GeneralMelchett

I am not in the area so will miss this. The season for me started with a 40-50 home defeat to the Panthers on the cup thingy and I did think 2021 would repeat itself. Since then the season has come together so well and i have really enoyed my trips to Foxhall (and Owlerton for that matter after several seasons of only making the odd visit)! I was hoping to get to Owlerton tonight instead only to find they are away at Kings Lynn!!

whilst watching that video i was remembering the stadium being full up for the classic british finals of the late 80s - always make the most of good times they never seem to last!

Perhaps who knows!! - I do remember attending a football match once many years ago - it was on sky live on a friday night - at the match they announced the attendance at 5,000 and something - the following day in the paper it said 4620!!

Always a tricky thing but I would guess that at Ipswich if its either Kings Lynn or Peterborough the attendance could be about 2,000 or so - certainly better attended this year than for some time. At Sheffield where I also attend on occasions i would say maybe less but its tricky due to the bars / Grandstand but the two matches i have attended were V Wolves and also Belle Vue maybe 1,500+ I do wish they would publish them but they never really have.

Whilst maybe amusing (i did chuckle myself at it) given the fact temperatures reached 40c in Sheffield this summer not impossible!

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.