Shale Searcher

Does anyone know how JD is healing? Not seen/heard anything about him, they weren't playground scratches, they were pretty serious dings... Anyone know???

12 years ago, I wouldn't have gone anywhere else for a mobile phone except NOKIA... Nokia then dropped the ball, decided to stay using Symbian O/S, The iPhone and Android picked up that ball, and NOKIA was finished as a mobile phone company....... Now, 13/14 years later, NOKIA is returning to the mobile phone market, with what looks like possibly an iPhone / Samsung Galaxy S7 / S8 Killer..... Now not under Microsoft, could get back to its Number 1 position... Never say never..........

When do you reckon a statement of intent will be issued re reinstatement of the stadiums fixtures/fittings/floods/etc.... Or rather, when is one required at the latest, to realistically be in a position to run come mid March?

I think that in the UK the current or say the last ten years of top flight speedway, IE the now old elite league and premier leagues had run their course..... Very few top riders, lots of double ups/downs/guests, it was a poor shadow of its previous and envied state of the pre 1990's... What has been done, is a reset of the level available for teams to build to... Dropping the standards by I reckon, a full level.. IE the new Premiership is now roughly at the standard of the old Premier League from say the days when Carl Stonehewer rode for Workington.. The Championship, the old Premier League is now around the old National League of that same era... Hopefully, clubs can now start to consolidate this season, then maybe, start rebuilding the strengths gradually, say over a 5 year or maybe longer plan, increase the team building points by 1 point or even half a point per season, with promotion and relegation, a stable and workable division 1 and 2 will emerge after this 5+ yr rebuild, the richer and stable ending up in division 1, and able to re-integrate, gradually more world stars, and the second division will stabilise as a truer second level..... In the meantime, more ideas, cooperation, and maybe, bike standardisation for league racing needs to be looked at.... At the moment, British Speedway cannot afford to have only 1 or 2 teams in a position to bargain for and employ the top world riders.. Also, reliance on riders doubling up/down/sideways needs to be phased out, slowly, but surely, and some sort of reward for keeping your clubs team continuity, rider/team loyalty.. (Retaining riders, season after season) rather than punishing teams that then end up as one season wonders.... (I think you get what I mean) We must, must have a plan to re engage top riders at some point in the future....

You know, perhaps the promotors don't have faith in their product either? And posting tasters through 30,000 letterboxes, may bring in another 100 to 300 newbies, but for one time only, because the product is not good... And those 100-300 are lost forever. Promotors are scared to promote outside of their "small" base of regular die-hards and their friends and family.... Just a thought.......

That could easily be off the rear wheel adjuster, not definitely already embedded in the track surface..... Seen them left on by spannermen before.....

Hasn't this reared its ugly head before?

What a mess.....

And here is one of speedways problems, getting something for nothing.... Whether it's track staff, announcers, machine examiners, turnstyle operators, programme sellers, etc, etc, etc...... There's way to much "I will do it for free" in Speedway..... And one of the consequences, is quality/reliability/accountability/consistency and portrayal of the sport to "Joe Public" It's supposed to be a professional sport, ok, so the riders are professional, but the majority of support staff/services are amateur and volunteers.. most only get admission to the racing for free.. I am not knocking volunteers, as I am one myself, but it doesn't help the sport look professional..... ---------------------------------- I have set up a trellis table next to "Elite Cakes" I will be selling the same cakes as the shop, except I have no actual shop.. ok, the cakes will be identical, except the packaging will be plain paper bags, no fancy boxes, or bags, no tray of "tasters" on my trellis, no till, no staff, no cake menu, I will sell my "Elite Cake" knock-offs just a penny or two cheaper, but you'll have to queue in the rain/snow, you won't get a receipt, the cakes will be fresh'ish, but you won't know for definate, if they are "baked today" I was hoping to make a killing, but it's my second day now, and I'm not getting enough customers, so, do I buy a gazebo, for a bit of cover for potential customers, or do I sell slightly sub standard cakes, or past their sell by date cakes, and drag them in that way? The "Elite Cake" shop next door, is doing well, they are giving free coffee with their cakes and and they are packing them in, perhaps I will reduce the price of my cakes, that'll bring um in, won't it........??

I really do feel for you Lakesiders, literally had your speedway pulled from under your feet..... Can't imagine what it must be like, well actually I can, end of the season, circs Leicester 1983..... Gutted for you..

Since doubling up/down got out of control, the opportunity for new UK riders to break into the PL and EL, just about disappeared... That's you're rider shortage explained....

Or knock 2 packets of cigarettes on the head, and a McDonald's and you're at the speedway!!

Perhaps Buster and his mates at the BSPA are having to spend so much time resolving Leicester and Belle Vue, their respective teams are getting neglected... You were all clamouring for Buster to get in there and knuckle down with sorting speedway out, perhaps he needs to sort out someone else to get on with KL team building and other KL related stuff???? Just a thought.......

Top heavy, & 2 x 2 pointers at reserve Or Strength in depth, and 3 pointer and 5 pointer at reserve.... Theys yow choices....!!

You market them differently, make them look younger, market them with younger materials, perhaps use a pop star to back them, or you make them illegal to under 21's Add dangerous ingredients, modernise the packaging, modernise the names....

Perhaps we've been selling our cakes to the wrong customers, perhaps if we make our cakes even cheaper, we'll open up a new cake market? Perhaps people that don't normally eat cakes because they can't afford cakes, will now try cakes, there's millions on the bread; I mean cake line, that will now be able to afford our cakes!!

I think Ellis is a damn good signing..... Doyley, might have been one to many "big offs" may struggle, at least early doors....

I interview hundreds of Poles that have come to the UK for work, I always mention speedway, and nearly always get the same blank look I do from most Brits I interview for work!!!!! "All Poles Love Speedway" Huge Myth!!

If anyone is to be blamed, blame the BSPA!!! As far as I am aware, they are in control of everything Leicester Lions at the moment...

Yes, sworn to secrecy....

Don't forget, it will be a "New Broom" Riders shouldn't carry payment issues from one promotion to another, it's just the same as moving to a different track? If we have problems, Belle Vue's are going to be pretty much insurmountable regarding signing riders, shale suppliers, landlords, etc!!! A new promotion, shouldn't show scars from the previous promotion....

I suppose another question is whether or not a speedway promotion can afford all these jobs on the periphery of the the actual core business of running speedway racing?? Promoter/s Track Curator Team Manager Electrician/Engineer Office Manager Health and Safety Officer Are all the above needed 24/7 or 365 days of the year? Or just race night.... Who else is paid at most other speedway tracks? Except perhaps on race nights? And even then, a free entry and maybe a programme is all that's offered.... The NSS seemed to have the payroll of a football club with all the stewards, H & S bods, Clipboard Brigade.. The speedway would/should just be a facet of a stadium of this size, and would ultimately need an Events Manager/Coordinator, but who pays them in the early days, until the venue becomes self funding. Surely the likes of Chris Morton and co do not have the experience, budget, know-how to pull the whole NSS dream off... Who was responsible for non speedway, funds generating activities???

Perhaps "Professional Riders" should be a title to aspire to... Maybe riders that race in the SGP are the "Total Pro's' and maybe the riders from a Countries top divisions also... Then, the second division, well these perhaps are the "Semi-Pro" riders, ride regularly for their club, but also hold down another job/income stream..... And then you're into novice/my first league type of set up, young inexperienced riders, who have full time jobs, and ride weekends only..... Just starting out and the income from speedway is a small % of their total income.. Any level below this would and should be at the unpaid "hobby" level...... (MDL) as an example..

A couple of questions for you Sheffieldites; 1) What's the injury to Steady? And how did he do it? 2) What's kicked off with Jason Garrity and Josh Bates? (fallen out) / (Lost Driving License) / (Other) Cheers.. SS

Would imagine that a few plans have had to be shelved/modified since the Polish brought in the amount of Countries it's Extraligue riders can ride in? NKI, Doyley, to name but 2 that COULD be effected?