speedybee Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 "Key race-night staff taking a reduction, but some have declined"? Apart from a doctor/paramedic, and maybe a track curator working hours before the meeting, I don't understand what "key race-night staff" need to be paid. Surely all track staff/track officials should be just doing it for nothing more than a free admission? I've done plenty of racenight jobs at various tracks, but never asked or expected to be paid. The programme has to be edited and produced, and sold at £3 a pop ...then there's a presenter, and gate staff .... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 "Key race-night staff taking a reduction, but some have declined"? Apart from a doctor/paramedic, and maybe a track curator working hours before the meeting, I don't understand what "key race-night staff" need to be paid. Surely all track staff/track officials should be just doing it for nothing more than a free admission? I've done plenty of racenight jobs at various tracks, but never asked or expected to be paid. You know, I first started as a track staffer in 1980 at Leicester, we got paid then, 80p, a programme and as much weak tea-urn tea as we could drink at the interval, oh and we had laundered overalls as well, very professional. In our last season at Blackbird Rd it had gone up to £1!!!! I also did track staff jobs at Kings Lynn, and Peterborough wher you were remunerated (it just covered expenses getting there) I fell out with Speedway in the late eighties and didn't return until 1991 when I started supporting Long Eaton.. I am now involved with track prep/meeting official and I am a licensed machine examiner, but I have not met anyone who gets a bean on race day anymore!! I think Speedway Promotors have had to cut, cut, and cut back and even goodwill is in very short supply now towards Speedways unpaid army and that's not good because it's like rising damp, initially right down at the skirting boards were infected first, then it crept into the plaster above the failed damp course (lack of money, it wasn't rectified) and now it's effecting the window sills... How far up will this go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 The programme has to be edited and produced, and sold at £3 a pop ...then there's a presenter, and gate staff .... If they want paying, then all I can say is they are doing it for the wrong reasons. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Leslie Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 (edited) The programme has to be edited and produced, and sold at £3 a pop ...then there's a presenter, and gate staff .... Programme production isn't a racenight job...(at least I hope no one cuts it that fine with a printing press in the speedway office), of course programme production has to be paid for. Ink and paper doesn't come free. But a presenter and gate staff??? They should be doing it for the free admission, a free programme and maybe an interval brew. They certainly shouldn't be getting paid. I even know of a top football club where Stewards aren't paid. They do it for the free admission...and there's a waiting list for the job! Edited July 12, 2014 by John Leslie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorum Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 It's amusing that Birmingham can spend a small fortune flying a waste of space like Covatti back and forward but woebetide the track staff if they expect anything for their efforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsc1 Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 It's amusing that Birmingham can spend a small fortune flying a waste of space like Covatti back and forward but woebetide the track staff if they expect anything for their efforts.. I know for sure that the track curator as said he will take a pay cut to help. And the only track I know that pay the night track staff is Coventry............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 We PAID to get in and worked for FREE at Sunderland in an endeavour to keep our Track going. That we failed miserably was not our fault. We did try. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 "You know, I first started as a track staffer in 1980 at Leicester, we got paid then, 80p, a programme and as much weak tea-urn tea as we could drink at the interval, oh and we had laundered overalls as well, very professional. In our last season at Blackbird Rd it had gone up to £1!!!!" Big money there, then. At Hull in 1980 & 81 track staff received a whopping 50p . "I even know of a top football club where Stewards aren't paid. They do it for the free admission...and there's a waiting list for the job!" I believe that to be the case at 'City' - Hull City FC, though I'm no means a ball-game fan . Things not looking too good for the Brummies but hope things can be sorted, it would a be a terrible waste if the sport ended there after such a long absense.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voice Of Reason Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 (edited) If they want paying, then all I can say is they are doing it for the wrong reasons.As someone who worked on Lakeside's track-staff VOLUNTARILY putting the track together, then away again until midnight (often in the peeing rain), there's only one thing that actually annoys me more than track staff who want paying. And that is self-righteous individuals such as yourself Mr Park, that have, in all probability, NEVER lifted a finger to contribute towards any hard graft at a Speedway Track in their lives. Shame really - you look as if the exercise would do you good. Edited July 12, 2014 by The Voice Of Reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsc1 Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 We PAID to get in and worked for FREE at Sunderland in an endeavour to keep our Track going. That we failed miserably was not our fault. We did try. so are saying the track guy who is there for 16 hrs or more...... and drives about 100mile round trip should work for nothing?????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 We PAID to get in and worked for FREE at Sunderland in an endeavour to keep our Track going. That we failed miserably was not our fault. We did try. You a Track curator are you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 so are saying the track guy who is there for 16 hrs or more...... and drives about 100mile round trip should work for nothing?????????? No definitely not. The Track Curator is a Specialist, you simply don't get them for nothing. I am saying that Rakers (who are they you may ask these days), Starting Gate Attendants, Ticket Sellers and the various Pit Marshals, Clerk of the Course etc.. ALL those sort of jobs could be done for Free if you wish to keep your Track alive. You a Track curator are you? Sorry - I hadn't read this when I replied - and NO - I am NOT a Track Curator. Please see my previous Post on this Thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Leslie Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 so are saying the track guy who is there for 16 hrs or more.... How can he do 16 hours work between 7.30pm and 9.30pm? Someone working 16 hours is more than just "racenight staff" which is what we're talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsc1 Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 How can he do 16 hours work between 7.30pm and 9.30pm? Someone working 16 hours is more than just "racenight staff" which is what we're talking about. I'm saying the track curator does 16hrs....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Leslie Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 I'm saying the track curator does 16hrs....... So he's not just raceight staff is he? He's a part time or even full time employee. So it's a bit of a pointless statement to make in a discussion about the racenight staff getting paid for a couple of hours of watching free speedway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 As someone who worked on Lakeside's track-staff VOLUNTARILY putting the track together, then away again until midnight (often in the peeing rain), there's only one thing that actually annoys me more than track staff who want paying. And that is self-righteous individuals such as yourself Mr Park, that have, in all probability, NEVER lifted a finger to contribute towards any hard graft at a Speedway Track in their lives. Shame really - you look as if the exercise would do you good. Thanks for that....... But I made the comment against "the presenter and gate staff" which is a whole world apart from those who work from early morning to late at night on the track... So, hardly "self-righteous" and, for your information, my health stops me from doing any track work, like raking etc., but, hey-ho, you obviously know me. Not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 (edited) People complain about the quality of presentation then expect the presenters to work for nothing. If a professional presenter can't earn his fee by pulling people through the gate he shouldn't be there. As it is, too often, not always though we get willing amateurs - and accordingly amateur presentation. If able people choose to do it for nothing then that's a huge bonus for a track, but it shouldn't be expected. You don't expect riding talent to do it for nothing. Edited July 12, 2014 by rmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 People complain about the quality of presentation then expect the presenters to work for nothing. If a professional presenter can't earn his fee by pulling people through the gate he shouldn't be there. As it is, too often, not always though we get willing amateurs - and accordingly amateur presentation. If able people choose to do it for nothing then that's a huge bonus for a track, but it shouldn't be expected. You don't expect riding talent to do it for nothing. If the presenter is "pulling people through the gate" there really is something sadly wrong. I thought people went to see the racing. It may help a small degree if you have a decent presenter, to the overall experience, but I would think people aren't going to say "the presenter was rubbish, so I won't be going there again." Just my opinion, of course. At Newcastle, we had so called professionals (two, actually, at different times), who were paid. They were both crap, so you're comment doesn't always follow. We had another professional who did it for free, who was quite good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pedaler Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 If they want paying, then all I can say is they are doing it for the wrong reasons. If the presenter is "pulling people through the gate" there really is something sadly wrong. I thought people went to see the racing. It may help a small degree if you have a decent presenter, to the overall experience, but I would think people aren't going to say "the presenter was rubbish, so I won't be going there again." Just my opinion, of course Probably the opinion of most speedway fans, especially of the "old school". We see complaints here that people are having to pay more for admission than they want to...they print out their own race cards rather than paying for programmes in order to save some more pennies, and then they complain that people actually get paid for their work. Money seems to be the big enemy of the speedway fraternity. Simple answer, give up on professional speedway. Turn it into an entirely amateur sport, staffed by volunteers only, and let only those who want to ride for nothing take part. You'd be happy then wouldn't you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted July 12, 2014 Report Share Posted July 12, 2014 Probably the opinion of most speedway fans, especially of the "old school". We see complaints here that people are having to pay more for admission than they want to...they print out their own race cards rather than paying for programmes in order to save some more pennies, and then they complain that people actually get paid for their work. Money seems to be the big enemy of the speedway fraternity. Simple answer, give up on professional speedway. Turn it into an entirely amateur sport, staffed by volunteers only, and let only those who want to ride for nothing take part. You'd be happy then wouldn't you? How is the sport being staffed by volunteers, turning it into an amateur sport? A few clubs are struggling financially, yet some expect that people should get paid for doing a particular job (presenters, gate-staff etc.)? Some tracks might well be in a position to pay all their staff. Good luck to them. I just happen to believe, getting in for free (saving something like £15), getting a free Programme/Raceday Magazine (saving, depending on the club £1-£2,50), and a free cup of tea/coffee (£2??), should be payment enough and they do it for the love of the sport. Don't forget, without all these volunteers (paid or otherwise), there would be no speedway. Not getting paid, perhaps, might mean the club continues to run. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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