abbo

I visited Birmingham last Thursday, although. Coventry supporter I like to visit local tracks. I paid my £15 for two weeks speedway BOGOF despite this offer I was amazed at the number if supporters that were at Perry Barr and I feel for the management of the second city club. Speedway still shootists elfin the foot, Coventry go to Eastbourne with a third division rider as replacement for Hans Anderson, how does the leaders of our great sport allow such stupid situations and expect the great British public to keep forking out their hard earned wages on third rate decisions Let me make it clear I am not having a go at National League riders I go to all the national League meetings at Coventry and fully endorse these meetings to any genuine supporter.

What a ridiculous post, are you real do you call yourself a Speedway supporter, hope you paid your dues and watched a crap meeting. If you were a true speedway supporter you should be complaining about the riders you haven't been able to watch at such a meeting as this. Speedway supporters should not be expected to pay admission prices to watch third division riders in place of a team's number 1, what a way to treat supporters. Time we got it all sorted out if these meetings take place, the British leagues should be able to replace their teams riders legally. Time it was all sorted out before this great sport disappears! What a ridiculous post, are you real do you call yourself a Speedway supporter, hope you paid your dues and watched a crap meeting. If you were a true speedway supporter you should be complaining about the riders you haven't been able to watch at such a meeting as this. Speedway supporters should not be expected to pay admission prices to watch third division riders in place of a team's number 1, what a way to treat supporters. Time we got it all sorted out if these meetings take place, the British leagues should be able to replace their teams riders legally. Time it was all sorted out before this great sport disappears!

As a Coventry supporter who makes a pilgrimage 9 or 10 times a season (paid for next week as well) I was totally amazed at the lack of Brummies supporters at the Stadium. I sat in the bar area, lady year difficult to get a seat, tonight you could have got a regiment of Scots Guards in there, spot the customer. I hope it all turns round but I don't see what else the Promoters can do about it. Brummies wake up and support your team or you will lose it.

Mick Horton don't know if it was the track (same for both sides) but we looked poor three riders out of failed badly. Fisher, Hansen one line and Harris. No chance of play off's on this standard. Sorry this us a competetive sport, score no goals in soccer away you go. Chris Harris has been a very good rider but last three seasons has not been up to scratch. Two observations to help this guy, Chris stop chasing the impossible dream forget the GP's, Mick Horton Chris should never have been Captain, give it to the natural leader, great rider, the obvious Captain of course Hans, Chris us NOT a born leader. Speedway is a stressful sport, who would want to travel half way around the world for a duck!. I can't even guess what it cost him but it can't do his head any good. He should how back to enjoying his Speedway which he did as a young man. I think he he still has the know how to sort himself out but we will see. This team will struggle to make the Play off's unless there are radical changes. Let me also say tha Kennett us not the answer to our present problems.

I'm not commenting on the Davey Watt replacement last night but I do think that under the new format that there is a fair opportunity that certain team Managers/Promoters may use the new rules to their own advantage. Rider has a bad night pull off with an injury, no Doctor is going to refuse to say that the rider has an injury especially without X Rays etc. This opens the door to call on riders who are having a good night to take the rides of the "injured" rider. The one I haven't worked out is if one of the National League reserves gets injured and is unable to continue what happens in heat 9, is it one rider or do the second strings take the place of the injured National a League rider. Just a thought I am in no doubt that there are people better read than me to answer the question. Perhaps I am referring to the Davey Watt replacement!.

Not todo with this topic can anyone help me please I can't find tonight's meeting listed on Sky anyone help please

Not to do with this topic I have scoured the TV programmes but can't find the Grand Prix listed for tonight can anyone here help please

I predict that Hans will not make it on Monday, he limped away out of the pits on his way to Poland, then expected to be back on Monday to take on Holder etc, on his own admission he failed to consult a Doctor over his knee problems in case they find something seriously wrong us not the way to take on Poole. Time he was seen by medical staff so Coventry can support their appearance on Sky for first time thus season, time for temporary replacement methinks before Monday's meeting.

I have read the posts on this site I don't swear usually but what childish rubbish, you ate supposed to be speedway supporters, we set a unique example to sport and then we read these posts!.

I did try to convey what the trackman told me the other day that the main source of shale for tracks was from the Leeds are for some reason not available now, come back the good old days of cinders. It appears that the problem is the clay content that has caused the rainoffs. I agree that it not satisfactory but MH has now 4 failed meetings, no home Elite for 2 weeks, he is a businessman who needs revenue, without him we would be like CCFC no home, no team, no future. If you want Speedway we have to see beyond this, difficult I know but's that the state of play at the moment.

Star man you are totally wrong the Stadium staff have responsibility for the track as I said previously I visited the Stadium this week and spoke with a member of the Stadium Staff who explained the position quite fully. Don't forget Speedway is not the only group that uses the track the other being monthly a Stock Car.

Definitely OFF

Visited Stadium yesterday spoke with a member of staff who freely spoke with me he explained the problems of maintaining a good Speedway track. Apparently until this season most tracks sourced their shale from the Leeds area which for some reason is not available this year. The explanation is that the shale used in speedway is made up of stone chippings and clay. When I visited they had relayed the inside of the first bend and were in the process of adding more of the fine stone to the track which is hoped will sort the whole problem out. The staff member also explained that the new Curator is Polish but comes with a full speedway background and much experience in preparing the Polish Grand Prix circuits and the problems are not his fault and should be left to do his job. It was also explained that it is hoped if the weather is OK Friday's meeting should go ahead. Personally I think that Mick Horton and team have had a very difficult start to the season with three matches called off through no fault of his own, we should draw a line and hopefully get the season going with a win over the Brummies and set the season hoping?as stated elsewhere a new load of dressing has been delivered.

Well said Wolfsbane, Mick Horton has a lot on his plate with three failed meetings so far this season. Let's be fair none of them his fault. I know it has been disappointing but he needs a Bee's supporters to get behind him. This afternoon I went to Brandon to have a first hand look at the track. It was very damp and I spoke with one of the staff who went to great lengths to explain what the problems were. Apparently most tracks used to obtain their shale from a location near Leeds, this season for some reason they have not been able to supply this shale and they have had to source it from elsewhere. The staff member also explained how the various tracks prepared their tracks and the methods used. I won't describe the tracks to prevent any silly comments from supporters of other tracks. The shale used is made up of small stone and a clay type mixture. Today they have been treating the track especially the first bend with small stone chippings to harden the present surface and also to provide grip. I was told that it is hoped that the track will be completed in preparation for Fridays meeting, depending on how much rainfall there is between today and Friday. As it stands it looks good and hopefully we can get the season moving with a win over the Brummies. I must thank the staff member at the Stadium the information was supplied and discussed with me with no holds.

I think we should have sympathy with Mick Horton and team it would appear that he has mow tried to present three Speedway meetings the two at Coventry and now Peterborough who reached the 8th heat and called off because of a major electrical fault (not his fault) let's hope the Gods will be kinder for the rest of the season, I do think that the problems at Coventry should be resolved very quickly by the Stadium staff, preparing a Speedway track is not rockescience we have lived with Speedway and Stock cars for many years surely with a bit of sensible thinking the Coventry matters can be quickly resolved and get the great team on paper get going and present us with the spectacle we deserve as loyal Bees sporters!.

Let me ask a serious question where at Brandon is there any dry shale, to the best of my knowledge there isn't any usually a pile of dirty stuff at the rear of the first bend.

Does all this not appear to equate itself with Coventry City FC anonymous people making statements which don't mean anything. I think we are in trouble, the stadium management the BSPA are very much there to be criticised about Sundays debacle, Mick Horton and gang were certainly to blame for the presentation for the National League match on a Friday night. I now fear for the future particularly the statement from Jeremy Heaver. I must say that Mick Horton blaming the woes on Stock Car racing is difficult to understand when he decided to run the Christmas a Cracker meeting four days after a Stock car meeting, that takes some understanding, as we know it didn't happen (Speedway that is). It's three months since that last stock car I don't know who us responsible but it needs some sense into the situation very quickly. Oh how could thus have happened in the days of Charles Ochiltree (Mr Speedway) now it's more like Dads Army, no professionalism, no precision, no atmosphere, just stand (sit) on a cold night and wait 25 minutes to see what happens next. Pathetic!!.

Now to serious I posted my feelings about the debacle on Friday night Blayne telling me that both team managers didn't want the meeting to go ahead neither did the riders but the match referee decided that it should . Let me also say I admire Blayne for staying about after the match to be available to discuss our grievances with unlike other senior members. I wasan't impressed by Mr Rogers take it it leave it attitude. I decided not to go tonight, first time in 10 years I would have missed a meeting at Brandon (was going to watch it on Sky, bet they are happy bunnies) I feel sorry for people who travelled to Coventry for what should have been a superb meeting when the meeting was called off shortly before the start. I then read Mick Horton's explanation of how the track is now prepared. He has as the Promoter no say in how the track is prepared or who does it.The explanation of this being the responsibility of the "Stadium" would this be Mr Sandhu?. How can the Speedway authorities grant such a meeting to Coventry when Mick Horton has no control over the Curator or what he does in respect of preparing the track for such a high profile event. I noted that Terry Russell (sky track man was in attendance) do Sky know what's going on. Where do we stand now. I begin to wonder if my £500 plus for season tickets was a wise investment. We are in a mess and we need answers from Mick Horton, Blayne Scroggins, Mr Watson, Sandhu and perhaps Uncle Tom Cobley and all before this mess is sorted. As loyal supporters we need answers, the riders need answers. Last Fridays meeting was a disgrace 6 heats in one and a half hours. Long breaks waiting to see what was going to happen without any information from the roving mike. As I said on the National League site Speedway supporters are a group if long suffering people who travel hundreds of miles to follow their sport, called off, very often little explanation, they moan and go home, back the following week to support their respective teams. No damage, no threats, no fighting just loyal people with a love for speedway and their respective heroes who participate in a dangerous sport. Come on let's get this sorted out. As a long standing supporter we want speedway at Coventry not Peterborough.As a city we play football in Northampton we don't want to have to go to Peterborough to follow our speedway team although we could make a weekend of it I suppose!!.

Just a thought travel to Peterborough to watch Coventry ride speedway on Friday night, then continue on to Northampton to watch Coventry City FC play their home fixtures on the way home, exciting to be a Coventrians supporting local sport!!.

I can't agree with Woz01 that the Stadium are responsible for the track. Surely if Mick Horton's Company lease the Stadium for the purpose of Speedway racing they and they alone are responsible for preparing the track, ie supply of shale, preparation of surface, grading etc. Sandhu does not employ he graders etc that is down to Mick Horton. As I said in previous post Blayne was blaming the referee for starting the meeting and the decision was not in his hands or the Cradley team Manager. Personally I don't believe it!.

I had a conversation with Blayne after the meeting the main point I was making was why did the meeting start when the condition was as bad as it was. He and Mr Rogers tried to explain that the responsibility was the total responsibility of the match referee and not the two respective team managers. I cannot believe that this is the case that the referee overrules the team managers. I would also suggest that there is a legal responsibility on the management to provide a suitable and safe circuit. If the accident in heat 4 had been fatal (thank God it wasan't) the legal position would have been considered by a Coroner, imagine the problem that would have caused 2 team managers being ignored and overruled by the match referee. Simply the meeting should have been called off well before the start for the sake of supporters (especially those from the Black Country) the management were aware of the state of the track because after starting the meeting there was no adverse weather which usually happens when meetings are called off, no complaint when it rains during the meeting and causes early stoppage this is an act of God. All the other criticism in previous posts are correct especially Ivan the delays were unacceptable, no information to the supporters and generally a miserable night. Speedway supporters are a resilient lot, pay your money, witness what can only be described as an evening of poor entertainment (one and half hours to complete 6 heats ) and go home, no demonstrations, no threats, just lighter pockets and a moan. Can't see football supporters doing just that, I think not!. Full marks to Blayne, not impressed with the attitude of the other member of staff.

Let me just add my thanks to John Clarke and Buildbase for their efforts and to John for his hard work everyhomematch you see him with hoards of people behind him just like the "pied piper" many thanks you are appreciated.

I'm sure Mr Sanhu know what he is doing and saying, remember as I said before he could have put two fingers to the doubters and gone. He says that speedway/stock cars are safe for 2/3 years I'm sure he knows what is saying/doing let's get behind him, if he fails that's the time not now.

I can't understand the negativity of some posters Marky B for example. When Sandhu purchased Brandon he wasan't a speedway fan he is a businessman, Coventry were in the doldrums the Ochiltree family wanted rid of the stadium. Sandhu bought, it during our problems with BSPA Sandhu supported the Bees, he made no secret that the stadium was for sale and promised that if and when it was sold he would build another track. The Stadium it appears has been sold to developers, what else would you expect him to do, he has come out and confirmed what he has said in the past, he could easily put two fingers up to the negative posters and gone. Give the man a chance and support Mick Horton and Sandhu in finding the land for a new track.Scunthorpe have built a new track as has Dave Hemsley at Leicester. This could be the start of something good give them both a chance and see what develops in the next 2/3 years. I hope I am right but we may see great things, Brandon is old, needs a load of money throwing at it, a new start could bring great things to Coventry and provide a good future for the sport of Speedway which is a far better possibility than the football club appear to be facing at the moment. Get behind Sandhu and Muck Horton and stop the back biting'.

This talk About Birmingham and Leicester it's Coventry Bees we are talking about.I first started supporting the Bees in the 40's I am fully signed with season tickets for this season the football saga has run on, we need our speedway as the rest of the sport in the City is dying. Gone Highfield Road, Coundon Road is this the last nail in the coffin stop all this backbiting on the forum and get behind Mick Horton and see that whoever has bought the stadium will face a long process before building etc can take place Coventry is the last bastion of Speedway in the UK and we need to fight for Brandon or a replacement if the news is the final nail. Give up girls