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Pleased to report to that Ulrich was discharged from hospital in Edinburgh this afternoon, he is now flying back to his family in Denmark (via Glasgow & Stanstead) to start his recovery. I know he’s been blown away by the concern the shown by the supporters of Glasgow & Peterborough and the fans in general.

Pleased to report to that Ulrich was discharged from hospital in Edinburgh this afternoon, he is now flying back to his family in Denmark (via Glasgow & Stanstead) to start his recovery. I know he’s been blown away by the concern the shown by the supporters of Glasgow & Peterborough and the fans in general.

Let's be brutally honest.. These clubs are only in existence to provide riders with rides... Meaning they ride for all and sundry on as many nights as they can... Bottom line is it doesn't really matter who wins any UK meeting, meaning it also doesnt really matter who wins any UK league.. Therefore expecting people to "buy in to it", and take it seriously as a team sport is a huge ask I would say, and you cannot envy any promoters trying to go out and "sell it"... As tracks close it will find its natural level and those that can still generate a "decent crowd" will prosper (as much as you can in UK speedway), and those that can't will go by the wayside.. Having been to Brum a couple of times it must be a difficult place to try and sell Speedway. At 50 something I always felt "very young" when surrounded by a large amount of Brum fans , and city centre tracks within large conurbations, eg Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle, all seem to attract very, very few of the millions who live virtually on their doorstep.. And teenage kids simply wont be seen anywhere where their father attends (and in many cases their grandad).. You can only flog a dead horse so many times until you realise that to keep throwing money at something, that has a tiny chance of gaining any return, is completely futile.. I do admire promoters who are willing to put their own money into the sport, but also am then equally as amazed that they then allow themselves to run it the way they do... Speedway's very own version of Hari Kari... (And that isnt a 4 point Japanese international that could be worth a punt)..

I've read some bo##ox on this forum....I've no doubt contributed to some as well....but to say that nobody wanted to sign Harris/Riss/Shanes/Morris/Thomas... is pi##in ludicrous ! All 5 riders will be snapped up if we drop out the League.....I even think that Redcar would take a punt on Paco!

It's not always the answer, can't remember the guys name, co-promoter of Cradley and co-promoter at Swindon with Terry Russell a few years back, owns a transport company, ask him when he tried for a season and took the lease from Mole. He really had his fingers burnt. I know Mcloughlin tried lots of methods and I think even he struggled to get bums on seats, he did though get sponsorship. Perhaps Birmingham like speedway in general is now finding its level after year on year of watering down of the product and the die hards heading to the great speedway stadium in the sky.

Enjoyed that tonight.. Seemed to be a bit of thought gone in to the introductions and the music too.. With the proof being my 18 year lad and 23 year old son in law (first time attendee to speedway), actually recognised some of the songs One noticeable thing for me though was the fact I paid £27 for me and my student lad and watched pretty much the same riders that I paid £44 to watch a couple of weeks ago.. (No student concession) at the NSS in a top league encounter.. ie Schlein, Douglas, Morris and Worrall.. Much better VFM it seems in the Championship.. Add in Danny King, Hans Anderson and Kyle Howarth and you do have to question the top leagues prices for all intent and purpose the 'same thing'.. Racing was 'ok' with a few decent passes and several close races which kept you interested to the end.. Poole just too good for the Lions to make it a 'classic'... Seemed a decent crowd too with a bit of atmosphere getting generated in the main stand.. Son in law has said he wants to go again so taking him to the NSS when we get back of hols...

I haven't attended the last couple of meetings after getting peed off with what was on offer Now we get the Gavan/Shovlar show on here........testing times!!

Wow,, a sight seen at Foxhall tonight which is very rare,,,,, the water tractor did a lap during the meeting

Must confess I have never understood the "use it or lose it" ultimatum often quoted by fans, (and indeed some promoters), down the years... By the very definition such utterances are used suggests that those who are "expected to go" (and therefore regarded as 'loyal fans'), are actually simply "not bothered" whether the clubs carry on or not.. Because if it did mean so much to them, they would still be attending in sufficient numbers to not require those very comments in the first place.. A demise of a club is sad, but often inevitable, as the 'tipping point' is finally reached re costs v income after several weeks of struggle, and the difference between the two finally becomes untenable to be bridged by the promoter... And as the reasons for that demise often lies within the operating model of the sport, and is therefore self inflicted, it seems to prove that (contrary to popular belief), turkey's do seem to vote for xmas after all it would appear.. Promoters often do seem to sometimes over estimate how 'important' a Speedway club is to its followers and make the mistake of believing it means 'everything' to them similar to all other team sports.. However, by it's very operating model, the sport doesn't engender that blind loyalty, devotion and tribalism that other team sports do, therefore it simpy cannot mean the same emotionally... Which ultimately is the 'acid test' of any team sports' sustainability and progression I would suggest..

Mike some great points there myself personally i am sick to death of the sport’s pathetic rules nothing ever changes.The Championship as a product looks half decent but the Premiership well i have no interest in whatsoever to be frank it is poor value it is a league in name only.

Totally right it helps to have a winning team of course, but my take is the number one priority is for the fans to have a great night out and to be entertained.Birmingham being a massive catchment area with many more things to do , maybe some people may not have missed speedway as much as they thought they would.I am in that category with no speedway at Swindon it was my life for years but the real truth is i haven’t missed it as much as i thought i would.I still love the sport and when it is good it is good but generally speaking is it value for money ? it is not a cheap night out now for a family.I will take in a few meeting at Poole this year and maybe Plymouth but if Swindon does not return ( very unlikely) i cannot see myself being a week in week out supporter again.Fingers crossed for the Brummies great supporters great club just hope they can survive this crisis.

Whilst thats just false economy and won't solve the problem (paying riders more will mean even more supporters needed and its unlikely to magic them out of thin air). Birmingham have their limited crowd base and the chance of attracting a few new fans/neutrals/away fans so spending big on riders will only close the club quicker and produce even more gate and go racing (it will just be the home side doing it more often). Brum do have a chance though to build a team that engages with fans and provides on track entertainment. The likes of Harris, Shanes, Morris and Thomas are all racers who can pass but the track isn't there to provide the opportunities. Create an outside line that works, leave the inside line slick so there are racing alternatives. Speedway is a basic product and people will still pay good money to watch lunatics like Bomber and Shanes ride the boards.

There is nothing better in speedway than watching riders progress. One year Todd Wiltshire was winning an individual at Glasgow and the next year finishing 3rd in the world. Most recently Max Fricke transforming from a 19 year old for the Monarchs into a Torun SGP winner. Next hope is Josh Pickering, absolutely stunning value for money. I'll miss it all. Edit. Todd may have finished 3rd at Glasgow. Definitely top 3.

Back with your usual crap!!! King and Schlein ride for both and Cook is better than Steve Worrall… Rowe and Allen are better than Kemp and Nielsen Kemp and Starke are miles better than Wright and Hume We get the leagues are closer …. But please if you think the Poole side that beat Leicester last night is better than the Ipswich side tonight then you are clearly deluded… oh hang on sorry yes you are trolling …. Yawn

Im sorry to see the Brummies yet again in this situation several Promoters have tried and failed to make a go of it at Perry Barr over recent years namely Patchet, Philipps and now Mason only Tony Mole aided by the Drurys and other backroom staff namely the Commercial guy whose name escapes me have made a go of it, I really dont know the answer to the Clubs current plight somehow they need to get through the current season, if they fold midseason i fear that this will be the end for Speedway in Birmingham, as i think the Landlords for one wont be very happy to have yet another Promotion fail. Is there an Investor out there that could put some money in to help promote the Sport locally, i drove through the roadworks where the old flyover used to be early this week no sign of any advertising around there where thousands not hundreds must pass weekly, AV Fc is maybe a mile or just over away WBA Fc just a little further away in the oposite direction surely something could be done there ?, something along the lines of produce a AV/WBA program/match ticket you get half price admission Iv no idea but something is better than nothing, rather than splitting the Juniors & Children under 16 and under 11 just make it kids for a quid, and how about some between race entertainment thats what kills a lot of newcomers having to wait around between races, even the pre meeting introductions could be made more interesting by placing the bikes at the starting gate and having the riders (minus Helmets) and mechanics introduced and walk past the fans as they are announced, a few boos for visiting riders never harmed anyone in fact it helps create a bit of atmosphere. I dont know just throwing a few ideas around but the bottom line is Brum need to get people through the gates for more than the odd meeting otherwise its curtains for Speedway in Birmingham.

Wolverhampton quite a technical track so best of both worlds, Technical track in Premiership, Flat out track in Championship

Also taken from the club website “Another Seagull to be given a chance on Saturday is the popular Jake Knight, who stands in for Drew Kemp, who is riding in Poland.” I guess you couldn’t be ar$ed to read the article in full.

There are a few clubs sniffing around Josh but I wouldn't rule out Scunny for sure but forgive me if I bite my tongue on that one for now... Regards THJ

Top 6 for the play-offs.

For what it's worth I'm not that impressed with the outside viewing at PB. I like being on the home or back straight just in front of the start gate. Where else in speedway do the stadium put a huge steel bus type shelter to block peoples view of the start gate? Birmingham have. It's basically set up for dogs where banking and the view isn't as important, so unless you want a decent view you have to go indoors and upstairs, which loses it for me.

Get your wallet out then and cough up if you really think that is the answer, become that investor.

Another home win...

Sky high rents do always amaze me. I guess the landlords know they have clubs over a barrel and charge what they like? There must be level of sense applied though as if Brum close and no Speedway runs thats a fair amount of income lost per month to the greyhound folks.

The rent will be the absolute killer at birmingham. Remember the masons went there coz nobody nearer fancied a pop at it, god knows how much theyve slung at it .

Mine lost interest once it became unaffordable for them to attend at age 16 and whilst they were still in their last GCSE year. They couldn't pay the student price because that was for 6th formers and uni students, so had to pay adult prices. Even at the concession prices, it was too far out of reach and unaffordable to go week after week. Eldest still likes speedway, keeps up with all the news but has gone to maybe 5 meetings and two GPs since he was 16, youngest has gone to just one GP and no league meetings but still has a passing interest but middle son stopped going the week after his 16th and has absolutely no interest whatsoever....they were all massive fans at one point. None are interested in football...or any other sport come to that, speedway was their love and they would have continued going and still be contributing to the sport had the prices been more sensible for them to do so.

My son in law said that he wants to go again and said "I think I could get into this more when I understand the rules"... I quickly explained to him that Steve Worrall (who took his eye as "being good"), was Belle Vue's captain, Rory Schlein is Leicester's Nick Morris and Ryan Douglas' team mate at Wolves, and that Schlein will rode for Ipswich tonight because one of their riders is injured.. I then told him that Kyle Howarth rides for Sheffield, Hans Anderson rides for Peterborough and Danny King rides for Ipswich... As his eyes glazed over whilst taking it all in I just said.. "Best bet Jake, is to very much NOT bother trying to understand the rules and just enjoy the racing"... Taking him to watch Ipswich at the NSS next week...

‘Not sure promoting would make any difference’ ???????? Promoting makes all the difference

Apparently it says on the official site from the un-official spokes man that he is.

Newcastle will never get a better chance of a home win.

I’ve learnt that if I am pessimistic beforehand then I can always take defeat that wee bit easier as I will have expected it

I am actually the centre green presenter at Kent, although due to local covid restrictions we are very limited to what we can do. This season has been limited to a pre match coin toss, and post match interviews. In the past we have done interviews during the meeting but as you ve heard yourself the sound system is not the best. And its pretty pointless interviewing anyone whilst tractors are out as well. As for Glenn in the box, (when you are stood somewhere you can hear clearly...) there aren't many people better at getting all the relevant info out there, whilst dealing with all the refs commands as Glenn (and indeed his mentor Derek). I think people would genuinely be shocked at how much goes on in the box, frankly anyone who does that job has my undivided respect. Its fair to say the quality of the sound system has been a thorn in the side of the speedway since day 1, but i do know they ve had various sound engineers in over the years. So whilst there has only been minor improvements, that isn't through the lack of trying. I don't know for certain, but knowing we have a very tight curfew due to noise concerns from a couple of the neighbours, I imagine that has prevented them just plonking a couple of huge speakers on the greyhound track. Really great to read your various posts on the meeting and the stadium. I will share them with the club management, as when someone highlights all the positives that are happening you'd like to think they will take on board the constructive criticisms as well as the compliments. As for the crowd being quiet, despite air horns and the like being banned, I ve never heard us described as being quiet before. But I speak to many of my mates and many are still in awe of the speed, skill, and ruthlessness the step up in leagues has provided. Many fans are still getting their heads around the fact that the Poole Pirates are actually at Central Park. Nice to see soo many Poole fans, and getting to interview Midlo was an unexpected surprise.

Except Poole

Because there are plenty of examples of clubs doing it for themselves without the necessary expertise and loosing a shedload. For example Leicester in 2011

fantastic . will mean a whole new way of warming the bike up in the pit and it looks like it does a great burnout ! not too sure about the pressure relief valve in front of the riders face ......... brightened my day up that has ..

You haven't been for 8 years. You raise many valid issues but it's too late. It's too late for opinions and it's too late for talk of 'evolve'. It's not happening and the sport is almost dead in the UK.

Sounds suffice to to me.If you Email : club @berwickspeedway.com. They will confirm if that is the case.

I don't think it's dead but it does need to evolve. If I'm honest I haven't been to a meeting since the end of 2013 as I wanted a complete break from the sport. I am tempted to go and watch a meeting this year (probably at Leicester) but even though I am fortunate to be financially comfortable, I am still asking myself is it really worth it at £18 each and then £3 for a programme plus food and drink? If I was going to see some of the best riders in the World and be a part of a buzzing near to capacity crowd I wouldn't hesitate but deep down I know I won't be getting good value for that money. I could go out for a really nice meal and drinks for less. I could go down to my local non-league football club and watch a decent game with a decent sized crowd and have a good laugh for £7. For less than the two adult admissions and programme we could go to the cinema or the bowling alley and have a much better time. The promoters need to understand their audience and what their audience expect for their cash. You just can't take them for granted anymore. The days of opening the gates and expecting the same crowd plus more to come and watch more of the same are over. I've said before that speedway in the UK is mostly played to a die hard working class audience. One you price those loyal customers out then the game is over. The biggest problem speedway has IMO - you are basically seeing the same riders race all the time. Just in a different race jacket depending on what night of the week it is.

You should know by now that Polish speedway comes first and everything thing else can just naff off. Thats the view from Polish speedway.

Shame though, think he'd be better than Tungate or Lasse Bjerre imo. If he has dual nationality, does that mean he has passed the British Citizen test? If so he derserves some sort of reward cos that think is impossible to pass! I had a go at some of the online practice ones to see what it's like and you have to get 75% to pass and I got 62% lol.

Becsuse his German team rides in the Polish lower leagues snd their home matches are on a Friday. Ridiculous him being in our team when he’s not available for meetings

When Pennycross re-opened in 1968 the nature of the track, sand on a tarmac base, gave Plymouth home track advantage, but it also worked against their inexperienced young riders as they mastered their own circuit but then struggled on away tracks with conventional surfaces. The season was considered a success as the Devils finished in 4th spot in a league of 10 teams, but the basis of this achievement was a 100% home record, with just one success away. The weather was unkind to Plymouth, however, with 5 meetings rained off, one abandoned and several run in adverse conditions. The track surface was retained for the 1969 season, which saw the team plummet to 15th, with only King’s Lynn Starlets below them in the final table, following 6 home defeats and not a single away point registered. Pete Lansdale had left the promotion, with Fred Osborn taking control. The team was decimated, with loanees being recalled by parent clubs and Plymouth lost the top 4 riders from 1968 before the season started Those 4 riders had a combined average of over 33 points and they were replaced with junior riders, some being more successful than others. Midway through the season the promoter was extremely concerned by falling attendances. Throughout the winter of 1969-70 plans were made to continue in Division 2, with preparations including the replacement of the tarmac and sand with a conventional shale track. In mid-March the fixture list was drawn up for the league season, including Plymouth. However, during the winter there had been stories published of permission being sought or enquiries being made for the opening of several new speedway venues to jump on the Division 2 success bandwagon, including Bath, Rochdale, Weston-Super-Mare, Workington, Norwich, Newtongrange, Liverpool, Barry, Rye House, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Watford and Peterborough, with an appeal also being heard regarding the previous year’s refusal at Rochester. Additionally, Sheffield had indicated an intention to run a second team in Division 2. Early in 1970 the Division 2 promoters voted not to expand the league above 16 teams, although Belle Vue II relocated to Rochdale and Workington successfully appealed to take the number to 17. Just as the season was starting it was confirmed that Fred Osborn had exchanged his Plymouth licence for the open licence granted to Peterborough, having been unable to assemble a competitive team and no doubt unwilling to risk significant financial loss. The difficulties of the previous year had been repeated when two of the team’s top riders from 1969 sought transfers in the build up to the new season and replacements could not be found. Peterborough therefore took the place of Plymouth in the league. A season of open licence meetings was planned instead, but after a crowd of 2,000 for the opening meeting attendances dropped significantly and Plymouth closed in July. Loanees from Exeter had formed the basis of the 1968 team, but all riders approached from elsewhere apparently refusal to join Plymouth for 1969 due to the travel involved for home meetings. The 1968 success could not be built upon, the uncompetitive team was not sufficiently well supported in 1969 and the absence of league racing was not an attractive proposition in 1970, hence the closure. The change to a shale surface in 1970 saw race times almost 10 seconds faster then in the previous two years.

Problem is they aren't getting 500 fans through the door... Regards THJ

Clubs should sensible with their wages perhaps? Budget for 500 fans so they won't go bust!

Sad to hear of any club in difficulties, but running speedway and attracting crowds in city centres is a challenge. Not sure Birmingham has ever attracted decent crowds in the modern era. Surprising really as Cradley, Wolves and formerly Coventry all run successfully. First meeting of the season set the tone , with an un prepared track, punters kept waiting for hours ……

He announced it on his personal Facebook account.

Agree and the comment in the statement of 'shutting the doors' is quite honestly appalling. Surely most speedway owners if they were looking to leave a club would look for someone to take it on before 'shutting the doors'. Wouldnt thj loyal fans that turn up week in week out deserve that

Now is the time to back the club or regret you didn't when it's gone. I know you can not drag people in kicking and screaming, however as more and more of us are vaccinated it us time to come out and start to enjoy life again. You can start by attending perry barr next Wednesday.

Twitter is the place to be 100%.

As has been well documented, was nothing to do with his on track performances

Now we're talking Steamway