thebaron

What is a sponsorship licence? - is that some sort of authorisation to employ someone from another country in your business. Because there's a chap down the road from us runs a Pizza place and I bet he ain't got no sponsors licence for three dodgy looking characters round the back dishing up the pizzas.

WTF do the UKBA know about Speedway? have they any idea what a 7pt average is. I have this picture of some jobs worth tasked with researching what speedway is then coming up with some ludicrous notions as to how he see's it running. Get me back to the 40-50's when all the Aussies came over on boats for the season with their bikes and the carpet was rolled out at Passport Control. Or the 70's when Les Whaley brought Bradford with Brenton Langlois, Rob Maxfield and Mike Fullerton for the 73 season. The Aussies/New Zealanders ARE US for Christ's sake; half of them were sent out on boats as the £10 Pom's from the UK in the 60's or are related to someone who was. Angry! you bet I am.

Let me just get this right; there 22 speedway riders (absolutely integral to the success of speedway in this country) barred from entering what is their Mother Country. What has HM Queen to say about this; lets be straight to the point I have more in common with Ryan Douglas than the 22000 illegals(and more) from the EU and Third World trudging the streets of Bradford. So what the hell is going on with the UKBA to bar skilled Commonwealth citizens from working here. Speedways not just any old job; we cannot find 22 riders of their standard just off the cuff. I would fiercely contend that their absence seriously damages Speedway PLC in the UK and each individual promotion that employed them. Where can Scunny find two riders to replace Ryan Douglas and Alex Davies. A guy I work with his son; announced he was off to Australia at Christmas; packs his bags and flies to Sydney. Only got A Levels and has found a job already he's no specialised skills or qualifications; but the Aussies have not kicked him out. What sort of Visa would he need to bum around in Oz for a year. My neice works in Sydney has done for two years. She has a degree in Sociology and works in their equivalent of BUPA in administration what sort of Visa is that?. So why are we discriminating against Australians. Think about football and all the useless EU and African players that rock up here; end up sitting around on benches on ££££s then disappear. How the hell do they get in. This needs taking to the highest level of protest; the Queen as far as I am aware is the Head of the Commonwealth; and has the power to over rule the useless UKBA. As far as I am aware the Commonwealth still exists (it did for the games last summer anyway) so I cannot see how the UKBA can prevent the free movement of Commonwealth citizens from one country to another provided they have a viable occupation to go to or can secure work on arrival. I am spitting feathers about this; I bloody am.

Any one want to make any comment about the rumour on the General Discussion thread that UKBA have cancelled VISA's for 22 Non EU riders. Right now I am a bit worried.

Mmm if I was in charge of the music; I would try to theme it for the meeting; thinking not only of our riders (and their backing tracks) but also come up with something that fits the opposition. . At the start of the meeting we usually have all 14 riders (home and away) do a lap or two coming out from the pits. The trouble is that there is not a great deal of time; and if the weather is against us then it tends to become truncated. But preferably we should always have a full parade. The away team should be introduced first; and the Scorpions second. They could come out on their machines; or as a team on the parade truck. When the Scorpions take to the track I would use the Scorpion Theme Extended Remix - for the new Scorpion TV Series by Brian Tyler & Xonosphere . It is quite dramatic as we are building up to the riders taking to the track. Have a listen. So that's the intro theme when the Scorpions take to the track together at the start of the meeting. Look it up on YouTube. I don't want to embed the link on here for fear of messing anything up for the moderator. We use each of the previously suggested Individual Rider "Scorps Sound tracks" when they have won a race (lap of honour always with the chequered race flag) or when we want to focus on them as Individuals. We should retain the That's The Way by KC & The Sunshine Band (very familiar tune now at Scunny for the 5-1 MAX Heat Win). But for say a 4-2 we could throw in another tune to salute the advantage to the Scorps. I like 63' Burnout by 63 Burnout - Trouble At The Speedway - very catchy very catchy. Or we can throw that in at the end of the meeting when we have won and let the firework(s) off!!! If your struggling to find them I could PM you the links on YouTube. At this rate I will have let Barry speak to my agent about the fee for all this. Of course as with the others if anyone can come up with their choice stick it up and lets have a listen. All the best.

Of which you are perfectly entitled; but my point is that we as speedway regulars might have to admit it could take more than what's happening on track to get them through the door. Ian Thomas had all manner of "celebrities" head lining at Derwent Park in the 70's-80's just to get folks in the door. Then once they're in they can start having a closer look at what's on offer. Like him or not JQ is a Scunny celeb and he comes into the category that might bring young Scunthorpe people to the EWR. Personally yes I would prefer Guy Martin anytime.

Mossy, Superstar your missing the point we dont have to be JQ died fans but I bet a lot of young people are especially round Scunny are. Remember Ian Thomas one of the best promoters of speedway of his time. Had "em all" up at Derwent Park Workington - many famous TV names of the 70-80s. We get speedway but a awful lot of people dont or did but no longer do!. We gotta give them a reason to come through the door and try it. This is not really about US the regulars its the newbies and used to be"s we need to connect with them. Johnnie Hoskins at Bradford in the 40s -50s knew how to promote. He pulled endless stunts for the public and if "the wer nowt to report from Odsal he just made summat up!". Genius.

Another local Scunny celeb X Factor and Im a Celeb Jake Quickenden ? Very popular guy right now

Hey Bazza thanks for reading and considering my "sound track for the Scorps" see what you think; ask the management and indeed for that matter the riders themselves who may have their own thoughts. Others on here may want to throw an idea in; but when I listen the tracks; they seem to fit the more I hear them. We worked hard on the presentation at Odsal and arguably it was the best at the time; and I have not seen a lot better since. Did you get to Peterborough last season? I think its is Edwin Overland in the box. Before and during the Fours meeting he played some cracking tunes and it all seemed to be "co-ordinated". With speedway we have about 20 minutes intense action on the track; and then the meeting presentation kicks in between the Heats. So the build up to the next Heat and Meeting momentum needs to be maintained. Sometimes you could theme the meeting sound track; it could be 60's night, 70's night, or 80's etc...or just something for all tastes night. Thing about music today is that it is pretty much "for all tastes". If you look at the download chart my kids are listening to stuff I listened to in the 70's and 80's anything goes really. So no need to worry about playing Marc Bolan T Rex "Get It On" because the kids have just as likely heard it and like it. I was too young for much of the 60's music but recently I have been re-listening to a lot of the sounds of the 60s' and liking what I hear. Your banter with Rob always makes me smile; especially when he says "play that tune Barry" - That's The Way ..KC & The Sunshine Band. It has become very recognisable with Scunny. Land Down Under for Ryan and Tommy Gun were great selections for Ryan and Tommy. All this may seem trivial but it just helps send people away with a better picture of the Riders. Connecting the Riders with the spectators is just one of the things that can help with the promotion. Rob is brilliant on the mike; his banter with yourself; the riders and promoters adds to the meeting for me; and we could build on that. Think about how Nigel Pearson/Kelvin Tatum present on Sky. They usually stand at desk with a canopy over head to keep the weather off. In an ideal world I would give Rob a "side kick" to interact with. There are usually a few former riders or officials in the crowd - knowledgeable people. Create a focus on the centre green (under a light at night) and Rob asking "the guest expert" what happened there ? or explaining a technical point or two to the crowd. Also how about a scoreboard on the centre green. I do not need one or the next regular; but if you are newbie without a prog it would help to see the Heat result and cumulative score. I like the starting gate arrangement at Sheffield with the lighting overhead. It really focuses the crowd on "the start". Obviously that is all down to cost; but would a rig of coloured lights be that costly?. It builds the excitement; speedways quite explosive that way. I thank you for taking time to read my suggestions for the "sound track for the Scorps 2015. I am sure that everyone is looking forward as I am to the new season and seeing if with some little tweaks here and there we can make sure we make sure we can keep on looking forward to many more seasons. At the end of the day we know we have a great race track at the EWR and that is the starting point for everything else. All the best.

Eh? so what happened ?....that makes it sound like it descended into a night on the beer.

Agree entirely that this would be a real coup and create a lot of interest. Better still if it was turned into one of his TV Challenges; for sure I reckon Guy Martin would very quickly look competitive on a speedway bike. He could also explain the challenge of mastering the art of sliding sideways to a big audience. He would bring in interest from the road bike fraternity.

Another IDEA ! .. I am a Bradford City fan and we play Millwall on Wednesday for the right to face Chelsea in the FA Cup 4th Round. At the last home game v Rochdale they were handing out fliers outside Valley Parade - with BE THE DIFFERENCE on one side and on the reverse the following: WHAT IF ITS 2-2? WHAT IF THERES 5 MINUTES LEFT? WHAT IF WE SCRAMBLE IT OFF THE LINE? WHAT IF THE LADS HAVE GIVEN THEIR ALL? WHAT IF THE CROWD ROARS ONE LAST TIME ? WHAT IF BILLY GETS THE BALL? WHAT IF IT CRASHES INTO THE TOP CORNER? WHAT IF YOU WEREN'T THERE TO SEE IT? #BETHE DIFFERENCE What has that to do with Scunthorpe Speedway? everything because we can use the idea ourselves to market the Scorpions. Just think of 7-8 Good Reasons why YOU have to be at the speedway and why it is NOT TO BE MISSED. - It could be that Miss It Miss Out #MISSITMISSOUT. I could easily come up with 7-8 things not to miss about Scunthorpe Speedway; indeed it could feature all 7 Riders and why you would not want to miss seeing them race at the EWR on a Friday Night. I am sure these would not be costly to produce and would pay for themselves. Go into Tesco's off the roundabout and hand them out to EVERYONE with a FIXTURE LIST or the fixture list could be part of it. Another Idea I arrive at the track via the M180 off the M18. As I arrive at the Tesco's roundabout we need a large billboard dedicated to Scunthorpe Speedway and a massive poster emblazoned with a fantastic Alex Summerfield shot of a Scunthorpe rider pointing you to the EWR. We could also use this pre-season to drop "BIG HINTS' about what is COMING UP when the Speedway Season starts. So there needs to be three or four hints in the lead up to the season, sewing a seed in someone's mind "what is this? what is going on?. Raising questions. Anyone who puts on a show needs to tell folks why they have to go. Basic promoting that costs very little; your asking for nothing from the public; your merely saying this who we; this what we do; this where we are. and this is when we do it COME AND SEE IT! We are in Bradford and would have attended the meeting ourselves; but unfortunately work and commitments do not allow tomorrow. But I am very interested to here what emerges from the meeting and how it can help take the club forward. By the way back to the theme tunes Josh - Automatic by Leandro Cesar - Niki Minaj (Male Version) is absolutely the right one for me - try getting that out of your head! All the best.

Not sure what happened on this thread yesterday; but thank Mod for sorting it. See my post on rider "backing tracks" has taken the chop. If it was anything to do with posting those URL's to YouTube clips; then I most humbly apologise. But if anyone is interested the tracks were SOUND TRACK FOR THE SCORPIONS 2015 David - Rocket by Def Leppard - I referred last season to David's bike being "The Rocket" Ryan - Land Down Under by Men At Work - has become Ryan's signature tune at the EWR. Wilko - Going Back Home by Roger Daltry & Wilko Johnson - seems appropriate; as Wilko goes home again to the EWR for 2015 Nike - The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum - Fun Boy Three - Lunna is very very marketable and this is magic Ellis - New Sensation by INXS - keeping with Aussie Bands ...Ellis the new sensation Alex - Thunderstruck by AC/DC - again sticking with the Aussie Bands - Alex "The Thunder" Davies. Josh - I had gone for Atomic by Blondie (but this may be a tad slow). Then I heard Automatic by Niki Minaj - very "catchy"(by the way there is also a "male version" of the track as well as the Minaj version). But it is one that gets into your head. But I also heard Automatic by Tokio Hotel which is a great track. Anywhich way it has to be something with Auto in the title I think. I won't post the URL's for the tracks on YouTube just in case it did cause a problem on the thread. But YouTube them yourself; have a listen and see what you think. You may have your own ideas or indeed the riders themselves may have. We used to do this at Bradford; where the "backing tracks" were soon associated with the riders when they won a heat or were introduced to the crowd. I recall Gary Havelock choosing his track - The Dominator; Joe Screen - Cotton Eye Joe; Sean Wilson - Little Willy by Sweet; but the best was Jimmy Nilsen - Jimmy Jimmy by the Undertones. Realise this is a small thing; but it is an idea worth putting forward to help market the Scorpions riders to the public. Hoping the support turn out in good numbers tomorrow evening and it proves helpful to the club going forward. Some good points in there Paul.

Blooming heck ! I think Broadsider has some excellent points in his epistle. Not hard or costly to implement most of it either; aside maybe the race suits. Although on the latter I agree a uniform image is easier to identify with. Not for old speedway sages like yours truly mind but for the newbie helpful for sure. Because most of us on here 'get speedway' we forget that to some one entirely new; they may not see what we see. To us we recognise the Scorpions instantly but to the new guy; do they actually look like a team representing Scunthorpe?. Basically a new supporter will be following the helmet colours. The race jackets cannot easily be made out; especially if mud splattered. I once saw a meeting where each rider had his helmet colour on a 'day glow' arm sleeve that was easy to see from the terraces. Is that a helpful little idea if race suits are too expensive. Again very much looking forward to the new season. Hope everyone else is too.

Absolutely no chance of Rob switching to regular Sunday racing; the track performs differently during the afternoon than it does on an evening. Evening race tracks hold their moisture; so the dirt holds together meaning it stays the right side of the fence to allow the riders to use it to race on. This coming season we have some reet fence scrapers in the team; Howe, Douglas, Auty, Wilko and Lunna, so I suggest Robs stocks up on air bags; as I can see a few going bang! ENTERTAINMENT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY AT THE EWR IN 2015. Personally as I have already pointed out on this thread and PWT kindly quotes again above; I would rather see close; exciting racing and a tight final score; that's the sort of meeting that will bring you back for more and sticks in the memory. Not the 30 point white washes. I am sticking with my belief that the management have put together an entertaining; affordable and very supportable 1-7. We need to get right behind them; from the off and keep faith with them. There will be some tough nights for sure, but as long as we stay competitive; keep safe and entertain what more can we ask. We want speedway to have a future at Scunthorpe; its a brilliant track and everyone involved deserves our backing and support for making it happen. One things certain we will miss it if its is lost. Lets make sure we never have to look back and long for the days when it was there. Trust me coming from Halifax/Bradford; I know all too well what it is like for speedway to be lost to the area and no hope in hell of it returning to these parts any time soon. So yeah Barncoose lad; .. its dead alright; deceased; gone to meet its maker an ex-speedway to coin "Python phraseology" Hope everyone's having a great Holiday season coz I can't wait for Spring to come around. Come on you Scorps!

I believe Julie Reading's post now answers your question. Regards

Very hard to watch; but as other posters have said humbling and inspiring at the same time. It is a long road back; but look how far he has come; and there's more to come I am sure of that. Absolute credit to the dedication; care and support of medical staff and his family. For me they can send the tractors round all night; at the Testimonial Meeting; it is not about the line up or quality of racing; although I am certain it will be a great night of speedway. No; its about everyone doing there best to be there and giving as much as they can to Ricky's Fund for all he has given to speedway. I suggest if your going through the turnstile "Double Up For Ricky" so if it's £20 in; pay £40 -if you can. If you cannot make it; then as other posters have suggested just pay your admission to the Fund anyway. The Sheffield promotion will I am sure have the best interests of Ricky at the centre of everything. The whole 'Speedway Family' needs to come together on this, and ensure Ricky has all he needs to aid his continued recovery. Stay strong Ricky; maximum respect.

Mods: think thats worth a ban!.. Could it be owt to do with that track you got up in teddy bear land? . Wilkos a racer and he will be happy to be back home on a proper speedway track. From my vantage point the STMP aint a racers track. Total trick track in my opinion.

Reading the Bullets appraisal and others I see folks are getting on board and realising that we can look forward to the new season. Plenty to enthuse over in this line up. Its not all about winning matches out of sight..the quality of racing and excitment has to come into it as well and we have some racers in the team. My hope is that injuries permitting we show some faith in the riders and give them time to come good. Especially Lunna & Perks. Personally I can take a defeat or two if we're competing and good to watch. I feel sure Rob will stick by his selection judgement and give everyone management riders and support the chance to get behind the Scorpions and build up the interest and support at the EWR in 2015. For sure we have a track that will allow everyone to showcase the skill and daring in speedway.

We not going to win the league but we will entertain. Its great to be all conquering but that can be a bit of a bore in itself. Some of the best racing I have seen has not always been from the winning teams. It is important to compete even if you loose and I think we can. It will interesting to see how the team develops. The management will have had an eye on costs and for me given the choice of expensive No1s and Euro hopping riders v a budget conscious team and speedway surviving I take the latter every day. One thing I would like to see barring injuries and complete loss of form: is us sticking with this 1-7 and keeping faith. Again its a pretty much a UK based line up. To me a regular line up is important to supporters getting to know the team and backing them. Someone said they bet that the line up would not look anything like at the end of the season. It may well not; but we set out hoping it will surely?.

I would say hold your horses; can see your point but Davies has always looked a racer to me and prepared to put himself about. Granted he has had a year off; so the jury is bound to be out. Wilko; well we know there will be no shortage of commitment and he will be up for a return 'home' - an entertainer for sure. Perks; well 18points on his first competitive meet around the EWR could not be overlooked; granted he has a bit of learning to do but if he could push his 3pts up to 4+ then he will be doing his job. Lunna's the real gamble here; and around whom; in my opinion the team is crafted. Add those four to our "three Musketeers" - David, Josh and Ryan and its a team I can get enthusiastic for and get behind. Goes without saying we will miss Ash and Tommy; but seems they wanted to try new pastures and we should wish them well. Josh needs a real good season; and his EL Draft at Leicester can be a springboard for this and an 8+ average. While Ryan can push on further and be No1. David's off the back of last seasons return of form and confidence. Rob's made it crystal; how important the management see 2015; in terms of the level of support and cost; so I support their judgement and lets get on with it. Roll on March as far as I am concerned. I reckon we have some entertainers in the team; so throw in the Scunny track and hey presto we have the "main event" and some "bums on seats". Got to get out there now and sell it - Nike Lunna; his name alone is really marketable!. Roll on March; and lets get behind the team.

One sleep to go how about Howe Douglas Auty Lunna Grajconek Palm-Toft Williamson.

Agree totally; why the heck was Matt riding for Cradley, when we had our own NL team? .Meetings at home for the Stags would have built confidence; and allowed him to try things that would have benefited the senior team and his own racing. So that said; for sure I would be happy to see Matty O given the chance to capitalise on all his hard work last season. After all doesn't Matt represent the essence of what Scunny is supposed to be about; ie; developing young British riders. He can step up another level in 2015. and in my opinion is very capable of adding a couple of points to his average. Ellis Perks would be a good alternative; but he has to do some of the learning that Matt has already done; so we may be coming from a lower base with Perks.

Looks like I am but those two are or can be the strongset reserve pair in the league. Having thrown a 5 on Lunna IF he proves a revelation and we had somewhere near the best of Mellgren. That could be as effective a use of the limited points available. I agree seems a bit mad but if Lunna was in the 1-5 we need to be coverimg in reserve not further exposing us with a 3pt rider as well. Surely to God! Bunyan and Lanham are capable of adding to their current modest averages from reserve. But its all conjecture I know. Or am I missing your point and there is some reason they cannot ride together ie: past history?.

Holder?? Robs already ruled that out. While Kindt was told publically by Rob he is too expensive. I reckon we wont have a 3pointer and that Lunna will be reserve on 5 with a more experienced partner. We are told we are bringing back an existing asset. How about Wilko on 5.24 to partner Lunna at reserve. That leaves 6.21 for the remaining rider. Either way I cannot help but rue seeing Tommy Gun and Birko out the door because I don't think we can possibly end up as strong or entertaining. However I gather they did want to leave so we have to move on. It seems to me that the team is being set up around Lunna. For me I would want him to come in at reserve with a seasoned rider with him. A rider like Wilko can do that job well. Others who might also be in mind for that role are Jason Bunyan 4.66 and Leigh Lanham 4 90 either of which may open the door for MPT to return. I might have liked to see Mellgren 6.57 given the chance to show us what we missed out on last season. But any which way I cannot see the 2015 starting 1-7 looking as strong as the 2014 1-7 on paper. Another scenario would be the return of Mellgren; who has the potential to be No1 and we bring in Bunyan and Lanham as the reserves. Lunna does start in the team. Hopefully he fires but if not we have two ultra experienced riders at reserve and Lunna drops in to reserve. So thats Auty Howe Douglas Mellgren Lunna Lanham Bunyan mmmmmm.