Kester

I think a lot of the problem was that many PL teams seemed to have given up on going to SR and putting in too much of an effort. I think the track got unnecessary stick from other teams fans - too grippy etc. I don't think it was 'too grippy', it was just prepared a particular way and it needed attacking (I do remember a real hotch-potch Brum team going there and picking up a win - Lee Smart, no less, scored a fair few) , and I think a lot of PL riders were beat before they even got there. So, I'm not surprised that dealing out weekly drubbings lost its lustre. Speaking as a fan of another PL (at the time) team, it was nice to have a real powerhouse team like KL, it felt like a real event when Topinka and co were in town - you knew that if you beat them you'd ridden well.

There was great entertainment in those meetings. We joined the PL in 2007 and, I think, it took us about 3 seasons to beat you at home. My fave meeting was in 2007, a Sunday evening as I recall, when we raced to a draw - it was a fantastic meeting with Sanchez having a blinder for us. Did they offer you entertainment?

The idea though that we should all feel terribly sorry for you success starved KL fans isn't quite right. I remember you lot coming to Perry Barr and routinely destroying us on the way to another trophy, and I didn't feel any sympathy with you then or now

I'm not quite sure where this sentiment comes from. Nothing against King's Lynn, but far from 'so many seasons of abject disappointment', KL fans only have to cast their minds back to 2006-2009 when their club was dominant in the PL. 2 League titles, 3 cup wins, tonking home wins virtually every week - I'm sure the fans of many clubs wish we could look back on a time of such abject disappointment.

But what will that prove? That you have to be one of the most naturally talented riders ever to be able to pass at Leicester? Now, if you got Ulamek passing people round there that might prove something.

Really? Edinburgh are currently top of the PL with a lineup of Cook, Sneddon, Masters, Fox, Sedgmen, Fricke and Worrall. Birmingham's team is quite clearly some way ahead of that.

Quite right. It's hard to see how speedway can dig itself out of the mess it's in without a drastic reduction in admission costs in order to entice punters back. However, I think what'll actually happen is that speedway will continue on it's present course, gradually slipping further into the sporting backwaters.

Well-reasoned response.

Isn't this a product of the fact that crowds are low though? Much easier to get banter/atmosphere with 5000 in the crowd, rather than 500 people thinly scattered round a perimeter fence.

Why isn't Tony allowed to express his opinion, it's a perfectly valid one. And if he lingers on the forum maybe he'll retain a degree of interest in the sport and maybe one day return. But no, let's tell him to eff off and hope he loses all the contact with the sport - great idea. And was the 2010 team on a tight budget? In fact, can you tell me which team from the PL days was a 'budget team'? True, I daresay every year we could have spent more, but isn't that always the case? And maybe if we had we'd have gone out of business some time ago and saved ourselves the torment of this season. I like your thinking. Still, if your in doubt you can always fire off Tony Mole an email and ask him how much profit he was raking in during his time in charge - or Patchett, or Phillips.

What about the riders you slag off Steve? Do you struggle to sleep at night? I hope KK doesn't read the forum or his confidence would be shot.

He/she's not needed any help with ideas for the other 30000 usernames.

Has the username BuzzRacingFans been registered - someone get it quick. Every Brum thread to be full of attention seeking tosh.

I think they need a steamroller on it. It's reminding me of watching Kick Start as a kid though, I'm waiting for Peter Purves to appear on the centre green.

He may be,they both clearly have a roll included as part of their gating routine. Though I don't remember many fans of Swindon, Poole, Cov, BV, P/Boro commenting on Hans' rolling when he was riding for them. I'm not trying to stir up an argument, it's just that I think rolling is one of those things that, if it's a rider from 'your' team doing, it's a bit easier to turn a blind eye to.

Hans Andersen's been doing it for years at every level, and never gets pulled up, he's the benchmark for all wannabe rollers.

No, you are the fool for not reading properly, where have I stated that you said Brum would win? Could you point it out please? I stated that you continually play down Poole's chances and talk up the opposition. This is not the same as saying that Poole will lose - clear? Your post is clearly on your usual level.

Whooooaaaahhhhhh..........fantastic speedway Nige............................................Nige.....................................Nigel...............................(sounds of snores in background).

Where have I lied? Please point it out. I made the point that you desperately try to talk down Poole's chances - and talk up the opposition's - every time, just to improve the chances of a gloat. If you read back through the Brum/Poole thread you'll see that's exactly what you did - and several posters pull you up for it. Same as on this thread, as has been pointed out to you several times by different posters. Same as the last couple of seasons - as I pointed out.

SS is still prattling on utterly predictably. He's become a parody of himself. The routine is - spend the entire Winter stating that the Pirates are going to be the dominant team etc etc - spend the entire season predicting a Pirates loss or a tight fixture - to give more opportunities for gloating later. (he was even trying it before last weeks Pirates/Brummies match - Christ, everyone knows it's going to be a massacre) - spend the entire few weeks after the end of the season stating that Poole were obviously the best. - return to the first point and begin again

Well, he probably still is being touted as a GB rider. Who else is there? Kennett, Barker? Or new rising stars Harris and Nicholls? Don't get me wrong, I'm no Cook fan, it just demonstrates how near the bottom of the barrel we are.

I wonder if the mods can change the 'like' button on Starman's posts (very rarely used anyway) to a 'whoosh' button, so we can keep an accurate tally.

Wrong on every level, being on a phone whilst driving is bad enough.

I'll always be grateful to the Drury's for the good teams they put together in the PL days. That said, I think at EL level GD appears a bit of a fish out of water. I'm not sure his belligerence goes down well. As others have said though, he's an experienced speedway administrator, which is more than be said for those left. Phillips strikes me as being in over his head, his son coming in doesn't exactly inspire confidence, nepotism is rarely a wise business choice. Didn't work at Newport, still, at least there'd be nothing to gain by burning down the main stand - so at least that's safe.

First decent heat, the kids put on a good show.