Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:20 pm Post subject: Reports from Uckfield News
Is there hope for speedway at Arlington in 2010?
When you look at the hard facts there’s not much hope for the future of Eastbourne Speedway, writes Paul Watson.
The rights to promote speedway have been ‘on the block’ since mid-summer and no-one has come forward to take over.
It looks grim and for weeks it has truly felt grim.
Fans at Arlington have seemed to think the end is inevitable. However, once you talk to people outside Sussex you get a different story.
I have no idea where their “information” is coming from but what they tell you (boiled down) is this: Eastbourne will run next year.
You can hardly accuse club owner Bob Dugard of talking up the future. He’s been straight about the financial plight the club has been in this year – a £50,000 loss despite a £100,000 income from Sky TV.
Attendances have been well shy of the break-even figure of 1,300; often being below 1,000.
However, there seemed on Saturday night a more optimistic mood among the fans – there was more of a feeling that the show will go on in 2010.
One theory is that the BSPA top brass will step in to prevent Eastbourne going under.
The argument is that the track is a key piece in the Sky TV jigsaw – it is said the TV company has always loved its trips to Sussex – and that there is no way it will be allowed to fold.
Matt Ford (Poole), Chris van Straten (Wolverhapton) or even Jon Cook (Lakeside) were all mentioned as being people who would front the show.
Cook has ruled himself out and on Saturday night Dugard said there had been no contact.
But the rumours will just not go away.
Is it wishful thinking or is it a case of no smoke without fire?
Only time will tell but the news late last week that there would be one more meeting this year at Arlington has fanned the flames.
Last Saturday against Ipswich was due to be the finale for 2009 and may be forever.
Then, out of the blue, it was announced there will be a challenge match against Poole on October 10 for the “Suntrap trophy”. [Suntrap is an old name used in the past to promote the resort of Eastbourne.]
Co-promoter Trevor Geer apparently persuaded Dugard to hold one more meeting.
He wrote in Saturday’s programme: “I would like some revenge for them beating us at home on the 28th August and secondly I want to prove to Bob that we do have plenty of support out there for us to continue in the Elite League here at Arlington next year, 2010.
“So please tell your friends and come out and give us your support for the last meeting of 2009.”
Let’s take it at face value. Maybe the changes being planned to the league structure for next year will make promoting speedway at Eastbourne a much more appealing attraction.
If that’s the case, then a big turnout on October 10 might just be enough to tip the balance for a would-be promoter to throw their hat into the ring.
Dugard has suggested that he knows of someone who would takeover, if the league structure was more favourable.
In that case, a “test the water” meeting makes sense. We shall see.
For the final Elite League match, Ipswich secured a 45-45 draw thanks to a thrilling move by Scott Nicholls and Troy Batchelor in the deciding heat 15.
They went either side of Eagles’ Simon Gustafsson on the back straight of the first lap to give them a 5-1 and a draw.
It was pretty lack lustre meeting but Eastbourne were always struggling as their three heatleaders misfired.
Lukas Dryml scored five – two last places in his first two rides, Bridger eight points plus a bonus and Davey Watt, our No 1 and captain, a pitiful one point from three points.
He had failed the night before to qualify for next year’s GP series at the GP challenge meeting at Coventry.
It was said that he was late home and up early on Saturday to sort out his bikes.
Well, Watt was truly out of sorts. He’s had too many nights like this at Arlington this year and – if there is to be a future for Eastbourne in 2010 – I would like to see another rider in place of Watt for the Suntrap trophy.
He doesn’t deserve the extra meeting. Let’s see someone in the team who will fight tooth and nail for four laps. I’m afraid Watt did not do that on Saturday. _________________ click here for the latest front page news
100 club idea to save Eagles?
Eastbourne Eagles finished their 2009 Arlington campaign on Saturday night with a 47-43 home win over Poole in the first leg of the Draper Tools Trophy.
The second leg is on Wednesday night. Eastbourne were never in front until they took a 5-1 in the final heat. They had clawed back from an eight point deficit after heat seven to level the scores at 42 all after heat 14. Eagles’ Lewis Bridger and Ricky Kling faced the previously unbeaten Hans Andersen and Troy Batchelor.
So, we thought, no chance. But Andersen fell on the first turn and Batchelor inexplicably stopped racing down the back straight gifting the Eagles a 5-1.
If we are to close, never to re-open, Bridger has the honour of being the last man to take the chequered flag at Elite League level, winning the race in 58.1 seconds.
And, just for the record, the rider to take the last chequered flag was Michael Bovis. The 17-year-old from Kent was the only rider in the final junior heat of the night, completing four laps against the clock in a time of 64.8 seconds. *With the threat of closure hanging over the club, there was a strange feeling around the track.
The good news was that the crowd was 1,000 strong. Team manager Trevor Geer would be pleased with that having persuaded club owner Bob Dugard to stage the meeting so that fans could show any prospective new promoter that there was a decent fan base for speedway at Eastbourne.
As is the way with speedway, you have friends at the track who you see week in week out while the season is running but don’t see them from the end of October until mid-March. So people as they left were wishing one another merry Christmas. The usual rider of see you next year had one extra phrase this time around – if we have speedway.
So what are the chances? Bob Dugard told the crowd people had come up to him at the club’s dinner dance earlier in the week pledging money to keep the club going.
From that, he is seeing whether a 100 club is the route to salvation. It would need 100 people (or companies/businesses) to donate £1,000 to the club for the 2010 season. He said 40 per cent of the donation would be used in prize money for a regular draw with people having the chance of winning their money back.
The sums are these:
100 people pay £1,000 each = £100,000
40 per cent goes into prize money = £40,000
20 meetings in a season = £2,000 prize money for members of this 100 club with, for example, a £1,000 first prize at each draw.
It still leaves £60,000 to build the club in 2010. This year’s loss has been put at £50,000 so you can see that the idea could work – if 100 people can be found each willing to put up £1,000. _________________ click here for the latest front page news
Seems a good idea in principle, always allowing that you can come up with 100 people willing to put £1,000 in, and more importantly, to give a CAST IRON GUARANTEE to do that.
At the risk of being negative, in his radio interview last week BD made a big thing of stating that the club had lost £300,00 over the last 3 years, broken down as follows;
£140,000 under Brimson.
£60,000 under Hagon.
£100,000 THIS SEASON (not £50,000).
This is hardly the way to try to get what seems to be a good scheme off the ground
there certainly feels more hope for the future now than a couple of weeks ago,i may well be able to commit to being a member of the 100 club and desperatly want to see the club continue.however one thing concerns me is that if we manage to find 100 people to get us through this next season what happens the year after,are we expecyed to put a thousand in every year . _________________ Tim
Unless the crowds increase as a result of the £100,000 [ £60,000 net ] then we would be back to square 1 as I see it. _________________ click here for the latest front page news
Sadly there is no way the crowds will increase just because 100 mugs see fit to throw away £1000 each on one seasons speedway.
Same old management, same old Elite, same daft rules. As the man said: you cannot be serious.
Sadly there is no way the crowds will increase just because 100 mugs see fit to throw away £1000 each on one seasons speedway.
Same old management, same old Elite, same daft rules. As the man said: you cannot be serious.
Your a pessimist emjay. The BSPA dont meet Until November when according to Matt Ford changes HAVE to be made. So at least remain a little optimistic until then. _________________ A Founder Member of the Home Straight Lukas Dryml Appreciation Society!
Sadly there is no way the crowds will increase just because 100 mugs see fit to throw away £1000 each on one seasons speedway.
Same old management, same old Elite, same daft rules. As the man said: you cannot be serious.
Your a pessimist emjay. The BSPA dont meet Until November when according to Matt Ford changes HAVE to be made. So at least remain a little optimistic until then.
I agree with what emjay is saying though. 100 mugs throwing away 1k for one season is right.
What changes can the BSPA make though? You can't keep reducing the team average each season. It used to be 50 per team. You also need more teams as 5 home meetings against Poole is too many.
Making the wrong changes at the meeting will finally kill off Elite League speedway for me
Unless the crowds increase as a result of the £100,000 [ £60,000 net ] then we would be back to square 1 as I see it.
The crowds will only increase if the club is promoted properly, and if the team is successful on the track. You also need an out and out No.1 star rider.
Unless the crowds increase as a result of the £100,000 [ £60,000 net ] then we would be back to square 1 as I see it.
The crowds will only increase if the club is promoted properly, and if the team is successful on the track. You also need an out and out No.1 star rider.
I agree with both points. Al the time we keep a strong bottom end at the expense of top end heatleaders we will never challenge for the playoffs. Mr Dugard needs to employ a new Club Manager with a remit to also choose the team as we are crying out for fresh ideas and a plan B
agree with two previous posts above . also have no intention of being a mug because or poor promotion and management . will be different promoter , if there is one . needs to be different management too, on which there have been so many posts . so now await details from bspa , no changes then surely no eagles ---- in the elite .it was stated that BD was honouring his father , and founder of eagles, to keep them in top league . what if that proves not to be possible , will lower leagues be considered or will they close arlington to speedway we may well find out soon .
As one of the wouldbe MUGS( OF WHICH I TAKE OFFENCE).I would like to point out the following.
If speedway survives at Eastbourne next year because the supporters have dug deep in their pockets,then will we still be called MUGS. ( I THINK NOT )
At least you will still have speedway to go and watch.!!!!!!!!! _________________ Member of the Home straight LUKAS DRYML LUKAS APPRECIATION SOCIETY.
(PAID UP MEMBER)
raking over old coals now , but with the current financial position of the elite league teams it would be intresting to know about the current payment from sky . originally sky , we were informed ,paid bspa one million pounds . half of this was divided between the elite teams . russell had his commisssion for his work in arranging this from the other half , what this was or where this other half went has never been disclosed . but even the half a million would give each elite team over £ 50,000 each . so that would seem to cover most losses incurred by elite teams . if the payment is still one million surely more than half should be shared out between the nine teams . this surely is within the power of the bspa . what sum did eastbourne recieve this and other years bearing in mind the financial losses over at least the last three seasons ? don't suppose we will ever learn that . assume the GP deal is a seperate issue with sky presumably with the powers that be in the GP or who run and control it . again nothing appears to have been disclosed .would seem we are being kept un-informed .surely before we consider investing as individuals or syndicates we should be aware of the fuller picture whatever it might be .who of us would give or invest funds in anything without this .
not unusually i and others may be posting on the wrong thread , most of these posts should surely be in the 2010 season topic .but with such diversity of posts and threads this would seem bound to happen . no critisism but reading other topics it means several threads need to be read on this . hey , we can do that
Sadly there is no way the crowds will increase just because 100 mugs see fit to throw away £1000 each on one seasons speedway.
Same old management, same old Elite, same daft rules. As the man said: you cannot be serious.
I too object to people who put some money where their mouth is, being called MUGS. It might not be a sound investment, but it makes more contribution to the possible survival of the Eagles than negative posters who call those who are willing to help MUGS !.
With proper Promoting the Eagles can run at a small profit. Cookie managed it,therefore so can someone else who puts the time and effort in.
Sadly there is no way the crowds will increase just because 100 mugs see fit to throw away £1000 each on one seasons speedway.
Same old management, same old Elite, same daft rules. As the man said: you cannot be serious.
I too object to people who put some money where their mouth is, being called MUGS. It might not be a sound investment, but it makes more contribution to the possible survival of the Eagles than negative posters who call those who are willing to help MUGS !.
With proper Promoting the Eagles can run at a small profit. Cookie managed it,therefore so can someone else who puts the time and effort in. :
I can spare a £100 Parker.
Lets find out who else would be prepared to gamble a £100 because thats what it is just a glorified 60/40 club with a chance to get your money back. we need 8 more to form a 10 person syndicate! As for emjay calling us mugs if I remember rightly hes not that frequent attendantee to Arlington so the loss of the Eagles wont hit him as hard as those that visit more often.Having said that I agree with the second part of his post regarding promoting. _________________ A Founder Member of the Home Straight Lukas Dryml Appreciation Society!
further to previous post , will sky make a contribution to bspa still , presumably they must pay for the speedway televising . wonder what that will be , and how shared out ? if eagles do find a likely elite promoter surely he/she will want to know this , how else would we know what the finacial position would be , and what help is needed .
some good points as usaual from fans on here but the thing that worries me as i have said in the past is while other clubs have added rider assets over the years we seem to have been in reverse off loading and not adding.This is a series problem that has been left untouched for years.whoever comes in will be at the mercy of other clubs to let us have their riders on loan for the new season and of course finding a number 1 rider that someone would let us use.Having said all that you can count me in to stump up some cash!!!!
true speedy , but then we have brought so many great riders through whereas most other teams havenot and had to buy them . has taken a while even with our facilities , but agree BD seems set about selling our assets whereas other teams mostly loan out their riders who cannot either be fitted in because of averages, or are not required at the time, for the appropriate fee . rather like teams in other sports who sell their stars , stay in business but never achieve much . also fans love their own boys now men . it has been traditional . floppy was the last of the previous class which had martin , deano , floppy to name but three . mark loram , joe and nicki were totally accepted and loved by the fans , and mark had started on the eagles junior track-- so we do take other riders into our hearts . not always though , never took to nicholls or richardson in the same way , and davey watt lost our respect this last season .there are two likely reasons BD decides to sell , bearing in mind he usually holds the contracts , need to raise funds , or if they request to move to a different track for a period in order to gain experience and his stubborn nature kicks in again . mind you even he wouldnot sell kennet and bridger at the same time , might just have possibly realised that the fans would not forgive him . but those that leave often return , remember 1993 , that was glorious .fans do bond with certain riders and they will be there paying their money to support them and cheer them on . that builds attendances .as a matter of intrest i know of quite a few who ceased attending when nicky was let go . not discussing the finances , just fans reactions . latest eagle to join and be adopted by us is lukas
As one of the wouldbe MUGS( OF WHICH I TAKE OFFENCE).I would like to point out the following.
If speedway survives at Eastbourne next year because the supporters have dug deep in their pockets,then will we still be called MUGS. ( I THINK NOT )
At least you will still have speedway to go and watch.!!!!!!!!!
Yes but the point is that your 1k will only keep speedway going for one more season. Are you prepared to put in 1k every season Baron?
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
we may well find out soon .
i will join parker's syndicate if required . but really at this time everything is " ifs and buts ". 
