Tsunami

A bit alarming, but not unexpected. I believe Terry " the track man" left Redcar this year, so that's where Johnny will go I expect. What happens then to Robbie and Moxy ? as they can't do the track, especially without tractors and Moxy hasn't got a driving licence. We have always had difficulties getting track staff, It used to be me looking after them and finding new ones, so to lose even more gives me concern. Phillips was given that advice and did sod all about getting any more. Something needs to be done or known about how we are going to operate with some work areas next year. Food wagon will sell food on the ground, Dave Tatum I suppose could do the track, who will sell merchandising, turnstile staff, programme sellers, Medics, other officials, air fence, and now track staff. You could be very busy next year Ruff multitasking .

Are you OK mate.

Let's hope its true Skidder. The sport can certainly do without infighting within speedway in any country.

I think they have had several sessions since the end of last season and during the COVID period.

So you think that despite what I've said it's all just about a bit of messy rainwater. I am aware you are not a supporter these days or have a duty with a promotion, but you have proved you are still never wrong whilst never being right.

Yes, all fences have a relatively stiff rubber skirt on the bottom of the fence. I forgot to mention in my previous post that the reason why we don't see many riders going under the fence, is that there are three straps on the ends and in the middle of the base of the fence fastened to the front under the skirt, and these go under the fence, under the kickboard and the actual fence and pulled up and fastened by a hook to the middle of the back of the fence. When inflated the fence is then held by the hooks at about 3 foot high, and the 3 lashing straps about 2 foot up from the bottom of the fence. It's a very tight fastening.

You've obviously never been in charge of the air fence like I was at Newcastle.. The idea of a 12in hole is neither practical or affordable. AirFences serve different situations. 1 - Fixed fence, that can be left in position each week. Again two different scenarios. Fences that can be left like foam fences(Berwick and Glasgow) needing only cleaning between meetings, and inflated fences that are in position (Redcar) but need to be deflated and then reflated before each meeting. In each case, it is beneficial to cover the fence with advertising and plain banners which are much easier to clean that the fence. Only need to spray the top and the skirts of the actual fence. 2 - Detached fence where, after the meeting, they have to be deflated and folded, and then inflated and attached to the fence by hooks(Newcastle) before the next meeting. The reason for this is that the Stadium owners insist on the fence being dropped, so that the doggies punters can see their legs when the dogs are racing in the outer track. Again you should need banners to make fence cleaning easier and minimised. 3 - Moveabable fence, where the airfence is in front of Armco metal fence for the stocks racing (Scunthorpe), and folded over the back of the Armco for Stox meetings. 4 - Remove the fence totally like I believe Sheffield have to do, to accommodate the requests of the stadium owners to satisfy the dog owners. Why would happened to the hole then ? As you can see there are differences, and the suggestion like digging the 12 in hole for the airfence is only a possibly a runner in situation 1 above, but the cost of the airfence would be considerably enhanced, but for what improvement ? In situation 3, it would be impossible to run the stocks with a 12in hole in front of the Armco, as vehicles would lock their front wheel in the run caused a crash when previously the vehicle would just glance off the barrier and continue racing. In situation 2. the hole would fill up with rain water which would have to be removed to insert the airfence, and which would be extremely messy, more messy than it is now. That water would have to be lifted to go somewhere, and during the week there is the possibility of the water ingressing into the track, and then making the track preparation difficult by having to squeeze the water out in order to deliver a uniformly water track for the next meeting. What happens if the edge collapses ? Again the extra cost the larger airfence would be considerably enhanced with no benefits, but great difficulties for the fence erectors and the track curator. No doubt you will repeat your opening sentence again in a years time.

Rubbish. The monies found from SKY were allocated to a 'finders fee' to Terry Russell who negotiated it, the rest was divided up by the number of teams in the Elite league, plus one share for the Premier league teams. The PL share was divided up be the number of teams in the PL.The PL money was a sop to the PL teams for giving them the guests to field full teams for the TV meeting.

Several clubs have tried the £10 entrance at special meetings.

NO

Yes that is what happens to all sports, but the speedway authorities genuinely try to reverse the trend to keep the sport alive, but the 'usuals' still harp on regardless. All initiatives are criticised and the moral in the sport goes down and down. Plans to pay for marketing consultants, reduce admission fees, higher riders pay, engine changes, riders in a team , number of heats, having second halves, protected reserve slots, fixed gate positions, match points, tac subs, fixed league race nights, etc, have all been implemented and criticised but they are trying to please all but they only please the few. At the end of the day, the sport is all about 4 blokes racing around a oval for 4 laps. The rest is just froth.

Quite agree, but some on here choose not to appreciate those points and continue the same old same old garbage that they have spouted since year dot.Look at the above post of mikebv moaning about teams being disputed just before tapes up, not appreciating or knowing the post by NeilWatson who has brought his usual wisdom on here. Ben91 makes the assumption, long held, that "there are people who think there is nothing wrong with the way speedway is run in this country". How wrong can he be, but why change a option long held and never going to go away. The running of speedway changes every year and is done so in the belief the changes are either necessary or imposed by others. In a few years time the same people will probably still look back and say " it was so much better in the old days". It's a badge of honour.

I know of one plan which involved the moving of the Covenant to a nearby site, which was unable to have housed built on it, and the plan was to then put houses and other developments of the first site.

I thought that this possibility was aired at the launchtime of the vaccine in the UK. There are several unknowns like fertility of women. and possibility of its reaction in people taking multiple medicines, which were not able to be tested in the haste to produce a vaccine to help to stave off the virus. Only realtime experience will say how long the vaccine will be working successfully, but there has been a view expressed that it could be similar to the Flu virus, with the need to have an annual injection say in September/October to get us over the worst period.

And that is the problem.

But probably there will still be a shortage .

But the riders in the Premier League not returning, will need to be replaced by current Championship riders, who will need to be replaced by National League riders.

Same principle but. Desired employees are still welcome here to supplement the best that we have. Both have to be sought and signed, and pass the test of desired employees.

You mean like the Football Premier League ?

NO.

I was part of consortium that nearly did. In 1996 we were contacted because other tracks knew that we were track hunting and an offer was put to us. It would have been at a lower level to the "Big League", which started in 1995 and too expensive, and at first there was going to be 6 teams as starters. WE were going to be affiliated to the ACU direct with a new name for the sport, and have our own operating committee. We held covert meetings, with one existing BL team being represented, added to us as new starters and other NL type of teams. WE agreed how we would run and expecially the pay rate. Unfortunately. someone found out, and the BSPA were told, and they invited us to join a new league that they were planning with the similar standard and pay rates. WE were persuaded to join the Premier League, but at the very first meeting we were told the pay rate was £3 higher than the rate we had agreed, but we had gone that far down the road that we agreed and had to revise our spending plans. So even with a breakaway that was feasible and affordable, we were shafted by the BSPA so the independent league never got started.

I think it was Stuart that was doing loft conversions. I've seem photos that he has posted.

I dont think the beautiful new stand is considered a fixed building/structure. From what I saw and heard, the promotion built it as a kit. So it would qualify as a temporary structure.

Yes, the Dane.

Is there not a BSPA pass that can be bought by riders - ADMIT 1. Promoters really can't get it right. If they allow ex riders in free, you get a massive backlash from paying fans, especially when the rider didn't even ride for that team. If they don't allow them in free they are accused of being tight . BTW Football League teams don't allow all explayers to get in for home games. Another aggravation is when an ex rider comes in he expects to bring his mates in with him as well.