Gemini

Now I am not a trackman as you have probably gathered but perhaps FTM will see this thread and comment. My guess would be to keep the expenses down. Free entry plus tea and biscuits in the interval for how many - about a dozen people ? whereas the tractor/man is at the track anyway and he can trundle round every 4 heats so just one cup of tea and a couple of custard creams for him. With the exception of Berwick as the last time I went (quite a few years ago) had at least 9 rakers on each bend.

Have a league match once a year at each track and I'm sure the total attendances would more than match the 40,000 at Cardiff.

I wasn't thinking of silencers. You've got a point though which is probably correct.

I think I saw a bit of team riding at Coventry on Friday - Milik and Pawlicki riding side by side for four laps in heat 5, passing and re-passing each other. Great to watch....if only it wasn't just a battle to get 3rd place.

Yes, the only thing missing was Dave Robinson. He would have excluded a few for not being ready.

By the lack of response I think you'll gather most of us have given up trying to suggest things to improve speedway. Since 2010 every season has been worse than the one before - riders missing supposedly injured or ill although still riding everywhere but the U.K., lack of continuity, guests, no matches in the height of Summer then trying to cram everything in during the middle/end of October, badly prepared tracks, riders returning to the pits after a false start, races taking forever to start due to all the gardening and messing about. There's my reply and I fully expect season 2015 to be pretty much the same as this one - crap.

If it was just individual meetings that would be the end of speedway for me after 65 years. Not interested.

I doubt if it's anything we don't know already. Even the long standing fans are getting cheesed off now and yes that does include me.

Even my dog - who is a keen fan at Brandon by the way so understands how speedway works - knows it's going to be Poole so not really a slip up.

I think someone has just spotted me and they're mistaken.

So where was Nicki's lady friend this time who keeps him cool in the pits and looks after his every need? Probably his antics in the last G.P. have scared her off and I don't blame her.

Coventry's does. That's why there have been problems lately as the riders aren't used to a bit of dirt.

Agree. As someone who has been to all The Storm meetings, except the double header, they have often been more enjoyable than watching the Bees. It was just unfortunate that on Friday the track was so difficult (again!) that the majority of the N.L. lads had trouble getting round, with the exception of James Sarjeant who is probably used to it being like a ploughed field now so can adapt.

Yet there are people on Facebook saying 'Another thoroughly entertaining and absorbing meeting, even allowing for the delays and re-runs.' 'Anyone who didn't go missed a great night. Speedway was absorbing and the result not certain until a few heats from the end.' I like to think after all these years I'm pretty unbiased and I just don't see how that can be described as a great night. We weren't the only ones who left before the end and it just makes me feel sad how things are at Coventry now.

That's what is so depressing. Some fans won't attend National League matches because they think it is inferior racing with riders falling off all the time. Last night would prove them right as the majority of riders were struggling with the track and it was not a good advert for speedway. I have been to all the Storm matches, apart from the double header when I was on holiday, but I won't be going back for the final. As for the other half he stopped going to Leicester mid season so I was hoping some exciting racing would encourage him to come with me to Coventry more often. Not a chance after last night.

We all had the same problem but strangely you were the only one who made a derogatory comment once the forum was up and running again. Is it beyond your comprehension to understand why you get the replies you do?

They might be brilliant and the team spirit great but tonight was not very enjoyable. I pay to watch racing not endless grading of the track. What on earth is wrong with it as it seems that at every meeting - Bees included - the riders ask for it to be sorted out after the match has started and we hang around watching the tractors go round. Can't blame the weather or stock cars so why is it prepared so badly?

One.....two......three......four.......five.......six......seven......eight......nine.......ten. And breathe. Do you know that the forum owner has had other things on his mind lately? His wife has just given birth and both she and baby had to be kept in hospital for a few days. Sometimes the forum doesn't come top of the list of priorities. As long as all the forums you run kept going I wouldn't let it worry you if this one isn't available for a couple of days.

Yes, so awful that I left before heat 14, even though the final result was still in the balance. Worse still the other half came too, for only the 2nd time this season, so I've had to put up with him moaning all night as well. Congratulations to The Storm on getting through to the play off final but that's it for me this season now. If I wanted to see tractors grading the track more than speedway races then I'd go down the road to the farm near us and I wouldn't have to pay either.

Why should I buy something that I'm going to throw away as soon as I get home? The £2.50p will go towards my petrol from Leicester. I'm making the effort to go but that doesn't mean I've got to buy a programme and naming the riders in alphabetal order this season has made me even more determined not to get one. Thanks. I'm confused though now because Updates has Benji at 4 and Ben Morley at 5. Oh well I'll have a bit of writing to do to keep me occupied.

Thank you.

Looks like it will be a blank piece of paper for me tomorrow then. Don't worry - I'll manage okay.

Not really odd at all because they don't have the same name. One is called 'Speedway Friends, Riders, Fans & Veterans' and the other 'Speedway Friends'.

Well, when you've got a moment to spare SCB can you finish off your signature because I'm intrigued now what I don't understand. Small minds have always lashed out and what they don't understand.

Especially if it is a rider from a team fighting for a place in the play-offs helping a rival team. Makes the whole guest rider thing a mockery. Oh.....wait a minute.....it is anyway.