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Kent Kings 2014


JamesM09

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It would be interesting to hear from someone "In the know " a few details regarding , planning permission. were there any complaints throughout the year that could pose a possible threat to the future , if not is there any hope , having shown that speedway is not as noisy as some may have feared of some of the severe resrictions being relaxed a little?,

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Good to see you back Nikko..Debate is of course a matter of differing opinions. and trying to change opinions with reasonable personal views .We all want the best for the club whatever our individual views are and agreeing to disagree is part of that process....

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My money is now firmly on Ben Morley with Simon Lambert coming in at number 5.

 

I didn't realise how experienced Bowen was, so I think he will be straight back in the Rye House team. I really liked the look of him at the Silver Ski individual.

 

Next season cannot come quick enough - my whistle has grown cobwebs!

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Ok lets be radical.

 

Next year there are 2 Divisions.

 

Division 1.

No GP riders, current Elite League teams but reduced costs, and half the PL teams (those willing to spend a bit more but not EL costs).

 

Division 2.

The remaining PL teams and the NL teams willing and able to have an airfence and run slightly higher costs.

 

I would expect Rye House to go into Division 1 (seems to be a thread in the general section similar to this) and Kent to go into Division 2.

 

My concern for young riders is that the new Division 2 will be stronger than the current NL and only leave them MDL etc.

 

Discuss?

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Ok lets be radical.

 

Next year there are 2 Divisions.

 

Division 1.

No GP riders, current Elite League teams but reduced costs, and half the PL teams (those willing to spend a bit more but not EL costs).

 

Division 2.

The remaining PL teams and the NL teams willing and able to have an airfence and run slightly higher costs.

 

I would expect Rye House to go into Division 1 (seems to be a thread in the general section similar to this) and Kent to go into Division 2.

 

My concern for young riders is that the new Division 2 will be stronger than the current NL and only leave them MDL etc.

 

Discuss?

 

 

As a suggestion, you are probably not far from the mark with the EL but not sure about no GP riders. As far as NL clubs movng up to Divsion 2, my own view is that only Dudley, and possibly Kent and Mildenhall would be able to sustain the increased costs so where do the riders go from the other 5 teams?

Edited by Great Central
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Certainly radical Nikko, but i get your drift...What ever is decided at the meeting i guess it will be down to money and that will vary greatly from the haves to the havenots ,,what ever happens it is surely a crossroads for the sport this winter in general, and i do wonder if the B.S.P.A will be able to pursue a course that is right for the sport and put aside personal interests ..They have to get it right if speedway is going to survive long term in this country ..I do have hope ,,but not to much faith...

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Ok lets be radical.

 

Next year there are 2 Divisions.

 

Division 1.

No GP riders, current Elite League teams but reduced costs, and half the PL teams (those willing to spend a bit more but not EL costs).

 

Division 2.

The remaining PL teams and the NL teams willing and able to have an airfence and run slightly higher costs.

 

I would expect Rye House to go into Division 1 (seems to be a thread in the general section similar to this) and Kent to go into Division 2.

 

My concern for young riders is that the new Division 2 will be stronger than the current NL and only leave them MDL etc.

 

Discuss?

Personally think that is about right and about what the sport can support.My opinion is that there are probably too many teams in the sport wanting too many meetings.And i do feel that are maybe too many riders that are never going any where and using it as a glamorous hobby.I'd say if riders are at the bottom level for 3 or 4 years then they are never going to improve and you can't really expect the public to pay to watch hobbyists.In other countries,especially from my experience of Denmark people don't pay to watch hobby riders ride.I like the old style two tier system.Let them swim or sink.We might just get somewhere

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Like others, I do think going to two divisions may (especially IF the TV money's lost...) be both a possibility and, certainly for the stand-alone NL clubs who sustain good crowds (like Kent & Mildenhall, for example..) probably a good thing.

Certainly we need a good number of fixtures at Central Park and ideally not a repetition of the same opponents too much - if the NL got any smaller that would be damaging.

Rye House certainly from a set-up perspective would fit well into the upper tier but crowds could be the stumbling block - I also think it's correct to say that in all their long history RH have never been in Speedway's top division have they?

It would mean a large-ish number of riders not having a team slot but really it worked okay in the '60s through to the end of the '80s - but that was also of course the era of full 'second halves' which gave riders not in the team chances to impress and to take on existing reserves in the main side and try and beat them to force their way in.

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If it goes ahead (TV deal not done & dusted) the AGM is now here. Reality, not supposition, begins. Monday may reveal the actual turn of events then we can wonder on other details, for instance, team strengths and who goes where. The possibility of two divisions has long been mooted as have the thoughts included a third tier of the likes of Iwade, Lydd (though not I believe a SCB club) and the MDL setups.

 

The powers that be have to consider the travel for all, and that having teams nearby (in speedway terms) leads to travelling supporters and increased gate takings. The fans win as do the promoters. Nothing better than the days of Wimbledon, Hackney and West Ham for team loyalty and good terrace banter, made the racing seem much better.

 

Sometimes the old ways seem better and what goes around comes around so what was wrong with 13 heats and the second half scurry format? It gave the riders an extra ride and allowed youngsters to test their mettle. Hard, maybe, sink or swim, possibly. However, it did create some great racing and I know many rumours abounded over riders agreeing to results or sharing the second half monies, their business and so long as they put on a show the majority of the fans were satisfied.

 

Much to be awaited!

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Sounds like the ideal time for Formula2 Speedway to be coming along. Also, if speedway is to have a long term future in this country, we need to develop British riders to the highest possible standard. No disrespect to Tai Woffinden, but not only did he (we) have to rely on a pick from the GP selectors again, but his formative years were spent in Australia. And before anyone comes gunning for me for being unpatriotic, let me state for the record that I was in Torun shouting my lungs out when he took the world title this year. However, we have to find some way of maintaining the restriction on overseas riders competing at our grass roots level. Otherwise we become like our Elite and, to a lesser extent, Premier League cousins and end up supporting teams of foreign mercenaries. I realise that this sounds jingoistic and could be interpreted as nationalistic, but it comes out of a love for speedway and a desire to see Team GB sweeping all before them.

 

Interesting reading posts that reminisce about the good old 2nd halves. For me they were what came after the Lord Mayor's Show. What's key here is that spectators have to be entertained. My recollection is that there was always a mass exodus of punters at the end of the 13th heat; it was only the die-hards who stayed to the bitter end. The 15 heat formula works better because it engages all the fans, all the time. How about the statutory inclusion of 2 or 3 junior races in the meeting which count toward the overall score? This might even mean that matches could be extended to 18 or perhaps 20 heats.

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Think there should be the requirement for junior races but can't see how it could work for them to count towards team scores - that would necessitate (for example) Buxton juniors travelling down to Kent on a Monday for a max of two rides..: that couldn't work. Juniors, virtually by definition, are going to be local - when I think of the sheer number of juniors/non-League riders who popped up at Crayford second halves over the years (the majority of which never got a team place) it certainly makes you think..

Edited by Parsloes 1928 nearly
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Good idea in principle.It is something that happens in the German development league.Each team has 1 250cc rider that race each other for the team points.But of course they race at the weekends.Not so easy in the UK as Parsloes points out

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I loved iris 123's post about, let's call them 'hobbyists'. Just fascinating. I realise now that I've held that view for a long time too, without knowing it. Anyone up for a bit of list-making? Maybe that would be more appropriate in a new thread. Or do you think some riders/fans would be too upset to see content like that?

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Have to agree with Garry H ..I know many of the lads in the National league and to a man they all want to become full time professional riders, many wont make it either through lack of funds or find the limit of their ability without getting out of the National League,,injuries will play a part as well But all are looking to achieve success ,they do not go out there risking their necks as a hobby ... WOULD YOU ???

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I think the point meant that there will be riders at NL level who are not ever going to do what Tai did, move on to being World class riders but have a perfect right to compete at the level they're at..

The example is football isn't it - where good players can enjoy playing at a good level (like say the Isthmian League) without needing to have placed upon them the expectation of others that if they don't improve and get into the Football League or Premiership they should pack up..

Too often in Speedway, riders at third tier level are castigated for remaining there and not moving up...

The problem is under a two league structure such riders will lose that 'national league' (literally atm) where they can compete like this but if handled correctly and enough opportunities given to still ride, it could even possibly work out better for riders who want to compete at that lower level maybe..?

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