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Don't agree with that at all. Poole - next to Sandbanks (richest bit of real Estate in UK) and in an area of higher net wealth than the part of Kent where Sittingbourne is. Eastbourne - leafy East Sussex and the London Commuter belt Both £17 Adults + Poole £14 Concessions (65+) Eastbourne £15 (60+ Ladies 65 Men) Both have various Student Concessions + other perks for specific Groups. It's the OAP's Len is screwing over... 2 OAPS at Poole £28.00 / 2 OAPS at Eastbourne £30.00 / 2 OAPS at Kent £38.00. Scandalous Pricing by Len!

I'm sure Rob and the less bitter, normal speedway supporters, will think nothing of team building until poor Danny Ayres is finally in his resting place.

In fairness to the Diamonds promotion, I think you may have taken this completely out of context. If you attended yesterday evening's Race Night at South Gosforth, you would have seen that the draw for this event was made throughout the evening. It would appear that once the draw was complete, someone in good faith has published this tweet in the form of "breaking news". I am sure the follow up promoting of the event will be as polished as ever and to most peoples' liking. As a bye the bye, I thought the race night was a huge success and marvellous to see all the riders in attendance together with representation from the Gems squad. Well done to the organisers - and by the way, the Hog Roast was excellent!!

Jason Crump is 44, retired from regular racing about 8 years ago and has nothing to prove to anyone, he doesn't need the money you would guess never mind the expense of getting bikes and other bits of kit ready Yes he has rode in a few meetings over the winter but would he drag his family halfway round the World to race for Peterborough, I think not.

Was a good turn out, the beer was a bit pricey tho,,, good job I had put a tenner in me sock for the taxi home.

Hi B.B. the REF has been running for many years and as Skidder says, in brackets, it stands for the Riders Equipment Fund. Fans can become members by making a monthly donation of anything from £5pm. During the ‘close season’ there are monthly social events for members and non-members that help to swell the fund. Usually the events are quizzes but have also included race nights, game shows and chat shows. Every year, each of the current Pirates is presented with a REF gift (usually £500) to help with expenses. Often the presentation would be made following mechanical failures or loss. Member benefits include discount at REF events and the chance to be asked to present the gift to the rider whilst taking part in the race day introductions. Plus, of course, the satisfaction of contributing to the Pirates’ riders. Potential new members are asked to contact the club via the website to request a form or to be put in contact with organisers Stan and Val Vatcher.

That's an interesting statement. Wasn't he the first to sign a "less suitable" rider as well? Rasmussen may well have been a success in the league but Peter Schroeck certainly wasn't!

If anyone of you was is still in doubt who is really financing Polish speedwayspeedway in Poland, here is the answer as “revealed” by the Polish website: po-bandzie.com.pl. Are you surprised? Polish speedway is kept by the local governments. It is the taxpayers' money that makes it possible for construction of new stadiums or renovation of outdated ones. They give the opportunity to contract foreign and national stars . Without television coverage, Polish speedway would run with miserable public interest. Without state-owned companies, it would be much poorer, it would persist in pain and torment as a natural curiosity, but without money from local government it would fall on its face. Truly, I tell you that without local government money there would be no Motoarena in Toruń or Łódź. It would be impossible to modernize the stadiums in Gorzów, Wrocław, Częstochowa, Zielona Góra and Grudziądz. Nobody would even bother about building a new facility in Lublin. Any plans to refresh the infrastructure in Gniezno and Tarnów would probably have to be postponed for many years. Stadiums are just one side of the coin, the other is money allocated for the promotion of the city by the club and the team. In this way, millions of subsidies affect the account of clubs in Częstochowa, Wrocław and Lublin. All Polish clubs get more or less money. If not in live cash, then they are exempt from fees for using the stadium and their necessary repairs. More money from local government means extraliga possibilities. Smaller funds are enough for first or second league. Let's take Częstochowa as an example. The city mayor and the city council lamented about the huge debt, but more than three millions were found. In this way, residents of Częstochowa are paying pay four foreign riders from Danmark, Sweden, Australia, and Norway plus a young man from Toruń for a good result. All this so that the speedway team from Czestochowa would fight for the Polish team championship and the people of Częstochowa had a reason to be proud. Anyway, things are similar in Wrocław. Taxpayers sponsor two Englishmen, an Australian, a Russian and a young man from Częstochowa. In Grudziądz, the strenght of the local speedway club is one hundred percent dependent on money from local government. Grudziadz’s mayor has more to say than the club's boss . Without the support of the town hall Rudziadz team would not even have the right to dream of an extraliga. Taxpayers' money, are spent on speedway, which can only boast six months of competition in a year, and on its own stadium the club can stage only seven league matches. For all kinds of speedway and leage-maniacs, that's quite normal. For everyone else it's quite abnormal. Speedway in Poland has long been an element of local politics. Due to the great interest of fans, city presidents and councillors have become virtual slaves to the speedway tradition. They can't afford to disregard speedway fans, because they will lose election. And although local government debts are growing at an alarming rate, to make potential voters happy, millions for speedway must be found. Meanwhile, education is suffering, health care is dying, and more loans are bursting annual budgets. Local government officials, however, must take into account that citizens will eventually get fed up with long quees at the hospital waiting room, and the expenses for professional sports will start to bother them. It is likely that local government officials will say stop and significantly reduce spending on spring-summer speedway. Then unprepared clubs will remain with a budget hole. Such scenario needs be taken seriously. Meanwhile, speedway is becoming increasingly dependent on city money. (…) Even in speedway cities, not everyone is mad about speedway. And not everyone is interested in spending money on foreign stars. Let everyone answer the question, whether taxes’ money should constitute one third of the professional speedway club budget, consisting of seven players, usually four foreigners. I have the impression that in the end, local politicians will have to answer the title question, who prefers speedway and who efficient health service?

Steve Johnston is riding at Perth next weekend. Maybe this means he'll be the next Panthers target?

Thanks MMX. That's great

Leon has signed for Armadale so still be getting the small track experience.

As far as I can see Crump has done nothing to indicate he has any interest in returning to Britain. Every Summer he rides a couple of meetings in Australia and this seems no different from previous years. In previous years there was no speculation about Crump returning - the talk of his 'comeback' seems to be more of an indication of Peterborough's desperation than any real possibility of him coming out of retirement and riding full time.

When Buster makes a decision the facts surrounding it become The Truth - at least to the deluded Yes men / women that surround him.

I get the reason why Leon has been stopped from riding for Newcastle but it's two different competitions and as long as there was no fixture clashes I would've thought a young rider getting track time would be encouraged rather than blocked.

Nicholls can’t ride the showground for toffee and Hans had a shocking year of injuries and personal problems so not the best examples to use

Personal weath/income maybe be greater in the south east, but disposable income is probably no greater, especially when property is concerned, purchase price or rent on an average 2 /3 bed property in the south compared to the north more than wipes out any gain in income. I know there are other factors, employment being the main one, but I do think the north south divide is a bit of a myth, you only have to look around some of our southern coastal towns to see some deprivation.

At £19 and the most expensive in the land i believe even more so for concessions as there is no discount i would certainly say its too much. A business approach of hiking the prices and buckling to riders demands is not sustainable. Offer a better product to attract higher numbers, say enough is enough to riders or offer them reasons to sign that are not purely financial. Last season the NL price went up with reasons quoted as Drew Kemps kevlars cost over £1000 (they didn't JC Pro are cheaper than that unless you throw in plenty of extras). Rye House ran in team suits for years without an increase. Ultimately it boils down to "its your money, its your choice" but i feel that Kent will need to be offering something extra special year on year to keep the crowd numbers where they need to be.

No chance, in my opinion

No idea and isn't that part of the problem. They haven't said, only mentioned the problems that they seeming didn't try to fix before kicking them out, thereby losing the sympathy vote for at least trying before taking the action the club would slam the EoES for doing (well previous promotions who cared that is). One assumes that it's a fair few or what's the problem with the traditional arrangement and trying deal with the club's organisational gripes and alleged steward abusers?

Bo Peterson,,Hackney ,,Lakeside..Bo was a big man but could turn a bike on a sixpence,,a real nice guy too.....

Who wants to watch Wallinger rather than Flint? This decision is a shame for Newcastle fans and those of clubs that the Gems will travel to.

Tend too sort of agree Dave, I think a lot have written us off. Seems like the new guys have injected some much needed enthusiasm around the place. Having their own 'bait wagon' is a massive plus for Newcastle speedway, also the lure of maybe being able to purchase some proper delicacies on site will do well BTW,,, you're always gonna see some old faces at speedway soiree's

IMO Championship speedway should be no more than £15 to watch.

Aye that's what I thought !! 3& a half shillings for a pint of fosters yuk but the broon ale was better tho

Ronnie's justification was that he had no realistic option. He needed a number one and no suitable rider was available. Jens had lost his place in the top tier, was settled in Britain with a British partner and family. He was an EEC citizen who had the right to work in Britain. Someone was always going to break the BSPA's outdated system. To deny an EEC citizen employment , it was argued, was against basic EEC laws and its fundamental principle of freedom of employment and movement. Yes it opened the doors to all kinds of foreign riders, but the horse had in fact bolted in 1973 when we joined the EEC. There was a 'gentleman's agreement' in the BSPA to keep the old British & Commonwealth restriction but it could not last forever. Whether or not this would all have been upheld in a court of law is for a different forum to argue, but there was a very real chance that the sport could have been in a legal minefield. It wasn't Ron's fault that other promoters chose to employ less suitable riders. There's no reason why you can't choose not to employ a rider because he's not god enough, just not because he's a foreigner. Yes, it did cause longer-term problems but at the time I'd say it saved Rye House from closure, and if Ronnie hadn't moved then, how long before someone else did? Ask yourselves this, why did the BSPA allow him to sign Jens?

Would they go on Friday or Saturday night though?

The league has got plenty of 'pale imitations' already

Glasgow scrubbed concessions for over 65’s which affected my pocket. I still go ‘cause I’m an ardent fan but lo and behold, the crowd levels have gone up.

Uni students secondary schools etc all been tried in the past however many years from the likes of Steve Brock . Dave Rowland . Jackie Campbell & Steve pate & the management & some riders attending fates giving out free tickets displays of posters in shops & yet still people didn't come to the speedway !! Perhaps it's because we are a Sunday track who knows but Rob & Tony are willing to listen to anybody with ideas to help out with what they are doing to keep it going ad long as possible for our entertainment and raise the profile of Newcastle speedway long may it continue...

Giving the announcement made by Newcastle last night, I am guessing that Nathan Greaves will have some competition for his No1 race jacket.

Link doesn’t work for me but I assume you’ve found one decent meeting he had at the showground to make your point but having watched him week in week out it’s pretty clear he struggles badly at the showground (and Belle Vue which is a similar flat out track). Only reason you’d sign him for oeterborough would be for his potential away....

I didn’t know that. I’ve been maligning Len for years then

Ronnie

shame it's got to the point of selling his medals, but for me when Ronnie had Rye House it was the end of GB Speedway being around the top, getting non Commonwealth into the National League was the end

I would have him in the Berwick team no problem, he has a great record round Shielfield.

Possibly better, but not much better. What Jason had, that Phil didn't, was the world championship winning mentality. I'm not so sure he'll have that now.

Same here, great meeting and there were thousands there

What a shocking post.

He had his chance for “the next step” with sheffield year before as well.didnt take either .

If either of the newcomers falter, he's a ready made replacement!

Wait for the dreaded curfew to kick in a few times. £22 will seem like daylight robbery.

Another interesting article on Arthur published in Motor Cycle after his first season in England gives some nice insights into his mentality 'Frank Arthur is one of the quietest and most thoughtful of all the Australian boys........he looks quite studious and one would never associate him with a speedway. He takes dirt track racing very seriously, and frankly admits that it is his business. I remember once when we were discussing the small size of some of the tracks over here. I asked him if it was true that it was impossible for the experts to show real stuff on some of the very small tracks. He confirmed the point and said, "Here for example (We were at the White City, London, at the time) every time you open out flat on a bend the odds are that you will fall off. And if on the last lap there is someone 20 yards ahead of me, do you think I am going to risk my neck by trying to catch him ? No, I am sure of my second place money and 10 to 1 he'll fall off and i'll win in any case. I've no firm behind me to pay me a salary; manufacturers do not give me the machines I ride: there is no job being kept open for me at the end of my riding career - and one cannot keep on at this game indefinitely:" Although not as spectacular as some of the boys, he is as fast as the best of them, and his style is distinctive. When I had seen him ride on about a dozen occasions, it struck me that he must have made a thorough study of the game and evolved a definite plan of action. This consists of keeping to the white line, and he is the cleverest exponent of inside-edge riding I have seen. Once Arthur has the inside position he rides so close that it is impossible for anyone to shift him. And he travels so fast round the white line that the other fellow has to go completely mad to pass him on the outside. Even if this should occur Arthur never loses his head, but hangs on to the other fellows tail, knowing full well that there is every chance of his rival either falling or going into a bend just a shade too fast to keep in close, in which case Arthur again takes the lead on the inside. From an early age he told me, his greatest ambition was to excel at some sport, and then come eventually to England. His first idea was to become a jockey, and he progressed favourably in this direction until suddenly he began to grow at an alarming rate and it was soon obvious that he would be to heavy. He then tried football and cricket in turn, and met with no particular success at either. Next he bought a machine, and having met with a fair amount of success on grass and at hill climbs he finally took to the dirt. For some considerable time it looked like he would again be unsuccessful, until one day be bought a Peashooter and went out and won the golden helmet at Brisbane: his rivals in the final of this race were Lamont, Huxley and Smythe ! That was the turning point. And Arthur is nothing if not a sportsman. If ever one of the boys has trouble with his machine, Frank is the first to offer the loan of one of his 'Shooters. By the time he retired in 1934 it was estimated he had made the equivalent of over £ 2,000,000

I really do not see Crump back nor do I see it as desirable. However think I have seen somewhere that he will be in England with his son for the the entire summer.

He is no Greg Hancock in that his style of riding and temperament do not lend itself to riding at such an advanced age( in speedway terms) IMO Greg love or hate him is a one off and we will still have to wait and see if he can still cut it ! .Crumpy should stay retired and turn out for fun by all means but don't make ythe same mistake as his father did and comeback nowhere near the rider he was .

Could I remind you that it's Peterborough Panthers and not Pirates

He likes pie n mash an all Chris Keef

That's pretty naughty saying that everyone is upset about Danny but accusing them of that is a pretty low and insensitive thing to do

Your out of order iron scorpion, i was as shocked as anyone when i heard about Danny bless him, I'd watched him glow as a rider at Mildenhall and was looking forward to him taking it to the next level at Foxhall this coming season, speedway is a numbers game and my suggestion was purely based around that and not a attack against Danny.

All the talk is about Belle vue''s top 3 for me I will be happy if they hold their averages.I think Belle vue's biggest strength will be Bewley and Lidsey two young riders that in my opinion should well improve their averages next season.Dan dropped nearly a point off his 2018 average last year due to his horrendous injury and was beginning to look like his old self by the end of the season and with a full closed season to improve his health/strength I believe he will be our third heat leader in no time leaving Wright as a very good second string with easier heats. Lidsey is pure class and is going places fast with a full British season behind him to learn the ropes he should be pushing/overtaking Worrall for a top 5 spot either way leaving Belle vue with a very strong reserve.I also believe that Worrall who dropped nearly a point off his average has had the metal work removed from his leg which could see him return to the rider he was before his bad injury.All if's and but's but if this is the case Belle vue are in for a good season. All about opinions folks and this is mine.

Bruce had Alzeimers towards the end of his life and died in 2006. I have photos in my Speedway albums on Facebook of Bruce, Charlie Barsby and Alan Cowland at a Leicester reunion in November 2004. Charlie was my favourite rider and only ever rode for the Leicester Hunters throughout his career. He died this year aged 88. Very sadly Alan committed suicide only 2 months after the reunion.