Shale Searcher

Blimey!!!! 2 meetings gone, ok, we lost um.. not the end of the world!! No wonder you reckon nobody wants to ride for us! 2 poor meetings and the cleaver is out!!!!

That is not a fair post, I know the work that was put in on Saturday, just to give the meeting a chance!! Grading is required, in the so called "golden Age" of Speedway, the tractor was out after every race!!!!

What is the prize money/put meeting on costs for a stock car night, compared to Speedway? Just I remember from the old days at Leicester, stock cars (the old BRISCA F1) was miles and miles cheaper than a Speedway meeting to put on........

Looking at the pressure maps, there's not much rotation in the rain bearing clouds, I reckon the rain showers this afternoon will be predominantly be light in nature, however there will be a heavier period of rain betweeen 4pm and 5.30pm, then it's mainly a dry evening with an outside chance of a shower, and their will be some late watery sunshine.... If they have prepared the track to take the afternoon rain (additional tyre packing) then you could be ok..... max temp this evening around 10c

Also, in the old days, let's say 60's and 70's riders did fewer meetings, they certainly didn't ride virtually every night like they do now. The more exposed a rider is to racing, the more likleyhood he's going to get injured....? Also, in the old days, let's say 60's and 70's riders did fewer meetings, they certainly didn't ride virtually every night like they do now. The more exposed a rider is to racing, the more likleyhood he's going to get injured....?

I dont have any stats, I was merely making a point about something we may have overlooked..... But like prisoner numbers no longer rising, that's only because we have no more prison space!! The figures are warped, as a percentage of the population they are now less, because we now have 10 million more people, but same prison places as when we had 10 million less people! If riders injured were worked out as a percentage of total riders, I reckon it would come out as more riders injured today than 30 years ago.....

I think it's down to a multitude of reasons... The introduction of the modern, faster Laydown, followed by the introduction of the pyjama racesuits, the addition of the air fences (which give riders a false sense of security) because injuries are also caused by riders impacting with the track and by being hit by the bikes themselves, and then, the noise suppressing silencers which kill the bikes ability to handle dirt, add all these factors together, and add in the fact that some riders come back to racing before being fully race fit and are prone to getting re-injured by "nothing" falls.. AND here's a factor nobody has considered, the total number of riders riding Speedway now, compared to in the 1960s and 1970s, for example, if there were 25 injuries per 200,riders then, now there are 25 injuries per 130 riders now, if you see what I mean, perhaps we are forgetting that particular issue... Discuss....

And when did any professional sports club reduce the price because it was going to be cold, windy and on the telly box, I think you're living in a dreamworld.. do riders ask for a pay cut? Do refs and other paid officials say, look chaps it's cold and wet, Sky are in town so we'll do our jobs half price tonight, does the spares van turn up and offer the tyres and other bike bits reduced price? No, they don't!!Why do Speedway fans expect a reduction then....??

And when did any professional sports club reduce the price because it was going to be cold, windy and on the telly box, I think you're living in a dreamworld.. do riders ask for a pay cut? Do refs and other paid officials say, look chaps it's cold and wet, Sky are in town so we'll do our jobs half price tonight, does the spares van turn up and offer the tyres and other bike bits reduced price? No, they don't!! Why do Speedway fans expect a reduction then......?

I think there are more injuries today, but not as many more as we think. Social media bring all to our attention, not just the ones close to us in our team and league. I also think airfences are part of the cause... They have given the riders the excuse to over ride, a sort of licence to try moves they wouldn't try with a wooden or metal safety fence, and the bikes are definatley harder to ride, especially in deep dirt out near the fence, then suddenly, they are back on the gripless slick. The modern race suits have not helped with burns and abrasive injuries and to cap it all off, the bikes are I would say a second or two faster per lap, don't sound a lot, but add 4-8 seconds onto a race time and it's significant...

Yes, but the pressure isn't as low as first forecast, and by my reckoning the main rainband will fizzle out around 8:30pm

That's not guaranteed, if higher pressure had been over the east of England, the rain would die out before getting into the Midlands, even though it looks like it's heading this way, that isn't the case today though......

Why should he get a place in the PL? Don't think he's allowed in that league, should go back to Poland, learn his trade there, then come back an accomplished rider...... Why should we train em???

Not sure they are allowed by the landlords of Brandon... We have the benefit of being solely built for Speedway, that has enabled Lions riders that are in the UK to brush up on there racing skills/bike set-ups before press and practise day and start of official season.. Did anyone think the bikes sounded louder against Coventry? There was definitely less "popping and banging" when the throttle was dipped before cornering, and the deeper outer lines of the track were used more often, especially on the pits bend? The baffleless silencers are allowing burnt gasses to escape quicker, therefore not strangling the engines in the deeper dirt.....

Theoretically, with no baffles in the silencers, the hot gasses will not be impeded and will leave the silencer quicker, which should make the engines more responsive to handfuls of throttle, maybe the bikes will work better in the deeper dirt nearer the fence, more responsive grunt when needed...............

Brian Yarrow? was he really that bad??

Yes, but you wouldn't just have a division 3, it would still be the top league in the Country.. perhaps called the "British National Speedway League" have 18 teams in 14 stadiums, it would run Saturday and Sunday afternoons/evenings and everyone rides everyone home and away once in 18 heat matches. The season would run from April until September, (no play-offs)

Thought helmet cameras were banned???

Wasn't it dubbed "RACING GREEN" I think it's a great colour for older sports cars....

I thought that has always been the case in the British Elite League, requested by Sky I believe?

Chris Sully had some green leathers in the late 1970's

In the 1970's at old Leicester, the grader attached to the tractor was lifted away from the track as it passed over the start gate, the starting area was never graded, I would imagine this was to leave it alone and not get constantly moaned at and called cheats for preparing the area with an advantage geared to the home team? I used to assist Tony Steele at Leicester at the starting gate when he first got involved in the early eighties, he took over from the Legend that was Todd Aitkin as our starting marshal... If anyone knows if the reason the start gate area was left alone that's different to my explanation, please feel free to post your info!!

I was making the point known, someone asked why track staff don't infill the ruts on the starting gate so riders don't have to, my reply was aimed at that question and a couple of others similar queries....

This is not Leicesters choice/decision, Leicester are merely hosts for the event and have no input on the admission prices for this event.. So please don't have a go at Leicester over this issue...

Correct me if I am wrong please. The wonder wheels in use today, are NOT the real wonder wheels that were originally designed? I am sure I remember vaguely that there were multiple smaller wheels integral to the machine??? And basically, the ones in current use are not true "WONDER WHEELS"??