The Brady/Dan partnership is something that doesn’t come along very often, not unless you attract a couple of off the peg superstars by waving a cheque book. Dan has come through the ranks at the club and to see Brady go from the 7.50 bunch to one point off being world champion has been phenomenal. I can understand The Aces keeping them together whilst they can but it’s inevitable that one of them will join our No1 club and line up at the top of another of our competitors.  The issue with releasing one to raise funds to promote the club is all well and good but it’s this insular thinking that holds the sport back. We need to be thinking nationally on this topic and not just club to club. Should Brady move on then it releases no money nationally as the burden falls on another club in our collective and probably at an increase cost. Think us not me.  When air fences came out clubs ran individual meetings to help pay for the initial cost, maybe something along those lines could be done to fund a national advertising pot?

The season Emil came over he certainly brought that, it was noted by promoters that everyone had their biggest crowds that season on his visits, people turned up to see him for sure.  I think that probably subsided a bit over year 2 & 3 though, hard to say really how to make that draw more sustainable with the quantity of teams and top riders we now have riding here. “back in the good old days” when you had a much bigger league and only rode home and away once against everyone and some ko cup matches people would want to be there for the one chance too see say Jason crump visit Foxhall with belle vue, I love watching bewley and Kurtz visit the heath but last season they visited 4 times which reduces that excitement to get to see them for less die hard fans. so in a way I agree with the one top star per team to be the target but I think ultimately the goal should be to have say 10-12 teams with that one top star and drive that draw of “this is your chance to see “top rider X” at your home track this season” but that just seems to so far away from reality with the current state of affairs in uk speedway doesn’t it

Instead of doubling up and down why not double the fixtures instead like we used to have.  a meaningful league with promotion and relegation settled via play offs while the team who tops the league are crowned champions would mean every meeting meaningful. 

In a word, no! 99% of the population would not know the name of or recognise any speedway rider if they stood at a bus stop. This is why I have previously said that if British speedway were brave enough organise an affordable sport structure without trying to retain certain riders as a top priority, the current so called stars will not be missed in a few years time. Being blunt, get rid of doubling up. If riders can’t afford to stay in the sport, go part time or quit. Targeted new followers of the sport (which are vital) will not give a damn, so long as racing is competitive and their own new hero’s will emerge. Common business strategy I would have thought.

I was at Wembley in 1975, as a 19 year old, first speedway meet I ever attended, a friend of mine worked at a local rubber factory and a lady who worked with him was a Newport supporter and Phil Crump fan, she had organised a bus to Wembley and myself and 4 mates went, we got searched by the police in Trafalgar square after they hauled us down from climbing on the lions !  They spotted the leather jackets and got us to turn our pockets out, first time I ever heard the term "IC2 males" my friend Nicky had 2 screwdrivers, a penknife and a couple of spanners, the copper asked why he had these, he replied "I have a Triumph" the copper understood and let us on our way, great times , Phil Crump finished 6th