Grand Central

H&S have alerted me to the danger of responding to certain posts. The use of red type, underlining, multiple exclamation marks and italics are to me taken as warning signs. I must leave well alone and let the old dear calm down. Edited spelling

Only by snivelling, hiding behind the (false) safety issue and then keeping a public silence. Remove that, somehow, and then disciplinary action would have them sharing with Darcy on his hols.

Phil ... I think it is important to separate the two strands of your argument more completely. Strand 1 ... Ole just has not got these tracks right and no amount of wishful thinking can, necessarily, make it so. The moisture issue is the overriding one. And as so many factors relating to that will always remain out of his control he wil NEVER be able to guarentee sufficiently to avoid this being an on going problem. Strand 2 ... The riders lied. They said it was the track that was unsafe and really it was the starting gate issue that was really their problem. Bringing the strands back together. If temporary tracks in big city stadiums are to continue then the minor inadequacy of the track (as it was this time) will just have to be swallowed by the riders. Sometimes. And now we know that they will 'abuse' the safety concerns aspect; They just cannot have the power - in effect, at least - to cancel meetings themselves. .

That's the wonder of hindsight. In Cardiff 2013 and at Warsaw the first practice sessions were completely abandoned as the track was too bad. After that experience It would have been impossible to get the riders on board to go straight to racenight, proper, without seeing if Ole's overnight remedial work had actually worked. Even BSI - or PZM - could not have legitimately opened their doors on either night without the practice showing that there was a reasonable chance of success.

. Whilst that sounds, superficially, a sensible and plausible excuse. It just does not seem to tally with my recollection of past events. My memory was that just about ALL the worst temporary tracks on Saturday nights. Had also been deemed horrendous at practice. When was it other? .

No need for all those questions, though. The track had all these problems last year. They, apparently, could never be solved. Good enough reason not to return. .

" anyone with even the tiniest bit of speedway knowledge " I think that may be the job description. When BSI go looking for a new 'guru' to help them out of the current mire. .

Ok ... Leaving aside the concrete 'centre green' at Ratina, for a moment.. Would not just a little, tiny element of cynicism on the part of the messenger be appropriate. At least now, after recent events. Must the messenger always take the 'official word' as gospel?

Only a good excuse to a point. I would stop actually being the messenger, though, when I realised I was being told nonsense. Time and again. What is your limit?

Thanks for remembering that. .Just looked at the 'pitch'. Can any information be trusted? And I thought all the unbelievable scoundrels were occupied with Thursday!

Well, the test meeting was held on May 2. Those with a strong stomach can watch it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N07fDgxa7ZA The racing was clearly dreadful. But on the positive side the Finnish Officials and riders managed to get through a full meeting. So they are one up on their SGP counterparts. Second placed Timo Lahti is, rather ominously, quoted as saying "Track was still quite difficult, but hopefully it will be better in GP". I am unsure if it qualifies for what Philip Rising, rather queasily, describes as 'A stage fit for the riders to strutt their stuff' But I should think that Paul Bellamy is getting his excuses ready as I type. .

Goodness. Who's 'All pumped up' now? Calm down dear!

I bet he's the only man to come away from Warsaw with a refund. Seeing 'Meridian Lifts' emblazoned on a non-functioning clock is not the sort of publicity anyone wants. Or would pay for. As bad as being 'Lift Sponsor' on 'The Big Bang Theory'.

Surely this is impossible. The guy has had his 'trial' and been 'sentenced'. I do not see how it is possible, legally, to impose extra restrictions on him individually after such due process has been followed. Obviously the FIM can change its alcohol testing methods at GPs and introduce a new rule for all riders, if it chooses. But since I was last on this thread things have changed for me. One p!ssed up rider is not the greatest danger the SGP faces, anymore. It's the sober ones who cannot do a clutch start on a green light who are the real danger. They can bring the whole thing to it's knees.

I think you may be being a little disingenuous as well, and you know it too! Intelligent riders know what they have to say to get the result they want. And then keep silent about the real reason.

Just to summarise. The riders (the top ones) got the meeting cancelled because of the lack of tapes. The track was not bad enough to cancel the meeting. The 'men' of the Jury said that it was cancelled 'for safety reasons'. It was not. Enquiry over. No action against anyone to be taken. Ole can get back to work. Providing he borrows a second starting gate ahead of Cardiff. (Until Nicki and Greg want a GP called off, of course)

It is difficult to take seriously someone who produces such out of date information. In support of his spurious argument. Ole Olsen would be terribly busy creating new temporary tracks at so many defunct venues if anyone were to listen to this joker. I think we need much better brains on the case to secure the future of the SGP. Not this.

I don't deliberately try to go against the grain but I thought the pricing seemed quite reasonable. My slight gripe is that I emailed Belle Vue earlier in the week to enquire about hospitality etc and have had no reply. I was looking to do a little more than just buy a ticket and no one has got back as yet, which is a shame.

The mere fact that someone, anyone, has been interviewed in Star who has a 'different' view is the noteworthy point. Unbridled sycophancy has brought us to this point. It is good to see that end, at least.

Great interview with Tommy Rander in this weeks Speedway Star. What a pity it has taken this level of destruction for the sport to allow the magazine to publish alternative voices. After all these years of towing the party line.

You are quite right ... 'Moved on' would have been much better chosen words. Thank you.

I do find it amusing that this thread has descended moved into a debate about which other - much better organised events - have unpaid volunteers to help. And the relative merits of this. When just about all the prime candidates for blame for last Saturday's debacle ARE paid. And some of them - those wearing kevlars - were quite handsomely paid for only half a job.

This guy is just the sort of talent BSI needs to bring on board. He knows the outcome of the test meeting a week in advance!

We used exactly that method at Junior Grass Tracks back in the 1970s. It did work quite well then, in that situation. I am not sure if Bernie Ecclestone uses this method in F1. Clearly you and BSI are unaware of any advancements made in technology. Or, do not feel they may be of use in 2015. .

I am sure there is a lot of truth in that. But as with absolutely everything else, just about all the people involved in this debacle were the very people that had gained all the experience of previous cock ups and almost cock ups. But all of them, at all levels, seem to have a complete mental block on learning and have zero ability to enact any positive change. And then people are still talking as if every single item this Saturday was new and totally impossible to foresee. The multi-layered structure of responsibilities has been exposed as being the perfect way to deflect blame around until eventually no one turns out to be responsible at all. But it is not going to change. The obvious need to have some one person of stature in charge to 'carry' the show is being missed. Someone who can show real leadership and galvanise everyone before the meeting and on the night. And who can get the thing back on the rails when it is being pulled off by circumstances or riders is desperately needed. Headless chickens are all that are on show so far. It really is pitiful to hear. And it just offers no hope whatsoever.