Leicester Lions 2018

[waytogo28]

11 hours ago, Teromaafan said:

Not so sure about the green helmet colour but I think the yellow black yellow idea as opposed to the current black yellow black may be the right marketing strategy to catapult the sport from minority to mainstream status and bring the missing thousands back through the gate. Perhaps mauve for R/R and guests, keeping the red, blue, white, Y/B colours in case riders in a teams official 1 to 7 declaration are by chance available and not riding in Poland/Sweden/Denmark on that night.

I go along with that especially the part about R / B / W /YB being reserved for any riders from the official 1 -7 declaration who might be available. This also fits in with the gender self-identification concept in society today. This could lead to a way back to having at least one female rider in the team. This could really bring in new fans. Later they could bring in other gender labels so that the rainbow effect can be fully appreciated. This would also give supporters who might feel that time is dragging between heats a lot more work in filling in programmes or scorecards. With a prize for the only correctly filled in one.

[Happy Hunter]

Why not take a leaf out of cycling's book and have pursuit races? Tapes on both sides of the track with individual and team pursuit races - would probably reduce the number of accidents and so make it safer for everyone. Or how about the rider who is last at the end of each lap having to drop out. That would stop riders like Bomber Harris sneaking wins on the line! As well if we had two sets of tapes on opposite sides of the track we could start the even number heats from one side and the odd numbered heats from the other side. What about handicap racing? I can remember seeing this in the days of Moore, Briggs, Fundin etc. Gating tarts to start from 15 metres.

[Booey boy]

I watched a 20-20 cricket match on television the other night and noticed a full house youngsters families etc why can't speedway come up with something similar  cricket was dead until they came up with this?

[1 valve]

43 minutes ago, Booey boy said:

I watched a 20-20 cricket match on television the other night and noticed a full house youngsters families etc why can't speedway come up with something similar  cricket was dead until they came up with this?

They should. But to do so. Clubs need to provide seats for everybody and/or  good clean open spaces with quality views. And pricing for 2 adults 3 kids @ £37.00   To be fair to the Lions they do better than that for the last bit. £34.00 cuz kids are free. 

Big difference is that 20/20 is well promoted at both national and local levels n

[OldRacer]

1 hour ago, Booey boy said:

I watched a 20-20 cricket match on television the other night and noticed a full house youngsters families etc why can't speedway come up with something similar  cricket was dead until they came up with this?

Cricket was selling out international matches with crowds of 10,000+ before T20 was invented and has always attracted  plenty of media attention. It certainly wasn't dead even at county level.

[poole keith]

i love the 20-20 on  sky,and comes over even on telly as great family nite out,i also was thinking what speedway could take from it,a grand if you catch a ball at the oval,free holiday given at trent bridge,kiss cam all brilliant but wouldnt transfer to speedway,one simple and cheap thing that would is the music, they play great music at the t20,at poole its invariably rubbish(at least matt stopped the silly marching band stuff,starry was the only one in the stadium who liked it!)suggest they watch a 20-20 note the tunes and play the same tracks as riders approach tapes and after the race

[GoldenGauntlet]

52 minutes ago, poole keith said:

i love the 20-20 on  sky,and comes over even on telly as great family nite out,i also was thinking what speedway could take from it,a grand if you catch a ball at the oval,free holiday given at trent bridge,kiss cam all brilliant but wouldnt transfer to speedway,one simple and cheap thing that would is the music, they play great music at the t20,at poole its invariably rubbish(at least matt stopped the silly marching band stuff,starry was the only one in the stadium who liked it!)suggest they watch a 20-20 note the tunes and play the same tracks as riders approach tapes and after the race

I think speedway comes over quite well on telly, because they fill the gaps between heats with interviews, analysis, replays, etc., while if you're at a meeting you get dodgy PAs, dire music (usually the same tunes every week), tractors circling the track, occasional inaudible/daft interviews, etc. The racing is always going to be the most important thing about speedway, but the whole two hours or so that a meeting takes could be a  much better experience with a little effort. I think the other thing about 20-20 is they saw a need to appeal beyond the traditional cricket audience and came up with a product that would have a different appeal, and that meant not just doing things the way they've always been done, which speedway seems to struggle with.  It would cost money, but a big screen showing heat line-ups, results, replays, interviews, etc. would keep the interest going between heats - just needs someone clued up enough to work out how to get more people in to meetings to make it pay.

[Nobblytriers]

Yes, what is it with the music that's played at most stadiums?  They must have the right license to play music to the public so surely that means they can play anything they want?  Why is it the same stuff each week?

[ouch]

Neil at Belle Vue is excellent with his pre race tunes and depending on what happened in the heat he often picks a tune to reflect it. 

[justathought]

Although some people make money from Speedway meetings, the vast majority are volunteers. Keen enthusiasts who love the sport, without them there would be no speedway in the UK. 

All though it is fine to use volunteers as track staff, turnstiles operators etc. When it comes to the presentation side of a meeting to give a smooth, professionally presented event. You get what you pay for. .................... and in the case of Speedway , that is fairly evident. 

[Teromaafan]

Having followed the Lions since the mid 70s I cannot recall a season where a team with realistic hopes/expectations have nose dived towards the familiar wooden spoon within a couple of months.

It seems like consecutive 5-1s against have become something of an ailment that we cannot shake off. The most encouraging thing I have read lately is Simon Stead's reference to performances and team places for next season. The fact that there may be a next season in the current speedway climate is something to look forward to.

I say draw a line under 2018 and do whatever is necessary between now and September to keep the club on a sound financial footing. I have admired the management's efforts to change fortunes with rider changes, but I think that they have to hold their hand up and admit that the current line up is the weaker than ever.

Most supporters are now waiting for next season and are not that bothered about further changes (although the season is probably now at cut off point for changes) in a desperate attempt to avoid the basement position.

[BluPanther]

52 minutes ago, Teromaafan said:

Having followed the Lions since the mid 70s I cannot recall a season where a team with realistic hopes/expectations have nose dived towards the familiar wooden spoon within a couple of months.

It seems like consecutive 5-1s against have become something of an ailment that we cannot shake off. The most encouraging thing I have read lately is Simon Stead's reference to performances and team places for next season. The fact that there may be a next season in the current speedway climate is something to look forward to.

I say draw a line under 2018 and do whatever is necessary between now and September to keep the club on a sound financial footing. I have admired the management's efforts to change fortunes with rider changes, but I think that they have to hold their hand up and admit that the current line up is the weaker than ever.

Most supporters are now waiting for next season and are not that bothered about further changes (although the season is probably now at cut off point for changes) in a desperate attempt to avoid the basement position.

The changes were not for the better, it was clear to many that they actually weakened the team....

[Liontamer]

 Utter sh1te..5 points from our top two. Hang your head in shame, because i really can't be arsed anymore.

Edited August 6, 2018 by Liontamer

[Liontamer]

 The way i feel right now, just put us out of our misery & close the club down. We've been crap year after year & I've had enough now. 

[Big Al]

3 hours ago, Liontamer said:

 The way i feel right now, just put us out of our misery & close the club down. We've been crap year after year & I've had enough now. 

Moving up a league far too soon and doing changes to the track much too late. The decision to move into what was the Elite league came before the club had grown any proper roots and was a personal vanity project which has never been recovered from. The EL said "yes please, we need some new whipping boys," and it's pretty much stayed that way.

[Steve0]

8 hours ago, Big Al said:

Moving up a league far too soon and doing changes to the track much too late. The decision to move into what was the Elite league came before the club had grown any proper roots and was a personal vanity project which has never been recovered from. The EL said "yes please, we need some new whipping boys," and it's pretty much stayed that way.

Except Somerset have got their act together this season.  Leicester were tipped to make the play offs - and probably would have done with their original team but we will never know.  The current team isn’t going to stop the Lions winning the wooden spoon this season as they are cast adrift at the bottom of the table.

[adonis]

9 hours ago, Big Al said:

Moving up a league far too soon and doing changes to the track much too late. The decision to move into what was the Elite league came before the club had grown any proper roots and was a personal vanity project which has never been recovered from. The EL said "yes please, we need some new whipping boys," and it's pretty much stayed that way.

The old boys club  wanted Leicester in the Elite league and Hemsley  wanted his massive ego polished  , Bspa were desperate for the Sky money because they were 2 teams short  on account of their attempts to close Coventry and Peterborough ,  The  track was of course another balls up  by Hemsley  and his mad bitch wife  . when you think back to what might have been without Hemsley its very sad .  Leicester city's amazing run in football din't help matters either as , the uncommitted were more likely to buy a Leicester city shirt to parade about in than watch a poor team on a rubbish track , it's unlikely that the supporters Hemsley lost the club will ever return , lets just hope the dire straits the whole of speedway is in ,forces a radical new plan , 

[Robbobee]

Oh well - as they say when you bottom of the pile as we more than likely will be come the end of the season .... the only way from here is UP !!!

This season is now gone .. so gotta look to next year and hope that we at least some some effort from the riders as they see out the rest of the year.... gotta say I don't think it helps when one of the Promoters comes onto the public microphone after last weeks home match to slag riders off about their form or effort and so on ... not saying it shouldn't be done but do it in private and face to face at least IMHO.

Lions need support now when times are tough or there won't be any speedway at Leicester before very long - so stick with it through the bad times is the most important item on the agenda at the moment .... come on you Lions !

Cheers

 

[Big Al]

6 hours ago, Steve0 said:

Except Somerset have got their act together this season.  Leicester were tipped to make the play offs - and probably would have done with their original team but we will never know.  The current team isn’t going to stop the Lions winning the wooden spoon this season as they are cast adrift at the bottom of the table.

Yes and Somerset have been around for some while now, got themselves a sound record of success earned over the years and in doing so built up some good relationships with riders. You reap what you sow. One of Leicester's problems is the new owners are still to an extent reaping the results of the previous owner's problems most f which were of his own making. The Vaculik signing was a big attempt to break free from those shackles and I'm sure the work they've put in over the past two seasons has done a lot to repair the reputation of Leicester amongst riders. 

 

[Danny Connor]

I think you guys have had a very unlucky season. If that Vaculik incident hadn't have happened and bates hadn't broke his back then things may be very different. 

You will at least finish 1 place higher than last season (i jest)