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Peter Collins Article


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The issue is where do you draw the line to these free riders at BV? Does Michal Rajkowski who rode a dozen meeting 10 year ago get in free? What about Karl Mason who did a season in the NL? What about someone who rode 12 meetings as a guest over a period of time but not in a single season like Rajkowski? What about that Pole they had about 10 year ago who did about 3 meeting before being sacked because he was a danger? What about Tomasz Chrzanowski? He rode 3 meetings for BV in 2009 and scored a point in one of them meetings.

 

The idea that all ex-riders get in free is madness. There has to be some cut-off. I'm really not sure what Peter Collins' issue is here, he's been given 5 passes, what more does anyone think he can realistically expect?

 

I would hope that any speedway club would do the honourable thing for any club legends but any less than 4 or 5 season riding for the club and I think you're pushing it to expect free entry.

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One of the problems has to be the drop in crowds, to let 100 people in free when you had 3-4,000 attending is very different to when you are struggling to get 800-1,000. Remember the current promoters are very unlikely to be the same as those who made the profits from the larger crowds in the past when those riders were performing, so you are simply asking a promoter now to take the pain when it was not them who made the gain!

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The issue is where do you draw the line to these free riders at BV? Does Michal Rajkowski who rode a dozen meeting 10 year ago get in free? What about Karl Mason who did a season in the NL? What about someone who rode 12 meetings as a guest over a period of time but not in a single season like Rajkowski? What about that Pole they had about 10 year ago who did about 3 meeting before being sacked because he was a danger? What about Tomasz Chrzanowski? He rode 3 meetings for BV in 2009 and scored a point in one of them meetings.

 

The idea that all ex-riders get in free is madness. There has to be some cut-off. I'm really not sure what Peter Collins' issue is here, he's been given 5 passes, what more does anyone think he can realistically expect?

 

I would hope that any speedway club would do the honourable thing for any club legends but any less than 4 or 5 season riding for the club and I think you're pushing it to expect free entry.

 

I find it difficult to understand ex riders expectations to free entry to meetings. It certainly doesn't happen at say football, but I know people and riders who contact clubs and ask if they can come in say the Directors box, and are given an answer based on who they are and why are they there. No probs with that.

In my first year in 1997 I used to stand at the pass gates as a greeter for the club. An ex-rider, not Newcastle, demanded to come in as he said all ex riders get in free. I stood my ground, and he continued to come every week and still moaned about paying to get in. One of the big problems is once a rider does get in, his expectations are that he can bring his mate in, his wife and her friends and it can get quite heated when you stop them. One of my riders told me I couldn't stop him bringing people in, and said if he wanted to bring 22 people there was nothing I could do about. It never happened, but we had a frosty existence then and after. Ironically when I set up my Free training school at Brough in 2008, he was the first to give me advice and help to set it up.

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sounds to me like this article shouldn't have been published.

 

who was the writer of the piece ?

IT was written by Brian Burford ... if it was my decision (and it wasn't) it would not have been our published without at the very least the BV management been given an opportunity for a balanced response.

 

Actually in the process of writing a piece for next week's SS but the last thing I would want to do, and won't, is trash PC. He has been a mate for over 40 years and, yes, he has had health issues.

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IT was written by Brian Burford ... if it was my decision (and it wasn't) it would not have been our published without at the very least the BV management been given an opportunity for a balanced response.

 

Actually in the process of writing a piece for next week's SS but the last thing I would want to do, and won't, is trash PC. He has been a mate for over 40 years and, yes, he has had health issues.

Thanks Philip. Appreciate you not wanting to trash PC.... shame some on here haven't been so shy.

 

I have just read the piece again. PC seems to want to stand the corner of his ex-team mates and other Belle Vue legends to be treated with some respect. What is wrong with that? I know there is probably another side to this... but I genuinely think PC has been left disillusioned at what's gone on at Belle Vue. If he doesn't have to, and has never been asked to, pay to enter Belle Vue.. isn't it comforting that he wants to put his weight behind former riders' treatment by the club?

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Thanks Philip. Appreciate you not wanting to trash PC.... shame some on here haven't been so shy.

 

I have just read the piece again. PC seems to want to stand the corner of his ex-team mates and other Belle Vue legends to be treated with some respect. What is wrong with that? I know there is probably another side to this... but I genuinely think PC has been left disillusioned at what's gone on at Belle Vue. If he doesn't have to, and has never been asked to, pay to enter Belle Vue.. isn't it comforting that he wants to put his weight behind former riders' treatment by the club?

No, PC wants to get in for free with 100 mates. Thats not reasonable, why should his mates get in just because they're his mate? If he had reasonable demand for ex-BV riders of a certain standing to get in I think people would agree, but this isn't about ex-riders, it's about his mates.

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No, PC wants to get in for free with 100 mates. Thats not reasonable, why should his mates get in just because they're his mate? If he had reasonable demand for ex-BV riders of a certain standing to get in I think people would agree, but this isn't about ex-riders, it's about his mates.

 

Not looking for an argument but do you know all the names on this list, I don't but I assumed it would contain mainly ex riders, most of whom will be his mates as well as ex colleagues, maybe not.

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This 100 name list story has been about since last year. If it is correct then I find it hard to think of anything approaching 100 ex Belle Vue riders living in the UK who would qualify if you used the criteria of having ridden for the club for at least one full season.

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IT was written by Brian Burford ... if it was my decision (and it wasn't) it would not have been our published without at the very least the BV management been given an opportunity for a balanced response.

 

Actually in the process of writing a piece for next week's SS but the last thing I would want to do, and won't, is trash PC. He has been a mate for over 40 years and, yes, he has had health issues.

 

Don't answer this if there are reasons not to, but the overwhelming majority of Speedway Star's output is bylined. Any particular reason why this should not be the case here?

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I thought the Heritage Club scheme that ran last year as set up by Dave & Chris was good.

Every ex Ace could get in free and if they wanted to they could bring a guest who only paid concessions rate. It was a step up from the WSRA deal for "away" riders and designed to get ex Aces involved in the new era.

PC wouldn't except it as it didn't allow for non ex riders to get in free.

Whilst PC has been out of order, my main problem is that people are using this to have yet another go at Belle Vue as many other tracks who didn't have a scheme as good as the heritage club or no scheme at all get off scott free yet Belle Vue are the big bad despite going the extra mile for former riders.

Edited by ouch
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I thought the Heritage Club scheme that ran last year as set up by Dave & Chris was good.

Every ex Ace could get in free and if they wanted to they could bring a guest who only paid concessions rate. It was a step up from the WSRA deal for "away" riders and designed to get ex Aces involved in the new era.

PC wouldn't except it as it didn't allow for non ex riders to get in free.

Whilst PC has been out of order, my main problem is that people are using this to have yet another go at Belle Vue as many other tracks who didn't have a scheme as good as the heritage club or no scheme at all get off scott free yet Belle Vue are the big bad despite going the extra mile for former riders.

I think once again you have got it totally wrong. I see posters admitting that PC is an icon at BV but his stance in the 100+ frees list as being totally unreasonable. Leeway has been given as his recent illness might have a part to play. BV have come out of this as being very reasonable and trying to pacify a very delicate situation with such a well admired icon being involved.

Stop playing the victim.

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