Hawk127

I use to be a regular attendee from the late 60's until around 2012 and the four main tracks were Rayleigh, Rye House, Arena Essex and from the early 90's Ipswich plus Mildenhall. It all became a bit run of the mill and for me the real entertainment when the likes of Mark Loram were lost to the sport. The enthusiasm went therefore it was just Sky sports a more latterly Eurosport were the one way that one could get some sort of speedway fix. Then those in the know sold out the so called Jewel in the crown to BT and with the cost of Sky Sports beyond a joke, the only affordable access for many is the highlight on Eurosport plus the pairs meeting. Given the way things have gone is it any wonder that many people like myself are almost lost to the sport. The live version may be ok up to a point but is it real entertainment and value for money. Sky repeats of Elite league meetings (even on catch up is poor) and BT is not good value hence a very disillusioned former advocat has all but given up on what could be an exciting form of two wheeled sport. Rain offs, poor presentation, the failure to have track covers after far too many years, the GP taking precedent and Mainland europe offering attractive options for riders compared to racing in the UK plus fans with limited budgets who simply do not follow their team away from home, Is it any wonder it has sunk as low as it seems to have reached Are those in charge seem so far removed from what the paying punter would like to see? Are they hell bent on making it even more of a minority sport? Is it any wonder that the open spaces on the terraces continue to increase. Will it become an amateur sport and just a few surviving tracks offering the equivalent of NL racing which in itself is very good as the lads that are riding seem to want to race, not simply go through the motions. What is the future and can new fans be found and old ones enticed back. I know that no one in authority really listens to the fans/supporters but is it a case that the new breed of promoter have lost their way and as a business case financially it no longer stacks up. A shame that a once great sport has reached such a low. Anyone else feel the same?

I have not read through all the posts but perhaps all the clubs could have a trial run in August where they charge £10 per adult and Children up to the age of 16 £1.00 and instead of a programme a score sheet for 50p and try and run meetings swiftly where as soon as a race finishes, the riders for the next race are ready to come onto the track. Have a 15 minute interval after heat 10 followed by four heats of 125/250 c c riders and then the grand finale of four heats followed by a public vote for the riders in heat 15. A bit different but something needs to change or it will be amateur speedway in years to come. Try and avoid the Polish aspect of fast bikes at all cots to win races and aim to bring skill and entertainment back into the equation as well as making it fun to watch. One can but hope.

The time taken to complete four heats is not a good advert for the sport irrespective of the reasons and is probably why live speedway is not a good idea. Highlights is probably a better option and a slicker presentation might encourage some new supporters. No criticism intended on the riders etc but just an observation. Now a further delay for tape breaking. Oh well back to the Eurosport highlights.

It is actually creditors not debtors. Debtors owe the company money whereas creditors are those owed money by the company. For example a rider is a creditor.Notwithstanding, good luck to all who are trying to save the team and hopefully it will not be long before the Devil's are racing again.

And Frank was competing for the best on track doughnut Whatever way it is written or spelt, it tasted ok

I meant reaching the final. Sorry not clear and yep the Gluwein warmed you up a treat

As someone else has said 74m reasons to leave. It's called Turkey and not a Turkish rider in sight. Apart from scare mongering by the French and Germans open door policy (they need the migrants because of an ageing population plus a skill shortage) we could just as easily sell more to emerging markets such as The Far East and Africa where the young and wealthy have the money to spend. Who needs a crocked currency and a club whose members are contantly at odds. Work with those where the sun always shines and never a rained off meeting and no more Poles dictating the schedules. A winning option if ever I saw one!!!!!!!

Frank Zorn just missed out on final and if I am not mistaken he is a sort of adopted German son. Good meeting today despite the awful weather. Gluwein also very good!!!

Yes I will be in Berlin. Is Saturday two meetings as last year or just the one?

Can anyone help? Ahead of the Berlin meetings in March does anyone know the time of the meeting on Thursday and the time of practice on Friday? Are spectators allowed to watch the practice? Is it just one meeting on Saturday or as last year, two meetings? Only asking as I may change my flights if it is worthwhile.

I wonder if a weekly round up programme with selective races and interviews rather than a live stream or televised match might attract some to go along to the tracks. Some have said the 'live' product on TV can put people off because of the time it takes to run a meeting and you also get to see the down side of attending with nothing going on between the races. It could be much slicker if for example the riders for the next race were ready to go on to the track as soon as the last rider from the previous race leaves the track (a bit like ice speedway). The casual armchair viewer must wonder why it takes over two hours to run 15 heats and this may put a lot of people off particularly when you take all the costs of going to a meeting. I don't think the current live coverage shows the sport in the best light and it would be interesting to know just how many viewers record the meetings a just watch the racing. I know many who do this which makes you think that the highlights might be a better option

Sorry I meant to say you can buy them on the day and I would go for the main stand or the first \ second bend, not the back straight. Getting to the stadium is straight forward with the station close by. If looking for somewhere to stay Charlottenburg or sauvigny platz are not bad. Hope this helps.

You could try www.etix.com/ticket/Horst-Dohm-eisstadion. I believe that you can buy tickets on both days as I did this year. If you go to the stadium web site it will also give you a plan. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the link Iris 123. Racing is not bad but agree about the dancing but still a lot better than watching the usual Christmas tv repeats. If only itv came up with a celebrity riding on ice

Any mileage in trying to get Tai's achievements recognised in the Queens birthday honours (a bit late for the New Year) given what he has done for charity as well as within the sport?

Saw Franky Zorn ride in Berlin earlier this year and his full throttle all action style was a sight to behold. A real racer with no fear and looking forward to seeing his exploits this coming season and if he can carry on the form then the Russians have a real challenger for the world and team title. Anyone who has never been try Berlin in March 2016, you will not be disappointed

Brian Foote and Ted Hubbard. Two of the finest hard riding characters alongside the Kennett brothers and Arthur Price, a Boston legend who got whooped by Ivan Miller at Rayleigh, a race i still remember some forty odd years later. Today very few if any that hold stick to these guys

Some incredible guys here and I thought I had seen the best in the fasting gating legend that was Peter Moore riding for Rayleigh and watching him line up alongside the young guys locally and quote memorably at Canterbury. You have to admire thes guys and respect them. I salute them.

How about Friday as the main night with Sunday the alternative Only joking but it would be interesting to see how the numbers changed if they did move race night to a Friday, it might attract a few more and if it was not just speedway but say another two wheeled sport (short track) or junior championships on the new bikes being developed etc then it might attract a new base of supporters and widen the appeal. Something needs to be done in general within the sport given the dated presentation and the punter needs to feel that they are being entertained and getting value for money. 15 races over two hours no longer cuts it for many. As an old long time follower I remember some banger races following the speedway meetings at Rayleigh and while I,m not suggesting for one minute that this is an option, it was dear old Uncle Len who would try most things to get the punters in and I can never remember large numbers leaving after heat 13, most stayed for the second half and you still saw quality racing with the up and coming riders given a chance against the main team members. All good fun and fun is what is missing a lot of the time now.

I feel sorry for the Swindon fans who may have been mislead and for speedway as a whole to see another team disappear. Regrettably a pattern has already emerged and it is unbelievably naive for those responsible for Swindon speedway to take at face value the nonsense being spoken by those who have no vested interest in seeing the sport continue. Those in charge hang your heads in shame for what you have done.

Why is Harkess still involved. He should have been sidelined and a complete new team left to run the show with new ideas and a fresh approach which is so badly needed. Good luck to the new chairman though with the tinkering with riders etc and nothing new to freshen up the various competitions, format or presentation it is a case of the status quo and more supporters drifting away. When will these people wake up?

The sport badly needed a revamp, not tinkering with riders, that will not bring the supporters back yet they fanny about while Rome burns. I am disappointed because I thought some of the people running the sport would recognise that it is the public who contribute to the income and they should at least give some thought to want the customer wants, but no carry on blindly and ignoring those voices who could financially save clubs. Well done BSPA, you may well have thrown your last chance away.

It seems like the custodians of the sport are burying their collective heads in the sand. Tinkering about with draft riders and the up and coming riders etc is an admirable cause but the format and presentation is in need of a drastic revamp and many excellent ideas have been floated on the various threads. Do all they want with riders etc but if , as is currently the case you do not reinvigorate the sport, those fans/supporters left will soon drift away and all the behind the scenes changes will count for nothing. Collectively the AGM has put another nail in the coffin of what was once a good sport to follow in this country. How far down are the BSPA prepared to let things go before some changes for the good are made?

I went to Berlin last year and it was my first meeting and throughly enjoyed it and will be going back in 2016. In Berlin the back straight was a real pain both to get in and out, the lighting and the over intoxicated eastern europeans but on the second day i was in the main stand and the viewing/comfort factor was much better. You can always get tickets on the day and I would get to the track early if in the main stand or the first/second bend. Fans in the main stand were great fun and very friendly and all in all the ice speedway fans are a great bunch of people and I would highly recommend going along. Stadium is close to station and if you stay in Charlottenburg you are no more than 20mins from the track. Some good hotels around Sauvigny platz and plenty of good value restaurants. Not sure where you are based but Ryanair fly out from Stansted on saturday morning and coming back on Monday mid day is costing around £80 return. Berlin Schonefeld is about forty minutes from central Berln (cost Euro 3.40) and hotels are a reasonable price. If you get a chance go along, you will enjoy it.

Len is one of those great characters who has been involved in all aspects of the sport and the fondest memories are leaping Len at Rayleigh and the verbal battles with Dave Lanning and Johnnie Hoskins. Friday and Saturday at 8 pm were great times and I well remember the move from Rayleigh to Rye House. Whatever he decides to do going forward no one should under estimate his contribution to the sport over so many years and it would be a lot poorer without him. If only you had more characters promoting in the mould of Len and lots of great names who have since left the promoting. Today political correctness has taken over and the rules and regulations have been the death of the fun and banter that use to prevail. Thank fully I was lucky enough to experience and enjoy the fun that use to be part of speedway and the real local derbies which would have been dull without the likes of Len.