Swindon 2019

[hyabb17]

Jason Doyle praising the track & work done by Dixie Dean & volunteers.... ''Credit where credits due! Swindon track staff done a great job yesterday in extreme heat to make that track not like a dust bowl. Dixie Dean & volunteers thank you. We have another good race track in England'' His words, not mine. 

[MD]

On 7/22/2019 at 10:12 AM, John Scrutton said:

Its got to be one league on 2020   perhaps with a North & South with a play off at the end.   

No one has probably stopped to ask if the CL teams want the PL to join and the answer is no. There is nothing in it for us and we dont want the politics, bulls*it and crap tracks your league suffers from. We are doing just fine on our own thanks and have no interest in rescuing the big league, as if the shoe was on the other foot it wouldnt even be a consideration.

[theblueboy]

On 7/25/2019 at 3:07 PM, auntie doris said:

Just been chatting to Barry Duke in m&s cafe at the Orbital. Ever present for the Robins in 1970. Doesn't go to the Abbey anymore even though he's got a free ticket. Great tales of riding with Briggo, Kilby, Broady, Keener, Hitch, Munday, Woolford..and against his idols Fundin and Mauger. Said Martin Ashby is ill..haven't seen him for a while at the Abbey.

I’ve seen him on a couple of occasions this season and recently, not sure which match, so not sure that statement is correct.

 

[Steve0]

11 hours ago, MD said:

No one has probably stopped to ask if the CL teams want the PL to join and the answer is no. There is nothing in it for us and we dont want the politics, bulls*it and crap tracks your league suffers from. We are doing just fine on our own thanks and have no interest in rescuing the big league, as if the shoe was on the other foot it wouldnt even be a consideration.

That’s all well and good - so you wouldn’t mind if PL assets weren’t permitted to ride in the CL?  

The sport is on its knees - in all leagues!

[arnieg]

17 minutes ago, Steve0 said:

That’s all well and good - so you wouldn’t mind if PL assets weren’t permitted to ride in the CL?  

The sport is on its knees - in all leagues!

If the PL tried that I reckon that plenty of riders with a preference for CL would be consulting lawyers. As those contracts look extremely difficult to justify in law then the likely outcome would be that overnight the PL would have:- 

No Assets

[MattK]

12 hours ago, MD said:

No one has probably stopped to ask if the CL teams want the PL to join and the answer is no. There is nothing in it for us and we dont want the politics, bulls*it and crap tracks your league suffers from. We are doing just fine on our own thanks and have no interest in rescuing the big league, as if the shoe was on the other foot it wouldnt even be a consideration.

This is the elephant in the room which no "one big league" proponent seems to be addressing. Why would CL teams want a huge increase in costs for a minimal increase in revenues? It makes no sense.

[Steve0]

1 hour ago, arnieg said:

If the PL tried that I reckon that plenty of riders with a preference for CL would be consulting lawyers. As those contracts look extremely difficult to justify in law then the likely outcome would be that overnight the PL would have:- 

No Assets

I don’t agree with the asset system myself.  The CL could always pay out the money to buy their “contracts” from the PL.  Also bear in mind that there aren’t enough riders available to have the same number of clubs in one combined league - so if the leagues were combined - who would survive? Then there wouldn’t need to be any legal challenge as all in the same league.

As I said, British speedway is on its knees and needs co-operation moving forward - not the “I’m alright Jack” attitude that usually emanates from Dorset way

[Pinny]

The sport in the UK is on its knees and I really don’t see any way back now , no matter how much effort is made . 

Crowds have dwindled more and more season on season . Glasgow are having success due to millions being spent , no other clubs have that sort of money .

Most clubs are getting between 3-600 fans a week . Obviously there are exceptions. 

I will be perfectly honest , despite living in Melbourne I wouldn’t shell out to go and watch whats on offer at most tracks on a weekly basis in the UK. 

It doesn’t help how riders swap clubs so often. Back 20 years ago most clubs had a number one that was associated with the club and would stay year on year ... now its just musical chairs . Most riders ride in both leagues , theres guests every week , riders missing. Its a shambles. And riders demanding good money from clubs surviving on Sunday league footy crowds. Most stadiums are old , worn and decaying.

I cannot see any way back for it , as bad as it sounds . I think the sport is near enough finished .

[stevebrum]

19 hours ago, MD said:

No one has probably stopped to ask if the CL teams want the PL to join and the answer is no. There is nothing in it for us and we dont want the politics, bulls*it and crap tracks your league suffers from. We are doing just fine on our own thanks and have no interest in rescuing the big league, as if the shoe was on the other foot it wouldnt even be a consideration.

You must live in another world if you believe that the CL is all rosey and healthy. What happened  to last years champions?? All ‘fine’ there is it?

The amount of clubs running must be at an all time low in this modern era as clubs from ALL divisions are closing because of speedway not being profitable. There are litters of clubs no longer running from all tiers. This is a British Speedway problem not a one league issue.

I thought it was the top flight that had a snobbery to all other leagues but you have proven that is not the case.

ALL leagues and clubs need to work together to find a workable way forward and it needs to be radical and not just silly little tinkering here and there. What we don’t need is this snobbish attitude that we are fine thanks in the slightest because it’s this attitude that will see more clubs struggling to survive. Although I guess no clubs in the CL struggle because everything is fine. Cough cough Workington. 

[orion]

20 hours ago, MD said:

No one has probably stopped to ask if the CL teams want the PL to join and the answer is no. There is nothing in it for us and we dont want the politics, bulls*it and crap tracks your league suffers from. We are doing just fine on our own thanks and have no interest in rescuing the big league, as if the shoe was on the other foot it wouldnt even be a consideration.

Really ..hardly  doing well ..who made you spokesman for the whole league by the way ?

[JCookie]

21 hours ago, MD said:

No one has probably stopped to ask if the CL teams want the PL to join and the answer is no. There is nothing in it for us and we dont want the politics, bulls*it and crap tracks your league suffers from. We are doing just fine on our own thanks and have no interest in rescuing the big league, as if the shoe was on the other foot it wouldnt even be a consideration.

This has got to be the worst take on the matter, ever.

[Pinny]

1 hour ago, JCookie said:

This has got to be the worst take on the matter, ever.

Forgetting that his own club was an absolute mess until the millionaires came in and likely will be again if and when they get bored and sell up/close down as nobody wants to buy it for their asking price . 

[MD]

13 hours ago, Steve0 said:

That’s all well and good - so you wouldn’t mind if PL assets weren’t permitted to ride in the CL?  

If its one league there wont be any doubling up.

[MD]

5 hours ago, stevebrum said:

You must live in another world if you believe that the CL is all rosey and healthy. What happened  to last years champions?? All ‘fine’ there is it?

The amount of clubs running must be at an all time low in this modern era as clubs from ALL divisions are closing because of speedway not being profitable. There are litters of clubs no longer running from all tiers. This is a British Speedway problem not a one league issue.

I thought it was the top flight that had a snobbery to all other leagues but you have proven that is not the case.

ALL leagues and clubs need to work together to find a workable way forward and it needs to be radical and not just silly little tinkering here and there. What we don’t need is this snobbish attitude that we are fine thanks in the slightest because it’s this attitude that will see more clubs struggling to survive. Although I guess no clubs in the CL struggle because everything is fine. Cough cough Workington. 

Again, what is in it for CL teams to become one league?

From this years CL teams, Birmingham and perhaps Sheffield may not continue into 2020. I never mentioned all being rosey but having PL teams imposed on them in one league isnt the answer IMO. Perhaps its viewed as the answer to the PL's major issues of riding in front of empty stadiums, poorly prepared or doctored tracks, seeing the same teams multiple times a season and having a belligerent senior official who owns 3 tracks and has a my way or no way attitude that clearly the sport doesnt need. The second tier has rarely been shown any sort of significance but now the top league is in bother we've all got to pull together, like 1995 again.

[MD]

2 hours ago, Pinny said:

Forgetting that his own club was an absolute mess until the millionaires came in and likely will be again if and when they get bored and sell up/close down as nobody wants to buy it for their asking price . 

Thats a fair point and if they do get bored we know its game over for the current standard of what we have. Having suffered the best part of struggle for 20 years, the current eutopia years are all the more enjoyable and perhaps change your judgement. However despite all that is written about us we arent superstars and the last 3 visitors have all scored over 40 points and the racing has been superb. From our league of 11 there are realistically 8 teams who could make the playoffs and the standard of competition is mostly good. No need to change it IMO.

 

[waytogo28]

7 hours ago, MD said:

a belligerent senior official who owns 3 tracks and has a my way or no way attitude that clearly the sport doesnt need.

So are the others in the BSPA afraid of Buster Chapman or they so zoned out in a couldn't care less approach or have they already given up? Bereft of ideas that the majority of fans can relate to, certainly.

[stevebrum]

14 hours ago, MD said:

Again, what is in it for CL teams to become one league?

From this years CL teams, Birmingham and perhaps Sheffield may not continue into 2020. I never mentioned all being rosey but having PL teams imposed on them in one league isnt the answer IMO. Perhaps its viewed as the answer to the PL's major issues of riding in front of empty stadiums, poorly prepared or doctored tracks, seeing the same teams multiple times a season and having a belligerent senior official who owns 3 tracks and has a my way or no way attitude that clearly the sport doesnt need. The second tier has rarely been shown any sort of significance but now the top league is in bother we've all got to pull together, like 1995 again.

Sorry but your attitude of we are ok so leave us alone is part of what’s wrong with the sport today.

No one league is ok at all. The CL doesn’t play out to crowds of people (ask Workington and probably at least half of the current teams who have been mentioning poor crowd numbers for many a season now), CL tracks aren’t any better prepared or undoctored either, CL don’t prepare tracks to suit the home riders??? Of course they do.

The only valid point you make is regards to the amount of double fixtures and triple with the season opener competition. It doesn’t happen in the European leagues who function fine with 8-10 teams.

As I previously pointed out only a radical address of the current situation of ALL leagues will potentially address the decline and if it means one big league then so be it.

Also to add I’m a fan of the top flight and wish to see it made stronger not weaker. Only a stronger league would bring the fans back to the top flight however that’s about as remote as it gets and hence why my attendance has waned also.

On a separate note where do you get Birmingham being a team that might not be back in 2020? You must be the only person I know that has seen that as a possibility. Birmingham, like the Isle of Wight have a very customer friendly fans first approach that’s working well for the club and whilst it was a huge gamble for the club to move up I’ve not seen any news that this might be a one off season. 

Sheffield I get because it’s been put up for sale.

Never before have all leagues and promotions needed to work together to save the sport than now. They must all do the right thing to save the sport. This my league is ok nonsense has caused some of the issues we are now faced with.

[MD]

4 hours ago, stevebrum said:

Sorry but your attitude of we are ok so leave us alone is part of what’s wrong with the sport today.

Its what has been wrong with the sport for decades, its just that those in officialdom have viewed the top league as being British speedway, the other tiers being an afterthought.

 

4 hours ago, stevebrum said:

Also to add I’m a fan of the top flight and wish to see it made stronger not weaker. Only a stronger league would bring the fans back to the top flight however that’s about as remote as it gets and hence why my attendance has waned also.

I'm a fan of the second tier and to make the top tier look strong in 2019, degrees of separation were built in to differentiate the product of PL and CL, purposefully weakening the CL with 4.5 points taken off the team building limit and a introducing a proliferation of 2 pointers, many of whom are not ready for it and detract from the racing experience. Again the CL this year is a legacy of the decision to protect the PL at all costs. 

 

4 hours ago, stevebrum said:

On a separate note where do you get Birmingham being a team that might not be back in 2020? You must be the only person I know that has seen that as a possibility. Birmingham, like the Isle of Wight have a very customer friendly fans first approach that’s working well for the club and whilst it was a huge gamble for the club to move up I’ve not seen any news that this might be a one off season. 

Might not be back in the CL but return to the NL IMO. Brum are struggling in an already diluted CL and have been largely uncompetitive, making change after change in a desperate bid to win meetings at home, cover for injuries and avoid the wooden spoon. When being beaten on the road their TM isn't even using the TS ride to keep wage costs down. They have probably cut their cloth however needed to be strong from the start rather than go with a few mediocre riders. Naturally it would be good if they were to continue in the CL next year, get a bit of better luck and make better choices having learned from a tough first year. I agree, excellent fans, as experienced first hand earlier this month.

 

4 hours ago, stevebrum said:

Never before have all leagues and promotions needed to work together to save the sport than now. They must all do the right thing to save the sport. This my league is ok nonsense has caused some of the issues we are now faced with.

Agree, work together is the answer, but the historic precedent is the top league first, and nothing suggests that culture will change.

Edited July 29, 2019 by MD

[noggin]

Came here expecting to read some Robins news.

[stevebrum]

4 hours ago, MD said:

Its what has been wrong with the sport for decades, its just that those in officialdom have viewed the top league as being British speedway, the other tiers being an afterthought.

 

I'm a fan of the second tier and to make the top tier look strong in 2019, degrees of separation were built in to differentiate the product of PL and CL, purposefully weakening the CL with 4.5 points taken off the team building limit and a introducing a proliferation of 2 pointers, many of whom are not ready for it and detract from the racing experience. Again the CL this year is a legacy of the decision to protect the PL at all costs. 

 

Might not be back in the CL but return to the NL IMO. Brum are struggling in an already diluted CL and have been largely uncompetitive, making change after change in a desperate bid to win meetings at home, cover for injuries and avoid the wooden spoon. When being beaten on the road their TM isn't even using the TS ride to keep wage costs down. They have probably cut their cloth however needed to be strong from the start rather than go with a few mediocre riders. Naturally it would be good if they were to continue in the CL next year, get a bit of better luck and make better choices having learned from a tough first year. I agree, excellent fans, as experienced first hand earlier this month.

 

Agree, work together is the answer, but the historic precedent is the top league first, and nothing suggests that culture will change.

1. Top flights of all European leagues are the pinnacle of competition. As they should be. 2nd division racing (which is what we are talking about here) is never meant to be given equal billing. Decisions are made during every close season that the lower tiers have influence over and I’m sure exert their own power.

2. I fall to see how sensible decisions made to ensure the next generation of kids get the right pathway by starting in the CL and not the PL is protecting the PL.

3. I work at Brum so I don’t share those views. I hope they survive and if any club deserves it they do. They aren’t cast adrift at the bottom of the table and have been top 6 during a purple spell. 

4. We at least agree on the last thing! Making British speedway survive is the only important thing the promoters should be concerned about right now. If it was only one big league it will be targeted as the top flight because that’s good marketing and totally sensible. As it should be. Like I’ve said only radical changes will see a change in the status quo, and I hope those running the sport make the right decision even if it’s a difficult one and ALL parties involved agree.