Sings4Speedway

Delighted that Brum are coming to the tapes again in 2022. I don't think anyone being 'negative' was doing so to derive any pleasure from it only pointing out the already known situations. The decision to run effects far more than just Birmingham and their supporters. Failure to complete a season has huge cost implications for those who have already raced against them, put out a below par side and as an away side they are unattractive to watch and will have an effect on the home teams attendance's. To clarify i hope that this years budget team is competitive and the promotion are honest about the aspirations and that it can be built upon for years to come.

Perhaps thats where things are changing, new joining sides like the Bullets and Armadale enjoyed things as it was with double headers and lower costs whilst others (both clubs and riders) questioned the amount of investment required versus the smaller number of meetings. I think the NDL can limp on with 6 but feel it needs to be nearer 8+ to become longer term sustainable.

Theres positive and theres realistic. I am hopeful that teams will come to the tapes for the 2022 season and that the league will start to flourish again (if its allowed to) but all surrounding it must be aware that just like the rest of the sport its in a very precarious position at present and the blindly bumbling along assuming all is ok doesn't really cut it anymore.

I think/thought/suspect that 2022 might be a bit quick for Workington to get everything signed off baring in mind the track isn't built so no inspections can take place, funds may currently be better focussed on construction etc. Iwade whilst with every intention could still need many requirements met including an experienced promotor to come on board. Big IF but if neither of those sides are able to come to the tapes would a 5 team league be in any way viable for Mildenhall (or indeed is a 6 team league any good for them really?) Would the others want to be subsidising the NDL sides for such a small league? I know its said most years but this years AG could be one of the most important yet as the whole league at present looks like a house of cards and any number of factors could see it crashing down.

Sadly the promotions still hold the vast majority of the power, there is also a vindictive element amongst them. Ive heard and known of threats issued to riders about the chances of them getting future team places unless they fall in line plus which rider wants to publicly come out as the initial "trouble maker"? For that they need to often state their owed monies which is intrusive in itself and they know it will cause a reputation dent. No matter how talented an individual how many employers would be keen on a new employee who has caused strikes at their last 3 places of work (justified or otherwise).

I think IOW are incredibly happy away from the mafia and the way they were treated/ hounded i would be staggered and disappointed if they were to consider a return. 5 from last year to return, Iwade replacing Kent and maybe Oxford if they are very ambitious/ have been coaxed into it. Id love there to be a surprise entry but 7 for 2022 with hopefully Eastbourne and Worky to join 2023 would be a decent uptake (providing all current clubs make it that far)

Anyone else read it as bassoon the gasso? Just me then. Oh and apologies for encouraging piratetwit chucking his inane drivel on ignore soon.

I would think it wouldn't be much of an issue for any rider who takes speedway seriously, for those who wish to do both disciplines and pick grasstrack its a matter for the governing bodies to resolve. I would think there will be more than enough weekends to avoid local clashes anyway as Competition would hurt both crowds.

Personally i think he needs a hell of a lot of work both off track and on it before he is NDL ready. I don't agree with the basics being picked up along the way whilst pinning the throttle flatout and hoping for the best. That said most promoter's don't share the same view and he will likely feature somewhere.

Not good and reflects poorly on the Masons. Think all outstanding money should be paid up before the club can be sold personally. I understand the family are tryingbto recoup done losses but negative press devalues the club more and no sale means nothing back.

Yep last one, they changed the rules after BWD so you needed a British passport to ride in NL from season after

Don't let the IOW hear you say that!!

Whilst the format remains the same the demographic won't really change but thats because Speedway is just a rough and tumble thrills and spills sport. The following of most motorsport attracts the similar crowd types with only the bigger money events getting remotely close to the younger demographic (and Speedway is far closer to grasstrack, stock cars and banger racing than it is F1 of Moto GP). The followers want to see racing right on the edge with the occasions past the limit to keep perspective. If the general consensus that speedway fans are too poor to attend regularly (even if the value for money rating is high) then the sport to spectate needs to be cheaper or it needs to be so entertaining that they won't miss it.

Hi Lenny as you are on a roll / have most of the stats to hand. Are you able to say how many times Leicester tracked a team with no guests or RR and how many opposition visited and were able to do the same?

Big factor but more importantly big information to have. If more clubs / people understood their crowds and attendees better it would be far easier to determine which demographic to focus any advertising drive at rather than i one size fits all blanket approach that often misses most.

Out of interest were you able to discover what deterred the other 65% from being regular speedway goers?

Funny you should say that as im sure i saw on another thread how Kentish Batchelor is.........

Morley must have a whopping NDL average now and in reality IF Iwade are running at the weekend then avoiding double uppers would be wise otherwise it will be a non stop guest fest. Now racking my brains of active NL riders ive seen go round Iwade well....Hume. Bowen was quick and Hurry is the track record holder if the Dad's Army approach catches on......and Rob Hollingsworth is no slouch around there either.

The brothers lost interest, sub let it out for a while then put in various planning requests. Think its a Caravan / Camping site now. Could and should have been so much more as a joint motorsport venture and looks a bigger loss now than it did when it closed.

I think Gilkes could and probably should be looking higher than NDL next season, Mulford wasn't that good around Iwade when i last saw him. Spooner should be a shoe in though. The rest could be a clean sweep with new promotion and no favourites. Id be looking at a more local flavour to the side, Charley Powell flies round there too.

As mentioned above grasstrack venues especially those with permanent planning would / would have been perfect. Collier Street in Kent leaps out as a huge opportunity lost, i think Leamington might also have a venue with a far greater planning consent than is utilised.

Great news and hats off to all those who stuck their neck out to make it happen. Iwade may not be luxurious but the racing is good. Plenty of challenges ahead but weekend racing in the South East could prove to be quite successful venture.

Its never going to be a level of CL #7s as they will want paying. The PJL will basically be a MSDL level so NL reserves and others making up the numbers (because lets face it half won't want the midweek travel to then sit and wait until the end, treated like 2nd class citizens and quiteboften not get rides anyways). Its a cheap way of providing "extra value" to a night (until the standard is shown to be so embarrassing that the whole thing is dropped mid season)

Im sure there was a list in the Speedway star around the time, sure Morley and Zach Waj were out of pocket a decent amount too. I know its tough to speak ill of those who can't defend themselves but Jon Cook had a fair hand in both of the clubs payment problems.

Probably not an unrealistic figure but Lawson will be including engine wear and tear, clutch parts and then the cost of the 2/3 bikes he was running spread over the season. Thers a hefty amount of start up costs involved (rightly or wrongly).