old bob at herne bay

Kent’s 3 big guns will ensure a close meeting, but the minor places will likely be picked up by the Newcastle gusts. Still they need a home win to maximise their chances of survival …..so hope they get a 2 point win with some good close racing to entertain their crowd. God help us if Alf is an example of a “rising star”, he’s been at it 6 years since his debut with Rye House Raiders, and from what I have seen isn’t going to rise much further.

What’s the weather like up there this morning? Stormy night down south in the early hours …. Thunder lightning and torrential rain.

Lee Kilby is the son of the late Bob Kilby, one of Swindon's top riders. Lee, I think was involved with Swindon speedway last season, and was recruited by EB as a "co-promoter" alongside Trev Gear. Why you need two "promoters" is of couse another good question - it's another wage to pay, as well as those for the 2 directors Ian Jordan and Les Fineing

The FIM clearly wanted to stage this in Slovakia to help them develop their growing number of speedway clubs that are springing up all over the country.

Just to prove that there's nothing new under the sun ...... the demise of New Cross was started in my opinion when promoter Fred Mockford packed up after the "Control Board" refused to allow him to sign Olle Nygren in 1953. The speedway shut for 6 years ... .and although it re appeared briefly in for a few seasons in the late 50' early 60' then finally in 1963, the crowds had been lost and never returned in numbers. An early example of how the control board have supported British Speedway over the years !

Cannot blame Buster for wanting to offload the speedways at KL and Pboro. Probably deserves a good long and happy retirement free from the non stop grief securing dates at the Eof E showground, ( although he seems to have a very good side there) and the constant grief at KL from riders who don’t like the track wet damp or dry. StockCars at Saddlebow Road would fund his retirement

and Berwick apparently …. Although they seem be sat on the fence :-)

THJ Yup 2 home fixtures in 2 days sounds daft to me too. Recipe for reduced attendances. However, the EB website fixture list does say that Berwick on the Sunday is provisional. EB sandwiching fixtures between SGP weekends ….I always thought they would run on the Sunday pm when they clashed with the SGP? Would be very sad if they didn’t manage their 90th year celebration meeting , as that was one I would attend .

So ….. Experienced, class rider who can ride his motorcycle in all conditions vs inexperienced Johnny come lately “made up to captain” who can get round on a perfect track.

I also have it on good authority from a local supplier that the stock car crowd will clear the stock of the Adrian Flux Arena's burgers and chips every meeting ..... the speedway fans apparemntly have much smaller appetities. All money in the bank for Buster.

Put your money away quick iainb .... you will end up with KL, Peterboro, EB, Brum and Newcastle all for your £1 and £100's k liabilities to settle.

I would suggest Buster makes more money from the Stock Cars in one meeting that he does from the speedway in one month. Speedway must be a pain in the arsenals to him with all the filthy dirty messing around with track preparation , and the fickle riders who will complain every week about the track being too bumpy too slick too grippy too wet too dusty too grippy on gate 1. Just have the feeling that the 2021 BSPL conference will be one of the most important conferences ever :-) :-) :-)

Looking at the latest updated fixture list the next home meetings are Saturday September 4th vs Newcastle, then Sunday Sept 5th vs Berwick .

Mentioned a financial restructuring is taking place and was optimistic it could be sorted in “ a few days” To see EB complete the season

MattB .... thanks for posting link.

Looking at purchasing a Eurosport subscription next season for my Father - who currently has BT sport to watch the SGP's .... but from what I read on here Eurosport coverage is poor, and its by no means certain that they wil cover the SGP next season ? Anyone in the know have any advice please ? He certainly hasny been impressed by the highlights offered on Quest this season.

White City - strangely one that got away from me - personal circumstances at the time ... even more bizarre since I was living in London at the time !

The points limit ensures teams of similar standard compete against each other to produce close results…. Must be very difficult indeed to promote these meetings with teams of 2 gusts and R/R.

Think given the uncertainty at EB that Kennett’s reaction to a Covid jab maybe a reaction to not being paid ? ?

Trelawny, Buxton, Bradfors (Odsal), London White City, Haringay.

Clubs that find themselves in financial trouble, ought to be placed under “emergency measures” by the BSPL at least to complete the season and given an opportunity to clear debts. So how about the riders in teams under emergency measures being paid only at the “BSPL rate” plus a bonus dependent on how many paying spectators above the promoters breakeven watch them? teams given lee way to reschedule home and away fixtures to smooth out cash flow. teams given a temporary discount on SCB fees and referee fees to assist with short term finance issues. Teams applying for emergency measures will be required to submit their accounts to an independent auditor to review the business , audit club officials renumeration and make binding recommendations to allow emergency measures to be applied

Sadly I have lost count of the number of successful teams I have passionately supported in my younger days , only to be completely let down by a “promoters” ego at the end of a season to take “their” club into a higher division, based on no more than a wing and a prayer and certainly no firm financial business plan. Stuff the supporters. Example: Eastbourne Speedway enjoyed its most successful “noughties” period under Connor and Martin Dugard. Sound financial plan in the NDL and they were the team to beat in the NDL. Then, mysteriously Jordan and Cook moved in, Connor and Martin “stepped aside” great things were promised moving into the Championship, but losses began to accrue. Some might say Covid caused this...... I beg to differ... Eastbourne were a very successful NDL club, appealed to the local youngsters and that’s their level given their crowd demographic and level of interest in the area. I have seen this all before , ( the late Jon Cook being involved with another venture with Stuart Douglas) at Lakeside with riders still owed money , Hackney completely ruined by John Louis and Ronnie and Terry Russell going into the Elite league with a woefully weak side, leading to the rapid demise of Hackney one season later. This is why I have no time for any modern day speedway “promoter”. I don’t believe a word they say.

Mikebv posted “Every track should be made to present its business plan to a group of people who represent the BSPL.. They then sign it off as acceptable after reviewing historical crowd data..” Maybe they all ought to feature on an episode of “The Apprentice” and see how many Sir Alan Sugar would back. Sadly I fear if your idea were to be implemented, very very few clubs would pass muster as viable businesses .......

If this is as you allege, then re assuring that the riders will get paid something from the BSPL "bond ". Not likely that the stadium owners will ever rent the stadium out for speedway again - given they are no doubt owed rent.