Belle Vue 2016

[Aces51]

I have read the various comments and had time to consider the unfortunate events yesterday. Let me say straightaway that the stadium and facilities are magnificent, way beyond my expectations. The track is going to be brilliant, the practice laps gave us a taste of the how fast it is going to be and how many racing lines it will produce. The design of the stands gives excellent views and close up proximity to the racing. Anyone claiming we should have stayed at the dog track is talking from ignorance, as is anyone trying to make a point by referring to the Good Friday debacle or claiming the track there was never well prepared. The promotion tried a number of track curators and eventually appointed Colin Meredith who consistently prepared a good racing surface during the last couple of years or so.

 

People are claiming that the promotion must have known that there were problems with the track and should have cancelled yesterdays meeting on Friday. I have no inside knowledge but do know there were concerns about the 3rd and 4th bends. Remedial work was being done on those bends on Saturday morning and my belief is that the promotion and Colin Meredith must have believed the problem had been solved. I think that for a number of reasons. If they didn't think that surely the work on the track would have continued right up until the last minute. The riders did their usual track walks and I didn't notice anyone paying particular attention to those bends,as usual most of their attention seemed to be at the starting gate. If the track problem was so obvious and serious I doubt they would have wasted their time checking out the starts. Likewise, if the promotion knew the meeting was in serious doubt I cannot believe they would not only have held the parade of riders walking round the complete circuit but then gone on to make speeches of the nature they did, it would have been very low key, saying as little as possible, not how much the new stadium meant to the club and the sport. The crowd applauded them for what they had achieved and David Gordon walked immediately in front of where I was sitting acknowledging the applause. He looked pleased and emotional and would have to be a very good actor to portray those emotions if he knew or believed that serious track problems were very soon going to be revealed. You had only to see them and hear what he and Chris Morton said when announcing the meeting was to be abandoned to realise they were genuinely shocked and upset.

 

Having said all of that plainly a disastrous mistake was made. I feel sorry for all those who attended, the promotion and the riders. I do not know whether fault lies with delays by the contractors, the weather, the track curator or the promotion. I suspect a combination of those factors. To suggest the promotion are incompetent is way off the mark, their work over 9 years to achieve what many thought impossible is evidence enough to dispel completely that allegation. However, like the rest of us, they are human and like the rest of us, get things wrong. at the end of the day they have to take the responsibility for yesterday.

 

What happened cannot be changed but talk of the final mail in the coffin of Belle Vue, the EL,or speedway in the UK is silly. We have a fantastic stadium, a track problem that can be solved and a track , which as many riders commented yesterday, is going to be brilliant. We shall recover and go on to reap the benefits of what David and Chris have provided.

[LagutaRacingFan]

I have read the various comments and had time to consider the unfortunate events yesterday. Let me say straightaway that the stadium and facilities are magnificent, way beyond my expectations. The track is going to be brilliant, the practice laps gave us a taste of the how fast it is going to be and how many racing lines it will produce. The design of the stands gives excellent views and close up proximity to the racing. Anyone claiming we should have stayed at the dog track is talking from ignorance, as is anyone trying to make a point by referring to the Good Friday debacle or claiming the track there was never well prepared. The promotion tried a number of track curators and eventually appointed Colin Meredith who consistently prepared a good racing surface during the last couple of years or so.

 

People are claiming that the promotion must have known that there were problems with the track and should have cancelled yesterdays meeting on Friday. I have no inside knowledge but do know there were concerns about the 3rd and 4th bends. Remedial work was being done on those bends on Saturday morning and my belief is that the promotion and Colin Meredith must have believed the problem had been solved. I think that for a number of reasons. If they didn't think that surely the work on the track would have continued right up until the last minute. The riders did their usual track walks and I didn't notice anyone paying particular attention to those bends,as usual most of their attention seemed to be at the starting gate. If the track problem was so obvious and serious I doubt they would have wasted their time checking out the starts. Likewise, if the promotion knew the meeting was in serious doubt I cannot believe they would not only have held the parade of riders walking round the complete circuit but then gone on to make speeches of the nature they did, it would have been very low key, saying as little as possible, not how much the new stadium meant to the club and the sport. The crowd applauded them for what they had achieved and David Gordon walked immediately in front of where I was sitting acknowledging the applause. He looked pleased and emotional and would have to be a very good actor to portray those emotions if he knew or believed that serious track problems were very soon going to be revealed. You had only to see them and hear what he and Chris Morton said when announcing the meeting was to be abandoned to realise they were genuinely shocked and upset.

 

Having said all of that plainly a disastrous mistake was made. I feel sorry for all those who attended, the promotion and the riders. I do not know whether fault lies with delays by the contractors, the weather, the track curator or the promotion. I suspect a combination of those factors. To suggest the promotion are incompetent is way off the mark, their work over 9 years to achieve what many thought impossible is evidence enough to dispel completely that allegation. However, like the rest of us, they are human and like the rest of us, get things wrong. at the end of the day they have to take the responsibility for yesterday.

 

What happened cannot be changed but talk of the final mail in the coffin of Belle Vue, the EL,or speedway in the UK is silly. We have a fantastic stadium, a track problem that can be solved and a track , which as many riders commented yesterday, is going to be brilliant. We shall recover and go on to reap the benefits of what David and Chris have provided.

You sum up exactly what's wrong with Speedway, fans who keep going back even after being treated like horse manure; no wonder the promoters don't bother changing.

[orion]

I have read the various comments and had time to consider the unfortunate events yesterday. Let me say straightaway that the stadium and facilities are magnificent, way beyond my expectations. The track is going to be brilliant, the practice laps gave us a taste of the how fast it is going to be and how many racing lines it will produce. The design of the stands gives excellent views and close up proximity to the racing. Anyone claiming we should have stayed at the dog track is talking from ignorance, as is anyone trying to make a point by referring to the Good Friday debacle or claiming the track there was never well prepared. The promotion tried a number of track curators and eventually appointed Colin Meredith who consistently prepared a good racing surface during the last couple of years or so.

 

People are claiming that the promotion must have known that there were problems with the track and should have cancelled yesterdays meeting on Friday. I have no inside knowledge but do know there were concerns about the 3rd and 4th bends. Remedial work was being done on those bends on Saturday morning and my belief is that the promotion and Colin Meredith must have believed the problem had been solved. I think that for a number of reasons. If they didn't think that surely the work on the track would have continued right up until the last minute. The riders did their usual track walks and I didn't notice anyone paying particular attention to those bends,as usual most of their attention seemed to be at the starting gate. If the track problem was so obvious and serious I doubt they would have wasted their time checking out the starts. Likewise, if the promotion knew the meeting was in serious doubt I cannot believe they would not only have held the parade of riders walking round the complete circuit but then gone on to make speeches of the nature they did, it would have been very low key, saying as little as possible, not how much the new stadium meant to the club and the sport. The crowd applauded them for what they had achieved and David Gordon walked immediately in front of where I was sitting acknowledging the applause. He looked pleased and emotional and would have to be a very good actor to portray those emotions if he knew or believed that serious track problems were very soon going to be revealed. You had only to see them and hear what he and Chris Morton said when announcing the meeting was to be abandoned to realise they were genuinely shocked and upset.

 

Having said all of that plainly a disastrous mistake was made. I feel sorry for all those who attended, the promotion and the riders. I do not know whether fault lies with delays by the contractors, the weather, the track curator or the promotion. I suspect a combination of those factors. To suggest the promotion are incompetent is way off the mark, their work over 9 years to achieve what many thought impossible is evidence enough to dispel completely that allegation. However, like the rest of us, they are human and like the rest of us, get things wrong. at the end of the day they have to take the responsibility for yesterday.

 

What happened cannot be changed but talk of the final mail in the coffin of Belle Vue, the EL,or speedway in the UK is silly. We have a fantastic stadium, a track problem that can be solved and a track , which as many riders commented yesterday, is going to be brilliant. We shall recover and go on to reap the benefits of what David and Chris have provided.

 

 

Having said all of that plainly a disastrous mistake was made. I feel sorry for all those who attended, the promotion and the riders. I do not know whether fault lies with delays by the contractors, the weather, the track curator or the promotion. I suspect a combination of those factors. To suggest the promotion are incompetent is way off the mark, their work over 9 years to achieve what many thought impossible is evidence enough to dispel completely that allegation. However, like the rest of us, they are human and like the rest of us, get things wrong. at the end of the day they have to take the responsibility for yesterday.

 

 

Not sure when you been but it's hardly first time they been incompetent has it ...have you forgotten they were found guilty of cheating about why the Poole match was called off ....then the wolves match on the good Friday you could go and on and on ....there lucky still be allowed in the sport after what they did ..so not sure how you can go about then would not have done anything underhand as they have been caught before .

 

Most people view of last night is the they the track was not ready but tried to fudge some kind of meeting so they never had to give any refunds out ..and that looks spot on to me .

[E I Addio]

I have read the various comments and had time to consider the unfortunate events yesterday. Let me say straightaway that the stadium and facilities are magnificent, way beyond my expectations. The track is going to be brilliant, the practice laps gave us a taste of the how fast it is going to be and how many racing lines it will produce. The design of the stands gives excellent views and close up proximity to the racing. Anyone claiming we should have stayed at the dog track is talking from ignorance, as is anyone trying to make a point by referring to the Good Friday debacle or claiming the track there was never well prepared. The promotion tried a number of track curators and eventually appointed Colin Meredith who consistently prepared a good racing surface during the last couple of years or so.

People are claiming that the promotion must have known that there were problems with the track and should have cancelled yesterdays meeting on Friday. I have no inside knowledge but do know there were concerns about the 3rd and 4th bends. Remedial work was being done on those bends on Saturday morning and my belief is that the promotion and Colin Meredith must have believed the problem had been solved. I think that for a number of reasons. If they didn't think that surely the work on the track would have continued right up until the last minute. The riders did their usual track walks and I didn't notice anyone paying particular attention to those bends,as usual most of their attention seemed to be at the starting gate. If the track problem was so obvious and serious I doubt they would have wasted their time checking out the starts. Likewise, if the promotion knew the meeting was in serious doubt I cannot believe they would not only have held the parade of riders walking round the complete circuit but then gone on to make speeches of the nature they did, it would have been very low key, saying as little as possible, not how much the new stadium meant to the club and the sport. The crowd applauded them for what they had achieved and David Gordon walked immediately in front of where I was sitting acknowledging the applause. He looked pleased and emotional and would have to be a very good actor to portray those emotions if he knew or believed that serious track problems were very soon going to be revealed. You had only to see them and hear what he and Chris Morton said when announcing the meeting was to be abandoned to realise they were genuinely shocked and upset.

Having said all of that plainly a disastrous mistake was made. I feel sorry for all those who attended, the promotion and the riders. I do not know whether fault lies with delays by the contractors, the weather, the track curator or the promotion. I suspect a combination of those factors. To suggest the promotion are incompetent is way off the mark, their work over 9 years to achieve what many thought impossible is evidence enough to dispel completely that allegation. However, like the rest of us, they are human and like the rest of us, get things wrong. at the end of the day they have to take the responsibility for yesterday.

What happened cannot be changed but talk of the final mail in the coffin of Belle Vue, the EL,or speedway in the UK is silly. We have a fantastic stadium, a track problem that can be solved and a track , which as many riders commented yesterday, is going to be brilliant. We shall recover and go on to reap the benefits of what David and Chris have provided.

o

 

As always, a balance and reasoned view from Aces 51. I am not sure I am totally convinced by it and the jury is still out on who was responsible, but an opinion from someone who was there is appreciated . I don't agree with the witch hunt that some are intent on starting and I agree that all this talk about nails in the coffin is OTT but the bottom line is that management are there to manage and the buck stops with them. A lot of ordinary folk have lost a lot of money and there needs to be some cogent explanations and heartfelt apologies from those in charge, as opposed to finger pointing.

[foamfence]

Tai says.......http://www.taiwoffinden.com/land/index.html

[rainman]

This fiasco cost my elderly mother and I £234 + so I will comment when safe to do so without the mods removing it

 

The meeting SHOULD'VE been postponed

It was

This fiasco cost my elderly mother and I £234 + so I will comment when safe to do so without the mods removing it

 

The meeting SHOULD'VE been postponed

It was

[LagutaRacingFan]

It was

It was

Stop being a pedantic fool, that bloke has lost £234 and it's bang out of order.

 

The BV promotion should reimburse fans for travel, ticket cost, hotel and fans should also be given compensation for this sham.

Edited March 20, 2016 by Morrissey Fan

[spin king]

Has there been some behind closed door practice to make sure the track rides ok?

This is a sitting duck for a sold out stadium, biggest crowd in decades only to discover a Warsaw gp type track or worse. The track needs to be perfect from the first heat with no nails in coffins or shots through feet.

 

I will have a beg of pegs and some of that lucky heather if you have gotten any.

[ColinMills]

Stop being a pedantic fool, that bloke has lost £234 and it's bang out of order.

 

The BV promotion should reimburse fans fot travel, ticket cost, hotel and fans should also be given compensation for this sham.

whilst it was farcical, I think you will find only ticket money will/should be refunded. When you book hotel, petrol costs

going to a speedway match, you are always going to risk the postponement, whether its the weather or any other circumstances.

think legally, only hope is ticket costs, that's going to be given

[Aces51]

 

 

Not sure when you been but it's hardly first time they been incompetent has it ...have you forgotten they were found guilty of cheating about why the Poole match was called off ....then the wolves match on the good Friday you could go and on and on ....there lucky still be allowed in the sport after what they did ..so not sure how you can go about then would not have done anything underhand as they have been caught before .

 

Most people view of last night is the they the track was not ready but tried to fudge some kind of meeting so they never had to give any refunds out ..and that looks spot on to me .

I referred to the Good Friday meeting, that was a track curator problem. As for the the Poole match, I condemmed the promotion at the time but that wasn't incompetence it was cheating, trying to prevent a match taking place with a very understrength home team. It was doing what they mistakenly thought was in the best interests of the club.

 

You could hardly describe last night as being to anyones benefit and wait until Monday to see what might be said about those who had tickets. If they knew, as you and others seem to be suggesting, that the track was bad, then they would have known that with the attitude of many riders today there would be no question of fudging any type of meeting that would avoid refunds.

 

As for other comments about last night I pay little heed to those from people who weren't there, some of which are ludicrous comments but what I have said is my opinion, nothing more and I certainly understand the annoyance, anger and different opinions expressed in the comments of some of those who were there.

[LisaColette]

Tai says.......

http://www.taiwoffinden.com/land/index.html

So Tai thinks it should have been called off on Thursday. Interesting!

[superguest]

After attending many abandoned meetings due to dodgy tracks and poor weather I was never going to go to this particular meeting.

 

I never understood why they start the season in March? Starting in April would have allowed for 2 weeks of testing. Plus its mote likely to be warmer for the fans.

Edited March 20, 2016 by superguest

[orion]

I referred to the Good Friday meeting, that was a track curator problem. As for the the Poole match, I condemmed the promotion at the time but that wasn't incompetence it was cheating, trying to prevent a match taking place with a very understrength home team. It was doing what they mistakenly thought was in the best interests of the club.

 

You could hardly describe last night as being to anyones benefit and wait until Monday to see what might be said about those who had tickets. If they knew, as you and others seem to be suggesting, that the track was bad, then they would have known that with the attitude of many riders today there would be no question of fudging any type of meeting that would avoid refunds.

 

As for other comments about last night I pay little heed to those from people who weren't there, some of which are ludicrous comments but what I have said is my opinion, nothing more and I certainly understand the annoyance, anger and different opinions expressed in the comments of some of those who were there.

Trying to cheat is incompetence of the highest order ...and so was the wolves match as they employ the track curator ....so as I said they have a terrible track record .

 

Of course last night was of no benefit to anyone as it turned out, but if they could run a crap meeting and somehow fudge a meeting to run so no refunds were needed if was been a massive benefit to Gordon and Morton ..as it happens they never got away with it and now have a bigger problem than they did ...God knows why you had to there last to have opinion on what went on by the way, you lost me on that one .

Edited March 20, 2016 by orion

[Aces51]

Tai says.......http://www.taiwoffinden.com/land/index.html

I'm not sure what Tai is referring to when he says it should have been called off on Thursday. The two riders who tested the track were Richie Worrall and Max Fricke and that was on Friday.

 

Max Fricke said on Facebook

 

Max Fricke Racing via Belle Vue Speedway

Yesterday at 02:31 ·

Saturday night's meeting is going to be huge with some world class riders assembled to race at the new National Speedway Stadium's inaugural meeting. I managed to get a few laps in at the track yesterday and it feels like a great track so is bound to produce some very exciting racing. Can't wait.

[ColinMills]

Trying to cheat is incompetence of the highest order ...and so was the wolves match as they employ the track curator ....so as I said they have a terrible track record .

 

Of course last night was of no benefit to anyone as it turned out, but if they could run a crap meeting and somehow fudge a meeting to run so no refunds were needed if was been a massive benefit to Gordon and Morton ..as it happens they never got away with it and now have a bigger problem than they did ...God knows why you had to there last to have opinion on what went on by the way, you lost me on that one .

never agreed with orion so much! but hes spot on, they knew before last night it was not ready, and were caught out

[Steve0]

I'm not sure what Tai is referring to when he says it should have been called off on Thursday. The two riders who tested the track were Richie Worrall and Max Fricke and that was on Friday.

Max Fricke said on Facebook

Max Fricke Racing via Belle Vue Speedway

Yesterday at 02:31 ·

Saturday night's meeting is going to be huge with some world class riders assembled to race at the new National Speedway Stadium's inaugural meeting. I managed to get a few laps in at the track yesterday and it feels like a great track so is bound to produce some very exciting racing. Can't wait.

So it's Max and Richie's fault then??

 

The blame lies squarely with the promoters who have a very poor track record (excuse the pun) over the last 10 years and as I've said previously I hope it hurts them in their pockets as it did for all those who attended!

Edited March 20, 2016 by Steve0

[mikebv]

After attending many abandoned meetings due to dodgy tracks and poor weather I was never going to go to this particular meeting.

I never understood why they start the season in March? Starting in April would have allowed for 2 weeks of testing. Plus its mote likely to be warmer for the fans.

Think the plan is to always get the 'bumper' meetings in on Good Friday and Easter Monday...

 

The earlier the Easter, the more likely preparation gets impacted by poor weather.

[acef]

I hope your right, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

I've been stung in the past by Belle Vue's incompetence when the Good Friday meeting was called off for an unfit track four years ago. Any doubts about the track should have led to the meeting being put back. Yes people would still have been unhappy, but I bet not half as angry as they were last night.

 

Belle Vue had a big chance to show the sport in a positive light yesterday. A chance to show that there was a glimmer of hope for the sport in this country. Yet they blew it big time.

 

As I say, you can build as many fantastic stands and hospitality areas as you like, but if the tracks rubbish, then they have wasted the last nine years and should have stopped where they were.

The track isn't rubbish. It's just not bed in and was never going to be after 7 days. The rest of the track that was laid before was mint and you can see it's going to create great racing.

 

People need to stop the witch hunt. This will be sorted of that I have no doubt

[Aces51]

Trying to cheat is incompetence of the highest order ...and so was the wolves match as they employ the track curator ....so as I said they have a terrible track record .

 

Of course last night was of no benefit to anyone as it turned out, but if they could run a crap meeting and somehow fudge a meeting to run so no refunds were needed if was been a massive benefit to Gordon and Morton ..as it happens they never got away with it and now have a bigger problem than they did ...God knows why you had to there last to have opinion on what went on by the way, you lost me on that one .

I didn't say you couldn't have an opinion but that I would pay no heed to it. You had to be there to see what went on, how the track looked, how the riders reacted to it during their track walk round and practice and how the promoters behaved. It's like deciding how much value you place on the opinion of someone who gives a view on a road accident based on what others have said as against the opinion of someone who witnessed it. I hope that helps you understand. Edited March 20, 2016 by Aces51

[erniew]

In response to Aces51, I was there last night and it was plain to see from the first few laps that the track was unraceable, deep ruts appeared almost immediately, and I'm afraid your magnificent stadium isn't completed, the builders equipment is still cluttering up the site. The south stand looks to be of cheap construction and i'm not sure how long it will last. I feel most of the viriol being expressed on here is due to the failure of the management to call it off in time to prevent fans travelling long distances at some cost.