Gresham

For sure...I agree with much of that, and did imply what you said in a previous post. However...when you look at the pro's and con's of letting former riders in for free, who have a history with the club...what negatives are their...apart from losing £20 gate entrance? If they are not there...you're still £20 down. They bring an added attraction to the sport surely? How nice for an announcer to say...'we have former riders such and such here tonight, I'm sure they would be pleased to have a chat and a beer afterwards'. And maybe bring them onto the centre green for an impromptu chat now and again.? At the moment...all I see, is some rider dragged out, talking about the meeting before, with the likes of 'Oh yeah...fair dinkum mate...boys gave it their all, ripped a few good starts...could do better...throw another prawn on the Barbie mate'...whilst being drowned out by the mascot burning a few laps or two tractors doing their best to take all the dirt off the race line ;-) I've now had to amuse myself, at betting on which of the fat family can win the race to the Burger bar at the interval....whilst giggling at the announcer as he's muffling his word down the mic, whilst fumbling around in his satchel to find sweets to throw to the winner in the crowd, who got the answer right to this weeks teasing question, as to which rider did what in which year....enthrawling stuff I tell thee... Rather than...

Weird how some folk think it's not right to talk about Speedway because they don't go anymore, and don't find it entertaining anymore...yet pop down to the general chat part of the forum, and you'll find hundreds of posts by people giving 'strong opinion' about politics, who obviously haven't got a Scooby about it, yet no one goes calling them out...all very odd.

I wouldn't know where to start tbh. The startling fact is, if you took the elite and prem leagues...and fill every team with British riders...you'd only have 147. Nuts when you think about it. When you take into account, doubling up in the two 'Professional' leagues...how many riders are actually riding professionally over here?

Haha...you learn something new every day...It hadn't crossed my mind that times were still being done with a stop watch manually...what a waste of time ( excuse the pun )

Bit strange, asking people to pay, to go back to their old work place, isn't it? ;-) Surely as a 'Promotor', you would realise the added attraction ex riders bring to your business? In other sports, promotors have to pay for 'appearance' money to ex professionals...yet ours turn up, mix with the paying public, and some are asked to pay for the privilege...beggars belief when you think about it. I used to love listening to Malcolm Holloway at Swindon...he often added so much to what we were watching...and sometimes tell people to 'stop being daft' and explain to them why certain situations have happened on track. Hearing opinions from an ex riders perspective is so much more enjoyable...especially when the put certain fans in their place who don't have a clue ;-)

Out of interest...how many British riders are there, that ride Speedway in this country?

I'm totally with you fella...I think the majority of riders should be let in for free. If it was rammed and tickets were a premium I'd understand. But it's not...so let them in I say. Let them talk to fans. Fill up the wide open spaces as well. I'd also go as far as letting in all under 16's for free with a paying adult, and all under 18's in education.

Do they rarely attend because they can't afford it, like many, or because they feel slightly unwanted? It must be hard for any rider, especially from back in the day...when they were 'heros' to many, yet when they retire are 'desired' as much any longer. I also know from other sports, that new club owners and promotors, often don't like old sportsman coming back, as they would talk of the old days and how things were done differently.

I don't understand how people voice an opinion about how THEY feel about the sport...and get told by others, that they actually don't feel that way, and should feel differently, because it doesn't match their views. The mind boggles... Everyone is different...everyone has different ideas about how it could be improved, why they don't go anymore, or why they still enjoy it. People don't need to tell others how they should feel...it is their personal opinion. I've 'Returned' to watching live Speedway again after a little lay off, and have brought new people along. I'm thoroughly hooked again...but unfortunately, the more you read and try to understand the rules, regs, recent history, thoughts from managers and topics about recent events, it does tend to leave you feeling frustrated. When team managers and ref's are struggling to understand the rules, god help the rest of us. I simply shrug my shoulders now, laugh, and just enjoy the racing...too much information spoils it for me.

Thanks for confirming :-) Hopefully what has been proposed will make a turning point for a brighter and healthier future.

Haha...classic :-)

SCB licence is £60 if you classify yourself an amateur ;-)

I'd agree to a certain extent. Nothing better than chatting to ex riders and hearing old stories, plus getting their perspective of the riding action on the night. You learn a lot and it gives an added dimension to the meeting. Same with other sports as well...watch it with someone who's been there and done it at the highest level, and you get a whole different understanding. It's not like the terraces are bursting at the seams is it.... I'd also take it further and invite all school children in free with paying adult...and all under 18's in for free that are in education. You might as well have these people in for free, spending on refreshments etc...than not. You get them hooked and then that generation pay ( hopefully ) in the future. Plus...if people watching on the TV see a full house, especially of a younger generation, then they might be inclined to come as well. Just thinking outside the box a little.

Behind closed doors, all promotors, team managers, referees and officials were invited and to offer feedback. 6 rider teams only...over 15 heats. double points scraped...return to TS whenever team fell behind. No RR...etc.

Worth applying and paying for a licence...cheaper than a season ticket ;-)

Is this format anything to do with what was scheduled to be tested at Kings Lynn between Newcastle and Scunthorpe? Did this 'Test' actually take place?

If it's to be understood correctly, this has happened at Belle Vue? I know it also happens at certain football grounds. It's a catch 22...where do you draw the line? I understand there is a 'Belle Vue Legends' wall at the new stadium? I'd feel uncomfortable if I was the owner of the Club, promoting it, using images and names of former riders, to enhance their own business today, yet not willing to wave £20 to those riders he's using for his own business interests. Would a certain rider turn round and say...'No longer use my name or images, in programmes or further Belle Vue promotions, to gain financial reward for your own business now.'? Could we ever see a case of image rights being used by Speedway riders? Or has that already happened? Good will sometimes benefits a club or promotion now... If fans felt strongly enough that say for example 'PC' had to pay to get in, then talk with your feet...they'd soon take notice.

I agree...like I said...it all depends what each individual riders contract has written in it and where they reside. Each is an individual case. You don't ignore any contracts...as some maybe legally binding and effect money coming in or going out. That is a basic of any business balance sheet...as you should/would already know.

And people wonder why lads give up racing.... Such a tough sport to get into...expensive and time consuming. Interesting on the fans forum at BV last night, they were talking about getting youngsters through, talking of training tracks, academies, cherry picking from BMX riders of all things...but you get to a point where you think it's all talk, for all the reasons you have pointed out.

So you think a Bank manager would ignore any contracts you have with rider, and your legal obligations written into that contract? Contracts are all individual and can be complex, especially if the rider is a non resident. But if you think a bank manager/ financial advisor, would not take into consideration any riders contract, or any other physical assets, that could lead to either a profit or a loss, then I think said bank manager should find another job. Plus it seems you are looking at an 'asset' as purely leading to profit. Most eventually lead to a loss through depreciation. Doubting one thing and actually knowing is a big difference.

All depends on any contract agreed and the duration.

It may make no sense, but people still do it....especially in Sport. Plus, it depends whether you want to tie your money up in fixed assets or not, and spread costs etc. How many speedway tracks do you think run at a profit? And if they don't, as a businessman, why run one? It's like advertising and sponsoring...do you think these businesses recoup their money from sales generated by sponsoring a speedway team? There are numerous reasons why people run businesses at profit and loss...and many reasons why people sponsor and advertise...and it's often not to make profit, but to cut losses.

Does anyone know how many promotors/owners have their Speedway Club as their sole business? Are there any? Do they want their Clubs to run at a profit? Or do they want to run them at a loss for 'Buisness' reasons?

Agreed...many forms of how different sports are run. Just a shame so many mistakes are made so many times with speedway. It doesn't help when Commentators and the actual promotors themselves talk about the balls up as well on Sky Sports. Like someone said to me many moons ago, when a sport has to keep changing it's rules almost annually, then you know it's in serious trouble. He's not wrong imo. Unfortunately, Speedway try's to come across professionally, and it does to some degree in the GP's. But the week in week out British league is a whole different ball game. It try's to be one thing...but comes across very much as another. My girlfriend who I've taken to recently to Swindon and Somerset for her first taste of Speedway, said it felt more like a Summer village fete or circus type atmosphere. She couldn't believe it was meant to be a 'serious' professional sport. Anyway...I've digressed away from the 'Ruling body' and rather looked at how the sport is promoted. It was interesting to hear from the eyes of a complete newbie.

It's an eye opener, when you google for a list of Sports and their governing bodies....and then read how they are actually run, some of them. Interesting the list the FIM regulate too.