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Why is being gay worth celebrating?? We're all the same, we should treat all as the same. It would also be classed as Homophobic if there was such a thing as 'straight pride'.

Hear! Hear! Fans should have zero expectations from Speedway Promoters that what they will be watching would pass as a 'professional sport', or even 'professional entertainment'... How many years of experiencing this kind of thing happening will it take before fans (those who still go), finally realise they expect too much from the Promoters..? "Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer chance" when you attend a Speedway Meeting... Will the track be ok because it has rained too much/not rained as much as forecast/been too sunny/not been sunny enough/been too windy/not been windy enough?* Will all the riders be there or will some be in Poland/Denmark/Sweden/Somewhere else?* (with the express permission of their clubs who agreed to the meeting you are paying for knowing it would be a 'select' side being put out).? "Caveat Emptor" when it comes to Speedway I would suggest.. Keep your expectations as low as can be and you can rarely feel let down.. They do their best I am sure, and often for the love of the sport rather than expecting to make any money.. Well meaning amateurs who surround themselves with more of the same, pursuing an often expensive hobby... Whether it's good enough or not is judged by how many still attend I suppose.. Or possibly, more accurately, sadly, by that much, much greater number who no longer attend.. Bottom line is moaning won't change anything as plenty have moaned and walked away yet we still have the same issues now that have been around a long, long time.. Those who still attend should stick with it and accept that every now and then the sport will shoot itself in the foot.. * delete as applicable..

Firstly thoughts with Jordan. Looked an absolute shocker. This was my first and probably last time at Birmingham tonight. Having moved to the city at the end of 2019 I was pretty excited to have a track on my doorstep again having not had a local track since Reading - plus Wolves and Leicester not too far away… but I won’t be back! An utter shambles with 5.5 hours to prepare the track, yet as 7.30 rolled around there was a lot of standing around and not a lot of track work…. Absolute contempt for the paying customers. Not sure what happened there but it’s unacceptable - before anyone accuses me of being a ‘keyboard warrior’ and praising the promotion… I’m a paying customer and I didn’t pay to stand around for over an hour listening to music that is older than me whilst being told we’ll be underway shortly again and again. Speedway in the UK just doesn’t get it. As a mid 30s fan of almost 24 years with disposable income I’m exactly the type of fan Speedway should be trying to attract and maintain. But there is very little thought for the fans and nothing to attract newbies to stay. I was planning on attending at least 2 meetings a week across Brum, Wolves and Leicester. But having endured Wolves opening abandonment, Birmingham tonight and a very slow delayed first Lion Cubs meeting I think I’m finally done… there are better things to waste my time and money on I’m afraid. The sport needs an absolute revolution in this country to drag it kicking and screaming into this century.

There's no point in trying to deny that last night's meeting was a complete disaster and has done no good at all to the image of Birmingham Speedway or speedway in general for that matter, but this was the kind of night that all tracks in their turn do experience occasionally, and it doesn't make Birmingham a poorly run club and nor does it make Redcar villanous opportunists! Unfortunately, when these things do happen, there will be a hard core of supporters who must have someone to pin all of the blame on - and for many of these, the regular target is Laurence Rogers, who like him or not, is actually one of the hardest working people in speedway. When I arrived at the stadium in the early afternoon, Laurence was surrounded by a posse of officials from Birmingham City Council who were obviously grilling him for detailed information regarding the covid rules, and he was still with them over an hour later, and when I looked in at the speedway office, he was wading through the mountain of paperwork that had been left for him to complete. I admit was surprised at how dry the track looked, but I could understand the reasoning for delaying putting more water on. When I rang my wife at 5.30-ish, she informed me that it was pouring with rain in Brierley Hill (only about 10 miles away) and the gathering of black clouds above the stadium seemed to indicate that we were going to get the heavy shower that had been forecast for Perry Barr. In the event, all we had were a few spots, so although the decision not to water, was obviously the wrong one in hindsight. Regardless of that though, the track was not in very good condition having only been used once for practice since 2019, and I wouldn't dispute that both sets of riders were not particularly happy with it. I thought we were in a similar situation to Wolverhampton's a couple of weeks back when their opening meeting had to be called off after only two heats - the track staff did their best to put the surface right, but only succeeded in making it worse. The injury to Jordan Stewart just about put the seal on an unhappy evening, and I sincerely hope that his injuries aren't as bad as have been reported. I don't feel that the condition of the track was in any way the cause of the crash, but very few people I think, would disagree that the abandonment of the meeting through lack of medical cover, wasn't the correct one. The old system of two first aid men picking up an injured rider by the arms and legs, and just throwing him onto the centre green, went out of the window 30-odd years ago! As far as the match score is concerned, Redcar were well on top at the time of the abandonment, and I doubt whether the Brummies would have been able to pull back the deficit, and a fair outcome would be for Redcar to be awarded the match. I know that the referee was asked to do this, but this is a decision which no referee has the authority to make - as those who were asking this referee would know perfectly well. If the BSPL do decide that the scoreline should stand though, this would be a wholly just conclusion and one which I don't think many Birmingham supporters would disagree with. In conclusion, yes, it was a disaster of a meeting, but they do happen occasionally, and I for one am not put off my chosen sport through one bad night. I'm not asking anyone to agree or disagree with me. I'm just offering my own take on an unhappy evening.

Unfortunately whatever the legal position may be, you have young people starting off in the sport who do not have the money to test the situation having spent a fortune on equipment etc. and are/will be scared by these threats from what are older bullies who if the same was said to their sons or daughters they would be up in arms about it. The idea that the sport is professionally run is questionable as is the practices of those who make the rules and looking at the issues with injured riders and questions over whether some teams can field seven riders you really have to ask what risk assessments were carried out before they decided to run the league format this year given the potential rider shortage. One can only sympathise with the IOW and the dilemma they now find themselves in once again seemingly because someone somewhere has gone back on their word. I hope they call pull it off using foreign speedway riders and short track riders and sidecars and have fortnightly spectaculars throughout the rest of the summer. Take heart that the current speedway format is old hat, bad for business and short changes the punters. Keep the faith and the vision.

On this forum, we are constantly told the average speedway fan is upwards of age 50. Upwards of age 50, is likely to mean they are less tolerant to gay celebration events, so, in my opinion, I don't think it will go down very well with the average supporter. It's a generational thing. I'm 63 and I have no issue with LGBTQ+, but at the same time, I don't want my nose 'rubbed in it', which is what society seems to want to do, with many issues.

I don't get the Gay pride thing at all, nobody should be ashamed of their sexuality but being proud of it is like being proud of having dark hair or blue eyes, it's not an achievement. While we are on the subject how come Homosexuals are always grouped with transgender people or those who refuse to identify when it is all completely different things that are not any more to do with being gay than straight in many cases. Are we to assume that every gay person thinks there should be no sexual identification? In which case why would they be proud to be gay? Or are we to assume that all straight people are completely unaccepting of minorities while all gay people are completely tolerant of all other aspects of sexuality and identification? Or, as seems most likely to me, are we to assume it's about the loud minority yet again needing to make themselves feel more important while the majority just want to get on with life regardless of what they think about sex and identification?

I don't think Speedway should go down the 'adopt a trendy cause month'. Other sports feel compelled to display how virtuous they are, kneel for this, stand for that, wave for the other etc. Where does it end? Colour blind awareness month (No red, green lights) Left, Right, history month, where riders ride clockwise, then anticlockwise in alternate heats. Empathy for loosers month, where the rider finishing last gets four points? Enough of this wokery.

Perhaps therein lies the problem. In “the good old days”, them there great promoters like Charles Ochiltree, Ronnie Greene, etc WERE in it to make a living, hence their insistence on running a professional outfit and their valuing their customers, in order to maximise their income.

“So called fans” are paying customers. This notion that “fans” owe the tracks something is a problem with speedway… if the product is poor then “so called fans” become former fans. If McDonalds consistently served you cold food would you keep going back just because of goodwill? Of course not, a Speedway club is a business and businesses need to do all they can to retain and increase their customer base - not rely on that goodwill which will run out eventually and not sustain your business.

A lawnmower....

Reading the statement http://www.birmingham-speedway.com/_mobile/news.php?extend.2997 it is clear to me (a mere outsider), that the meeting should have been called off days ago and rearranged for when Redcar are there in the League (i.e making it the Cup match instead). “Firstly we had an unexpected issue with our temporary stand zones which delayed admission a bit" "We had to delay the start for around an hour or so while some work was carried out but it’s not an easy task on limited resources as well as being up against the clock." “Don’t forget as well the track hasn’t been used for 18 months or so and press and practice last week was the first time we’d had the opportunity to get bikes back out there and try and turn the track over." “We’ve been working a hell of a lot on the track lately but we have to admit that we’re struggling massively when it comes to equipment and resources too. With the break-ins and the fire vandalism, we’ve got two essential pieces of equipment still being repaired." “On the day itself as well, because of the greyhound trials that were happening on Wednesday this week, we couldn’t get to work on the track properly until after 2pm. That was far from ideal and with it being 26 degrees, no sooner were we getting water onto the track it was drying up more-or-less instantly." The last two quotes say to me "We couldn't prepare the track properly in the time we had." They knew about these problems well before yesterday and therefore should have called it off IMO.

I used to like Mothers Pride but prefer Warburtons now.

I think that questions need to be asked of the Birmingham promotion after this meeting. To say that they could only get to work on the track at 5 hours before the start time seems like a very feeble excuse for starting the meeting over an hour late. I did see the that they were also delayed the start as well to get supporters who were still queuing to get into the stadium as well, but Birmingham really do need to get their act together otherwise they could see fans walking away from the sport if they are not careful. And for me it is only fair that the result should stand.

And this is the crux of the matter. I took numerous new people to Speedway and always said dont judge it on one match, give it 3 or 4. But what can you say when they have to stand around for an hour then see less than half of what was advertised? Whatever the reasons are, that doesnt leave a good impression.

Firstly may i say i am not surprised by this at all, so the BSPL are happy to allow amateur riders to ride over on the IOW Speedway thats them appearing to be the good guys, but then at the same time they decide to define NL level riders as professional riders thereby denying the IOW access to these riders, and denying these young amateur riders the opportunity to get riding experience, so yet again the BSPL are wearing two hats. Lets be honest guys they the BSPL are doing exactly what was done in 1963, they are crapping themselves just in case the IOW make a success of there venture, hence the alleged threats to riders that they may be fined or even banned even if they set foot in the Stadium, In my opinion the BSPL would rather see a Track close than succeed outside of the confines of the BSPL.

I will still be there for more than many of the riders of some teams Just call me Jack.....

It’s an entirely sensible and good thing to do. therefore speedway won’t be adopting it.

costs extra

Yet another example of idiocy by the governing bodies. If speedway was considered a sport as a whole by all promotions rather than their personal interests then we would be in a far greater place. Additional laps for NL grade riders can only be a benefit to their own NDL teams, a well run production engaging existing a new fans is a benefit to the sport as a whole. The IOW haven't pitched up next to an existing track and are trying to take away business, they are not trying to harm the sport in any way in fact they are trying to help it grow. If a rider doesn't fancy a night on the Island due to whatever reason then fine but at least give them the option.

But clever enough to know that somebody having a different point of view and expressing it politely takes more intelligence than name calling!

Probably true. My own view is that this was a good performance from a team that no pundits reckoned had a chance in hell of winning anything. In any case, what is important for me is that we are back in action after 18 months of nothing and I am not too concerned about results.

Sounds like 1963 when the promoters said that they would black any NL RIDER that rode on a provincial league track. After 15 months without live speedway, you would have thought they would let the IOW RUN THE MEETINGS. Shame on the BSPL

A drilling machine to adapt exhausts

because you snubbed them and they're big babies who clearly don't have the sport's interest at heart. Get the French guys over, run a few French league fixtures like the American football does at Wembley.

I note that it is Pride Month and wondered what Speedway clubs are doing to celebrate this, if anything anything? Ice Hockey had a Pride Weekend and it was a great success. https://www.eliteleague.co.uk/article/827-eihl-s-pride-weekend-arguably-most-impactful-in-pro-hockey I was a bit sceptical at first and didn't really understand the concept. And, to be honest, I couldn't even tell you what all the initials in the acronym LGBTQ+ stand for. But all the players and fans really embraced the concept and I did find it helped my engagement as a fan, even though I have been a season ticket holder for the Guildford Flames for 15 years. I soon realised it was just about celebrating difference and coming together as a community. It really made me feel I was, in a small way, a part of a community I was genuinely proud to be a part of. It also helped turn a standard League match into more of a special occasion. Definitely seems to be an idea worth considering.

KL won't win a meeting all season. I feel for the fans.

You are right as always Mike. Nothing changes and I could list a catalogue of Speedway disappointments over many years that compared to last night. It is just something some of us have become hardened to. I will of course keep going and so will others but sadly I fear many more won’t and have already given up and I do fully understand why.

Illness has been reported as the reason.

Ok - so what happened , happened - as has been said lessons need to be learnt and I don't think anyone wants to see Birmingham put in a position which threatens their participation. I would suggest Birmingham need to look at doing the following 1. Haven't seen what was said about ticket refunds etc - so offer all those with tickets for last night to rebook for next redcar match, or get money back 2. Get onto Swindon and/or Somerset and see about loaning some equipment, if that is main problem then get something in place - otherwise get onto Wolverhampton and borrow whatever necessary to get track sorted. 3. Depending on result tomorrow night at Redcar, look at advising BSPA that they concede this tie - fixture lists are crammed and no doubt there will be rain-offs to fit in, don't want cup dragging on as usually happens 4. Finally next home meeting have a collection for Jordan Stewart - not suggesting Birmingham in anyway responsible for his injuries, but it would just be a good gesture.

All we need is Goebbels in stillettos to let us into Ashfield and we're on.our way back to normality

WIGHTLINK WARRIORS SUMMER SPECTACULARS AT RISK After the incredible support shown to the Wightlink Warriors following their withdrawal from speedway's National League (NL), news that the plans for the summer spectacular of racing are at risk will come as a huge blow to many fans across the UK, and especially our loyal fans and supporters on the Isle of Wight. The reason is not Covid this time, or a lack of interest, but it's a lack of suitable riders who are concerned at the threat of possible sanctions. Warriors Co-owner Barry Bishop explained, "After the news that the Directors of the British Speedway Promoters would allow amateur status riders to come to the Isle of Wight to participate in our events, everyone associated with the club was delighted, and the feedback from the public was that it was a great move for the sport and rider development. With riders literally chomping at the bit to ride on the Island to improve their skills, get more track time and competitive racing under their belts, we now find that the BSPL appear to view the NL riders contractually in the same way as Premiership and Championship riders even though NL riders are classed as amateur and not professional, with clubs stopping riders from coming to the Island. If you recall, we were delighted that a way forward with the BSPL was found as the NL has always been presented as amateur with riders being paid effectively expenses but this, we are told now is not the case and NL riders have the same professional status as Premier and Championship riders. To be honest the threats being made to some riders should they come to the Island are really very sad to see ranging from receiving bans or fines for stepping into the stadium (to support us) to participating in a meeting that "could lead to a ban or a fine" - and even practising at Smallbrook could incur the same measures being imposed which is in complete contradiction to what the regulating body have told us. Only yesterday, another new reason for refusing permission to ride emerged when the charging of entrance fees and payment of riders became an issue. With full medical cover and ferry costs to meet, along with all the other costs of a stadium, why wouldn't we charge spectators to watch an evening of entertainment? The future now is unclear with riders being prevented from racing by rules that the BSPL clubs and riders do not appear to be aware of - there is no defined statement. The Warriors are being prevented from entertaining our fans which will include some of the expected large number of holidaymakers this year, and our sport overall goes a little further downhill. In an ideal world, there needs to be a public statement from the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB)/BSPL immediately telling riders what the rule is with regards to coming to the island as even non contracted riders are hesitating about coming over. All BSPL riders are self-employed and permission from their promoters to do other events may not be unreasonably withheld and coming to the island would be in our view be no different than participating in a grass track, road race, motocross, banger racing, international events and other Nora events. It should not be the case of you can only do one or the other as riders are being told. With the recent dreadful news of Somerset closing, we cannot understand why the BSPL would want to prevent riders racing, fans being entertained, sponsors being advertised, and another club prosper/saved. Perhaps it is the opposite they wish for? We would like to say that we are happy to meet with the BSPL to discuss things; we have spoken to the SCB and Auto Cycle Union already. However, we are continuing to work on our options and are in constant dialogue with the teams that have committed to support us in Challenge matches and who in our view are vital to the future of the sport, and an update will be issued as soon as more information is available and a revised start date”.

Tigers against the best heat leader trio in the league , will strength in depth prevail ? Wish I was there instead of having to watch it on the telly

Because the Brummies are in the Minority of clubs that are currently ran badly. I’ve been up to Edinburgh, Redcar and Bell Vue this year and they have all been great meetings. At those clubs you can actively see the promoters trying to move with the times and put on a show that in my opinion is worth the money to watch the sport we all love. It’s really not all doom a gloom and I realise not everyone can travel to other tracks often but even it’s only now and again I’d urge anyone to take a trip to any club in the country bar the Brummies and Kings Lynn at the moment. Plenty of positive to shout about this year already it’s a shame it’s so easy for people to just focus on the negatives.

Totally agree and probably Connor Mountain for Kingsley.

Delighted to be proved wrong

Second meeting Kerr and Lawson snatched a 5-1 in heat 15 to win in the space of 5 days.

We could have a minutes silence at the beginning of each speedway meeting, to respect all the defunct tracks. Also, maybe a remembrance day, for all the defunct tracks and wear some kind of badge or flower. Perhaps a badge resembling a can of Castrol R?

Yes and it seems (Ghost Teams not allowed) dont apply when they ride at Scunthorpe, one rule for everyone else but another rule for him...

Havvy's thoughts https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/19347828.havvy-there-nothing-wont-length-wont-go-help-poole-champions/?ref=twtrec

No to Speedway celebrating Pride. Not because Pride isn't worth celebrating (it really is) but if Speedway did it, it would be an embarrassing, clumsy load of old crap along the lines of much of the way British speedway is run/presented generally

See this is the average intellect of the Speedway fan and I have to say organisers/promoters too. Speedway is dying out and a large part of the reason is that many people involved in the sport are as thick as sh*t

its a superb facility and one we really really can't afford to lose. Surely its in the interests of BSPA Ltd to support the club with loans of equipment, etc. Talk of fining the club is only going to push it nearer the exit door. Isn't there a track inspector - shouldn't he be there today with the management ensuring this doesn't happen again. Oh and it shouldn't be re run imo

Laurence Rogers, a man duped by an Eastern European woman on Facebook probably isn't the person I'd want making day to day decisions at my club to be honest.

Can I not have fish & chips before the meeting and a pie before the Cubs match?!?

Speedway could do with adopting any cause it possibly can, to be honest. Surely speedway needs to be trendy. People need to remember that it is only in my own lifetime that homosexuality has even become legal, so you must admit there is something of a legitimate cause here. The right for gay people to join the armed forces was only officially lifted as recently as 2016. Gay Pride may not be your sort of thing, but you have to acknowledge the reasoning behind it surely.

Not sure Heeps is under performing,,, in 2019 he scored well from reserve,,, when moved into main body,, scored like he is now. Maybe this is just his level. Not all riders keep getting better.

Interestingly last nights meeting at Voyens in Denmark was also called off after a few heats due to an unfit track. And they don’t have dogs!

Thanks for letting me know!I actually thought that with Mr Rogers running current affairs everything would be fine?

And so they staged a crash after heat 10 had started - grow up and be sensible