teddy2706

Two nice runs at least down to Plymouth this season then, wonderful news! Now all we need is someone generous to help keep IoW open too.

I choose not to comment on the grounds that he might start calling me rude names too.

I understand that Dudley, sorry, Cradley supporters who take the trouble to support their team at Stoke, thus adding to the gate receipts at Loomer rd. got called a rude word by a member of the Stoke staff in 2012? Absolutely unforgiveable in my opinion. Certainly the same person isn't afraid of calling Stoke supporters rude names.

In fairness to Mr. Tattum, he did come to a supporters forum social night, albeit uninvited. He did have a conversation with some of us, but he brought someone with him who decided it was a better idea to shout at us, the same person who called Dudley supporters rude names and alienated them. Sadly, that evening could have been the one opportunity to bury the hatchet and for Stoke Speedway to move forward because the person who was once Stoke speedway's biggest supporter was there too and he was in a position to pull together supporters once again. Now he loathes Stoke speedway with an absolute passion and the mere mention of the club makes him venomous. It seems to me that the only way Stoke Speedway can survive is if someone of the calibre of Mr. Machin took over from Mr. Tattum, even if the club remained NL but with aspirations to take the team back into PL.

If this comes to pass, it has got to be great news for every young speedway rider in the South West. Does it matter whether the team are called Plymouth Demons/Devils/Sailors/Monkeys or whatever? So long as young people get the opportunity to display their talents at a track that doesn't cost a mortgage to travel to, then that is all that matters. Good Luck to Plymouth for even considering the idea, I hope to be travelling to watch Stoke and Buxton ride there soon. More British tracks, more British riders has to be the way forward.

A friend of mine who is a Stock car fan says that at a recent meeting, drivers complained that their cars were being damaged because of the track surface and he also said that part of the track lighting wasn't working.

That is my understanding too FG. My belief is that the buck stops with the promotion. Admittedly, it is difficult to re-invest and rejuvenate with the receipt from a small crowd, but is the small gate receipt directly attributable to the promotion? You are quite right too; it was once one of the best tracks in the country at any level of the sport. The promoters have had many opportunities to meet with the disaffected supporters and listen to their grievances, but choose not to, a very sad state of affairs indeed.

My opinion, for what it is worth, is that spectators became disillusioned when certain well liked riders were dropped some years ago (unjusitifiably some fans thought). Adding this to a poor run of results and a programme that often included Stoke riders no-one had ever previously heard of, some long standing supporters became tired of their team being beaten repeatedly and a lack of silverware and began to stay away. Dropping to NL speedway did not help, many supporters only wanted to watch PL (in fairness, this was to them, like giving Mackeson to whisky drinkers, it was a product that they might have consumed occasionally, but not the one of their choice). 2011 in the NL was promising, but the team succumbed to injuries preventing the success they absolutely deserved. This further aggravated supporters. Certain popular riders were again dropped and gates fell dramatically. Wages have always been below national averages in the Stoke area and the economic downturn kept even more supporters away. Rows and running battles began between supporters and sometimes the promotional team on web sites and several supporters (some of whom had indeed helped out at the club in various ways) began to loathe the promotion. Add to this several fixtures that did not occur, several delays due to various reasons (non appearance of paramedics, generator issues) and a callous attitude towards loyal supporters seems to have nailed the coffin lid down nicely. The track, once the hunting ground of bold marauders from visiting teams because it was so good and competetive, has sadly been allowed to deteriorate. The toilets are disgraceful. The stadium has an air of decay about it. Visiting fans have been subjected to inappropriate comments from Stoke staff who really should know better. I live near Stoke, but do not spectate there anymore preferring the friendly atmosphere and proximity to the action of Buxton. On visits to Mildenhall and Sheffield, one is greeted by members of the promotional team who are pleasant, ask how far you have come and thanking you for your visit. It isn't difficult to demonstrate hospitality to paying customers in a way that makes them wish to return, but this is sadly absent from Stoke speedway. Some speedway tracks are a home from home, somewhere you may wish to linger, meet friends, enjoy the company. Loomer road no longer has that appeal for me.

One commodity that speedway has a surfeit of is old tyres. Tyres are a carbon nightmare and speedway is very wasteful with them. Wherever you go at speedway the things are everywhere. Now, whilst I realise that tyres are nasty when burning, is there no way that tyres could be bagged and stacked in such a way as to a) prevent riders sliding beneath them and present a low fire risk? Tyres were often used in road racing and I for one have been grateful for their protection on several occasions.

No, I don't mean NEW speedway fans. No-one with any interest in speedway would go to Loomer rd. the reputation is so poor. I have a soft spot for Stoke Speedway - Romney Marshes. That does not mean though that I have any axe to grind with any rider whilst they were riding for Stoke.

Whether Stoke run in 2014 depends entirely on whether the promotion can attract non-speedway fans! Over the past years, they have managed to alienate so many existing supporters (and not only their own) who are unlikely ever to return with the present promotion in place. Die hards who I never expected to jump ship now appear frequently spectating at Buxton and rarely, if ever show their faces at Loomer Rd. It is a very sad state of affairs indeed. Stoke fans are regarded by supporters from other clubs as rather sad eccentrics, subject to friendly mickey taking or worse, sympathy. Incredibly, the promotion (as other promoters elsewhere have in the past) appear content to allow this slide in support to continue. The fact that many absent supporters now actively hope that Loomer rd. closes to speedway is an indication of the cancer that has rotted this once proud and well supported club away from the inside. Stoke once had the most competitive racing track, the most vociferous and partisan supporters and a neat and tidy stadium. Now look at it, you could weep. Even finding a toilet is a huge acheivement.

I didn't know there was more than one Mrs. Moss, I certainly meant Jayne Moss, nor did I intend to be rude either to, or about her.

Why would Stoke prepare their track to suit their own team, they have completely failed to produce anything like a good racing surface for two years now!

Mrs. Moss appeared to be paying attention to another of her business interests on sunday afternoon, she cannot be in two places at once! The fact that she didn't go to Mildenhall has no bearing upon the attendances at Buxton. Whilst I haven't always seen the result I would like at Buxton (particularly when they batter Stoke!) I have always been entertained. That isn't true of all clubs, in fact some venues are just boring and not a spectacle at all.

Mrs. Moss has stated her case, as a business woman she is ruled by her head, not her heart. A train of events beyond her control caused problems that led to falling attendances. A recession that seems to just go on for ever. Stoke sacking Tim Webster, who was then available for Buxton. Tim walking out leaving Buxton high and dry. Robert injured himself badly and Charles Wright isn't always available because of PL commitments. As someone who didn't like spectating at Buxton, I have learned to love the cut and thrust unpredictability of that track, I saw more action there than almost anywhere this season. Watching Deano bushwack top NL riders, watching Luke and Adam pull off some real suprises and scarcely being able to watch Rhino Blacklock because he might win, but might fall off, then remount and get back into the places (who knows which it will be)? The setting has the best scenery in England and the racing can be first class. What do you want? The food and drink are served with a smile and you are so close to the action you sometimes duck, especially if Mr. Blacklock is on the rampage out of turn 4. Instead of grumbling about that tracks differences, it would be good to celebrate them and turn up to watch, Mrs. Moss gives young, inexperienced riders much longer to learn their craft than anyone else, she deserves support for this on its own! As a previous sceptic, I am converted and would be very upset to never watch there again.

You have our ear Vog (although we don't get much choice sometimes) Who else knows the rules, knows the averages, knows the statistics and corrects our programmes if not you mate? But by using possessive, objective and subjective personal pronouns (us, we, our etc.) you do let folk think you might be connected to the management at Stoke. This could get you into serious trouble when assembled hordes of vindictive Heathens are next baking to death for two hours at Loomer (for whatever hold up it is) on a sunny afternoon, or blundering into hard objects in the dark after the genny has gone to lunch yet again!

Simon Lamberts PL average was higher than 5 at the end of hostilities last season.

A very entertaining meeting, some spirited riding, some excellent passing. Ryan stayed glued to his seat for almost all of his races and, as always rode his guts out in all of his rides and at last has a proper reward for his efforts. Well done that man! Messrs. Lambert and Birks gave a great exhibition of their skills on a tricky but quite fast track. Both sides should be congratulated on a great afternoons speedway, thank you. Sadly, Ben hurt himself in a nasty crash and Buxtons number 1 for the day never showed his real potential. On paper it shouldn't have been good, in reality it was very good, one of those classic matches that stay in your mind.

It looked like a blue A4 folder to me, plainly I was wrong, I apologise.

Both teams rode very well on a track that was tricky at first. Gary Irving was incredible, Ashley Morris was good. Byron Bekker wasn't at his best, but stuck with it. It was an entertaining, nail biting match, more so because Ryan Blacklock managed to stay glued to his bike more often than usual and recorded a great score well deserving the Man of the Match award. The score didn't go Buxton's way, but they didn't really deserve to lose, but on balance Scunthorpe probably did. Mrs. Moss might like to be more careful where she is slinging books next time though and mind she doesn't have that gate off its hinges! It was worth £15 for that little exhibition of temper alone!

Quite right. Michael Lee repeatedly let down every English speedway fan on several occasions. I think BWD will find Robert was at Buxton, but could barely walk, plainly in a good deal of pain.

And help.

Did you mean ain't, or did you really mean to say bain't?

They may be noisy, they can be rude, but they are usually there supporting their team. Dudley fans (unless very upset by someone at Stoke) travel all over the country and give their support wholeheartedly. I support Stoke (it wears thin sometimes though) and following Stoke away can be heartbreaking because of their lack of travelling support, sometimes home support too. As an ex. Long Eaton and Cradley supporter, I will say this, visiting Loomer as a Long Eaton fan was far more intimidating than anything I have ever seen at any other track anywhere in the country. The Loomer faithfuls in the eighties were unbelievably partisan, far worse than I have ever witnessed Cradley/Dudley fans behave. But they do speak English at Stoke.....

Well done Buxton! Hopefully Ryan Blacklock's injury isn't serious and he will be back very soon. Even had Mr. Garrity been on the right side of the fence instead of spectating, it wouldn't have been enough to defeat Buxton. It was sad to see James Sarjeant having problems, one hopes he will resolve the machinery issues soon, he is a far, far better rider than yesterdays score suggests.