AGM

[Trees]

12 hours ago, DC2 said:

 

That’s my point. 

Some of the tracks have been rubbish.

You can normally discount the first twelve heats in most GPS as rubbish racing with one line on the inside and as speedway’s showcase they should be the best prepared tracks in the world.

The organisers of the GPs don't care either, just as long as some company is paying them so they make their profit ....

[Guest]

21 hours ago, lewy said:

Total joke of management committee and chairman self interest at it's best,should be ashamed of themselves !!!

REALLY There is a clue in the name Speedway Promoters !! Of course its self interest these people are sinking Thousands of pounds into the promotion Would you not be SELF Interested !! i bloody would I for one dont blame Keith Chapman for packing it in If i were him i would  

[IainB]

On 11/17/2019 at 10:17 AM, Piotr Pyszny said:

Problem is, it's very difficult to ascertain the views of former fans who have voted with their feet over the last three decades.

Speedway's existing, year-on-year declining audience won't keep the sport alive.

It needs to reach out to former fans (extremely difficult to win back once the habit has gone) and, more importantly, those who have never watched speedway. The biggest obstacle with the latter is most of Britain has no idea what speedway is. Outside the isolated pockets of speedway activity, the sport's media profile is nonexistent.

Maybe run a "masters series" as a 2nd half to bring some old punters back, all riding standard equipment supplied by the club?

[RPNY]

Going forward would like to see the Premiership with 8 team, all ride against each other once home & once away. GP Riders are a non starter pretty much so dont even worry about set race nights. Just do whatever is best for each club to maximize crowd potential. 2 U23 British reserves for each team.  Proper Cup competition with final at a neutral venue (Perry Barr maybe) help on a non GP Saturday in September. 

Ditto for the Championship with the Cup Final somewhere like Belle Vue or Peterborough (depending on what teams get to the Final)

All other meaningless competitions forgotten about  as they rarely attract decent crowds. Just a local friendly to kick start the season before the league campaign gets going.

Most important though is a decent track so the boys can race and a fair price point so family's and young kids/students/young adults can go. Its really not a case of re inventing the wheel. 

[The Dog]

Anybody know what the bond/league entry fee to the BSPA covers every year and where it all goes?

[Bagpuss]

16 hours ago, RPNY said:

Going forward would like to see the Premiership with 8 team, all ride against each other once home & once away. GP Riders are a non starter pretty much so dont even worry about set race nights. Just do whatever is best for each club to maximize crowd potential. 2 U23 British reserves for each team.  Proper Cup competition with final at a neutral venue (Perry Barr maybe) help on a non GP Saturday in September. 

Ditto for the Championship with the Cup Final somewhere like Belle Vue or Peterborough (depending on what teams get to the Final)

All other meaningless competitions forgotten about  as they rarely attract decent crowds. Just a local friendly to kick start the season before the league campaign gets going.

Most important though is a decent track so the boys can race and a fair price point so family's and young kids/students/young adults can go. Its really not a case of re inventing the wheel. 

Set nights allow riders to double up without fixture clashes which is vitally important. 

[BuxtonTiger]

17 hours ago, RPNY said:

Going forward would like to see the Premiership with 8 team, all ride against each other once home & once away. GP Riders are a non starter pretty much so dont even worry about set race nights. Just do whatever is best for each club to maximize crowd potential. 2 U23 British reserves for each team.  Proper Cup competition with final at a neutral venue (Perry Barr maybe) help on a non GP Saturday in September. 

Ditto for the Championship with the Cup Final somewhere like Belle Vue or Peterborough (depending on what teams get to the Final)

All other meaningless competitions forgotten about  as they rarely attract decent crowds. Just a local friendly to kick start the season before the league campaign gets going.

Most important though is a decent track so the boys can race and a fair price point so family's and young kids/students/young adults can go. Its really not a case of re inventing the wheel. 

Perry Barr, dogs on a Saturday.

Edited November 19, 2019 by BuxtonTiger

[Midland Red]

45 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

Set nights allow riders to double up without fixture clashes which is vitally important. 

Then do away with doubling up

[Bagpuss]

10 minutes ago, Midland Red said:

Then do away with doubling up

I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with that but I expect you would get riders claiming they can’t afford to race without both incomes and you wonder what riders would cone into our league set up to make the numbers up. 

Doubling up has changed an awful lot from when it was first introduced and catered for young British riders only. 

[DC2]

21 minutes ago, Midland Red said:

Then do away with doubling up

 

Doubling up is not a problem with fixed race nights, which in any event makes sense to avoid clashes with the foreign leagues.

Although I'd rather have one league with no doubling up!

 

[Midland Red]

26 minutes ago, DC2 said:

 

Doubling up is not a problem with fixed race nights, which in any event makes sense to avoid clashes with the foreign leagues.

Although I'd rather have one league with no doubling up!

 

To me, doubling up is a problem

To me, fixed race nights are a problem

To me, one league senior league, plus a development league, is a must

[The Dog]

I've never had a problem with doubling up because, and I'll use Chris Harris as an example, Ipswich don't race against Birmingham because their in different leagues. You should be backing the rider that rides for your club and not because he rides for a different club in a different league. I also think that given the lower crowds nowadays, riders generally need both leagues in Britain to earn a living. Although riders say cost is going up every year, it would be interesting to know how many of them get jobs during the off-season....

[Gambo]

39 minutes ago, The Dog said:

I've never had a problem with doubling up because, and I'll use Chris Harris as an example, Ipswich don't race against Birmingham because their in different leagues. You should be backing the rider that rides for your club and not because he rides for a different club in a different league. I also think that given the lower crowds nowadays, riders generally need both leagues in Britain to earn a living. Although riders say cost is going up every year, it would be interesting to know how many of them get jobs during the off-season....

Totally agree with the post, and particularly relevant is your last sentence.

At a recent NSSC meeting Referee Phil Griffin, who by the way provided many laughs in his talk-in, was particularly scathing in the attitude of a particular CL Heat Leader who thought that around 140 actual 'working days' in a 5 month season should allow him to live for 12 months.

[GWC]

25 minutes ago, Gambo said:

Totally agree with the post, and particularly relevant is your last sentence.

At a recent NSSC meeting Referee Phil Griffin, who by the way provided many laughs in his talk-in, was particularly scathing in the attitude of a particular CL Heat Leader who thought that around 140 actual 'working days' in a 5 month season should allow him to live for 12 months.

That has been the problem now for a few years and unless the bspa address the league set up it will continue.

 

[mikebv]

An interesting article with AdrIan Smith of BV in the Speedway Star current edition re some of his thoughts on the future...

It is noticeable that those who come into the sport without any 'emotional attachment' to any particular rider or team through either being a sponsor or fan, seem to look at the sport far more objectively and dispassionately, and therefore make far more clearer decisions based on good business practice..

He seems to have a lot of ideas, (many of which contributors to here will recognise as they have been mentioned on probably far too many occasions!), including the need for an 'independent body' to improve the sports credibilty and bring it in line with other sports..

He mentioned that he hoped several topics would be raised at the AGM, and also talked about his concern that changing points levels every year doesn't help the sport progress, and, as we saw from the AGM press release, that is being looked into with the Champs possibly setting the level the season after next.

So maybe some of his ideas are starting to get some support and cut through? 

I would imagine though overall it will be a 'hard sell' for him to convince those who are 'too close' to the 'emotional' and 'hobby' aspect of the sport to agree to change..

He does though come across as a shrewd man who finds a way to get most things done, so more power to his elbow, (and those of a like mind)..

Overall a very interesting read and in general another excellent issue again..

UK Speedway is VERY fortunate to have such a professional magazine cover it's output..

 

Edited November 19, 2019 by mikebv

[Ghosty]

5 hours ago, Midland Red said:

To me, doubling up is a problem  

To me, fixed race nights are a problem

To me, one league senior league, plus a development league, is a must

Totally agree with the first & second comments, but for me we need 3 leagues of different levels. Currently the Championship has to many riders that should ONLY be in the Premiership. Lots of reasons for this but stopping young talent progressing is one. 

[Grachan]

6 hours ago, Midland Red said:

To me, doubling up is a problem

To me, fixed race nights are a problem

To me, one league senior league, plus a development league, is a must

Other than availability for some clubs, meaning they stay in a lower league, I don't see why fixed race nights are a problem. In fact, it has improved some of the problems that were occurring with riders being abroad or riding in lower leagues.

[Halifaxtiger]

1 hour ago, Grachan said:

Other than availability for some clubs, meaning they stay in a lower league, I don't see why fixed race nights are a problem. In fact, it has improved some of the problems that were occurring with riders being abroad or riding in lower leagues.

Put one club (Rye House) out of business, another (Sheffield) up for sale and forced another (Poole) to change leagues. 

It should not be the case that we risk the very existence of our teams for no reason other than riders doubling their pay and they all seemed to manage before we had it so why not now ? 

Edited November 19, 2019 by Halifaxtiger

[Halifaxtiger]

5 hours ago, mikebv said:

An interesting article with AdrIan Smith of BV in the Speedway Star current edition re some of his thoughts on the future...

It is noticeable that those who come into the sport without any 'emotional attachment' to any particular rider or team through either being a sponsor or fan, seem to look at the sport far more objectively and dispassionately, and therefore make far more clearer decisions based on good business practice..

He seems to have a lot of ideas, (many of which contributors to here will recognise as they have been mentioned on probably far too many occasions!), including the need for an 'independent body' to improve the sports credibilty and bring it in line with other sports..

He mentioned that he hoped several topics would be raised at the AGM, and also talked about his concern that changing points levels every year doesn't help the sport progress, and, as we saw from the AGM press release, that is being looked into with the Champs possibly setting the level the season after next.

So maybe some of his ideas are starting to get some support and cut through? 

I would imagine though overall it will be a 'hard sell' for him to convince those who are 'too close' to the 'emotional' and 'hobby' aspect of the sport to agree to change..

He does though come across as a shrewd man who finds a way to get most things done, so more power to his elbow, (and those of a like mind)..

Overall a very interesting read and in general another excellent issue again..

UK Speedway is VERY fortunate to have such a professional magazine cover it's output..

 

Seeing him sweeping water off the track (in his shirtsleeves while it was still raining) at a Colts meeting hugely impressed me.

I can certainly think of one other who would do that but many who most certainly wouldn't. 

I am reasonably sure that he  and Barry Bishop very much see eye to eye. No surprise there. 

Edited November 19, 2019 by Halifaxtiger

[Halifaxtiger]

8 hours ago, Bagpuss said:

I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with that but I expect you would get riders claiming they can’t afford to race without both incomes and you wonder what riders would cone into our league set up to make the numbers up. 

Doubling up has changed an awful lot from when it was first introduced and catered for young British riders only. 

Some of them - Chris Harris, Scott Nicholls spring to mind - were able to ride speedway for years without doubling up.

The only thing that has changed is that they have seen a way to substantially increase earnings.