Aces51

One of life's truisms is that we, none of us, see ourselves as we really are.

Pensioner discounts are not necessarily for charitable or altruistic reasons. Many businesses, theme parks, insurance, restaurants, cinemas, diy, offer discounts, sometimes restricted to less busy times and days. Why? Because it can be a sound commercial business decision. They realise that many pensioners do have disposable income and that others have relatively little and consider carefully where to spend what they have. These businesses offer discounts to try to entice them to spend it on their goods, services etc. Speedway clubs are fighting for a share of the same market and virtually all offer a concession. Coventry have decided not to do so, I assume because they think they will gain more from pensioners prepared to pay the full price than they lose from those who will stop going. If they are right others will probably follow. Unlike social benefits, winter fuel, free travel etc.,for most businesses it is purely a commercial decision to maximise profits. That's why all sorts of groups, trade unions, motoring organisations, local government officers etc.,can and do get all sorts of discounts but pensioners are the largest group and have the most leisure time so attract more offers.

Orion's last few posts show exactly what sort of person he is. Best ignored.

As I said, let go, it's time to move on. The stadium and track is a reality. I know you said it would never be built and have been critical of the Aces management for many years but just try to put that aside. Be pleased that David Gordon and Chris Morton have achieved what many thought impossible and provided the sport with an excellent facility for the future.

The stadium is up and running, it is a fantastic achievement and already the track is producing some good racing. The evidence about what happened and what has been discovered since is out there and people will make up their minds. Those with an axe to grind and some of those who claimed it would never be built will continue to believe whatever suits their agenda. It's time to move on.

Bech for Wolves and Klindt for Leicester. Beat me to it PTW.

It might help if you read posts more carefully. He was talking about the excellent Colts match last night, not the previous week. In any event the best race of the night doesn't mean the other races were not also good. As for practicing, Belle Vue have the facility for riders to do so and no matter your opinion, of course it can help them to find the racing lines. Otherwise, if you gained nothing from riding a track more often, there would be no such thing as home track advantage. . I suppose you'll be telling me next that Poole riders have never had a practice session.

I am amazed at the profound wisdom. I'd never realised that if one race is the best of the night the others might not be as good.

No Dan Bewley this week as he is riding for Edinburgh. According to the Belle Vue website "Bewley’s absence is a reciprocal gesture to the Monarchs’ promotion for their co-operation with his appearance for the Colts last Friday. Belle Vue will hereafter take priority over the 16 year-old"

Plainly, there are teething problems with the ticket office. On the website they have been promoting the facility to order and print your tickets at home, so perhaps they were expecting more people to used that . Whatever they thought they now know it didn't work and will be looking at other options like not allowing people to choose specific seats on the night. Having said that, I have been to countless meetings over the years where the start time has been delayed because of queues at the turnstiles, so not something unusual. The riders were out on parade before 7.45, not a massive delay but hopefully, something that can now be avoided with the experience gained last night. You shouldn't have been misinformed about access to the first bend terrace and not being able to move from one stand to another although that is a health and safety issue, not anything they can do anything about at the moment. Staff have been trained but no doubt will become more familiar with the various restrictions on movement as problems are highlighted. I agree that the racing was not as good as I hoped either but there was passing and some close tussles. The excellent viewing and sheer speed all add to the excitement. How much Colin Meredith's absence affected things is difficult to say. The size and shape are good and I don't think any proper judgement can be made until the track has settled properly and Colin has had a chance to build up the dirt. As Jon Armstrong proved,it is already possible to prepare the track so that an outside line develops so I am sure we shall see that again soon. Like with all Centre Green presenters I think it is a matter of opinion. I usually find them irritating or I can't hear them, so tend to just shut them out. I do realise though that it is part of the entertainment for some. It was good to hear Ken Wrench announce the first heat, a real gentleman and a true professional. However, I think we need to give his replacement time before making judgements. He made a few mistakes but most of us have when doing something new. Finally, I thought the presentation was OK, pure speedway as it was at Hyde Road in the 70's. Riders coming out on their bikes for the presentation lap, not wearing helmets, no starting line girls, just get on with the racing and the EL meeting all done within 2 hours from first to last race. We even had a burst of the Hyde Road meeting start music, was it Entrance of the Gladiators. All we need now is Tokyo Melody.

A deserved win for the Robins. Tungate at reserve was the main difference but the Robins were fairly solid throughout. Good to see Nielsen scoring well. For the Aces nobody was consistent. Zagar had one of his off nights but was trying different lines later on but just couldn't get enough drive out wide. Jacobs showed he is capable of scoring points and did well to hold off the two Robins for a heat 9, 5-1. There were some decent races but the track needs time to bed in and for the dirt to be built up before we shall see it at its best. I still had to pinch myself to believe we've actually got such a brilliant stadium with excellent viewing facilities that allow you to be so close to the racing.

The blunder isn't restricting them to moving up to heat leaders it's not realising that they would attain such high averages from still riding in protected heats. It's not as if they couldn't have foreseen it by just looking at the averages some of the EDR's achieved last year. The answer is simply to revert to the old heat formula. As you say, too late to do so this season.

I think you misread my post. My point was that if they had contacted Peterborough and said it was the Friday race night that was the problem, Peterborough would have reminded them that they also used Sundays and could change to that being their official race night and hey presto, problem solved. All we would have known was that the BSPA had acted in the best interests of the sport by taking sensible action to resolve the problem. They may even have been applauded rather than making themselves look foolish. I agree with Orion, did I say that out loud, that Peterborough could have handled this better but it is the responsibility of the Management Committee, acting as a tribunal, to ensure that they are aware of all the relevant facts and consider them before making a decision. They obviously didn't or they would have seen the possible solution staring them in the face.

A little forethought and judgement by the BSPA could have resulted in this being dealt with in a way which actually is in the best interests of the sport and would have prevented them being held up to ridicule. Once they had decided that the clash of two Friday nights was a problem all they needed to do was realise that Peterborough were actually using two race nights, speak to them, point out their concerns and hey presto, the problem would have been solved. No upset, no looking silly, instead an announcement that would show they were being proactive and actively trying to do something to help both Peterborough and Craig Cook.

BSPA statement http://speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.30446

A jack of all trades but master of none, never ask his advice.

If it was guests they were worried about they wouldn't have approved Pedersen's move to Poole.

I think asking any print journalist for a plan to save anything is tantamount to asking a downing man for swimming lessons. The demise of the print media makes speedway look like a success story.

I hope there is some positive news soon. Presumably, the new financial backers must feel confident that the stadium will become a reality otherwise, I can't see why they would have got involved. Swindon are in an even more difficult position than we were. At least we could deal direct with the Council who were building the stadium solely for our use whereas you're dependent on private enterprise building what is primarily a Greyhound Stadium as part of a deal to build housing. I hope the Council and local MP will make sure it happens. I think it will.

That must account for all the publicity prior to the opening then.

For a minority sport competing with the major sports in the city there has been an enormous amount of publicity about the new stadium. On local TV, radio and the Manchester Evening News both leading up to the official opening and then continuing through the trauma of the repairs and the first meeting last Friday. There are also huge hoardings advertising the SWC.

Yes, my mistake, it is Cook, I looked at the wrong column. I agree don't think it weakens us a lot although bit difficult to know considering none of them have yet ridden a competitive race at the NSS.

According to the latest averages on the BSPA site it will be Nicholls, Richie Worrall and the reserves.

Apparently, r/r for Max Fricke. This is a recently arranged fixture so his Danish club have preference. I think that definitely helps the Robins.

How dare you be so disrespectful, stock up on Werthers Originals and Ovaltine indeed! My concession ticket savings are going towards my new BMW, I've already paid for the winter holiday out of my inflation proof pension. Surely, none of you ungrateful youngsters can deny me some pleasure. I also do quite well sitting outside the stadium entrance with my dog and a notice mentioning my children, even though they left home many years ago. I reckon Gemini has missed a trick there.