False dawn

I love the Bees. They are have been part of my life for many years decades. We have been thrown a lifeline. If you want to debate the ins and outs of what has and is happening I respectfully request you go to the Coventry 2017 thread where you'll find many kindred spirits. For my part I want to support what is left of my club, come what may. So come Friday April 7th I'll be there, at Beaumont Park, watching the Beaumont Bees beating Kings Lynn. I'll be travelling with my wife with a car with 4 (5, at a push) seats from Rugby and will be more than happy to take like minded fans with me. Any similarly minded fans, feel free to post your offers or needs of lifts here.

We'll all pull together, won't we? Well I wonder, reading some of the reaction to this latest announcement. Oh well, that aside. Let's assume Mick Horton is only in this for the money. With me, so far? Assuming that to be true, can we really think he is stringing us along by taking us Leicester? If there is a major run of support for this move, he can still surely expect a big drop in income through the turnstiles not to mention the cost of renting another stadium. You might not like him, but he ain't a fool. Certainly not when it comes to money. Accept this at face value. We have a team (God bless them for their patience). Go, if you can and keep the faith. Hell, I'm sounding like a supporter of the people involved. To them I say this. You are dealing with something bigger than a speedway club or a business from which to make money. Sometimes a club just will not die e,g, Leicester or Cradley who still persist despite everything. Please. We have gone through a lot already, I know. I do know. 46 years on the Brandon terraces has an effect on a man (chilblains if nothing else). I want a future for our Bees if not for me but for those who come after me. If your hobby is politics, bugger off. This is a sporting thread.

Come on guys and gals. I don't know the real facts of this better than anyone else. We were facing two ways forward. Closure or some other way that at least kept hope alive. I don't want to support my team in someone else's stadium. But if there's still a chance of us going back to Brandon and maybe, just maybe a new stadium, I for one will do everything to support my Bees. Not Mick Horton, not Avtar Sandhu, not Brandon Estates, not even Michael Stokes (bless him). The Bees. A virtual entity bigger than any person or venue.

Just got back from the funeral. It was a splendid service attended by a large number of friends and family; it was standing room only in the chapel. At the wake I had an engaging conversation with some insiders but that's for another day. For me, a sad day had a happy outcome. Bryn managed to bring two "senior" fans together even after his demise. A big thank you to Fourentee for the lift. Without you I wouldn't have been able to attend. Added to that, I have a new forum friend. Rest well Bryn.

At least he didn't retire after 5 days!

Is anyone travelling from the Midlands? Bryn was a friend and I'm stuck for transport. Petrol costs sharing of course.

How do you find this information? I mean, it's one thing spotting maximums in the stats. It's quite another working out that it was that rider's only appearance ever at that track. I'm amazed

Coventry Motor Speedway actually. Although that name never really took off, did it? But that's just knitpicnicking eh?

I haven't given up on the Bees opening their league winning campaign in March. But is it the end if that doesn't come to pass? We all know how legal disputes drag on. But it's also clear that The powers that be ain't going to allow houses to be built for a year or three yet. If we don't make March, what then? A temporary licence suspension. Open meetings (a Greg Hancock home coming?) who knows. This is a long way from over.

Hey, we're two sides of the same coin. Diametrically opposed and at the same time on the same side. Paradoxical? No not really. Just true speedway fans who love our team. P.S. it's dawn as in the time of day

I have news for you. British Speedway is doomed. Especially with attitudes like that.

P.S. Sorry guys and galls, I must be getting old. I had to check, but I was right. Pepe Teromaa rode for the Bees in 1975. [i hope I'm doing enough to get this thread back on track. Hint]

I'm with you, even though I think one of the Teromaa's rode for Coventry, did he not?Whatever. Coventry and Leicester locking horns gets the juices going, doesn't it? Cradley were a temporary diversion while you were away (and yes, I lament the loss of our Heathen friends in the senior division). Wolves were a kind of local enemy. And Poole; well we can't claim them as the old enemy, their everyone's nemesis (just kidding Steve). The thought that we might yet revive the East Midlands Bowl at the start of the season, when we can shout our hearts out, especially at those "other" supporters, keeps me on the side of optimism for our current predicament. Leicester looks safe. Very good. Now just the other half of that equation to sort out. There are some powerful forces at work and not all of them selfish. We can be there in March. Keep the faith.

I was a sidecar passenger. One who started racing at the age of 48. There were many who said I was nuts. Well maybe. But Bryn wasn't one of them. When he commentated at meetings I took part in, he always gave me a cheery introduction and made me feel like a world champion. Thanks Bryn. For that and your incisive debate on our shared love, you'll be missed. Rest in peace, my friend.

A consumate professional commentator at many speedway venues. Bryn has been my friend and fellow sports fan for many years. His commentary at many sidecar meetings I was priviledged to participate in, is something I hold dear. Get well soon, matey. The sport is richer for your participation.

Why confuse everyone anyway especially as we had the Premier League and we now have the Premiership which to the uninitiated must be the same league? Division 1, 2 and 3. Simple.

Can I be boring? (why change the habit of a lifetime, I hear you say).To get back to the original thought, I think you missed out a classification. What about BSF members who've raced there? Not mentioning any names of course.

We can debate the rights and wrongs of the current situation surrounding Coventry Speedway. We can blame or support the key players (not Michael Stokes; he's a hero, no argument). At the end of the day, we just want every club to open their doors next March.

Then they hardly qualify to comment, do they?But then, I do, ultimately subscribe to Voltaire's view that I might disagree with what you say, but I defend to the death, your right to say it. Even if you're wrong 😇

Let's just forget all the problems at Brandon for a moment (I know, I wish I could too). And let us forget all the problems at Belle Vue. Well if you've got past that prerequisite you're a better man (or woman) than me. But just supposing everything with the senior sides at both clubs was sorted. Could either community expect to run a NL team in 2017? The Storm weren't exactly well supported at home last year and I, for one, thought that there was no chance they would be there in 2017. That was of some regret to me because I liked going to the NL matches. Well out of all this adversity the two promotions have come up with a compromise. And for their efforts they get nothing but scorn and critisism.

Good point. Think of it as a team of riders doubling up between The Belle Vue Colts and The Coventry Storm. Not so different really

Not the quite the same, I know, but who would want to watch a homeless Cradley team? Quite a few people it seems.The potential NL audience need some education. Go to a meeting, as a neutral and assess, honestly, what you see. I see youngsters trying their hearts out. Oh I know we get the odd "old crock". But hopefully they are bringing something to the youth that they need in their formative years. If you can't get behind a hybrid team, pick a rider or two. The occasional cheer from the crowd, a flag, a "say hello and well done" in the car park after a meeting means a lot to these lads starting out on a long hard road. Get back to basics and support the grass roots of our sport. Speedway, in Britain at least, has huge problems. But without a home grown source of talent, it's going nowhere.

This is a kind of job sharing. Neither club clearly thought they could justify / support a full home programme so they take half of the "home" fixtures each. Once you get passed what we call the team it makes sense. Fans who are already supporting a Premier League club (we can hope) can support their junior side without going to 2 matches a week, every week.

So let me see if I've got this right.... Brandon Estates own the Stadium. Avtar Sandhu owns Coventry Stox and wants/has a lease from Brandon Estates to run Stox next year and the two years after. Mick Horton owns the speedway rights and wants/has a lease from Brandon Estates to run speedway next year and the two years after. The ownership of the fixture and fittings is in dispute. Avtar Sandhu says they are his and has taken them away. Brandon Estates say they are theirs and have been removed illegally. Given the above, if Brandon Estates begin legal procedings against Avtar Sandhu, I can't see the fixtures and fittings being reinstated anytime soon. I wanted to take an optimistic view of matters after Michael Stokes brokered the latest deal. But this doesn't look good.

Whoops. Apologies to anyone who has attempted to send an email unsuccessfully.michael.stokes@rugby.gov.uk