van wolfswinkel

Was chatting to one of the Robins main sponsors today, was concerned about the fixture list, only 1 home match in June, then 4 matches in 5 days in both July and August. Need more regular home meetings. Crowd of around 1800 against Poole last week, includes about 400 sponsors, guests, season-ticket holders, freeloaders. Even though it was tenner the poor weather and Sky cameras reduced the gate. Seems apart from the Poole clashes crowds are rarely above 1400, mostly around 1200. 17 quid is too much. Hundreds of fans stopped going when Leigh Adams said farewell. They used to take 5 coachloads to the Cardiff GP when he was in it, now only 1 coach. Preferred the old 18/19 club format with only one home clash per opponent, or north-south league. Don't think most fans want to see teams such as Wolves, Lakeside, Leicester twice a year. Hopefully with Wardy riding now and new stadia on way with excellent facilties interest and attendances will increase up at Blunsdon. Both agreed Belle Vue best team at The Abbey so far this year.

Should be same as horse racing..free to all under-18s, the watered down Elite League speedway aint worth 17 quid..if you look at the cost say 40 years ago and take inflation into account shouldn't be more than 12 quid. We used to pay at Swindon as kids in the 60s/70s(although it was a lot easier to climb in then!and we did that mostly). Too old to attempt that now! At least with Wardy riding now gates should increase, same as when Zagar joined 5 years ago.

Great to hear...awaiting the start now of the new stadia in Swindon...lets hope these 2 famous clubs have good line-ups to keep the crowds coming.

Should be started soon as me mate is due to start working there!

So you must be over 50...you will still need a flask and blanket(other patterns apart from tartan are available)at the new Blunsdon Stade de Lite.

And with 11-4 heat wins for Swindon, thought Poole were a tad fortunate to hit 40. With the new stadium about to start can see some decent crowd figures next year, and wouldn't mind buying season tickets, as at least you're guaranteed a seat, unlike now where you have to carry your own in. 3 newbies last night couldn't believe the speed, and that there are no brakes, and they were shocked at the number of falls/crashes. The only downside for them was the poor view, and their unfortunate visit to the black-hole of Blunsdon, those infamous back-straight boggies, Glad to see Swindon have gained at least 3 new fans anyway. Hope young Rosie is ok..looked nasty, crashed right in front of us.

Not at Swindon though, coz they ain't got none! (well about 50 chairs in the upstairs bar that's it!)

Great display of riding from Darcia at Blunsdon last night...the next Briggo, a real natural talent. The big crowd soon warmed to him.

you missed the ny off of fan ER Not so much now as Big Ron has created more racing lines.

Superb meeting on The Hill...very good crowd considering the weather, good atmosphere, some good racing and incidents, and comfortable win for Swindon. Well done especially Wrighty and Wardy is so bloody quick. Introduced 3 newbies and they loved it. With the new stadium next year will be much better viewing for the little 'uns.

Was pouring of rain in Hawksworth, now dry in Royal Haydon End 2 miles from track.

Can remember in the 70s cost the same for cinema, football at Highbury, and Swindon speedway...now it's 7 quid flicks, 17 quid at Swindon Stadium(no seats until the new stadium), 25 quid at Swindon Town for League 1 fare. Cant afford ticket for The Arsenal thesedays. Fiver for a car at Epsom Downs orse racing, and 15 quid for a seat at Gloucester Rugby.

You obviously missed mine then!

Only watched a few away matches but the Robins normally have good away support, never forget The Mad Wellie Express, 1981 I think, when 500 fans, riders, bikes and mechanics, made the long train journey to Edinburgh! The fans deserve that new stadium, speedway is still important in the area. When I used to work as a cabbie/chauffeur had a few passengers from London and elsewhere say what's this speedway thing people here go on about? One Dutch superbiker always went to meetings when staying in the town...he loved it!

Weather forecast not good for tomorrow...2500 plus expected up on The Hill.

Many west-country folk make the trip to Linekerland?

Well done Darcia...after that long break, if he keeps out of trouble could win as many world titles as the Great Briggo. Another good performance from Gregory, and still have Batch and Morra to return from injury. Need to start winning away matches to break into top 4, and could have won this, reserves are a worry. Top 5 as good as anyone.

Tried the Curry Place Rodbourne Road and ended up with the squits! Lalbagh and Ganges seem well regarded and also The Oriental Aroma in High Street Bassett is good.I hear they're opening a new Aussie takeaway in Swindon to cater for the growing number of lads from Down Under.

Will be great to see Darcia tearing around the famous Abbey in red and not blue for this year, possibly the most exciting rider I've seen at on The Hill since Briggo in the late 60s. Should put a few hundred more pairs of feet on those grassbanks in Wiltshire, before the new stadium(with seating!) opens next year. Like Jack Wilshere of the Gunners cant stand the stupid childish off-track/field antics but if they're wearing the red of Swindon or Arsenal come on my son!!!

Used to enjoy chatting to the riders in the bar, pits and car park at Worky, especially guys like Steady, Wrighty, Stoney, Aidan Collins, Rusty Harrison, Woody, Kauko Niemenen, great bunch of dudes, but appreciate some speak little English, and there is now stricter security at some tracks to stop fans accessing the pits areas. Swindon used to have riders going into the crowd afterwards to sign autographs, now that doesn't happen. Needs to be more interacting between riders and fans, especially the kids.

Remember the one opposite the multi-storey in the 70s, don't know if its still there.

Well said Mr.Stadia...certainly the bit about the home-grown talent that fans could identify with, and rode for the team for years, and then you could go into the pits and get the autographs of your heroes, but were too shy to say anything! Nowadays just some half-hearted waves from some mercenaries who want to make a quick exit to ride in Poland, Sweden, Denmark etc., The racing is as good as and faster than ever!

Went by rail this year so what was the Park and Ride situation? Wouldn't swap the last train back to Swindon, one of the best laughs I've had in ages..full of some pished up speedway fans and partygoers having a good time, including a huge Polish fan with ultra- long beard collapsing like a pack of cards through drinking too much Anyone pay 38 quid for tickets from office and get 29 quid section tickets as they said they had run out? If we just went for the racing don't think we would bother, like having the craic with different fans, and watching The Magoos,great live combo from Worcester. They have to get the Gate bias sorted out, only Krackerjack came last from there, and would have put money on Woffy-Holder to win final. Brilliant ride from Iversen(and Killer). No mention of GP at all in the Mail, plenty of F1 coverage, although did have 140000 at Silverstone as opposed to 40000 in the motor-cycle GP at Cardiff.

Yes sidders me daughter lives off Grange Drive decent nosh there,I lived on Ermin Street 84-88 wasn't very good then...other good 'uns I've tried are Beechcroft Road, Roughmoor, West Swindon Centre, Pavenhill, Purton. Don't like the shops where they don't cook it fresh such as our local at Redhouse. Not many traditional English chippies around now. Still looking for a decent Indian/Chinese in Swindonia..if they ain't got that hygiene rating sticker I don't go in.

If you read the post properly I said The Abbey Stadium, Swindon...cant talk for other tracks, and I don't have Sky so didn't see KL-Poole match