Deano

Yes exactly. One of the root causes being costs, exacerbated by doubling up, guesting, watering down etc.

Yes you are right. The BSPA though may not be doing this for the riders benefit. One rider, riding for two teams previously probably cost the same as 1.5 riders, so a cost saving short term. Long term, you screw the sport of riders filling that second gap to learn a craft, so now you have riders having to ride for more than one team to fill a space promoters can't afford to really fill with a non double upper. That rider retires, two team places gone, maybe no replacement. Like someone else eluded to, create a sporting environment where riders and promoters earn money and people will be knocking on the door wanting to take a piece of it.

Lets go back to the reasons it was first introduced. It was introduced to give a select promising few riders from the Premier League, the opportunity to race against the best in the Elite League. We had plenty of riders to go around, with a few National League riders knocking on the door of the Premier League reserve berths. It's now being used to fill team berths, at the same time still being sold to us as a "development" opportunity. Do the maths, doubling up is everywhere now, riders numbers are reducing. As one retires a current rider doubles up and there is no replacement. Give it another ten years and triple up will be very common. Some were pushing for merging the leagues and going North/South split then a competition to find the winner? How will that work now with riders doubling up across the North and South Leagues. Oh, there is the guest facility... which in itself creates a "conflict of interests" which is another thorn.. "And in goal for England is Hart, very popular with the Man City crowds and also popular with the Birmingham City folks to keep match fit, for development he's signing for non league bla bla....."

Okay, I won't hijack the thread. People are walking away from the sport and I firmly believe this is one of the many reasons why speedway looks stupid and people don't go. It's basically a self depleting prophecy and will reduce the sport to just a few riders while there are no vacancies to fill.

I will now yes.. It needs to be phased out in a controlled way. Makes us look stupid when you see the "British Semi finals" advertised with the riders representative clubs listed. I had to explain it to my seven year old yesterday.

Sorry, it isn't fine. Since it's introduction the BSPA have gradually had to "extend" it's use due to riders being forced to retire with no youth coming through. Now everyone seems to qualify.

I despise doubling up, it puts riders out of work. How far will it go... "A guest to cover for a rider who rides for both teams riding this evening!". Stop it before we only have two dozen riders to go around.

Zach and Tom Perry were definately not themselves last night and that lost the match for us. Zach was seriously off the pace and Tom appeared to have issues with his machinery. Gate and go was needed due to the slimy conditions and we couldn't out gate the three Kent heat leaders. There were a couple of "iffy" anticipated starts that were let go in my opinion that went in Kent's favour. Sadly, I think the score was closer than the quality of racing suggested.

Same woman before surgery. What possesses some people. http://celebrityabc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Jocelyn-Wildenstein-young-before-surgery.jpg

Lots of oval trotting tracks around there isn't there? Could have been any of those or maybe not. Looks a bit up market (with the Polo club) for Winkfeld to ever grace another speedway club. Excellent topic by the way. How frustrating, I've looked through all of these and can't see anything! I was hoping to find something. http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw024432 http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw003959

I may have wanted to experience queueing to get in a speedway meeting.... I guess it did happen years ago.

I think if time travel was possible... where would I get the old money from to buy my entrance tickets?

Not a particular meeting, but would love to travel back to the 30's and watch a match at Perry Barr then go over to Hall Green and watch another Birmingham team race.

Your posts have nothing what so ever to do with The Carmarthen Dragons! Your posts are coming across as an attempt to belittle the hard work a team of people are doing to help the sport get revived in Wales.

Why have you highjacked this thread?

Excellent news about Carmarthen, good luck. Gustix, more kids getting valuable track time is more important than a permanent home.

RIP fella. Apparently the young man is being interviewed at 2 minutes in. If someone could confirm. http://www.britishpathe.com/video/west-ham-speedway-closes

A decent reduction in income tax on their pension, free nappies and real home made cottage pie from the meals on wheels lady.

I agree, it always seems odd that the meeting on that evening isn't actually on the board. It's a bit like a cinema advertising the next show and not the one everyone is queueing for.

Looked forward to heat 13, I actually thought it was going to go Cradley's way. Both Zac and Tom hadn't gated all night and were against fast gating Max and all elbows Ashley. When the Brummies came out in front the roof lifted... Heat 15 proved just as exciting.

lol nothing at the moment, but the kids all talk about the club and want the kit. I've never heard any talking about the speedway club a few miles away though.

Aston villa do a lot with schools, many kids at the training ground are from the surrounding districts. Whether the club is doing well or not, it shows it is looking ahead for it's support. Birmingham City doesn't do it.. guess what, it is a smaller club. The speedway doesn't do it... it is smaller still.

I actually think the club or supporters club has to go to the kids, not the other way around. We get the Aston Villa man every week at our kids school and talks football. The result is no kids go to the football, but they all want the kit, coats and bags. You can buy some tickets to select Aston villa matches through the school, every ticket sold the school gets a cut. For every adult ticket sold this way, kids go for a quid. Kids want everything on a game console these days, speedway has a long way to go to catch up.

I actually think they are the only source you can honestly trust has the best interests of the club at heart. Promoters as much as I respect their ability to fund speedway, money comes before club at the end of the day. With that in mind, how many supporters clubs have helped save speedway clubs from extinction? Although I think they have had their day in terms of getting supporters together for functions, they should be around in order to help and rally supporters in times of financial trouble.

He's always one step ahead of everyone else. He's made Poole into a well run team, before he came, it was a also ran premier league team at best. Promoters should be learning from him and beat him at his own game. In SCB's words... "if they were clever enough".