martinmauger

Seems because as I said elsewhere: not many promoters seem to promote, only when match is on TV. They run their tracks well for sure, else more would close down, but not necessarily much actual promotion....

I can easily believe that ^^, a while since I've done any acountancy work. Yet another (unamed) promoter told me he could 'accept' his speedway club losing 'up to £30,000 p.a.' as profits from his other business interests more than made up for it, any more and 'purse strings would need to be tightened'. And "the stadium owner is actually a speedway fan, and supports what we are doing though other activities take priority, and as long as we pay the rent on time and don't make too much of a mess, he's more than happy for us to continue, he's businsess man too and appreciates his stadium would otherwise be empty on speedway nights''. I would describe myself as an extremely inquisitive (nosey?) type and once I get into a subject I like to know anything & everything about it as much as is possible, good bad or indifferent. Yes, I've discovered the odd titbit I wish I'd never known and met the odd 'hero with feet of clay' (and not only in speedway) but I find most speedway folk are happy to talk when approached at the right time and in the right manner and you don't ask too many questions. In my 'past life' as a student for my own interest I built a huge spreadsheet based on information I was told directly from the horses mouth, as it were, and employing educated guesses as I was interested to discover how, or even if, speedway clubs made a profit. After playing around with my spreadsheet (which I still have saved - somewhere), changing monetary values up and down, and while it helps greatly owning ones own stadium / track, I concluded that very few, if any, speedway clubs do make much of a profit....

Thanks for clarifying. So just the 1 Tac Sub, then still better than the unpopular TR....

This ^^. Not read entire thread (still at work !) but the BSPA AGM release says 'tactical substitutes', inferring more than one per match. As always time will tell....

Didn't explain as clealry as I should have, but he meant 'paying', i.e. losing, £10k over a season, which many probably do. Being 'speedway mad' doesn't come close....

I know, but it's what I was told. Also when fans complain about the increase in admission most promoters pay way more to watch their speedway, usually around £10,000, while we critcise them I guess we should be pleased that they are willing to do so....

Hull lost a fair bit in 2004 winning the treble: Craven Shield, KOC Cup + League = loads of big wins + many points, promoters prefer scores to be 3-3 then a 4-2 in the final heat, less bonus points to pay out. Led to cheaper team by choice in 2005 despite loads of sponsorship and advertising being achieved, in proggie & every 3rd fence panel. I.e. it takes some doing to get all 3 armed forces to advertise. The crowds hardly increased, if at all, yet local media coverage was very good. We had a minimum of full page in the Hull Daily Mail on match days, back page in colour if no footie or rugby matches, same the next nite with the result, plus a few 2 page spreads at the start of the season & during the year as we closed in on trophies in addition then odd half page column during the week. Yet folk would ask me "how are the Vikings doing, did you ride or win last night ?" - these were folk who were into sport and read the local paper. Sometimes words fail me....

One of my bugbears; 'we're on TV so promote the heck out of it' - no. So flippin' what it's on TV, meets should be promoted each & every week anyway. Many promoters aren't (promoters), CEOs, GMs & MDs, sure, but promoters, not many. 'Tell them and they will come', maybe (and maybe not) but it if they don't know about it they sure as heck won't tyurn up to at least check it out. I'm no promoter but I have yet to take, not drag kicking & screaming, a single person to speedway who has said 'utter rubbish, don't even mention it to me again'. All did return and some even still attend off their own bat, as it were, and others finally caved in to my (at one time) constant speedway chatter and went without any cajoling and also enjoyed it. Also, if promoters have a 'tenner or whatever' entry to generate a crowd, then great but does anyone know of any newcomers who attended a 'tenner or whatever' meet then were peeved when the next time they attended it was, say £17? Just a thought.....

One promoter told me after his team (names & dates ommitted to protect the guilty and the innocent) spent the season slamming in the 5-1's & almost winning for fun that the stellar campaign cost him an extra £10,000 on bonus points alone. Crowds increased only a tad so he expected to actually lose a bit more money than otherwise. Such a scenario didn't occur to me, nor prob to many fans....

Said Rob Godfrey should rip up the team sheet and start again after 2 ordinary seasons and he's certainly done that, though I'm sure the riders did the best they could. Good stuff....

At Hull, Craven Park the late Dougie Adams did the announcing, joke telling and speedway history informing, followed by 'everyones favourite' Nigel Pearson, than a local DJ guy, and few others filled in as needed....

At Hull, Boulevard we had the Yorkshire Television Trophy individ meet from 1974 (or 75) - 1981. It drew big crowds with World Final-class line ups but as with many of these events half way through most riders were out of the top placings, had lost interest and so the racing wasn't great. But it looked great, better, on TV & was an almost unmissable annual event, much like the old British League Riders Champs (Div 1) at Belle Vue, Hyde Rd which was defo one not to be missed. Seem to recall one promoter saying such 'indivds' petered out due there being so many each season, at least one per track....

Pushing boundries somewhat but Tai Woffenden rode for Hull (allows time for new revelation to sink in) in a challenge match at Sheffield in 2008....

Nope, me neither, apart from GPs, more into team matches....

I was at Scunny one nite last year (not sure who won) and the away team did the same to their travelling fans; about a dozen all singing, shouting, clapping, cheering & waving flags, so hard not to notice, but their riders - nothing, not a wave or even a glance. Disgraceful....

Stil digesting the GM info, not hugely excited but least all clubs appear to be running in 2018. Must mention though, no more TR - "oh baby, my life begins today!" . Pleased about that....

Was only talking with him not that long ago at Scunny, reminiscing about the days he ran the track shop at Hull, Craven Park. A very interesting guy for sure, RIP Dave....

Pretty much this ^^. Think the criteria should be ridden for the club for 5 years, or leave it up to individual clubs. I don't buy the 'ex-employee allowed back to collect freebies' argument though, a meeting will go ahead whether ex-riders turn up or not, so the club isn't actually 'losing' anything. They may even 'gain' if more fans couild turn up to see or speak to the rider and a maybe ex-rider buys drinks, food, etc, though I'm aware that bar & catering monies mostly go to stadium owners.... Not stirring the plot but adding my 2p's worth. Morton, Gordon & co did oustandingly well in delivering the stadium in the first place but I wonder if there have been any noise complaints for nearby residents. I sincerely hope not & only ask out of interest in regard to the accoustic barriers incorporated in the new stands which were heralded as a major (no pun intended) feature allowing the stadium being built on this location. If noise isn't an issue then maybe the design of the Belle Vue stands could help with other potential city-centre sites.....

True, do seem to recall the motorcycle gang depicted were 'bad boy yobboes' somewhat so creating 'goodie v baddies' drama. Least non-speedway kids were talking about the programme, going on to acquire mopeds: Honda SS50's, Suzuki AP50's, Yamaha Fizzies, the odd Garelli Rekord, etc. I didn't acquire an AP50 the then bike of my dreams til I was 18. As far as generating interest in speedway, well that is the $64,000 question. By the way: don't you hate it these days when everything on TV is called 'a show' these days....

I loved King Cinder, used to get home from school, even bunking off the odd detention (!) then getting more, the nights it was on TV, Tuesdays or Thursdays if memory serves. Thought Colin Richardson would make good riding double for Peter Duncan. Also many non-speedway fan kids would watch then discuss it the next day, much more than pukka Saturday Afternoon Speedway on World Of Sport....

This ^^....

Speaking as I find, and for myself, 'a little bird' told me that is pretty much how these things are run. And in addition, it wouldn't be the first time an idea has been put forward as delegates are getting ready to leave and agreed when they are standing up and putting on their coats. From time to time & 19 years on I still wonder how the Honda project might have panned out...

I'd go along with that, JD / Mavies looked well cool rocking his distinctive silver & black look. My own jury is out re; team suits / body colours arguement. One the one hand body colours seem more team thing somehow and do match, on the other very few team suits match. It's true; many have differring trims & placement of logos, even different shade of colour, heck I'm partially colour blind and even I can tell the difference. And I don't mean following a 'too hot wash' either, some don't even match on press day, I know often different manufacturers are used within the same team but no excuse with modern technology available. Either match 'em up or don't bother. Or wear body colours as well. Back on topic though, I also thinned out much of my 'speedway stuff', culling stuff that is less relevant or of interest to me. Once saw a local news story about an old boy that had passed away and his family were off-loading the guy's train collection, he was a railway buff. Railway buff is putting it mildly - the collection was professionally catalogued and the guy had every single item produced by Hornby (of his chosen gauge) incorporated in his layouts + 2 of everything still boxed and mint. Now that is collecting....

Nutshell: I worked in sales once and was told very early on if folk are pleased with whatever they buy, (from baked beans to cars to sport) they will tell 5 others how great it is. If they are in any way unhappy, they will tell at least 15 how rubbish it is.....