Comets In Trouble

[Gemini]

I'm not sure that argument, regarding 15 mins of racing, stacks up. When you you go to a sporting event you pay for the event, regardless of length.

 

Well, we certainly get our moneys worth at Coventry then as meetings normally take forever to get through.

I don't think I was really just referring to 15 minutes of racing when I posted (could have done though - I'm a woman so who knows?) I've been a supporter for long enough to remember when we did get value for money - a league meeting followed by a second half, probably 20 or more races in all, whereas now at most tracks it's just the league match and that's it.

I don't class all the preparation, digging and gardening at the tapes an entertaining part of the event . Add to that the fact that some riders can't even be bothered to come round after winning a race so the fans can show their appreciation makes me think speedway is quite an expensive night out, so yes on second thoughts I probably was referring to just 15 minutes of racing.

Oh....and don't get me started on them all returning to the pits for 5 minutes after a false start. That's not entertaining either.

I can watch the current world championship leader ride a speedway bike for the same cost.

 

Well, you're lucky then because I've only seen him once this season way back at the beginning of April.

[Ray Stadia]

You can and it is. But that can be done due to the calibre of rider and the amount of money they'll be taking from a meeting.

 

I recently went to a local Grasstrack, the racing was excellent. It was only a centre meeting, but the standard was great. I still believe fans can enjoy a speedway night out, without big name riders who are bleeding the sport dry and those riders, riding bikes which are comparitively cheap to maintan. The sport needs to cut it's cloth accordingly.

[ciderman]

Try reading the post i was responding to do you honestly believe as a comets fan i get pleasure from someone else taking our place in competitions?.It was a sarcastic reply obviously wasted on you ,and you call me a dickhead

apologies, missread, thought it was an away fan having a pop!

[Drac]

Fingers crossed for my Comet friends.

 

It will be a sad day for speedway if you guys go under.

[Kester]

I recently went to a local Grasstrack, the racing was excellent. It was only a centre meeting, but the standard was great. I still believe fans can enjoy a speedway night out, without big name riders who are bleeding the sport dry and those riders, riding bikes which are comparitively cheap to maintan. The sport needs to cut it's cloth accordingly.

 

Some will, but others would say 'well if the standards not as high then I won't bother'. It's a double edged sword I think, typical of the problems which speedway is mired in.

[Taylorj]

Fingers crossed for my Comet friends.

 

It will be a sad day for speedway if you guys go under.

Well my good friend , its either Newcastle Diamonds or the Redcar Bears , think I might be joining your gang , a sad day in Worky today , only hope we can see the season out

[Tsunami]

Some will, but others would say 'well if the standards not as high then I won't bother'. It's a double edged sword I think, typical of the problems which speedway is mired in.

 

Agreed. It's unfortunate, but there are so many on here who know exactly how others should lose their money.

In the case in question, Speedway is every week, grass tracking, and say stocks, are as and when, so the committment is less and more optional.

[Fromafar]

Speedway is now too expensive and costs have to be lowered, which means less rider wages, not that they don't deserve what they get and more but some riders want too much such as a big signing on fees, help with machinery, help with accomodation, and the problem is Speedway has not got enough support to warrant this outlay, on the other hand look at the cost riders have to pay for tuning, servicing etc..

Perhaps if Speedway brought in standard machinery which would be cheaper for the rider to maintain, which in turn would make rider costs lower, then hopefully costs through the turnstyles could be cut encouraging supporters back through the gates, just an idea don't know if it could work.

Good post ,riders have to play their part or they will be out of a job too.

[Pere Ubon]

......... Speedway is every week, grass tracking, and say stocks, are as and when, so the committment is less and more optional.

 

There are a number of stockcar tracks that run weekly, indeed some, particularly in the holiday season running a couple of times a week.

 

The key difference isn't the commitment, it's the financial outlay. In all but the really top formulas, the competitors will pay an entry fee to compete. So all the promoter has to provide is some trophies and possibly some prize money - often covered by sponsorship. Indeed the same is often true for club grasstrack meetings.

 

Somehow I would doubt if the average speedway rider would agree to pay an entrance fee to race, and accept the odd trophy and a bit of prize money for their time and trouble.

 

Given that, and the current economic situation is it reasonable to expect promotions to try and put on a show every week? Are 25-30 home meetings still viable? I think there are a lot of people reaching the conclusion, that less is probably more.

[Ray Stadia]

Some will, but others would say 'well if the standards not as high then I won't bother'. It's a double edged sword I think, typical of the problems which speedway is mired in.

 

But the standards don't have to drop Kester. If the same talented riders are riding bikes which are cheaper to buy and maintain, the rider wil be the 'winner'. If the riders expenses are less, the rider will need less pay, therefore takes pressure off the promoter. If the pressure is off the promoter he can reduce admission prices. And it is just possible you may see gates increase. I don't believe fans need to see 4 riders go around a shale track faster and faster. What they want, me included, is good, close, skillfull racing, which can be achieved at less speed. One of the best races I saw at the recent Grasstrack I attended was the 350 cc racing. Not as fast as the 500 cc, but the racing was close and 'nip and tuck'.

[Fromafar]

But the standards don't have to drop Kester. If the same talented riders are riding bikes which are cheaper to buy and maintain, the rider wil be the 'winner'. If the riders expenses are less, the rider will need less pay, therefore takes pressure off the promoter. If the pressure is off the promoter he can reduce admission prices. And it is just possible you may see gates increase. I don't believe fans need to see 4 riders go around a shale track faster and faster. What they want, me included, is good, close, skillfull racing, which can be achieved at less speed. One of the best races I saw at the recent Grasstrack I attended was the 350 cc racing. Not as fast as the 500 cc, but the racing was close and 'nip and tuck'.

The last month at Berwick proves cheaper admission =more fans attending,so it is up to the Promoters to agree and stick to a more affordable pay rate and stick to it (which they did not the last time they were in this situation).Its not rocket science to work out that if expenditure is more than income it will end in failure.I also agree that slower speedway does not mean it is less entertaining.

[mikebv]

many teams are struggling and I am sure many will want 'radical changes' (again) over the winter to make the sport viable..

 

what will actually be agreed is a 50p across the board admission increase per person and a team strength average which reduces the quality of entertainment on offer..

 

and why not? because this plan has proved so successful over the years hasn't it??

 

simply, rider costs have to be reduced to make 'wages' lower and maybe the sport needs to go 'backwards to go forwards'.eg when the sport was at its most successful full time professionals were the exception rather than the rule and riding speedway boosted most riders' 'day job' salary (quite significantly) ...

 

it is obvious to all that most speedway teams do not generate enough money to pay seven full time pro's so why continue chasing this set up?

 

dying on it's arse speedway in this country with Mr Magoo the elected 'visionary' to move it forwards..

[lady s]

 

Well my good friend , its either Newcastle Diamonds or the Redcar Bears , think I might be joining your gang , a sad day in Worky today , only hope we can see the season out

.

 

 

Can't see it been Newcastle as the last time we were there you vowed to never set in the place again your words I know I have said it before but I really mean this time I will never set foot in this place again ..

[bisali]

Fingers crossed for my Comet friends.

 

It will be a sad day for speedway if you guys go under.

 

Thanks!! Lets just keep our fingers crossed!

[scaramanga]

Unfortunately yes, I brought this up a few back on the Forum,

 

I don't believe for one minute that KD wants to see Workington Speedway close, however, how much isn he prepared to lose, it's his money, it is the fans not turning up that will cause the closure of the Speedway

from what i know off keiths attitude both regarding workington speedway and thomas armstrongs i think he would rather shut it than sell it on and the new owners make a better job of it than he did

1 things for sure if it does end before the end of the season all the assets and thats not many will go to the bspa so all keith will have to sell to anyone wanting to run it would be the starting tapes and other such equipment

if he wants to get anything back then a quick sale sounds a good idea even if its only £10,000 its ten grand in his pocket

[stemoc]

from what i know off keiths attitude both regarding workington speedway and thomas armstrongs i think he would rather shut it than sell it on and the new owners make a better job of it than he did

1 things for sure if it does end before the end of the season all the assets and thats not many will go to the bspa so all keith will have to sell to anyone wanting to run it would be the starting tapes and other such equipment

if he wants to get anything back then a quick sale sounds a good idea even if its only £10,000 its ten grand in his pocket

Scarra

I take it you want to see speedway survive in Workington, well as supporters all we can do is demonstrate to both this and any future promotions that we (the supporters) are prepared to turn up every Saturday and support our team. What ever your your views or concerns are with the current promotion can I ask that you (and your friends) bury the hatchet and get down to DP on Saturday to show your support. This may be our last chance to keep speedway alive in the town.

[secsy1]

Last Saturday afternoon Workington AFC played away at Brackley in the Blue Square North Football League, Saturday night Workington Comets rode against Glasgow and Sunday afternoon Workington Town RLFC played an elimination match against bitter rivals Whitehaven RLFC.

Anyone who thinks the combined 3 did not affect the attendance on Saturday night is a fool.

In the present economic climate punters pick and chose where they want to spend there hard earned cash and value for money entertainment.

Some will pay over the odds for the Speedway fix, but others want to be entertained and a sense of value for money. Never one to critisize promoters as they try the best (for themselves, it is a business to them) but until they all realise as many say that the Sport needs a COMPLETE OVERHAUL and knuckle down to dealing with it instead of continually burying their heads in the sand, then next season will see only a handful of clubs in 1 league and even fewer supporters.

[flagrag]

Is the match against Leicester at the weekend going ahead ? As strong reports tonight at Beaumont park from officials and Workington rider that seems match may be cancelled

[ballroom]

Virtually since Day One, it's been "my way or the highway" with Denham. Add that to the recession & the rain and it's an overpowering combination.

 

 

Well lets say you own the Comets. You bought the licence from Tony Mole and arranged the lease with the Stadium. Plus sorted dozens of things like insurance, track prep, maintenance - that all costs money every week. Lets say you run a very successful business locally, like Denham. Would you not then expect to roll up at Derwent Park (with 3k in your back pocket, of your own money, to pay for other peoples Speedway enjoyment) this Saturday expecting to call the shots and make sound business decisions based on what you did in other walks of life? I bet you would.

 

Thing is, any Speedway promotor/owner has to get rid of people/make tough decisions in the course of any season. Invarablely, some of those will have mates who are loyal fans, and, armed with a PC, and access to the BSF, all of a sudden that decision is magnified and blown out of all proportion. Throw in a defeat or two, and a rain-off, and all of a sudden that saviour of Workington Speedway (for example) is the subject of the most severe bile spilled out on here.

 

I am not saying Denham is perfect, he` human like the rest of us, and who is ever going to please all 1,000 fans every week at any given track, but he has put his money up front to buy the Comets and funds it (increasingly out of his own pocket the last three years), so, yes , its entirely reasonable for him to call the shots and run HIS business as he wants - or, `my way or the highway` as you say.

Edited September 19, 2012 by ballroom

[Fromafar]

Well lets say you own the Comets. You bought the licence from Tony Mole and arranged the lease with the Stadium. Plus sorted dozens of things like insurance, track prep, maintenance - that all costs money every week. Lets say you run a very successful business locally, like Denham. Would you not then expect to roll up at Derwent Park (with 3k in your back pocket, of your own money, to pay for other peoples Speedway enjoyment) this Saturday expecting to call the shots and make sound business decisions based on what you did in other walks of life? I bet you would.

 

Thing is, any Speedway promotor/owner has to get rid of people/make tough decisions in the course of any season. Invarablely, some of those will have mates who are loyal fans, and, armed with a PC, and access to the BSF, all of a sudden that decision is magnified and blown out of all proportion. Throw in a defeat or two, and a rain-off, and all of a sudden that saviour of Workington Speedway (for example) is the subject of the most severe bile spilled out on here.

 

I am not saying Denham is perfect, he` human like the rest of us, and who is ever going to please all 1,000 fans every week at any given track, but he has put his money up front to buy the Comets and funds it (increasingly out of his own pocket the last three years), so, yes , its entirely reasonable for him to call the shots and run HIS business as he wants - or, `my way or the highway` as you say.

Well lets say you own the Comets. You bought the licence from Tony Mole and arranged the lease with the Stadium. Plus sorted dozens of things like insurance, track prep, maintenance - that all costs money every week. Lets say you run a very successful business locally, like Denham. Would you not then expect to roll up at Derwent Park (with 3k in your back pocket, of your own money, to pay for other peoples Speedway enjoyment) this Saturday expecting to call the shots and make sound business decisions based on what you did in other walks of life? I bet you would.

 

Thing is, any Speedway promotor/owner has to get rid of people/make tough decisions in the course of any season. Invarablely, some of those will have mates who are loyal fans, and, armed with a PC, and access to the BSF, all of a sudden that decision is magnified and blown out of all proportion. Throw in a defeat or two, and a rain-off, and all of a sudden that saviour of Workington Speedway (for example) is the subject of the most severe bile spilled out on here.

 

I am not saying Denham is perfect, he` human like the rest of us, and who is ever going to please all 1,000 fans every week at any given track, but he has put his money up front to buy the Comets and funds it (increasingly out of his own pocket the last three years), so, yes , its entirely reasonable for him to call the shots and run HIS business as he wants - or, `my way or the highway` as you say.

He doesn't seem to have run HIS speedway business very well compared to his other Companies,if that is the case.