Nikko

There are no ramifications for anyone riding over the winter at Iwade.

Hi Geoff. You can read the news in the General news section under SITRA launched. Full details are also on our new website www.sitrauk.org

500cc laydown (and indeed upright) machines are more than welcome at SITRA. Speedway is a term used by the SCB and as an ACU club we are not entitled to use the term. We can however run the machines at the track and will continue to do so. As to the question is Iwade still a pukka speedway track none of the major improvements we are making would stop a speedway meeting taking place there. Its just as a club we went ACU. What we have done is create a club that offers a unique facility for a number of classes.

A new ACU affiliated track racing club has launched today with its base at Iwade. Although not speedway I know alot of people are interested in Iwade so check out the new website www.sitrauk.org for details of this amazing new venture.

For a major announcement that includes news about Iwade please check the new post - SITRA launched today.

So great to see so many very young kids at Iwade on Sunday and between the mini and main tracks there were 6 young ladies riding. Excellent day.

There is a practice at Iwade this Sunday 26th from 12-5. Iwade is very much open and, weather permitting, will be running practices throughout the winter. Will post more dates after the weekend. So tell riders they dont need to put their bikes away for the winter.

There was a practice at Iwade last Sunday, couldnt get online to tell people in advance, sorry but it was well attended. There is a practice from 11am on Sunday 26th October - weather permitting

I remember it well as I was the Commercial Manager at Mildenhall at the time. It was an idea to fit in around the World Cup and as I remember it, although a long day, most people seemed to enjoy it

Great that you have some ideas and are prepared to spend time putting them to the club and I am sure Mr Cearns will take any ideas onboard. The Kings supporters deserve a succesful club to support.

Teaboy - thanks for the explanation. As someone who worked on actual gate figures at Central Park last year from your description I would respectfully suggest you are a little high with your figures and from what I have seen and heard 800 is a good day at CP and some meetings have been down to 400-500. I would also suggest if Mr Ceatns is saying he needs 1000 people to progress he currently doesnt have that yet. As Martin_t says most clubs would love 1000 and that includes EL clubs. However, whatevet the figures great to see the loyal fanbase at the club and long may it continue and lets hope the curfew decision can be overturned.

All good ideas Drop a Gog, lets hope theres many more thrown into the mix. I wasnt being negative, I have wasted many hours over 2 years discussing new ideas with a well known promoter. The problem is he doesnt think theres a problem, and has gone on record to say so. Lets see what people come with.

I see on Kent OnLine that Mr Cearns has said he will review the situation before deciding whether to appeal or not and that he needs 1000 people every week to progress. I find the 1000 interesting, if you read the Speedway Updates the guy who texts every week always says its over that so should not be a problem !!! (although I have heard from people who go reguarly that they estimate its closer to 500-600, and sometimes less than that). Difficult one for the club, a well promoted Kent club making the playoffs in its second season could make 1000 people per week although a later curfew would definately help. Lets hope things are clearer for all the great Kings fans soon.

Interesting views on this topic. Re: Kent as its mentioned above, in the local press today Mr Cearns has said he will review the situation again before making a decision whether to appeal. He also says he needs 1000 people a week to progress.

I think the sport needs to go back to grassroots and then rise again from the ashes. Too many old promoters churning out decade old ideas to an aging fanbase in crumbling stadiums. Its been said before but look at Rugby League, 20/20 cricket, Darts as examples of sports that reinvented themselves and have benefited from this. I wish we all new the answer to save this great sport, and it is a great sport, but unfortunately speedway is stuck in a rut.. If Barry Hearn came along, even with his track record, and said to the BSPA "I could turn this around" the response from the old guard would be "You dont understand son, put a meeting on and they will come, we dont need your new fancy ideas" - Enough said.

Just to say that practices are still ongoing at Iwade. The next Sunday one is October 12th. Im not sure why their website is down again, I will try and find out. Graham and the team continue to work very hard to put on practices for people, and I believe will have dates over the winter. When I can find out the details I will post them on here.

Congratualtions to the Kent Kings on making the Play Offs in only their second season.

The reason Adam is named as No 8 is known to anyone who knows what goes on at Central Park. His mum does the photos there this season and Adam is given the No 8 spot, with no intention of using him, unless through injury, with the chance of a second half every now and then. Adam is nowhere near NDL level, and probably never will be but its easy for the promotion to have them there as a No 8 for free, Hope that settles that debate. I know one person at Central Park who will still disagree with this, even though its in the rulebook. He has always stated its never been called "Development" although we all know it has and have been trying to tell him that for years. Problem is, he never listens and always thinks he's right. Probably why he gets on so well with Mr Silver LOL

???? Do people really think Mr Silver has put money into Kent Kings !!!! The Kent Kings are owned by Mr Roger Cearns and his company. He pays the bills, not Mr Silver.

Re the roving reporter, a very good idea and one we organised for last year with a well known local Radio DJ who would have it done it for nothing and given the club a lot of free advertising. As a professional, he did want control of the whole presentation, which makes sense and it got back to us that this point that this put a certain amateur announcers nose was put out of joint who then went moaning to the promotion, so they stopped us doing it. Another example of the amateur nature of the club/sport. Last year the club had full updates on it's own twitter page, professional website, regularly updated, photos in the local press and speedway star every week. Attendance at school events, carnivals, trade shows etc. This year ?????? The usual suspects will come back with their normal responses, but just saying it as it is. And while on the subject, on the Kings FB page their is a great debate about the ambulance access issue. Suffice to say, while the track was still being laid, there was a great debate, close to an argument, one day when myself and the Clerk of the Course tried to explain to the Co-promoter why the ambulance should gain access, not through the pits entrance, but the other entrance on the back straight. It could be trackside, gain easy access to the track and leave by the same gate to leave the stadium quickly, if needs be. It was obviously the most sensible solution, as both the ambulance crew and the Health and Safety Officer who joined the club agreed when they reviewed the situation when it was too late to change it. The problem with the ambulance should never have been a problem if someone had listened to common sense.

As always some very interesting posts on this thread, and on their FB page. 3 things I find interesting. 1) crowds are clearly down, despite the spin from the club. Even loyal fans are saying this. 2) the fans want continuity in riders, the promotion will chop and change to try and make a winning team. It can be a conflict, and looking at FB it is causing friction between fans and promotion. 3) the track is still causing concern. I do worry that the stadium (and promoter) is reliant on the co promoter whose main interests are elsewhere. All of the above, and some others, can be fixed with a modern management and promotional style that promotes the Kings effectively. There seems to be a growing conflict between club and fans, which all lovers of speedway will know is a recipe for disaster.

Some interesting points about PR, the Rye House connection etc above. Its true to say the PR, Media and Commercial aspects of the Kings before the first season started and in the first half of that year were run by people who were only interested in the Kings and had NO connection to Rye House. From mid season it certainly changed with both Rye House promoters being involved on match days which, with other Silverski employees also involved, led to a major split. By the end of ladt season the PR, Media abd Commercial sides left the club due to the increased Rye House elements and the blurring of the lines between Kent and Rye House. It is fair to say Mr Silver was always totally in charge of the building of the track and has been soley in charge of its maintenence since. It does look like some fans now share sone of these concerns but at the end of the day Mr Cearns wants Mr Silver running the Kings and thats all that matters. Im sure the Kings will be fine.

Hi. No I have not been back since the last meeting of last season, and do be honest, have no intention of doing so under the current management. As with all sports, its all about opinions, clearly some people prefer the setup this season, clearly some dont. From the outside, it does look like numbers are down, and if so, then Im sure the club will do what it needs to, to gain support back.

Sad to see some of the comments above.

Hey Gustix...Grasstracking.....