| Archive for Where Eagles dare to fly Unofficial Eagles Speedway Forum |
| Kevin54 |
Give Bob some credit.I think we ought to give Bob Dugard some appreciation for the fact that he seems to have put together a pretty useful team for next season, and also that we are going to be able to see live speedway next season.Some people may feel he has put together a team "on the cheap", more likely he has worked within the constraints of a budget that he considers affordable. Honda, in formula 1, Suzuki and Subaru in world rally cross have all pulled the plug in motor racing in 2009; a sure sign that the economic meltdown that is affecting all of us is biting hard into motor sport. Bob could have taken the easy option after 2 loss making seasons and pulled the plug, he hasn't. So, whilst we are all fully entitled to our views, let's give him the credit and support that he is due for continuing, particularly in a coming year which all the economic pundits reckon will be a lot tougher than this year. |
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| sussexbulldog |
Very well said 
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| parker |
Re: Give Bob some credit.
 ps wonder if Honda pulling out has affected Swindon Robins as they were a sponsor I believe. 
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| ray |
as posted severaltimes , bobby , like most of us ,is good , even excellent at some things --- and not others . without him there would be no eastbourne eagles . he needs help , financial and otherwise . there is s serious lack of sponsorship , and backing , and attendances have dropped noticeably . this is where the help is needed , and also on the managerial side --- there is only he and trevor . the club has infact lost the two major sponsors , hagon and meridian . it is not for us to make comments on why this has happened . the only one who knows why for sure is bobby .
the team announced has changed already , the loss of eddie is not only a great pity , but a great loss to all . fortunately lewis stayed , bobby obviousy sorted out the difficulties , and used his chequebook too , also the russian is expensive , but as yet unsigned .davey watt joined coz he wanted to , he could have earned more elsewhere . the major lift though , and attendances will increase , is david reurning and bringing deano into the fold with him . 
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| speedy dan boy |
bob is great for the club we all know that,but would love him to get a pr man from his company to just roll a few things out. | ||||||
| parker |
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| ray |
so there , we know what is needed , BD said he would pay for the right manager , but he and trevor can only do so much . we really need that special some one to take the club forward . pr , advertising , negotiating skills , sponsorship , getting the club to the fore as the best of the other clubs have done .if we do end up with this announced , but not all signed , team bobby has done a good job and we thank him . saying which on the official website it states there is widespread critisism and disatisfaction on websites , that has not been so posted to that extreme on this site .but we are very much official to them it seems . they should read this site more to understand what we hope for and what we don't . ignore the fans and they will ignore you . we need somebody who can understand and be understood . they may sometimes think we are the enemy , but they are their worst of this to themselves .that initial meeting in the clubhouse last year was truly inspiring , so what happened to all that spirit and unity , and why ?!   lack of communiication was certainly a large part of it .
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| sussexbulldog |
According to statistics on wedt.co.uk there are frequent visitors from mail@dugard.com
I do not know who this is but someone seems to be keeping an eye on us. Ray we may be recognised but we are not official. 
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| ray |
i agree , we are not paranoid , but it seems they are . no poisoned umbrellas yet though  if they really did recognise us it would be of help to all . we want the best for the club and ourselves . without us both the future would seem problematic to say the least . we are not the bad guys , we are supporters and are proud and happy to help our club and team financially and in every other way we can .
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| emjay |
Very surprised someone in the Dugard empire spends any time looking at the postings of those nutters on the internet !!! | ||||||
| ray |
yeh , only people as sane and sensible as us can realise that nutters are exactly that . have never joined that other unofficial site after the previous experiences , but am intrested in you keeping me informed . supporters club should belong to and post on our site too if they want full support . have suggested they do that
we know it is not bobby coz he doesn't read or post . but a few who used hagon's details sent me pms ,as i reported at the time , some chatty but definately a nutter . |
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| peppapig |
think you`ll find he does |
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| ray |
he actually told me he didn't , but others told him " highlights " , which i must say suprised me . that was half-way thru last season when we had a brief chat . he should read all the relevant sites , but he does get cross at times . bobby is bobby ! | ||||||
| ray |
have posted we must all give bobby credit , ok the russian let alone ricky wells could go pearshape , or not work out for probably the same reasons as last time , but the other 6 are excellent . bobby is managing and financing this all without the two major sponsors from last season , time wise and money wise he has managed virtually all this by himself . the concern that we would lose eddie and lewis , after they had been announced as part of the team was a nasty shock for all . was concerned at selling them , which would probably mean we would have lost them permantly, as with adam . but bobby has got round that to a large extent , and eddie may only be loaned out if nobody decides to spend the money he is worth . back in days of yore martin , david and deano all left , but they all came back home and were with as for years . it was wonderful . 
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| ComeOnYouSpurs |
I totally agree that we should give Bob D. all the credit and thanks for putting together what looks like an exciting line up for the 2009 season.
We have a very steady and reliable no.1 and 6 other riders all of whom have the ability and potential to improve on their starting averages.... 1 or 2 quite sustantially. Nice one Bob. |
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| Aussie2 |
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| ray |
just reserves i would think . r/r as before , with guest for number one . the change on reserve situation is probably because of doubling up . therefore number eight is seemingly superfluous . | ||||||
| Eagle1971 |
Argus says..........
Eagles ace can go on loan 9:30am Tuesday 6th January 2009 By Brian Owen » Eastbourne Eagles have told Lewis Bridger he is free to go out on loan in 2010. But Eagles chief Bob Dugard predicts his young star will not want to move on after a sparkling 2009 campaign. Bridger, 19, will be one of the key men in the coming season for an Eagles team widely tipped to struggle in the Elite League. He had indicated he wanted to get away from Arlington for a year to test himself on larger circuits. Instead, Dugard offered him improved terms and insisted he wanted the Bexhill racer to stay, especially as his contemporary Edward Kennett had asked to leave. Now the Eagles promoter has revealed he will keep the door open to a loan switch in a year’s time, even though he would expect the rider to stay at his local club. Dugard said: “Lewis was amazed by the deal he got from me. “I intended building the team for the next five years around Edward and Lewis. “Lewis is with us for 2009 but if he wants to go on loan in 2010 I will let him go. I would not want to sell him. “Lewis has been honest enough to say he feels a year at a big track would help him but let’s look at it in a year’s time. “With the experience he gets in Poland over the next year I do not feel he will need to go to a big track here. “I’ve been in this sport all my life and the best riders in the world have all come off smaller tracks. “That tells you everything. “Riding a small track like Eastbourne makes you a more skilful rider. “Riding a big track is easy. You just make the bike go forward. The technique comes on the smaller tracks. “If you talk to (world champion) Nicki Pedersen, he will tell you he learned more riding on a small track at Eastbourne. “Lewis is in for a barnstorming season with us. He is a different person now and that will show in his riding.” Arlington is one of the smallest circuits in the Elite League at 275 metres and is known as a test of technique rather than outright speed. Bridger is also under contract at Czestochowa in the Polish top flight and hopes to be a regular in 2009. Although their circuit is not a monster by Polish standards at 368 metres, the Ekstraliga offers far more chance to pick up big-track knowledge. Bridger narrowly missed out on a final spot in the his first outing of 2009 at Poole’s New Year Classic on Sunday. He enjoyed two heat wins on his way to nine points from four rides but was excluded for unfair riding in his fifth and missed the top four by a point. Kennett won that final heat to pip Bridger to the final but then finished last as Ben Barker took the honours from the previously unbeaten Adam Skornicki. Meanwhile, Eastbourne’s Cameron Woodward came fifth in the opening round of the Australian Championship. Woodward had three wins on his way to 11 points from five heats. He was then second to Chris Holder in a semi-final from which only the winner progressed. Eagles skipper Davey Watt scored ten points but was last in the semi. Leigh Adams pipped recent Eagles transfer target Rory Schlein for first place. .......I wonder what the position is with Ed as most of the teams in the Elite have now filled their places? |
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| sussex bulldog |
Beat you this time ! The story has been on the front page since yesterday !
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| Eagle1971 |
Oh right sussexbulldog! I'm just wondering if Ed has signed for another team. Yes Bob is certainly teaching him a lesson. However, aren't we shooting ourselves in the foot really if he's left clubless as he's our best rider after all?
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| MrB |
If he'd of wanted to ride for us he wouldn't be in this situation however I suspect he will get what he wanted a place at Coventry even if its on loan. |
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| sussex bulldog |
I was worried about Ed's position but I have been told by a number of people that he is going on loan to Coventry. Bob has been on holiday and this has held up the paperwork allegedly. | ||||||
| Eagle1971 |
Coventry will have a very strong team then with Harris, Schein and Kennett as heatleaders. I must admit our team does look a bit cheap and cheerfull.........well somebody had to say it, so it might as well be me.
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| ray |
but we will be looking for 5-1s against them in heats 2 , 8 , and 14
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| emjay |
I'm happy with the team, tho I do still wonder if the Russian will ever turn up. Maybe he will be stopped in the Ukraine, like the gas to Europe. | ||||||
| ray |
think putin may have sent him over to sort out mandelson for the oligarchs --- could we please add a few more to the list
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| parker |
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| ray |
feel quite " browned " off at that parker .at least you were talking about reasonable human beings, well two of them anyway ,all with a full compliment of eyes and brains , but they don't always use them , like in
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| parker |
Well I'm sitting here reaping the benefit of my heating allowance after a trip into town (using my free bus pass) to get the Speedway star. No place yet for Eddie I see.
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| ray |
nice to know your happy , parker , my friend .incidentally any changes in the deal car parking this season, maybe too early to know . wonder how the £1 surcharge to use the granstand will be collected , even just to use the washroom ? probably a charge for that too , but all the paper you want folks . only larking about , really looking forward to the season , just keep that injury jinx away . be nice to see the eagle back on the chest . seem to remember the debate over the shock absorber went against us , no worry this year , unless bobby acquires a new major sponsor . certainly hope he does , after what he has accomplished so far . 
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| parker |
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| ray |
not if i am caught nicking into grandstand without paying the £1 , he would bar me for life !
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| parker |
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| ray |
still , gotta see if it works , think where he would shoot me would not be covered by a bullet-proof vest !!!!
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| emjay |
Gunfight at the Arlington corral. Won't help to put bums on seats, but may put a few under. | ||||||
| ray |
if he uses a shotgun as i am "legging it " i might not be able to sit at all !
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| emjay |
Ray, if Mr BD is as good a shot as I am, you will escape unharmed. | ||||||
| ray |
oh ' and there was me looking forward to having it kissed better ! ough , where's the mouthwash when you need it
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| MrHooter |
Big thanks to someone at Arlington for clearing the motorcycle parking strip between the entrance and the turnstiles. Greatly appreciate not having to paddle about in the mud. | ||||||
| ray |
latest argus news states that BD is moving simon into top 5 before the averages force this next month . this will enable us to have a guest for simon when he is away with the same average as him instead of a replacement reserve or number 8 . now that is real team managing . very impressed . don't think even middlo or rosco have thought of that one ---- yet
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| sussexbulldog |
Think you might have mis-read that Ray.
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| MrB |
Indeed.. Don't think even Matt Fraud could bend the rules that much!
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| ray |
really , what a naive trusting little soul i am so please explain just what it does mean , that BD cannot do this , or his intentions are not what i thought .please be gentle with me , await my tutorial
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| MrB |
What he's saying is with the rules as they are at the moment, if we lost Simon whilst he is at reserve we could only bring in our number 8, so therefore if you have a reserve who is scoring above his average your going to loose out big style. This is the rule he want's to be looked at.
When Simon does move up into the team I think we'll be able to use a guest upto his average if he starts missing meetings due to U21's etc. |
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| ray |
thanks MrB , so he wants it " looked at" . well those other two i mentioned would be there like a shot . so basically , as BD said before the season started we could have problems with simon away , as was bound to happen . nuthin'n new then oh well
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| sussexbulldog |
This is from Elite-Eagles.comBob answers fans concernsToday, The Eagle's Promoter, Bob Dugard,has exclusively informed elite-eagles.com, that he would like to tell fans how the club is doing.Other than currently holding second place in the league albeit early days in this season so far. He went on to say: I would like to take this opportunity and give our supporters an indication of what Eric and I face. Due to the poor attendances that the club has encountered, we have had to heavily subsidise each meeting this season. To date it has cost the club as listed below: Elite Shield match against Poole cost - £8.00 per person KO Cup match against Lakeside cost -£7.00 per person League match against Poole cost - £2.60 per person The losses so far this season therefore have come to £17,600. We have fixed a budget of losses that we are prepared to fund. If and when this point is reached, we will have no option but to pull the plug. We desperately need those 'stay away fans' to have a re-think, so that we can hopefully avoid the unthinkable. I am annoyed that some fans are still bitter about the fact that we are charging £1.00 for a seat, in the covered Hailsham Grandstand. Stock Car fans have been happily paying this for nearly 20 years. Some people don’t appear to appreciate, that we are desperately trying to get Eastbourne Speedway through this country’s worst cash crisis in living memory. If supporters want Speedway to survive, (which I honestly believe is the real wish of us all), we need all the supporters to work alongside us and not against us. I do believe that people should be made aware just how critical this situation is, but we won’t give up without a fight. No mention of our offer to set up a car sharing scheme. |
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| ray |
so now he employs spin doctors . just like reading a newspaper , only one person to blame , not the fans we are just the tax payers . . enough of threats , half truths and bullying , don't want or expect it from those we support with our hard earned cash . if bums are needed on seats suggest the management get off theirs . .
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| speedy dan boy |
if someone can get in touch with bob because ive not managed it,could they ask what the wage bill for riders is.I dont want to know the exact amount but if the club is paying over the odds for rider services or is there a capping this season as the country is in such a mess.If Bob is paying over the odds for riders why doesnt he look a their contracts like they have in poland instead of hitting the fans with "if you dont go" tactics the club will fold.Its always the fans that have to bear the brunt,no one else. | ||||||
| sussexbulldog |
If someone can get in touch with Bob let me know
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| ray |
are you sure you are ready for that ?! the last fans experiences have been posted previously , and it would seem the experience would be the same . actually the " bunker " syndrome seems to be quite embedded now . but if people will not listen and will not talk nothing is going to change on that situation . fortunately this is not so with our team , really proud of them . with new sky deal we are told all elite clubs will complete the season . thank goodness for that because of the doubt management had stated over this issue .
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| nug |
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| parker |
Re: This is from Elite-Eagles.com
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| parker |
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| Aussie2 |
Ss BD has now given us the breakdown for each meeting. I do wish that fans would not be so negative, maybe we might not agree how BD goes about things. I know he can be abrasive at times, but I expect like many business people he has worries. I am a season ticket holder and an OAP, but do not quibble at paying an extra £1, I look at it this way "every little helps". Those of us who attended the Good Friday meeting really appreciated how hard Bob worked to get the track fit for racing. Many would have given up. We are doing much better than people predicted, so unless fans GET OFF THEIR BACKSIDES AND SUPPORT THE EAGLES, THERE WILL BE NO SPEEDWAY AT ARLINGTON.  The plug could be pulled during the season, which means SEVEN RIDERS OUT OF A JOB. Do we really want to see speedway fold at Arlington.
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| MrB |
So last week Eagles were safe for the season and this week there not?! Another bizaar press release which doesn't "answer fans concerns" at all. We want to know what the management are doing to attract the fans back get new sponsors etc. It would appear the answer is not much. None of the ideas sounded out on here have been taken up, nobody was found for the role Bob put up a job for pre-season to do this. He mentions the seating charge but its all about value, how much is entrance to the stock cars and has their racing been watered down year on year?! | ||||||
| speedy dan boy |
Aussie -you are a loyal fan and no one can knock that,but i think you are missing something telling fans to get off their backsides.THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD GET OFF THEIR BACKSIDES ARE THE PEOPLE who RUN EASTBOURNE not the fans.There is only so much you can push the average fan and i think eastbourne have more than done that!!!Its always more fans otherwise......i see lakeside the other day put a full page ad in the west Ham utd programme,i hope they get what they put in. |
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| emjay |
Well, Mr BD has certainly put a governmental type spin on his words this time. Well up to the standard of Mr Blairs finest years. The losses are put as a cost per supporter, as if the whole thing can be blamed on supporters ( such as myself) who no longer go as often as we did because we can no longer afford it. Come on Mr BD, if you were really serious about telling us the position of the club, you would have given us figures we could understand. To me your figures mean precisely nothing, because they are unsubstantiated. you have expenses and you have income. We can guess at the income roughly anyway. Say 1000 people at say £12 ( allowing for children, OAPs etc). Plus incidentals such as carparking, programmes concession rent. But expenses? Information from Mr BD simply not forthcoming. So what runs away with the money? Oh yes, and on the income side there is SKY. Wonderful new deal we are led to believe.
Well, one thing is absolutely certain. Mr BD will continue to blame everyone except himself. |
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| ray |
shall we call him " gordon " them emjay? so it is all our fault , wants nothing to do with us , but feels different about our money , hey , that is " gordon " too
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| Aussie2 |
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| ray |
you have to speculate to accumulate , that is common knowledge . also people don't like bullies , and people who are rude and tell stories to suit themselves . if we were asked instead of threatened it would change our attitude , that is how our race prefer things .. yes , great track man , and sponsor . got a great team together , but is his own worst enemy . has no sense of promoting or appears to even care about it .financial suicide?! why does he have to be so confrontational ?? no point bullying the fans who are attending even more , that is why , apart from costs , so many of us no longer purchase season tickets and are selective on matches . that is especially true who have a considerable distance to travel . try manners and persuasion , no wonder prospective sponsors have not been obtained , and major ones of last season lost . we cannot be blamed for this . also believe eagles and speedway is in the family blood as well as ours . neither want speedway to close , if it does we know it is not our decision and not our fault .
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| parker |
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| ray |
good post parker . especially the travellers wondering whether the track is rideable from rain . ok if you live round the corner , , less than ten minutes either way . infact at least two of us phone one local poster [ let you guess who ] to get some idea of the conditions before we set out . promoters have to promote .the kids for a quid has a seperate section , which the promotion cancelled . all of us went a first time and we have continued , with advertising and even a one-off incentive would tempt new and old would-be-fans to try it . how stubborn not to have given the cancelled offer a reasonable chance .even the excuse given explained nothing .
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| Travelator |
Speedway is such a great family sports to watch and there has got to be a way of promoting the sport. Poole encourage all children to take part in a track quiz with small prize for winner -may even be a signed photo of team or free entrance ticket.
I don't know how much money was made (or who the money went to) when race jackets were auctioned recently but it would be good for a child to be presented a signed jacket or even signed large photo or poster of team - whether it be done as competition or birthday gift would be an option but kids would just love showing their mates and telling them about speedway. Could also give prizewinner/birthday child couple of tickets to bring new friends. Kevin would just be so great with the kids Oh well just another idea 
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| ray |
yes , it is so very frustrating , all these ideas , many proven to increase attendances . and we get ------ nuthin' incredible , they do not deseve us , but the team do . we go inspite of the management [ if they can be called that ] not because of them .
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| speedy dan boy |
can i first say like everyone else i want speedway to prosper at eastbourne and like Aussie says i will do my best to get others interested ,but the fans can only do so much,so far this season Bob has got the sky money coming in,Bob B gave the club a 5 figure good will gesture plus season ticket sales,Bob has a great start to the 2009 season money wise without doing anything!! If the club could only match that instead ofwhinging about things that the rest of the country are trying to come to terms with the state this country is in,it would give everyone a lift.lets get on a promote the club before the holiday makers escape again this year from eastbourne seafront! | ||||||
| parker |
I'm with Speedy boy dan, Travelator and Aussie2 and many others in not wishing to see the Eagles close. As previously posted the season has'nt had the best start weatherwise, the only good day was Deanos Testamonial when 1600 turned out so there are fans out there if the weather had been better. I thought early on when it was clear Bob was taking over the reigns of the Eagles it was announced that a business plan as such was in place, sponsors were being sought and failing that a break even figure of 1000 fans was quoted, I see in the Star today our figure for the Poole meeting was just over 1000 so has the break even figure been increased or did I dream that figure
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| Kevin54 |
Morning Parker!
The original "break-even" figure was quoted as 1200, then I seem to recall reading that it had been revised to 1000. Doing a very rough bit of analysis of the figures BD has provided it seems that the break-even point is actually just about 1100. So, if Friday had been a decent day, that figure would have well and truly been passed, as it was a lot of away supporters who were going to travel did'nt, likewise with home support who reckoned the weather would win. We all have gone on about the lack of PROMOTING, it is abysmal. Now surely is the time to do it. Results on track are good, the feeling amongst the supporters is upbeat. We are the current K.O. cup holders and Elite Shield holders. Surely it can't be too much of a problem to arrange for a couple of riders to go out, with a bike, to a few major towns to do a bit of "meeting and greeting"? (Maybe not Lewis, he might be tempted to start his and do a few wheelies That's a joke, Nug, honest )
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| Aussie2 |
I agree with speedy dan boy, the phrase that comes to mind is "whinging Poms". At the moment all I seem to read is grumbling and whinging. I know many of us think that perhaps the club could be promoted better, and I do not disagree with this. I would like to see many of the whingers try to run a club and also a business, especially in the economic climate we have. Those of you have got in a strop because BD is charging £1 would be better off supporting the club, it reminds me of children getting in a paddy because they cannot get their own way. The question is DO WE WANT SPEEDWAY TO CONTINUE AT ARLINGTON I will now put my soapbox away, for the time being.
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| parker |
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| Aussie2 |
Many OAP'S got in a "strop" a couple of seasons ago. We do not get much these days, and every little helps. I was making the point that perhaps we should stop WHINGING AND START SUPPORTING THE CLUB.
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| ray |
we are supporting the club , and the team , we are not whingeing , we are simply pointing out that the management are being rude [ sometimes to individual paying customers and fans] , inconsiderate and seem to have no concern over the people who are helping the club to continue to exist . they have not even tried to promote the club , and have driven many fans and major sponsors away . are we supposed to thank them for this ?!
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| mmmmethanol |
The facts are simple.
Attendance figures are down at Arlington due to the recession. More people are picking their meetings. This is hovering around the break-even figure, or below it. Until BD addresses the "Promotion" aspect, the situation won't change. (How we could do with Jon Cook right now.....). |
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| parker |
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