False dawn

But that's not what they did is it? Two of Britain's best supported and longest serving riders have effectively been singled out. Another case of unintended consequences i.e. rules that have not been thought through.

Well I for one will be quoting this scandalous piece of propaganda in my objection to this planning application.

Cheers Matt. Can't be sure, but I don't think those details had been loaded when I found the entry. In fact the description on the first page summarising the proposal was blank. Either way, it's all there for people to see now.

A warts an' all account eh? That's not what I had in mind, but you know, that could just shake up a few people. All we now is a well written story and a film maker with the necessary skill.

I've found what appears to be the application in question but there is very few details shown??? Rugby Borough Council website

You know, there has been a thread on here about Swagman about once a year since the forum began. Isn't it about time someone made another speedway film we can all talk about? I know the sport isn't as popular as it once was, but it could still make a suitable and exciting backdrop to a film. There are dozens, maybe hundreds of star trek fan films out there on YouTube etc. Isn't there someone with the skill and knowledge to make a speedway fan film?

My only (sad) experience of this sort of problem was in the early 2000's. I was in my late 40's and decided, before it was too late, I'd better start training to be the next speedway world champion. Don't laugh, this is serious. As a result, I used to go up to Owlerton, Sheffield, most Saturdays and practice on their training track. I even had a half share in a bike for a while. I'd been to Owlerton many times over the years to regular speedway matches and never knew they even had a training track, which was situated behind the main track, out of sight. Well I never made WC (despite what my profile picture seems to indicate!). I did go on to have an 8 year "career" as a sidecar passenger and raced on grass as well as half the speedways in England and Wales (nowt against Scotland, but the nearest I got was Berwick). Anyway the point of the story was that a few years after I stopped going to the Sheffield training track, the SCB closed it down on safety grounds. And this was before bouncy castles were the thing. So what was a great facility, for new riders (Ben Wilson was starting out when I was there) and professionals who needed a place to shake down equipment etc. (Simon Stead used to ride there) was lost forever. A great shame and not in the spirit of getting new amateurs on track for not a lot of money. We have to consider carefully where our sport is heading. The strength of the amateur scene is set to become even more important in the future. There is a move in the lower end of the sport towards semi professionalism and as we move away from the heady days of a few years ago, training tracks will start to emerge. Think on SCB, embrace this side of the sport or risk killing the whole concept of a new breed of riders for whatever future the sport has to look forward to.

This unlicensed issue..... Is it to do with insurance and ensuring that tracks operate to certain standards e.g. safety fences? I don't know, but generally in other sports, sporting venues are unlicensed to save money but the money saving can be the determent of the participants in the event of a serious accident for example. I would love to see the speedway authorities put their arms around the amateur part of our sport but we must recognise the value of standards and safety in what is a potentially dangerous sport. Who would suggest, for example, that we abandon the use of air fences to save money?

Not a very complimentary description of the BSPA

BE may believe the market value is 4 or 8 times that figure (depends which rumour you listen to). And that may be a realistic valuation given planning permission for housing is granted. However, what price a large piece of land, with or without a stadium, without said planning permission? The current owners have to play a canny waiting game with regard to the co-operation of the local Borough Council. If they wait too long they may see their £2.7M "investment" reduce in value significantly. Might be time, quite soon, for them to cut and run.

Telford?

Along with 80% of riders

Is there a definitive list of riders' averages anywhere that we can all see?

Yes. It's 1 point for a personal insult 2 if you manage to upset all the supporters of a particular team and 3 if you p!ss off the whole forum. I'll get my coat

I know someone said Rye were like Dad's Army, but Saga? Don't think they're that old.

The memory of some folks on here never fails to amaze me, so I'm sure someone will come up with an example. Don't fancy trawling through the records to try and answer your question although it feels like the answer should be yes. Certainly back in the day when teams were a lot more stable.

The Coventry riders might have had something to do with it (not to mention the Poole ones!).

Maybe all the disgruntled fans will go to Beaumont Park on Sundays instead and watch the "Bees"? Alright, I'll get my coat

Isn't that what binoculars are supposed to do? lol

Apologies if I've missed something but is it the case that clubs will race on one given night at home (Swindon apart)? Or is the intention for teams to race on Mondays some weeks and on Wednesdays in others? I only ask because despite some speculation on here, I've not seen any club announce their official race night. Maybe I'm being selfish but I organise my social life around hobbies that take place on given evenings. Surely I'm not alone in this?

It makes it flippin' near impossible (I cleaned that up).

Knowing Eric, he was probably telling him where to go!

I won't talk about sidecars as an alternative attraction since I'm a touch biased.... As to post meeting entertainment, the most successful attraction I've seen in recent years was at Leicester. They not only interview the riders on the home straight in front of the remaining crowd, but the riders entered into open conversation with the crowd. This seemed very popular with enough of the crowd to keep a significant number entertained for 20 minutes or more. And we heard some news from the riders that would otherwise not be known.

As a Bees fan of nearly 50 years and a staunch opponent of Leicester...... I will not be supporting the "Bees" this year and will be a Lions fans (but I will wear my Bees cap).

And not a False dawn eh?