speedybee

Yes, I'd planned a whole weekend around this fixture so that side of it is frustrating indeed. Currently Bees are due to stage their remaining 8 home league meetings in a 4 week window. Now that's high pressure!

Yes, of course, Colin. I've passed a message onto Sandhu detailing some of the questions that are on supporters' minds and he may or may not get back to me, or issue a more general statement depending on what stage of negotiations he is at.. watch this space. It would be good to make contact with the MP and let him know some of the supporters concerns directly and how we can all work together - lobbyists, stadium owners, current promotion and fans - to ensure the continuation of speedway in or around Coventry.

No shortage of drama and excitement there. On balance a very good advert for speedway I'd say, even if the track shape still needs urgent attention

By far the best meeting I've seen at Leicester! Track shape still needs altering though...

The programme has to be edited and produced, and sold at £3 a pop ...then there's a presenter, and gate staff ....

I'd welcome him back in this position.. And no better captain alongside him than Bomber, a rider he seems to greatly respect.

Not true to say there is lack of local interest. I did mention that I would have been happy to chair such a meeting as the one Colin proposed if I'd have been free of commitments on the suggested date. I think there is a general feeling that people don't want to rub the stadium owners up the wrong way, but there are several key issues that need to be addressed and put to the stadium owners, which I listed on another thread. Perhaps the time to do this is sooner rather than later.

I think you're being harsh. Hansen rode his socks off for three points, which could easily have been six or seven if he'd not lost his position in two races and surrendered two points on the last lap of Heat 7 when Proctor effectively parked it in front of him on the last lap when he was on a 5-1 and he had to abandon ship. It could be argued that Hansen played a vital role in the win, by keeping Wolves riders at bay in several races and allowing his partner time to stretch out his position (Andersen did the same in Heat 11)

Just home from a cracking meeting, almost as good as the away victory at Wimborne Rd.. Bees really should have had more, dropping at least 6 or 7 points when well placed.. Howarth twice dropped points when in key positions, Hansen likewise by drifting out too wide when most of the grip was inside off turns 2 and 4, MJJ gated like a rocket and controlled the first bend in Heat 3 before it was called back after Schlein slipped off and he also lost his place to Schlein in Heat 5 and Thorsell in Heat 8. But let's not split hairs. A masterful performance from a lively Bomber who got better as the night went on and a couple of key rides from Hans. And then that man Garrity.. what can you say! Some tremendous racing and so many overtakes I lost count. I wish racing was this exciting at Brandon!

It could go either way, but should be close. Looking forward to seeing the Bees for the first time in over three weeks. Hope the rain stays away!

It's sad..such a great set up, neat little stadium, great location..could easily be one of the best places to watch speedway in the country if they managed to get a competitive racing strip sorted out. Very nearly came to this after last night's rain off at Brandon. So glad I didn't.

Rubbish, processional speedway, makes Lakeside look massively thrilling by comparison!

Over half an hour of discussion on WM.. a 'must listen' on iPlayer for anyone who wants to hear it from the horses' mouth

Yes, agree. I had planned a mini break to Norfolk presuming a full team and a competitive match ... now in limbo and not even sure I'll bother!

Great entertainment. That was thrilling speedway.

Rob Lee - good points about the riding lines. I too was disappointed to see the top Bees racers riding the inside line. Hansen can probably be excused as he was riding in considerable pain and didn't look comfortable all night, but let's hope we see Harris and Jensen perfecting the wide line in the coming weeks as King and Nichols were last night.

Great atmosphere tonight, another good crowd. Shame the racing didn't really measure up, heat 13 aside..

I have made contact with Alan Boon, but he too is unavailable on July 5th. Whilst we both share a feeling that it's not a good idea to get Sandhu's back up, given what happened earlier in the season with the current promotion, I recognise the importance of receiving answers to certain questions which need to be addressed to the stadium owners, if possible before the meeting. Ultimately, the object as I see it would be to form a steering group that works to ensure that speedway continues in Coventry, whether at Brandon or elsewhere, and to involve local MPs, the mayor of Rugby and other influential local figures to help the cause. One of the fundamental questions is do we give up on Brandon as a base for Bees long term and throw all our efforts into looking for a new site or do we leave no stone unturned in seeking out ways to make Brandon work for Sandhu, or to explore ways of buying it off him so that speedway can continue there? The group has to be as proactive as possible in lending whatever support we can - as supporters in finding a secure home, and making sure we understand and are regularly updated on the current status of the stadium. In terms of the search for land, given that all we have to go on is what Jeremy Heaver reported on BBC over bank holiday broadcast from the stadium, very little is happening so far. We also need to ask the right questions of the both the stadium owners and the club's management, to be clear what's happening at Brandon, to reaffirm that we're all working together and get more supporters actively involved in either helping find and secure a new base, or finding ways to make Brandon work as a long term base, if there is indeed any chance of that happening. A thousand or so fans turning up at a stadium that's looking more than a bit tired every week isn't enough - for Sandhu or for us supporters. We need to be doing more... Maybe Sandhu would be prepared to sell some of the shares in the stadium to a co-operative? (athough given what I've read of previous ownership arrangements, that might be messy and would require a very good - and probably expensive - lawyer to piece together any agreements)... The bottom line is that Sandhu could make many millions quickly and easily from a sale of the land for the building rights he seems to think he will get. It's easy to see why he lost faith with speedway but equally it's easily to see why he'd consider selling Brandon. The initial questions that need to be addressed : 1 What is the current status of ownership at Coventry Stadium? If it's for sale, how much is the asking price? 2 Sandhu says that speedway has two more years after this season. Could he qualify what the position will be at the end of 2016 and what he expects to happen with planning / change of usage at Brandon? 3 If the stadium is not viable / profitable at the moment, would a change of planning (ie hotel, gym, sports complex added to the site) persuade him to stay? Haven't the local authority already rejected applications for change of usage? 4 If he is expecting a change of usage at Brandon, what moves are being made to find local land that isn't designated for housing? Can we have a more detailed report on what has happened so far, what the spec (and approx cost) of a new stadium would be, whether Sandhu would be financing this himself, and also what information is needed from any fans who may have time to scout. Just a few things to consider. I'm sure there are many more...

Or Marmite, given how divided people are whether they love or hate him:)

I would if I was around. I have chaired various meetings and interviews etc in the past. Problem is I'll be at a wedding in Hay on Wye that day! Any midweek evening would generally have been much better as I seem to be busy every weekend between now and end of summer!

I just stumbled across this thread (usually only have time to read the EL forum) although I have had an email exchange with Colin and would like to thank him for his efforts so far. I would be happy to publicise the event via the Facebook group that I started and admin. Unfortunately I'm usually busy weekends so don't think I can make the meeting but what would be great would be to design an e-flyer once we know the venue and time (I'd be happy to have a stab at this) which could possibly be printed too. And perhaps come up with a snappy name for the campaign ('Save our Bees' or whatever.. I'm sure someone can do better than that...), start a new Facebook page for it etc. There's a lot of work to be done but getting these basic tools in place will really help.

Fair enough, Bwitcher and Voice of Reason. I agree the track can still and should get much, much better in terms of racing lines and especially the outside overtaking that we love to see, but at least it was an improvement. Hansen's heat 3 outside pass and his first bend over Woffy later on spring to mind, as do some of Lambert's tussles. Hansen's comments on Facebook suggest that Colin Pratt is getting the track right. After the interval watering, it seemed to give a better outside line although both Howarth and Hansen came unstuck on the 3rd/4th bend at different times. And yes, compared to meetings I've seen at Poole, Birmingham and Wolves as examples this year, riders were quickly string out and there were precious little options once a rider like Thorsell gated, and this left class riders like Woffinden and Andersen looking almost impotent once they were behind, and even the fast and spectacular Pawlicki struggling to make an impact. Still, onwards and upwards. I'm usually the first to criticise the Brandon circuit as dull but to say it was a borefest last night I think sells Colin Pratt's work short. I left feeling I'd been entertained, for a change.

Wow, great meeting. Sunshine, large crowd, great track, lots of overtaking, Harris and Hansen at their battling best. The buzz is back at Brandon... (I can hardly believe I'm saying this!)

I do think it would have done wonders for team spirit to involve Harris as captain rather than just springing it on him. We'll see but at least it shows some ambition from the management

Obviously more to the team's liking, judging by the match report comments from Havelock. But that in itself is worrying in that we struggled to beat the basement team... The first half of the meeting had precious little overtaking (well, none!) and then we saw a few glimpses of a former track, notably Bomber's Heat 13 trademark outside blast. Still fairly slick, but not without a dirt line later on. The real test will be what Hansen can do on it..