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fACEBOOK ! whats that ? is the the one where your husband or wife looks up old school friends/work colleges ? then the next thing you know , he or she is leaving you for an old school friend work mate etc . then you are saddled with a 2nd mortgage to pay them out , but still have to pay for kids and the extra money they get off you goes towards a new car for the new partner and not to the welfare of the offspring . not speaking from experience or owt like OH, that facebook .

According to the Peterborough Evening Telegraph Chris Harris is gutted to be left out of Panthers team and could anyone blame him, Ged Rathbone has said he cannot comment on this and Carl Johnson said he been instructed not to comment about it . Did Ged go over the allowed budget or is this Chapman flexing his muscles to get equality amongst his 3. clubs. Supporters club committee have held a behind closed doors meeting with representatives of Chapman at the weekend to let them know what is expected from them for 2019. So Chapman being club owner has silenced those promoting the team which effect means they have been gagged. All this just to keep the premier league functioning. I am beginning to wish we had stayed in the championship and not sold out to the dictator.

Arch Stanton - that's bang on in my humble opinion as a non Witch. I think both Ipswich and Peterborough would be better in CL; especially when you consider the more competitive CL set up, which despite losing Workington (sadly) has 2 new and positive recruits in my team Birmingham and also Eastbourne. My views are-: The thought of a 14 team CL with Ipswich and Peterborough in it and with Workington still going plus the 2 newcomers would be as near as "salivating in anticipation" as we have had in League Speedway for a decade or so. I can't help and think and fear that a 7 team PL is simply not going to work, I just hope BT Sport stick around though as surely the penny has got to click at some point - a 16 - 18 Team League (combining CL and PL) home and away once each with 40 point limit, no doubling up and telling the Poles and Swedes that we will be racing 7 days a week so that Sunday / Tuesday tracks can be part of a BRITISH LEAGUE. Who knows we may even get some decent Sponsors back!

Peterborough fans put there hard earned money into the club a few years ago and to be honest they should demand it back now after the Holdergate episode and the sale of the club now but most did it for the love of the club to keep it going.

With all due respect when Chris Harris is being banded about for elite league number 1 you know your in trouble. 10yrs ago yeah I’d get it.

The big downside with Harris is the "he never knows" statement especially at the start of the season, he never knows how to get his bikes set up, he never knows any other excuse other than im struggling for speed and don't know why and he never knows any other response when he has an early mechanical failure but to put his hand out and say i need more money. Come play off time i suspect he will deliver but sadly as a guest and not the team he signs for.

Northside has planning permission to run 364 days a year, it has to be one of the preferred sites for developing a track. The current training track could be kept as it is, there is more than enough land over there that seems to be used for not much else. For me the main issue over there is the possibility of a gypsy park being located there as well, Northside have enough problems with vandalsim and theft as things stand without adding to it

I personally would hope the new stadium could be used for other things as well as football and rugby, ideally it would be good to see a concert or 2 in the West of the county. Re: the Comets in my humble female opinion I would like to see us develop our own track no matter how basic initially so that all income comes to our club rather than us subsidising a landlord

Sadly I think both Ipswich and Peterborough fans will be saying the same - it is all about saving the PL and the tv deal with BT - only in speedway could you have one man effectively owning 3 clubs in a 7 team league .

I don't think the racing today is necessarily any better or worse than I have watched since the 1950's. In my opinion the racing at the NSS is as good as it was at Hyde Road. Good racing is produced at UK tracks like Peterborough, Somerset and Scunthorpe and also abroad, in the GP's and the Polish leagues. However, what has changed is that the bikes today are not as well suited to many of the tracks in the UK and that, together with other factors, such as track preparation and the quality of shale used, has resulted in an overall poorer standard of racing. I have witnessed it and many have commented on the poorer quality of racing now on offer at once great racing tracks like King's Lynn and Sheffield and the standard at Wolverhampton, a good little technical track, is not what it was even 7 or 8 years ago.

Problem is, most sensible business owners that are Speedway fans know to stay away from running clubs if they wish to hold onto their riches. Peterborough and Ipswich didn't need a buyer anyway as their existing owners were willing to remain in the Championship. Buster didn't want one big league so desperately bought these 2 clubs to maintain Premiership status. In doing so is already upsetting their fans through lack of information to which they're not used too under previous owners. All the negativity has been created by one man who's desperation to save the league is turning his "customers" off. These supporters are now seeing what I've seen happening at King's Lynn. Keith Chapman in a decade has gone from a potential saviour of the sport to a virus that's spreading and needs stopping.

But I’m not a member of the BSPA, I’m a fan that enjoys watching Speedway racing. Am I happy with a lot of what’s going on? No. But it’s out of my control I can’t influence any of it. As I say, all I can do is try and put all the politics to the back of my mind and turn up on a Thursday evening to hopefully still enjoy the racing.

I've never been so disinterested in Speedway in this country than I am now its really got to that stage.

That's what I call a very polite answer, MRSS is either a troll or is braindead or perhaps both.

Please, pretty please, not Harris,

I remember this young yank being half a lap behind at some tinpot pairs meeting I went to at Swindon in 1989. I'd love to see the scorecard from that now. Forget his name...Glen Hancock...something like that. Wonder whatever happened to him...

It couldve been worse he couldve sold to Chris Shears........ oh hang on

I think there is a lot of unneccessary worry at the moment Yes the Buster PR style (ie often none with the odd minimal effort) is difficult to get used to but rather that than announce prematurely I dont see the team being greatly adrift of the pack as others are predicting We will have speedway and it will be at a higher level than recent years too. No reason to think the entertainment wont be as least as good either Relax people - you might actually still enjoy it!

So give over complaining if you aren't going. If you are looking for a bit of money sell your computer, you might make a couple of meetings then.

It might be Ippo. It's not the riders cost, it's the cost of the team. Hans, Cook, Harris...In one team ?

What's the difference between a rider getting injured in Poland on the Friday to a rider getting injured in Sweden on the Thursday or in England on the Wednesday? If they are out injured on the Saturday, then they are injured. End of. What does it matter how long ago the injury was incured? And are memories so short as to forget that British Elite League teams used to ride on Fridays? What qualifies us to criticise anyone else for doing the same?

Not withstanding you can't run on the same night as Scunthorpe so you really need to know how many meetings they are gonna reschedule first!

I think people should think twice about looking for someone to blame and remember the support that local businesses have given to the club over the years, and the fact that when we are looking to return in 2020 we will be looking to them again to help get us up and running again. Never bite the hand that feeds you

There is a truly wonderful story on the Belle Vue Facebook site about Ivan Mauger and a superfan featured on the BBC North West Tonight programme. Scroll down to check it out. https://www.facebook.com/bellevuespeedway/

I know this is an old post but things got a bit eek in October/November with my dad. I started doing updates as a texter and sometime updater when it was the old site with Krissie back in 2002 ish, we moved to our current site in March 2005 and I've been at the helm ever since (albeit reluctantly at first). Re posting here, I read a lot but don't post that often as my personal opinion could have a negative impact on the site.

Look up Mike Parker then I think at one time he was involved with 13 clubs and without him there would probably be no speedway in this country today

What a stupid post

I was never a great fan of Banger, though I wouldn't argue with the fact that it wouldn't have been a great surprise had he won the World Championship, he was certainly in the mix. Second in 1967 and third in 1971 is proof of that. On the other hand, I was always a great admirer of Gote Nordin and certainly think he had what it took to be World Champion. He was, of course, around in the era of the Big Five, but I believe he was their equal and, indeed, just before the handicapping nonsense came to an end, it was proposed he should join Fundin, Briggs and Knutson on 20 yards. Toby, yes, didn't see an awful lot of him, but,as you say, I think he could have been a great but for injury.

i am sure that there were some artificial corners laid on the rugby pitch years ago , ( 70 ish ?)? to help with the corners on the speedway track .so if the reds get relegated , whats the point of a new stadium for rugby and poss NO proper football team in a decent league ? ........ more money well spent by people with big ideas . IF speedway returns , i can see it being @ Northside . just needs a bit of tinkering size wise and a Donald Trump style wall around it .

Watched on you tube yesterday England v Sweden at Sheffield 1973, a young Peter Collins against Anders Michanek on 2 valve Jawas. It was a brilliant race, and they certainly would be restricted on revs compared to today’s rocket ships, the costs would be cheaper, good market for used equipment to be sold to newcomers/learners that are rideable, and probably benefits in area of track preparation, and as bike costs fall so could entry fees for spectators. Why cant speedway just go to modern day 2 valve bikes, times maybe slower but racing just as exciting.

http://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2017/tommy-morley

Much as I was a fan of Christer at West Ham week in and week out, I don't think he was quite in the World Champ category, Sidney. Sverre, yes, Christer, no.

He could have asked Mick Bratley (who's on the scene now with HA around, for the moment anyway ) what to do and not to do at Peterborough.

Like what ? You have some figures for us ?

With the speed of todays machines, the bikes rarely go in a straight over the start/finish line. At most tracks the bikes are still slightly sideways and spinning on the home straight. If a spinning and slightly turning bike hits the concrete at 70mph I think disaster would follow.

Main points from Fans Forum - very well attended by supporters, riders, sponsors and volunteers: Wightlink continue and expand sponsorship. Admission prices (including season tickets) held at 2018 levels Press and practice date to be advised once Eastbourne fixtures known. First meeting Thursday 11 April - Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy Second meeting Tuesday 16 April described as a ‘special’ meeting for which Thursday 18 April is reserved should the Tuesday be rained off. Details very soon. Wizards will continue in 2019 in the SDL. Plenty of other open discussion on various matters including the NL AGM outcome and implications, ongoing financial stability, award spin-off’s, sponsorship, My First Skid, social media and profile.

This is speedway's great mystery . If the racing is better today than was then why are people not packing the stadiums to watch it like they used to do ?

The problem is that you need to use it or run the risk of losing it - that's the standard line. It is actions like this that drive more fans away from a sport that is "dying on its @rse". So rather than encourage new fans they p!ss off existing fans - not a great business model

What a mess this is turning out to be. You have the Official Peterborough Speedway website advertising 2019 Season Tickets with it's full team of 7 riders advertised. Anyone buying these can do so by BACS to a Lloyds bank account or by cheque, to a Middlesborough address for the Peterborough Speedway Office, payable to Peterborough Panthers Speedway. You have a newly incorporated company, on the 16th November 2018, called Peterborough Speedway Limited with Keith & Cheryl Chapman as the only Directors, with a Downham Market, Norfolk address. Finally you have a changed team line up from that advertised to tempt you to buy a season ticket. I find that no better than internet scams where the advertised products don't turn into reality. Somewhere along the line someone must be the guilty party in this. So for those wanting to cancel their season ticket for a refund, which company refunds the money? Is it Peterborough Panthers Speedway or Peterborough Speedway Limited? I know that I wouldn't buy a season ticket from most of the promotions that are now running speedway

I just want someone that's good enough to wear the number 1 witch, neither of those are.

With workys luck,or lack of it,it'll no doubt be the driest season in history

You worry about the future when such clubs as Reading, Belle Vue (Hyde Road), Oxford, Cradley and Coventry lost to the sport. They all won titles in the 1980s. The sport isn't too big to lose. Bradford shut, months after winning the title in 1997. The sport now hangs by a thread. Lesser clubs are pulling down shutters one last time. The sport is being run under the BSPA umbrella but each member goes off in their own direction to run their respective club. They have no real power, as each venue is owned by someone else who may take a stash of cash for redevelopment. The sport lost its chance to own each and every stadium, it lots the chance to cement the sport by at least owning the tracks they race on. That is the problem. When the future rests in the hands of others and is not controlled by the sport, the future looks cloudy.

Wouldn’t take either. I’d prefer a couple of riders with hunger and fire in their belly, busting a gut to impress and move up the Speedway ladder. Not riders who are looking for one last Payday to top up their retirement fund.

It absolutely stinks if Harris ends up at either Lynn or Ipswich if he does this is the precise reason why one man shouldn’t effectively own 3 clubs in a 7 team league . If he was was to end up at either club it’s another nail in Speedway’s credibility coffin .

Who is first in line to apologise to Racin Jason??

Maybe Ged signed the riders and Buster is/was unhappy with the costs? Maybe Ged thought by announcing the riders then Buster would give in and let the Panthers have 3 riders demanding no 1 wages? Maybe Buster wants one of those 3 at one of his other teams that can afford them within the budget set, Ipswich you would think still have funds for a No 1. Maybe now "someone" has found out that the team doesnt fit as reductions to averages are not now there? Maybe this has been going on for weeks and only now come to light? Maybe we will never know ? Maybe with all this new transparency the fans will be told? Wouldnt happen in a professional sport......

In today’s Times and Star Kyle is quoted as feeling sorry for the fans and local community. As everyone knows he’s a great prospect, I think he’ll have another team before long. It’s Mason I feel most sorry for, bad news for all of them though.

I 've only been with the team for 5 years but I sense that Sue probably ages twice as fast as the rest of us, literally her phone must never be more then a foot away from her charger. I can say the best texters to read can be the most hard work for the updaters. Often halfway through typing heat 10 comments and heat 12 result is coming through. Often it means ignoring visitors or family to sit in front a laptop, updating a meeting that sparks no enthusiasm in me, but I know to someone somewhere stuck at work or at a family do those updates are the most significant part of their day. As it would be for me if i was following a Kent away fixture I couldn't get too. That's why it works, we are all fans and want to know how our teams(or favourite riders) are doing and that's why it has worked for so long. It's for the fans by the fans.

Maybe if any team is 6 or more behind the team manager can pick the gates he prefers the rider's to be on. No Tac Subs at all.