g13webb

Surely that is exactly the reason why they need to. Where once upon a time we had loads of supporters, and stadiums were filled most weeks. But now we have faster bikes, in better tracks and the dwindling crowds still stay away. The supporters at Lynn last year were taken for granted and treated very badly, Subsequently, the attendance dropped considerable. It would be wrong to assume these fans we automatically return next year, From my experience, once fans stop going, it takes a game-changer for these fans to return. We can all think of many reasons why supporters don't go any more, but we have great difficulty in thinking of ideas, implemented, that would encourage them to return. Taking the view you posted above is typical of the way the promoter thinks. We only attract 600 fans each week, so they will have to foot the bill.... rather than try to push the sport forward by promoting in the positive manner. If the whole sport advertised these attendance bonuses, I'm sure it would benefit from the interest it would create. It might even be the 'Game-changer' in persuading those stayaway fans to return. One thing for sure it won't make the attendances drop like everything else seems to do.....

Any idea that creates better attendances has to be a good idea. Die hard supporters who go every meeting are the lifeline of this sport. They should be encouraged rather than abused. They could offer a reward of free admission on the production of 5 used tickets....... Or buy 5 tickets and get one free. They are many ways to show your appreciation. I have always believe every season ticket holder should receive free admission at all away tracks... the chances are it would encourage more fans to attend that would otherwise not bother.... Implementation needs to come from top level so every club supporter can gain these benefits... I cant ever remember any initiation come down from the BSPA regards this, and that shows their lack of promotional attitudes...... How negative some sports are......

Has anybody heard any news of the Supporters meeting this year, and when it is likely to be ?? I appreciate the AGM is this week but one assumes that is only to dot the I's and cross the T's. Most decisions will have been sorted before now.. As per normal the supporters are again being kept in the dark about everything that is relevant. You would've thought a sport in need of all the publicity it could get, would be drip feeding snip-bits of information on a regular basis. Like 'More news next week' just to keep the anticipation and connection with the fans.. I had hoped it would change, but it appears the promoters attitude of them and us is still very much in evidence.... and that's a shame....

I would have thought that was obvious.......

I respect your opinion as you should mine. The main differences with people opinion is that they are based various ideas. To me Lambert at 15, was possibly the best 15 year old in the world and one expected that comparison to continue. I am honest to say I expected far more from him that what he has achieved,. They are many riders now of the same standing as him. This comparison will continue until he sorts out his gating consistency. It all very exciting watching him come from the back, but as the quality of riders increase so it becomes more difficult to do this. I am disappointed that his gating is still his nemesis, and until he gets that sorted he will never achieve the status, we all believe he his capable of. His No 1 priority should be to find a mentor who can teach him the finer points of gating..... Until then he will always be that man who loses those important races.... ..

Yes, he may be the 'Next Big British Hope' but he's a long way off that at the moment. Where once, I would have shouted from the roof tops how important he was for Kings Lynn, now, I have lost that belief in him. Sure, looking at his average he has improved each year, but putting a few digits on his CMA don't impress me like it should. Someone of his experience and age should be somewhere near the top 20 of the world standings, not languishing in lower regions of a weak British league. He is not even good enough yet to be considered a Team's No 1, and to me, that tells all the story.....

Surely the idea is to have a track enabling everybody the ability to race, not try to create one to suit certain riders..... I still believe the track was rideable that day as proved by those who were prepared to try. Holder, along with Batchelor, made themselves look silly that day, but speedway was the biggest loser... If all tracks and toppings were of similar construction, I sure the racing would be far better received and appreciated... I see no fun or gain by watching riders in difficulties because of bad track preparation...

The knack is not to put too much shale on the track. That was the massive problem that caused all the trouble at the Poole match. Obviously you have learnt nothing from that fiasco

I absolutely agree with your first line, probably the most important ingredient of all. but if we had to choose between them two riders, I'm afraid it would have to be Morris. The 1 half points that separates them is massive, and indicates the strides Morris has made these past 2 years. I had thought Robert would be at that level too, but he is a long way off that...

The only load of old tosh here, is your ability to see what's in front of you. If an away team was 10 points adrift with a few heats to go, the match is as good as over. Whereas, if there was a chance of scoring a solidary point when finishing within a 6pts deficit, the goal would be more achievable and racing would be more competitive.... A lot would depend on the weather. On a hot sunny day, probably more water would be needed as the track dries out. But when running on cold damp evenings, the watering is not necessary. From my experience far too much time is spent grading the track, that does nothing but slow the meeting down. .Remember, the Ref can't put the 2mins on until the track is clear.... I'd like to wager that at most meetings at Lynn, there is more time spent grading the track than the actual racing. Its no wonder fans get fed-up....

There are very few positive ideas that has come from Speedway these past 20 yrs, but the points scoring is one of the best. It encourages teams to put in more effort in thier away matches knowing they could be rewarded with a point, which could be massive at the end of the season when chasing them all important playoff places... Going to places like Wolves or Lakeside, where home advantage was always more evident, to finish within 6points there is worth a point... Actually I don't know why it was changed last year, guaranteeing 3pts for a home win, I thought it was better before.

I read somewhere there will be more SGP riders competing next year, but the only rider mentioned for Lynn is Niels... I can't imagine Buster done himself any favours last year, and believe riders like Rory,Holder and Batch will be painting a real bad picture to anyone who might be in consideration. For that reason, I'll be surprised to find any Aussies in our team... As much as I would like to see Niels back, I still believe the Poles hold the upper hand... Lambert, is the biggest corundum. Obviously very talented, and has the ability to beat everyone, but he has not shown the responsibility that goes with being a No1. His gating is substandard, leaving him too much to do to win those important races.. At the moment he is nothing more than a second heat leader, IF , Niels decides not to come, and If Belle Vue have to release him, I jump at the chance of have Bjerre back. Lives locally, knows the setup well and can gate with the best of them. Now that his injuries have all past, there is no finer sight then watching KB when he is on song... I don't think the choices we have at No 1 will be that big......

Quick answer !!! Loads of them, When at Silverstone recently there were loads of children, all wearing Rossi tee shirts.... Attracting the families does two things, 1 it enables the parents to pursue their interests and secondly it plants the seeds into the children mind for the years ahead. They say from little acorns grows big trees .... furthermore a family with children will always purchase more ( Food, Drinks, Tee-shirts, Flags) than those without, and the atmosphere is always more friendly when families are involved. Bigger crowd more noise.... It's a no brainer......

And that was probably why the sport don't attract enough young families with children. !0pm finish for them would be way too late... Yes the referee can put the 2min warning on , but he is governed by track work and riders having successive races.. That would create time waiting issues...

There were many thoughts behind the above schedule I posted. Thinking along the lines, the sport wants to appeal to more families, If racing starting prompt at 7.30 gives the opportunity for the match to finish by 9pm. when those with younger children could leave early. The connection with the riders is very important. Having a specific period where all riders were available to answer questions, having photo taken would be invaluable to the sustainability of the sport. This could take place in a designated area, somewhere easily excessable for both fans and riders. Could even bring along a mechanic as well. If this was done properly and finished by 9-30, it wouldn't interfere with riders timetable as some meetings drag on far longer than that now.... Those wanting a longer evening, can always go along to the shops and bars and talk speedway with many others like themselves. An after match meeting in the bar, is another way of connecting with the fans, but only if the meeting has been run efficiently. At Lynn we stand around all night because of slow organisation, and long track preparation, then expect us to stay on longer when all you want to do is get home ... If there was additional junior races to be run, these could start at 9.30. There would be plenty of time before the watershed of 10pm noise restrictions... With a little bit of thought, the sport could be made far more appealing then it is at present.......... But directives need to be done from the top at all levels.....

It would be nice, if we could get Team Lewis back , even if they both wasn't in the reserves, but saying that, I thought Auty rode well last season, enough to retain some consideration for this years squad.... Have always felt Auty had terrific potential. when he joined us mid season, I felt all he needed was the confidence that comes when you belong somewhere. Some of his performances were far better than one expected. If we could find space for him I sure he would progress to the next level.......... You never get fed-up watching someone who always tries......

We talk about getting Joe Public interested, the issues you're stated must be the main reasons that kills anyone whose remotely interested in attending. Never could you imagine something, so straight forward , be as complex at it is. We have 4 riders, racing 4 laps. The fastest rider wins and get 3 points. He who finishes 2nd get 2 points, 3rd place only gets 1point. The team who accumulates the most points wins... Do we need any more ???

Professional Presentation 7.15pm Racing starts Prompt 7.30pm Track graded 7 mins after heat 4. Interval and track grading 15 mins after heat 10 Meeting Finish 9pm sharp. Riders available to mingle with fans till 9.30 then Finish.... Time to go home.....

Exactly, Isn't that the same situation for all clubs? Surely a track should be the same every week??. Our track is different every week and that can't be good for the riders and fans alike. Some weeks its got too much topping on and others there isn't any. Riders want to turn up and knowing the track will always be the same. You don't have this situation at Belle Vue, each meeting the track offers wonderful racing. We once had the allocade of the best track in the land and every rider raved about how good it was to race. Them days now are long gone.

My honest opinion, is that the track is the most important aspect to running a viable club, more than that of the actual team. Speaking to many fans as I do, the most common comments you hear are all directed to the track. Each and everyone moaned about the track and the lack of actual racing. The AFA is now accredited as a Gate and Go track where making the gate is the be all of each race. The fans want more than that. I asked of those who have stopped going, they have said they may returned if the standard of racing returned to the level it once had. Sure, its good to have a decent team, but that doesn't matter that much if the track is not properly prepared for decent racing, I am sure if the racing was good every week the attendances would get back to something like it use to be,....... whatever the team was........

I too had views similar to yours about Holder last year. With the exception of Doyle, I thought Holder was the best substitute we could have got to replace Neils. But how disappointing he turned out. His performances were lack lustred and mostly unimportant. Very rarely did he show his real form. On those occasions he did, proved to me his machinery was as good as the others. Looking and seeing him ride at Lynn was very 'matter of fact' showing little fight or determination. Someone, who only years earlier had been World Champion, really went down in my estimation. It was as if he wasn't bothered... Looking at him ride in the SGP's very seldom did he shine bright like he once did.. Your post puts the blame firmly on his bad machinery, but I didn't see it as cold and calculated as that. Probably the setup was wrong, probably Holder wasn't dialled in as he should be, but to blame just the bikes to me is definitely wrong. I hope he does better in 2018 but he needs to have a long hard look at himself and realise its all down to him now.......

This is not just about money, he would want a club close to where he lives, and a place where he is happy to ride. . Although he has never been our asset, he enjoyed riding here at Lynn for a number of years.. On all the top riders I've seen and spoken with, Neils comes across as the most genuine of them all. Someone who tries everytime he sits on bike. He could be the first choice rider of any team... If he rides in the UK this year, then I have every confidence he will ride for the Stars.............. providing Buster wants him.............

You say the situation is over and we should move on. Try telling that to the many fans who went home early that day and haven't been seen since.

Coincidence, probably, but the only gamble picking Doyle was his injuries..... Like you, we took that gamble on a GP rider with the inflated averages knowing they were only counted when the teams were being assembled. But our GP rider was crap. along with others who thought all you had to do was turn up. Without doubt our best riders were those of lesser standings, who rode their hearts out everytime...

And here lies the problem !! Years ago you could say anything to worker to get the job done. Now, you have to be politically correct, even when telling them to pull your finger out.....