foamfence

I started going in the 1950s, I often went three times a week and would go to big meetings at Belle Vue, Wembley and Wimbledon, that carried on until Odsal last closed. These days there are no tracks near me, I have no transport and money is tight. When money wasn't 'tight' I was a sponsor and also a mechanic for a few years. So anyone younger who criticises that because I'm no longer a regular, should remember that I've probably been to more meetings than they ever will and I still care about the sport.

I wouldn't exactly say 'desperate' and many of my friends remarked that it had been one of the best seasons ever, at the time. Many of my friends also enjoyed it on the two occasions when we had one big league. It isn't currently feasible to totally ban Aussies or anyone else but it'd be a good day when all teams were fully staffed by Brits, if it ever came. It used to sicken me when some fans supported their club foreigner in test matches and internationals, booing the British riders and even cheering when they fell.

It all sounds ideal and that seems to be what is going to happen but if a club can only use one of those nights and they have a few rain-offs, then they are still going to have to encroach on nights allotted to a different league, in order to complete their fixtures.

We could certainly cut down, especially when you see two teams each having a guest at number one, surely R/R should apply in such a case.

But if you have someone out injured and another rider is called up for some official international purpose, the only instant and short-term answers would be to have a guest (even a youngster) or turn up with five riders. When the latter has happened it hasn't gone down well on this forum.

There are riders that don't double up and riders who fit in work alongside racing, so it shouldn't be essential.

Doubling up! You can never eliminate guests, even if you limited them to young British riders or whatever, there would still be need for a substitute at times.

I understand that Lakeside have announced their intention to move back up.

It looked embarrassingly empty when they last were in the 'top flight' but they must know how far they can stretch and they'll surely be aware of the 'fixed race night' likelihood.

That still isn't 'all the facts' as some clubs might prefer option two because they are currently losing money. Deans poll was as meaningful as that would be.

Worrall is never going to be a Crump or a Rickardsson, even if you ladled money into him. While there may be validity in the point he makes, there are other riders who ride in one league and other riders who do other work to supplement their income. If the situation remains as it is it's likely that some clubs will close in the next two years. The poll reflects that, even though it only contained a few hundred votes.

If that came to be, they'd all still be at the start line next Spring.

Neither is the sport going bankrupt.

That was due to the realisation that he might have to get a job.

You raise some good points and it certainly isn't as simple as just saying "right everyone, next year it's Mondays and Thursdays," hopefully the promoters have been prepared for this already, otherwise it might be riddled with snags for some.

Assuming there will still be a CL.

I keep asking that but there are as yet no answers as everything is still rumour.

That would be right, as long as the clubs that you need aren't already booked up on your (restricted) available dates. The other possibility would be double headers, which I personally don't like and which probably lose money. Doubtless when the announcements are made after the AGM, there will be a mixture of agreement and hole picking.

I thought that originally (before doubling-up became a disease) it was suggested to allow more riders to compete here as well as overseas, Jason Doyle still seems to see it that way. Whatever the predominant reasons might be, I can't see it providing a full cure for current problems, too many riders are financially out of reach and some clubs might well suffer on the gate from having to switch race nights, there will also be the problem of rain-offs, it isn't unusual for some clubs to have five or six in a season and never manage to rearrange them all, even under the current less restricted set-up.

Exactly!

The latter and if they get behind with the work, you can issue them with a doubly quick black and white duster to catch up.

I know but if the Poles decide he can only ride in one other league, he wont be here, even though he is currently giving the impression that he will.

And Redcar and Sheffield?

I don't blame him and it isn't relevant that there are others (this is about him) but he has nailed his colours to the mast and from what he says people might expect him to comply with our seemingly inevitable and forced upon set race nights. When we all know that he's a glove puppet of the Poles and how they decide things will be his future. His words might well prove to be hollow.

If the Poles tell Doyle he can only ride in one other league, you wont see him for dust.