old bob at herne bay

The blunt instrument that is called the "points limit" doesn't necessarily reduce costs ..... the lower average riders who " fit the points limit" just ask for more money.

In the Kent Championship side to replace Rob Ledwith ? Not sure I can see a shortage of riders ..... more likely a shortage of teams .... with Swindon and Somerset not running so far in 2021. Still not sure what will beome of the National League in 2021 ??

I am a firm believer in "what goes around comes around. " It is Poland's time to rule the roost in the Speedway World at the moment. Let us hope when the "bubble bursts" , when the Polish supporters find other things to do with their leisure time, and their TV companies find another sport to put on their channels that the GB promoters are just as robust in imposing punitive conditions on the contracts of riders who decide that they suddenly want to return to ride in the UK. As a now independent Sovereign nation we ought to be developing our own riding talent ...... and imposing contract conditions to restrict their ability to suddenly sign up for EU nations and quit the tracks where they learnt how to race. No longer are we saddled with EU employment rules.

Firstly .....Surely the Planning Permission granted for the new development requires a greyhound/speedway stadium to be provided ? Anyone should be able to see a copy of the planning documents. Secondly... I do hope Jason Doyle was given advance warning of the risk of Swindon not racing in 2021, given his much publicised loyalty to remain with Swindon in 2021. If not, hope he was suitably compensated. Sadly another poor advert for resaons to be loyal to British Speedway : - ( Thirdly .... Swindon should have no problems finding Speedway eacing accessories shoudl the y need them in 2022. There must still be a rusting portakabin at Lakeside Speedway containing a set of flags, a start gate and a kit of parts for a safety fence. Rye Hosue may also have a selection of second hand parts.

With all the discussions about Oxford Coventry Rye House.......which still have the remains of stadia in place.. I was looking back and thinking how many defunct tracks have successfully been rescued ? The success rate is pretty low I think I can remember New Cross having a few attempts in the early 1960’s at reopening.... none of which lasted very long .....West Ham restarting in 1964.... and running for another 10 years...... but are there ANY more recent examples of tracks once closed being re opened ?

Question mark remains for me on Holders temperament. Good in a good side when everything is going well.... when the going gets tough, Holder tends to lose the plot. Lambert however seems to be made of sterner stuff.

Having read the Bournemouth Echo online, sadly I have to say this news has a sense of "deja vu" about it. In the case of Lakeside's venue their demise started with the Banger Racing Promotion pulling out. Despite all the promises from the Thurrock planning people about retaining a sports stadium ion thier Local Plan , it all came to nought and the site sold up for more housing. With UK government relaxing planning for the hysteria to build ever more houses I can only see this heading one way .........

The responses to this thread pretty much sum up the state of British Speedway today. We have one poster complaining about the spelling (or grammar) . Some think everything is rosy, others think urgent action needs to be taken. Many clearly just don’t give a tuppenny damn and don’t bother to post. This is replicated amongst our current set of promoters. They promote the sport, and until they cooperate fully, and put their personal ambitions to one side, I cannot see organised league speedway surviving in the UK.

Hackney Hawk, Like you I have endured experiences with rude and arrogant modern day "promoters" that made me wonder why I bother. Nil entertainment.... endless delays.... shabby stadium facilities and never even the decency of a reply to any letter sent. Some 3 seasons ago I gave up attending. My grandfather first watched speedway at Crystal Palace in the the early 1930's ... sadly I have ended the family tradition. Still take the Speedway Star and Classic Speedway magazine ... still watch speedway on TV , but you will never get me to visit another UK speedway track. I have great memories and prefer to keep them as great memories. Sadly from my personal band of speedway "diehard" supporter friends, many of them have passed away, and must be watching their speedway from afar.

With 90% of revenue throught the turnstiles and 80% of the clubs total income spent on riders wages, UK speedway was in a complete financial mess before COVID19. Like so many high street businesses this pandemic has just highlighted the problems. Ian Jordon hit the nail on the head when he said that 30 -40% of his crowd were uncertain that they would turn up this season. Not running league speedway must have been a cut your losses strategy.

Think you meant realistic Mr McCaffery .....let’s not kid ourselves that someone is going to invest money into Brandon Stadium to run speedway at a loss each and every week? Have you read this weeks Speedway Star page 2? Just about puts the tin lid on the Rockets . The new owner doesn’t want his new gym getting “all grimed up” from the bikes.

Surely will become another housing estate .... mega millions to be made .☹️

Yes Arthur it was ... I used to buy my Star from him every week at Hackney .. a real character, he would walk around the track in a white coat with armfuls of Stars and Mails ... must have been a nice little earner in those days

The late Ivan Mauger always maintained that Speedway was a sport ridden by professionals and managed by amateurs. Seems stock cars is the complete opposite from what I am reading on here.

So an envelope to Scott Nichols riding for the Leicester Hunters and an envelope for Danny King for the Scunthorpe Saints ......should attract a crowd...... ACU referee required ? Medical Cover? Will the riders licences be valid for them to ride in these “amateur” meetings ?

Wow......“Scunthorpe Amateur Select vs Leicester Amateur Select” A fixture to savour...... will it be run over two legs home and away to add to the excitement ?

Some rather strange comments on here..... transferring blame to “The Government” As though it would be any different if we had some other bunch in “The Government” ?? Most of British Speedway’s problems date back pre Covid World War, this war has just highlighted their perilous state. Sounds like the moans and groans after a meeting has been rained off after a cloudburst , and you stand around for an hour with false hopes that miracously the track will dry out. We are told that the meeting is definitely ON ON ON ......and then suddenly it’s OFF.

Just think..... every season every UK club promoter announces that they have made a “ loss” running speedway . Sums of “ five figures” or “six figures” are bandied about. So no meetings run this season, no riders wages, no fees for referees, no fees for medical cover. Paid staff at most tracks are probably one or two, the rest casual employees and/or volunteers. Are the losses incurred any higher or lower than they normally generate running a league programme? Biggest issue IMO is whether owners of the stadia used by Speedway are still in business next year?

What's the point of this thread? Trying to find a way of seeing some amateur riders have a "skid" at a local training track with a few dozen spectators ? and paying for the privilege? Assume medical cover will have to be provided ? Who will do this in the current situation? A lot of money will have to be spent to get the spartan facilities at most tracks to be Covid 19 compliant for what might be a handful of loss making meetings . Who is going to bother ? No crowds until October therefore no speedway in 2020 is the Speedway GB statement.

GB Speedway Season 2020 is cancelled. (Speedway GB website) Never thought any differently... let’s all stay safe , hope we can all get vaccinated by Spring 2021 and see Speedway Come next year.

I am cheered by reading hte news in this weeks Speedway Star that sepctators are going to be allowed into speedway stadiums in Sweden. The enterprising Swedish promoters have declared that their track restaurants will be open for business and will take bookings for meals to allow spectators to watch the racing. This must be the way forward that the British PRomoters were waiting for ... open up your trackside restaurants, start taking bookings and start racing. Ah hang on ....... just thought you cannot see the racing from the "restaurant" behind the pits at Eastbounre, nor from the "restaurant" under the grandstand at Sittingbourne. How are other UK tracks fixed for a trackside dining experience?

Ah good to see .... Pratt an ex rider has been around the sport for a good few years ...... I bet he is one step ahead of the rest of the other promoters .. and has suggested to the landlords of the showground that he will be getting brakes fitted to all the Peterborough riders bikes to minimise risks

This from the British Speedway website dated July 10 .... (with my bold and underline) "Members of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have, in the last two weeks, been working on how our sport can work safely for competitors, officials and spectators alike. We believe the biggest risk to riders is the natural danger element of racing motorbikes with no brakes." I am sorry, but with that type of attitiude , I really do not see speedway starting this year. What are they saying ... speedway is a dangerous sport anyway so we don't need to do anything ????

Attended a motorcycle auto jumble at the South of England Showground at Ardingly this weekend. There were several hundred people in attendance.... mostly motorcyclists like me .... so few of the 4 wheeler crowd. well organised with Marshall’s all wearing masks directing you to well speed parking spaces..... many of the stall holders had free hand sanitiser and disposable gloves available. Stalls were all spaced well apart ....toilet facilities were spacious with a Marshall ensuring no crowds of people. Facilities were regularly cleaned and were well supplied with hand soap and hand wash basins. Most people were wearing face masks when near the sales pitches. So these events can take place.... but how many speedway venues have facilities or space similar to a county showground? Most of the grubby toilet facilities at speedway stadia are so cramped and poorly maintained they were un hygienic pre Covid..... you were lucky to have a light bulb in the loo at Lakeside speedway.

Pray tell me who does Keir Starmer ride for? Looks very well dressed rider ... collar and tie. Maybe he is on of the management team at Peterborough Panters .