OveFundinFan

If, IF, some clubs refused to promote and sell tickets for the British Final, then unless attitudes change VERY quickly I see no future for British Speedway as we know it. If promotors cannot cooperate and actually be active in supporting an event such as the British Final, then there is no hope. I would certainly like to here from the promotors as to why they felt they should not actively support the sale of British Final tickets. Doubt I will see an explanation though.

I think you missed the point by a mile, I am sure Stoke Potter is well aware that Man City Council financed the project, the determination and skill was what DG/CM had to extract that finance from Man Council. True, having a major sport stadium in that part of Manchester suited the Council, but they would still have to be convinced to invest in the project costing £6milion+. You dont think Man Council put an advert in the paper "We Got £6mill to give away" do you?"

As far as Man City Council goes, the "fudge" was that DG/CM didnt pay the rent. The "fudge" MCC was responsible for was not delivering a track fit for purpose - ie they didnt manage the contractors that "fudged" bends 3 and 4. Oh, and a small matter of not building the back straight stand complete with loos etc.... thats not a small "fudge" either.

As an entertainer both on and off the track ......... when he rode for Belle Vue.... Cyril Maidment

Something inside me feels sorry for Dave Gordon and Chris Morton. They were the ones who fought hard for 10 years to fulfill a dream, and they did, only for it to be taken away from them. I feel there is something that "we" dont know about yet, I just hope it surfaces some time so we all know the facts of this dreadful situation, I feel sure there is some dirt somewhere.

i included Swindon because its a bit messy IMO. The "final" meeting has been held at the old track, the "new" track doe not seem to be making progress at all, and still some think the new stadium will never be built (seeing is believing), and I think I am right to say the new housing estate is progressing very well. I would be reassured if the new stadium was making progress in this relatively mild weathered winter. I hope it all does come to fruition, but at the moment there are still question marks. Only my opinion of course.

All of this is highlighting what has been said already.... British speedway is in a mess. This off season has seen 4 tracks struggling for survival.... Coventry, Leicester, BV and I include Swindon. I am not sure speedway as we know it (and as we knew it) will survive. The next few years, say 5 years, will prove critical and looking at past history of the BSPA I dont hold much hope of life saving measures being put in place.

Sounds very plausable, but easy to understand now in hindsight knowing what the result of turn 3-4 being totally dug up following the cancelled PC Mem meeting uncovered. This was not the knowledge at the time though. What was known there was some sort of problem, but not bad enough to call the meeting off - the track had been raced on couple days before the Saturday, no serious problem. On #19 Keepturningleft said he was in the south stand and riders in pre-meeting practice appeared to be going into that corner at full speed with no obvious concerns nor hesitations. At one point those same 15 riders had no concerns. Hopefully we will hear what really went on.

You identified the problem with Lindback - consistancy, or should I say lack of it. Zagar is the same - class rider when on song, but lacks consistancy. Really tough to choose from 2017 line up, so good, but..... in the mix at the top will be Sayfutdinov, Zmarzlik, Holder, and Woffinden. If Woffinden can win it in 2017 it will mean more then the other two he got.

Presumably you have BT TV package - is it any good?? and broadband reliable??

Maybe no British league speedway, but BT do the GP's (as well as Moto Gps) Problem last 12 months has been Sky do British league, Eurosport doing Euros, and BT doing the World GP's To get all you had to pay into at least 2 of them, the cost to many is a breaker. I just cancelled my Sky account, got to almost £50 per month and that was just for TV (including a 2nd box in the bedroom so I could watch speedway on Eurosport and BT (via plusnet b/band), and that excluded SKY Sport. As of no I am planning to watch speedway World GP's on You Tube as and when they become available - no matter what the language of commentator. Come May, when I am free of a contract with Plusnet, I will look at what deaqls BT are offering for a Phone/Broad Band/TV deal. That way I get Eurosport and BT World GP's - will all depend on the cost.

Interesting that about dispute between Sky and Discovery, though I didnt realise Discovery included Eurosport. I pulled the plug on Sky TV (it finished just 2 days ago) due to high cost which affected my "value for money". I knew it would take off Eurosport, and without Sky I could no longer access BT Sport (through Plusnet broadband contract) so speedway gp would go. My access to speedway on TV is now through the internet (You Tube) unless I sort something out in May when my contract with Plusnet expires and I will be free to choose landline/broadband/TV package. I now rely on FreeSat for TV viewing, using the SKy dish and Sky box/viewing card I have. What annoys me about leaving Sky is that programs I have recorded on SKyHD (mostly speedway) are now locked in, cannot be viewed at all. Re BT, I dont know how long the contract is for them to show Speedway GPs, but apart from the live viewing and maybe one or two replays over the following two days, I dont see evidence of them showing replays in the off season periods like they do some other sports. I just wonder whether they will renew the speedway contract whenever it expires.

We would like you to say more, as well Phil, but I, and hopefully others, respect that you cannot at the moment - we wait patiently...... OK, so the meeting was called off because the track was unfit for purpose..... at a great disappointment to the fans who had turned up, AND NO DOUBT AT GREAT EXPENSE TO BV WHO, PRESUMABLY, WOULD HAVE TO PAY EXPENSES TO RIDERS, adding greatly to BV's financial situation. That surely means the council/contractor has an obligation to cough up some recompense due to "faulty goods" (or whatever legal terminology), yet it appears they hav'nt and that is probably why BV refused to pay any rent. So either way, 1) run the meeting and risk council/contractor saying it must have been ok 2) cancel the meeting, loose a lot of money, and the council/contractor dont recompense for "loss of earnings" (or whatever). Sounds like BV was in a lose/lose situation, yet many are judging (without knowing all the facts) that Gordon/Morton were bad promoters. Strange.

I dont think it is the same model number, and therefore could be something totally different.

I cant remember who the 16 riders were. Can someone enlighten me please.

You probably right Foamface, quick internet reveals in Aussie at about $83Aus which is about £42, and a German site at equivalent Euros as £44.

Starman, yes the promoters knew there was a problem with the new BV track, but was it any worse then the condition of other tracks that have been raced on - the state of the Poole track springs to mind when some were saying a moto-x bike would be more appropriate....and that went on for weeks. The BV track had been ridden on by BV riders senior and junior prior to the Saturday and it was deemed ok, a problem but ok. As can be seen from the clerk of the course report/inspection, the problem was explained to the PC Memorial riders by Chris Morton before they walked the track and it appears 15 of them were ok, we know at that point TW had not arrived. The riders agreed to a controlled practice and I quote "The practice ran successfully". Then one (unnamed) rider said he didnt want to ride. Most of us on this forum have probably seen video of practice, some of the forum were there, and to me it looked rideable if not raceable. And track staff had agreed on procedures to care for the track , even between heats if necessary. It was only then that matters with riders got worse and "the riders were unanimous in their decision they did not want to ride". So we had gone from 15 riders being ok with it (one rider not in attendance) to 16 riders wanting a walk out. It would have been better if that one (whoever he was) had driven out of the pits and gone home (subject to approval of the referee (or whoever) that he could do that. The track had a problem, but was it bad enough to warrant the cancellation of a meeting (especially when worse tracks have been ridden - perhaps even during the 2016 season.). My opinion is that the meeting should have gone ahead, the track had been practiced on a few days before the meeting, immediately before the meeting, assurances given track attention would be in hand after every heat if necessary, and 15 of the riders had initially accepted, in full knowledge, of the situation. Enough information now come to light, in my mind, that 1 rider influenced 15 riders to refuse to ride. Baaad .

but that gives no indication as to whether he was for or against the meeting being called off. Which was it?

Any one remember Johnnies Marching Girls at Belle Vue in the 50's and 60's? Johnnie was Johnnie Hoskins. That was a feature at BV for many years. Livened up the meetings, needs something of the modern equivalent to liven meetings up. Make the delay between races shorther (tapes break - straight round again etc), re instate the 2nd half racing. Give the fans more value for money.

Wow ! - 42 euro for a spark plug - obviously got to be something special

What did King do in the WTC in June on a dry track?

I read in SStar that the Leicester boss will not allow Coventry to share Leicester, he knows both teams would suffer with loss of crowds.

I think its likely Darcy will be seen in some other competitive sport as soon as he gets some stability.

Dudek wanted 69 but Doyle already has that, so........ 692 it is. Actually, I got used to the numbering last year. Its only like Moto GP and they been doing it for years.

I do hope Friday turns out good for Coventry speedway (looks a bit bleak at the moment though)