bluebee

The elephant is the increased requirement on the National Grid which renewables will not meet. whatever the improvements in the technology. Not everything is scaleable or we would still have large ships driven by wind power. Hydrogen is not that easy to manufacture. We can't go back to coal - it's too dirty. The only foreseeable answer is small scale reactors but the green lobby don't want that. They want us to reduce our carbon footprint. Think medieaval and you've got something close. As for manufacturing inevitable moving abroad why is that inevitable. The reason for its movement are: low taxes, lax regulatory regimes and of course lower energy costs. Cheap labour also helps but automation deals with that on the whole. My point is that we need to think more seriously a and realistically bout energy production and not just think a mass of turbines down the east coast (estimated at 25 miles deep to keep up with current demand) is going to be the solution. And I can't see electric bikes on shale. Why bother with the shale? It's dirty and dusty.

I would not argue that humans do not impact on the climate but we must not be foolish enough to look at some of the so-called solutions as carbon neutral. Wind turbines for example have a limited life span, require expensive maintenance and their manufacture is certainly not carbon neutral. They also work intermittently like solar and require large amounts of space. W As for climate change that is not as simple as it is often presented. the biggest increase in temperature in the UK in recent times was in the 80's and early 90s. The increase appears to be slowing and that was the case well before the pandemic. In fact, there has not been noticeable changes due to less activity during the pandemic which may indicate that we have less impact that we appear to state, hat has been clear is that the decrease in our carbon footprint as a nation has been largely been achieved by sending energy intensive processes like manufacturing abroad (just like our waste) to countries with lower environmental regulation. To put it crudely: 'we no longer crap in our own backyard but in somebody else's'. My personal view is that we must travel in the right direction towards lesser emissions but not at the cost of the well- being of the population. A bigger killer in my lifetime has been poverty not climate change.

Indeed that is true. But will the eco zealots really convince us that the rate of climate change will require the suspension of democracy? If anything, I would think the pandemic has convinced most people that governmental control of the population is not something that we should accept without serious examination. and debate Can you see this country acceptingresticting freedom of movement when the world's greatest polluters carry on as normal? Anyway, back to electric speedway bikes. Scalextric was never a consumer sport and never will be even if it is scaled up on motorbikes. We might have as e-scooter racing some day in supermarket car parks across the country but I can't see it being a crowd puller on national scale - just something to attract the odd police presence in a rainbow paint job car.

Interesting to note that the country is opening a coal fired power plant because of gas supply and price issues as well the inability of wind power to operate when a) wind speed is too low and b) wind speed is too high. And this is before the arrival of millions of electric vehicles to replace current petrol ones.. The car companies can invest in electricity but are governments investing in the electricity grid to cope with demand. If we legislate only for electric vehicles there will clearly be fewer on the road - most people will be priced out of owning one. So the question will be how will supporters get to the stadiums to watch e-speedway bikes? I have to travel 40 miles to get to Leicester for my speedway fix. I suspect that a lot of others travel similar distances - or even more - to get theirs. I suspect proposed legislation on electric only vehicles is merely virtue signalling at the moment. The politicians proposing it know they won't be in power if and when it happens so they will avoid any accountability for the chaos that it will cause. As for lack of noise, look what happened when football was played in empty stadia. The broadcasters simulated the crowd noise. Noise is an important part of most of exciting spectacles . I think the move in the direction of less carbon emissions will be sensibly slower than the zealots desire. How many people will vote to limit their freedom of movement - particularly when they have families.

Well Ray that's what's wrong with modern speedway - the smell has gone! There's a thread about reinventing speedway and the solution is staring us in the face - or wafting up our noses. Or rather not wafting. Bring back castor oil, take it from mothers' spoons. A good dose of castor oil made many of us what we are today and would reinvigorate the younger generation and speedway.

How do they simulate the methanol smell? I can see that they can have the sounds of GMs and Jawas played over the tannoy as they go round but what about the smell.? Can't see it catching on watching silent scooters go round and round with only the odour of overdone burgers and fries wafting through the air. Or am I missing something here?

Thought it was a disappointing match. Glasgow were a two man team and those two were inconsistent. Cook was very hard on Andersen but Hans can put it about himself when he feels like it so what goes round comes round. In heat 15 he was excellent - if only he could do it in all heats. Leicester's problem is going to be when they don't need guests.

Glasgow is a big fixture. I hope I can make it. An early turn up will be advised I expect. Just to add - thought it was good that Crump did an interview on the centre green. He's been a good servant for British speedway. Felt the Leicester fans appreciated his opening win. We saw a glimpse of that old class,

Just got back (after a quick pint on the way home in a pub with two fat men dancing!). A cracking meeting. Good hard riding from both sides. Best match I've seen at Leicester though I've missed a few this season. Howarth and Andserson top riders fro the home side. Good to see Jason Crump get a few wins - brought back memories of his imperious rides at Brandon. Good guest in Pickering. Even the lesser riders had a good go at it. I still think league speedway can provide the best spectacle for the sport. I do hope it continues.

Ah boy the joys of autocorrect! You made my day - I know it doesn't take much these days

Sorry I missed the match. Weekdays are a problem. Could you let us all know what Buster said.

Ref or riders doesn't matter in the end. I expect that there will still be a forum open when speedway dies in this country with fans arguing about laydowns v uprights. As an aside (but a relevant one) I wonder how far spectators on average travel to home meetings. I would reckon it's an increasing distance. Last minute rain-offs (I had one at Leicester) really do put fans off, Refs and risers need to seriously consider this.

I do hope that Buster changes his mind but I fear that by making a public statement like this he will not want to back down. The risers of course can refuse to ride - I presume that they would not be paid either. However, if two clubs close down then that's more limited earning opportunities for them. I doubt if many would get a place in the Polish league next season. If the sports is to survive in this country then it needs promoters and riders to work together. And having read some of the earlier posts can we cut out the cheap jokes. I remember a certain Poole fan making jokes about Coventry closing down. Well it and a big part of my life disappeared. I can't recall any wise cracks about Poole's problems! There's nothing laugh at in the circumstances. Support speedway. Go to matches!

Thought Kemp at least tried and did get better. Hope he finds form again as he does have talent. British speedway needs its home riders.

Ah, didn't go the that one. As a Bees fan (ike yourself) I must have subconsciously avoided a match that the old enemy might win. Would much prefer to keep my memories of 2010 untarnished!

Just got back and it was an easy win - as expected. I don't want to add to the speculation about the away side's possible difficulties but would rather comment on two more positive points. 1. The tribute to Phillip Rising was very fitting with both teams standing on track to participate in the minute's clap in his honour. Well done Leicester promotion. 2. I was very impressed with Tom Brennan. Clearly has the right attitude. Came out early before the parade to look at the gate. Tried hard in every ride. I hope he goes far in the sport. Also acknowledged the fans. Clearly Lawson should have been the man for heat 15 alongside Brennan. Was he annoyed with his exclusion two heats earlier? I thought it harsh but didn't have the best view. Still yet to see an away side run Leicester close. Does the track give that much of a home advantage? I'm beginning to think so.

I hope that this brief message is just an immediate response and will be soon followed by a more fitting tribute. The man clearly deserves a better epitaph than this brief note.

Condolences to his family and friends, His contribution to the sport should not be forgotten and I hope that the clubs make a fitting mention of his passing. RIP.

I think scrapping the league format would be a big mistake. It allows riders of different abilities to race at the same meeting in a meaningful way. Both myself and my daughters much prefer it. The razzle, dazzle of a Cardiff GP doesn't match a good league meeting in my opinion. Change the league format (regional competitions before a national play off perhaps) by all means but don't drop teams.

It's an interesting idea but in practice I could see issues - fake verification, queues for checks etc. Anyway, thanks for the advice about getting there. Hope to leave at 5.30 but I suppose I'll still hit the traffic.

Many thanks Speedway fan. That will be a great help. It's a part of Birmingham that I've not been to before.

I'm not a Brummie's regular put I'll start the topic. I'm driving over for this one and hopefully bringing my daughter - that's two on the gate! I'd like some advice on parking and the best route to take. We're coming from Northampton. Hope to see a better performance that the one at Leicester.

I want to watch it on TV AND get off my arse to go to see it live (TV is no substitute- it doesn't have that methanol smell!). This is the age of streaming, not the age of Dickie Davis! I have two daughters who have never showed an interest in TV speedway but really enjoy the meetings they can attend. I think a major problem is that speedway is not a weekend sport for many. many young people (like my daughters) work very long hours Monday to Friday and weekends are their going out time. Others work shifts. The only way back for speedway is to get weekend fixtures back - but of course there are the obvious issues there.

Agreed about Jason Edwards. Looked very keen and ready to mix it.

He was head and shoulders above everyone else in the Brummies side. I'll never forget his performance for the Bees to win the title at Poole. He can sometimes have a poor match but overall he puts in a shift for the side he's racing for. Hope he gets a full season at Perry Barr.