Tsunami

NEWCASTLE SPEEDWAY track work Many thanks to all who turned up today to wash and sort the rubber skirts for the air fence. It was freezing(-2) at first, but fortunately it turned out well and the job was completed. Next week sees the start of washing the air fence panels and the refixing back into position. Thanks once again. Dave R

As I said on the 24th Jan, and believed Buster was the chap who could deliver if it could be saved, we have today's statement that he has. So that's a satisfactory solution for Belle Vue, Leicester and now Coventry. What a man, after all the doubting Thomas's(or Jonathans or UK Martin's) on here doubting his ability to get satisfactory resolutions. Sandhu of course has got to keep to his promises to repair the damage, and that is where I have a slight concern. With the publicity this situation has got even upto council leader level, one would hope that Sandhu has some sort of conscience to honour this promise. We all had to wait till there was something good to announce, but the anxious doubters must now agree that it was worth the wait.

Must feel a bit of a prat with todays news, eh.

The flight allowances that I mention are mandatory to get the riders services, and for the foreign authorities to issue an 'Permission to race's in our country. Presumably British riders riding abroad would get similar allowances to ride in other countries. I obviously had a lot of experience of many Danes and 1 Swede riding for us, but never had a British rider who then rode in other countries. Hope that helps.

Yes. The DMU agreement allows for trip to home championships and rounds of the U21 an U19 Championships. It is for the travel and obviously the host club or organisation says for the point scoring. it was about £330 per trip a few years ago. The SVEMO agreement insists on their riders getting flights to a certain financial figure, say £5k. The DMA doesn't, but you have to pay for their returns home and World Championships rounds. Yes. The DMU agreement allows for trip to home championships and rounds of the U21 an U19 Championships. It is for the travel and obviously the host club or organisation says for the point scoring. it was about £330 per trip a few years ago. The SVEMO agreement insists on their riders getting flights to a certain financial figure, say £5k. The DMA doesn't, but you have to pay for their returns home and World Championships rounds.

No SKY deal ?

A very true statement, a leader that leads. I certainly wouldn't fancy having you in the trenches behind me, with a gun in your hand.

Quite agree. Often there is an agreement when there is a problem so the sheet is signed. Just think if you are having home meetings rained off, but still riding the away meetings. You have no income but large outgoings. You can make an agreement to say catch up paying one meeting extra each week until you catch up. It just needs a bit of trust. In another case, if you have a foreign rider in say U19 or U21 and doing well. In the agreement with the DMU you have to pay the rider a fixed sum for each round, even though they may have already returned home for a home meeting, very unfair. If that rider is very successful he has many rounds and the amount builds up. In that case you can continue to pay him his usual wages, but come to an agreement to catch up by or at the end of the season. In this case the rider has often not paid out anything like the fixed payment he is entitled to, so there is no real hardship. Of course for all the deals you can do, there has to be complete trust between rider and promoter.

Hence the reason why thy can't say who is in the discussions so as to what the option might be. Far better keep it behind doors when the resolution is viable and acceptable, and the deal that can be achieved for the fans and the continuation of speedway in the area. No News is good news.

The official procedure is for the captain of the team to sign the official sheet that says the riders are being paid. If that sheet was not signed because of non payment, that should trigger off the need for explanations why they are not being paid. The Team Manager is the link between the riders and the promotion, and is there to run the team to produce a satisfactory performance on the track.

Agree, and I would rather they still keep talking when there is hope, rather a confirmation that a speedway has closed. Some on here would seem to rather hear the bad news instead of good news. Strange fans, those that seem to care, but don't go to meetings.

Except it isn't 90 minutes, as it has long been accepted that actual football only takes a third of that time.

Yes, my efforts pale into zero significance, given what you achieved and put into your riding.

I think the fixtures are only for the club meetings, whilst the other events like the Pairs and 4's are a separate ownership being in what used to be the Super 7 competitions.

You'll be there then.

Must admit I never thought that Sandhu was ever the real owner. My understanding is that his larger family pooled together and bought Coventry, and Sandhu was the front man to run it on their behalf. That came out during 2010 aftermath. Could the family be Brandon Estates or did the family sell it on to them, and Sandhu took a lease out and sublet it to Horton and Heaver.

Yes, and I would expect that Ged will already be talking and arranging with stadium acts with the freedom he was given last year by the BSPA for the event.

But that would be a similar situation to the other teams who are riding throughout September. We will all need to add dates on at the end. BTW How many of your sheeters go to Cardiff and not be available for the Sunday 23rd.

Exactly. The rule is a sensible reaction to a near serious incident when a track worker/ medic, I think at Peterborough, was nearly seriously injured. Bikes are made to ride on shale, not grass, when they also become difficult to steer like on ice. Get out earlier and safer, rather than risk others wellbeing.

So now you are saying that Horton is NOT the root cause or the problem. Sandhu sells the land for hopefully housing, and promises to build a new stadium as a promise. Now not keeping or acknowledging his promise, he can't wait for Horton to return from the USA to sign the new lease, and decimates the stadium to wreck the agreements that are in place before Horton went to the USA. Horton returns, and Sandhu expects Horton to still sign the lease, whilst Sandhu promises to reinstate the facilities at his expense. Pleased that you now seem to agree that SANDHU is actually the perpetrator of all the bother, and HORTON's position is now very understandable. BTW I don't like Horton.

I well remember Merlin, and knew about his fantastic offers of accommodation and friendship to his riders. I was also hosting Newcastle foreign riders at the time, and we often commented on our experiences both on here and, when we met. He was an original, and one that the sport could hardly afford to lose. Sad that I didn't know that his absence on here was for the reasons stated. RIP Merlin (Dennis)

I think you are possibly right about the 4's date. I can't see the home meeting on the 23rd being on for obvious reasons. Why not keep it for September as we only have 1 meeting both home and away, and we could be waiting for an idle three weeks for opponents if we can make the playoffs. Everyone else has pretty full meetings in September.

This Sunday(29th) sees the restart of the track work at Brough. We are starting at 9.30am and the forecast is good with 7 degrees, Sun and no threat of rain. Biscuits and hot drinks on all day. This weeks job is cleaning and washing the rubber skirts of the air fence, and we have 2 Karchers to use to make it easier. As we have a few key people unavailable, if you have the spare time, or use the track and haven't helped yet, this Sunday could be a good day to start. Please dress up with warm clothing, preferably waterproof and wear wellies if you can. It will not be a full shift this week so we will get an earlier finish. If you can make it either just turn or give me a PM or a ring. Hope to see you then.

Must admit I have concerns about holding a meeting on the 23rd July, the day after the Cardiff GP. Most people I know, especially track staff, will still be on their way home whilst the meeting is supposed to be running.

At the end of the last season there EL teams were either closed or in the process of it. Due to the BSPA, and the personal intervention of the chairman Buster, two are about certain to open, and maybe the third which is outside busters control now. You don't 'alf talk a load of crap at times.