1970's or 2020's?

[mikebv]

8 minutes ago, M.D said:

Never thought of that, but would it be such a bad thing?

Poland would employ riders, some would be on a wage and not ride. 

Would riders be happy with that, most want to ride and yes get paid well, would they just be happy practising and not riding competivly?

As for the UK, we could structure a new league with the same riders we have, guys like Rushan would learn a trade over here then move to Poland.

Not what we would want to see but would it end up with a business model that could keep the sport going in this country?

And should have been done years ago, when the GP's and Poland took over.

 

Edited 15 hours ago by mikebv

[cowboy cookie returns?]

I think it’s quite clear now. Mayfield want to try & move the sport forward both domestically in the UK & at gp level.

They seem aware that they need to bring some of what Poland do to the uk but also that they need to work with the poles.

The question is can they drag the BSPA with them or do Mayfield end up walking away in 5 years.

I get the feeling this is really last chance saloon.

 

[IainB]

5 minutes ago, M.D said:

Never thought of that, but would it be such a bad thing?

Poland would employ riders, some would be on a wage and not ride. 

Would riders be happy with that, most want to ride and yes get paid well, would they just be happy practising and not riding competivly?

As for the UK, we could structure a new league with the same riders we have, guys like Rushan would learn a trade over here then move to Poland.

Not what we would want to see but would it end up with a business model that could keep the sport going in this country?

They may have to initially cut their squad size down but they can't be affording to lose their top stars due to injuries sustained abroad. It's the only thing missing from the Polish model to make it a real professional sport and it surely must be what they're working towards and they're probably only one big tv deal away from achieving it...

Having said that I've just watched the ZG Leszno match, ran in front of a big, young crowd... but they didn't even have a children's race during the interval (with the obligatory rabid dog chasing them all around)... think how much that would add to the gate, they've definitely missed a trick there 😉 

[Teromaafan]

Seventies music played over the PA……surrounded by pensioners with programme boards…..ah, takes me back…..to the meeting I attended last week!

[mikebv]

7 hours ago, IainB said:

They may have to initially cut their squad size down but they can't be affording to lose their top stars due to injuries sustained abroad. It's the only thing missing from the Polish model to make it a real professional sport and it surely must be what they're working towards and they're probably only one big tv deal away from achieving it...

Having said that I've just watched the ZG Leszno match, ran in front of a big, young crowd... but they didn't even have a children's race during the interval (with the obligatory rabid dog chasing them all around)... think how much that would add to the gate, they've definitely missed a trick there 😉 

Plus, riding on Mondays, using 200 Guests, the majority of ridsrs Doubling Up and Pit Gates being unable to be fixed due to absolutely no one in fhe whole of fhe country being available to do it that day....

All missed opportunities...

These Poles really don't have a clue do they?...

[ouch]

9 hours ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

I think it’s quite clear now. Mayfield want to try & move the sport forward both domestically in the UK & at gp level.

They seem aware that they need to bring some of what Poland do to the uk but also that they need to work with the poles.

The question is can they drag the BSPA with them or do Mayfield end up walking away in 5 years.

I get the feeling this is really last chance saloon.

 

A few years ago in the top flight you had Belle Vue as a lone voice against the old guard of Ipswich, Kings Lynn, Leicester, Sheffield & Wolves with the lower division sides supporting an as you were policy as the top flight is where their big hitters come from. This set up saw Adrian Smith jump/pushed and be lost to the sport due to the  cartel’s reluctance for change. 

We now have the best chance to make a difference as there are only Kings Lynn & Sheffield left of the old cartel. With regards promotions, Northampton & Ipswich are in their first year and Leicester have two under their belts so this added to Belle Vues ongoing crusade sees the balance of power shift. Don’t get me wrong it’s not going to happen overnight (though we pretty much did that with Northampton) but with these new alliances and Colman in particular I can see change for the good happening. Also even though Rob Lyon wears his Stars hat on match days, he is another who wants speedway as a whole to alter despite his paymaster, so he is another valuable ally in the quest for change. One thing for certain, if it doesn’t happen now, it never will.

[mikebv]

8 minutes ago, ouch said:

A few years ago in the top flight you had Belle Vue as a lone voice against the old guard of Ipswich, Kings Lynn, Leicester, Sheffield & Wolves with the lower division sides supporting an as you were policy as the top flight is where their big hitters come from. This set up saw Adrian Smith jump/pushed and be lost to the sport due to the  cartel’s reluctance for change. 

We now have the best chance to make a difference as there are only Kings Lynn & Sheffield left of the old cartel. With regards promotions, Northampton & Ipswich are in their first year and Leicester have two under their belts so this added to Belle Vues ongoing crusade sees the balance of power shift. Don’t get me wrong it’s not going to happen overnight (though we pretty much did that with Northampton) but with these new alliances and Colman in particular I can see change for the good happening. Also even though Rob Lyon wears his Stars hat on match days, he is another who wants speedway as a whole to alter despite his paymaster, so he is another valuable ally in the quest for change. One thing for certain, if it doesn’t happen now, it never will.

Adrian Smith, as a newcomer to the sport, was truly "blown away" by the on track action, and couldn't believe the huge potential the sport had for strong growth given its "raw materials" and its current crowd size starting point ..

Unfortunately, he was also "blown away" (but not in a good way), by the capabilities of many of those who ran the sport..

Eventually realising that their skill set, and lack of any ambition for change and growth, meant he was wasting his time, and considerable business acumen, dealing with them...

[Phannan]

1970’s all day long . Crowds, amazing smells ,splattered with shale , average riders putting their heart and soul into every race, leathers without sponsors names all over them . Basically the sport ran properly. 2020’s are a joke in comparison. 

[YeOldPitGate]

13 hours ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

I think it’s quite clear now. Mayfield want to try & move the sport forward both domestically in the UK & at gp level.

They seem aware that they need to bring some of what Poland do to the uk but also that they need to work with the poles.

The question is can they drag the BSPA with them or do Mayfield end up walking away in 5 years.

I get the feeling this is really last chance saloon.

 

 

13 hours ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

I think it’s quite clear now. Mayfield want to try & move the sport forward both domestically in the UK & at gp level.

They seem aware that they need to bring some of what Poland do to the uk but also that they need to work with the poles.

The question is can they drag the BSPA with them or do Mayfield end up walking away in 5 years.

I get the feeling this is really last chance saloon.

 

I wish them all the best as we know they have a huge task on their hands that sadly beat the likes of John Berry, Chris Louis, Jonathon Chapman and Adrian Smith etc.

To be honest the sport was starting to struggle when I started going in 1984 it had lost Penhall and shortly after lost Carter and Sanders every year in winter 2-3 tracks were in trouble but there were normally 2-3 people ready to step in and take over the track/s where now days there is minimal interest from new outside promoters.

Buster does take a lot of flak (a lot of which is fair) but he has kept Lynn running when he doesn't really want to be involved, he also wants to keep losses to a minimum now he's getting on a bit and as far as I'm aware there's been near zero interest in anyone taking the team off his hands.