Halifaxtiger

My understanding was that the 9pm curfew is self imposed to keep the locals happy rather than any planning permission requirement. It seemed to me that Rose' crash was caused by something mechanical as he stopped dead and was thrown forwards and that's likely to be a shoulder or collar bone injury. I am not sure if Bewley caught the back straight fence or not but he reared and went off the back of the bike, his out of control machine then hitting Masters. As has been said, I believe Newcastle's medical cover is second to none but as a result of demand caused by the bank holiday they were down to the minimum, leading to a lengthy delay after heat 2. It was a bit of a shambles after heat 11 as no-one seemed to know what was going on and it also seemed to take too long to decide what most thought was obvious. Having said that, and injuries aside, this was a highly entertaining meeting that looked like it was going to the wire. Bewley's stunning ride to go round Worrall in heat 4 was as good as anything that you will see. On a final note, the crowds appreciation of Phillips beating Riss was good to hear. While there are a few advocating his removal from the team, I haven't seen anyone come up with a reasonable replacement.

Nothing wrong with fans forums, indeed they are a good idea. But they they don't provide instant feedback where as the internet does. As an example, I was commenting on the Colts-Kings meeting about an hour after it had finished rather than 3 months (or longer) later. In addition, the internet (and I accept that there is a deal of rubbish) is a method by which customers can state opinions; foolish to ignore anything that does that, I'd say. It also gives the promotion a chance to respond promptly. At the first meeting I went to on the Island the track was a dustbowl and I complained on their face book page about it. Barry Bishop replied almost immediately, apologising, saying they would try to do something about it for the future, hoped I'd come back and said I could have a pits tour and a centre green visit if I did. To me, that's a near perfect response: an apology, a remedy and a bribe. It contrasts with the hostile and abusive response I got last time I complained to a promoter about the same issue. Same problem, different reply. Needless to say I have been back to Isle of Wight (several times) but not the other track. Doesn't take a lot to be reasonable and polite to a paying customer, but its something several simply do not seem to be able to do - although it doesn't stop them whining about how poor their attendances are. As to the cost of entertainment, Isle of Wight's sweets and tattoo's for children are provided by sponsors, and the bike race round the track costs the promotion nothing. It needn't be the case that you have to shell out a fortune to provide additional attractions.

After Workington's last couple of away performances its scarcely any wonder that no-one came, particularly given that this was a challenge match. I looked at coming up as I am going to Newcastle today but given the above chose the NL Pairs instead (which was, ironically, rained off).

Precisely. What Isle of Wight are doing is neither difficult nor expensive. Of course you can be critical of speedway promotions. That criticism has to be fair, reasonable and constructive, though, and frequently here it isn't. Indeed, promotions should welcome such criticism (although almost always they don't). To return to Isle of Wight, a few weeks ago on their facebook page Barry Bishop actually asked fans what they didn't like. Extraordinary, but is a mark of their attitude and wish to improve. After all, how can you change your product to what your customers want if you don't know what they like or dislike and worse, aren't even prepared to listen ? You can't do everything but changes can be made that are quite simple and won't cost a penny. To me, there are two types of people who aren't critical : those who pack up, leave and don't come back, and those who say everything is wonderful (at least publicly) whether it is or it isn't. Both are useless to a promotion. One because they don't know why they have left and the other because they are not going to say something is wrong even if it is. The best fan is objective in view, being reasonably critical but remaining loyal.

Much appreciated. I could point out that this is £15 for 24 races (not £17 for 17 minutes) that most of the top NL boys will be there and that the best racing I have seen at NA (or whatever its called) has been NL standard................

Depends on what website you look at. Has there been any rain ?

My point was more that there are some on here who have no intention of going and are constantly critical but remain a member of this forum. That may or may not be you but I simply don't understand why they are still here if they have no interest. As to listening to those who no longer go, it is my view that it is better to try and hang on to what you have and recruit new fans than to persuade those who have left back. You can, after all, only do so much and if you had been listened to while you were still a fan you might still be there now. Otherwise, its very difficult to disagree with your view because one of my beefs is that some (in fact, many) tracks simply do not try hard enough. I am reluctant to bang on about Isle of Wight but they are a superb example of how to go about it. You can make a fair argument that in a holiday resort like the Island advertising is not just desirable its a necessity, simply because there are so many people who are unaware precisely of what the attractions are. They, however, take it to another level. Posters, leaflets, banners, shows, fairs, newspaper adverts, the lot. One young lady even delivered leaflets on horseback !. I took a bus trip from Sandown to Ryde (about 6 miles) and saw two posters and one banner. As I say, you might expect a holiday destination to advertise but I have never seen anything like that at Eastbourne, for example. When you get to the tidy little Stadium, the food and drink is reasonably priced and you can take your own in. The promoter, Barry Bishop, welcomes people through the gate (one poster commented that the last person to do that was Johnnie Hoskins in the 1970's) and he spends the meeting wandering around talking to people. Last Tuesday he took a number of Birmingham fans on to the centre green. They weren't sponsors, VIP's, just ordinary fans down for the day. Both he and his co-promoter Martin Widman are totally approachable, will listen to comment and constructive criticism with a careful ear and give you feedback. Children are free. For a couple and 2 children under 16, parking and a programme, the cost is £24.50. That's comparable with any other evening attraction and reasonably affordable - at nearby Poole, it could set you back £53. Even the cost of getting to the Island is discounted. There are free sweets, free temporary tattoos and a bike ride round the track for the children. Last Tuesday, they had a bike ride round the track. One young lad is slightly disabled ( I think) and Kelsey Dugard pushed him all the way (and its a big circuit). A very small gesture by a rider that may have a huge effect. The speedway itself is very decent (not in Scunthorpe's league, but better than Belle Vue and Redcar and way better than Sheffield) and my old mates Bryn Williams and Tim Allan do some of the presentation and they are excellent. They are, quite literally, doing everything right from the moment you read one of the numerous adverts to the point that you walk out the stadium and its little wonder that their gates have increased week on week. The thing is none of this is particularly difficult or expensive - indeed, Isle of Wight have sponsors to cover much of the cost. Its simply about a promotion putting every effort in to make the night a good experience for all their customers. Would that every track in the country go to the same lengths because, quite frankly, few of them do. I certainly don't think they should automatically adhere to everything that is said on here - as you rightly say, views are wildly different. Not treating the opinions on this forum with absolute contempt and reading its contents would be a start.

I can only say what I saw. As far as I am concerned, Greaves was possibly to blame for the accident in the first running of heat 13. Otherwise, I'd say he was not at fault other than by standing his ground when confronted by an aggressive move by an opponent. That, incidentally, is identical to what the texter on the updates site thought.

When I was 12 I played with Lego. Now I am 51, I don't so its unlikely you will find me on a forum talking (or rather complaining) about it and I reiterate my point : much of the negativity about speedway today on here is made by people who simply don't go. As such - and other than by hearsay or Sky sports - they can't comment on the quality of the racing, the stadiums or the promotion. They can't comment on the presentation, the food or value for money that the sport offers. Pretty important to be able to do that if you are to make a reasoned judgement, I'd say. Funnily enough, I started going in the 1980's when all of what you say applied. My old Dad went in the 1950's and when he heard I was going said 'first out of the gate always wins'. Its absolutely incorrect to say that the sport was more entertaining then, because it wasn't. All that is different is the attendances. Last night at Belle Vue I saw a thoroughly entertaining meeting for £10 (£12 including programme). A football match at Halifax Town is £17. Over the past week or so I have had a week on the Isle of Wight and their attempts to promote speedway are astonishing. Leaflets, banners, posters, shows, fairs, newspaper adverts. On arrival, a highly visible promoter welcoming people and then spending the entire meeting wandering round the crowd chatting with spectators. Free sweets, free temporary tattoos, a bike race round the track and free entry for children a night out for a family of 4 for £22. Good racing thrown in. Bit of an exception, I'd agree, but this is a promotion who promote, big style. I think what you say is true up to a point. The question is whether the criticism is constructive or not, because I find on here it is often just individuals slagging the sport off. To me, it is far better to listen to your existing customers negative comments than to those who no longer attend - as a priority, speedway should try to hang on to what it has and attract new customers rather than attempting to tempt those who have left back.

I enjoyed this. Some decent racing (particularly heat 15) and a bit of aggro thrown in. James Shanes seemed to start it by making gestures at Nathan Greaves after heat 6 (not sure why). Greaves responded in kind after heat 10. Heat 13 was run 3 times, Shanes (off gate 4) being the faller on the first bend for the first two attempts. While it appeared to me that Greaves (off gate 1) moved over a bit first time,(he hit Robert Branford (off gate 2) who hit Shanes) on the next 2 runnings Branford try to cut across Greaves who was having none of it, resulting in a domino effect on the first re run and Branford being shunted out on the second. Then we had Payne (off gate 3) almost wiping out Greaves later in the race. Branford and Greaves had to be separated after one attempt and after the race had been run Greaves, Payne and Branford had to be likewise separated. Big performance from Shanes and from Ben Hopwood, with Kent's far more potent reserves the significant difference. For £10, a bargain.

'Handful' is harsh to say the least. On this thread alone (and in 30 posts) I have counted 8 posters whose opinions I respect and value. The problem with ignoring this forum (and in my experience contempt would be a better word) is that the sensible ones are treated as idiots. It would surely be better when dealing with paying customers (because an awful lot of us do go and on a regular basis) to treat the idiots as sensible. In my experience that is precisely how the majority of promotions treat the BSF. I don't think Tsunami is being dismissive, more that it is better to concentrate on attracting new fans with a possible interest (or without it) than trying to meet the needs of those who no longer go. I think he's right. Not for the first time, absolutely spot on. Here I agree completely. I find that a great deal of the negativity and spite regarding the sport on here comes from those who never go and wouldn't whatever happened. They apparently have no interest in speedway at all other than to come on here and stick the knife in. I must admit I find their continual participation puzzling. I don't like Rugby Union, don't go and have no interest in it, so the last place you will find me is on one of their forums.

I think you are wrong here. The thing is what you raise are the bad points of this forum - and I don't disagree that they exist - without taking into account that there are a considerable number of thinking, passionate supporters stating their reasoned and fair opinions. As I have said above, its a matter of sorting the wheat from the chaff. My view is that the BSF is ignored or treated with contempt by promotions because it is utterly out of their control and because it highlights the abuses and corruption that pervade our sport. They don't like having paying customers telling them that they are wrong even when they most definitely are.

They should be pretty much at home then. Its a question of sorting the wheat from the chaff and attempting to engage those who make valid points. Part of the problem I would suggest is that they really don't care to answer some of the questions posed (however reasonably they may be put) because points will be made about the clear bending and breaking of their own regulations. As an example, I am sure that SCB said he had tried to get King's Lynn to answer a question about their use of riders this season on Twitter and all he got in response was blocked. I tried very hard to get my good friend Dave Hoggart to respond when he was Sheffield promoter. On one occasion that he did, he got 15 likes.

Their efforts have been extraordinary - posters, banners, leaflets, newspaper adverts, shows. You can argue that it is in the interests of the promotion to publicise the speedway (particularly in a holiday destination like the Island) but places like Eastbourne, Plymouth and even Poole don't go to the lengths that the Warriors do. They even had one young lady delivering leaflets on horseback !! I took a bus ride from Sandown to Ryde last week and saw 1 banner and 2 posters in a journey of 6 miles. No-one else comes close. What's even more impressive is what happens when you get there. Free entry, free sweets and other attractions (including a bike race on the track) for the children and a promotion that are most visible and, far better, totally approachable. One last bonus : the racing is pretty good, too. It doesn't get much better than that and it makes a stark contrast to the get what you are given and be grateful, if you don't like it don't come, respond to criticism with abuse attitude that we see far, far too often.

Redcar can be a bit unpredictable (like their track and their promoter).

Or, to put it another way, help you to rip people off as much as possible.

Truth is, the NSS is a fantastic stadium and something that speedway has needed for decades. I have no issue with the Grandstand only policy for the Colts as it makes perfect sense given the smaller gates and hardly affects viewing. Banning air horns I have never totally understood given the noise made by the bikes but it maybe that it is a case of cutting the noise down as much as possible. I, too, don't go to speedway to eat but I see no problem with allowing a flask or a few sandwiches in. The reason they don't allow that is obvious : they want to force people to pay the ridiculous prices charged. The answer, to me is don't buy anything as they'll soon get the message and I suspect a properly publicised picture of a hulking security guard grabbing a small can of crisps from a young child might have had a radical effect on this policy. As to the security, I have had only one experience with them and I found that they demonstrated all the very worst aspects of that profession : arrogant, unhelpful, surly and officious. They need to be told all too clearly that that must stop.

Definitely right on that one but it wasn't for lack of effort on their part. Another entertaining meeting in front of a very decent attendance and hopefully IOW speedway will kick on in 2017. The efforts of the promotion have been outstanding - an example to every other one across the country - and I trust they will pay off in the future.

A much easier wim for the Warriors than might have been expected, with a strangely subdued Morley and the bottom end failing to contribute for the Raiders. Stoneman and to a lesser extent Cupitt will make a major difference and credit to IOW for picking them up Best sight of all was a pretty decent attendance, with the first bend grass bank somewhat full. The promotion have been very determined with their efforts to attract paying customers and that seems to be paying off.

Because its very much in his interests to do so. Simply saying what he has allows some to accuse him of throwing toys out of the pram (or, more unfairly, attention seeking) when in actual fact he could have very legitimate and understandable reasons for his decision. There will be matters that have to be confidential, I am sure most of us realise that. In addition, if he said nothing now he'd have to do so next season. But I can't help but think that he is making a mistake by keeping quiet (although, not knowing the actual reason, it is very hard to judge) because it doesn't allow others to know precisely why he is taking the action that he is.

I think the trick is getting the others in on low every averages. After all, Hume, Smith & Parkinson-Blackburn came in on less than 10 between them.

Better than the travel lodge. I got a single en suite room including discount at the bar and a buffet cooked breakfast for £40 - its a very decent hotel and you can walk to the track.

I didn't see any sign of that on Sunday morning when they were at the tables opposite me eating breakfast in the Waverley. Chris Louis was with them and he didn't say anything either.

The way I see it you should persevere with Phillips - quite simply, there are very few others who might fit the bill. .

Cracking meeting, one of the best I have seen anywhere this season. Some excellent racing, a close finish, a very decent attendance and all done in 90 minutes. Best I have seen Barker ride in ages. Will have to get up for a few more, especially as the mad chauffeur has told me he'll calm down a bit. As far as I could see, he wasn't rolling at all - he is just good at anticipating the start. He wasn't the only one, either.