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Hi Rob, it's nice to hear a little reminder of how a nomadic team turned out to be such a success for Rye House, I'd actually forgotten that. I would like to assure you that at Reading we are certainly not in this to make money, none of us have ever taken a penny, not in "wages", expenses or anything else. It's more a case of spending our own (we are not wealthy people), as an example last years pit board and website included 3 "sponsor's names" that were paid for by 2 of us out of our pockets. We take no gate receipts, and as you said, money comes in from sponsorship, fundraising and club members who donate a small amount each month. Also we have a land and property professional who is a Speedway enthusiast and is every bit as keen as we are, constantly looking for what he considers to be suitable land (he is obviously far more knowledgeable than we are) and speaking to land owners and planning departments. We all know this has all been done by various people in various locations across the country with varying results but our attitude is that nobody else is gonna do this in Reading so we'll keep trying for the foreseeable. I get what you mean when you say you can't be sure what peoples motives are or how serious they are, but I hope this reasures you that our intentions are honourable! I hope one day I can say our venture was as successful as yours...

A very young age to pass. I remember the impact he made at Ipswich when he came in late season in 1986! Good servant to Coventry and Sheffield! 1989 World Final at Munich when he found a very fast line by sticking his front wheel over the inside line creating a tremendous amount of grip in a Scalextric rail like way! 1991 or 92 Fours final at Peterborough when 3 riders crashed down the back straight in front of him and he then tried to jump over them. The subsequent interview on Anglia TV when he was upset by fans who claimed he was an "idiot" and his "I think the riders are going a bit crazy today!" statement was classic stuff!

Its Matt who is putting the 1-7 together for 2020!! Danny is the spokesperson.

Wish there was a 'shocked' emoji to respond to a post. 55 is very young. RIP Roman.

You can look at the programme cover on the Speedway Championships website, all the riders are listed on that cover. Also, how we know we are correct in the finishing three they are listed in this 1934 programme. 1931 Lamont, Tauser, Bellissent 1932 Wilkinson, Bellissent, Killmeyer 1933 Meynier, Wilkinson, Lamont.

Beg to differ regarding your comparison of Silver and Wright.

Good luck with finding a new home, be great to see Reading, Oxford and Swindon doing battle again

Kurtz & Hume or Kurtz & bowtell would create a solid line up of 1 3 & 5 as well as 2 solid second strings in Kurtz & Nielsen with 2 deserves that can score points too.

Surely todd Kurtz would be a good signing?

Not at all the 100 Edinburgh fans would try to get in through the the pits gate and wouldn't buy anything unlike the Glasgow fans. The use of the word customers was deliberate

I was briefly involved in a serious attempt to relaunch the Rockets last year. The situation is far more optimistic than people might think. We had agreement to run at one point before a change of mind by BMR. Looking on now from the sidelines and having seen the demolition work at the stadium I suspect once the work is completed that speedway will be back. It's far too easy to spread doom and gloom on this forum, often based on honest opinion but lacking in direct knowledge or involvement. If you do have such knowledge then I will bow to it. If not, it does no good to spread despair at the situation. I'd say it all depends on the exit of BMR from the stadium and the kart people wanting to put their new asset to its most logical use.. Now, back to matters Kentish.

News from Bandits' HQ tonight: POWERED BY!... We are delighted to announce your new ‘Powered by’ sponsor for the 2020 season! Please welcome onboard Keenwood Karpets of South Road Wooler. Keenwood Karpets have backed the Bandits for a couple of seasons, and company directors Paul Wood and Gary Flint (your FTS Bandits team manager) have pledged their backing to the club for the upcoming season! Paul adds, ‘We have backed the Bandits over the last few seasons and when the opportunity became available to take the ‘Powered by’ package, myself and Gary were very keen to commit. From a business perspective, the Bandits are the biggest professional sports team between Edinburgh and Newcastle and it makes great sense to us to associate our company with the club. The Bandits social media presence and website generate lots of traffic and is always professionally maintained and the awareness of the club in the local area is only going from strength to strength.’ Keenwood Karpets supply all types of flooring for your home and also your commercial environments. Pop along to the showroom at South Road in Wooler and check out a wide range of Carpets, Vinyls, LVT, Beds and Furniture all at the right prices. Stay tuned this week for even more sponsorship news and all of the latest from Bandit country as we look forward to an exciting 2020 season!

And Cradley rode at Stoke in the top league... And Coventry rode at Leicester in the NL It does take itself very seriously doesn't it? Pity it's operating model doesn't do the same.. Lets face it, loads of meetings will take place next year with 'select' sides, particularly at NL level as the higher leagues get priority, so does it really matter what the body colour says? Letting developing riders have more rides has to be nothing but a good thing surely? And if you can keep an old name in the public eye then so much the better for anyone's future quest in trying to find a permanent home you would think..

Is it that rough over there that you can even pre book fights

Yet again its just short sighted from the BSPA. The NL is dangling by a thread and with Plymouth likely to attempt a step up again next season, Kent to discover how viable two side are and standalone teams like IOW & Mildenhall to find out how workable a reduced fixture list is things are far from certain. To then prevent the possibility of Reading, Exeter or any other nomad team that has the funding from joining the league when clubs are folding far faster than they are opening is yet another showing of ineptitude by the powers that be.

I was saddened and heartbroken to read that an attempt from Reading to run at NDL level from the Swindon stadium was shot down by the bspa before it got off the ground due to something as stupid as the team name. If the side was to be entered it had to be under the Swindon banner and not Reading which would defeat the object for this bunch of supporters whos continued aim is to see a Reading team on track. Surely if the funding was there and the agreement of the Swindon promotion in place what is the issue? With the NDL enjoying far from prosperous times at present the blocking of this side and effectively any attempts from Exeter in future seasons surely the bspa is poisoning the sport from within? Would certainly be interesting to know who decided against this and why they think it is a positive move for Speedway?

He did indeed, thanks for reminding me and apologies for the oversight.

You have them......Speedway Champions site is accurate......

Well thats a shame . A huge over reaction but your choice .

Vissing then! Lol

Speedway Champions as far as I'm concerned is correct, we had many discussions between us several years ago and we think we have it right. I have the programme from 1934 and it is the FOURTH world championship held there.

I was just going to say the same thing you beat me to it

You are joking ? as much as i like James Wright and have always followed his career have a look at what Andrew Silver achieved in his.speedway career.

https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/18135889.yobs-cause--3-000-worth-damage-northside-speedway-track/?fbclid=IwAR0UxK07zYLINWVez4zYgzf4fzMsO4JTYT8JfE_7DIW3v9zGa2nawnmptNc

Maybe it was harder to sell that story to people who were there and knew better ?

Interesting that that report is from 1938 and not a mention of Hoskins!

I guess that they (the young uns) can still learn a lot by just being in the team.....set-ups.....track technique's etc.....

What's the Mitcham Midget upto these days get him signed up at reserve

It's possible for video to run at a different speed to 'real time' so, yes, it is possible for minor changes in recording or playback speed to significantly change the apparent duration of a race. The other things that influence variations in timings are human reaction time, and even policy on when to start or stop the watch. I was taught to start as the first rider moved after the tapes rose, not as the tapes began to rise, and to stop it as the front wheel spindle crosses the line. We're talking fractions of a second but with the sport foolishly using timings taken to the nearest 100th of a second it is significant. Even taking times to a tenth of a second on manual timing is questionable given human reaction times and indeed even how responsive to the start/stop button a watch is. Having done the job myself there's a very good reason why I don't bother with race times when completing my programme ;-) Transponders are the way forward, but even then technology can cause problems. I was announcing at a then rare evening meeting at Eastbourne. They used a photo electric cell for timing. As soon as the last rider entered the final lap you had to remember to switch it on, then the first rider to hit the line would stop the clock. The track record went about four times in the first half a dozen heats. Charlie Dugard used to keep a close eye on stand-in announcers for good reason and would sit with me in the box just to make sure I could keep he standard up. After the track record had gone yet again he told me to 'adjust' the remaining times. "We don't want them injuring themselves going for the track record". I still wonder if it was down to the track being different at night or I wasn't operating the equipment properly. It was probably the latter.

No problem, like you I'm just a supporter who loves the sport. Thankfully I got the chance to do more. I look forward to seeing Brandon restored to its proper purpose. My contribution to the sport is tiny compared to most but unlike most I'm prepared to talk about it openly here in the hope it may help people to understand what goes on, or like me learn from my experiences. Every closed track is the death of a friend. Yes, even Crayford......

Can only think it's the 2 day format that putting people off.

oops, sorry, I didn't realise that so I do apologise

I don’t think championship standard riders will have any problems, riders like Ayres, perks, Hume, Morley, Bowen etc absolutely flew around there last season. The adverse camber on bends 3/4 seems to be sorted now. For me the only thing that needs doing to improve racing is to widen the back straight, this would make the exit of bend 2 faster as some riders have to lock up slightly if they go too wide in the bend. This work was definitely in Lens thoughts but whether he will have time at the end of his ski season to do it remains to be seen. Have a look on google earth & you will see what I mean.

I have no real opinion about Ulrich, but to say he is a trier could mean anything from Lee Adams to Eddie the Eagle Don't mind me, I'm in a funny mood I'll get my coat.

No offense meant but this has got me riled...... I cannot imagine anyone ever has or could ever make any worthwhile money from such a venture. So, in answer to your second point, what's wrong with putting out a team with "an old name" as an enthusiast's dream? Besides, whatever happened to having teams competing in a development league to provide opportunities for new and upcoming riders that the public want to see and are willing to pay to do so?

https://mol.im/a/7861567 Really - I find it hard to believe!

Just nice to read opinions on the 2020 Panthers lineup instead of all this off topic BS

THANKS ... will try

False dawn the stadium it self is excellent ,,comfortable with plenty of seating under cover and a great view of the whole track..the problems I have mentioned do cause the odd crash,but the racing is fast and can be good,, and they have solved the problem of the curfew in the main,by having the parade before the meeting start time,,Hope this helps....

Blimey can't we get rid of this Poole rubbish... Go away and leave us, we have enough on our plate. Brady Kurtz riding for Belle Vue is of very little interest here.

Glad someone else can see the same issue as me? Plus the pit area mac as you and me well know

I would have thought that a league with the word development in it's title, would welcome any opportunity for more youngsters to enter the sport. And retaining a homeless fan base, albeit a small one, is surely desirable.

Also will they be able to get it done in under 3.5-4 hours as there is a 4 hour limit on the shopping centre car park

Crazy idea to put the fours at Leicester, not enough parking also where would they put all the bikes in the pits ? On top of the cost to the fans over the weekend. Think some will give the pair's a miss or Leicester?

Or Tai Woffinden was never Australian. I'll get me coat...

Such a childish comment would come from an Eastbourne fan

Doesn't Sam come from Newcastle in Aus.Really hope everything is ok there,but the latest report says very high risk of bushfires in that area. My sister lives in Queensland,and they had the fire's in October.Just feel so sorry for the heartache this catastrophic event has caused to people down under.

My postman is very disappointed. For years, he thought I was the recipient of some very dodgy material as it was sent in a “brown plain wrapper”. Now he realises it’s just Speedway porn

We’ve seen risks taken on ex-motocross and they pay off and I think that’s what we’re seeing here. Rather than looking at who’s the best in the MDL and signing them up.

£35 ticket for 2 meetings and approx 40 races is a bargain