Ray Stadia

Thank you for letting me know. I missed the posting. A good age though! RIP John

I wonder if 'speedyguy' and 'Parsloes 1928 nearly' are aware the Dons might make a return! 🤨

What's the answer then? Limp on until the sport disappears up its own fundament?

You wouldn't have the same overheads. And you could charge the riders to race, as they do in many amateur motor sports.

What happened there is, very sadly, because Tim passed away and a bunch of muppets took over the running! Muppets taking over successful teams is quite common, it seems, along with losing stadiums to development and along with speedway track owners, with strong connections to speedway, (the Duggards, the Pughs), either selling up or keeping the stadium, but not running speedway. I don't know what the answer is, but speedway is clinging on by its finger tips. Holding on to running speedway as a team event, cannot last, as the number of teams drop out. It will survive as an activity, but my guess is it will survive as an amateur sport, with individual meetings and with other associated attractions, such as upright challenges mixed in and GT140 type races. My guess is it would attract more riders, would remove the need for expensive foreign riders and would give the promoters/organisers, a chance to at least break even!

Your last line is the biggest benefit, but of course, a speedway rider will not have to worry about peronal liabilities, unless they intend to 'knock' people who provide them with services, eg, engine tuners.

I'm self employed, I have been for many years. I could be a director of a limited company, but there wouldn't be any benefit for me. I can employ a family member. As for drawing money out of a limited company, tax free, what's the mechanics of that? You can draw dividends and take a small salary, but you pay tax on dividends.

I've lost the thread (excuse the pun) of what is being discussed, regarding Workington's predicament, but I have picked up discussions on Limited Companies. Most businesses do not need to be 'limited' (unless the BSPL insist on it. If they do, I don't know why they would). A speedway promoter, if there are no restrictions could be a sole trader, in other words self employed. However, if I was a speedway promoter, I would want to be limited, to protect my personal assets. A number of promoters are business people and have another business or businesses. I would imagine, as speedway is a loss making venture, promoters, via their accountants, would use the losses to offset against profits, they make in their other enterprises. As for riders having a limited company, why would you bother and not just be self employed?

Really! Not a good idea, if someone decides legal action against you. You carry the financial can totally!

I think, probably, all 3 would happen if there was enough money behind the ventures. All 3 are viable, but trying to do it on a 'shoe string', means it might or may not happen. If there was money in the sport, they never would have closed, even Plough Lane.

I do wonder, if this is what it is about? I hope I'm wrong. 😟

Don't get me wrong, I would love to see them back. I used to live in Leatherhead for a while (1980's) and watched the Dons most weeks, but regular speedway back in London, does sound unlikely, but would love to be proved wrong!

April Fool!

Speedway, over the years, has shot itself in the foot. We have had speedway track owners 'selling out', Pugh, Sandu and no doubt others! We have Eastbourne, owned by a speedway family, running bangers and stocks, but not speedway! Riders demanding stupid money/fees. Engine tuners bleeding the riders dry. Speedway is like cancer (terrible to use that analogy), it's killing itself! 😢

I saw a video of the crash and it seems a rider in the first half of the rider pack, caught the kerb, wobbled and fell off, and the riders behind him piled into the wreckage. Often happens, but usually without such tragic consequences. Terrible, very sad. 😟