Hamish McRaker Posted 9 hours ago Report Share Posted 9 hours ago 2 minutes ago, 1 valve said: I mean. A group of promoters, the majority of whom promote Championship speedway. That said, “Cartel” is a very strong term to use. Maybe more accurate to use “hobbyists” who’s preference is to keep to the way things are run because that protects their involvement to a low level of risk whilst fulfilling their egos. So in your opinion, which clubs are being run by hobbyists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago 5 hours ago, Neila said: The fans forum ? What ever happened to that ?? Heard at the start about setting one up, then as far as I'm aware radio silence ever since 🤔 Happy clapper echo chamber?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieran22222 Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago On 4/5/2026 at 11:04 PM, flagrag said: Even for 2026, Phil has been a great advocate for British Speedway Premiership and has done lots of work behind the scenes which most people simply do not see. Always knowing that his role of Chief executive wasn’t to continue this year due to lack of money He was instrumental in keeping Ipswich going including being part of a consortium that made an offer to keep it going if Mayfield deal had fallen through. Has also had a a lot to do with the opening of Northampton giving guidance of what was required to get Speedway running along with being involved in the negotiations with stadium owners and management . There has been some failures previously maybe the loss of TV deal being the greatest but he did explore various options but none could be got over the line for various reasons. It has not been helped by some promotions not backing him fully. He wanted to modernise the product to try to get in new fans and sponsors some of which cost money like for tv meetings having a set presentation team and DJ, Lights and fire cannons on centre field but certain promotions wouldn’t back this and could even be objective like refusing to move advertising A boards for tv meetings and not even keeping the league sponsorship ones clean. Phil was also key to a number of top names returning to the UK like Woofy , Janowski and Lindgren along with brokering deals for Lambert and Dudek to ride for clubs to then back down on the deals Can you share who pulled out of signing lambert and dudek? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sidney Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago 3 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said: Happy clapper echo chamber?? Certainly not 'happy clapper's as you put it. Plenty of constructive ideas and business contacts were put forward. Much constructive criticism and suggested solutions also supplied, mirroring quite a lot that is put forward on here. One thing I would say, having looked at some of the suggestions and comments in response, is there is a lot of disagreement between fans on what to do. Having been to Poland last year, and having seen the atmosphere created by the drumming and chanting section of the crowd, I tentatively suggested trying that here - to be told by one fan that if I brought a drum near him then he would shove the drumsticks inside me though an opening ( and it wasn't down my throat). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kieran22222 Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago 1 minute ago, Sir Sidney said: Certainly not 'happy clapper's as you put it. Plenty of constructive ideas and business contacts were put forward. Much constructive criticism and suggested solutions also supplied, mirroring quite a lot that is put forward on here. One thing I would say, having looked at some of the suggestions and comments in response, is there is a lot of disagreement between fans on what to do. Having been to Poland last year, and having seen the atmosphere created by the drumming and chanting section of the crowd, I tentatively suggested trying that here - to be told by one fan that if I brought a drum near him then he would shove the drumsticks inside me though an opening ( and it wasn't down my throat). Let me guess the fan was 60 plus and wanted speedway to go back to the good old days 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therefused Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago 30 minutes ago, Kieran22222 said: Can you share who pulled out of signing lambert and dudek? id imagine it was the other way around and the riders backed out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rearingtogo Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago 2 minutes ago, therefused said: id imagine it was the other way around and the riders backed out. Demands too expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago (edited) 2 hours ago, Hamish McRaker said: So in your opinion, which clubs are being run by hobbyists? For me, "the hobbyists" are those who, year in, year out, are quite happy to lose a budgeted amount of money... League position, and aspirational growth of their club and sport, has little meaning for them, just getting to the end of the season "within budget" is their sole ambition.. Usually ex riders or ex sponsors of retired riders, who come into promoting, replacing someone with a similar background, and just enter the "Speedway Bubble Echo Chamber" knowing no different, so just carry on doing the same old, same old that has been the way "for a long, long time"... Ensuring riders get plenty of rides is an aim for some of them, given many will be mates of current riders, and, with many being ex riders themselves, they will have a certain level of empathy for those who ride the bikes... However if by doing this it mpacts the credibility, prestige or authenticity of the sport, it doesn't really matter, hence doubling up and guesting is rife, without any aim to stop either... Which all means that UK Speedway looks more like a "Gentlemen's Club" than a bona fide professional team sport, with many within it, I would imagine, enjoying more the social aspect of being in charge of their clubs, without needing the pressure of leading a "proper" professional sport, that has jeopardy, consequence, and high rewards , but, inevitably, the high pressure that comes with it.. Rinse and Repeat Ad Infinitum... Edited 6 hours ago by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted 6 hours ago Report Share Posted 6 hours ago You could come up with a formula that provided excellent exciting racing surrounded by an enjoyable race night experience at a price point fans where happy with in a packed stadium and all the other utopian ideals in place but in speedway if it came from a team or person you didn’t like, holes would soon be picked however invalid they may be and the whole thing would fall apart or not get off the ground to start with. Petty bias is the underlying issue with this sport where competition spills off the track, into the boardroom and onto the terraces. An independent body would be fine as long as it’s your independent body and the pushback against those who’s face doesn’t fit no matter how fine their ideas is alarming and sole destroying for a sport that is absolutely required to work together. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago 20 minutes ago, mikebv said: For me, "the hobbyists" are those who, year in, year out, are quite happy to lose a budgeted amount of money... League position, and aspirational growth of their club and sport, has little meaning for them, just getting to the end of the season "within budget" is their sole ambition.. Usually ex riders or ex sponsors of retired riders, who come into promoting, replacing someone with a similar background, and just enter the "Speedway Bubble Echo Chamber" knowing no different, so just carry on doing the same old, same old that has been the way "for a long, long time"... Ensuring riders get plenty of rides is an aim for some of them, given many will be mates of current riders, and, with many being ex riders themselves, they will have a certain level of empathy for those who ride the bikes... However if by doing this it mpacts the credibility, prestige or authenticity of the sport, it doesn't really matter, hence doubling up and guesting is rife, without any aim to stop either... Which all means that UK Speedway looks more like a "Gentlemen's Club" than a bona fide professional team sport, with many within it, I would imagine, enjoying more the social aspect of being in charge of their clubs, without needing the pressure of leading a "proper" professional sport, that has jeopardy, consequence, and high rewards , but, inevitably, the high pressure that comes with it.. Rinse and Repeat Ad Infinitum... Would tend to agree,also being back up by Generous Supporter Club Donations by loyal speedway fans. problem being if they decide they have had enough it’s hard to say where the sport will end up.Most of said Promotions are knocking on in years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago This site is a a microcosm of the running of the sport as a whole. Anyone who brings up an issue by a club whether that be poor racing/track prep, running outside the rule book or poaching riders, to give a few examples, immediately gets berated by home fans who’s desire to back their team trumps the greater needs of the sport as a whole. The most irritating thing is the very issue they are defending soon becomes wrong when another team do it. This yo yoing of morals is indefensible in my eyes and renders any point of view they have, moot due the biased nature from where it is comes from. “It’s ok for me and my mates to do these things but not you, especially if it gives us an edge.”This is not only where we are now but also where we have been for years and the reason good people have walked away from the sport. We don’t aspire to match the best but prefer to pull the rug from under them. The current pushback has already started and I fully expect it to succeed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago 20 minutes ago, Fromafar said: Would tend to agree,also being back up by Generous Supporter Club Donations by loyal speedway fans. problem being if they decide they have had enough it’s hard to say where the sport will end up.Most of said Promotions are knocking on in years. Similar to English football circa 92... Butchers, Bakers and Candlestick makers all ran clubs... Then Sky came in and "Chief Execs" also came in and the Premier League was born with an independent leader, (agreed, and paid for, by the clubs).. People with the skill set required to move the whole entity forwards... Well meaning amateurs soon disappeared... UK Speedway truly is "prime" for relaunch given its tiny following. (20k a week?), with just another 500 at the remaining tracks giving a huge % increase... Did I read it was now the 16th best supported sport in the UK?? What an opportunity for growth.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted 2 hours ago Report Share Posted 2 hours ago On 4/6/2026 at 9:32 AM, BryanUgest said: Fake News PhilTheAce! Flagrag has already indicated he has been moved on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flagrag Posted 5 minutes ago Report Share Posted 5 minutes ago 1 hour ago, stevebrum said: Flagrag has already indicated he has been moved on. Just isn’t the money for the role but hopefully Phil will still be involved in a more advisory role and possibly on a pay as you go basis . If the TV deal had come off he would have been very involved. i still do not agree that clubs didn’t take the initiative of broadcasting one meeting a week free on You Tube to satisfy sponsors and try to attract more new fans all they had to do was pay the production costs which were minimal compared to the full tv production costs. The best way would have been to pay BSN to produce one meeting a week for free YT broadcast as that would then give them the opportunity to upsell their subscription service of people want to see more and could have sold race sponsorship for the season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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