Ben91

We were blessed with the old fence at Rye. While the introduction of air fences as mandatory has been a revelation at many tracks the old fence at Rye was probably safer for riders in all honesty. It would give on impact and there was then a run off behind it, whereas with an air fence despite a cushion there is still a more sudden stop on impact. There are many incidents that I can recall that would have probably been worse had an air fence been in place. As mentioned in other posts the air fence did also make viewing worse at Rye, we do have to accept the times change however and air fences being mandatory is certainly a positive thing on the whole.

Would they go on Friday or Saturday night though?

Hoddesdon is a small town with a population of just over 40,000. To make Rye House a success the floating fan is very much needed. Not perhaps to be attending every week religiously but to put money in the till as often as they can be enticed to travel to Rye. To do that you need to ensure the race night is one that is easiest for fans from further afield to attend. Undoubtedly Saturday. Let’s not forget away fans also, some teams do still take travelling support. I agree completely with pushing the sport to local schools and in the local area as that has never really been done before either under BMR or Len Silver. There’s not that much to do in Hoddesdon, take advantage of that and let the people in the town know that something exciting is going on in the town. Advertising in London won’t come cheap and won’t attract fans either I’d suggest. Start local and build outwards.

Remember a coming together between Vissing and I want to say Chris Neath at Rye. Vissing somehow ended up on the other side of the fence which was bowed to about half its usual height, he got up and ran to hurdle what was left of the fence but his feet didn’t clear it and he face planted.

Heartbreaking. RIP Danny, a true entertainer on tracks, a character the sport needs these days. My thoughts go to his family and friends, I hope Danny has found peace.

Surely Speedway would bring more revenue than flat track or speedway practice on a Saturday afternoon do. I think it’s very important to do what will bring the most fans into the stadium and therefore the most revenue. By all means look to see what has happened in the past and use it as a barometer but the 70s and 80s are far too long ago to be of any significance as to what would be a successful business model in 2020. The sport is nowhere near as popular as it was then for one. The lesson to be learned, and heeded, is the one that killed the club most recently. Saturday is the best night to draw a crowd and don’t race any higher than the second tier. Weeknights are a turn off for many prospective fans, as is afternoon racing.

Friday is a traditional working day. People need to get home from work, eat and change potentially and then get to the track. If you live any further than half an hour away you’ll be pushed for time if you finish 5-6pm. Saturday is better and has worked at Rye when we were in the Premier League. Some of our potential fan base now could be former Lakeside/Arena Essex fans, it was a nightmare getting there when they ran on a weeknight (including Friday as it is a weeknight). Doing the journey in the opposite direction would be just as much of an issue.

I’m close enough to the track that any night would be fine for me. In fact a weeknight would be best for my social life as I’d be able to attend every meeting rather than picking and choosing weekend meetings depending on what other plans I have, the weekend is always busier when it comes to other things to do. I know plenty of others who travelled from further afield and the switch to midweek was the death knell for them attending however. Ideally we want to race on the best night for business to make sure any comeback remains viable.

Link doesn’t seem to be working at the moment. Assume Poole won’t be taking part in the play offs then if they qualify and draw a team north of Sussex.

Saturday night makes most sense I’d say. The catchment area for Rye could potentially encompass the M25, M11 etc. and it would be easier for most people to negotiate those on a Saturday as opposed to during Friday night rush hour. Never been a fan of afternoon racing at Rye, would like to think the track can continue to use Sunday as a revenue stream from training and hold meetings on Saturday nights if we do reopen.

I wouldn’t say it’s speculation, more known facts about Len’s base. I have no idea who is behind the plans to bring Rye back, but I’d be surprised if it was Len.

Rye have a proven track record of running in the second tier and not going under. The trouble started when we stepped up. With all due respect, Plymouth have tried and failed in the second division before.

Len has been based in Kent for a long time. I think he sold up at Rye in the first place because of his interest in Kent, which is closer to home for him. Would love to see the Rockets back on track, my only request would be the return of the blue and yellow with the traditional rocket on the race suit. The BMR rebrand was garbage. I’d probably attend more in the third tier too. The price shouldn’t be as expensive (hopefully) and the top two divisions are a shadow of what they used to be.

I’m out of touch when it comes to who is a good prospect and who isn’t these days. Since Rye House closed my interest has dwindled (it was heading that way before we closed in fairness). But there seems, and always has been this way, to be the opinion that being Australian makes a rider better than a Brit automatically. Some are, some aren’t.

This is speedway, someone with a stopwatch will do. If that fails then use the second hand on the time keeper’s watch.

Being Australian isn’t any guarantee of being good.

John Sampford. Was Rye House team manager while Len was promoter of the Rockets.

Lawson can’t ride Championship and NL as I understand it as he’s had an average of over four in the second tier.

They don’t have to make a three point average these days, the minimum is two.

You didn’t say that initially though, you said this: Over the years there have been plenty of riders in the second tier who haven’t been up to scratch. Jenkins, and to a lesser extent Phillips, aren’t in that bracket.

Jenkins is five years younger and has been involved in league racing since 2016, Phillips started in 2012. Jenkins has more potential IMO.

Would rather have Jenkins than Danny Phillips...

Perhaps Charles Wright’s performances in recent times have reignited James’ interest in riding. To my mind James was certainly the better of the two for quite some time. That won’t be the case now but if he’s up for it then there’s no reason he couldn’t maintain a four point average I’d say.

Nobody is saying you have to have another form of entertainment but plenty of other fans of the sport are looking elsewhere for their entertainment because they are fed up of the way the sport is governed and “promoted.”

The fan experience at speedway, facilities etc. is comparable to non-league football which doesn’t cost £40 to watch. Even at your price of £40 that makes a minute of football cost just under 45p. If we say a speedway heat is one minute long (they’re usually less than that) then at the £16 Somerset were charging last year equates to over £1 a minute. Speedway is not dirt cheap.