mikebv

When the sport was "very popular" it wasn't domestic speedway that stimulated the interest.. It was the very regular national success at both individual and team level, being beamed into millions of homes several Saturdays a season... Domestic speedway then lived off the back of that publicity and interest, and, with no social media, its "Mickey Mouse"' rules, and ad hoc last minute rider changes, which existed even then, didnt impact crowd levels the way they do today. (eg. You would find out PC was riding in Germany in a LT meeting, or that a team had four guests and RR, after you had paid to get in, now you would know well in advance).. Then the promoters started training up all the rest of the worlds riders, and reduced opportunities to UK riders, which had the inevitable conclusion that UK success on the international scene dwindled to virtually nothing... And domestic crowds therefore naturally dwindled off the back of it... As Italia 90 showed, and the England Rugby success in 2003, and the Ashes victory in 2005, international success stimulated each sports' domestic success by the interest it created in the sports' as a whole.. Maybe a test series against the Aussies might engage a few more to attend their local tracks..? (And, such is the relatively low crowd numbers, just a hundred more at most tracks would be a double digit growth)... You would think a 2,000 crowd on a BHM, a GF, or a Saturday or Sunday would be possible at several tracks wouldn't you? Max £25 a ticket and that's circa £50k.. Maybe a £25k prize money fund per test if that crowd size was possible? A "properly ran" speedway meeting/series ran with credibility and something worth winning, might also draw some sponsorship from others outside the sport too, rather than, as so often happens currently, much of the sponsorship coming from those who follow it, or benefit in some way, from being involved in the sport...

They would be "encouraged", to build an asset base just in case "anything happens" and debts need to be paid..

"Bling me Bomber Hallis over to guest for the Bejing Bandits"....

The clear and obvious answer, given the way UK Speedway is ran, is that it is for people who want to finance an expensive hobby... Hence the rules get consistently "made up" to ensure this hobby can take place regularly... No "independent body" would ever sanction a large amount of the regs and rules that get signed off by those who "self police"... Test Matches would have a huge novelty factor nowadays given the fact they don't take place almost ever in the UK.. And with many top class Aussies over here, an Ashes series would stimulate interest in the sport I am 100% sure... The only watch out would be that the promoters would allow Bomber to guest for the Aussies if GB didn't pick him... Only in the first test though obviously... He could ride for GB in the others... Alongside Emil...

C U Next Tuesday.... A term of endearment I believe...

In a weeks time it will be 2024... For some, they will read that as being nearly twenty five past eight....

Nothing stopping any of them coming out as "trans", or identifying themselves as a female....

It really doesnt matter if it turns out that way.. Any semi decent marketeer will see the huge opportunity for a bit of hype and publicity to get your name out there off the back of it... And NASCAR has tens of thousands of fans already at each venue, so bringing in a female racer wouldnt have meant tens of thousands more.. (And given the following demographic of NASCAR if may have even turned a few away)... Worky would be delighted with just an extra couple of hundred on the opening night I am sure, as that would be circa 20- 30% more than a "usual" crowd I would imagine.. A very healthy uplift given the small starting point at most tracks..

Forever if he doesnt pay his fine...

Quite possiblly... Meaning she will be similar to hundreds of others over the decades who have done the same.. The important message is the back story which will help sell Workington Speedway to an audience who will have their ears pricked up by what the promotion team have done.. And, if it doesnt all work out, then those who have been interested enough to go along, may still stick with the sport regardless of her being there or not.. Nothing to lose, and everything to gain by both rider and promoters.... Great to see some proper, modern thinking, promotion of the sport... Obviously, for some others, using "why not bring a friend?" as their marketing plan, is still available....

Great call... A "decent rider" from what I have read of her scores and performances, but, far more importantly, what a story to tell... Plenty of column inches locally I would suggest in the local media and maybe even local TV interest.... Outstanding work from the Comets leadership team...

Spot on... If you want to go badly enough, you will find somewhere to park... Park in a side street.. Park in a public car park and get an Uber from there.. The "event" will deliver the crowd it deserves, just like all events do.. Events that are well ran, well marketed and promoted, have credibility, and offer excellent value for money, will usually generate plenty of punters... Regardless of whether car parking is on their "doorstep" or not..

The straighta way...?

Ronnie Pickering....

And, as has been mentioned on the Glasgow thread by their owners.. The "big names" won't bring in enough crowds on a "different night" than their usual one, to justify the move up.. Speedway in Birmingham in recent history, doesnt appear to resonate with too many people, so to have "Dan, Tai, Emil" et al, appearing in their city, wont have too many of the local populace suddenly sitting up and taking notice I fear.. Lets hope this is the start of a renaissance of the sport in Brum, but it will be a huge challenge..

If that is the case, it looks like a team who will benefit from a very low team average during the season so could, if anyone decent available, be able to redeclare and bring some better riders in... Looking at that suggested septet there could be large scope for changes..

Then why not just drop out of the Championship and go NDL?

Now Mickey Mouse has got further involved, and you can have guests for the top five, it makes sense that the stronger that five the better...

They have to start the season on a lower team average than they ended last year with, so they were bound to be weaker.. Unless they could have got a "four point superstar" on an obviously false assessed average.. Personally I would have gone for a weaker No6 and replaced Blodorn with Charles Wright, as "the tail" looks too long if the Aces want to be title contenders... Thy don't look like they have that "4th Heat Leader" that they had with Wright, and, instead have two clear Second Strings and two clear reserves..

Of course there will......

Plenty of dates available for the Jubilee Trophy/Cup Thing then....

It's certainly no Slough..

Isn't the "asset process" really only to just help pay off debts if a club goes bust? Seem to remember it was once quoted that it can help reduce the "bond" that gets paid...

Just seen an advert on the telly for the... Hackney Diamonds... Is this the new track?

Agreed, but Lidsey also can go onto that "No1" level... As he has shown in the UK, Poland and for Aussie, he has developed into that class of rider just below the very top level.. He does run too many lasts for a 7 point rider though, so by just getting even more thirds he will naturally improve his average in the UK... If he can improve another level this year, then the Aces could have three "No1's"... Which, as they have swapped Wright and Brennan, for Cook and Mountain, you think they would need to have... That alone is a four point reduction, (minimum) per match for me, and you also have to factor in how many % of races they both won, meaning no loss of points to the opposition in those heats.. eg Charles in heat 14 was often a " banker" when they needed him.. Also then you add in Blodorn's scoring at SS v Reserve and there is another possible one to two point drop per match too if he doesnt start to improve his SS scoring.. And, it is also very unlikely the Aces will have a "top reserve" every other month through the season, as averages change, like all the successful teams seem to need... Personally, I would have found a way to keep Wright... His injuries may impact, but for will to win and sheer entertainment at the NSS, not many match him...