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Belle Vue National Stadium


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Mistakes all round then as we suspected. But as DG/CM went against legal advice and signed on accepting the stadium that is the weak point in their argument about who was really responsible overall. Rock and a hard place because if they didn't accept the stadium they could not have had a chance to run the NSS as speedway promoters. And once they did sign to accept the stadium it was down to them to make it work. Inexperience? Commercial naivety? One they let the relationship between them and the MCC deteriorate so badly, so quickly it was game over. The BSPA and the SCB do not cover themselves in glory if we are to accept what is in this leaked report. In fact they seem all too eager to oust DG?CM. Reflects badly on them all ISG / DG&CM / MCC / BSPA and the SCB. Same old, same old speedway. And it shows why the declared new promoters ay BV are pausing on their takeover of the NSS - very sensible and professional!

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Interesting stuff. Do you know the context of this? It reads more like a memoir than an official account of events.

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Interesting stuff. Do you know the context of this? It reads more like a memoir than an official account of events.

 

Not even that; it looks like part of badly wrtten article that is no where near a state ready for publication

 

It is very oddly written.

 

The first few paragraphs of 'scene setting' are not of A-level standard 'creative writing' and Gordon's quotes are not marshalled into the coherent narrative one would expect after all this time.

 

It seems to be a first attempt of a rather poor journalist who is marrying together the transcript of a phone call with a rambling, and quite distrought Gordon, with his own early attempt at prose.

 

This cannot be anything like the Star article that has been often mentioned here.

Edited by Grand Central
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Thats not a report - started off maybe as DG diary jottings (albeit a very large diary), but then turns as if written by a third party. Never the less, these are thoughts from some person(s) who was heavily involved in what the situation was seen to be.

Well, I felt sorry for DG/CM before, I feel even more sorrier now.

Of course, its only one side of the story............. "looking forward" to seeing the other side(s) from MCC, ISG, BSPA and SCB.... not holding my breath, but anyone holding back would be saying, IMO, they have something to hide.

Some serious questions in there put to BSPA and SCB which, again IMO, questions them being fit to be in charge of British speedway if the accusations are true. Answers needed.

I truly believe the future of British speedway is at stake here... I dont mean British speedway will collapse "tomorrow", but it could be the final blow that British speedway will not recover from.

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Not even that; it looks like part of badly wrtten article that is no where near a state ready for publication

 

It is very oddly written.

 

The first few paragraphs of 'scene setting' are not of A-level standard 'creative writing' and Gordon's quotes are not marshalled into the coherent narrative one would expect after all this time.

 

It seems to be a first attempt of a rather poor journalist who is marrying together the transcript of a phone call with a rambling, and quite distrought Gordon, with his own early attempt at prose.

 

This cannot be anything like the Star article that has been often mentioned here.

Or to put it another way.

 

Your honour I think we can disregard the defences case as they are "a bit thick".

 

Theirs alot two discus bout this arttickle grandma no bin 1 of those.

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Thanks for this Rob B. Very interesting reading.

 

My sympathies are, and always have been, with David Gordon an Chris Morton.

 

I wonder if we will ever find out the real truth as to what happened and more importantly, who was ultimately responsible?

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Thanks for this Rob B. Very interesting reading.

 

My sympathies are, and always have been, with David Gordon an Chris Morton.

 

I wonder if we will ever find out the real truth as to what happened and more importantly, who was ultimately responsible?

 

I doubt we will. There are too many moving parts and conflicting accounts for us to ever find out the truth. The best we can hope for are articles like the above which gives a few snippets of information, but ultimately leave more questions than answers.

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I doubt we will. There are too many moving parts and conflicting accounts for us to ever find out the truth. The best we can hope for are articles like the above which gives a few snippets of information, but ultimately leave more questions than answers.

Yes. Sadly you are probably right.

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Taken from press release 06/04/17.

 

With the forecast in their favour, and a successful practice under their belt, the Rentruck Aces are particularly eager to entertain their home crowd having last done so in the 2015 EL Grand Final.

 

Team boss Mark Lemon, who meticulously watched over Wednesdays closed-doors session, says the increasing anticipation for this meeting is making his squad all the more feisty in the build up.

 

He said: Any doubts over the condition of the track have been put to bed in the wake of todays closed practice. The boys had a good session and are exceptionally keen to get things moving.

 

End.

 

Following this the track was extensively worked on and it was another month before a meeting successfully ran.

 

Practise wasn't the issue nor was the "expert" opinion pre GOM as the problem was utterly unique and incredibly difficult to identify and resolve.

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Taken from press release 06/04/17.

 

With the forecast in their favour, and a successful practice under their belt, the Rentruck Aces are particularly eager to entertain their home crowd having last done so in the 2015 EL Grand Final.

 

Team boss Mark Lemon, who meticulously watched over Wednesdays closed-doors session, says the increasing anticipation for this meeting is making his squad all the more feisty in the build up.

 

He said: Any doubts over the condition of the track have been put to bed in the wake of todays closed practice. The boys had a good session and are exceptionally keen to get things moving.

 

End.

 

Following this the track was extensively worked on and it was another month before a meeting successfully ran.

 

Practise wasn't the issue nor was the "expert" opinion pre GOM as the problem was utterly unique and incredibly difficult to identify and resolve.

 

As always your contributions are hoplessly unhelpful to the discussion and just cause more confusion.

 

I assume it is intentional.

Edited by Grand Central
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As always your contributions are hoplessly unhelpful to the discussion and just cause more confusion.

 

I assume it is intentional.

Old News anyway GC. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

So it is of no relevance anyway.

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Whether all the info ever comes out I don't know. There seem to be two main camps on here. Those that say CM and DG knew there was a problem and should have cancelled the opening meeting and those that say the true problem could not have been known at the opening meeting and only fully came to light once the excavations had happened and the real issues uncovered.

However, putting that aside, I would suggest that if the proposed new promotion do take over they come with a level of business expertise not seen for many years (if at all ) and I would not expect them to tolerate the shenanigans and manipulations that have gone on in the recent past (nor any nonsense from the Council). Interesting times ahead I think.

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Whether all the info ever comes out I don't know. There seem to be two main camps on here. Those that say CM and DG knew there was a problem and should have cancelled the opening meeting and those that say the true problem could not have been known at the opening meeting and only fully came to light once the excavations had happened and the real issues uncovered.

However, putting that aside, I would suggest that if the proposed new promotion do take over they come with a level of business expertise not seen for many years (if at all ) and I would not expect them to tolerate the shenanigans and manipulations that have gone on in the recent past (nor any nonsense from the Council). Interesting times ahead I think.

I think you'll find the 'council' have the whip hand.

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Whether all the info ever comes out I don't know. There seem to be two main camps on here. Those that say CM and DG knew there was a problem and should have cancelled the opening meeting and those that say the true problem could not have been known at the opening meeting and only fully came to light once the excavations had happened and the real issues uncovered.

However, putting that aside, I would suggest that if the proposed new promotion do take over they come with a level of business expertise not seen for many years (if at all ) and I would not expect them to tolerate the shenanigans and manipulations that have gone on in the recent past (nor any nonsense from the Council). Interesting times ahead I think.

 

Interesting comment Sidney for those who have come to the sport with solid business expertise and commercial acumen, in other words very successful businessmen elsewhere, have been eventually "driven" out by the intransigence and lack of foresight within the confines of the controlling bodies. From the FIM downwards the old school tie rules above all else; young blood, new blood and experienced blood all get battered by the "there's no need to re-invent the wheel" brigade. It's truly an awful experience having your investment in Speedway mis-managed, manipulated and squandered for the benefit of others. Strategic and financial planning are way beyond the knowledge, experience or will of the corner shop keepers who endeavor to manage the sport. Don't get me wrong they honestly believe they are doing a good job but without a robust structure and a core plan they will rarely see clear results. They spend hours, days even, arguing about the rule book, club politics, who owes who, who gets the plum events and when it comes to marketing and the future of the sport half of them leave the room "train to catch" "need to be back for a meeting", "my other interest are playing at home tonight". Honestly it's frightening.

Edited by Whisperer
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I think you'll find the 'council' have the whip hand.

That might explain why the lease has yet to be signed (if that is still the case). I don't expect the new promoters will take on a lease with terms that are unfavourable or unaffordable. Manchester City Council may have the 'whip hand' but the new guys could just walk away.

Interesting comment Sidney for those who have come to the sport with solid business expertise and commercial acumen, in other words very successful businessmen elsewhere, have been eventually "driven" out by the intransigence and lack of foresight within the confines of the controlling bodies. From the FIM downwards the old school tie rules above all else; young blood, new blood and experienced blood all get battered by the "there's no need to re-invent the wheel" brigade. It's truly an awful experience having your investment in Speedway mis-managed, manipulated and squandered for the benefit of others. Strategic and financial planning are way beyond the knowledge, experience or will of the corner shop keepers who endeavor to manage the sport. Don't get me wrong they honestly believe they are doing a good job but without a robust structure and a core plan they will rarely see clear results. They spend hours, days even, arguing about the rule book, club politics, who owes who, who gets the plum events and when it comes to marketing and the future of the sport half of them leave the room "train to catch" "need to be back for a meeting", "my other interest are playing at home tonight". Honestly it's frightening.

Very sad, no doubt but very true - no wonder we are such a minority sport

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Interesting comment Sidney for those who have come to the sport with solid business expertise and commercial acumen, in other words very successful businessmen elsewhere, have been eventually "driven" out by the intransigence and lack of foresight within the confines of the controlling bodies. From the FIM downwards the old school tie rules above all else; young blood, new blood and experienced blood all get battered by the "there's no need to re-invent the wheel" brigade. It's truly an awful experience having your investment in Speedway mis-managed, manipulated and squandered for the benefit of others. Strategic and financial planning are way beyond the knowledge, experience or will of the corner shop keepers who endeavor to manage the sport. Don't get me wrong they honestly believe they are doing a good job but without a robust structure and a core plan they will rarely see clear results. They spend hours, days even, arguing about the rule book, club politics, who owes who, who gets the plum events and when it comes to marketing and the future of the sport half of them leave the room "train to catch" "need to be back for a meeting", "my other interest are playing at home tonight". Honestly it's frightening.

There's plenty of new blood involved though.
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Whether all the info ever comes out I don't know. There seem to be two main camps on here. Those that say CM and DG knew there was a problem and should have cancelled the opening meeting and those that say the true problem could not have been known at the opening meeting and only fully came to light once the excavations had happened and the real issues uncovered.

However, putting that aside, I would suggest that if the proposed new promotion do take over they come with a level of business expertise not seen for many years (if at all ) and I would not expect them to tolerate the shenanigans and manipulations that have gone on in the recent past (nor any nonsense from the Council). Interesting times ahead I think.

IMO it is clear that DG/CM did know there was a problem, I have recognised that from early on. What they didnt know was the extent of the problem until ,as you say, the excavations had happened and the real issues uncovered - very serious issues.

IMO initially DG/CM thought the problem was minor and in time the shale would bind, just like the rest of the track, and not be a problem.

It was only when drill hole excavation took place then MCC/ISG/DG-CM could really see what was causing severe problems, then the whole 3-4 were excavated, relaid in accord with specification, as ISG should have done in the first place, that the track became what it is today.

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If Dave Gordon is the good guy in all this why after 10 years OF hard work did he choose to step down and retire from his position as promoter at Belle Vue,conveniently just 3 days before his license was revoked by the BSPA. Surely if you have no blame to answer you stand up to these other parties who are at blame be that MCC or the BSPA .not fade away into the shadows.,

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