waytogo28 Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 I have many happy memories of matches at Brandon so well run by Charles Ochiltree and his family. Crisply, well organised meetings ( yes 13 heats then not 15 ) and over by 9.15 pm mostly. Those were the days and when promoters were real businessmen and women. I suspect that this mess will mean that I will not witness speedway racing at Brandon again. It looks more and more like Brandon Estates wanted speedway out. Hopefully not R.I.P. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) I too am a speedway snob, however NL is far from wobblers and the standard of racing is much better than I expected. I agree with your last sentence wholeheartedly however times being 1/2 or a second series slower is way off the mark. You may get some of the top standard NL riders getting within 2 or 3 seconds of a standard top flight race but the speeds are no way similar. I saw the Swindon Sprockets v Coventry NL challenge meeting last year and along with the Skunny v Somerset meeting were the best two meeting's i saw all year.Was really surprised with the level in the NL it has improved no end. Edited January 27, 2017 by Sidney the robin 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 I saw the Swindon Sprockets v Coventry NL meeting last year and along with the Skunny v Somerset meeting were the best two meeting's i saw all year.Was really surprised with the level in the NL it has improved no end. I saw a NL match and thought the racing was close and exciting to watch, it was abit like the old BJL and NJL kids giving it everything. I think I will attend more NL meetings this year. Any news about Coventry Bees 🐝? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 I saw a NL match and thought the racing was close and exciting to watch, it was abit like the old BJL and NJL kids giving it everything. I think I will attend more NL meetings this year. Any news about Coventry Bees 🐝? Meetings today and will update when they can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houdi Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) Current climate? In the current climate, Wasps turned up 18 months ago, and from nil, now get an average crowd of over 17,000. This has been achieved by supplying the right product, in the right environment, with the right promotion. Even Coventry City who are not dissimilar from speedway (in general), and can be regarded as a complete "basket case" still manage to get people through the door. Yet despite this over 9,000 fans, turn up each home game, be it out of a sense of loyalty / love of their team. It is clear that the good people of Coventry do not feel (certainly in terms of numbers) the same towards the Bees. Perhaps a better comparison would be ice hockey and the Coventry Blaze,and speedway and the Coventry Bees. Both are minority sports,but the differences are huge. The Blaze social media output is so far superior to the Bees and other speedway clubs its embarrassing,,information and news comes out on a daily basis.Their website is far superior and updated regularly. In ice hockey each team has a regular weekly weekend home fixture, these fixture virtually never change, and apart from injuries you know all the players will be there, not stuck in Poland.This is for a sport that has only existed in Coventry for about 16 years. Players all interact with supporters far more than they do in speedway,there are bowling nights , casino nights,ladies nights were the players all turn up.After every game 2 players are made available for autographs, the match night experience is somethings most clubs are always seeking to improve. 6-7 years ago the Blaze were the dominant team in the UK, but lately have been overtaken by the likes of Nottingham and Sheffield, however the gates have not only held up, but increased, because the club have made a huge effort without loads of money, to go out and sell the product. All the local radio stations, mention the Blaze regularly, the Bees apart for this fiasco, barely warrant a mention. The sport seems stuck in a time warp. Next year the Elite league is expanding to 12 teams, and they hope to expand even further in future.Crowds are generally increasing at least at elite level, with clubs like Cardiff, Sheffield and Nottingham all having sell outs for just normal elite league games.Even Sam Masters has become a Blaze fan and is a regular when he is in the UK. 20 years ago the Bees were probably the 2nd biggest team in Coventry after CCFC, now they are probably about 5th. With the Wasps netball starting up, and having a sell out for there 1st game, we will soon be probably down to 6th, that''s if we still exist anymore. Edited January 27, 2017 by houdi 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Perhaps a better comparison would be ice hockey and the Coventry Blaze,and speedway and the Coventry Bees. Both are minority sports,but the differences are huge. The Blaze social media output is so far superior to the Bees and other speedway clubs its embarrassing,,information and news comes out on a daily basis.Their website is far superior and updated regularly. In ice hockey each team has a regular weekly weekend home fixture, these fixture virtually never change, and apart from injuries you now all the players will be there, not stuck in Poland.This is for a sport that has only existed in Coventry for about 16 years. Players all interact with supporters far more than they do in speedway,there are bowling nights , casino nights,ladies nights were the players all turn up.After every game 2 players are made available for autographs, the match night experience is somethings most clubs are always seeking to improve. 6-7 years ago the Blaze were the dominant team in the UK, but lately have been overtaken by the likes of Nottingham and Sheffield, however the gates have not only held up, but increased, because the club have made a huge effort without loads of money, to go out and sell the product. All the local radio stations, mention the Blaze regularly, the Bees apart for this fiasco, barely warrant a mention. The sport seems stuck in a time warp. Next year the Elite league is expanding to 12 teams, and they hope to expand even further in future.Crowds are generally increasing at least at elite level, with clubs like Cardiff, Sheffield and Nottingham all having sell outs for just normal elite league games.Even Sam Masters has become a Blaze fan and is a regular when he is in the UK. 20 years ago the Bees were probably the 2nd biggest team in Coventry after CCFC, now they are probably about 5th. With the Wasps netball starting up, and having a sell out for there 1st game, we will soon be probably down to 6th, that''s if we still exist anymore. Why the Blaze I wonder? Ps, I saw an old pic of you other day, on the way to the charity shield in 87, Eddie says you still wear that jumper ..ha ha ha 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Why the Blaze I wonder? Ps, I saw an old pic of you other day, on the way to the charity shield in 87, Eddie says you still wear that jumper ..ha ha ha [/quo If speedway was ridden on ice rinks, like the old Telford meetings, it would be comparable.. The ice rink does get damaged by spiked bikes, but a semi thaw and re-freeze and its as good as new!! Speeds would be considerably lower, virtually no wear on machines or riders.. So expenditure for riders and promoters would be next to nothing compared to shale speedway, and no chance of rain-offs, tracks would be pretty much the same, anywhere in the world!! Ice Hockey -> Speedway = not a good comparison.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New era Panthers Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 I never understand this comeback. Someone doesn't want to watch what they feel is an inferior product but are reminded that those that they prefer to watch were once at that stage. So what? IJust over 1 in 4 like strike rate I like to watch top class riders as well but I don't go around knocking those who are trying to cut a groove in the sport by calling them (wobblers) Unlike a few on here who act like Premiership snobs 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houdi Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Why the Blaze I wonder? He's got taste. He even brought Tai Woffinden earlier in the season. Plus of course our most famous fan Sir Rod Stewart,whose son Liam is a Blaze player,who not only turned up over Christmas, but fortunately brought Penny Lancaster with him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HertsRacer Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Why the Blaze I wonder? Ps, I saw an old pic of you other day, on the way to the charity shield in 87, Eddie says you still wear that jumper ..ha ha ha The team was formerly the Solihull Blaze before they moved to Coventry, and kept the nickname. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double_O Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 The team was formerly the Solihull Blaze before they moved to Coventry, and kept the nickname. Wrong. It was the Solihull Barons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HertsRacer Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) Wrong. It was the Solihull Barons. Right. The Solihull Barons evolved into Solihull Blaze before the start of the 1996–97 season, and in May 2000, the club announced that they would be heading to a new 3,600-seater stadium in Coventry for the 2000–01 season renaming themselves "Coventry Blaze" in the process. The Solihull Barons reformed in 2005 and still play today. Edited January 27, 2017 by HertsRacer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Perhaps a better comparison would be ice hockey and the Coventry Blaze,and speedway and the Coventry Bees. Both are minority sports,but the differences are huge. The Blaze social media output is so far superior to the Bees and other speedway clubs its embarrassing,,information and news comes out on a daily basis.Their website is far superior and updated regularly. In ice hockey each team has a regular weekly weekend home fixture, these fixture virtually never change, and apart from injuries you know all the players will be there, not stuck in Poland.This is for a sport that has only existed in Coventry for about 16 years. Players all interact with supporters far more than they do in speedway,there are bowling nights , casino nights,ladies nights were the players all turn up.After every game 2 players are made available for autographs, the match night experience is somethings most clubs are always seeking to improve. 6-7 years ago the Blaze were the dominant team in the UK, but lately have been overtaken by the likes of Nottingham and Sheffield, however the gates have not only held up, but increased, because the club have made a huge effort without loads of money, to go out and sell the product. All the local radio stations, mention the Blaze regularly, the Bees apart for this fiasco, barely warrant a mention. The sport seems stuck in a time warp. Next year the Elite league is expanding to 12 teams, and they hope to expand even further in future.Crowds are generally increasing at least at elite level, with clubs like Cardiff, Sheffield and Nottingham all having sell outs for just normal elite league games.Even Sam Masters has become a Blaze fan and is a regular when he is in the UK. 20 years ago the Bees were probably the 2nd biggest team in Coventry after CCFC, now they are probably about 5th. With the Wasps netball starting up, and having a sell out for there 1st game, we will soon be probably down to 6th, that''s if we still exist anymore. Agree with the Coventry Blaze social media output. Also tomorrow evening my family are attending the Blaze game as my kids school got an offer from Blaze. Wrong. It was the Solihull Barons. As HertsRacer said they were Barons then went to Blaze then the franchise moved to Coventry when the ice rink was built. Used to watch Barons quite a bit, I remember Barons losing 21-3 to Guildford! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weatherwatcher Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 (edited) So today's the day the teddy bears have thier picnick. Can't wait to see if it actually happens this time. How many times have they promissed an outcome. Lost count. We can ill afford to any more clubs. At any level of the sport, even more so the like of a team like the Bees. Thay have been buzzing around forever. Lets hope today produces so very good honey. If not honey some sweet words would go a long way to making a lot of fans happy. Edited January 27, 2017 by weatherwatcher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Any sign of a statement yet ? No .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoke Potter Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 That's not entirely correct though Robert, is it.....? Many different factors... have conspired to Speedways fall from grace.. Most of those "factors" can be attributed to successive inept promotion(s) though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_martin Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 So today's the day the teddy bears have thier picnick... And if it's not today, then it might be tomorrow...or another day ending in a "y" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Maybe so, but there are still participants in full view of the fans possibly running etc. So something is happening. Contrast that with speedway where the participants are in the pits mainly hidden from public view and fans have to look at a centre green/grey whilst listening to banal music and nothing else. Star Lady, surely if you're counting football as 90 minutes, then you have to count the amount of time that speedway bikes are out on the track for a race. I reckon it's about 3 minutes most of the time. So that's 45 minutes, not 90. All the best Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudflaps Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 with Horton at the helm you wont be getting and news or any resolution that makes you Bees happy... The Horton brothers are wreckers of Speedway heritage.. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Lady Posted January 27, 2017 Report Share Posted January 27, 2017 Star Lady, surely if you're counting football as 90 minutes, then you have to count the amount of time that speedway bikes are out on the track for a race. I reckon it's about 3 minutes most of the time. So that's 45 minutes, not 90. All the best Rob Fair comment but that still leaves about an hour and 15 minutes looking at nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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