nightrider

Starman2006. My pension won't cover the cost of buying him out sadly and I live in Dorset - so that's a long way to travel to work. Added to that Mr Bowden insists he does an 80 hour week my old bones just aren't up to that. He doesn't actually say what he does at the track 80 hours a week but looking at the place it can't be much! It does seem a nice little earner for someone but I suspect Bowden will be asking far more than the going rate for the licence. Does anyone know of any other promoters who 'claim' to work so hard for their club? If you notice Plymouth are always the last to pass on any details to the BSPA regarding news updates and apparently Bowden does not have a computer! Just what does he do all week....I'm mystified.

MikeyT - Bowden probably makes substansially more than i have guesstimated as he appears to have had 3 holidays in the past few weeks!! His remarks of working 80 hours a week 52 weeks a year are a total fabrication. He isn't there during the off season, or very little ( Nov/end Feb) as there is nothing to do. Other promoters have jobs outside of speedway and often only have access to the track on race days or have to work around other activities at the venue. Why can't he make his phone calls from home?? Every other promoter would do rather than sit in a dingy hut in the rain/cold. I'm pretty sure from what I've heard it's mainly voluntary helpers who do the track and help around the stadium regarding building/maintenance etc. His remarks are turning fans away in droves I'm sure. A fair few people I have spoken to say they won't be going to the SBA due to antics of the past two seasons and the poor facilities. It's a shame for the folk of Plymouth.

I can't see how bowden struggles at all with his gates, if anything he makes a healthy profit each and every meeting. If say a gate had 1000 supporters coming through ( and we know there are often many more) and that gate was divided up thus: 200 pensioners/students @ £9 = £1800 200 under 16( and over 8) @ £5= 1000 600 adults @ £12= 7200 500 programmes @ £2= £1000 total= £11,000 He also makes money from the bar ( open till 10.30) and sales from the shop and 50/50 raffle. Also rent from the burger van. Say another £500 from this he pays rent: ??? Ambulance etc £800 if the team regularly won 49-41 and he paid each rider for example £40 per point ( this is an average not an accurate figure) that would come to £1960 Take this as an average over a season - 16 meeting home and 16 away (away points monies come from home meetings gates.) He takes in £176000 and pays out £70,560 points money from gate money. He pays £12, 800 ambulance /medical cover. ??? rent and also has the money from programme sales/shop/ bar etc, I still see him making a good £70,000 profit. I may be well off mark here but gates are often higher and points scored much lower. It doesn't take a genius to owrk out he is on to a good little earner.

So..... with the limited shelf life of the SBA, and no further mention of the Ernesettle project; what do you really think are the aims of this 'sell off'? As far as I know Mr Bowden has never involved the fans in any decision making before. He even closed down the supporters club for goodness sake! It sounds awful but I feel he may be taking what he can, while he can, and leaving the other 'shareholders' to clear up once the clubs lease runs out in 2013/15? What is there at the SBA to have a share in - a delapidated old bus and stands that were condemned before Bowden even took them on. Regarding the stands - how dies he get away with the fact two people have fallen through them due to rotting boards? They are in a dreadful condition and those who choose to sit on them take their life in their hands each week. Is there a disclaimer regarding them lol. Do the HSE visit tracks and check out the facilities? as this is now track that I would be very suspect about. Shame, as the fans are a great bunch.

Where did Bowden pluck these figures from ???? The company is worth nothing at all like this and anyone buying shares would simply be putting money in Mike's pocket. If you look on 'Company Check' - a website free for all to view a company's financial returns : When putting in his 2010 valuations he has the company net worth at -£31.890 ( yes that was minus) and assets of little over £4,000. I can not for the life of me work out what anyone buying shares would actually 'own.' May be some one else can explain what these shares would be in? He only has a lease for the track until 2013 or 2015 , not sure which, but I would strongly assume he may well give up his licence then and close the doors. He has done nothing with the Ernesettle project bandied about a couple of years back. I hate to be cynical but if he closes shop when his lease runs out then all the shareholders will have is shares in nothing.

Any ideas of who is in the line up for this event. Nothing on the forum so far and only a few days away. Thinking of going but depends on quality of racing expected. I'd assume most of the Plymouth Devils if not all to be in attendance. But who else?

Thank you so much for your replies - they are so special and important. A friend has had 'dreams' that prompted them to research further. The 'watch' info is very interesting. I'm sorry I can not divulge further but to respect privacy I have to be careful. Every comment is treated with the utmost respect and cherished I can assure you. Does any one have parental or sibling contact info? Thank you Nightrider.

Thank you all so very much. I look forward to further replies. Great to see a picture if possible. I do remember seeing Brett and want to remind myself of what he looked like. All is much apreciated. Nightrider

I'm wondering if anyone out there in the land of web can help fill me in with any information on the sad demise of young Brett Alderton ? Brett, an 18 year old Aussie, tipped to be a possible future world champion was guesting for King's Lynn ( his home team being Milton Keynes.) when he was fatally wounded on 17th April 1982. He passed away on 21st April in hospital. I have searched the net and cannot really find any further information. I know Brett was Australian - but from where exactly? He was 18 - does anyone know his date of birth? He was fatally wounded in a track crash - but what was the cause of the crash and was anyone else involved? Was his body flown home to Australia? Does anyone have a photograph they could link and post? Any further info / stories about Brett and his time in the Uk? All information would be most welcome. Thanks Nightrider

Just wondering - what is the German fans take on all this, they must be just as dissapointed as everyone else ? Have they had more info in their press as to why the meeting was called off. Another random thought ....if the track was wet and the weather warm and dry - why not keep the roof open so that the water could evaporate out into the atmosphere rather than have the humidity in the stadia build with the roof closed and the shale absorb all the moisture? nightrider

Apologies, I had meant the organisers - certainly not the seething fans! Sorry for the confusion ( it's me age you see....) Nightrider

I am gutted for all those of you who travelled to Gelsenkirchen or 'Germansmirken' as some may now re-name it. All their costs will have been covered by insurance, hotel, beer and tourist sales will have rocketed the local economy and the poor old Poles, Brits, Danes, Swedes etc who made the long trip for the 'supposed' final and most exiting GP of 2008 have lost out massively. Are there many going to travel to Poland next Saturday? - I doubt it. Surely the Poles can't afford to put on such a huge event with such a financial short fall which they no doubt will have to cover themselves. Bloody farce is all I can say. They've had 3 or 4 days to dry the track out and if the Brits there are saying it's really warm and there's ben no rain - then surely keeping the roof open would have dried out the track? All I can say is there's a lot of funny handshakes, nods and slapping of thighs going on somewhere. A very disgruntled, bemused and cynical Nightrider.

The Conference league, like the Premier and Elite have there own sections for rider and team news and events. Why is it though that it's ok for the PLRC and the ELRC to be in the 'individual ' section but not the CLRC? Some of your posts have become rather demeaning to the Conference League Parsloes - treating them as 'special, different, not quite there yet.' When I wanted to see how the meeting had progressed I immediately went to the 'Testimonial and Individual and shared events ' section .............why..............because it was an INDIVIDUAL EVENT!

It has taken me nearly 4 years to reply to this post ( is that a record on the BSF one wonders?) but as the thread is still on line I thought "Well why not. Im bored, browsing the web and got something to contribute for once!" Portsmouth had a track in the mid 30's ( but apparently had closed by 1937) at the Copnor Greyhound track situated between where Stride Avenue and Langstone Road now stand - I think a council housing estate. There was also a purpose built Grasstrack circuit at 'Wymering Racecourse' just north of the city at Farlington near Portsdown Hill. The first meeting was held in May 1928. Footage of these two stadia still exist and I would put it on line if I knew how to transfer video to computer ...... but I don't. If anyone is interested in seeing the footage then first find someone who has the video ( might now be on DVD?) 'Bygone Portsmouth' made by 'Bygone Films' 5 Low Road, Conisbrough, Doncaster. DN12 3AB tell 01709 869777 the video was published in 1995 so if the company are still in business then they most likely have a website now. Then find someone who knows how to get it transfered on to here so we all can see as - I'm too thick to do it!!

I recall a lad who came over in the early 80's from SA ( I think) called Mark DeKok. Sure he did quite a lot of second half racing here and possibly rode for Newcastle at some stage. Also in reference to Kevin Macdonald, his father was originally from Northumberland and emigrated to either Australia or PNG in the 1950's.