In My View By Phil Rising

[Grand Central]

IT was indeed. When leaving the stadium with KT and NP, we all agreed that if we lived in Torun we would happily pay to watch speedway there. Just seeing and experiencing how the whole town is behind the Torun club makes you realise that British speedway is light years away.

 

However, it is encouraging to hear from Mark Lemon that Manchester City Council is very supportive of the NSS there.

 

Good news indeed.

Thank goodness that the relationship as been repaired, bearing in mind how things were this time last year.

[Midland Red]

To avoid further embarrassment to any party, I wont go into last nights fiasco. But to avoid it ever happening again thorough detailed planning for the future is a must.

 

Moving forward we must start at the beginning.

 

So a fixed race night with an alternative day to be used for rain offs/abandonment's.

 

Mondays could be classed as the alternative race day and also reserved for televised matches with Thursday the fixed race night. (alternatively vice versa)

 

With say 12 teams in The Top League, it would mean a total of 22 weeks to fulfill home and away fixtures..

 

Commencing with Round 1 of fixtures on 29 March 2018 and Round 22 on 23 August 2018.

 

All fixtures to be completed by this date as alternative day used to achieve it.

 

This would still leave 5 full fixture dates before the end of September to stage Play Off rounds.

 

Planning is easy, but it takes all concerned to actually listen, what the paying public want.

 

Stability.

Are you saying that 8 clubs (those who don't qualify for the play-offs) would have just eleven home meetings in the season, spread over 22 weeks?

More ammunition to get out of the speedway attending habit, I'd say

That would bring the end of British speedway even closer than it may be at the moment

[Fromafar]

I TAKE your point but don't think BT's approach to 2018 will change because of this one fixture. They were delighted with the viewing figures for the play-offs.

 

But the fact is that some promoters don't want televised speedway because, they believe, without a cash payment to the clubs it actually does more harm than good. Cuckoo land of course.

 

The Chairman of the BSPA told me in Torun over the weekend that my piece in Speedway Star, which was the forerunner of this particular topic, did huge damage to British speedway, that the sport is quite healthy in the UK and that most tracks have reported increased attendances. At King's Lynn they improved dramatically after the sacking of Batchelor and Holder despite five consecutive home defeats. Fortunately he walked away before I could ask him what planet he was on.

Be honest did you really expect any other answer from him these days,it's a closed shop and they are deluded which the average fan already knows.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

I TAKE your point but don't think BT's approach to 2018 will change because of this one fixture. They were delighted with the viewing figures for the play-offs.

 

But the fact is that some promoters don't want televised speedway because, they believe, without a cash payment to the clubs it actually does more harm than good. Cuckoo land of course.

 

The Chairman of the BSPA told me in Torun over the weekend that my piece in Speedway Star, which was the forerunner of this particular topic, did huge damage to British speedway, that the sport is quite healthy in the UK and that most tracks have reported increased attendances. At King's Lynn they improved dramatically after the sacking of Batchelor and Holder despite five consecutive home defeats. Fortunately he walked away before I could ask him what planet he was on.

im suprised he hasnt made a statement laying the blame for the state of speedway firmly at my door then, doesnt matter to me anyway cause next season I will be as a fan officially withholding my services so I will get s ban Edited October 10, 2017 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Fromafar]

im suprised he hasnt made a statement laying the blame for the state of speedway firmly at my door then, doesnt matter to me anyway cause next season I will be as a fan officially withholding my services so I will get s ban

He maybe has you pencilled in for aTeam spot.!!

[Lord Skid]

Did you ask the BSPA Chairman how sales of their GTR engines are, seems to have gone very quiet on the subject, has the divorce gone smoothly?

[The White Knight]

 

So, were you there for the two KOC matches against Workington? Both on a Sunday......

It might help if you quoted my full Post. (see below).

 

Then you needn't have asked the question.

 

I highlight the relevant part for your perusal.

 

I will not be there. Monday Night is bad for me.

 

Newcastle's normal day is a Sunday which suits me fine.

 

To be totally honest, I would not have gone anyway as I have made, what I consider to be, a principled stand of not returning to Speedway until Double Points is gone.

Then the Promoters should ask themselves - WHY?

[marko]

The words of the chairman is a clear indication that the sport will just eventually fade out in this country, if those in charge can't even see there is a problem, then nothing will change.

 

OK, if you want to end up bankrupt, with a black mark against your name for the rest of your life and probable loss of all your worldly assets go right ahead, keep that head in the sand and see where it gets you.

[screm]

Not a lot of point of just jumping on the back of the current Chairman, I believe his views are shared by quite a few of his fellow promoters, hence the problems we have in speedway which has been on a steady decline for a few years now with little or no much needed significant change in that time.

[bigcatdiary]

Not a lot of point of just jumping on the back of the current Chairman, I believe his views are shared by quite a few of his fellow promoters, hence the problems we have in speedway which has been on a steady decline for a few years now with little or no much needed significant change in that time.

Unfortunately that does appear to be the case, those that side with Chapman to avoid any aggravation and those that speak out and incur the wrath.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

He maybe has you pencilled in for aTeam spot.!!

he couldn't afford me

[dukes]

Are you saying that 8 clubs (those who don't qualify for the play-offs) would have just eleven home meetings in the season, spread over 22 weeks?

More ammunition to get out of the speedway attending habit, I'd say

That would bring the end of British speedway even closer than it may be at the moment

 

In of my sentences it says:- Moving forward we must start at the beginning.

 

So looking at the big picture, 11 home league meetings if you do not qualify for the play offs, yes.

 

But with the second race night on the week that you are away, the knock out cup, challenge and individual meetings could be staged.

 

The main emphasis, that if careful planning and consideration to the paying public is taken anything can be achieved.

[Trees]

IT was indeed. When leaving the stadium with KT and NP, we all agreed that if we lived in Torun we would happily pay to watch speedway there. Just seeing and experiencing how the whole town is behind the Torun club makes you realise that British speedway is light years away.

 

However, it is encouraging to hear from Mark Lemon that Manchester City Council is very supportive of the NSS there.

That should read, Poland are behind the UK, we've seen the big crowds, the towns and cities, even counties, turning out to support their teams, now we have what we have...and quite possibly what Poland may have in a few year's time....

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

That should read, Poland are behind the UK, we've seen the big crowds, the towns and cities, even counties, turning out to support their teams, now we have what we have...and quite possibly what Poland may have in a few year's time....

but Poland are putting out a good product and giving their fans what they want , many of us Brits went to gdansk v Torun on Sunday ,as a meeting it was crap, no passing ,result sorted by heat 8 but it was a must to be there , the atmosphere was something else and as a social event it ticked the boxes and did it make me want to go back ? Hell yes , we deserve our crowds ,we created this mess Edited October 10, 2017 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[keepturningleft]

British Speedway is the Theresa May of sport!

[Lord Skid]

We're not a major World player in Speedway anymore, if the UK isn't good enough for you, why not trot off to glorious Poland or one of those fabulous camel jockey countries.

[Whisperer]

I TAKE your point but don't think BT's approach to 2018 will change because of this one fixture. They were delighted with the viewing figures for the play-offs.

 

But the fact is that some promoters don't want televised speedway because, they believe, without a cash payment to the clubs it actually does more harm than good. Cuckoo land of course.

 

The Chairman of the BSPA told me in Torun over the weekend that my piece in Speedway Star, which was the forerunner of this particular topic, did huge damage to British speedway, that the sport is quite healthy in the UK and that most tracks have reported increased attendances. At King's Lynn they improved dramatically after the sacking of Batchelor and Holder despite five consecutive home defeats. Fortunately he walked away before I could ask him what planet he was on.

 

So it would appear that sales of SS have rocketed beyond all expectations and the readership even more so, well done! How else would all the stay aways from British Speedway and the used to go people know about your article Phil?

 

It's incredible that the powers that be hold such a naive opinion to think that, that magazine article has had any deteriorating impact on the sport. If the promised transparency had been forthcoming then any inaccuracies in the article would not have existed and a considered response may have been welcomed to correct any misunderstandings anyway, I say considered because the shooting from the hip from both the Chair and Vice Chair has caused a lot of the confusion and misunderstanding this year.

 

If anyone seriously thinks that the magazine intends to destroy the sport and consequently it's own sales opportunity they have lost the plot, just because Promoters do it with their own businesses doesn't mean that everybody else does the same.

 

It's no secret that some members of the BSPA lurk on this forum and react to what they read whether that is positive or negative is up for debate but once those reactions get into the public domain it has more of a damaging effect coming from a promotion than it does a journalist. A journalist can publish a retraction or correction a Promotion has to live with it's public utterances the SS for example is read by a minority (with respect) but Press releases and ranting statements are read by the wider community as a whole and certainly the outburst from one club recently, whether justified or not, led to the comment from a "social media friend" Is that what really goes on at Speedway?

Edited October 11, 2017 by Whisperer

[The Cheese]

I TAKE your point but don't think BT's approach to 2018 will change because of this one fixture. They were delighted with the viewing figures for the play-offs.

 

But the fact is that some promoters don't want televised speedway because, they believe, without a cash payment to the clubs it actually does more harm than good. Cuckoo land of course.

 

The Chairman of the BSPA told me in Torun over the weekend that my piece in Speedway Star, which was the forerunner of this particular topic, did huge damage to British speedway, that the sport is quite healthy in the UK and that most tracks have reported increased attendances. At King's Lynn they improved dramatically after the sacking of Batchelor and Holder despite five consecutive home defeats. Fortunately he walked away before I could ask him what planet he was on.

 

He might have had increased crowds after sacking them but I doubt that was the case for other sides when Kings Lynn turned up with such a weak team.

[StevePark]

It might help if you quoted my full Post. (see below).

 

Then you needn't have asked the question.

 

I highlight the relevant part for your perusal.

 

 

You also said "Newcastle's usual racenight is a Sunday , which suits me fine." My point was the two Workington KOC matches (that don't have the Double Points rule) were raced on a Sunday, so an ideal opportunity to support the team. But, as I've said before, it's my belief, if you stay away from any sport due to one rule, even when that rule isn't in force, is being extremely petty and downright silly. Enjoy the sport for what it is, four (usually) blokes, going around an oval track for four laps, 15 times, whether they are going for three points, six points or a thousand points, because that shouldn't matter, because that's all speedway is, four blokes, four laps, fifteen times!

[Whisperer]

Overheard on the bus to Grimsby

 

Hello is that the Daily Telegraph? Can I speak to Mr Flinton please?

 

Hello Mr Flinton, I’m a member of the BSPA Management Committee and I need your help, I know you’ve always been sympathetic towards Speedway but I wondered if you could build it up a bit for us? You can, brilliant I’ll send you over some press releases! I don’t need to do that because you use a press cutting service, what’s that?

 

“Well Bob, you publish an article anywhere and the press cutting service trawls all of the local media and magazines to pick up anything newsworthy. They used to call it Lift and Stick in the old days but it’s copy and paste now”

 

Great have you got mine then?

 

“Yes Bob I have the one where you say you’d be happy to get 500 people every week”

 

Oh right isn’t there anyone else’s you can use?

 

“Well I have your mate on the Management Committee, Mr French telling everyone that Speedway can’t be sustained at Rough Patch on Mondays”

 

Oh right isn’t there another?

 

“I’ve got your other mate off the Management Committee, the one whose attendances dropped when he had riders refusing to ride then he sacked them shall I use that?”

 

Er no isn’t there anything else?

 

“Why Bob what’s wrong with using the Management Committee’s tracks, you’re running the sport aren’t you?”

 

Try someone else’s

 

“Ok I’ll use Cumbriaton’s they’re not on the Management Committee are they?”

 

No, great, what does it say?

 

“It says that their attendances have dropped to an alarming level and they’d be happy to get 500 every week”

 

Oh right well can’t you make something up?

 

“Yes of course, how about I tell everyone British Speedway is in great shape right now and many tracks are reporting increased attendances?”

 

Yes that will do nicely but best not use it as a quote from me under the circumstances, put Custer’s name on it and I’ll brief him and get him to spread the word, thank you.

 

“Oh hold on, just got a stop press, two of your clubs are kicking off about social media, we can go with that, who do I talk to at the clubs? Oh it’s the same person for both, how does that work?”

 

“Right so your mate on the Management Committee owns the lease and, and , I tell you what forget it, my readers would know I was making it up!”

Edited October 11, 2017 by Whisperer