E I Addio

It probably about does it for a lot of people I would think. The EDR scheme could be such a good idea if it was done properly, but it's almost if they sit there trying to think up ways of making the sport less and less credible.

Suppose it doesn't work and they ask for their money back . Then what ?

It is not a reasoned to debate to falsely claim that some people are adamant that Speedwáy doesn't have a problem when nobody has said any such thing.

Good to see up and coming youngster Stuart Robson getting a chance under the EDR scheme. This is definitely the way to bring the young ones on. What a fantastic scheme it is. Must be the end of Dave Watts career though. Can't see anyone taking a chance on him on his average at the moment. Leicester might have him instead of Ulamek though I suppose.

No he didn't say Speedwáy hasn't got a problem, nor did anybody else say such a thing. That is you misquoting him. Nobody in their right mind would say Speedwáy hasn't got a problem, but a number disagree with your over analysis of where the problem lies. The fact is that you are not interested in anyone else's opinion except your own so you resort to things like telling people they have their heads in the sand or misquoting them as you did with sparkafag. Speedwáy has a multitude of problems, the majority of which don't have a simple or quick fix solution.

Can you point out the specific posts on this thread from people who are adamant that Speedwáy hasn't got a problem ? I must have missed those.

I have read that before but thanks Crump 99 for posting it again to refresh our memory. I have long held Mick Bratley in high regard for a variety of reasons, and nobody could have worked harder or put more effort in than he did. It absolutely galls me when idiots post on here with their quick fix solutions because there aren't any. The core product is good for those who like this sort of entertainment, but in the geeky Internet age it seems less and less people are interested in mechanical thingsf or motor sport, and that is the first problem thst has to be faced up to. Apart from that the broad feedback that we see on here is for slick presentation. To improve the presentation would cost very little and would go a long way towards keeping fans once they are through the turnstiles but the big problem is getting them to come in the first place and on Mick Bratleys experience that is the major problem. No easy answers. Long term planning is needed for a sport that is basically run on a year to year basis.

Absolutely spot on. The points system in county cricket is far, far more complicated than Speedwáy but it doesn't put people off. The scoring system in boxing is a closed book to most fans but it doesn't stop new ones from going. Thousands watch football without really understanding the offside rule and thousands enjoy cricket without knowing the detail of the LBW rule. It frustrates me that the things that are speedways real problems are things that most fans barely comment on. Instead their complaints revolve round what are more frequently their own misunderstandings. Surely we keep coming back to the point that to many EDR riders are too good for the scheme. Not only Garrity but riders like Newman, S. Worrall, Howarth etc are too good for the scheme. They are good enough to take the Richie Worrall type route via the PL , rather than just being handed th place.

Back to winter jobs. In Alf Hagons case it wasn't so much a winter job as a separate full time job. A brilliant self taught engineer he had a shop in Leytonstone for years, always impressive because in the window were the envelopes of letters people had sent from all over the world. Never more than a Speedwáy second string but a class grass tracker and former British Champion who designed and built his own frames that revolutionised grass track. He also designed and built the machine on which he set what was at the time a world record flying mile at 209 mph (from memory ). I think Ivor Brown had a variety of jobs. He was a postman or ran a post office and had something to do with a butchers shop I think I read . Brian Maxted was a part time fireman. Stretching my memory a bit now but didn't the Boocock family have a flour mill?

That's it, Tony Lomas. Thanks.

Zu Maury Mattingley made Speedwáy frames and forks, but in addition to that he made towel rails (not sure which was the main business and which was the sideline). Norman Hunter was an electrician. Len Silver had his car showrooms in Manor Park. There was a Conventry rider whose surname escapes me Tony something, was a test rider for Triumph motorcycles. Eric Boothroyd was a grengocer. Ron mMountford had a garage or workshop of some kind. Super Simmo was an apprentice in Chatham dockyard when he started but soon turned full pro. Ove Fundin was some kind of paraffin supplier. Stan Stevens ran a brake and clutch service (in East Ham I think). Tommy Sweetman I believe had an opticians shop in Cheshunt, and I believe Howard Cole was an estate agent. Mike Broadbanks was a lorry driver. Norman Strachan worked in a sawmill (where he lost two fingers in an accident ).

I suppose you could also say that in most forms of motorcycle and motor racing the general pattern is that someone establishes an early lead and it frequently doesn't change much after that, but it is still a great spectacle in the eyes of its fans. Speedwáy has some unfortunate baggage that puts people off but generally speaking it's still a great spectacle in its basic form.

I think you need to read the comment to take a balanced view on that. Personally I didn't see it as moaning as such. I read it as him expressing himself in a fairly upfront way and more's the pity more promoters don't communicate in quite the same way. He's got his faults like everyone else but at least we know where he is coming from, unlike the rest of them that just keep quiet.

They go off 15 metres when they touch the tapes so I don't know why a T/r should be any different.

You sure do Siddo, and you are famous for it and for getting suspended. A legend in your own lunchtime. But if we can drag this thread kicking and screaming back to topic, I see Mick Horton made some interesting comments in this week and last weeks Speedwáy Star about Poole. It's all very well for Ford to be disparaging about other clubs but when people like Mick Horton and Neil Watson feel they have had enough and are disheartened by it all the alarm bells much the same way as the fans feel should be ringing . It doesn't seem that all is well at BSPA towers.

It sure is. In fact it's even colder than the Poole showers after the 2010 play off Final !

I don't know about that . Dave Watt captained Lakeside for three years hitting around. 7-point average, but still got blown away 2 weeks ago, Hans nearly always does well at Arena, only Holder is not keen on the place but he is not really his full self anyway so far this year. I can't remember Dave Watt having many good meetings at Brandon, especially acts it's a bit wet. From this distance it seems to me that the Bees team spirit is not all it could be, but if they all pull together it should be a decent match. Go for it .

I don't see why it should. Coventry at home are not significantly weaker than Lakeside at home. KK should be roughly the same as AJ is at Lakeside and Bomber at Brandon is as good if not better than any equivalent Hammers heatleaders. Lakeside beat Poole with a six man team because they got stuck in and had the crowd behind them to come from 6 points down to take the win. Coventry have the potential to win this, but it means digging deep, functioning as a team and the fans getting behind them. Giant killing is what Speedwáy is all about. If the Bees pull this off you will all be walking on air for I week as I was when Lakeside beat Poole. Get in and support your team. It's a big ask but it's doable.

Well, I guess that takes us back to John Leslie's post #2 on the thread. Maybe you are in the wrong forum as well as the wrong sport.

I didn't say the number of likes are a reflection of its validity, but clearly if someone "likes " a post they agree with its contents. It simply highlights the fact that there is a body of opinion contrary to your own. Of course you are entitled to your opinion but if you put it up for discussion on a discussion forum people are entitled to examine the validity of it. Your opinion, you say is based on three meetings, one of which was a televise meeting. I would suggest that three meetings is a very small sample to dismiss a whole sport. As Halifaxtiger says, out of three meetings at Lakeside this season one has been a cracking meeting, one very good and one OK. Maybe it's just a case that you were watching the wrong meetings? I daresay you could attend almost any sport and if you were unlucky you might get three bad ones on the trot, but that doesn't make the whole sport boring. Also, as someone else said sometimes sport, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. At one time moto-cross was by far my favourite sport, couldn't get enough of it , but now I really can't see what the attraction is. My life has moved on and my outlook has changed . The sport I once loved has become boring. Do you see the point ? It's the same with lots of posts on the forum. Loads of people come on moaning that Speedwáy is not the sport it was 30 years ago, sometimes it's them that are stuck in 30 years ago. Nothing wrong with that but people need to recognise it. Anyway, like it or not, Speedwáy is not going to radically change anytime soon. For you, me and everybody else it's a question of either enjoy it or move on. Complaining won't change Speedwáy or most other things in life. Boredom is an emotion I don't experience and don't understand so Inreally can't add anything else to the discussion.

There is no dispute that the sport is struggling. That is not the same as saying it is boring as per the title of your thread. I refer you to post # 2 on this thread by John Leslie, and the supporting "likes" it received. Plenty of people on here and elsewhere dispute the claim that it is boring. Few, if any dispute the fact that it is struggling. The reasons why it is struggling have been done to death on other threads.

Sorry I thought you said you liked a bit of banter. Pretend I never said it if it upsets you. Never had anyone on ignore and don't intend to start now. All part of life's rich pageant. In my humble opinion undoubtedly so, but you would never believe it reading some of the posts on here.

Lakeside v Swindon Friday 22nd April according to the fixture list, unless I 'm going blind as well as daft.

Strangely enough, now that you have actually deigned to turn your attention to the thread topic I find myself very much in agreement with most, (nearly all ) of what you say. In fact you have made a point that I have made in the past, and which the glass half empty brigade usually refuse to acknowledge, and that is that maybe you have changed as well as the sport. Me too. I found it boring it what some describe as the Golden Years but returned to it and enjoy it as much as ever. It's all a matter of priorities and perception. So there we are, both united against the doom and gloom merchants. Oh , I can assure you I do. The secret of life is to enjoy the passing of time. If I didn't enjoy it I wouldn't go and I certainly wouldn't waste my time on here moaning about it. And speaking of moaners:- Nice of you to pop in to the thread between bans Sid. You must be due another one soon I would think? Still have nothing constructive to comment on in relation to the topic under discussion though? Some things never change.

No real surprises there. Well done to Wolves and Sam Masters in particular. Seems like Kylmo has a new lease of life. Wolves once again showing strength in depth. Doing my best to find some positives for Lakeside I suppose we have to say that at least Rob Mear scored a few so hopefully his confidence won't be totally destroyed and he will have something to build on, Swiderski surprisingly top scored and Bridger at least has enough speed in the Jawa to win a race. Shame he couldn't repeat it but at least the capability is there. A shocker for AJ who has been in good form until now. Four days to draw a line under this one and focus on Swindon Friday. P.S. Can any Wolves fans tell us briefly what was said by Peter Karlsson when interviewed.