spiegal

The same reason why Chelsea,Man Utd,Arsenal etc etc thrive at the top o Footie. It thus does not follow that the game is any better at that level,its just teh craem coming to the top. But eat to much cream and in teh end you grow sick of it. Speedway is like food...vary it as much as possible to get a quality diet.

This has always been the opinion of the enthusiast rather than the realist. Look at the attendance figures for British Speedway. Look at the dearth of British Riders.Look at the prices for 30 minutes racing, cos that is what you are getting at the moment. Look at Rugby League,look at Cricket. They saw the problem, and rectified it. The ONLY hope for British Speedway is to have a total rebuild. there is no other option. You cannot forever go down the road of trying to retain your existing public. That is the big mistake the BSPA made back in 1980. Read John Berry's books. The days of the bobble hat,woolly scarf and rattle are gone, and the stuck in the mud enthusiast has gone with it. I could tell you a very very interesting story about re-inventing a business, and basically speedway here in Uk must do it or die. British Speedway must rebuild itslef or simply it will slither down into a demise the likes of which will be horribly rapid. People are simply fed up with racing teh same teams 3 or 4 times each year. It needs a 20 team league with its own growth generation., to provide comparisons and genuine Team racing. You make your own stars/heroes/teams within 3 years. Who in their right mind supports a team full of Poles/Swedes/Danes/Americans etc who have no allegience whatsoever to their side. Professional senior sportsmen including speedway Riders are like Hookers. Who ever pays them teh most they will love until the next, and bigger paymaster comes along. Time for the purple coated specs to be replaced by genuine realism

We have looked at this and our thinking is that on Thurs and Sat there will be 2 bus travel to LESZNO, and it may make more sense to keep the Sunday meeting to a local track rather than another long bus ride to ZG. The OSTROW team is full of riders who are in Uk action, so the action should be jkust as lively. If however we get the indication that people wish to retain ZG then obviously we can change it back

The only option for BRITISH SPEEDWAY is to go down the road of BSPA owing the riders contracts. If ever there was a case for it, now is the time. Let the GP riders go...half of them are gone already...level up all the major 20 clubs...all the Elite..half of the Premier..have a levelling out of averages and re vamp the whole league. Let's face it teh GP riders don't give a flying **** about British Speedway, let them have Sweden/Poland and us ethe oppertunity to get as many British riders in a big league. It would have so much benefit to the league strata, and enable the Brits to start where the Swedes/Poles were 10 years ago. If you think that Elite League can go on as before then you are in for a very nasty shock.

Just to confirm that we have produced a new brochure for the WORLD CUP weekend at LESZNO. Departs Thursday from LUTON...staying 4 nights at 5 star SHERATON HOTEL in POZNAN...taking in WORLD CUP PLAY OFF..WORLD CUP FINAL...a POLISH LEAGUE match on SUNDAY afternoon. Details on our web page as from SUNDAY. www.tptours.co.uk Regards as always

May be a bit before many people's time. And indeed only a bit part rider in those days. But having seen him ride, and know him well personally, I can vouch for one CYRIL CRANE. He was very enthusiastic, bit invariably forgot to turn left after the start. he could manage Norwich with its wide open spaces, Yarmouth was a different matter. always value for money dear old Cyril

There is room, but NOt plenty. We will be taking no more than 35 as Mr Snackette is now of an age when his in limited in his endurance....that is what his lady says anyhow !! Wroclaw is now full.

As you are that desperado then telephone me on Monday and i will help you out. Call me 01473.730000. Call it intuition or just luck, but i also hear this weekend after being at the Coventry World Speedway Riders Dinner, that a certain large Speedway Organisation, has no rooms booked for their delegates. Methinks Telephone is gonna be busy on Monday

Just in case anyone is struggling for hotel rooms in Cardiff on teh Saturday night of the GP, Travel Plus Tours will be having some on sale Monday 12 March. Hotels are IBIS..near to the stadium, and HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS on the docks,about 15 minute walk from the stadium.Both are 3 star properties. Obviously room rates in Cardiff are very expensive when major events occur, but rates are not rediculous. we are giving our existing clients a 5 day window to book before room go on sale to public. Doubles and twins only at approx £50..00 per person incl brekkers.

A word of warning about DUSSELDORF. Friday/saturday nights are ok. But Sunday is already booked out. the KOLN Fair is massive with about 160,000 delegates and all the cities within 50kms are booked out. we were very lucky, but I know of a 2 star hotel midway between Koln and Bonn is charging e180 per room per night for the fair. as for parking ...loads...Essen..it is in the same area of the Rhur....extremely industrial and scenic...not unless you like Coal mines and steel works.

Let me put it like this. If I was ever offered a free weekend to gelsenkirchen, plus spending money and e500 in free beer vouchers, I think that i would rather fill in my tax returns form. How much more blunt do you need? Dusseldorf in my opinion is superb and the nearest city which has the quality I look for when basing any tour.

Let's say we have changed this year's tour to be based in RIGA which is truly superb. we are thus just visiting Daugavpils for the Saturday night, and then back next day to the delights, the beer, the good food, and teh stunning ladies of Riga. The track at Daugavpils is superb, and teh journey from Riga to this outpost of cultural awareness is something everyone should try. Does that answer the question ?

Greetings to the Legend. As you can see I took the locquacious Mr Snackette to Germany, sadly for you all he is on a strict diet and refused us both any substantial refreshment. Add to that his "eccentric "driving plus totally unacceptable so called Music, it was a journey home to savour. Gelsenkirchen stadium is superb, the city and locality is a..***t h**e. We have contarcted a superb hotel in dusseldorf, about 1hr away, or 40 minutes if i drive. The Aussie Tour is 100% FULL...we hit Sydney 30th December and follow much of the 2008 aussie Championships, plus the Reef etc. Brian ..if he ditches the row he calls Music..will be on the tour, as will Big David who is a fair size as well and is a top Tour Manager. Clare sadly will not be on the tour due to (real) work committments, Jimbo will be around, but not sure where and when. Trust all in Aussie are awaiting teh arrival of Brian, ...and his "music"..Sad Bugga.

Oh...bugga !!! That's what you get when you get past a sensible age. Apologies...pure stupidity. tptours.co.uk Becoming as sssssssssssenile as Mr Snackette

Just to let everyone know that our new 2007 web site is up and running at long last. Apologies for slight delay but we have been busy getting the brochure out, and the mail shot will also be out and about before the weekend. We have had a lot of calls from people who use the web site, and don't get the Speedway Star, so hopefully this will assist. Hopefully all contributors,readers etc will forgive the "advert" but this is the best way of getting the information out. Mr Snackette by the way has the "Flu" and feeling extremely sorry for himself. He passes on his best wishes, and assures everyone that his sublime, handsome, generous, personable self will be out and about shortly....his words not mine ! Best wishes for a safe, peaceful New Year. James

I can confirm that this is indeed correct. Just need a rubber to change 35,000 brochures....bugga !

Many apologies about not up grading teh web site. The brochure is published by the boys at Speedway Star and first time we actually recieve it is the same date as most people get the Star...i.e.e Thursday The brochure should be on the net by this time next week. An amazing number of calls, especially about Russia.Also the prosed 2008 California tour. The deals we have are 40% of tours have an early booking £25 p.p. discount if booked by 14 February.....plus offer of FREE ROOMS at Cardiff GP (3 star hotel) if 2 tours booked same time, again by 14th February...10% of this offer has been taken up as of 2pm today !! Mail shot goes out next week as our bulk supplies arrived late yesterday eveing. We have our tour to AUSTRALIA in December 27th 2007. We have just 8 places remaining after bookings opened on tuesday, so if you made enquiries suggest deposit is sent soonest/ Over and out

Pux is a real STAR with a wealth of sound literaray knowledge...Equally I am amazed at his knowledge of places hithertoo way beyond the range of even my goodself. Mr Snackette has been reduced in teh ranks for daring to even whisper the destinations his Colonel is planning for year 2007. The 11 days tour is indeed breaking new ground and hopefully interesting, but page 14 is the real surprise,none more than to me, cos I only changed it 3 days ago from what I had planned. Surfice to say Pux will be delighted with hoardes of new admirers once he sees a certain page in the brochure. "Streuth Mate, i didn't realise how handsome I was" Brochure out next week in that fine magazine the Speedway Star.

No doubt that when our Aussie 2008 tour arrives in that marvellous country, our beloved Bryn will be on hand to greet us with his multi coloured shorts and exotic headware! No to say a copious amount of fag ash as well. Indeed Bryn we hope to have you along with us, and also teh legend that is DAVE PUXLEY....he will be joining us for a few days as our guest. Definately the "find of 2006" was our Pux !!

Greetings. is there anyone out there in Russia who may have some Team/Stadium/rider photos of Speedway in russia which I may be able to use please.? If so can they send them to my private e mail contact. www.tptours.co.uk Many thanks and very best wishes James

Brochure was completed yesterday (Wednesday).Out in 2 weeks just after New Year. We are indeed featuring BYDGOSZCZ but thsi year staying in POZNAN mainly as TORUN and whole area is booked out with a University convention. We are also including the World Junior Final. Some big, big surprise in this years brochure. Australia 2008 is full. We are planning California June 2008 to incl Frisco and vegas. Anyhow many best wishes to everyone James

Many many thanks

Apologies that last post was not clear what i really would be grateful for is news of fixtures in Germany for 2007. Old age again !!

I would be most grateful if anyone has a web site which may have the fixtures, both GrasstrackLongtrack and Speedway for 2007. Thanks in advance

Has anyone any idea when the 2007 Russia League fixtures are published please? I would be most grateful for any information Thanks