HGould

that's what was forecast last week??..

A good Commercial Manager is worth her/his weight in gold and some very good examples of that at tracks like Belle Vue; Glasgow; Birmingham/Swindon, IOW; Leicester and Eastbourne from what I have seen with my own eyes in the last year or so.

lets hope BBC weather have got it wrong otherwise could have another early call off.

Cut off for Shield and KOC Round 1 is supposed to be 15th May.

Guess which day next week is the only day in Birmingham with rain showers forecast between 2pm and 6pm....ouch!

strange then that several Kent riders have pointed out the 2nd bend issue, and last season the ruts in 3rd turn were a continual problem. I'm only making comment about what I have seen with my own eyes and read with them too. Have widely praised Kent for getting many things right, but a dangerous track that could be rectified with a day with a blade is surely something that needs sorting.

Having seen both sides already. 50-40 imho Heats Leaders cancel out, just favour home side though. Reserves - Eastbourne - Wood and Brennan would beat Atkins and Rowe 8 times out of 10 in NL Racing. Middle Order - Somerset - Kurtz is key as he is far better at Oak Tree than Bowtell and Morley and great chance for the German to impress too.

Presume BSPA own all Lakeside assets as according to Peter Oakes in last weeks Star they were liquidated in February.

Be ideal for us with same teams as Ashley.

Not sure what BW-D average is in CL but Eastie have got 1.46 points to play with on declared 1-7 and Morley on 4.80 so would be 6.46 or under they could use?? If first green sheets out next week they would have to act fast, other Clubs like Brummies could have a lot more leeway after first Averages.

Certainly make them more potent away from home and didn't he start there?? I agree would be unfair on Morley if true. It was more than one person saying it in bar though but might just be 2 + 2 = 5 on this occasion.

Poole

I asked this as we are in a 3 team group. Actually first question I asked was why are we in a 3 team group, as I would have though Northern/Borders Group that Workington were in should have been the 3 team Group not the Southern Group as that was going to include Leicester. I never got a sensible answer to that other than Southern group is 3 new Teams (2 up 1 down) The answer I was given re 2nd place is that it'll be based on highest points and if level aggregate t or - between 2 x 4 Team Groups as only the winner of the Southern Group would go through. That seems very unfair to me , but we and the others in our Group are "new boys" so I reckon we have to sit quietly in the corner and let Mr Bates and Mr Godfrey walk all over us and be grateful for being in their league...

agree Gazza, doubt you had many queues in NL era though, been queues both time i've been this season, first meting only had 3 turnstiles open though but on Friday all were open.

Think we will need to move quickly for BW-D as strong rumours at Eastbourne were that they were going to bring him in to replace Morley before new averages come out as they would have no chance to do after it, might just be wishful fans tittle tattle though.

Correct re the rent and I think things like insurance and paramedics etc. The crowds at opening 2 Fixtures were OK but not great better than NL but not much better, and I think they would rather have a sunny night for what will probably be biggest gate of the season especially with Leicester flying. Not heard anything from sensible sources re Team changes, have heard various rumours on terraces with names like Wilson-Dean; Luke Becker, Mitchell D and Danyon Hulme....we will have to wait and see.

Bit early considering its a local derby and weather not due in until lunchtime and clearing about 6pm, they must have pretty accurate information to hand. Will be congratulated if they are correct and pilloried if sun is shining at 7pm - who'd be a Promoter. Would think Somerset will be off too as weather forecast there is even worse!

I wish all Clubs well in making a profit. In the case of Kent who have a lovely stadium and decent support, it is a shame that they have seen fit to raise admission prices to above the level of some CL Teams and provide a track that is in desperate need of some TLC and attention and in the case of the 2nd turn downright dangerous. If Len could see for to employing a proper track man for a few hundred quid a meeting I'm sure the majority of kent fans would love it.

I always allow extra time and most meets am there in stadium an hour at least before tapes up. As I have said a few times in this thread, it took me 2 hours longer than normal to arrive at Stadium from south of Birmingham. I and many others and a fair few from Birmingham arrived later than we normally would due to M25/M23 issues. I spoke to fans from London (ex Dons) outside who had taken 4 hours to get there; from South London. Please give the Club some credit for thinking of fans who are late through no fault of their own. There are a good 80-100 people outside there at 5 to 3 who would probably would not have come back if they had not delayed start by no more than 10 mins to let us in, if a few inside have an issue with that I hope they are never delayed when they come to see their Team at Birmingham. Good customer service should be seen as being thoughtful and considerate, and that's what it was. Good Friday was a great day for Speedway everywhere with big crowds at all venues, I really do wonder if some actually want it to die just to preserve their illogical preferences.

Yes I do think there is a fine line between building a strong side and too strong a side. All within the rules of course and no complaints there, those 2 reserves will be amongst the best 2 pointers in the League and very clever to pick them up when Eastbourne moved up as they had been regulars there, but with the top 5 they have and those 2 reserves look very strong, prospect of Jenkins and Spooner at reserve already in May. That and the issues with the track, turn 2 looks in desperate need of modification and 3 not much better means "tonkings" and long drawn out meetings will negate some newcomers from going back and that's a shame then there is the elephant in the room "the curfew". I sincerely hope that Kent can find a way to move up as they would grace CL with their set up and if they could just sort the track out. Enthusiastic crowd who deserve professional grade racing. Although Len knows he can make a nice buck in NL with much lower pay scales.

Enjoyed the meeting there are would say a decent crowd around around the 750-800 mark which at prices you'd pay at some Championship Tracks (more than Leicester and Eastbourne for me to get in to as an OAP) ; is cracking for NL so unless Len is paying well above NL pay-rates someone is milking it, although no idea what rent he has to pay for that very luxurious Stand and Restaurant. The track (and its my 4th visit) just doesn't cut it for me, not sure whether they need to sort the cambers out or get some more even dirt on it but seeing good level riders having to cling on when hitting grip on 2nd bend and rut on 3rd bend when they have had all winter to blade and grade seems a lack of attention to me. I'd contrast with Stoke who have a fraction of the crowd and income who have gone the extra mile and produced a stunning race strip since they changed curator last season and Leicester/Peterborough who have also invested time and effort in to track preparation. Excellent Team Kent have and very enthusiastic support but they deserve better track and lower prices in my opinion. Can't be right that I can see Richard Lawson for £14 on Friday and Rob Ledwith for £15 on Monday at much lower level???..

Yes decent meeting, a lot of crashes, not great track conditions, decent crowd for NL. I'd say about 1 hour 50 mins but wasn't timing it. Got to try to navigate the M25 home now but having a bite to wait til it does down a bit.

Having taken nearly 7 hours to get my home in Worcestershire to Eastbourne on Friday and arriving at 2.45 as a result, glad they did delay to let me and about 100 other people in a queue in at 10 to 3 and that with all their turnstiles open. I blame the M25 / M23 lack of infrastructure investment, awful British roads, crazy London drivers, the hot weather, 101 other things before i blame Eastbourne or any other speedway team, the doom mongers really do want out great sport to die don't they. I rejoice at big crowds and queues at speedway brilliant i say. Been to Kent today, not a great crowd but very decent for NL and another Club trying their best to promote speedway racing. Well done Kent and well done Eastbourne I say

Of course the (new) Alexander Stadium Brian refers to, now home to Birchfield Harriers and also HQ of British Athletics is being upgraded to facilitate Stadium for 2022 Commonwealth Games and although plans are for it to be scaled back to Capacity of just over 20,000 after the Event may make a longer term option for UK Speedway (if a temporary track could be laid) somewhere below the 50,000+ of CARDIFF Millenium (which cost is too much rent for Domestic use) yet well above the very restrictive spectator capacity at the NSA in Manchester.

Looking forwards to taking in Kent v Belle Vue Colts this afternoon having spent 2 lovely days on beach in area following Eastbourne v Brummies on Friday. Will be an interesting encounter between 2 of the 3 Teams most people think will dominate the League. If BV can get 40 points there would be a huge "marker" for them. Kemp's CL form very in and out but should dominate here on 2018 form. I've seen Gilkes and Ablitt a few times when Brummies down at Arlington in NL Ablitt used to ride before meeting and after and Gilkes regualr there in SDL for Reading; and also in SDL matches at various NL tracks I visited; so am assuming Gilkes and Ablitt were free mainly as a result of Eastbourne moving up and Kent being only NL option in that part of the world; as I'm sure Connor Dugard would have had them snapped up for Eastbourne . I did hear a whisper Leicester were after Gilkes who lives in Northampton I think but would imagine with Thompson twins in reserve spots Leicester did not want 3 riders on 2 point averages new to the sport.