21st century heathen Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Are there any other young riders based in the south-west that would consider a van share, if the logistics could be ironed out. Splitting all the running costs, and where necessary travelling together, would cut costs. The other thing that springs immediately to mind is a big one and may come across as disingenuous, but nothing could be further from the truth. Have you considered moving? Basing yourself in the Midlands would immediately slash your travel costs, and depending on the area you live now and the area you were to move to you may be able to raise money from the sale of your home. ----------------------------------------- I think there are ways in which the costs could be cut quite significantly in the NL, but many riders seem to want to emulate the EL/GP stars and have all the latest bling. Kids today are like magpies. If it's shiny they want one! One NL rider posted on FB just recently that he's had a load of parts anodised. Is there any real need for that? Perhaps he can afford it but it's just an example that springs to mind. How many NL riders have a number of painted helmets rather than a couple and helmet covers? I don't know the answer to that but I bet there are a number. Likewise I can't answer this but are the majority of NL riders cheeky enough to ask if there are any odds and sods that an EL rider is about to bin that he can either have or buy at a fraction of the cost of buying new? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguetrader Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 (edited) just like too say that i'm not in anyway putting any clubs down. as they all do good jobs for speedway.its just hard to understand why my son hasn't got a chance in the national league as a champion. and thank you all for your comments. I really think you need to have a good chat with whoever is looking after the Youth scene. Under 16 Champion does not equate to anything near the National League. Not many promoters will be impressed by your posts on here. I am really surprised by some of the heartless comments on here, shame on some of you. Your actually nitpicking & arguing the cost of oil, diesel etc, in reality if they get the cheapest in the UK it will only reduce costs a few pounds & the lad will still lose money. I dont know the Stoneman family but I really hope you get fixed up with a club & some modest sponsorship to help you out. You need to smell the coffee! Cost is everything. I could save them £50 a meeting without blinking. Edited January 20, 2012 by roguetrader Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villiers210 Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 Let's not be kidding ourselves here - all motor sport is damned expensive these days and trust me, I know from the personal experience of parting with about £6k each and every year to race gearbox karts without a penny piece in sponsorship or money earned back from it. In any motor sport you care to name, and at any level, there will always be those who have a real talent but struggle to afford to buy and maintain equipment, and there will always be those to whom money is no object and always seem to have the best kit. Thats life Im afraid. You can do it on a tight budget, but by the same token you shouldn't expect to set the world on fire. Regulations could be put in place to make NL racing more affordable, but then you open the door up to people making stupid decisions. Again - I have seen this happen and its damned annoying. As far as those who spend loads of money to make their kit look good are concerned, good luck to them I say. There are 2 schools of thought on this - firstly those who think its an unnecessary expense, and then there are those who take a pride in giving the impression that they want to make their kit look professional. Personally, I applaud anyone who spends as much as they can afford on maintaining their bikes. Some will always be able to afford more than others. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berniev123 Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 (edited) I spent years chasing the Holy Grail of Ice Figure Skating.......2 or 3 cars, caravan, training in Solihull & Sheffield, travelling like a NL Speedway Rider to Competitions all over the UK, travelling to NISA training sessions & NISA Tests sessions, Olympic Squad National Training Camps all over the UK and days off work without pay. It cost my wife & I about £75,000 in total and a lot of days apart from my family over 9 years. Soft tissue injury put paid to my daughter at the grand old age of 14!!!!! If you do not have the cash, don't carry on, my problem was worse.....I was ill and she was finished! I have NO SYMPATHY at all......there are winners and loosers in life.................................Get over it! I would not change what I did for anything, but take it from me, costs in any sport are horrendous no matter what you chose for your son or daughter to follow, just thank God that they are healthy and very able in what they do when they are a lot older than 15!. Edited January 20, 2012 by berniev123 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great Central Posted January 20, 2012 Report Share Posted January 20, 2012 I spent years chasing the Holy Grail of Ice Figure Skating.......2 or 3 cars, caravan, training in Solihull & Sheffield, travelling like a NL Speedway Rider to Competitions all over the UK, travelling to NISA training sessions & NISA Tests sessions, Olympic Squad National Training Camps all over the UK and days off work without pay. It cost my wife & I about £75,000 in total and a lot of days apart from my family over 9 years. Soft tissue injury put paid to my daughter at the grand old age of 14!!!!! If you do not have the cash, don't carry on, my problem was worse.....I was ill and she was finished! I have NO SYMPATHY at all......there are winners and loosers in life.................................Get over it! I would not change what I did for anything, but take it from me, costs in any sport are horrendous no matter what you chose for your son or daughter to follow, just thank God that they are healthy and very able in what they do when they are a lot older than 15!. And I thought speedway was expensive!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIE-JA Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 And I thought speedway was expensive!! Think yourself luck that junior doesn't want to do clay pigeon shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Reading things like this gets me angry with the whole set up of speedway in this country. Surely the BSPA should be helping young talented rider's like Nathan getting sponsership deals especially as he is u-16 champ. Also im disappointed in the bigger clubs in the country ie Coventry and Poole not running an NL set up, surely they could easily afford it and then youngsters would have the benefits of sponsership these 2 clubs provide. I would certainly go and watch NL speedway at Coventry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villiers210 Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) Reading things like this gets me angry with the whole set up of speedway in this country. Surely the BSPA should be helping young talented rider's like Nathan getting sponsership deals especially as he is u-16 champ. Also im disappointed in the bigger clubs in the country ie Coventry and Poole not running an NL set up, surely they could easily afford it and then youngsters would have the benefits of sponsership these 2 clubs provide. I would certainly go and watch NL speedway at Coventry. Woz01 - I love watching NL speedway - of course it's not the fastest, but I tell you that after 2 years of watching , I have probably seen more exciting races and more passing than you would in 20 years of EL racing!! However, I am afraid to say that you are in the minority. The only reason that Dudley has such good crowds is that by and large, it is made up of die hard Cradley fans who want a team to support. Contrary to what some people have said, it is NOT the Wolves junior team. I so wish that there were more people like you, but sadly it appears .that clubs are struggling to field a team in both EL/PL and the NL as well. Neither BV or Newport will now be operating NL in 2012, and even Scunthorpe were making noises earlier on - thank God that has now been sorted. As I see it, the 2 biggest problems that the NL now face have both been highlighted on this forum - decent riders not getting a team place, and not enough clubs in the NL. Obviously, the one is related to the other. I dont know whether the biggest problem is apethy on the part of speedway supporters, but I would urge anyone who reads these postings, and hasn't seen NL racing before to give it a go. And, as others have also suggested, I would urge those EL/PL teams who are able to do so to reintroduce second halves to give our youngsters a chance. The cost would be low, and the benefits would be huge. Edited January 21, 2012 by villiers210 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great Central Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Woz01 - I love watching NL speedway - of course it's not the fastest, but I tell you that after 2 years of watching , I have probably seen more exciting races and more passing than you would in 20 years of EL racing!! However, I am afraid to say that you are in the minority. The only reason that Dudley has such good crowds is that by and large, it is made up of die hard Cradley fans who want a team to support. Contrary to what some people have said, it is NOT the Wolves junior team. I so wish that there were more people like you, but sadly it appears .that clubs are struggling to field a team in both EL/PL and the NL as well. Neither BV or Newport will now be operating NL in 2012, and even Scunthorpe were making noises earlier on - thank God that has now been sorted. As I see it, the 2 biggest problems that the NL now face have both been highlighted on this forum - decent riders not getting a team place, and not enough clubs in the NL. Obviously, the one is related to the other. I dont know whether the biggest problem is apethy on the part of speedway supporters, but I would urge anyone who reads these postings, and hasn't seen NL racing before to give it a go. And, as others have also suggested, I would urge those EL/PL teams who are able to do so to reintroduce second halves to give our youngsters a chance. The cost would be low, and the benefits would be huge. Excellent post from a passionate supporter of speedway at all levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) Woz01 - I love watching NL speedway - of course it's not the fastest, but I tell you that after 2 years of watching , I have probably seen more exciting races and more passing than you would in 20 years of EL racing!! However, I am afraid to say that you are in the minority. The only reason that Dudley has such good crowds is that by and large, it is made up of die hard Cradley fans who want a team to support. Contrary to what some people have said, it is NOT the Wolves junior team. I so wish that there were more people like you, but sadly it appears .that clubs are struggling to field a team in both EL/PL and the NL as well. Neither BV or Newport will now be operating NL in 2012, and even Scunthorpe were making noises earlier on - thank God that has now been sorted. As I see it, the 2 biggest problems that the NL now face have both been highlighted on this forum - decent riders not getting a team place, and not enough clubs in the NL. Obviously, the one is related to the other. I dont know whether the biggest problem is apethy on the part of speedway supporters, but I would urge anyone who reads these postings, and hasn't seen NL racing before to give it a go. And, as others have also suggested, I would urge those EL/PL teams who are able to do so to reintroduce second halves to give our youngsters a chance. The cost would be low, and the benefits would be huge. Superb idea --but cost is unfortunately the over-riding factor. The medical cover cost increases when you do a second half for a starter. The riders are not paid for these races but naturally do then for the experience and to put them into the eyes of promoters. I have been a strong advocate of junior racing and done what i can in that direction. This year without NL at Newport I have agreed to help out the Mercia Vikings who will race their home matches at Coventry after a successful meeting along with Kelvin Lapworth with Mick Horton and Blayne Scroggins recently. But overall the chances for young riders is very limited. Some travel to tracks in the hope of some laps after the meeting but curfews sometimes mean that these are wasted journeys and the disappointment on their faces is easy to see. More must be done --but there is no magic formula and I said cost is a major factor along with curfews etc. Edited January 21, 2012 by Main Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Think yourself luck that junior doesn't want to do clay pigeon shooting. funny thing is , my lad gave up clay shooting to do speedway. Once you`ve bought the gun there are many places to shoot that are local. Ok so if you want to compete you have to travel but the costs were way less than speedway. Cartridges have gone up in price but so has everything else. At least a gun doesn`t need servicing after 40 shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 It suck when youngster dont get help i sponsor one rider already but it a joke when u see people like Hagon shock doing stuff for the youngsters in the USA and sponsor Ward and Holder but not help the young Brit out . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montie Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 people are saying we need British talent and 3 pointers. well Nathan Stoneman wasn't out of the top 2 places in any under 16 round in 2011. apart from buxton where he never competed. won the under 16's and became champion and hasn't yet got a ride. if anyone can please explain why this is happening to a champion. then you r comments will be taken on board. Mayde try entering the Amateur meeting at Scunny next Saturday,put yourself in the shop window??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhoundp Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Montie, i think he would, but its probably a 500 mile round trip from where he is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 It suck when youngster dont get help i sponsor one rider already but it a joke when u see people like Hagon shock doing stuff for the youngsters in the USA and sponsor Ward and Holder but not help the young Brit out . you should speak to Martin Hagon about that mate as there`s good reason behind it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
771neil Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 does he not sponsor richardson, kennett, marc owen and brandon freemantale ( sorry if spelling wrong) ???? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 does he not sponsor richardson, kennett, marc owen and brandon freemantle Neil, I was reffering to the USA set up rather than doing it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
771neil Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Neil, I was reffering to the USA set up rather than doing it here. was repling to greg mate not you and all i was pointing out was he does help brits but if people keep knocking people that help one day they say stuff it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaptooth Posted January 22, 2012 Report Share Posted January 22, 2012 Indeed mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
portgunner Posted January 23, 2012 Report Share Posted January 23, 2012 (edited) monties quote was fantastic "does he want a team place or is he not bothered ?? i have seen nathan at many tracks and he is a good solid rider . two years in the national and he will defo bang the points in. for his age he has to be the best around, the lad should get help with sponsors he is english . a team manager not to far away from buxton who no's everything about nl once quoted" £10 a point and 10p a mile is very resonable for a nl rider" ?????? even though his team pay more than that??? add new guards new covers and 2 new silencers to under16watchers list and the price of riding this year is astronomical. this is why english kids are being lost to the sport ! stick at it nathan you will defo make a good speedway rider a team place will come Edited January 23, 2012 by portgunner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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