Leaderboard

What logic is there to change the track for the first time this season (significant) changes with two meetings of the season to go? Riders have got their bikes dialled in then the club throw a curve ball like that. Very strange.

This conspiracy theory is on the same scale as COVID being caused by Chinese people eating bats. The fact is, however the track is prepared, both teams have to race on it. The team that adapts best to the surface (i.e. Sheffield) has the best chance of victory. If the Peterborough plan for becoming champions involves "sabotaging" the track, (your word, not mine), or getting opponents to "throw" meetings (your words, not mine), then you don't deserve to be there.

Thanks for the reply. It sounds like, although unlikely to recover its set up costs, speedway at Newcastle could be viable on a day to day basis, especially at NDL level. For information, I had some serious and lengthy discussions about a supporters’ run operation at Glasgow some years ago, but concluded that, although the initial enthusiasm would set it all up, long term, that wouldn’t continue so it wasn’t viable. The only supporter assistance model that seems to work is the one run at Edinburgh, where the supporters have been willing to help the club for many decades now.

Are you for real? Don't post stupid unnecessary crap.

Easy Peterborough win. Buster won't screw himself over by having KL beat Peterborough leaving Wolves with the advantage. Buster should give the KL riders a fixed sum on the night to throw the meeting on purpose tbh as it's the only logical thing that makes sense.

Main thing we need is someone with spare time who can run and manage the club, with the odd bit of financial backing from a successful business such as Rob's (Wouldn't have to be anywhere near what he put in this year) and from the fans too, things should be set I believe the low attendance levels this season have been down to a multitude of things... Covid, poor team, a few jumped ship to Redcar because they weren't a fan of how Rob was running things... However I think with the correct advertising and if the Diamonds could come back stronger, with a more attractive lineup, the 500-600 fans of old could be easily brought back + others? I think you're right unfortunately So we may need to find another figurehead... I believe that Rob has made a profit within the speedway, but that has involved investing heavily from his other businesses, which have mad significant losses, so overall, it's been a loss But if us fans can chip in and support a new leader, AND we can get the numbers back of old, then it could well be viable? If we had a new stadium that was owned b the speedway we could lease it out for all sorts of activities... Amateur meetings, practice junior days etc, just like Scunthorpe do, I would suggest that is how they make the majority of their income? I don't remember the exact details, but it's approximately £500-£650 (someone will be able to quote the exact figure I'm sure) a day to hire the track at Scunthorpe... And it's hired out by AMSA and Wayne Carter and sometimes independent people on a more than weekly basis... That's HUGE, obviously it would take years and years to get that up and running though... Oh and also, no stadium rent to pay Nice to get a mention... Just hope Mr rich man is sat at home now rubbing his hands together...

Aye, a get what you say, but was thinking that the Seaton Burn site is just about directly under the flight path for the airport, so its noisy anyway, plus the A1 and A19 noise? Surely it's not time to get the white flag oot yet.

Major hurdle that all the previous ventures have faced in the last 10 years around the country is the noise sadly. Our wonderful sport that we love the smell and sound from is no longer 2021 compliant with the amount of new housing estates being built on every bit of land possible. With every new estate on the outskirts means none to very little chance of getting Speedway within 10 miles of them. This is where electric could well spell the future of our sport. Yes I know we love the noise but apart from Speedway fans ive not heard one person who loves to sit in their garden on a Friday or Sunday night listening to the soothing tones of the local Speedway.

Crane and four trucks, carrying sections, there an hour ago???

And this is a big problem for speedway that rents a stadia At the Arlington raceway, Eastbourne, they run Stocks, bangers but not dogs. They run bangers all season but they put on stocks for some very plumb dates during the year, New Years day, bank holidays etc. Im told that one of these big dates rakes in more money in one meeting than they get rent out of speedway in three years as they get all the food and drink outlets as well as gate receipts. The very BIG difference Eastbourne has over Newcastle or any other rented Stadia speedway has is that at Eastbourne, the owners of the stadium will go out of their way to see speedway at the stadium for the foreseeable future.

Agree. League titles settled when conditions are at their worst for both riders and fans.

100% with you mate. Struggle to motivate myself on a freezing cold October night for biggest meeting of season. Should try and be done by September and have KO cup or whatever in October

I’m starting to lose interest again , it seems to be the same every season with trying to cram meetings in. Whilst during the warm summer months we have blank weeks.

How about all the so called supporters who have gained FREE entry for donkeys years put their money together ,they must be worth a fortune .

I made it for the first 3TT. I went with my mate, who's son was riding in the kids races. It was an experience going to the Speedway on the car ferry, after attending approximately 150 meetings using the Fastcat. Surely i must be due a knighthood!

In my view anything fan based will fall at the hurdle which says someone has to be responsible for any losses incurred. Fans won't be able/prepared to stump potentially unlimited cash calls if losses are made. First and foremost you need someone to take responsibility for the whole project then look at ways that fans can assist perhaps along the lines of the Edinburgh model. In this climate you'd have to say chances are remote at best but you never know

The two key pieces of information we need to determine is: How many supporters are willing to put how much in If there are any companies who are willing to put into the funds to help support the club I mean... over £10,000 was raised not that long ago by people just for the love of the club... And I know a lot of that was outside help... But if we could get 150 fans put in £10 a week, then a month that could be £6,000... Plus any larger sums that people could put in, plus any companies who are willing to sponsor us, we could be looking at that £10,000 being raised on a monthly basis, if we can keep that going... But is 150 fans unrealistic? I am not sure who or how many are keen, or can afford, to do such a thing... That's what we need to find out, so any future buyers feel confident enough...

The only theory I could think of is this. We plan of picking Sheffield in the play-offs and we didn't want them getting some laps in on a good track that would probably be prepared the same way for the SF so the track was sabotaged so the Sheffield riders were getting laps in on something that would be completely different come the play-offs and the result didn't matter to Peterborough because Buster could always pay the KL riders off to throw the meeting against us later this week as he wouldn't sabotage his own club giving Wolves the advantage and first pick.

Bears all the way, Poole chickened out on the scheduled date but there's no where to hide now Pirates!! I have heard Charles Wright is taking his XL Kevlars so as he can put Danny King is his pocket

100% and I really hope and pray that a rescue package can be found and a solution to the current problems

I enjoyed the meeting and although the track surface has been questioned I thought there was some decent racing. Both the Premier and Championship Leagues are now heading for an exciting conclusion and I for one have definitely enjoyed the British stuff much more than either the GP's or Son. Closer racing and look at some of the scores this year where not many points separate the teams. Weather permitting I reckon the play off semis and finals will be edge of your seat stuff and it's all boiling up very nicely. Hopefully there will be some changes in place for next year though with either one main league or a larger Premiership. This has to be the way to go, a six team league is not the way forward.

A think with limited availability, access to track and hoops to jump through, a new venue might get rid of those issues. A new venue could include other enterprises and not just speedway. Quad bikes, BMX, market stalls etc.

The average attendance has probably been about 500 over the course of the season and on speedway terms Granty has actually made profit. I think with a main promoter / co promoter with fans contributing also we can keep Newcastle Speedway alive and continuing for years hopefully at a new track in the future.

Maybe just someone to help with the heavy lifting. Am sure Rob has to put a lot if time into both or other businesses. Maybe some help with other stuff could work, allowing him to free up some time. Can't be easy juggling 2 things at the same time and, gadgy's can't do multi-tasking. A suppose in times like this, every stone needs to be turned over?

Wages for volunteering duties ?? It was done out of love for the club & would gladly do it again if we do come to the tapes in 2022

In fairness the following could all run in a Nora league as all thee tracks are available or can be hired . IOW, Lydd, Iwade , Scunthorpe, Redcarr , Kings Lynn ,Leicester then there is the potential of Oxford Workington Buxton and Mildenhall . All it needs is people to put there necks out to hire the tracks and then promote it to a paying public. Could be of National league standard to what ever limit you want or run like the German teams cup which is done I believe on a 4tt format but they do include 250s as 5th rider. Could be run like Barry runs the Iow for all those who want a break away league you just have to get up and get on it's there if you want it. as I see it it once in a blue moon opportunity for it to happen but don't see it happening as there are not enough people who will do what Barry and Martin do to make there product work. To many will sit and moan instead of trying it

Daft as it seems raising the money to keep Newcastle alive could be the easy part, then who ever is running the show needs to get a lot more people through the gates on a regular bases to keep the business running. Failure to do that will see Newcastle back in the same situation sooner rather than later.

Thought I'd chip in my thoughts on this one. I follow the forum but never really post anything. Firstly I am Speedway through and through, come from a family with a long connection to speedway I have family members that have helped build tracks, been mechanics and sponsors (team and rider). I have travelled all over the country for speedway and have spent quite a bit of time in Vastervik Sweden following Speedway, I mention these things as I would consider myself an avid hardcore supporter of not just Newcastle but the sport in its entirerity. I was brought up on Berwick speedway but naturally gravitated to Newcastle as I got older and they are my local club. For myself I hold the belief that if Newcastle can survive at all it has to move away from Brough Park at some point. This is a view I have held for years and spoken to friends on the terraces about. I go to Newcastle to support my local club, but the product on offer is not up there with the likes of Berwick, Glasgow etc. Anytime I have brought friends to Newcastle Speedway to introduce them I feel I have found myself making excuses before they get there about it not being the best racing etc. I want to make it clear that I don't put this down to the riders, the club or anything like that. For me I find that at Brough Park there is an element of detachment from the racing. You are so far away from the track its hard to FEEL speedway. When you go to Berwick, Glasgow, Armadale, Redcar etc you are so close to the action it is simply breathe taking. You get a feel of the speed, the thump and tire squeal of the bikes roaring past you. You can physically see the skill of the rider shifting weight on the bike, doing different things to overtake etc etc. Unfortunately at Brough because of the sheer geography and set up of the stadium this makes these things that make speedway very hard to appreciate. Its only people that understand speedway can see and appreciate these things from afar. New goers or people trying it out for the first time simply will not see what its all about. However put the same people literally next to the track and I feel the story would be very different. I have had some amazing nights at Brough Park and some memories that I will never forgot and have seen some amazing racing there but its not consistent enough to pull new people into the sport. I honestly hold the belief that Speedway in its purest from is the best sport in the world and the product can sell its self - however it needs the right environment and ingredients to let it thrive and unfortunately for me Brough Park does not offer that up close, get hit with shale, roar of the bikes flying past you experience... Add to that the rent and overheads of running meetings and all the connecting issues with Brough Park, I do not think its holds the answer long term. Not an easy task to find a new venue or field in order to relocate but I'd rather be in a farmers field right up close to the action (with less overheads) than in a swanky stadium. Secondly just as an idea my friends at Edinburgh are involved in the Trust fund set up for the Monarchs, maybe something that could be considered if a future for Newcastle is at all possible. Where people that can and want to set up a monthly direct debit of an amount they are happy to donate into the fund. The fund has a board and the club actually approach the Trust Fund to ask for a specific amount and what it is to be used for. I feel this is something that could be invaluable to Newcastle if a future can happen. It allows an element of control of both parties both the club and its supporters on where money gets spent and provides a safety net for the club as and when they may need to invest or have unexpected costs arise. It also allow supporters for feel more vested into the club. Thirdly I am not minted I wouldn't even consider myself well off however I have worked hard to put some savings away. If anyone on here is involved in anyway with a consortium I could donate a small sum in the thousands if a package could be put together (please feel free to get in touch). Similarly the lad I come with said the same he would happily chuck a few grand in and is in a position to do so... if it allowed the club to survive. This will not be ground breaking money it will not scratch the surface of what it is going to take but non the less it will help boost the fund... Lastly hats off and my personal thank you to Rob and the team that tried. The club would have been in this position years ago had he not come in, then to run in what is still a covid year is an unbelievable achievement of determination. Something that we need to hold on hope to and explain to potentially interested parties is that attendances this year cannot truly be used as future indication. We will not know the true figures of regular attendees until the immediate effects of Covid have worn off. I can see in my work/business figures that covid has still got a grip on things (entertainment industry).

Thé fact that the powers that be have consistently failed to find a top named league sponsor for the last two decades tells you all you need to know

Quack,Quack lol

Speedway fans. Moan when the meeting is drawn out. Moan when the meeting is rushed through.

Thats correct, Whilst i dont know the current payment for a Greyhound meeting streamed into the betting shops i can confidently say its into five figures, which if Newcastle stream three of those it gives them an income of 30k+ per week with minimal staffing costs, in fact no need for any spectators as Covid proved, so as you say its loose change to a business like ARC. Iv always thought if Speedway Promoters could find a way of introducing Handicap meetings (maybe individual to begin with) with the possibility of 6 rider races then the betting Industry might be tempted to get involved, big bucks to be made there as Greyhound racing has shown over the years, but thats another story altogether.

Qtv do Celtic TV and I think plastic whistle tv and think they have Midweek games do are unavailable

Couldn't agree more. Play offs on a knife edge and not much to choose between the teams. Should be exciting stuff if the weather plays ball. I've enjoyed most of the British speedway coverage this year and definitely something to build on for next year - hopefully a bigger Premier League or even just one big league. New places to visit, different tracks for the cameras, not seeing the same riders all the time etc. Here's hoping! Here's my points system for this year's TV action (out of ten). British Speedway 7.5, Grand Prix 5, SON 3. The GP's have gone stale and need new life and the SON in no shape or form matches up to the old WTC. Just my opinion of course.

Will it be published on the Diamonds website instead? About time it was used.

Variety is the spice of life mate!

It says on Glasgow's website that the streaming refunds have been processed and you should receive them in a few days.

I know, I was only joking though I am hoping for a win, will be happy with a point but am expecting a defeat

yes- several

It's probably what we have at Lynn. It was noticeably more "stoney" at Lynn's last meeting, and Kelv mentioned it last night. Bit silly to change it now though.

If Batchelor and the top 5 fire Sheffield win the play offs for me

I don’t think it was the track that was the only reason we won tonight. We were making gates for the first time this season pretty consistently (which we haven’t this season at all ) and we were more aggressive on track. All our team contributed on the same night for the first time. Peterborough even had to use the T/S at home which many Peterborough fans said last Thursday shouldn’t be allowed !!! Was the track relaid for this meeting or is it the usual material they’ve used all season ? Personally I think last nights performance from the home team was a one off and they just expected to win. They will be back on it Thursday

Yes... Rent may be the same, but as I mentioned above, it's reductions elsewhere we need to look at while we go through our initial difficult financial season... Rider wages is the most obvious place to start? Also, is it cheaper to enter a team in the NL (licence wise etc) compared to the PL or CL? I don't know... Yes... We do need a figure head to take charge and run the show so to speak... Look after the funds, go to meetings with the BSPA etc... If we could find someone and hundreds of us back them financially, that could be the way forward? That figurehead doesn't even need to be that wealthy themselves if we've all got their back... I am sure the current crop of volunteers, some of which I know or have known in the past personally, would be ecstatic and more than happy to come down and help again if their team they've been volunteering at for years came back? Although yes, there would need to be certain positions refilled again... Their wages would need to be taken into account also I'm guessing not... If only he could be that figurehead I talked about earlier... He wouldn't need to worry about the money side as much, just the planning side, which afterall, IS his business ain't it? Entertainment... Us fans could provide as much financial backing as possible... And considering he actually made a profit this year (granted he lost a lot on his other businesses during covid) the possibilities are endless... I just wish that things like the waffle truck and extra food and drink options had been there all year, as they were heaving and must have been making a fortune for him... Although I only visited the bar personally

Boocock, Cottrell, Mountford, France and Lightfoot were the mainstay of the Coventry team in 1965. Hodder and Booton were given opportunities in the opening weeks of the sesson but struggled for points, so Bees tried Smith, Gay and Bagley, with little success. Chris Harrison was unable to break into the Wolverhampton team and moved to Brandon in May. Les Owen couldn't be fitted in to the team at the beginning of the season and was asked to move elsewhere, including to help out injury-hit Cradley Heath, but Les remained loyal to the Bees and was prepared to sit out the season. He then covered for the injured Ron Mountford in two meetings at the beginning of June. When Ron returned to the team there was no budging Owen and Charles Ochiltree managed to strengthen the team with his permanent addition. Chris Harrison's scores also turned out to be an improvement on the other reserves that were tried.

Bellego, Berge & Lebedevs have had decent outings at NSS before, inconsistently they will mix it with the top 5 teams. Not convinced any German rider would. Becker would also have been a decent spoiler.

Interesting result and gives Peterborough something to think about once they have beaten King’s Lynn, which I would expect them to do. If they regard the track condition tonight as something of a one-off and also feel happy reverting to R/R, I suppose they may yet take Sheffield in the semi in the hope of Wolves eliminating Belle Vue. Picking Wolves is likely, on the face of it, to see the Aces in the final. Either way, it looks a trickier decision now than it did earlier this evening. From a Wolves perspective I hope they take Belle Vue, but don’t anticipate getting that lucky! And that remark shouldn’t be interpreted as taking anything away from Sheffield’s performance tonight.

Thats a bit personal, for all you know they could foster..

Even with 6 man teams the same problems with riders missing due to injuries etc will exist , just one less rider to worry about. To my mind r/r is the best way forward and that when both teams want to use it ,it gets cancelled out and the no.8 is promoted. This used to be the system years ago and gives the no.8 valuable experience.

I surprised nobody had thought to combine the PLRC & CLRC using (where possible) all teams No1’s as a one-off for this season Possible line up:- Dan Bewley - Belle Vue Danny King - Ipswich Richard Lawson - King’s Lynn Michael Palm Toft - Peterborough Jack Holder - Sheffield Sam Masters - Wolverhampton N Busk Jakobsen - Berwick Chris Harris - Birmingham Richard Worrell - Edinburgh Craig Cook - Glasgow Scott Nicholls - Kent Nick Morris - Leicester Rory Schlein - Poole Bjarne Pedersen - Plymouth Charles Wright - Redcar Adam Ellis - Scunthorpe You would have a Rider’s Championship where all teams (& supporters of those teams) would have a representative. Riders would be in team body colours of the team they are representing. The fans from all teams would have a reason to attend, the CLRC at Sheffield is always well attended, combine that with supporters from Premier League teams and hold it at the National Stadium, it would have the makings for a bumper crowd, ideally on a Saturday Night/Sunday Afternoon (if Pos). The only team to miss-out would be Newcastle, by virtue of their Number 1 having the lowest average.