OveFundinFan

Just picked this up from You Tube about the Collins family - Peter, Les, Phil, Neil and Stephen. Its 1.5 hours long but I found it extremely interesting, informative and shows what a talent there was in that family. Stick it out, some good racing footage. Pity dad, Bill Collins, was not around to see the successful speedway years. He died in the early 1970's, missed Peters world championship, but was heavily involved in those early speedway years of Peters and the grass track years.

Just picked this up from You Tube about the Collins family - Peter, Les, Phil, Neil and Stephen. Its 1.5 hours long but I found it extremely interesting, informative and shows what a talent there was in that family. Stick it out, some good racing footage. Pity dad, Bill Collins, was not around to see the successful speedway years. He died in the early 1970's, missed Peters world championship, but was heavily involved in those early speedway years of Peters and the grass track years.

I didnt think the area where the temporary WTC stands were erected was going to be any sort of permanent stands - not in the initial build project anyway. Temporary stands makes sense to me in the BV situation. If proper stands had been built from day one, that would be extra fee on the rent and normal EL match wouldnt warrant that stand space anyway, so just a cost that was not needed. The debt would have been higher if permanent stands had been erected. I thought temporary stands for BIG events like the WTC worked well. OK, maybe not as many portaloos as there should have been but that is easy to overcome - simply hire more.

Well, that coming from a Poole fan says it all.

Probably the years calender has to be ratified at a higher level, maybe the FIM, and its not proper to submit things in dribs and drabbles.

Philip is correct in saying the stadium is a magnificent achievement, I dont see how anyone acn say otherwise. What is not magnificent is how this season has turned out. Most of the posters on this forum have been saying all year (and before) how poorly they think that British speedway is/has been run, contributing to speedway demise in this country and contributing to its lack of growth. I was thinking of next year 2017, starting to go back to BV for meetings, as much as I could afford. However, after the farce at the end of the year where a team was allowed to bring in a rider who hasnt ridden for that team all year, in fact the previous 10 years, changed my mind - and that had noting to do with the way BV was managed. The TW at Wolves was bad enough, but the Poole episode just poisoned my heart. No way am I going to spend my pension on a sport that is badly run, as much as I love to see 4 riders racing at their best. So I dont see the demise of BV being all about how the management at BV managed 2016. I attribute blame on a wider scale. Just have to look at Lakeside, Leicester, Workington, Scunthorpe, Coventry.... and a whole heap of other teams that are struggling to get the regular crowds to sustain speedway. The blame cannot be just with those teams and their individual promotors. My view is - if BV disappears completely, speedway in the UK as a whole will really feel the after shocks, much to the detriment of the sport.

Your gloating, Starman. You were always jealous of the new stadium away from Poole.

and then later on in that document there is a chart showing where the whole £10.66 million for the Belle Vue Sports Village complex would be funded and it says of the $.4 million for the NSS - funded from MCC Capital Resources repaid from Speedway Stadium rental income. and this is also included in that document.. 3.4 The bespoke nature of the Speedway Stadium proposals have promoted discussions with the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA), which is the body which governs British Speedway. They have confirmed their willingness to designate this new facility as the National Speedway Stadium along with the National Speedway Academy for the development of new talent and other associated employment opportunities within the Speedway industry. The FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) who oversee all motor cycle related events worldwide have confirmed a willingness to host world speedway events at a new National Speedway Stadium on a regular basis, therefore opening up the potential including for example, Under 21s World Cup, Under 21s Individual World Cups, and Grand Prix Qualifiers. Discussions have also been held with IMG (International Management Group) who have the worldwide franchise for Speedway World Cup and Grand Prix events. Subject to a viable business case and the stadium being available there is a potential to host such world events at the National Speedway Stadium.

Following on from my previous post..... My opinion on why speedway at the NSS has failed this year - a lot of the blame must go to whoever has allowed speedway in the UK to be in the shambles it is. Whether the fault is with the BSPA or the SCB, a combination of both, or some other factor.... I dont know, I "left" speedway in the very early 1980's, and what I returned to in 2013 is VERY different to what I had seen in the 60's, 70's and 80's.What needs to be done.... a difficult one obviously but consider this Jenson Button expressed himself re why F1 is not as popular as it was...... France has lost its F! date, Italy and Germany are struggling financially to continue, and the latest circuit is Malaysia to say it may not continue when current contract ends - losing money. He suggests the sport is not attracting youngsters and what is needed is shorter F1 races - 90 minutes he says is too much, youngsters want shorter events to hold their attention. Football too is 90 minutes, but its all action packed. Speedway is action packed too, 4 riders going at it for 60 second bursts, surely that should command attention...... but not when a meeting can take up to 2 hours to complete 15 races, with nothing but boredom in between.. Speedway has the glitz going for it (shiny personalised bikes, and smart kevlars etc), but needs to connect more with supporters and more importantly, potential supporters - young supporters. Riders need to engage more with supporters too - whenever they see an opportunity. Perhaps Mort took a loan with his house as security, now no income he acnt pay the loan.

The new speedway stadium was part of Manchester City Councils plan to promote sport in that area. Etihad Man City stadium is just 2 miles away, the National Velodrome is within that area as well. It was all part of a plan to promote sport in the east area of Manchester. The fact the stadium centre green was mapped out for various ball games highlights that point. Manchester City Council would be well aware that speedway is a seasonal sport and running say 20 meetings per year. From statistics the Council would know what crowd attended the dog track speedway in the previous years to 2016 - that track is just a couple hundred yards away. So logically, someone with the expertise would have the responsibility of looking after the promotion of the whole stadium (perhaps excluding the speedway but maybe not). If that is so, some answers are due as to why expectations have not been realised. I do feel sorry for Dave Gordon and Chris Morton who have toiled very hard over the last 10 years to get a race track worthy of carrying the name of Belle Vue Aces - a team with loads of speedway history and renowned throughout the world of speedway. Irrespective of what has gone on re the new stadium I would like to say "thank you" to both of them

A shame really, he put in 10 years hard work to get a world class track back at Belle Vue, putting Belle Vue and British Speedway back on the world map for decent racer tracks. I reckon there would be some very jealous promotors in the UK.

I agree with the above post. There is more excitement in one very good speedway gp race then in the whole of a F1 season. Mark Webber was at Melbourne speedway gp this year. Anyone get his thoughts on what he was watching???

Is this the team that owed Emil loads of money? Have they paid him yet?

I was there that fternoon in Katowice when PC won the world title - and this article in Backtrack brought all my memories back - great article, great magazine, I look forward to receiving every copy. PC's races in Katowice 1976 are to be found on You Tube, fantastic races, especially when he chased, caught and passed Malc Simmons after having to get past John Louis, an amazing effort.

Maybe a few less will travel from Europe next year. Why bother going all those miles at a great expense only to see a newly crowned world champions with a reputation (prior to this year) of being squeaky clean throw a race (the looking behind and very wide lines gave it away), then come up with an excuse (taking no responsibility) and throwing toys out of the pram and refusing to ride in front of a crowd who were there to see all 18 riders actually race for their points. I used to like GH, but following non appearance at the WTC BV and then this, its all gone.

but there has to a doubt if Hampels condition post injury will allow him to regain that level of racing again. Who knows? but its a gamble to put himin 2017 as a wild card as he may not perform at that level. It was sad he missed out this year especially as he was not the cause of the accident that took him out. Same with Doyle this year.

A really good meeting with plenty of excitement watching how the race for the top 8 unfolded and for the two medals and the 3 riders going for them. All of this was spoilt by the Hancock affair, and his withdrawl from the meeting is shocking action and one I hope is taken further by the appropriate authorities..... and not just a fine.

Wild cards - Nicki, Zagar, Emil, and I would like to see Milik in there but doubt it. If not Milik then Janowski.

Are you jesting? Might be 9am first race for uk viewers but what time is that in Melbourne?

Stoneleigh Park is a great exhibition arena

I think it was Miedzinski that dumped Emil into the fence when Emil got the bad injuries on 2013. Bad bit of work is he.

Good to hear Lemon is thought a lot of, just that some negative statements about Monday night.

How about the manager going. Didn't manage Australia too well in the WTC in July, and judging from the comments on here he didn't manage BV too well Monday at Wolves. I like Zagar when he is on song, but it's too patchy for what he costs, so maybe him out.

Derek "Tink" Maynard and Slant Payling - both BV riders late 50's/early 60's

Still getting through with no problems today.