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As I've said communication is key with your customer base even if there's stuff going on that's being sorted tell us. It's not exactly difficult to do, keeping people in the dark is not a good way to treat customers who they want to buy tickets, it's not a good way to promote the club and it actually comes across as arrogance. Is there a problem? If so tell us, we actually be able to help or know someone who can. That isn't solely Peterborough Panthers either that's many other speedway clubs and thousands of clubs in other sports to who are stuck in the 1990's. The fanbase is your community, keep them in the dark they become disengaged or disillusioned. Learn from the fanbase, not every comment with be helpful but listen to it, it's free advise. Lose your fans, you may never get them back.

Noone ever said that: I was just commenting on a person who has only been on this forum for two months repeating his hatred again and again and again ...

The January edition is now on line https://classicspeedwaymemories.webador.co.uk/ Read about Fixing the Fixtures - some imaginative and some weird fixture setting in the 60s Postscript to Dual Nationals - were Charlie Monk and Bill Landels eligible to ride for Australia Plus "Anyone Remember No2", Obituaries, Big Birthdays, Letters

There will be several but won't know who until teams are finished and would suggest it will be middle order riders who miss out due to teams being built differently

Don’t care about averages, it’s supposed to be a development league to help British riders …..isn’t it ?

He signed and rode for Newcastle after winning the World U21 Championship at Brandon on 30 September 1991. As a result only rode in challenge matches or even match singular. But the Diamonds were the first club he represented in the UK. Definitely rode at Brough I'm 99% sure. The more informed on here will have details I'm sure. Can't remember who he replaced (was Dicko injured?) but it was a good Diamonds team that year winning the Gold Cup early in the season with the legendary Bargh/Thorpe 5-1 in the last heat to seal it. Was the season Thorpe and Lamb started at reserve and ended up heat leaders. Good memories. Would be nice to think we could see his son line up for the Diamonds one day but memories are all we've got right now.

I don’t get why they told us all to listen to the local radio station back in November for a big big announcement! When clearly there was nothing to announce

I would imagine that the majority, if not all, of todays promotors would just love to see the “good old days” return with the crowds. Reading books like Peters, where recollections are put in writing, we can get a glimpse that not everything was rosey. What with disputes between riders and disputes between riders and promotors and even the governing body, makes life in those days come alive, and interesting to read.

Sedgeman is no slouch either,effectively put Glasgow out the KOC last year on his “welcome back to Ashfield” guesting for Edinburgh.

I personally think Birmingham have a decent side, 1st they have 6 soon to be 7 riders to watch for the 2023 season ( not all supporters have a club to support) You’ll be surprised with James Wright who did excellent for Newcastle and I think he’s in a false average. Every time I saw Nick Morris last season he was excellent giving 100% all the time , lastly I think Alfie Bowtell will increase his average and push for a heat leader as he’s been improving every season. A lot of positives for this team.

Should have left Jason Pipe in charge

I'm saying nothing, but I sorted mine this week - and paid upfront!!

His book was a great read... You could certainly see that in those days it really "meant something"... The big sponsorship of Gulf, so many teams involved, admission costs more reflective of what disposable income people had, and stadiums full of punters, many of them there to see true "sporting superstars" not just "speedway superstars".. And riders like Wikie, happy to earn in a night what they could earn in a week in their other "real jobs", and could earn that money four or five times each week, and sometimes more... A much different landscape from today where so many riders of Wilkies level (and much, much lower), are now "fully professional" and septets and meetings get contrived just to provide them with that opportunity, (which obviously then destroys the credibility of the product being served up)... No major sponsor, no major mainstream coverage, no "household names" who resonate across the sporting spectrum, no league title winners getting good financial rewards and publicity for winning, no tracks struggling to fit everyone in... As the saying goes.. "We've never had it so good"...!! NB (Exactly like Poland has today, be interesting to see if they blow it like the UK did)... Wilkie...

Just aswell Newcastle United are doing very good as if Mr Ashley was still in charge could you imagine how depressing it would be with the toon fighting relegation or even getting relegated last season & the diamonds getting the plug pulled midway through the season... But thankfully the Saudis came in !! Just a pity they never had a bit loose change probably a million or 2 & could have sorted a new speedway venue out for us diamonds supporters

Don't think town got anywhere near 1000 at games, only won once all year and nearly folded mid season

I’d rather see a competitive league than a side of 5 3/4 pointers getting hammered home and away. with 2/3 non Brits taking part is it really affecting the league as much as you’re making out? not really.

Yes the Pearson Tatum one was good Enjoyed that one

Sitting twiddling my thumbs in a Maltese hospital ward where my parents are currently residing. Finally caught up with this thread and gave me the chance to explore Doug's "magazine". The photo on the home page is a great start with the 1968 Tigers at the tapes against the Heathens of Tommy Bergvist and Ivor Brown. Sadly 2 Heathens I never saw ride as by the time I made my debut at Dudley Wood near the end of that season they were both injured. Tommy never rode in the UK again afaik and Ivor retired. Some interesting stuff as ever from Doug, which we would expect from his contributions to Backtrack over the years. Good luck with the venture.

You are correct, Brian went to Newcastle for the short period after he won the U21 final. i think he was always scheduled to be a Bee though & the move to Newcastle was one of convenience as he was in the Bees team at the start of the next season.

Still riding bikes but now on race tracks than oval circles.

I just said they were weak ....better to have a team than none ....

It's just money up front, not extra money. I had a season ticket for years, but still attend now I've stopped buying one.

Good stuff!

I definitely dont think so, I’d personally take the Birmingham team over Berwick and Edinburgh, did you see Birminghams squad or lack of for 2022 cause im convinced you haven’t.

incorrect . The MDL is awaiting confirmation from some clubs over participation. Neil Vatcher is working with the league co-ordinator on this and junior racing WILL be continuing. Jason Pipe never ran the MDL further news on this will follow asap .

The mob has done a good job dealing with this

Massive shame

Halder heading north hmmm... I really do hope he gets a team. I have never seen Kieran Boughen ride before, but I imagine he'll come on strong eventually, got to admit I know very little about either of the Boughens. I am indeed way off the mark, just guessing to create some conversation and someone a bit closer to the club may offer some insight into who may actually be signed, not sure who would be linked So we are told... Definitely not enough riders, clearly not... Wonder if the Premiership junior league or something similar to the MDL may be set up next season to allow the likes of Kieran Boughen, who aren't quite good enough the opportunity... If focusing on Australian riders is more important. Or is there not enough teams anymore for a junior league after they were all forced to close because they didn't have a multimillion pound venue to race at

Cegeilski was excellent on small tracks. I remember he scored 16 on his first visit to Kirky Lane. A very good rider whose career was bitterly cut short.

To me it doesn't look like a team that's been put together at the last minute so for a few they may have known they had a team place at Mildenhall a rejected other offers

Thank you for the link Ghostwalker. I’ll get planning!

Discovery+ Entertainment & Sport included for free with Sky Q/Glass/Stream Open the app from the apps menu, or say “Get discovery+” into your voice remote.

Wilkie was a childhood hero of mine,but the real hero was his wife who gave her all in looking after alan after his accident ,and yes his book is a fantastic read get yourself a copy and cherish it .

It will work I think people will.be pleasantly surprised...

That's definitely how I saw it. The first EL match I went to at Hoddesdon on a Saturday night had a massive crowd, way bigger than anything I had seen there before.

Very useful racing in the NL as well or the fixture list would look very empty

Yes, quite a few riders without a team place this season, could somebody tell me when the limit of Double uppers was scrapped, believe it was 3 riders from any team, 2 teams so far have got 5 Double uppers for this season !?!. Wrong in my eyes for the riders without a job.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16.8&lat=51.43224&lon=-0.18613&layers=170&b=1 hopefully it works.... use the slider on the bottom to flick between the two stages in history.

I worked at Tesco's for 4 years as a student. Can you believe they won't let have free food now? There's a difference in your comparison. No one would question the right for PC to enter for free as a lifetime guest of honour. But riders who were paid for their time back in the 80s and 90s....Mark Crang, Bernie Collier, Barry Ayres, Paul Embley and hundreds of other wannabees, why should they get lifetime passes - that's the issue.

No Premiership junior league or MDL next season, only the NJL.