Grachan

My 15 year old enjoys speedway a looks forward to going if I suggest it. Five pounds doesn't break the bank, but I don't go regularly - just when the mood takes me. I do think that letting under 16s or under 18s in for free would be a good strategy to get kids interested and parents attending, particularly if you are going to attend regularly.

It was 2008 when speedway began its current decline. Before that is was having something of a minor revival, with radio 5 even running a report on how Speedway had become "cool" at one point. Then, with crowds relatively healthy, the introduced low points limits and "cost cutting" measures time after time, and each time they did it the crowds dropped. So, each time the crowds dropped, they did it again. So they dropped again. It always amazes me when people say that the future is about cost cutting. That is what caused the trouble in the first place.

Weird how it seems to be mainly Belle Vue fans criticising Swindon. At least Swindon have been honest to supporters and said that the track isn't ready rather than taking the fans' money and making them stand around for hours.

I do wonder if it might be a good PR exercise to offer free admission to people who live on the adjacent estate. Get them onside, as it were.

It's interesting to see the difference between these house and the properties being built right next to Newbury racecourse. The fact that they overlook the course is seen as a selling point, and those that have a direct view of the course are actually more expensive. On race days people are out on their balconies watching. There's not the merest hint of houses being built there being any kind of threat to the racing.

Only on bends 1 & 2. I would imagine that won't be a great place to watch, but there's loads of other options.

Pretty sure John Boulger made a Gotenburg final.

What's to stop fans of both sides doing that, thus evening things out?

The thing is, if you're not interested in it then you don't have to do anything. Just watch the racing. 13 heats using to old race formula and 2 nominated races at the end. That's it.

I'm unlikely to vote either, but I'm quite happy to see what the result is from those who do vote and just go along with it. That's fine by me. You don't have to vote.

Why should there be? Isn't that what it's supposed to encourage anyway. As long as the managers put their top 4 up for the vote then it's swings and roundabouts anyway. If you are voted weak in heat 14 you are strong in heat 15.

I think it's quite a fun idea. When it seemed that it was a case of just voting for heat 15 it seemed open to abuse, but this way it works well, as it's for heat 14 rather than heat 15. I do think there should be some way of supporters at the stadium to vote, if they wish, without using a phone. I certainly won't be logging on to Twitter while at a match, although I appreciate some people will do that. I can't see it ever catching on, but as a bit of fun for a season opening tournament it might be ok.

I must say, that track does look a good shape. I hope it will be as good as people are hoping. For a long time now we've had a problem with riders just spacing out down the straights. Hopefully this will solve that a bit and keep races closer. It will be interesting to see how it rides. I can't see many people wanting to stand on bends 1 and 2 though!

By the stadium owner, not by the speedway promotion who are guilty of nothing other than, perhaps, being a big naïve in believing everything they are being told. It's good to, at least, see something happening there, but it seems it's the club that are doing it rather than the owners.

Are you really a Belle Vue fan, or are you another forum member posing under another name? Why are going on about the stadium like you are? Swindon fans know there are concerns, but we don't need supporters of other tracks coming here and taking the mickey about it, just because they now have their own new track. I think there's only one person who needs to grow up.

Interesting that Terry Russell talks about "his" contractors and "the clubs" contractors. It certainly gives the impression that the club are paying for this rather than the stadium owners.

I went to the Basketball play-off final a few years back. It's a great show, but they do, of course, have the advantage of the indoor lighting/facilities and so on. Interesting, also, that it attracts their biggest crowd of the season, but the play-off winners are not also league champions.

What new starting procedure?

I did actually think about that. I knew it was one or the other, as it was often misspelt, and then went with the wrong one!

Possibly Broadbanks, although he was a bit before my time and I never saw him ride for the Robins. Briggs was, too, but his record speaks for itself so I included him anyway.

Have to agree with you on Billy Saunders. Even in 1983/84, when he was being talked about as a contender at the start of televised meetings, I never really saw it.

To be fair, Jason Crump was a brilliant number one for Swindon, who practically saved them following their relegation, so could, perhaps, justify inclusion. But it was only for one season and in the lower league, so not for me. Janowski never looked like a world class prospect until leaving Blunsdon though.

Definitely. Likewise a Swindon fan having Maciej Janowski or Jason Crump. 1. Barry Briggs 2. Leigh Adams 3. Phil Crump 4. Jason Doyle 5. Martin Ashby Reserves! Jimmy Nilsen and Bob Kilby

You could easily flip that to say that an injury to a rider can give a lesser rider a greater chance of winning, thus making it easier to win a one-off final if you are not the best in the World.