Halifaxtiger

As far as I could see, Rob, there was a considerable amount of action off track as well with the local equivalent of the Dingles throwing their collective weight about (which was far from inconsiderable). This was a most enjoyable first visit for me with some decent racing, a good welcome from the locals (despite the initial and subsequent fracas) and some good company in Lucifer Sam & Bob C. Give us a post, Devilmouth

I have to say the more I go to Weymouth the more I enjoy it. This was a decent meeting with some good racing marred only by the injury to Danny Halsey. Seemed innocuous, but the painful ones often are Little unhappy to hear the IOW management calling the decision to call the meeting off at heat 14 'a con'. There was no doubt that the county ambulance had been called, they know the curfew is 9.30 and Halsey's injury was such that he needed hospital treatment. The county ambulance actually passed me going to the stadium at 9.35.

Interesting to hear the cheers when Mr Bartlett announced on the night that he was putting the club up for sale (the person standing next to me shouted 'good riddance'). Clearly there will be a few who will be glad to see the back of him.

Very interesting question, this. I have spoken in the last few weeks to two current NL team managers and one former manager on this particular subject. Two have advocated a cut in the points limit, one rather draconian (36) the other not quite so (around 38). The third wondered where the bottom end riders are going to come from to make up the places of the top liners who will be forced out, and I think he's got a point as there are just 5 riders in the U15 championship this season. I do hope that restrictions are placed on Australians (with patriality or without) and that we see the kind of compromise between the stand alone and double up clubs most sensibly and reasonably suggested by one of the above three gentlemen, not one promoter selfishly and arrogantly demanding his own way at the expense and to the detriment of the majority of the rest of the teams. The NL can't survive without that. My other hope would be for the creation of an NL side jointly funded by our northern most clubs and sharing track facilities there. I also hope that all the teams will be back in again and am optimistic that Mildenhall will return. The biggest question marks to my knowledge are over Plymouth (who may go PL) and Bournemouth.

Weather permitting (and it looks OK at the moment) I am going to this too. Should be a cracker, and all being well I will be at the second leg as well.

We'll be able to do it together Weather permitting, I'll be going to Plymouth too.

John I have been to several rounds and a nominal charge is made for entry (I think it was £3 at Northside). Its certainly not closed to the public, and can make for a very interesting and entertaining spectacle indeed. Weather looks a bit mixed but I will be there tomorrow to see how young Mr Kirby gets on.

Two good mates of mine have said exactly the same so I have no reason to doubt your word. The thing is, though, is that when it really counted (in front of a big crowd and at a major event) the track was rubbish. That means that all the hard work over the season has been wasted or, at the very least counts for a lot less because people are not going to pay or to travel to watch such processional crap again. Real shame, if you ask me.

I must admit Nobby I thought that the checking of tickets was nothing less than bizarre. You queue up, hand your money over, go through a turnstile and less than 5 yards away someone checks you have paid. What on earth for ? Come on, mate. Since when has the quality of the racing at a track, the ability to put on a good show and the record for previous years had anything to do with the selection of tracks for the big events ? As far as I can see, giving spectators good value for money and making sure that the sport gets the best possible publicity are a long way down the list. If they were where they should be (at the top), Sheffield would not be holding the PLRC (remember the riders strike over the state of the track and the row over bike covers) and Rye House certainly would not get the NLRC - last years track was a disgrace, and how many refuse to go because it is Rye House ? Any track that puts on a bad show should be barred from holding the same event the following year, period. After all, if someone screws up the repairs on your car, you don't continue to take it back to the same place, do you ?

I was disappointed with this meeting but, for once, the weakened line up wasn't the cause. Its clear that Lindgren, Woffinden, Stead, Karlsson & Andersen were all injured in one way or the other and while its true that better substitutes might have been put out that is still better than the pathetic excuses seen in the past. What did me was the poor state of the track and the lack of decent racing. I had been told that the new shape of the circuit meant that the quality of the speedway had improved considerably and was very much looking forward to seeing that, only for there to be virtually no racing at all. As someone has accurately said, it seems that speedway goes out to shoot itself in the foot with a great deal of regularity and it certainly did so here.

Just to spare your blushes Sadly, I won't be there. I say 'sadly' because last Thursday's match was terrific entertainment and up there with anything I have seen this season and I don't anticipate such racing tonight at Belle Vue (if its on). I shudder to think what the gate will be, however. There was only a very small crowd on Thursday, it was bank holiday week and Dudley brought about 100. The quality of the speedway and the sheer persistence of this little club deserve better.

Terrific match and an absolute credit to NL speedway. Only sadness was the small attendance. No more than 250 or so, and half of them from Dudley. The Islanders deserve better, and from the standard of the entertainment those who do not attend because of the drop to the third tier are cutting their noses off to spite their faces, at least to a degree. Slightly (but pleasantly) surprised to see my old mate Stressed there. I always rated Bryn Williams as an announcer but there is no doubt that young Mr Helm is up there with the best (having had to put up with Mike 'like the sound of my own voice'Bennett on both Wednesday and Friday). Thanks for setting the rumours straight, Tim. Also good to see first bend Tony again, and very interesting to hear his very fair and reasoned viewpoint about the management coup at IOW this season which opened my eyes for sure. Little more concerned about his complaints (him being a born & bred Islander) about the Island becoming a 'huge retirement home'. I am sure he is going for the Island to become an independant republic, and hope I won't be one of the 'undesirables' excluded from entry. Finally, a big thank you to Joe & Barrie Evans for taking me down. Long day (15 hours, returning at 2.30 am) but never boring and thoroughly enjoyable. The Messrs Evans, Vic Clarke & I put the speedway world to rights on the way down (punctuated by the younger Mr Evans' pleas for more sponsorship and the elder Mr Evans' road rage) but the mystery of Barrie's misfiring engine on the way back was a harder nut to crack. Thanks again, fellas.

Very fair point. Is there any reason why it cannot start at 3pm, for instance ? Surely that will draw a larger gate ? Speedway (or, more accurately, its rules) isn't ludicrous or it certainly need not be. What is ludicrous is that rules seem to be broken (or bent to an unreasonable degree) every five minutes to suit the needs of individual promotions. That damages its to credibility to everyone but most importantly its own paying spectators, who see the motivation for such decisions is self interest with the sports reputation completely brushed aside. Over the last couple of weeks, I have had the pleasure of the company of Proud Potter and Bob C, two lads who have been watching and/or supporting and/or promoting speedway for many years and for whom I have the most profound respect. Their disillusioned comments with the way that speedway is run and the way that its regulations are bent and broken every five minutes were painful to hear. Until we get an independent adjudicator (or, as Proud Potter suggested, a panel) to make judgements on disputes and issues and create a body of binding case law this simply won't go away.

On the contrary - I can see several clubs wanting to sign Oliver. He's a very talented young man with a potentially bright future in the sport (especially if he can sort his gating out )In addition, I can say both he and his dad have been a pleasure to deal with. There's no way I would have sponsored him (and, touch wood, will continue to do so)if the above were not true. My dealings with Paul & Oliver (and Adam and Paul Kirby) have made me fully aware of the financial commitment that parents make to young riders (and I have no doubt that they are not alone)and, believe me, its huge. The loss of any earnings and/or a team place is no laughing matter and if Paul is angry about what has happened its scarcely surprising.

I think it was more a matter of motivation and, to be fair to Ray, which of us can say for certain that in such circumstances we would not have done so ? As far as I am aware, he didn't turn financial help so much as turn down help getting additional finance. That was, unquestionably, a mistake although whether it would have saved the club is anyones guess. I can only go on what Ray has said in that gates of 500 last season dropped to 300. On the limited evidence of my own eyes I didn't think it was that bad but I do know several regular supporters who stopped coming. If you build a team based upon gates of 500 and you get 300, that's a loss of £2,000 a week or so and if you are on limited funds anyway you will soon be in trouble. I think that is the case (or something pretty similar) and its the one perplexing thing. I thought Dave Coventry was trying it on offering half what the others did but it seemed to me to be a case of £5,000 or nothing; I am not certain why Ray didn't take that. I think Paul's complaints regarding non-payment are fully justifiable. As I have said above, I don't blame Ray for closing the track given the circumstances he has stated but breaking contracts is a little hard to take. The previous promotion was losing monry hand over fist but I am unaware of any rider complaining about not being paid.

Just got back, a little earlier than planned as the Bournemouth match was rained off. Not a bad meeting and I was surprised it was on at all because it was raining everywhere else nearby. Fully understandable decision to call it off as the mist was getting worse. Good to see BobC again and listen to his views on British speedway. Often caustic, but absolutely reasonable, all too accurate and very consistent with those expressed by Proud Potter at Buxton the week before. I never cease to be amazed by the human race. Although warm in Bournemouth when I arrived it was raining steadily, if lightly. The beach however was packed(aside from the crowds come to see the air show) and there were dozens in the sea. Apologies for not saying Hi, Tim. I tried to catch your eye but you were busy and the next time I looked you were up in the box.

Not a bad meeting, and good to see young Mr Evans back to form. He was very disappointed about his display for Dudley at Bournemouth (which has been traced to a fault in his electrics) and was gating like a train today. No fears for Dudley for the rest of the season. Thanks to Barrie, Joe & Kevin for picking me up from the station before the meeting and taking me back afterwards. Good to see my old mate Proud Potter there and to have a chat. Malcolm & I have crossed swords on here several times but he remains a man of absolute integrity and committed to the best interests of British Speedway. Some a day a role might be found for him nationally (although whether he'd want it I am not so sure). Two bad notes : Joe Jacobs was taken to hospital with a possible broken ankle. Craig Cook & Nick Morris arrived about 15 minutes before the start and were fined £100 each by the referee, the 'Grand Monarch' himself, Jim McGregor. Such fines to NL riders are obscenely excessive given the pay rates but that is only half the story. Buxton announced over the PA that they would do a collection for the fines and did so near the end of the meeting. When they approached McGregor to reduce the amount incurred he refused, saying that he would have halved it if an announcement had not been made. I do not know how such a vindictive, arrogant and spiteful decision can be justified and it will only do damage to the reputation of British Speedway's referees.

Ray certainly made a big mistake before the start of the season with some of his most loyal and committed supporters (which included the arrangement of away travel). It would be inappropriate for me to go into details on a public forum, but there's no doubt he did. Of those he did upset, however, most of them still kept coming. The first meeting was disastrous but, lets be honest, that was a one off. I can't remember the last time it happened (it certainly didn't in 2009) so for the sake of one meeting people made their minds up and didn't come. I can understand first time visitors but not those who are regulars. We got humped by King's Lynn, but how many times did we lose at home in 2009 ? We then won at King's Lynn and Dudley. The PA system is terrible at West Row. But would you be tempted to stay just because you can hear what is said ? Does a presenter have so much effect that fans would attend if he were there ? Somehow I doubt it. The fact was we had a good team, a good track and good racing. I can accept that peripherals might make a difference, but not to the tune of 40% of regular supporters.

Very fair comments, Norman. If I am honest, I don't blame Ray Mascall either for closing Mildenhall or for the closure itself. Ray had, quite reasonably, banked on drawing the same gates as at the end of the previous season and with the team he lined up and Joe Evans doing the track he must have had every expectation of achieving them. The disastrous start, with the fiasco over the U18 meeting and the team getting humped away to Rye House and at home to King's Lynn did such damage that people stopped coming although, as I have said elsewhere, given a better team and a better track I am not altogether sure why. That left him losing money had over fist and he only had limited funds to begin with. The death of his wife almost certainly destroyed any motivation that he might have had to continue. As you have rightly pointed out, I think the only criticism that might be made of him was that he didn't honour his commitments and he should have done. Other than that, I don't think he deserves the vilification he has received from certain quarters.

Any team news please, Jayne ? My car is out of action but I am coming over by train and getting a lift with young Mr Evans.

I was going to this meeting but I have suddenly changed my mind Since when did you have any 'Fen Tigers mates' ?

Very disappointed indeed but not surprised. The cards were on the table once Ray said that he could not continue and he and Dave Coventry could not agree a takeover price. There is some chance of restart in 2011 although any prospective promoter will be put off by the gate figues published in this weeks speedway star, a drop of 30-40% on last season. Recession aside, I can't think why so many people have stopped coming when the team and the track are much improved on what they were in 2009. I'll miss watching the Tigers of course but I will miss all the friends I have made down there so much more, because while I can nip to Scunthorpe, Redcar, Buxton or Newcastle for a meeting I will not have the pleasure of their company on Sunday afternoons for the foreseeable future.

I think you might be right but that's not how I read it or how anyone else would read it. That's the bit I don't get. It seems to me that Ray can accept a lower offer and get some money or get nothing and face the debts. If the rent is £1,300 if you add on bar & food takings I think Dave Coventry will lose around £600-£700 per meeting. If he was a little less intransigent on the rent side (as far as I am aware Ray is paying a fair bit more than you did)things could have moved on. It does seem to me that with a little more flexibility this could have been resolved. I think Jean was the motivating force behind the speedway and without her Ray does not have the will or the motivation to go on. Frankly, I would be surprised if anyone cannot understand that. However, at a time at which we should be showing understanding and sympathy for him if the riders haven't been paid that leaves a very nasty taste in the mouth, because it seems like he is prepared to pocket the gate takings and then not adhere to the contracts that he signed at the start of the season. Simon Barton, whatever his financial difficulties, never did that and I can appreciate why some might feel bitter and angry.

Coventry retorted: "This seems to be the attitude of a lot of people in speedway. The stadium has overheads and the rent includes track preparation, which is a very expensive business." Misleading to say the least It would be true to say that costs for any of the shale (actually, at Mildenhall, its brick dust mixed with clay)are met by Dave Coventry and that he repairs the track after stock car meetings, removing the concrete blocks that are round the inside of the circuit. He also is responsible for taking the safety fence down. However, the fence is put up by a team of volunteers on behalf of Mildenhall Speedway (which takes several hours)who also do other tasks like checking lights, painting the white line, starting gate etc. All of the track and security staff are volunteers who act on behalf of the speedway promotion. Joe Evans prepares the track (usually starting around 10.00am) and continues looking after it during the meeting. He's paid by Ray Mascall. Its very, very far from the case that the speedway riders & officials turn up and everything has been made ready by the stadium owners. If its very expensive for track preparation, then the fact that the speedway team do it all themselves (when that was not originally the case)should qualify for a reduction in the original terms agreed, surely ?

Brilliant That's the bit I don't get, Neil, and it makes you wonder what people want . While I recognise there is a recession on it is no worse than last year when, at the start of the season, we had a poor track surface and a weak team but higher gates. Ray & John have built a more than competitive side and, with Joe Evans doing the track, the standard of racing has improved significantly. Fingers crossed for a favourable solution.