bought by Tig perry and Bill Davis in the early 80's . This became Antig Weslake the company still produces parts for Weslakes their webb site with contact details is on www.antig.co uk. I am sure that there was a post on this forum from, either a relative or employee of the original Weslake (Rye) works their main business was car motors maybe cosworth ? I hope you can use this information in your search good luck.

Good post Kevin, The BEL should be reduced in size to maybe 8 teams and run on the same format as the Swedish elite league.It could be run on say, thursday night if the other main leagues took different nights you could then have your top stars available for all matches and run extra GPs as well.With more earning potential you can reduce wage bills too as the top men can ride 4 nights a week and a GP. The PL could be used as a feeder or training scheme,but due to league set up currently in GB I dont see the promoters of successful clubs being happy to release star riders.Maybe a better way is to encourage dual teams, one in EL one in PL on the same track on alternative weeks. The main problem with rain offs cant imo be solved until promoters become stadium owners so their investment can remain as an asset. At the moment any improvement is not in the lease holders interest as promoters only hire facilities. Just a thought or two.