Aces51

Perhaps Tsunami who first mentioned it.

I don't think it is as black and white or polarised as you suggest. I don't think that many of those who feel some sympathy and gratitude to Gordon and Morton for getting the stadium built would claim they are entirely blameless, in fact haven't they themselves said that mistakes were made. Equally, I think that many of those who condemned them at the time of the opening meeting and when their licences were withdrawn can now accept that at least some of their problems were made much worse by the failure by others to ensure that the terracing on the back straight was built and the construction problems on the 3rd and 4th bends. What I do find appalling, if true, is that other promoters were working against them as early as when the British Final tickets went on sale in April or May and that, so far as we know, the BSPA did nothing about it. Why try to harm another promotion, how does that sort of attitude help the sport? It certainly fuels suspicions many Belle Vue fans had about the attitude of some members of the BSPA after the it was nothing to do with us, it was all Belle Vue's fault and has done great damage to the sport, press release made immediately following the disasterous opening meeting and before any investigation and before all the facts were known. Yes, the full story of what really happened last year needs to be told, whether it will is another matter. However, the main thing now is to get the new promotion in place and for those who feel threatened by the NSS to realise that this showpiece stadium and brilliant race track are vital to the success of the sport nationwide. Let's also hope that Swindon can soon join the NSS as 21st century stadiums and templates for what is needed for the sport we all love to move forward and grow.

And who was it who sold the vision to the council, persuaded them to spend the money and put in 10 years hard work to ensure it was built? That is what took real skill and determination and is something which no other promoter or the BSPA have had the vision to achieve elsewhere. They've usually previously insisted on an experienced promoter shadowing a new promoter so it would be unusual if they didn't this time. It would be good to see George Carswell involved and I hope a role can be found for him. Perhaps with the Colts or the Academy, if that is still in the plans.

That would be the calamity morons who actually got the stadium built and who kept the Aces going despite the financial losses incurred during the years at the dog track. Without them there would be no stadium and no team to save. It will be interesting to find out just what constructive part Chapman has played in all of this. Rice and Southwell have connections to David Gordon so I suspect their involvement had nothing to do with Buster.

I think the objections by the Council to the Speedway Star article tend to point in that direction. However, I doubt we shall ever get the whole story. Personally, I feel we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Gordon and Morton for their vision and the hard work they put in to achieve what many thought impossible. Mistakes were made last year but they certainly weren't solely responsible for what happened and may not even be the main culprits.

Yes. Nice one Phil. Think I may have made a spelling mistake though.

I just rang the away track and asked for the result, they always told me.

It's been looking very bleak for the Bees but fingers and everything else crossed that a solution can be found. Wouldn't be the same without those visits to Brandon.

He also said, “I'd like to put on record my thanks to Manchester City Council for everything they have done and are doing to make the National Speedway Stadium and the Belle Vue Aces a success, and wish the best of luck to whomsoever is favoured by BSPA to take over this icon of speedway." Could some draw the conclusion from that final comment that he was not favoured by the BSPA?

Very good news and I am pleased for all the Lions supporters.

It is certainly one of the rumours, said to have cost them £10,000 a month for the temporary terracing. Whether there is any truth in the rumour, I don't know. I do know that the concrete terracing in the south stand wasn't done so somebody was paying for the temporary terracing and toilets.

Isn't the evidence that most individual events have been dropped because of even poorer attendances than for league matches. My guess, is that most fans still prefer team events.

The promotion said that they had not been able to start the Academy because so much of their time had been taken up with the issues arising from the problems caused by the contractors. They said it was their intention to have it in place in 2017.

It's a10 point difference but you obviously think highly of a gnats appendage.

All of the team building averages are here on the SGB website. http://www.speedwaygb.co/elteamissues16 It is the final one at the bottom of the list 2017 team building averages numerical

SCB, I agree with your last 3 lines providing KB manages to gate first and we know he doesn't always manage to do that, in fact, fairly often he doesn't manage to do that. If any of those riders you mention gets out in front of him his chances of passing any of them is pretty remote. In fact, if lesser riders than those you mention get out in front of him his chances of passing them is pretty remote.

It's a matter of personal preference. Most cities have some very nice areas as well as some poor ones. Many prefer cities because of their metropolitan nature, the employment opportunities and the multitude of sporting and entertainment facilities available on the doorstep. Others prefer life in a backwater. Each to their own but obviously the majority live in cities and any survey will reflect that,

Gating is important but more so at certain tracks. The racing at Monmore isn't as good as it used to be but it is far from being a gaters paradise. PC would probably have won again in 1977 but for breaking his leg so badly the week before the final. He still finished second to Ivan.

I hope that any new promotion will understand the need for continuity, fans need riders they can identify with. It will also be a shame if George isn't involved, his work with the Colts is what we need to start to produce a conveyor belt of British talent.

I agree and I'll be there whoever we sign, the racing should still be good. However, if we are going to survive we must have a side which is competitive and capable of at least winning most home meetings. Otherwise, crowd numbers will soon fall.

I was impressed with what I saw of Branford last season. Could be a good signing.

Without doubt Starman is a genius. I bet nobody else has the same insight and intelligence and assumed Phil must be the new promoter and we were getting it straight from the horses mouth.

It never ceases to amaze me that someone reports something they have heard/been told by some unnamed source and then others take it as gospel and comment on it as if it were a fact.

I was showing that people would pay more for the same cake if you put it in a more expensive looking paper case.

At the NSS fans had the option of £20 for the grandstand, even more in the premium seats, or £17 in the south stand. There were always significantly more people in the grandstand unless it was sold out. That seems contrary to the suggestion that the sport is way over priced. Surely, if it were, then more people would pay the lower price? Admittedly, with the age profile, a number may need to be seated but that wouldn't account for the huge difference in numbers at most meetings.