nmagee72

perhaps Gateshead Council might be more open ? there is a great location just off Albany Road/Quarryfield Road, behind the Dynamix Skate Park, currently a disused or rarely used Moto Cross/Off Road track. good parking, walking distance from gateshead interchange and all main routes etc there is a railway line right next to it so noise should not be an issue ? with the busy A184 also adjacent, while its clearly already had permission for some sort of motor sport activities. if you want to google map for a look, search "downcast studios" - its to the east over the railway line.

i may be a mile off here but reading the above... happy to hear thoughts from how this could work as a very basic model or cost plan for running speedway ? i guessing currently riders are on way more than £30/point though more like nearer £100 !! but is that the problem ? .... Income: £12(avg cost) x 500 = £6000 Costs (as above) = £2500 Riders = £3500 or / 2 = £1750 per meeting £1750 / 45 (avg points per meeting) = £38/point .... so riders can not be paid more than around £30/point to allow for other costs. (plus any sponsorship). this may sound low, but a good heat leader can still earn up to £500/meeting, something which most motor cross riders, stock car drivers (who are just a professionally turned out and take the same risks etc) could only dream of earning !! as above, sorry riders cannot expect to be professional any more solely relying on speedway for income but the riders must also be given a way to cut their own costs, with rule changes to enforce cheaper running costs, they are paying a fortune for equipment at present, that clearly no-one can actually afford ? ... level to run at must be below the current "championship" and more like the "old" national league of the 70's/80's i think there are enough supporters at the tracks who would pay £12/15 to watch such a league standard, if the league is ran well, eventually more will be interested also ? eg a Newcastle team of something like Wethers/Clegg/Wright/Roynon/Phillips/Embleton/Freeman

As a fairly casual supporter these days but still a speedway fanatic of over 40 years and also fairly computer and internet literate, i am totally aware of the meeting on Sunday vs Leicester, yet would have no idea how to purchase a ticket. The official website for the club is utterly useless directing me to an old meeting from years ago, the SGB website gives no clue either. You would have to be very determined to go about this process and realistic view has to be that most casual supporters are simply not. If i could pay on the gate or easily buy a ticket on the day i might probably go on Sunday. But i will need it to be clear and easy to do while also probably just deciding on the day. This must improve and it is the responsibilty of the promotion to do so. They are running a speedway club not an almost secret charity that it is virtually impossible to support. This post will no doubt receive critic from the ultra loyal diehard supporters on here, they being pretty much the only ones keeping things going for now an they are to be respected for that, but they should also consider this viewpoint from a typical casual or lapsed speedway fan, while also wondering how on earth a new supporter could possibly be lured in these times or indeed in (hopefully) the future.