Ray Stadia

I marshal for a Moto X club. I get paid and I'm given a voucher for the burger van. Even though we receive this, they still have trouble finding marshals. I think I earn my pay, as it is hard work. Mind you, I do help in taking down the track, which I don't have to, but feel I should do. I don't think speedway track volunteers should pay to enter, definitely not. If the club needs their entry fee to 'break even', or for the club to exist, then the club is definitely in financial trouble.

Also, It could be, the promotion is in someone else's name. I remember Arena Essex stating Peter Thorogood as 'The Promoter', but he was really the team organiser/manager (bless him, he was good at that!), but not the 'cash man'. Then you have Coventry speedway, I always thought Charles Ochiltree was the promoter, but he was, apparently, a junior promoter, someone else stumped up most of the 'cash'!

But, if they haven't filed accounts, HMRC would have no idea what they are owed. HMRC used to be the main creditors, but they aren't anymore, in an insolvency situation.

It doesn't necessarily mean this is the company the club has been running under. He may have started another Limited company to run the club. Ater all it says 'Northside Speedway Training Track Limited'.

If it happens, it could be the 'springboard' speedway desperately needs. Speedway back in London!

Thank you for letting me know. I missed the posting. A good age though! RIP John

I wonder if 'speedyguy' and 'Parsloes 1928 nearly' are aware the Dons might make a return! 🤨

What's the answer then? Limp on until the sport disappears up its own fundament?

You wouldn't have the same overheads. And you could charge the riders to race, as they do in many amateur motor sports.

What happened there is, very sadly, because Tim passed away and a bunch of muppets took over the running! Muppets taking over successful teams is quite common, it seems, along with losing stadiums to development and along with speedway track owners, with strong connections to speedway, (the Duggards, the Pughs), either selling up or keeping the stadium, but not running speedway. I don't know what the answer is, but speedway is clinging on by its finger tips. Holding on to running speedway as a team event, cannot last, as the number of teams drop out. It will survive as an activity, but my guess is it will survive as an amateur sport, with individual meetings and with other associated attractions, such as upright challenges mixed in and GT140 type races. My guess is it would attract more riders, would remove the need for expensive foreign riders and would give the promoters/organisers, a chance to at least break even!

Your last line is the biggest benefit, but of course, a speedway rider will not have to worry about peronal liabilities, unless they intend to 'knock' people who provide them with services, eg, engine tuners.

I'm self employed, I have been for many years. I could be a director of a limited company, but there wouldn't be any benefit for me. I can employ a family member. As for drawing money out of a limited company, tax free, what's the mechanics of that? You can draw dividends and take a small salary, but you pay tax on dividends.

I've lost the thread (excuse the pun) of what is being discussed, regarding Workington's predicament, but I have picked up discussions on Limited Companies. Most businesses do not need to be 'limited' (unless the BSPL insist on it. If they do, I don't know why they would). A speedway promoter, if there are no restrictions could be a sole trader, in other words self employed. However, if I was a speedway promoter, I would want to be limited, to protect my personal assets. A number of promoters are business people and have another business or businesses. I would imagine, as speedway is a loss making venture, promoters, via their accountants, would use the losses to offset against profits, they make in their other enterprises. As for riders having a limited company, why would you bother and not just be self employed?

Really! Not a good idea, if someone decides legal action against you. You carry the financial can totally!

I think, probably, all 3 would happen if there was enough money behind the ventures. All 3 are viable, but trying to do it on a 'shoe string', means it might or may not happen. If there was money in the sport, they never would have closed, even Plough Lane.

I do wonder, if this is what it is about? I hope I'm wrong. 😟

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see them back. I used to live in Leatherhead for a while (1980's) and watched the Dons most weeks, but regular speedway back in London, does sound unlikely, but would love to be proved wrong!

April Fool!

Speedway, over the years, has shot itself in the foot. We have had speedway track owners 'selling out', Pugh, Sandu and no doubt others! We have Eastbourne, owned by a speedway family, running bangers and stocks, but not speedway! Riders demanding stupid money/fees. Engine tuners bleeding the riders dry. Speedway is like cancer (terrible to use that analogy), it's killing itself! 😢

I saw a video of the crash and it seems a rider in the first half of the rider pack, caught the kerb, wobbled and fell off, and the riders behind him piled into the wreckage. Often happens, but usually without such tragic consequences. Terrible, very sad. 😟

Do you really think he's earned millions? Maybe, but I somehow doubt it? I do believe he has earned well, but millions might be pushing it?

I wonder if Tai's recovery and treatment would have been as good, if he had been treated by our NHS? 🤔

There is a big posting about onetime concrete starting grids, a posting by Gresham on the 15th May, 2016. Speedway tracks, apparently, used to have concrete starting grds, but were banned. 2 schools of thought were discussed as the reason. 1. due to a lip being created and the concrete grid could act as a take off ramp. 2. due to the change in surface grip, making things dangerous. Flipping at the start was also suggested.

Err! This is a discussion forum mate......wind your neck in!

Ok, happy to be corrected!