Halifaxtiger

A good friend of mine is a Sheffield stalwart and we spoke about Lakeside at Scunthorpe the other night. He was roundly abusive about it and somewhat contemptuous of my view that it had acquired a bad reputation years ago but when I had been I had seen some cracking racing there. His face book post on the way down said : '15 years since I've been here, it was bloody awful then' After the meeting, he said : 'Cracking meeting tonight mate, passing in almost every heat, best racing I've seen this season apart from Redcar and Owlerton,'

'You only have to read the arguments, self interest, and sometimes downright crazy ideas on here to realise the fans are the last people that should be listened to' If he isn't, he's saying something very near.

https://tellmands.inmoment.com/websurvey/2/execute#/1 Marks & Spencer customer online survey. A quick check shows Tesco, Sainsburys and Morrisons all have them. While I would absolutely agree that it is a question of sorting the wheat from the chaff, it is ridiculous to suggest that any business should disregard the views of their paying customers.

Definitely the chicken curry - made by Mr Bishop's own fair hand - the sausage casserole or the steak pie. All home made and way, way better than the usual rubbish you get at speedway. 20% discount on the ferry using the Warriors website and if you are coming on the cat, it gives details of how to book a free taxi from the pier to the track. You won't regret it. A truly superb little club that sets the standards for others to follow.

I'd say its perfectly reasonable...............if they were on at the same time and clashed. Bearing in mind the football will almost certainly be over at least 2 hours before the start of the speedway, it is barmy.

While I agree with your view, someone who uses terms like 'scum' and 'nasty idiots' to describe other posters doesn't deserve much sympathy when those others hit back.

I don't think its any worse or better in general than it always has been. Its certainly a myth that the standard was higher 30 or 40 years ago.

So it should, because its nothing less than a bloody disgrace . Workington had their fixtures and dates approved by the BSPA and they aren't being told to change 'a few' but all of them, regardless of the arrangements they and their riders have made and whether their stadium is available on other days. What makes it even worse is that the very promoters who are responsible for this action now will not co-operate and bring their teams to Derwent Park when asked, and the icing on the cake is that this is almost entirely at the behest of one promoter who agreed with it and then changed his mind when he couldn't get guests for injured riders. An appalling example of just how badly speedway promotions are motivated entirely by self interest without any regard for the needs of others or the best interests of the sport as a whole.

It would be difficult to tell given that they aren't stand alone. Their gates are comparable with most NL sides, I'd say. Thing is if they didn't think the price was right they'd charge more - most NL tracks are 20-30% dearer.

Belle Vue Colts is £10.

I think you are hearing exactly the same as me. It seems that the number of clubs in the planned league is less than that currently in existence so a few have to go, which suggests to me that the annulment of racing licences is less motivated by a determination that speedway clubs pay their debts (which has scarcely been a major issue in the past) than ensuring that future plans can be realised. I have heard that the promoter of one of the clubs you have mentioned (and it doesn't take the genius of an Einstein to work out which one) is about as popular as a lion at a zebra birthday party. He'd be the one to get hit, but they'd have to find a reason for it.

It can't be his fault entirely. Even if the idea to change was his - which is possible, if not likely - he can't carry it through on his own. Others must have supported it, so they are equally culpable. In addition, lets not forget that Workington have been struggling to survive for a number of seasons. Even if fixtures hadn't been changed, there's no guarantee that they would come to the tapes in 2019. Having said that, this ridiculous and selfish action unquestionably makes things more difficult for Laura Morgan. I know how much she cares about Workington Speedway but there will be limits. This could help push her towards thinking she really has had enough

As far as I can see, that's just one Friday. In addition, my suspicion is that Peterborough's difficulties with stadium availability are far worse than those of either Lakeside or Workington. Having said that, to tell a club that its arranged fixtures must change half way through the season when they have been agreed is farcical. Word I got was that there was no issue until a certain club lost a couple of riders to injury and couldn't get guests which, frankly, makes sense. I think it was clear from the outset that rider availability could be a problem if all the teams in the league were riding on one night (in which case one or two should have been refused permission to do so) but it seems that this decision has been dictated by self interest (there's a surprise ). What makes the situation even worse is I have also heard that teams have refused to come next week and on 27/28 July. In the circumstances, they shouldn't have a choice.

I have heard that too and I'd certainly think hard about it. 6 would be OK - after all, its hardly unusual - but 5 would be difficult to stomach.

Lot of dust to start with but after a few heats watering got rid of most of it. Usual very decent Derwent Park meeting, my highlight Bewley's last to first in one lap in heat 14. Berwick were poor and Workington will face much tougher tests but take nothing away from the Comets, they were impressive. All done in just over 90 minutes. Anyone missing the interval ?

I don't know, my friend. Phil Rising's comment that it is the worst he has known in 50 years - and he's been involved for at least that long - was scary. I can only hope there will be a resurgence, but can't see how. One thing though, I have no doubt that speedway - of some kind - will survive.

In your case, they are worth listening to because there's a chance you'll come back. But what is the point of listening to someone who doesn't go, doesn't watch it on television, never says a good word about it and wouldn't go if it was free ?

He is, WK. My point is why he would want to do so and why he seems to believe that others would find them credible. In addition, he's not just a disillusioned ex supporter. He's someone who doesn't go and has absolutely no intention of ever going or watching speedway again. That means his posts are overwhelmingly negative without a good word to be said and as bad as things might be, speedway can still be a hugely entertaining sport. You yourself were a disillusioned former supporter (thankfully, not any more ), but there is no comparison between your previous position and his.

If you have no time for speedway, don't go and have no intention of going and won't watch it on television, what on earth are you doing on a speedway forum ?

They certainly don't do the sport any favours and Tsunami is right, they are despised by the paying fan. With regard to the BSPA, if you are referring to the management committee alone that is harsh. Individual promotions must take some of the blame, because it is they who are responsible for what happens at their tracks. The problem I have with Moxey's posts is that he is someone who is fully aware of speedway but doesn't go, wouldn't go if it was free and doesn't even watch it on a cable channel that he is paying for. Given that he has no intention of going at all and has no idea whether it is good value or not why on earth should we consider that his opinion has any degree of credibility whatsoever ?

He's the vice chairman of the BSPA. Are you suggesting that he bears no responsibility at all ? This is an absolute shambles. If there was going to be a problem with Workington, Lakeside and Peterborough riding Fridays they should have been told that at the start of the season, not half way through when all arrangements had been made. After all, its not as though it couldn't be seen at that time. I wonder if Scunthorpe and Sheffield - both of whom are promoted by management committee members - are being totally accommodating to Workington's requests for rearranged fixtures given that it is those promoters who decided that race days must change. If not, it simply adds insult to injury.

You're right about this thread (like many others) degenerating into a personal abuse session but a discussion about the way a promotion has treated a fan is both fully justifiable and highly relevant. The simple fact is that far too often promotions treat their paying customers as simpletons, ignoramuses or fools and then have the gall to complain about poor attendances seemingly without any consideration that the two might actually be linked.

And yet when I went at the beginning of last season the place was packed. Literally thousands were there. Its none of those things that has done Rye House, its the switch of race nights.

I have said before that scurrilous, vicious and unfounded allegations cannot and should not be made but, you're right, on occasion they most certainly are. Further, you are also right about the fact that no-one shouldn't have to put up with such remarks - I think I have said in the past that criticism should be tempered by the knowledge that speedway tracks are loss making and continual and unjustifiable attacks could result in closure. Having said that, that doesn't justify replies couched in the same language or draconian actions against a paying customer. I would maintain that a public response to any form of criticism (however nasty, spiteful or untrue) can be put in terms that are reasonable to most people and, if they are, they reflect favourably on the promotion concerned. The simple truth in my experience is that far too often fans are either ignored or treated with contempt and even abuse - I have named two instances on here and could easily state several more. That's not good enough and, indeed, it is one of the sport's worst failings.

The thing was the young man in question absolutely loved his team and his speedway. He had some very good friends that he saw every week, so it wasn't even just about the racing. Understandably, he really did not want to get banned. He was treated disgracefully, both by the clown that had a go at him in the first place and the promotion (to be fair, one of the co-promoters dealt with the matter to the satisfaction of all concerned in the end). I think they should engage with fans at every opportunity. They have to be careful what they say, but simply ignoring comment or responding angrily just isn't on and will rebound on them. Interestingly I was putting this view to Laura Morgan at Workington last weekend