g13webb

Reading Philip Rising's 'Point of View' in the SS yesterday didn't fill me with a lot optimisium. He was right in what he said about the sport and the dire situation it is in, but the part, when referring to comments from some promoters left a bad taste in one mouth. Thinking the promoters all wanted the sport to change for the better, they would be in aggreence for a new beginning, but apparently not. It seems there is little that they agree on...... They must be blind or stupid not to see the poor state the sport is in. If it were possible to have the minutes of these meeting made public, then the fans would see and proportion blame to some of the ridiculous ideas, instead of hiding behind the door of secrecy.... I thought Buster would be the man to sort the mess out, but reading and listening to stuff I've heard, I have my doubts......

Sorry to mis-lead you, I unfortunately missed out the word 'wife'. Our mortgage was equal to 5wks of the wife's earnings.. We had to live on what remained from both our earnings... But as you can imagine it was real hard times.....

I have to disagree with you and say it is always benefit to get on the property ladder. Probably sight term renting might have a few advantages but in reality buying far outweighs everytime. Today, there are far more places to rent, and that is because the people buying those houses are making a mint out of the people who rent them. I appreciate the costs of buying property has increased to a level when first time buyers are finding it difficult , but as you say it has never been easy. Back in '75 my mortgage was £50 per month, compared to the £15 per month my parents were paying for a 3 bedroomed council house. so you see it was hard but we managed. We used 5 wks wages to finance that bill alone, so in that respect little has changed. Many times you question the sensibility of buying your own house, but in the end it all becomes clear and worth while..... My only regret is that I didn't buy more.....

When Milik rode briefly for Lynn in 2015, it was done as a CMA reducing exercise and bared little or no resemblance to the quality he undoubtedly is. Watching him ride abroad, he is a far better rider than his average portrays and for this reason should he decide to ride here again should be reassessed to the standard he is.... We want to rid our league of ringers for good.... How can we keep riders CMA for yrs when our league format has constantly changed?

Back in the mid 70's when me and my good lady got married, we had no choice to rent. If we wanted somewhere to live we had to buy. Then it was a very volatile period when house prices were gazumping all the time. In 1974 to 76 the houses prices doubled, it was a case buying what you could afford or missing out. There were a lot of disappointed people at that time. The private section offered little compensate with very few rent properties, and the council house list was as long as it is now, buying was the only option. ​Like everybody else, we struggled to pay the high interest rates, and wondered whether we were doing the right thing (so little change from now) to be tied down for 25yrs seemed along time...... 40yrs on we still live in the same house, it had a lot of changes mind. Looking back, it was the best thing we ever done, fair enough we paid through the nose with the high rates but nothing compared to the value our house is worth today. It is very rewarding to know we are safe and secure for our remaining years know we will always have somewhere to live, and have something valuable to leave to our family. So when we talk about the differences between Buying or Renting, the options don't even come close. if you can afford to then its BUY everytime....

I was referring to some of the top EDR's: Ellis; Howarth; Newman; Worrall were regularly seen beating 2nd strings and better and most weeks were very prominent in the points lists. No doubt most clubs would see all of these riders as valuable commodities ..

First of all, a big well done to SCB, he has done a brilliant job in the working of these scores. My gut feeling is that some of the present EDR's are worth far more than the score they have been given, when compared with some of the riders with higher scores. But that just something I picked up on and is no way a complaint of the time SCB has afforded in the creation of.. We need people to input these ideas to enable the sport to move forward... With the exception of a few top riders from the SGP there is little to choose between the two leagues. It is for this reason I query whether the 60% conversion as a realistic figure anymore. This figure has been used for a few years now when the differences was more noticeable than it is now. Probably a figure around 75% would be more realistic..

I think this thread could be a real investigation, into what needs to be done, to bring the averages back to something like believable. Like SCB has pointed out, in their present format the averages are of no importance. One can only assume that when the new heat format is released it will be something similar to what we use to have with all riders competing against each other. If that is not the case we may as well stop now. What would be the point of implement changes to bring these figures back to a realistic point, if the new format doesn't correct the variable difficulty factor . If , as we are lead to believe, this new beginning is forth coming, then yes we are in desperate need of some sort of weighting to bring these averages back to the relevance they once were. Of your suggestions, 1 is a big NO NO. 2 and 3 are possibles and a 5 man independent body also sound good. Whatever way is implemented it has to be better than the figures we have at present.... I am not a lover of the 20 match rolling average, can see many issues when it doesn't work. Back in the 70's the working out was so straight forward and less complicated and was never a problem. Then all riders would start the season with the average they finished the previous year. That figure was used for the first 6 meetings only, when his old average would then be replace with a new current one. That new average would then be continually calculated counting every meeting of that season. The CMA would only stay current for a period of 12 months, then there was a laid down procedure to make a new assessment once that period has elapsed.. Be interesting to read the various views that will come out on this thread....

I was always of the impression that most speedway tracks in Poland were corporately owned. The local council arrange the sponsors for the area and Speedway is just one of the benefits from this. For speedway here to pay the riders the same as Poland we would needs gates similar to premier league football. If my information is correct, we can never compete with the Poles on level terms, so best forget it......

It amazes me that riders, that we know as assets, can be owned by an individual rather then a club. Surely that has to be against all rules and regulations and would not be recognised in the court of law. Similar to football when Mafia type organisation in South America use to take money from clubs who wanted players they thought they owned.... Whatever jurisdiction Readypower had at Peterborough, they should have been relinquished when they parted company. If the rider assets were used as a negotiable settlement where does that leave the riders...... The assett system has played its part in adding to the costs clubs have to pay for riders. It should be outlawed leaving a rider to sort out his own signed contract for a period of time, without these make believe ties that some still hang on to......

I honestly don't agree with their perception. These individuals and companies are looking at their own idealistic way and can only see problems. But the bigger picture shows a far better light in that we have always brought more than we sell. EU countries aren't going to stop us trading when it will hurt them more than us. We are the 5th biggest economy in the world, and we are more than strong enough to fight our own battles and deal with who we want. We went to war to fight against dictatorship and here in the EU, we pay a kings ransom to be part of the same thing. I also feel the EU, as we know today, is getting weaker, and give it a couple years, there will be more countries following UK lead.... Probably a good idea to move down there .....

Exactly, When people put their heads together, its not difficult to organise rules 'Fairly'. Had this been done already, there wouldn't have been any complaints with Woffy or Lindback. The problem with the way you suggest, it that the promoters couldn't bend them to their advantage.....

No, I don't suppose we will. But, it appears there are many places in the UK that are not affected by the numbers we have in this neck of the woods. So I could always up sticks and move to elsewhere, at the moment. But that was not the only consideration in our vote. There are many things. Even our own family had different views. It seemed the younger generation wanted to stay while the older ones wanted out. They always have lived in this environment and know no other, whereas us older ones can remember what is was once like. I'm of the belief once it has got sorted we will be far better off in every way. We can dictate our own country and deal with whoever. Some of the ruling of this EU is farcical, and we have to pay through the nose to be part of it. No, the sooner we're out the better....

Surely, these two posts highlights one of the main problems with our sport. It shouldn't be about 'getting a rider on a good average' ( A ringer), it should be that all riders having the correct average so every team has an equal chance of success. Time and again our promoters have rigged a replacement riders average to better the team with scant regard for rules, the sport, or the fans. We talk about the sport is not taken seriously by the public but can you blame them when we have deceptions happening every day..... We want a situation where all teams are equal, and each have a chance of winning. We want the best of these equal teams to win the league, not one who has brought in a ringer on a bent average. Unless we can get the emphasis of winning fairly, back to the forefront of the rules, these discrepancies will always be there. NB. I don't blame Wolves for bringing back Woffy on a ridiculous CMA. The blame lies firmly at BSPA doorstep. If a club wants to bring in a replacement rider then surely he has to come back on a respectable score. The form and points he scored 2 years ago is of little importance. Here we have the World Champion, the top rider in the world, coming in on a score equal to a EDR and 2nd string. Now surely that can't be right? From that moment on, the league becomes a farce. Had Woffy gone to any team they would also have had a massive advantage. It quite ironic that his inclusion won the title for Wolves, when some teams like BV played it by the book and lost. Like I say Wolves done what they were allowed to do, it was the rules that were wrong in allowing it to happen....

Ye man of no faith. We are a great country and being in the EU just suffocated our existence. In 5 yrs time we will again be strong and dictate our own rules. and every country in the world will want to deal with us...... The future looks good..... The trouble is , you being a Poole man, obviously think that all deals are done over a barrel

We talk long and hard about 'Squad Systems'; 'Specific Race Nights'; '6 men teams' ; 'EDR's' ; 'GP Riders'; 'League names'; 'Heat formats' the list is endless, but the number one priority has to be EQUALITY and FAIRNESS of all the teams. Unless that is uppermost in the plans the interest will continue to decrease. Every fan wants to go to a home meeting with the idea of winning. If the away team manage to win then, they did so by a super human effort and not as a case of expectancy. Of cause fans want to see their own team win, and by having a chance of winning means the racing will be exciting. Our biggest problem at the moment is CMA's given to the riders. The time when they meant something has long gone. The rider's average was suppose to identify the his standard. Now with EDR's, 2nd Strings and Heatleaders all on the same score, just illustrates the inefficiency of it all. To have this Equality and Fairness between the teams, the riders averages have to relate to their strength. If that can't be sorted, then all the other ideas are WORTHLESS....... We have to get back to basics......

I thought the Brexit Vote was a wonderful result. For us living in East Anglia we had lost out town, we had lost our society, taken over by the number of migrant. I'm all for anything in moderation but the numbers here are mind boggling. When I voted to leave, believe or not, I didn't give speedway a thought..... It was not that important...

You are a strict opinionated person, one that will not be turned. Very difficult to discuss anything with a person who only sees what he what to see. When Wolves rode against Lynn, or at Poole, you cant assume all the fans think and react the same . I accept at Lynn, Woffy put a few extra bums on seats but he was also subject to a few boos as well. No doubt at Poole it was the same. You seem to forget Tai is no angel, and as the saying goes 'What goes around, comes around'. You have this opinion that everything the other night was perpetrated just to get at Woffy. Whether you are right or wrong, we'll never know, but I know what was more feasible. .............But nothing will ever change your mind....

Woffinden the rider is probably as good as any in the world. He is obviously a big draw the sport desperately needs. However his attitude and persona that he portrays, from his many comments and interviews don't do him many favours and the fans perception of him, usually precedes wherever he rides.... His refusal to race here in the UK regularly, his refusing to represent his country in future, his reluctance to ride in the semi-final of the SWC all add up to a dislike of him as a person. I am in no doubt his popularity in recent times has waned, and if you took off those black and gold tints you would see this. To most people representing your country in any form would be an honour, but to Woffy it means nothing. So when fans behave like they did the other night, it could mean Woffy actually did nothing wrong on the night, but the fans still have their opinion based on what has gone on before.... Woffy reaction just adds fuel to the fire, ... all in good heart mind...... My opinion is not wrong, no more than it is right. it is merely an opinion..........

I'm amazed at the ammount of importance posters are directing to Woffy and his comments/behaviour. Bearing in mind there was so much excitement from this wonderful meeting to even bother what one person said or did. I don't think anything should be allowed to reflect an unsavoury nature from this wonderful match. I didn't see Lindgren or Zagar have any problems and had Niels or Holder been riding, they won't have had any problems either. Whatever issues Woffy may have had were all self inflicted....

It was you who compared the racing at Wolves with the best anywhere, I just questioned that comment. We at Lynn have also seen some wonderful races, like you have at Monmore, but I would never compared any of those to what is served up at the NSS. This new track is unique and produces racing on a different level to anything we have seen before.... Simply awesome....

Don't kid yourself. In 50 odd years of watching this sport, I have never seen any races at Wolves to compete with what we witness on Wednesday from the NSS. That was the best racing you'll ever see............

I heard that myself and thought what idiots they were to admit to that. We the fans want all the rules and decisions to be transparent, but its quite obvious that the members of the BSPA don't want the fans to knew of their behaviour and who suggested some of these stupid rules. While the BSPA think of the fans as 'them and us' we will never move forward. The only way for the sport to prosper is to have clear ideas, set in stone and everyone singing from the same hymn sheet.......

Soldier Boy !! Now that's a name fro the past.... First met him when he followed Ray Wilson, and then later when he cotton on to Peter Collins. Remember one day at Saddlebow Rd, when 'Peeter was having one of his many dices with Lee, he had engine failure. Such was the laughter and abuse from the packed grandstand, Soldier Boy got up and left amidst the cheers...... Great times, Terrific bloke, Wonderful memories......

Competition involved in league racing is all about Teams. A group of riders who pull together to overcome the opposition. They form a bond, a group of people all with the same aim. The fans can relate with this and connect to the Team and its intentions. That's why I find it so difficult to accept team changes midway or towards the end of the season merely to be more competitive and go glory hunting. This practise goes against everything Team racing stands for. Of cause I understand some cases where injury has to be replaced, but our promoters takes it to a new level and abuse the intentions just to feather their own nests. If the Rules of the League outlawed these practises, then probably we can rid our sport of these mercenaries who are only interested in the own being. Imagine how Kylmakorpi feels this morning after he was prepared to ride here for the season only to be dropped like a brick when it suited. This practise won't motivate other riders to race here when we treat them like that. I sure the BSPA can block this loophole,,,,,,,, If wanted...