GeneralMelchett

I read Berry’s book on promoting - very interesting if you haven’t seen a copy try and get one! Yes I have photos taken from my various trips with my dad to tracks In the late 80s and 90s and one thing that is really noticeable is the crowds - plus the obligatory trip to Coventry for the British Final in front of the usual full house! Special days for me certainly

I don’t remember it that way - but it was about 30 years ago now / I seem to remember that they said that dropping down would damage crowds and jeopardise their business - happy to be corrected if that’s wrong from anyone else who can remember at the time.

Well if they ever want a thorough analysis of their shortcomings all they need to do is come in here

Good times - crowds were pretty solid in that period - Galvin never quite the same after his bad leg break but we had a good side back then

At my parents my dad had a programme from a world final in the 1950s - the promotors message could almost apply to day all about crucial decisions being needed over the winter etc etc and that everyone had to come together for the good of the sport

It was certainly very popular on the terraces the night it was run at Foxhall ( and anyone who says or claims it wasn’t either was not there or is lying) - maybe it might have been different had it not gone the way it did who knows!

The lunacy of Swindon’s refusal to be relegated was that they voluntarily dropped down a couple of seasons later if I recall!! as an Arena fan it was great and ushered in our most successful era. i have always felt in order to be taken seriously it should be in place - I just don’t think it’s workable as evidenced in the 90s

Agree it was the best atmosphere I can remember at Foxhall in a long time

Basso for sure a star in the making

Unlucky for the Panthers done twice by the Superheat against the Witches this season

Seems to still be on, lets hope they all have enough tyres!

Given events at Owlerton I am glad I was down here this week in East Anglia and not back home in Sheffield - Despite the scoreline and the fact the track was pretty dry there was some decent racing, Most of the passing seemed to be people coming through from last to third or third to 2nd - Doyle imperious as ever and the decent crowd certainly enjoyed the latter stages with a few home 5-1's and wheelies after. Aaron Summers seems a great acquisition and Hume seems to be developing well, early season there were times I felt he looked a little uneasy on the bends but the Wictches reserves really had the advantage on their counterpatrts last night. Felt for the Wolves as Worrall would I am sure have contributed a few more points for them!! When Riss was injured I did worry about the Witches for the playoffs but Summers certainly seems to have more than replaced him at Foxhall. Batch also ended the meeting well with 2 lightning gates and wins, team rode well in heat 15 with Doyle. The only worry is Starke - he could have scored a couple more than he did but I felt for him last night as he had Masters and Worrall in heat 1 Nick Morris in heat 6, he was pulled from heat 8 and the again he had Becker who passed him in heat 10 - so being at no 2 is tough.

The rain just north of Colchester where I am has stopped and its due to not rain any more today past 3pm if the forecast is to be believed! To the fair the forecast seems to have been very accurate this year - hot sun and more hot!! Weather report suggests same for Ipswich

Impressed with him - he rode hard and well last week when riding for the Aces and deserved more than he got - tonight he made a lot of effort as guest and he was appreciated for it. yes Doyle is maybe past his best days but no can deny his quality in this league and his effect on the team and the club in general - you look forward to his races and his best effort last night was probably his 3rd to 1st in heat6 - although I did like they way he eased out was it Ellis for Batch to come through in one of the last heats! close early on I did wonder if Sheffield might go home with a point but 4 5-1s in five heats in the 2nd half but the result in no doubt - felt for Sheffield a bit Holder packed up whilst leading his third ride and then Stead’s final effort to get a point failed in heat 14 when Riss and Brennan took a 5-1 over Sedgmen and Ellis - who tried everything to pass the Witches but failed! good entertainment - scoreline maybe flatters the Witches slightly but overall no complaints for the decent sized crowd also!

Last time the Aces were at Foxhall it was Fricke who had the ‘’ mare!

Yes and at that point he was the first rider to lower Frickes colours as well - let’s hope that form continues next week!

Yes I know the ride you mean he switched lines going down the back straight and into bend 3 clever!!

You should have - was a decent meeting some decent passing and racing and the crowd the most animated for a long time apart from the super heat last meeting

Agree - he was not gating at all - for someone not trying he managed to pass a couple of witches riders. Batch was superb tonight best I have seen him ride ever possibly!

Yes I am at owlerton a fair bit now and have never in my 20+ years of going had a meeting curtailed by the curfew - something to add to the contigencies planning folder! I don't think I have disagreed on the nature of what happened and how its never happened before but then referee clearly isn't in charge of the meeting like they are supposed to be, my general understanding was that from the moment they arrive control of the meeting is their shout - clearly it isn't when the TV companies are in town - I suppose beggars can not be choosers! - Eurosport also have a bit to learn from this also. yes could have been interesting.

Sadly there is no doubt about that - On occasions I look up speedway promotions finances - if the average fan knew just how bad a shape their clubs finances are in they would probably be pretty worried about the club folding!!!

I think you may have either missed or overlooked part of the point I was making which was had it happened at Ipswich the complaining would in all probability been coming from Tigers fans! Anyone abusing track staff (particularly unpaid volunteers) or other fans is out of line no need to even debate that! actually perhaps the referee has more of a part of play here - they should be firmer in running the meeting particular in terms of time scales - Frank Ebdon many years back was always able to get a meeting done v quick - air fence issues not withstanding I reckon he’d have got that meeting to heat 15!!!

actually a draw was possible until Starke crashed - 2x 5-1 would have seen a 45-45. I suppose it a bit like a football being stopped in the 80th minute with a team leading 2-1 - if the result is awarded then the losers will always say 'what if' - At least speedway does have a precedent in that anything called after after heat whatever the result stands!! If the losing party feel the match was curtailed due to timewasting / delay / incompetence etc its only reasonable they might complain a bit! As the rules stand its been dealt with correctly even if that is a tad unfair on Ipswich.

for sure yes - lets hope so!

I dont really have a problem with what you said to be honest just felt it was said in a provocative way The matter is much more nuanced and complex than a simple its your fault or their fault - however for good of the sport lets hope everyone learns from it - as one of my old bosses used to say - 'What's the learning been here'