Hawk127

So could that be a North/South divide. Both divisions racing Wednesday to Sunday and double up/down only allowed between North and South but not within each division. Top four from each division contest an end of season play off for a national title. All teams (North and South) to have a NL team and the NL is run on. 4TT basis so that the likes of Buxton etc. can compete. The NL has a Championship play off with the top four teams racing one round at their home track and a final championship meeting in Manchester. Most tracks would have weekly meetings. Something different but that is all that is left for the BSPA to try, as all that has gone before has failed. For rain offs a share of the points, no trying to re-arrange meetings. Then bring in U.K. riders championship with every track hosting a meeting. I guess none of this is in the thought process but tinkering is only going to finish off the sport. No turning back without a radical change the few fans left will walk.

It is a shame as fair few rave about the biggest individual meetings the GP yet cannot be bother turnout for this type of meeting and I really do not understand the obsession with league racing as it is today. I would rather see individual riders going for it and looking after number one with a pot of money for the winner then the drawn out league meetings that are so often what is offered up as entertainment. The other point is that riders need to be on track regularly and competively to improve and the punters are denying the riders the opportunity to show what they can do with regular riding by effectively boycotting meetings other than league racing. Any wonder the British riders struggle.

Perhaps if they run league meetings on a 4TT basis would that make a difference? Surely the powers that be really don’t want to shoot themselves in the foot with grass roots speedway (no disrespect to any club) being lost. Entertainment wise it is great and the IOW and Plymouth and all the others in that league are great ambassadors for the sport. BSPA get real.

Sorry about that only quoting what the commentator said. Must have misunderstood. Probably get a bollocking for starting the topic on another thread. Still bit like U.K. promoters and rides, who gives a t...

For anyone interested the meeting is live now on Freesport TV and the return is also live tomorrow

Disappointing but with the general apathy it is not surprising. However they could have filled the gaps in the calendar with NL riders for individual meetings or a local 3TT using NL riders representing KL, IP and Mildenhall or perhaps have a final meeting that was a mixed race night with speedway, short track and sidecars. I guess that the promotion simply cannot be bothered to make the effort and similarly, riders cannot be bothered to turn out. I still wonder why did they not enter a team in the NL trophy as did Cradley Heath given that they would have known at the back end of last year how few home meetings they would be running. Perhaps even CL has given up on it now. Whatever the real reason it demonstrates scant regard for the supporters. How many will bother buying season tickets next year?

Cat amongst the pidgeons. Loathe him or admire him Matt Ford has run one of the most successful clubs and given that he appears to be reaching that point on where he goes next, perhaps he could relinquish the reigns at Poole and do what John Berry tried to achieve. Matt knows speedway inside out, is one of the few people who could probably command some respect from those outside the sport given his business acumen and at this juncture speedway has nothing to lose. Carry on with the current crew and no changes (either Matt or someone with a good PR and presence) then it is a lost cause and the chances of recovery are slim. It needs something radical to happen not just the regular tinkering and tweaking which simply alienates all and sundry.

Thought it was a good meeting and how refreshing to go through the card and been done and dusted in about 90 minutes. Hopefully another good encounter at Poole. Well done to both sets of riders.

Apparently 16000 at the meet. Dream on U.K. speedway it has some work to do to tempt those sort of numbers to a play off meeting.

Watching the meeting on Freesport, how a UK track would not die for an enthusiastic crowd like you have at this one and even though the racing may not be that great what it lacks on the track is made up for in the stands. If only this could happen in the UK with numbers like you have at this meet. It is infectious and they know how to create an atmosphere. This is what the sport lacks over here.

Well done to the bandits. If ever a team deserved to be in the play offs it is you but alas it is not to be. A great weekend to savour and something that can carry you through the winter months. You did the town of Berwick proud and hopefully next year you can go one step further.

Simply bowing to pressure and give up on the back of those who think they are better than the average punter. If either of the descriptive terms you use apply to individuals, fill your boots. I would still seek redress whatever as far too many are being ripped off.

Regrettably I am well qualified to suggest options for seeking recompense in such situations and have used these methods to good effect to get paid where certain parties are in default or breach of contract. Before you use such phrases make sure you know what they mean and then how to defend your position in similar circumstances. Far too many role over and allow others to take the moral high ground when the hard reality is that an individual feels they have been taken advantage of and suffered a loss and seeks redress. What is the issue with that scenario?

Why not test it in court. Firstly apply directly to the company running the sport at Arena for a refund plus consequential losses (travel cost etc.) and do this in in writing and it is always useful to attach an invoice with any receipts. Include a claim for fuel either by value or on a per pence per mile or receipts for public transport. Ask that they reply within seven days of the date of claim. If no response send a final demand and then if nothing happens within seven days file a claim through the small claims court. If you know their bank another option is available whereby you can send invoice and a bill of exchange and in the covering instructions to their bank request noting and protesting in the event of non acceptance/payment. Other than the foregoing, you simply accept the situation and unfortunately accept the loss.

Sad really that the once mighty witches who dropped down from the higher echelons of this sport with so much hope of picking up silver ware have failed spectacularly and while injuries have played a part over the seasons the real heart of Ipswich speedway has long gone. Will CL continue or sell up having tried so hard to get that success by saying enough is enough. They have nowhere to go now having fallen at the final hurdle of respectability and with the poor state of the sport, no one could blame the Louis dynasty if walking away was what they decide to do. They gave it their best shot. One last hurrah, the 16 Lapper hopefully

Totally agree. I have been going since 1969 to various clubs/meetings and more often than not two or three times a week in the early seventies but now I pick the odd meeting at Ipswich and Mildenhall. It has lost its appeal and I really find it hard to relate to teams made up of a pool of riders.

It is just history repeating itself. The rockets who are and will always be recognised as a team from Rayleigh. Riders catching up at the blinking owl cafe on the A127 after a meeting are history yet the man who made it what it was is Len Silver. It was his team as was Hackney. Many Rayleigh supporters followed the team to Rye House and religiously picked up the coach from the Weir on a Sunday afternoon but it was never the same. Those who only knew Arena Essex will go through the same pain and emotion. Sad to say but the the roar of bikes in Essex will soon be history and the chances of the sport ever coming back to the county are remote. Enjoy and savour the last meeting but don’t waste too much time in building any the hope of the sport ever returning. It will not and with the demand for property and the nimby element it will never happen. Just be grateful that you saw the best of a sport that is now a shadow of what it once was.

Thanks for the update, it is much appreciated.

I suspect that the owners are effectively saying that the continuance of speedway in the short term is in doubt. That would prevent the Hammers applying to run in 2019. Saying that the stadium is not available post 2018, the support for speedway falls away and the applicants can then submit a planning proposal on the basis that there is no longer any demand for racing and the requirement cannot be justified. Motorsport will not have taken place for some time and any pre-condition that the council have In wanting it to continue could in effect be overruled on appeal because the applicants can prove that the demand does no longer exist. It is a stitch up but that is how these devious buggers work. The demand for housing far out weighs that of a minority sport that by and large will pee off most residents simply because of the noise. I am afraid the nimby vote and developers cunning will win.

Unless it is a dual purpose stadium with bangers/stock cars using it on alternative weekends/weeks. Few if any stadia could survive on fortnightly speedway and speedway just has to accept that it needs partners particularly if you look at the numbers turning up for bangers and stock cars. Take a look at the recent world championship meeting at Kings Lynn on YouTube and speedway in this country can only dream of that level of numbers watching yet the same at Ipswich and other venues who host the four wheeled motorsport with crowds who flock to these meetings because it is value for money and entertaining. Then look at speedway with 15 minutes of racing stretched over two hours and follow my leader races, teams you can no longer relate too, few if any local heroes and infrequent meetings, fickle fans who only want league racing , riders that cannot be bothered, no joined up thinking amongst those who run the sport and that is why Speedway on its own is not a viable proposition and is in the state it is in at all levels. I undestand those fans who do not want to travel to Rye House, many felt the same when Rayleigh closed. Sad to say that when you lose your local team it is hard to build up the enthusiasm travel afar to watch a home team. When you look back and realise the local teams with Rayleigh, Romford, Crayford, Canterbury, Eastbourne, Ipswich and Peterborough with good local derbies plus Hackney, Wimbledon, White City and Wembley at another level and London and the South East was hotbed of speedway. Alas no more and today it is a pale shadow of what it meant to supporters and the followings that these teams had.

I agree but unfortunately the chances of finding a suitable piece of land and having the financial resources to fund the development are a very long shot. Rayleigh in the 70’s did consider Rawerth Lane but that came to nothing, the old greyhound track in Southend was potentially another option but this was forty plus years ago. I followed the Rockets to Rye House but it was never the same and those who went to the Weir would know what I mean. Arena Essex was a good option but once the Chick Woodruff family let thing go the writing was on the wall. Chick was a good guy who gave the sport a chance despite it not being his primary interest. A few pieces of land out towards Clacton-on-Sea and Jaywick could be an option but convincing Tendring council might be an uphill struggle. In the south of the county and taking a line south of Witham, my guess is that you have no chance given the proximity/travelling time to to London and with the demand for housing it is sad to say but speedway in Essex may well have finally come to an end. I would like to be proved wrong but I cannot see the sport establishing itself again in the county.

How about Rye House Bombers. That would be a vestige of the past and good memories of the derby matches between Rayleigh and Romford. Who were the final holders of the Essex Gold Cup?

Was thinking the same and perhaps leave the past behind on both counts and perhaps rebrand. Anyone for Rye House Raiders.

An immediate rule change is needed. Then I remembered Chapman and Ford are not involved so no rule change and CL seems to be an outsider these days and probably has lost the will to live. Oh well maybe next year. As an aside which licence holders are excluded from Championship racing?

Is Jarek still a club asset? Would put a few bums on seats if he could turn out for the witches in their hour of need. Oh for a squad system but I know it is the same for many clubs who have riders injured. A bad weekend for injuries and good luck to all the riders for a speedy and successful recovery.