NEW LOOK FOR STAR

[IronScorpion]

3 hours ago, phillwhitewasmad said:

Costs are high at any level. During the winter I built my son a brand new 250 bike every part unused and cost in excess of 7k. Gm engine was over 4K and proceed to destroy itself after 25 laps. Only way to reduce cost is to get lower prices from suppliers, that won’t happen though as the demand isn’t great 

Yet, strangely, petrol & diesel is now around £1 & £1.05 respectively around our area at supermarkets compared to about £1.15 & £1.20 back in March yet vehicle usage is a lot less. 

[mikebv]

These numbers do really suggest the time has to be right for 'one make' standardised engine leagues doesnt it?

The generosity of the sponsors is incredible but wouldn't all this sponsorship going to the clubs rather than individual riders help the sport overall in the UK?

Seven riders all bringing in an average £70k between them would get a good few standard machines and leave money for spare parts and a mechanic to collectively look after them. And maybe enough to rent a club van to take all machines to the race meets?

Riders could then be salaried, with payments reflecting their position in the team, but with the obvious lack of money being needed to pay for their kit which must make up a significant part of their remuneration package now..

All bikes to have their own passport showing photos, serial numbers etc. And any changes needing authorisation from the governing body, all logged, all with visual evidence and all signed off each meeting by the machine examiner that it all tallies with their records..

Similar to the way F1 shoehorns an individual sport into a team framework. With drivers often paying for their ride by bringing in team sponsorship and then they get paid a 'wage' to drive, and any changes to engines etc must get authorisation..

At the moment it does seem to be a race to no where given one rider will buy one top of the range piece of kit, so the others will also buy it to keep up, meaning nobody has actually moved forward,  but in fact are all actually back to square one.

The only thing therefore moving forwards are the costs collectively across the board, with seemingly no extra punters coming through the door to pay for them..

There must be hundreds of thousands of pounds given to individual riders in the UK by generous backers each year, so maybe it could deliver a better long term return for the sport, and obviously the riders, if it was used more collectively to pay the sports race meet costs and be used for marketing the sport nationally?

Edited May 14, 2020 by mikebv

[sommelier]

29 minutes ago, mikebv said:

These numbers do really suggest the time has to be right for 'one make' standardised engine leagues doesnt it?

The generosity of the sponsors is incredible but wouldn't all this sponsorship going to the clubs rather than individual riders help the sport overall in the UK?

Seven riders all bringing in an average £70k between them would get a good few standard machines and leave money for spare parts and a mechanic to collectively look after them. And maybe enough to rent a club van to take all machines to the race meets?

Riders could then be salaried, with payments reflecting their position in the team, but with the obvious lack of money being needed to pay for their kit which must make up a significant part of their remuneration package now..

All bikes to have their own passport showing photos, serial numbers etc. And any changes needing authorisation from the governing body, all logged, all with visual evidence and all signed off each meeting by the machine examiner that it all tallies with their records..

Similar to the way F1 shoehorns an individual sport into a team framework. With drivers often paying for their ride by bringing in team sponsorship and then they get paid a 'wage' to drive, and any changes to engines etc must get authorisation..

At the moment it does seem to be a race to no where given one rider will buy one top of the range piece of kit, so the others will also buy it to keep up, meaning nobody has actually moved forward,  but in fact are all actually back to square one.

The only thing therefore moving forwards are the costs collectively across the board, with seemingly no extra punters coming through the door to pay for them..

There must be hundreds of thousands of pounds given to individual riders in the UK by generous backers each year, so maybe it could deliver a better long term return for the sport, and obviously the riders, if it was used more collectively to pay the sports race meet costs and be used for marketing the sport nationally?

But GM engine is basically standard, example Peter Johns only builds one type of engine & that's GP standard for around £5.500 & lets be honest in motor sports that's very cheap. 

Maybe it could be bought even cheaper in Poland of say Ash-Tech or Ryszard Kowalski as based in Poland, labour & overheads much lower  

[topaz325]

So help a rider out to make his way in the sport or put it into a money pit of the club...though can see it might (?) make the difference between the club surviving or not if a large amount of sponsorship is paid.

[sommelier]

11 minutes ago, topaz325 said:

So help a rider out to make his way in the sport or put it into a money pit of the club...though can see it might (?) make the difference between the club surviving or not if a large amount of sponsorship is paid.

I agree with you putting money in to the club, but what did clubs do with the money Sky put in ?

[topaz325]

1 hour ago, sommelier said:

I agree with you putting money in to the club, but what did clubs do with the money Sky put in ?

Do not know the finances involved or how much went to certain clubs, is it private information, was it ever known exactly how much was paid and to whom? 

[TonyMac]

Our timeless retro interview in this week's (w/e May 16 issue) Speedway Star is with former Polish No.1 Zenon Plech.

He twice challenged very strongly for the world title but, regardless of those efforts, he won thousands of friends and admirers for his fearless throttle-bashing antics.

And also for being a really nice, humble bloke - as anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Zenon will testify.

To subscribe to Speedway Star, go to www.speedwaystar.net

Edited May 14, 2020 by TonyMac

[topaz325]

Two weeks on still no magazine. Post system must be in a mess.

Still my fault for living in the Outer Hebrides.

[PHILIPRISING]

23 minutes ago, topaz325 said:

Two weeks on still no magazine. Post system must be in a mess.

Still my fault for living in the Outer Hebrides.

CALL 020 83351113 tomorrow before 2.30pm ... Dave will mail those you have missed. Might get them for Christmas

[topaz325]

3 minutes ago, PHILIPRISING said:

CALL 020 83351113 tomorrow before 2.30pm ... Dave will mail those you have missed. Might get them for Christmas

Called on Tuesday thanks.

[bruno]

Good read again this week

[phillwhitewasmad]

13 hours ago, sommelier said:

I honestly feel for you spending the amount you have & then having the engine let go

Let go is an understatement totally destroyed
 

[hagonshocker]

Couldn't find any Stars in Swindon yesterday tried various newsagents that always stick it plus Asda just wondering if there's an issue with distribution? Which is obviously understandable but first time since Llllllllllllockdown 

[PHILIPRISING]

44 minutes ago, hagonshocker said:

Couldn't find any Stars in Swindon yesterday tried various newsagents that always stick it plus Asda just wondering if there's an issue with distribution? Which is obviously understandable but first time since Llllllllllllockdown 

NOT that we know of... will enquire

[PHILIPRISING]

37 minutes ago, PHILIPRISING said:

NOT that we know of... will enquire

Just been updated by distribution company ... copies will be on sale today as they did not arrive into wholesale until yesterday.

[PHILIPRISING]

A WHILE back a poster on here bemoaned the lack of an interview with Andreas Jonsson ...well, your prayers have been answered. He talks to Paul Burbidge in SS this week. Compelling stuff. 

[kitten2502]

I have yet to receive w/e 16th May edition (only got w/e 9th May on the 13th) - it has been very hit & miss with delivery (not blaming SS for this, but it's very frustrating). If nothing arrives by Friday I'll have to phone Dave - especially as Royal Mail no longer delivering on Saturdays now. Ironically, I had letter from SS today advising my subscription is up for renewal.

[Sidney the robin]

On 5/15/2020 at 8:59 AM, hagonshocker said:

Couldn't find any Stars in Swindon yesterday tried various newsagents that always stick it plus Asda just wondering if there's an issue with distribution? Which is obviously understandable but first time since Llllllllllllockdown 

For a last resort Shocker Grange Drive shops always stock it if you are stuck.Got mine a day late last week because of the Bank Holiday.otherwise  it is always there on a Thursday.Three people including me order the Star from that shop never realised we had three speedway supporters in Stratton.!!!!!

Edited May 21, 2020 by Sidney the robin

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Sidney the robin said:

...we had three speedway supporters in Stratton.!!!!!

How can football compete for supporters against mass  interest like this?

[Sidney the robin]

3 hours ago, gustix said:

How can football compete for supporters against mass  interest like this?

Swindon Town now only averages 6/7000  i have been when there were  32,000 fans there.It just shows you how society has changed more things to do and it puts into perspective what a hard job Speedway has to keep going.A much  closer relationship with the Promoters / Customer would help but no real signs of that happening anytime soon.

Edited May 21, 2020 by Sidney the robin