NO WORD FROM THE BSPA

[waytogo28]

3 hours ago, Trees said:

I'm not blind m8, I also don't think racing has changed horrendously over the years, it's just we remember good races and block out processions.  I know what a casual fan/newcomer wants to see though

But we, as fans, shouldn't forget what the guys are doing on track, how vulnerable they are to injuring themselves, how easy it is to just moan and groan when in actual fact they are giving 100% effort, earning a living or not as the case may be, not many of them are having money chucked at them like in the good old days you speak about. 

The press conferences give an insight at Lynn into what's going on, give the fans a closeness to the riders and management they wouldn't normally have and vice versa.  I know how hard Dale and the team work to eek out results, does that mean nothing to you? 

You have got me all wrong, or have the wrong end of the stick, I know not which. EVERY rider at whatever level is a hero for getting out on track and giving it of their best. But they are not able to "put on a show" which is attracting enough spectators. That is what I am concerned about. I want to see 3,000 people for every match at KL. No kidding Buster, I do ( so long as there is enough space in the disabled section for me ).

But how it is run now, or is being forced to run ( UK speedway that is ) it can not lead to a revival. Speedway racing in the UK must change drastically or die out. Riders have to face that question as much as promoters and fans. If only 500 or 300 people, or less, will pay to watch you take part in mostly processional racing, how will you make a good living? So handicap racing and standardised bikes might be what riders have to accept.

I can't attend the press conference because the people who give me a lift need to leave. You saw my excitement at being pictured with Robert and his British Champion trophy and I was there to talk to Lewis Kerr about his injury ( and thank him for his efforts ). Any business, including KL speedway that is not economically viable, will close down. Only Buster, Robin and Dale can prevent that ( and any other secret shareholder or major sponsor ). 

[PHILIPRISING]

WHISPER it ... there was a BSPA meeting last Tuesday. Don't think they want anyone to know

[Big Al]

On 8/18/2018 at 7:17 AM, Trees said:

No race stoppages if you fall off!!! Bloody hell m8, that's ridiculous! 

As far as getting more fans in, the only thing that I think will encourage more fans is handicap racing, every fan wants to see 'racing' and it's just too processional. The riders would hate it (I think) because they are more vulnerable but....... 

 

Can remember when T20 cricket was first announced as a new competition. And I was one of many who said "bloody hell, that's ridiculous".  But I went to all the home games, some away ones, three finals days. However that was probably mostly down to my team's success in the competition, because I'm now back to preferring the old format. 

MAybe not stopping the race for falls is taking it a bit far, but we shouldn't stop throwing seemingly mad ideas into the pot because sometimes it generates the creative thinking which subsequently produces a winning one. Handicap racing used to be hugely popular in the 1920's and 1930's didn't it? I think that having a mixture of different phases within a meeting/match is worth trying, although I'd have some concerns over the ability of many referees to handle it!

[Chris116]

15 minutes ago, Big Al said:

 Handicap racing used to be hugely popular in the 1920's and 1930's didn't it?

At least one season in the early 1960s had handicap racing in the league. The sight of Ronnie Moore going from 30 yards and still being in the lead at Plough Lane is forever etched on my brain. Second half races were often five rider, handicap events and great fun for the spectators although the riders may have been less keen about the idea. 

[Sotonian]

16 minutes ago, Chris116 said:

At least one season in the early 1960s had handicap racing in the league. The sight of Ronnie Moore going from 30 yards and still being in the lead at Plough Lane is forever etched on my brain. Second half races were often five rider, handicap events and great fun for the spectators although the riders may have been less keen about the idea. 

It wasn't popular with Briggo who claimed he was blowing more engines due to racing flat-out more often.

[Trees]

Whilst 'normal' racing continues to be popular everywhere but here there's no chance of handicap racing, it makes the sport too dangerous anyway. 

In this day and age the promoters need to just keep trying their best in all aspects of promotion. Of course they could do more, more for little or no money, as could the riders (by just saying and doing the right things by the fans to keep them interested, show that they give a damn about their club, the fans and the sport as well as earning their living. There is so much more to a speedway rider's job than racing his bike). 

[waytogo28]

Riders will have to learn to offer up "more" ( in some way ) if they want to continue to earn a full time living from speedway racing ( for those not racing in other European leagues that is ).

[waytogo28]

5 hours ago, PHILIPRISING said:

WHISPER it ... there was a BSPA meeting last Tuesday. Don't think they want anyone to know

We KNOW that they don't want anyone to know - what was being discussed or even decided. History tells us that.

[Tsunami]

10 minutes ago, waytogo28 said:

We KNOW that they don't want anyone to know - what was being discussed or even decided. History tells us that.

Why do they or any company need to advise others that they are having a meeting. Picky at it's best.

[theblueboy]

5 hours ago, PHILIPRISING said:

WHISPER it ... there was a BSPA meeting last Tuesday. Don't think they want anyone to know

The BSPA make the Freemasons look like an outgoing and inclusive organisation.

[Tsunami]

1 hour ago, theblueboy said:

The BSPA make the Freemasons look like an outgoing and inclusive organisation.

I suppose the jacket and tie gives it away, rather than the ring.

[theblueboy]

1 hour ago, Tsunami said:

I suppose the jacket and tie gives it away, rather than the ring.

If it was a straight jacket I’d be more inclined to agree with you...

[topaz325]

8 hours ago, PHILIPRISING said:

WHISPER it ... there was a BSPA meeting last Tuesday. Don't think they want anyone to know

Is that where the rumour of extending the cut off date come from?

[Fundin5]

Lets face it, the BSPA is our equivalent of the KGB. Fortunately, they do bump people off !

It's about time that heads were removed from the sand and realistic thoughts given to the sport. Changes yes, there has to be. Take the possibility of  one senior league, together with the National League. Say we had 14 clubs in it, running on alternate weeks. Riding from April to September would give 26 weeks, but a 14 club scenario would require 28 weeks, no rain-offs, to complete the league only. A KO Cup competition and Play Off system, assuming they were still wanted would require more weeks. The question is, how many teams are in the BSPA thoughts? A rider would only be guaranteed 28 meetings (26 League, plus 2 KOC) and that is clearly not enough.

With the cost of equipment, riders would need more than 16 meetings to justify the outlay on machinery. With one league only, doubling up would not be feasible. So where would the extra meetings come from, without doubling up? To get any current Championship club to join the Premiership, pay rates would need adjustment; we've seen in the past (1995/96) that amalgamation almost financially crippled some tracks. Therefore, would the riders give it a go for less money? Possibly they would, but only if they had more meetings guaranteed to earn their living.

I just wish the BSPA would do the honourable thing and consult with the people who matter most to them - the fans. Without them, they're knackered. However, as we know from many years experience, it will be highly unlikely they would. They would be very foolish and, perhaps they are, to ignore our wishes, whether in part, or full. 

Edited August 21, 2018 by tobytrotter58

[SteveLyric2]

Not supporting the BSPA particularly, but is there any other sports organisation, association or even corporate that issues press releases after every board or Council meeting?!

As many owners have found in the past, the more you seek views from fans the more and different views you will get in response.

Fans views will be 'biased' depending on what club/riders they support; what league they see or have seen most of their speedway at; or what their TV Meeting experience has been; and even down to what facilities they are expected to endure when they do attend a meeting.

[Aces51]

1 hour ago, Skidder1 said:

Not supporting the BSPA particularly, but is there any other sports organisation, association or even corporate that issues press releases after every board or Council meeting?!

As many owners have found in the past, the more you seek views from fans the more and different views you will get in response.

Fans views will be 'biased' depending on what club/riders they support; what league they see or have seen most of their speedway at; or what their TV Meeting experience has been; and even down to what facilities they are expected to endure when they do attend a meeting.

The BSPA do not understood the importance of being open and transparent, even though Chapman offered it as one of his priorities.

It may be different if the sport was going from strength to strength but when it is in such obvious difficulties they desperately need the current fan base to remain loyal and a history of poor decision making and silence only alienates many of those still remaining. Silence and their previous record leaves a vacuum for rumour and creates a belief that either they cannot see the many problems or are bereft of ideas to solve them. If they really do want to get out of the current mess they are going to have to carry the fans with them and that means making them feel valued and involved. There are many companies and organisations who think it necessary to use focus groups and to survey their customers. They understand the importance of discovering what they think of current products or services and of assessing their reaction to changes they are considering making.

The BSPA needs to realise that, despite what they may think, we all want the same thing and that is for speedway to prosper and grow. At the end of the day they will not be handing over any power and they would no doubt get lots of impractical suggestions but there would also be sound and sensible ideas. It would certainly help them avoid some of the silly rule changes, those where people on here have immediately identified the flaws and which the BSPA have, sooner or later, had to abandon.

Edited August 21, 2018 by Aces51

[ch958]

i think the decisions made in the near future may be catastrophic to some clubs so it may be that keeping things quiet is understandable atm.

 

[Tsunami]

6 minutes ago, ch958 said:

i think the decisions made in the near future may be catastrophic to some clubs so it may be that keeping things quiet is understandable atm.

 

I think that with any big decisions to be agreed and announced by the BSPA, there will aways be 'winners' and 'losers' hoping that the sport is the real winner in the longer term.  Difficulty is, even fans have different expectations so there will always be some winners and losers amongst even them. Of course as with a lot of this type of thread, all the usual losers flock to then to regurgitate  their own personal hobby horses, which of course they will never be called on to take on the risks like the promoters do. You can guarantee the same forumers will be to the fore on the proposals that have been discussed and agreed by the BSPA, just because it's he only thing that they are about.  SAD.  Once a critic, always a critic with some.

[Tsunami]

45 minutes ago, Aces51 said:

The BSPA do not understood the importance of being open and transparent, even though Chapman offered it as one of his priorities.

It may be different if the sport was going from strength to strength but when it is in such obvious difficulties they desperately need the current fan base to remain loyal and a history of poor decision making and silence only alienates many of those still remaining. Silence and their previous record leaves a vacuum for rumour and creates a belief that either they cannot see the many problems or are bereft of ideas to solve them. If they really do want to get out of the current mess they are going to have to carry the fans with them and that means making them feel valued and involved. There are many companies and organisations who think it necessary to use focus groups and to survey their customers. They understand the importance of discovering what they think of current products or services and of assessing their reaction to changes they are considering making.

The BSPA needs to realise that, despite what they may think, we all want the same thing and that is for speedway to prosper and grow. At the end of the day they will not be handing over any power and they would no doubt get lots of impractical suggestions but there would also be sound and sensible ideas. It would certainly help them avoid some of the silly rule changes, those where people on here have immediately identified the flaws and which the BSPA have sooner out later had to aband.

I think the Promoters collectively know all the options, as it's not exactly the sole prime exclusive interest of the sports fans. What they have of course is the cost of everything, and the the consequences of whatever is decided good or bad, unlike supporters who all differ anyway.

As I said, and Skidder1 has commented on, why harangue  the BSPA for not announcing they are having a meeting, and not publish the outcomes which may well be getting carried over to another meeting or a secret vote after the meeting in order to proceed. In say a sports football problem, like signing a new player, the clubs don't tell the press where they are meeting,  who they are signing, what they are offering, what the demands are, and who the alternatives are and how far down the road they are at with the alternative player. It's all done and dusted first, and the outcome announced for the sports fans and administrators to move on. Expectations of some on here are mostly fanciful and inconsistent with what they might thing about other sports or businesses. Get real.

[Ray Stadia]

41 minutes ago, Tsunami said:

I think the Promoters collectively know all the options, as it's not exactly the sole prime exclusive interest of the sports fans. What they have of course is the cost of everything, and the the consequences of whatever is decided good or bad, unlike supporters who all differ anyway.

As I said, and Skidder1 has commented on, why harangue  the BSPA for not announcing they are having a meeting, and not publish the outcomes which may well be getting carried over to another meeting or a secret vote after the meeting in order to proceed. In say a sports football problem, like signing a new player, the clubs don't tell the press where they are meeting,  who they are signing, what they are offering, what the demands are, and who the alternatives are and how far down the road they are at with the alternative player. It's all done and dusted first, and the outcome announced for the sports fans and administrators to move on. Expectations of some on here are mostly fanciful and inconsistent with what they might thing about other sports or businesses. Get real.

But football is a completely different 'animal'. The media are all over football like a rash, so any news, rumours etc are not kept secret for very long. Whereas speedway has very little media outlets. Speedway Star, this forum, local newspapers a bit. Perhaps unofficial club websites, local radio a bit, word of mouth on the muddy terraces.......I have run out of ideas!