norbold

Humphrey, spook, I run a theatre and there are four different ways of charging for use of the theatre. The first is that the artiste demands a guarantee. This is most often done by the bigger names we have and is most risky for the theatre as we have to meet their guarantee however many tickets we sell, so we can (and have!) lost on this deal. The second is a straightforward percentage, the bigger the star the higher the percentage they take, usually in the range of 70/30, 75/25 or 80/20. But at least we can't lose on this as even if we only sell one ticket we get a percentage of the ticket price. Thirdly, there is a first call, where we agree that the first £1000 (or whatever it is) goes to the artiste and then there is a percentage split. If we only take, say, £900, the artiste gets £900 and we get nothing but we don't have to make up the shortfall as with a guarantee. This is better than a guarantee where we could actually lose money, but not as good as percentage split where we will always make some money. Fourthly, there is a hire, where the artiste or company pay us a fee and all takings go to them, so the risk is entirely theirs whether they make the fire fee or not. Our local amateur drama and musical societies also pay an extra fee per day for hiring the theatre normally for three or four days beforehand for setting up and final rehearsals. This may be most relevant to the number of days Ole Olsen needs to lay a track. I'm not sure whether any of this helps, but I expect it's all much the same for use of stadia.

I can certainly endorse that, John. Your Defunct Tracks site is amazing, certainly one of, if not THE, best speedway site on the Internet.

Quite right, iris. If he isn't given enough time he should say so, not take the money and hope for the best. Not enough time is no excuse.

A kit from Halford's and an off-duty policeman, that's all it takes.

It's obvious what went wrong on Saturday. What was needed was an off-duty referee, an off-duty race director, an off-duty starting gate mechanic, an off-duty track layer and 18 off-duty riders. That would have sorted it.

Bring back rolling starts.

Nice portrait of Tom Farndon. Thanks, iris.

Is the Sidney/Oldace handbag battering contest on Sky or Eurosport?

Great bit of research, britmet, and, as you say, a really significant find.

I don't think it matters who's showing the Grand Prix series this year. I read somewhere that no-one will be watching it anyway without Darcy Ward in it.

Is that a joke, Jacques? Careful.

You mean the new definition of a joke is only something you find funny. You know, people find different things funny. Not everyone appreciates the same humour. My wife, for example, can't see anything funny in Airplane, can you believe it? It doesn't mean it's not funny just because she doesn't think it is. So, for some of us, the interchange on norbold's hole is quite amusing and it really doesn't matter whether you personally find it funny or not. So, if it's ok with you, we might make reference to it again should we feel like it. And yes, I did know that is a quote from Muddlo.

Interesting you use the tag line #FIMareajoke, Jacques, when you don't even know what a joke is.

One thing I can be sure of is that no-one will finish up with an all-expenses paid trip to Australia and New Zealand on the strength of it, however many pages it is!

Otherwise they might finish up at the bottom of norbold's hole.

So sorry to hear that. As well as seeing him ride in his Hackney days, I met Tich several times in later years at various functions and while researching. He was always good company and very helpful. R.I.P. Snailum.

Quite right, WK. We don't want this thread taking over from norbold's hole as the longest ever thread do we?

I think I made a mistake once, but I believe I got away with it.....

5000! About half as many as norbold's hole I believe!!!

No.

Is the cheque in the post, chr?

When my publishers pull their collective fingers out!

I've just seen a preview of the long awaited statement: "I am very grateful to the FIM for being so lenient with me. I know what I did was very wrong and wish to take this opportunity of saying so. Drinking the night before a big meeting is very silly and I promise not to do it again. I have no wish to be nominated as a Wild Card in any GP this year, nor do I wish to be handed a place for next year's GP series. I intend to work my way back by going through the qualifiers in 2016. This would be only fair to all other riders on the circuit. "I have decided I need to leave Poole and find a team and management who will give me proper support and guidance in my future career. "I wish to thank all my fans for their continued support. I know I don't deserve it, but I am very grateful you have stuck by me. For your sakes, I intend to completely turn my life and career round." Or was I dreaming?

Really good piece on Anglia News tonight. John Louis, Dave Gooderham, Mick Hines and Ron Bagley reminscing over the 1975/6 champion teams including a nice tribute to Billy Sanders.

Hmmm, can't quite help thinking the 1936 Olympics are remembered more as the Jesse Owens Olympics than the Olympics Gretel Bergmann missed!