AGM November 2018

[poppetman]

4 hours ago, MattK said:

This is definitely the kind of things that should be trialled in a few meetings, such as the KO Cup. See how it works in practice and then make an evidence-based decision.

Handicap racing will never work for the simple reason that the top riders don't want to risk injury by having to pass lower grade riders  and won't accept it. Same reason Briggs,Fundin etc weren't having it over fifty years ago. It's an end of season gimmick that seems to go down well in Wolverhampton much like the Ipswich sixteen lapper.

[foamfence]

7 hours ago, Midland Red said:

Doesn't she work at JLR (Jaguar-Land Rover), where I guess there's a scheme for employees at a certain level, and family members, to lease (or purchase) new vehicles at very affordable prices, probably changed every six months?

You "guess." Well she did say that she'd bought him it.

[JCookie]

6 hours ago, poppetman said:

Handicap racing will never work for the simple reason that the top riders don't want to risk injury by having to pass lower grade riders  and won't accept it. Same reason Briggs,Fundin etc weren't having it over fifty years ago. It's an end of season gimmick that seems to go down well in Wolverhampton much like the Ipswich sixteen lapper.

If it seems to go down well then it should be trialled. As with a multitude of other things it's tough if the riders don't like it, if it works for speedway then they should like it or lump it.

[Spl77]

8 hours ago, Midland Red said:

Doesn't she work at JLR (Jaguar-Land Rover), where I guess there's a scheme for employees at a certain level, and family members, to lease (or purchase) new vehicles at very affordable prices, probably changed every six months?

Depends where she works and how long for. If you work in a dealer you do get discounts but it's a 3 year contract. If you have worked for JLR for years ypu get a new one every 6 months at discounted rates however if you're a newbie it's the same deal as a retailer employee. 

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, Spl77 said:

Depends where she works and how long for. If you work in a dealer you do get discounts but it's a 3 year contract. If you have worked for JLR for years ypu get a new one every 6 months at discounted rates however if you're a newbie it's the same deal as a retailer employee. 

Not really interested how he spends his earnings ,simply saying his Interview is a PR disaster if he expects people to believe what he says.Self Interest and other people paying for everything seems to be what he would like.He can only ride a speedway bike.

[greyhoundp]

8 hours ago, poppetman said:

Handicap racing will never work for the simple reason that the top riders don't want to risk injury by having to pass lower grade riders  and won't accept it. Same reason Briggs,Fundin etc weren't having it over fifty years ago. It's an end of season gimmick that seems to go down well in Wolverhampton much like the Ipswich sixteen lapper.

 Well we all risk injury every time we cross the road or get into our Car, this is a Sport that has risks, of course H&S is there to reduce/prevent risks, but goodness me the nature of the Sport is very risky in the first place, maybe we should be looking at having Speedway bikes with brakes, then riders could brake when they are close to a lower grade rider . The whole Sport is in crisis the number of clubs up for sale tells you that, Its simply no use now carrying on with the same old format that has failed to bring in new supporters over a number of years, we have to look at ways to get new people through the gate, Yes most of us on here are the older brigade, I myself go back to 1962 .

 Is anything new thats suggested now being classed as a gimmick ?,  I would even look to take it a stage further in the years to come. There needs to be a way to get Bookmakers more involved in the Sport but to do this it perhaps needs 6 man handicap races, now whether or not this would be viable in the years ahead i am not so sure, the tracks may not be built for this to be viable, the angle i am coming from is Tracks could run a Totalisator on races similar to Greyhound meetings ie Forecasts, Tricasts, and reverse Forecasts, Tricasts, Greyhound Tracks take a big percentage of the on course pools allegedly up to 30% of the total on course pool, then there is the Jackpot, whereby you have to name the winner of a number of races, in Speedway this could be name the winner of the 13/15 races, this pool roles over meeting by meeting until its won. If this took off the Bookmakers could begin to take a serious interest in Speedway, and that would mean money into the Sport, and provide to be a lifeline it desperately needs. As an example greyhound racing streamed into Betting shops brings in thousands of pounds for every meeting on the streaming service allegedly upwards of 10k per meeting, and as Bookmakers they do sponsor greyhound races throughout the year.. 

I will sit back now and wait for the abuse, but im just trying to think of things outside the box.. .

[steve roberts]

1 minute ago, greyhoundp said:

 Well we all risk injury every time we cross the road or get into our Car, this is a Sport that has risks, of course H&S is there to reduce/prevent risks, but goodness me the nature of the Sport is very risky in the first place, maybe we should be looking at having Speedway bikes with brakes, then riders could brake when they are close to a lower grade rider . The whole Sport is in crisis the number of clubs up for sale tells you that, Its simply no use now carrying on with the same old format that has failed to bring in new supporters over a number of years, we have to look at ways to get new people through the gate, Yes most of us on here are the older brigade, I myself go back to 1962 .

 Is anything new thats suggested now being classed as a gimmick ?,  I would even look to take it a stage further in the years to come. There needs to be a way to get Bookmakers more involved in the Sport but to do this it perhaps needs 6 man handicap races, now whether or not this would be viable in the years ahead i am not so sure, the tracks may not be built for this to be viable, the angle i am coming from is Tracks could run a Totalisator on races similar to Greyhound meetings ie Forecasts, Tricasts, and reverse Forecasts, Tricasts, Greyhound Tracks take a big percentage of the on course pools allegedly up to 30% of the total on course pool, then there is the Jackpot, whereby you have to name the winner of a number of races, in Speedway this could be name the winner of the 13/15 races, this pool roles over meeting by meeting until its won. If this took off the Bookmakers could begin to take a serious interest in Speedway, and that would mean money into the Sport, and provide to be a lifeline it desperately needs. As an example greyhound racing streamed into Betting shops brings in thousands of pounds for every meeting on the streaming service allegedly upwards of 10k per meeting, and as Bookmakers they do sponsor greyhound races throughout the year.. 

I will sit back now and wait for the abuse, but im just trying to think of things outside the box.. .

Not sure about brakes on bikes. When I attended one of Olle Nygren's Training Schools many years ago now he explained why brakes were not a feature...actually their absence was a safety feature because the last thing you wanted when entering the bend closely behind someone was that person to apply the brakes! It was all about throttle control back then which determined the speed and volatility of the bike.

[Daniel Smith]

8 hours ago, poppetman said:

Handicap racing will never work for the simple reason that the top riders don't want to risk injury by having to pass lower grade riders  and won't accept it. Same reason Briggs,Fundin etc weren't having it over fifty years ago. It's an end of season gimmick that seems to go down well in Wolverhampton much like the Ipswich sixteen lapper.

Don't think the heatleaders worry about injuries at all. Their concerns will only be about finances. To put themselves week in week out through handicap racing they'll demand a higher per point wage or larger signing on / guarantee payment simply because they're certain of less money.

[ragdoll64]

1 hour ago, greyhoundp said:

 Well we all risk injury every time we cross the road or get into our Car, this is a Sport that has risks, of course H&S is there to reduce/prevent risks, but goodness me the nature of the Sport is very risky in the first place, maybe we should be looking at having Speedway bikes with brakes, then riders could brake when they are close to a lower grade rider . The whole Sport is in crisis the number of clubs up for sale tells you that, Its simply no use now carrying on with the same old format that has failed to bring in new supporters over a number of years, we have to look at ways to get new people through the gate, Yes most of us on here are the older brigade, I myself go back to 1962 .

 Is anything new thats suggested now being classed as a gimmick ?,  I would even look to take it a stage further in the years to come. There needs to be a way to get Bookmakers more involved in the Sport but to do this it perhaps needs 6 man handicap races, now whether or not this would be viable in the years ahead i am not so sure, the tracks may not be built for this to be viable, the angle i am coming from is Tracks could run a Totalisator on races similar to Greyhound meetings ie Forecasts, Tricasts, and reverse Forecasts, Tricasts, Greyhound Tracks take a big percentage of the on course pools allegedly up to 30% of the total on course pool, then there is the Jackpot, whereby you have to name the winner of a number of races, in Speedway this could be name the winner of the 13/15 races, this pool roles over meeting by meeting until its won. If this took off the Bookmakers could begin to take a serious interest in Speedway, and that would mean money into the Sport, and provide to be a lifeline it desperately needs. As an example greyhound racing streamed into Betting shops brings in thousands of pounds for every meeting on the streaming service allegedly upwards of 10k per meeting, and as Bookmakers they do sponsor greyhound races throughout the year.. 

I will sit back now and wait for the abuse, but im just trying to think of things outside the box.. .

Yup........and at least we can be assured (because speedway is such an honest, up front game) that there would be absolutely no chance of race fixing........LOL

[Gemini]

1 hour ago, steve roberts said:

Not sure about brakes on bikes. When I attended one of Olle Nygren's Training Schools many years ago now he explained why brakes were not a feature...actually their absence was a safety feature because the last thing you wanted when entering the bend closely behind someone was that person to apply the brakes! 

Okay with warning  stop lights then like on a car.  Solved. 

[Call me wolfie]

10 hours ago, poppetman said:

Handicap racing will never work for the simple reason that the top riders don't want to risk injury by having to pass lower grade riders  and won't accept it. Same reason Briggs,Fundin etc weren't having it over fifty years ago. It's an end of season gimmick that seems to go down well in Wolverhampton much like the Ipswich sixteen lapper.

Handicap racing would never work in official meetings as it would lead to a levelling out of averages

[IainB]

5 hours ago, foamfence said:

You "guess." Well she did say that she'd bought him it.

To be fair to the Harris's she did say on Twitter that as she works for JLR they got it on some kind of employee lease scheme, she mentioned it on there because ill informed people were trolling them for it.

Having said that Chris does need to wake up and smell the coffee, like most riders he's not as good as he thinks he is and don't get me wrong as a Cov fan I love him to bits but I'm also honest in my appraisal of riders.

Edited November 12, 2018 by iainb

[Big Al]

I note that on Saturday, Chepstow racecourse (which is where I'm guessing the AGM is taking place) is due to host some kind of mud-wrestling event. If the promoters haven't agreed things by then via talking, well they could always decide them in a different way. 

[Daniel Smith]

So, the bananas are placed on the tables ready but is there anything anywhere that suggests the monkey meeting is actually happening today??

[Trees]

3 hours ago, ragdoll64 said:

Yup........and at least we can be assured (because speedway is such an honest, up front game) that there would be absolutely no chance of race fixing........LOL

Have always disagreed with betting in speedway as it is so up for fixing, maybe someone is getting plenty of money out of it perhaps .......

[SteveLyric2]

1 hour ago, Daniel Smith said:

So, the bananas are placed on the tables ready but is there anything anywhere that suggests the monkey meeting is actually happening today??

Day 1 is usually to conclude this year's business, accounts and any outstanding payments between clubs etc and to get as clear as possible idea of which clubs will run in 2019.

Days 2 and 3 are for formulating league structures, averages and any rule tinkering for 2019 (and beyond?!).

Edited November 12, 2018 by Skidder1

[Icicle]

I thought Days 1,2 &3 were taken up with how much booze & nonsense can be said....

[Danny Connor]

If betting draws in the punters and earns money why not. If a rider is found to be bent then they can face the punishment like the cricketers do. If something looks fishy suspend betting. I think it’s a great idea and may allow admission prices to fall too if it works out. A day at the speedway could be a more pc version of a day at the dogs

[Daniel Smith]

5 minutes ago, Danny Connor said:

If betting draws in the punters and earns money why not. If a rider is found to be bent then they can face the punishment like the cricketers do. If something looks fishy suspend betting. I think it’s a great idea and may allow admission prices to fall too if it works out. A day at the speedway could be a more pc version of a day at the dogs

Agree, Speedway is no more susceptible to betting fraud than an other sport in the World

[STEVEHOLS54]

10 minutes ago, Skidder1 said:

Day 1 is usually to conclude this year's business, accounts and any outstanding payments between clubs etc and to get as clear as possible idea of which clubs will run in 2019.

Days 2 and 3 are for formulating league structures, averages and any rule tinkering for 2019 (and beyond?!).

Can never understand the powers that be who run the sport.

Many have said we are at a watershed moment in the sport and this could be one of the most important AGM's in determining which way the sport goes in UK. I find it incredible that the SGB site is only  too keen to mention it has doubled its Twitter followers and that its only ??? until the sport returns in March yet NOTHING mentioned about this very important AGM starting today.

One would have thought in the very least they should be all over twitter mentioning one of the most important AGM's ever to have taken place in the sport was kicking off today. Also making most of social media to say they would update twitter/facebook immediately news flowed out of the AGM as to whom may be continuing in the sport in 2019 and informing us the poor mushrooms that we would be kept updated as to any news as it happens on any changes to league format/team points limits and anything else that would keep fans regualary checking the site for updates.

Maybe it just shows the ignorance of the BSPA that they choose to keep all in the dark even to the degree of not even mentioning arguably the most important AGM in the sports recent history. Like do they think that thousands would be descending upon Chepstow in protest or to try and influence the meeting ??

To me it would make sense to keep fans informed in order that general interest can be kept throughout the 3 day meeting process. Yes we can wait until its all done and dusted and get one big version but that's hardly utilising modern media to its full potential.

Incredible to think that POL transfer window closes in 2 days and Sweden almost completed their teams, yet we sit hear with nothing but news about clubs closing or promoters looking to sell up or clubs needing major cash injections if they a re to continue in 2019.