mikebv

Part of a wider huge national retail business I am afraid Barry, just one small cog... I have tried to get my company involved locally but unfortunately the lack of media exposure and demographic/volume of fans doesn't make any sponsorship investment appear to have a viable return according to the bean counters... I am sure you already connect locally with retailers on the island directly..? Most national supermarket companies will allow their Managers certain autonomy when it comes to 'supporting the local community' initiatives especially when not in direct competition. (My company once had the Aces doing a roadshow (riders and bikes and video) one Saturday at another local store which was driven by the Store rather than Head Office). So it could well be worth getting into their individual ribs, particularly when so many self catering holiday makers will be using their shops to buy their weekly items.. Nothing like something tangible to look at, touch and feel to make people aware, rather than just giving out leaflets.. As I say, you probably do this already given the pro active way you and the team down there go about things.. Certainly admire your drive and determination and also the way you are prepared to seek every opportunity to grow your business and spread your message,..

Many German teams are ran by fans' committees.. "By the fans, for the fans"... A much different model than over here where the hundreds of millions guaranteed by just one season in the Premier League means greed really is good, and going into a huge amount of debt in a belief you may one day reach that promised land is very much what passes a business plan..

"If you dont like it, then dont come" seldom seems to work... Yet it seems to have been the mantra of quite a few promoters over the years.. "We are right, and you are wrong" being an often pervading view.. A funny way to run a business, by people who seem to (outside Speedway), often run businesses so well they can bank roll the very Speedway team they tell people not to come an watch.. Very strange...

If Cook gets a ban for his actions will he be banned for Kings Lynn too? Or... Could the person doing the hearing deem it 'in the interests of Speedway' for him to continue riding for them..?

In my work life I have ran several shops around the country, and over the past decade or so always joined any local community face book groups that exist. Not in an official capacity, just as me.. The reason being we, as often the biggest supermarket and employer in the town, will often get mentioned... And, as is often the way, we get mentioned in a not too positive way as people will moan publicly often, but praise much less so.. However, for me, it is great (if sometimes uncomfortable) to see such issues as I at least have a chance to correct them.. What I would never do is say "you're wrong" as perception is 100% the truth for that individual making the comments.. What I would do is agree for them to meet me to discuss their gripes and fix them if I can but explain why I can't if that is the outcome.. Listening to your customers (both the good bits, but more importantly, the bad bits) seems to work.. Looks like some should try it..

Been sat here for three quarters of an hour.... It opens at 11.... Going to use Tesco's website next time...

So fans now use this website to determine whether to attend a Speedway meeting? Wow.. Another alternative idea of course could be checking with the staging club whether the meeting is on or not.. And to be fair, whoever posted the wrong information, and ultimately dissuaded people from going, probably now knows what it means to be a promoter as many of them have been dissuading people from going for years... Anyhow.... Anyone know what time my local Tesco is open today?

The NSS.. And a few Polish ones with the best Sweden has to offer.. Add in the 'flagship ones' in Warsaw and Cardiff.. And you have 'the perfect storm'... Magic made a very telling comment. . He said that (in the heat of battle) how much he was enjoying the "crazy racing"... Give these lads the 'playing field' and they will deliver, time and time again...

And wear boot polish black leathers with no sponsors showing. .

But, but, but... The modern machinery doesn't allow for that.. Everyone should ride 2 valve japs.

Just need to get the first GP of the year at the NSS now to set it all off with a bang. ..

Translated.. "I am everythang".....

Bartosz is a split second from disaster time and time again with his moves.. Great to watch, but maybe has a limited shelf life compared to those who take less risks..? What a sport this is when done so well.. Awesome..

When he talks about the 'straightaway' I think you may be right..

That slow mo first turn should be shown as an advert to promote the sport in this country. Awesome..

Bartosz Pendergrass..

Bartosz Pasquale...

I believe Subbuteo donated them circa 1974.. Nigel going full on Partridge.. Aha!!!!!!!!

Not as exciting as F1..

Got to love Emil haven't you...?

Wroclaw, like the NSS, has an American Football pitch inside it.. Maybe that's the secret everyones been missing..

Scotts comments should resonate around British Speedway.. What the track 'used to be like' was narrow and passing at a premium.. Give Speedway riders a track with wide entrances and exits to wide bends, and just enough dirt to pass but still be smooth and safe, and you have great racing.. We seem to pride ourself in technical, difficult tracks.. Which invariably deliver pretty poor racing..

Just enough grip on this track.. Looks like a few 'spinning up' too depending on which part of the track they hit, so those behind never feel out of the race... Superb sport when done well isn't it?

Sadly no, but to be fair the domestic shared events and the international events, do seem to attract more fans (many of which from around the country) at the NSS than would be the case if held anywhere else... Bar maybe Glasgow as they do a great job promoting such occasions.. Sadly it would appear that too many years of 'Mickey Mouse/Guestfest' Speedway has taken a rather large toll on the levels of support the sport now has, by eroding the enthusiasm of many followers to 'buy into' what's on offer as a legitimate sporting contest with real meaning.. Hopefully the NSS can build back some of that support base with such exceptional racing, and the sport can do its bit by making what's on offer a credible sporting experience to help deliver this much needed crowd growth..

I watch the Colts at the NSS and the racing is around 2 - 3 seconds slower than the Premiership.. The racing is great and only by the announcer telling you the times of the heats do you realise the time difference... Stick four lads of a similar ability level on a race track that is conducive to deliver decent racing and you will be entertained... Stick four lads of a similar ability level on a race track that has too tight bends and too long narrow straights, and you invariably will not be as entertained.... And those lads could all be the best four riders in the World providing the low level of entertainment, whilst four 'juniors' could be the four lads providing the great racing.. Even teams, with close racing ran on tracks that allow passing opportunities, has to be the overall objective to deliver 'the good night's racing' that a Speedway promoter should be offering up as his or her minimum aim.. That 'good night's racing' should then get supported by a wider evening of off track entertainment to keep the punters engaged.. Do that well and no one will notice, or even care, that any of the riders on show are not GP stars, or even that many of them are not even international class.... Fans would just go away from the venue pleased with what they had seen and, more than likely ,be willing to return to get more of the same. .