old bob at herne bay

Surprisingly lengthy thread on a subject that is IMO a non subject. I have had some fun over the years at Lakeside and thanks for the memories. IMO Lakeside 2017 was a gamble that backfired, lost the fan base which never recovered in 2018.

Well there is a growing number of clubs announced as "up for sale" so it looks like a surplus of supply may drive prices down. We have Poole , Somerset (looking to leave Premiership) Rye House (have track for rental) Swindon (no track in 2019) Lakeside (team no track), Peterborough, Redcar, Workington (team no track) Midenhall, and possibly Eastbourne (?)

Seems this one tonight is a 7,30pm start according to the preview on the official website ... so expect the first heat to be about 7.50 ish as per usual Lakeside timekeeping ......

Lakeside have been truly been unlucky with the weather in their short stay at Rye House ... but why oh why are they always running on off nights ? Sunday’s, Saturdays are not traditionally Lakeside speedway nights. Friday is Lakesides night and as luck would have it Fridays have been dry ! Fingers crossed tonight for all the supporters who are travelling from near and far .......

Will Somerset want to be racing on a Friday night ..... if so they need to send a note to Mr Rob Godfrey who is in charge of allocation of race nights

Yes I fully agree ..... all I ever see stated by the " promoters management committee" is the old tripe " in the best interests of the sport" They are driving spectators away from the sport and from their continuing petty squabbling don't appear to give a tuppenny damn.

Jeez..... Can ANY of the "promoters" in speedway 2018 behave like grown ups ? They remind me of a bunch of schoolboys arguing over a game of conkers . Quite honestly given the schoolboy behaviour I would like to see P' Boro drop Ostergard and be allowed special dispensation to ride Chris Harris at number 1 forthe Panthers ... after all Bomber has already won the KO Cup and P.Offs in the premiership for Poole and Somerset

I would have fancied a trip to Arlington ....... nice little stadium.....plenty of parking space, good resonably priced cafe at the back of the pits area and a good track souvenir shop with a wide selection of speedway books Probably far too much grip on the track for both PBoro and LSide riders

Interesting that "promoter" Mr Rathbone somehow believes he can prevent his riders taking guest bookings from other clubs ....... I would like to see him try .

Good to see as well as speedway fans arguing with each other , all the speedway “promoters” are arguing with each other. What hope is there for the sport ?

Does speedway havea Duckworth - Lewis Method of fiddling results ? MAybe it should be the Chapman -Godfrey method in speedway ?

The only winners in all of this debacle are the promotoers who must be laughing all the way to the bank. Another short meeting 9 heats ... a healthy looking crowd in ... and the prospect of a re run with another healthy crowd of willing paying custpmers to watch a rerun

MMMmmmm........ "Jeremy Corbyn Fan " Maybe an appropriate screen name for someone who distorts the truth and manipulates the facts ;-) You will be telling us all that all university students will get into speedway meetings free of charge and get the student loans repaid if they support Peterborough Speedway ;-)

Kelsey Dugard !!!! He will be under family orders not to score a point . There will not be any "boxing" as long as the ref doesn't give any decisions against the Eagles.

waytogo28 .... you are are so right.... I confine my speedway to watching the SGPs on the telly. As to supporting my team ... I have no idea anymore which day of the week to turn up, or for that matter which track to travel to !!!!! (Lakeside Hammers) Seems Fridays were pre booked by the BSPA co chairman -and in the interests of himself decided nobody else could run on a Friday. Complete shambles. So in MY best interests I have walked away ..... I spend my money with BT sports now.

Keep the SGP on BT Sports. Shut down the Premier League and Championship. Put everyone out of their misery. Keep the National League with its teams of part time riders and affordable pay rates and admission fees.

I thought Fridays were Scunthorpe’s regular race night?.... I suppose now Mr Godfrey has b****red up everyone else’s fixtures he’s happy to run on anyone else’s regular race night.

Maybe the first item On the agenda at this years promoters winter bash should be an Auction. At present we have Lot 1 Poole Lot 2 Peterborough

What are you buying exactly ??? A tractor with a grader, a set of starting tapes, coloured lights, flags, an air fence and safety fence anda little "track material" and some pot holes ? The rider "assets" have little value as they are all guns for hire and ride where they please. I suppose Mr Ford will take the trophy cabinet with all his pots ! You wouldn't even be guaranteed which division of racing you might be taking part in , or more importantly which race night you might have to race your home meetings. Hardly a growth business ... I doubt Dragons Den woudl take it on.

Agree with you Aces 51 the racing over both legs of the final on both tracks was poor. Too many "FTG" heats. Oh one more thing is Adam Ellis a Poole asset ? or is it Swindon ?

Congratulations to Poole 2018 ... possibly the most undeserving side to lift the "Play off" Grand Final in recent memory. Two "racing incidents" that injured key Somerset and KingsLynn riders ... coupled with an appalling refereeing decision got Poole through the fianl stages of the P Offs. Rule manipulation over the use of guests as always with everything Poole Speedway do in the Elite League. Maybe "Misery" Middleditch will crack a smile now he has won ?????????????? All change for 2019 ...... will British Speedway survive ????

Lets hope this is the last we see of Matt Ford as a promoter at Poole....... I don’t know how, but he always seems to be granted favours from the BSPA ...... the sport needs to rid itself of favours ...... if Poole don’t think a suitable gust is available then use R/R like any other club would be forced to do........ Good luck to King’s Lynn tmw... I am no KL Buster fan but after all the “ racing incidents” caused by Poole riders to enable them to reach the final they dont deserve the P Off victory. Let’s hope we see a neutral referee and some racing tmw.

Hope Craig Acroyd enjoys his complimentary overnight stay at Baillie House Hotel tonight ...

Yup Tatum defo said there was a curfew - but didnt say what time it takes effect. I am about to turn this borefest off after 3 false starts for heat 6 .... delays for riders taking extra rides and IRR .......

I should have explained myself more clearly. Call another ambulance "999" and send the two riders with non life threatening injuries to Poole Hosital (which I recall is minutes from the stadium) - and carry on racing. Instead we have an hours delay live on TV. If BT dont screen speedway next year I wouldnt blame them. Its not good TV and not much fun if you are at the track. The "Health and Safety" brigade have really taken over the sport. They cannot race now with the paramedic in the pits - has to be on the centre green apparently. The sport is ruined by delay delays delays.