ouch

That's was shocking and more so because it was Belle Vue. I really took them to task over that episode from many years ago. I know they felt, if you can't beat 'em join 'em but we're Belle Vue for gods sake. I think it's biased though to just presume that lies are being told and I still feel the facts should be sort out before making a judgement. I'm not going to sit here pointing fingers at other promoters over the farewell debacle as I (want to) believe they were acting in good faith at the time but things later transpired that in hindsight made them look like crooks. I think it's detrimental to the sport as a whole to have supporters continually knocking clubs by way of lies and gossip. Potential new fans and sponsors could look in on here and think again which I feel is a disservice to UK speedway.

I looked at that but I think it might be as the crow flys and I bet it's just within 30 miles. Still silly though.

What a shocking start to the season for call offs. Kings Lynn and Belle Vue lead the way with three a piece, Wolves and Swindon have two each and of the rest all bar Poole have one each. It will be interesting to see how The Aces track covers go as it could see them adopted throughout the EL if they prove a success. I'd heard similar rumours a few days ago. Surprised they opened the gates tbh but these things happen I suppose. Though I wasn't there myself I'm quite interested in the refunds policy and how long it will take. I'd imagine plenty of others on here feel the same.

Amen to that. Truth will out I say. Imagine if those at Belle Vue had tried to cover things up? Though it gave people more ammunition for nasty comments I still prefer their openness on the matter, in print, on screen, via radio or in person. Something many could learn from. When I learned that the contractors had screwed up the base and sub base construction I, like you was shocked. Amazingly inept but at least we can take some comfort in knowing a large penalty clause payment will be making its way into British speedway via Belle Vue.

Must admit I don't mind being "brow beaten" with facts as you put it if it ends in me having a greater understanding of something, but I am a bit of a facts man. It wears me down when people brow beat me with their opinions, opinions masquerading as a story of true events. State the facts to find the truth. Opinions and hearsay are divisive and damaging.

I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate the folk at Hillsborough following their earlier mention. Anybody who will repeatedly fight to right unjust claims made against friends and loved ones has to be commended by all of society, not just me. Hammering home the facts of the matter in the face of bigoted ill informed people who only look to serve their own agenda can, I imagine be a thankless task but one that must be stuck too in the hope that the truth will one day be accepted by all in the spirit of common sense. I admire their determination not to go quietly into the night but to fight on for truth! truth! truth! A great day indeed.

During the uproar about Buczkowski signing as a second string the argument was that Watt shouldn't have been classed as such, so one cancels the other out. How's that argument now?

Johnny Bravo, Nostradamus and David Icke all predicted 9/11. It seems ridiculous but it came true so it proves they're not cranks

Correct.

F%# me. I give up. I'm out!

The turnstiles were tested prior to the GOM and there were problems on the night. The loos on the back straight were not ready and porta loos needed to be used but the fans just got on with it. The track was tested prior to the GOM and the Leicester meeting and on both occasions the track was deemed good to go. Due to the nature of the problem it wasn't easily detectable and in some conditions didn't present its self. I cannot stress this enough as this is what people don't seem to understand. I don't know why the SCB didn't pass the track first time but I'm assuming they highlighted some quick fix issues as it was passed the following day. I'm done with this now. Bye.

By who?

No, but it will match Belle Vue.

Right this is just getting silly now. If you’re going to post on a subject or worse make accusations then at least have a basic understanding of the situation first. The problem with the track was complicated in that the symptoms only presented themselves when certain conditions aligned themselves. The lead up to the Craven meeting has been well documented and discussed but the main point we seemed to be stuck on is the testing of the circuit. Let’s say the testing carried out wasn’t enough and that a longer session with say 14 plus riders was required to fully assess the suitability of the track, I think we could agree that this is what was needed. On the Wednesday before the Leicester match this very thing took place with the full Aces and Colts squads plus a few others taking to the track for several hours to test it out. Following this Mark Lemon said: “Any doubts over the condition of the track have been put to bed in the wake of today’s closed practice. The boys had a good session and are exceptionally keen to get things moving”. The Leicester meeting was subsequently cancelled. The reason was that weather conditions changed and the problem with the track became evident once again, so an equally extensive test before the Craven meeting would/did produce the same result – that the track was good to go – when in fact the problem had not been rectified. This is all out there in Belle Vue’s much maligned PR but it seems that even the supposed few snippets of information they put out, are not getting read or understood by the very people baying for blood. So just to be clear, testing was done but no amount of testing could give a definitive result unless the weather conditions played ball. OK, testing was done, I say testing was done. The next point of contention is the length of time to put things right. Belle Vue fans, management and staff are all in agreement with all the forum members who say it’s taken too long. The Belle Vue management at no time took control of any construction equipment whether it be a shovel or a JCB to carry out track base and sub base repairs – never. They have complained to the Council who agreed to build the stadium for us and the council have contacted the construction company. Saying that knowing David Gordon I’m sure that he would have been on to the construction company demanding action but those demands will only go so far what with the construction company only wanting to deal with their client the council. How this bit can somehow be Belle Vue’s fault I do not know and any such claims will only add insult to injury for the management. Just a foot note about Havvy etc. Gary Havelock never visited the stadium prior to the Craven call off so he could not state with any authority if the track was ok or not. Rumours started following the failed track inspection by the SCB but as we now know this does not include the suitability of the racing surface. Failing that test initially was enough to get the rumours going and as we have seen many times before these can grow and grow even of the meeting in question subsequently goes ahead. So any unsubstantiated gossip is to be taken with a pinch of salt no matter how events unfolded later. As I have previously posted there is a list as long as your arm of people with first-hand knowledge who didn’t believe the meeting would not go ahead. I hope this helps clear up any confusion. Any question let me know.

Like taking candy from a baby.

Would a full scale work out with 14 plus riders over a few hours have highlighted any problems with the track and thus made the abandonment unnecessary?

By who?

Yes.

It makes you wonder why Alan "Doc" Bridgett and Colin Meredith and SCB referee Graham Flint and David Gordon and Chris Morton and (immediately after the track walk/inspection) Tia Woffinden and Nicki Pedersen and the other 16 riders including Richie Worrall and Max Fricke who has ridden the track at length the day before and Breedon aggregated (shale supplier) and Mark Lemon and everybody else I've missed out didn't say the meeting should definitely be off before we all got let in. It's almost as if (I'm going to go out on a limb here folks) they ALL thought there was a more than good chance of the meeting going ahead.

Why??

1. Why take responsibly when its been made clear it wasn't their fault? 2. Pointless. I think they would have given all the credit to the contractors, but like you I'm guessing and making things up, so its pointless. 3. Factually incorrect. 4. They have only blamed the people at fault. Is that not the correct thing to do? They have not blamed the riders, fans, caterers, security etc so they have not blamed everyone at all and you are again incorrect.

No, it was awful, as was Kings Lynn.

FTG

I'm guessing it will be 11 tomorrow being Sunday and all. In all seriousness you should have it this week and if not I'd chase it up.

Currently the only days we don't have fixtures planned is Tuesday's and Thursday's. There was restrictions mention early on but they seem to have been relaxed a bit. There were also limits on the amount of track time (practise or match) per week and I'm guessing they are still in pace to some degree. Fitting all the fixtures in isn't a concern yet if we take to the track in the next week or two. I can't though, see season ticket holders getting all the extra six meetings they were promised so something will have to be looked at there.