Their quotes from the 2011 speedway season appear in #speedwaylife along with those of many other riders, promoters, journalists and fans.

The selection of Steve and Nick’s quotes below give a flavour of the contemporary difficulty of running a British speedway club on a commercial basis.

22^nd January 2011

Nicky Mallett

“Mark fitted in like a glove on a hand”

19^th February

Steve Mallett

“We are extremely disappointed with the conduct of those clubs which decide to let it be known that they have taken over a rider, but without having agreed terms with us. You would think that clubs would want to make sure the rider they are wanting to bring is actually their man. In the cases of Atkin, Webster and Armstrong, I can reveal now that terms have not been agreed and the paperwork has most certainly not gone through the BSPA office.”

23^rd April

Nicky Mallett

“The riders were left in no doubt whatsoever (during dressing room pep talk) that no-one here at this club was happy at all with the performance in that home reverse against Rye House. They were told straight that a list of would-be replacement riders was going to be drawn up there and then and that every one of them could go.”

10^th May

Steve Mallett

“We have had to let our heads rule our heart with respect to Mark (Jones). We had to do something to improve matters and we are preparing the ground for another move. It is now up to the Newport fans who cried out for change to turn out in force and show their support for the adjustment in team personnel. Justin (Sedgmen) has been plying his trade with Swindon in the Elite League so far this season and his acquisition is a real coup.”

12^th May

Steve Mallett

“I have already had preliminary talks with the sport’s governing body about the (NL withdrawal) implications in terms of fines etc but matters cannot continue to be sustained at the present level of attendance. We have one of the best infrastructures for rider development in British Speedway in terms of running training schools, a team in the National League and a senior team in the Premier League but the sums don’t add up and a tough decision with respect to the Hornets is pending. If fans want to see the lads continue in action they need to get down to Queensway Meadows and show their support.”

14^th May

Nicky Mallett a few weeks before ‘rain’ led to the early postponement of Newport v Plymouth on a SGP night that also featured Man U v Barca

“Let’s face it, the Grand Prix is watched by massive numbers of British fans and, of course, that includes (both of?) ours. It would have been silly of us to think that we could run a Knockout Cup fixture against the Grand Prix and we are delighted to announce that our fans now have the opportunity to watch both events. Now we have done that, we are seeking our fans to be loyal to us and turn up in their numbers to support the Hornets.”

Steve Mallett

“2011 has been the worst start to a season by the Wasps since the sport returned here in 1997 and that simply cannot continue, we need wins home AND away and I will do anything to make that happen.”

18^th May

Steve Mallett

“The attendance for our most recent home match in the (NL) cup was still not good enough but we had a meeting of senior management and decided to persevere for now. However, we do appeal to Newport fans that if they want us to be able to run a second team then they must get down here for the next home fixture against Mildenhall on Bank Holiday Monday May 30th and show their support.”

4^th June

Steve Mallett

“I just hope crowd sizes continue to increase. Things now appear heading in the right direction and we just hope the famous saying that a good team will bring in a good crowd is true and not just a myth!”

2^nd July

Nick Mallett

“To be frank, it is simply not good enough by the stretch of anyone’s imagination for four riders to only score ten points between them. It is my opinion that now is the time for me to unwrap everyone from their cotton-wool existence and spell out some home truths. Obviously I would never go public in what I plan to say to any rider, be it good or bad comments….as someone who has ridden myself, I am fully aware that no one ever goes out to deliberately underperform”

14^th July

Steve Mallett

“We have attracted increased coverage from a variety of media outlets, have set-up two highly-successful websites, completed several extremely large leaflet drops throughout Gwent and the valley and recently did so outside the Millennium Stadium before and after the Grand Prix. Anybody willing to give their time to work for the good of the club can easily contact ourselves and any fresh ideas will be listened to.”

13^th August

Nick Mallett

“On both occasions, the problem was started by members of the visiting sides and as such, we obviously had neither any idea it was going to happen or indeed control over it. It is crucial that people realise that speedway is an emotive sport and it would not be right of me to hide that fact that verbal and physical differences do happen from time to time. In the main, it normally happens away from the public. But on the two occasions at our ground recently, it has been in full gaze of everyone. We regret what has happened, obviously, and we are satisfied that appropriate action has and will be taken in an attempt to ensure it doesn’t happen again. But I stress, none of this was in anyway the blame of Newport Speedway and we cannot emphasize just how safe watching speedway at our ground is.”

20^th August

Steve Mallett

“To have only 401 for a meeting with our nearest rivals was a huge disappointment and people must realise that we, and I include all my family, cannot go on losing any more money.”

16^th September

Steve Mallett

“We have been advised time and again that speedway fans will only turn up en-mass to follow a winning side, so we dug deep into our financial pot and produced one which has won 13 and drawn another in its last 17 league and cup fixtures. But crowd sizes remain below what they should be and we really have reached the stage now that it’s make or break for local speedway followers. I really am urging fans who occasionally to come to watch to unite in a show of strength for Saturday night, without doubt the biggest meeting in our time here.”

6^th October

Steve Mallett

“We have done our bit in producing a side capable of winning ten successive home meetings and then picking up silverware. But what we don’t want now is for fans to say to themselves, ‘that’s it, we did our bit by turning up for the Cup Final. We really do, and I can’t stress this enough, want them all to return for our final few fixtures. The stark reality is if they don’t, then the very existence of this great club is in doubt.”

15^th October

Steve Mallett

“Here we are in mid-October and with only two weeks left of the season and this club still has seven Premier League meetings to fit in. That is a ludicrous state of affairs and one of the reasons we find ourselves in this mess is that other clubs have been highly uncooperative over dates and it was not so very long ago that we had successive weekends minus a home meeting. I said a few weeks ago that the two-phase fixture list had not worked as it had been planned and there are now many people agreeing with that thought.”

28^th October

Steve Mallett

“I am asking every fan who has ever watched this club over the years to come and support us in our final meeting of the season against Edinburgh. This is very much a ‘Save the Wasps’ plea from us all here at Newport and unless we have a good turnout, then what else are we to deduce from it? We won the Knockout Cup and have a chance to finish fourth in the Premier League and at the risk of repeating myself, speedway in this city is the only winning sport with all the rugby and football clubs struggling.”

29^th October

Steve Mallett

“The National League has been a disaster this year. The team hasn’t ridden well and the people have faded away. I didn’t come into this to do National League. Don’t get me wrong. Given that Nick came through as a junior, we wanted to do something to help the kids. But we want to be with the big boys. That’s the whole idea of it. If we’re running, we’re only doing Premier.”

Steve Mallett

“We’ve lost an absolute fortune without a shadow of a doubt. The crowds haven’t been good enough at all. I get told off for being negative, but I’d get told off if I shut the stadium on a whim. So what should I do?”

3^rd November

Nick Mallett

“We are having deep talks to decide the future of Newport Speedway and none of us really want the sport to be lost to the town, but we have had to have a realistic look at the finances involved in putting together what has been the most successful side in the club’s history. Our General Manager, Laurence Rogers, is working overtime trying to find a solution along with the family and Peter Mole. So when I said I wanted to do this slim down, Laurence asked why not do it as a sponsored slim to raise funds for the club’s survival?”

5^th November

Nick Mallett

“We had a warning from the council recently over the leaflets we’ve been putting out. We had a written warning.”

11^th November

Nick Mallett

“The reason we have decided to end the Hornets’ existence has been made purely and simply because of financial circumstances. Crowds have disappointingly been very poor here at our Queensway Meadows Stadium home track. That was even the case earlier in the season when the side put together a few home wins.”

12^th November

Nick Mallett

“Let me say right here and now that we would have made the same decision had we won the title.”

Steve Mallett

“We will sit around a table and thrash this matter out once and for all and, if it is to be bad news, then nobody can say they are surprised.”

17^th December

Nick Mallett

“It was partly my own fault and by the way the [PL] league situation worked against us whereby we lost so many home meetings….because of the lack of home [NL] fixtures, the crowd disappeared and at the same time the confidence of our riders seemed to disappear as well.”

4^th February 2012

Steve Mallett

“If this situation [Kurtz average reduction], of which the club is completely innocent is not quickly resolved, then we will be forced into a scenario in which we have no alternative but to withdraw the Wasps from the Premier League…I have long come to the conclusion that those who help run this club do not need the stress that British speedway always manages to heap upon us.”

11^th February

Steve Mallett

“What I will say at this point is that I feel I have been cut off at the legs and that Newport Speedway has not been treated respectfully by the BSPA. I feel bitter towards the BSPA and that the three years of hard work trying to establish a decent team appears to have been a total waste of time and effort on behalf of a lot of people.”

14^th February

Nick Mallett

“In all honesty, I simply don’t wish to be involved in this sport anymore after the way this club has been treated. But what I will say is that it is a disagreement which I feel could well have been avoided had this club been kept up to date with certain decisions which were made. I can also reveal that this is not the sole reason why I am leaving speedway, there are a number of factors away from the sport which demand my attention.”

related post about Tim Stone from April 2008 can be found here

Some of these photos take us behind the scenes in never before seen ways. Others showcase the mundane life that’s the frequent flier, hard driving daily reality of the grind of speedway life for the riders, their mechanics and fans.

Nevertheless, these photos are a unique ad hoc record of the 2011 season. Many caught my eye, here’s my personal selection….

Hans Andersen proved beyond all doubt the dangers of jogging – in comparison to the injuries you can sustain riding high powered bikes with no brakes if you crash or fall – but didn’t lose his sense of fun. Recovering from injury – whether burns, burns or breaks – quickly leaves scars but is essential since excellence brings material rewards.

Some riders travel round the world to earn their living in Europe, leaving behind loved ones. Once temporarily resident in the UK, often they settle into the Dorset lifestyle of car washes, boys toys or indulge their love of watersports.

Speedway is a small world so, understandably chance encounters abound trackside internationally and domestically but also in Luton or Middlesbrough. Recognition takes many forms, some of them worth framing. At Peterborough, they even have comemorative salt and pepper grinders!

After (or before) a hard day at the track, rather than shop for a nutritionally balanced but filling meal or hunt for a bargain – some riders love to get near naked or, if the opportunity presents, drive a tractor. Many riders take fashion very seriously, while others prefer comfort.

Ignoring how sponsors like a smartly turned out rider, how you dress, relax, the sunglasses you choose, the look of your moustache let alone your body art or how you style your hair says more about you than money ever can! They say workshop hours spent on your bikes and equipment generally directly translates into points on the track and celebrations if you win.

For the modest or eco-minded rider carefully looking after your equipment and kevlars while acting sustainably is second nature. Though silencer issues hogged the trade press column inches, the real revolutionary technical development of the season (white trainers and tracky bottoms don’t come fitted as standard) came from David Watt.

When it comes to the speedway twitter photo of the season, the Lindgren brothers lead where others dare not follow. Usually this crown jewels super hero with chequered flag pose would be the photo of the season for Ludvig (or, perhaps, his sleeping seal pose) but for this hairdryer special from his brother Fredrik.

If you enjoyed these speedway twitter photos, then don’t forget that the tweets and comments from the season are even more sensational and available for purchase in book form now (with a £5 donation to the SRBF for every copy sold) along with various other previously published titles!

Please provide your name and full postal address along with your answer. * Note: please DON’T submit your entry using the comment function

The first two correct entries drawn on January 1^st 2012 will receive their prize shortly afterwards.

For more information on  (or other Methanol Press titles including Bouquet of Shale), please click on the home page button above.

The publishers decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Thank you.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

In pure on-the-day attendance terms, sadly, the metaphorical SGP dog continues to be bark free. Indeed, 2011 saw the worst average SGP attendance figures (15,261 per round) in a decade! All the pro-forma talk about the excitement of the racing, top-notch quality of the staging stadiums or the high calibre (primarily invitation only) competitors chosen by BSI continues to conspicuously fail to inspire more fans to part with their hard earned for the privilege of going through the turnstiles to watch said often humdrum ‘spectacle’.

Given historic questions continue to linger about their reporting accuracy and statement veracity, in the absence of confirmation from the BSI bunker – the recently released ‘unofficial’ attendance figures are the best snapshot we have of the situation. These still make sorry reading for genuine fans of world championship speedway everywhere.

If we assume these figures accurately reflect paying customer numbers, surprisingly we can actually find a few positives from the 2011 SGP series since the latest campaign saw Vojens attract 3000 more fans through the turnstiles, Prague 700 and Terenzano 200. The stadium at Torun came on stream and attracted 16,700. This in itself is something of a minor miracle since the SGP website lists the capacity of the Marian Rose Motoarena as only 15,500! Still organisers BSI have some previous in this regard after having accomplished this loaves and fishes type accounting wonder of exceeded stated stadium capacity in Poland at both Torun and Bydgoszcz (in 2010)! These kinds of ‘unusual’ but unique errors give continuing credence to scepticism about any rhetorical or arithmetical claims made by BSI.

The jewel in the SGP series crown – Cardiff – saw paying fan numbers shrink by 1,360 though, bizarrely, after tangential dark mutterings about the severity of the recession this performance was praised in the pages of trade press! Luckily for BSI, the Welsh Government remain big fans of the Cardiff SGP. So much so that they’re prepared to stump up an impressive £850,00 over 5 years –around £4 a fan – just for the privilege of staging the event within the principality. The Welsh Government clearly don’t do much due diligence otherwise they’d know that it’s not so long since the organisers specifically changed their own historic start time to encourage a ‘reverse tourism boom’ that they claimed was to enable more families to get away from Cardiff without the need to stay over! Even a cursory search of the pitiful number of (independent) national press clippings the publicity departments of Sky Sports and BSI collectively manage to generate between them would reveal the added bonus of BSI Managing Director Paul Bellamy slagging off the city for the allegedly usurious ‘expense’ of its hotels as well as the trials and tribulations prompted by limitations of public transport (train) provision in the Welsh capital city.

With total attendances for the SGP series falling by 9,220 fans (down 5.2%) from 177,100 to 167,876, you need to go back a decade to the dark days of 2001 to find average attendee numbers per event below the present execrable 15,261*.

With the SGP firework conspicuously failing to light yet again this year, there’s vague comfort for the BSI/IMG management team in the brute fact that Prague, Torun and Vojens all saw their 2011 numbers beat their historic average attendance figures. However, if BSI/IMG were actually accountable to shareholders (or speedway fans!), ongoing decline in this area alone would see the lame ducks from the executive team seek opportunities elsewhere.

Average Speedway Grand Prix Attendance Figures

2001   15,750

2002   20,100

2003   17,163

2004   15,793

2005   16,940

2006   15,639

2007   16,628

2008   16,997

2009   15,755

2010   16,100

2011   15,261

Before we get carried away, it’s worth noting that 2011 average viewer numbers (80,611) are 45% down on 2008 (145,550) and even 25% down on the 106,944 two years ago when 38,000 odd viewers were lost.

In the absence of specific information or comment from Sky Sports (let alone credible competing publicly available rival viewer statistics), ‘friends’ of speedway and insider experts continue to anonymously attack the veracity of the BARB figures on the British Speedway Forum. Though these posters unsubstantiated and, sometimes, tendentious criticisms are allegations unlikely to register beyond the BSF, this ongoing questioning the BARB figures sounds petty and horribly like sour grapes when you consider that BARB is the accepted standard form of audience measurement within the television industry. Apparently good enough for Strictly and the X Factor but allegedly too blunt an instrument for obscure or specialist programmes like Sky Sports Speedway.

Sky Sports insider, Flagrag takes it upon himself to articulate the apparent position of the satellite broadcaster, “Sky no longer rely on BARB figures much now anyway as they don’t take into consideration time shifted viewing like recording and repeats. In fact we now have a more accurate system as we have our own consumer viewing panel and online Skyline survey system this is all backed up by our internal viewing monitoring figures collected from set top boxes as this allows us to see how many recorded it along with repeat play outs.”

Interestingly after this scepticism about the integrity of the BARB figures, earlier this month Flagrag rushed onto the BSF to state that Sky Sports Speedway internal figures reveal a decline for viewing numbers for Elite League in 2011! “I have not had a chance to fully have a look at viewing figures year on year but in general they have been down a bit which is to be expected as has been going head to head with MNF premiership football on Sky sports 1 but the audience share has remained good all year and Speedway still out performs a number of other more well known and supported sports and events” It’s an immutable law of sales that whenever there is talk of market share, things aren’t usually rosy in the garden.

The calibre of the excuses aren’t up to much either, especially since – for example – Monday night football has been around for some time, this doesn’t seem a credible or creative explanation. Given the frequent praise for the quality and editing of the pictures broadcast, the decline Flagrag highlights is hard to fathom unless those legions of time shift viewers no longer bother to Sky+ Monday night live speedway meetings.

That said, during 2011 12 Elite League meetings were unmeasurable by BARB since their audience fell outside the weekly Top 10, so – if the figures for these are known by insiders at Sky Sports and added into the mix – it is conceivable that Monday night live speedway viewer numbers did slump as Flagrag claims. Speedway riders such as Chris Holder (“It’s an inferior product. They want to keep costs down but are watering down the product. If they want to make the Elite League in England ‘the Elite League’, they should bring all the top riders over”) and Hans Andersen (“No disrespect to some of the riders, but people are paying Elite League prices to get in, but it’s not Elite League riders on display”) raise partisan product quality questions but this isn’t a situation solely peculiar to 2011.

This blog suggests that we shouldn’t lose sight of the ‘good news’ that these increased BARB figures represent. We could also continue to hope this is a sign of further recovery in the future. Monday night expert commentators Nigel Pearson and Kelvin Tatum often remind us during the season that the resurgent 2011 Elite League nowadays manages to attract stay away Speedway Grand Prix stars – riders like Nicki Pedersen and Emil Sayfutdinov – back to our shores. It’s a development they say that signals our collective speedway good health. So, perhaps, on balance these deeply admired returning riders are one of the key reasons behind the modest rise the BARB figures show for the 2011 season?

The shock news that kindly dedicated speedway enthusiast Maurice Gordon has sadly passed away (aged only 62) is difficult to comprehend. With an accent almost as exotic – to English ears – as the pronunciation of his name, Maurice could regularly be seen in his natural habitat at a speedway meeting (whether at his beloved Edinburgh or each and every track within notional driving distance of Peebles). Affable and gentle are words that spring to mind as does knowledgeable. Maurice wasn’t one of those to flourish the depths of his knowledge or passion – he preferred understated and human. Maurice clearly saw the foibles of the sport he loved but let it wash over him with equanimity lest it spoil the pleasure he took in its beauty and camaraderie. Also a man of many speedway anoraks, Maurice could regularly be seen with his umbrella, small cigar, programme board and, of course, his trademark cricket jumper. You hardly had to be mastermind to realise that his easy modesty hid other personal and sporting hinterlands away from the shale that his untimely death has thrown into much sharper relief (here, here and here). Never lost for a word – invariably of the kind and/or insightful variety – (though I only know him from chance encounters), over and above his passion for speedway it’s Maurice’s basic decency, real care for and interest in other people that will continue to linger.

From Bouquet of Shale

Thirty minutes before the scheduled start time, Edinburgh fan Maurice arrives in a disguise that wouldn’t trouble the least-observant wannabe detective. Given his love of the Monarchs, it’s nevertheless a shock to see Maurice resplendent in his Newcastle anorak! This surely is speedway’s equivalent of cross-dressing? Maurice professes no embarrassment but [initially] refuses to have his picture taken. While the bowser slowly circles under dark skies, Maurice chats amiably about his personal speedway allegiances. “This is my 52nd meeting of the season. Last year, I only got to 74. I must get a Berwick jacket soon as I’m a Berwick season ticket holder. I don’t go on holiday, I go to speedway. Last night’s meeting at Workington – if I was writing a report – I’d say it was better than the scoreline suggests.” Some things about speedway defy explanation, even to the initiated but especially to the casual uninformed. “I tried to explain to a non-speedway friend of mine how Newcastle and Birmingham could race in the Premier Trophy final when Glasgow and Edinburgh are racing a Premier Trophy qualifier this afternoon. Technically, as Ray the gateman pointed out, that qualifying group will be finished before this one starts as it starts at 4 p.m. It’s already 43-23 after 11 heats. Nonetheless, it’s still like playing the FA Cup Final and a third round match on the same day! By the way I started reading your book [Shale Trek] last night and I’m sure it’s David Nimmo not Derek Nimmo. Have you ever chatted to the first-aiders? David wasn’t there at the meeting on Friday and there were lots of fallers so he missed out! A pal of mine once said ‘paracetamol for Danny Bird’ – Ha! Ha! – when he was up for his drugs test!”

Tonight’s meeting definitely catches the imagination of the Newcastle public. With five minutes to go before the scheduled start time, there’s still a substantial queue on the wrong side of the entrance turnstiles. It impresses Peebles-based Maurice, “That IS quite a big queue!”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From Shale Trek

Edinburgh fan Maurice (“pronounced More-reece”) Gordon reports in to say “I didn’t read any of your book last night I was watching the cricket highlights.”

[Jim Brykajlo] “Australia is 300 ahead and England 80 for 4.”

[Maurice] “80 for 5!” [both laugh]

[Jim] “The crowds have been up here all season.”

[Matthew Platten] “The local derby always gets four figure crowds.”

[Maurice] “Who’s going to win the battle of the German’s tonight?”

[Jim] [shrugs] “Lawson went to Glasgow for more money! He got a two grand signing-on fee.”

Dick Barrie announces over the tannoy that a “silver Peugeot is blocking a nearby driveway”.

[Maurice] “I know how mad I would be if I came out to find my driveway blocked!”

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From Bouquet of Shale

Edinburgh Monarchs fan Maurice enjoys the action they serve up at the STMP that it’s already his third 280-mile round trip this season so far. “That’s how a meeting should be run. No falls and no reruns. No faffing about! John Campbell was fined once for telling the ref to get a move on. Sky should come and see it too!”

Maurice is enamoured by the calibre of entertainment offered at the STMP, “Even if you don’t get passing, you always get close racing on a small track.”

Neil inspired and cared for so many speedway riders over the years but, more than that, he made people feel special. Neil also inspired as a man – genuine, compassionate and modestly humble. Most of all, Neil was himself – magnificently human – definitely someone you’d aspire to emulate and always want to listen to

Australia, Newport and the speedway world as well as people everywhere who met him are blessed to have enjoyed the ride with Neil! He lived life to the full and had an enduring fascination with people. His memory, teaching and guidance will echo down the years. Neil touched and changed lives.

Dakota North tweets, moments after the sad news of Neil’s passing, and catches eloquently the universal reaction to Neil. “Sad night, rip mate going to miss you so much! will never forget you mate or everything you tought/and did for me, so lucky I got a chance to see you this year when I got injured, Until we meet again mate ”

It is a privilege to have met Neil.

From Showered in Shale (2006)
Between the meetings, the legendary Neil ‘Bill’ Street takes a lot of time and interest in my book and my research questions, while we sit in the welcome shade of the cubbyhole by the pits. He looks surprisingly cool in his trademark [red] jumper, despite the intense heat of the day and the severity of the loss that he’s just endured in his capacity as the Newport team manager. He has immense experience and an attitude to life that places him somewhere between Gandalf and Yoda in the speedway world.
Neil chats easily and animatedly about his great-grandchildren one minute or switches seamlessly to his grandson Jason Crump’s progress in this season’s Grand Prix – notably how difficult it is to be the defending champion, the strain of all the travel on a proud father of a young family, as well as his recent bout with chicken pox (“it’s much worse when you get it as an adult”). Neil goes to practically all Jason’s Grand Prix meetings to help out in his corner of the pits along with Jason’s father and his son-in-law, Phil Crump. Neil travels much less nowadays, especially since he relinquished his responsibilities as the Australian team manager, “it was time to hand over to a younger man”. Which it’s fair to say, in comparison to Neil, Craig Boyce most definitely is; though as a rider he’s already reached ‘veteran’ status. Neil has enjoyed the glory years of his management of the Aussie squad with great patriotism, particularly since he’d been so closely involved throughout the decade or so of their rise and dominance in team competitions. “We were so good they even had to change the rules to beat us,” he says, but, sadly, in the way of all flesh, the team is ageing and, for Neil, has already passed their best until “hopefully the next generation comes through again”. He chats affably with his eyes sparkling and alive but bristles immediately, at my reference to the common description of him as a “legendary figure” within the sport. The frequent repetition of this claim offends his modesty and frustrates him, “I’d like to dispense with all that bullshit about legends, as many people say this. I’ve done lots of things and made most of the things, as others would have done, I’ve been very fortunate”. A brief run through his curriculum vitae would find that he followed on from his riding career in Britain to become a successful and very skilled team manager for both club and country, his beloved Australia. He has been particularly successful for his country, where he single-handedly has encouraged and shaped the development of many later generations of riders in the UK. Mostly through his avowed policy to bring over “hordes of blokes” from Australia to gain vital experience here. Neil has always been keen to develop a lot of young people’s talents, which, inevitably, appears to involve “keeping them at my place in Exeter to get them settled in”. There is also his widely acknowledged influence upon his son-in-law Phil Crump and his grandson Jason, the current reigning World Champion. And, of course, he revolutionised the equipment used in the sport through its adoption of his invention of the first 4-valve engine into speedway; the “Neil Street Conversion” as it was known, an innovation that he introduced in 1975. As he accurately but modestly notes, in a lifetime, “you do a lot of things!”
Neil came to this country in 1952, on March 2, from Melbourne on a one-way ticket that cost £25. He left behind a large family where, at an early age, he’d had to assume a lot of responsibility as the eldest child of nine who had a father who “was a drunkard”. He grew up quickly “milking cows and the like” before he left for England at the age of 21 with no money to his name, to seek a different life. Upon arrival he was “very fortunate” to get to stay with Mrs Weekes in Exeter. The appreciation of good fortune really should be Neil’s catch phrase (Neil “very fortunate” Street) since it peppers his conversation throughout and he always acknowledges it with wonder and such genuine sincerity. Mrs Weekes helped Neil find his feet “she looked after me as good as my mother”, and eventually helped lead him to think about putting down permanent roots in this country. He was also helped to settle in England by Mrs Morgan, who he went to stay with after five years in the country, and he smiles when he notes, “I’m lucky enough to have had three mothers in my life!” When you speak with Neil, you recognize and feel his love of people and his essential humanity. He believes his journey to England was a great eye opener and formative experience for him. When Neil says, “it’s been a wonderful life”, you believe him since it somehow doesn’t sound clichéd or trite. He arrived with no money “you learned to mix with people” with “lots of different nationalities” and through this process he gained a respect for common humanity. It’s an experience he passionately believes that all young Australian men, who “luckily” (that word again) have talent for riding a speedway bike, should seek out. When they arrive in England and travel throughout Europe, they can “learn a broad outlook on human nature” and through “mixing with a variety of people” they can have experiences that teach them “to become more tolerant” of themselves and other people. He believes it “opens their eyes” and is “much better” than the formal education provided by University because it opens them up to experience life by transplanting them to the other side of the world away from the comfort of their “usual expectations”.
Through Neil’s eyes, people experience the same issues and concerns the world over, because there’s an underlying, shared “common bond”. He encourages every young rider he meets to gain this experience, as he “hates to see young people missing opportunities”. Neil has intense pride in his family and also in his workmanship “I’ve built four houses, two in Victoria and two here, with my own hands”. However, when push comes to shove you have absolutely no difficulty to believe that he’s “not interested in material possessions” and that really “it’s all about living”. For Neil a little of the brotherhood of man goes a long way, “deep down everyone is just people and the best thing you can do is just experience life”. He looks at it philosophically, if the young Aussies who come over to Britain “don’t make it as a speedway rider, they’ve still really experienced something special in their life”. It’s definitely something that Neil encourages, since he says he encounters “more whingeing Aussies over here than Brits”.
It’s also a sad fact that many young men, of whatever nationality, who set out to be speedway riders just won’t ever make the grade. In Neil’s experience, “three quarters of the riders can’t ride”. It’s a blunt analysis, but he believes way too many riders get obsessed with details that are ultimately irrelevant to their performance; “they get too complicated” and obsess about comparatively minor technical matters – such as clutches, gear ratios and ignitions – when really “it’s all about throttle control!” In an ideal world they should ride their bikes “like a jockey, feeling everything through your backside – what the tyres are doing and the surface – and riding the bike using their throttle accordingly”. This skill is beyond many riders ability and consequently hampers their performance. If Neil has any regrets about the sport, it’s the impact of the necessary but inexorable rise of “professionalism” that you find throughout the sport in Poland, Sweden and England. It hasn’t become “too stupid for words over money” like football but, Neil worries, that it’s heading that way. Speedway was a “family concern that’s now too professional”, even the fans no longer mix with the riders in the bar afterwards, as they used to do in the past. The sport has definitely along the way lost this innate fraternity between the riders and the fans, probably inevitably so, with many riders’ intense travel schedules that takes them throughout Europe for League racing and the Grand Prix’s. “Speedway fans want to feel that they’re part of the family” but “as money comes into it, they [the riders] lose identity with the fans”, it’s not as bad as football, but it still “makes me bloody mad”.
I could listen for hours to this kindly, informed and most humane of men but since he has already missed the first couple of races of the Conference League meeting, Neil just can’t bear to miss the chance to watch the next generation of riders any longer. He heads off to the steps of the pits metal viewing platform, just like any other keen fan of the sport, to catch up on the detail of the races he’s missed and complete his programme correctly with the help of another fan.

From Shifting Shale (2007)
I bump into the lovely Neil Street. Inevitably he has on his red jumper and his hair looks a little windswept. It’s always a delight to spend any time in Neil’s company.… “I did. I did. It was good. Jeff Scott called me about it (Guardian) – oh, er, you’re Jeff Scott – I bought it actually but I wouldn’t buy it again!” We chat about his health and he says that he’s in remission from the prostrate cancer he was diagnosed with. He’s been to the hospital that day for an implant,“it doesn’t take long and it lasts three months, so long enough for my trip to Australia. It reduces your testosterone, which controls the cancer that otherwise, strangely, your testosterone naturally increases. You don’t even notice it and I feel really good – though it reduces your libido [laughs], at 75 you can’t worry too much about that!” Neil was initially reluctant to make the journey over to Coventry from the West Country but a succession of phone calls about the event in the weeks beforehand persuaded him to come along and show his support, “they all kept calling saying I should come along – Lemo called and then Boycie a few days later and then Jason’s wife when he was away. The Aussies always stick together, look out for each other and they said they’d all be here.Things have changed in speedway now – the top riders live in a bubble and they’re not part of the community. The connection between the riders and the fans is still there at the Conference League level and some Premier League clubs but mostly it’s gone as they’re in a different country nearly every night what with the Polish leagues, the Swedish leagues, the GPs and racing here. It’s the way of the world. Speedway is still the best motor sport to watch but, as the machines get better and better and the technology improves, it’s less and less about skill and control of the bike. Look at Formula 1, when the machines and computers take over it reduces the spectacle!” Throughout our chat, the flow of people towards the auditorium or back from the toilets means that Neil is caught in a perpetual round of waves and “hellos.” He’s hugely popular and greatly in demand, so it’s great that he’s decided to be here tonight.

From Bouquet of Shale (2010)
Stood close by to us, apparently serenely oblivious to the shouting, is 79-year-old speedway legend and Wasps joint team manager Neil Street. Though he’s
lived in England for a significant number of years, despite the warmth of the late May sunshine, Neil wears his trademark [red] jumper. Though you can take the man out of Australia, you can’t take Australia out of the man. Modest, friendly, hugely knowledgeable with time for absolutely everyone, Neil exudes contentment and fascination in equal measure. Huge numbers of grateful pupils have passed through Neil’s capable hands. His quietly spoken advice is endlessly relevant to anyone’s speedway education but, equally importantly, his attitude to life and towards people is even more instructive. The hierarchy and power relationships implied by the concept of management, doesn’t sit easily with Neil’s style of guidance. “I’m not managing anybody! I’m just here to advise the youngsters. They’re here to learn or, at least, they should be! They’re apprentices learning their trade. If they learn it properly, they’ll have a good career! But, if they just think they can pick it up as they go along, then they won’t.”
[Jeff] “They’re lucky they’ve got you to listen to.”
[Neil] “I’m not telling anyone what to do! I just advise if they want it! Some of them do need it. [smiles] It keeps me going.”

Moving forward, in future other young ambitious riders – of all nationalities – might decide to eschew the glory of the chance to hold the elegantly designed World Championship silverware in favour of additional financial reward, career longevity and an improved, more relaxed lifestyle. With its ageing almost self-selecting talent pool, the SGP series would soon have to recalibrate its hyperbolic claim to showcase the ‘best’ speedway riders in the world. Plus, if the next generation of gifted speedway riders start to stay away from the circus in any serious numbers, SGP television rights sales revenues as well as their meagre pool of (often also ran) sponsors would soon decline.

Possibly more significantly, if Darcy Ward chooses to decide with his head and wallet rather than his heart, then he’d be sensible to refuse the widely anticipated offer of a wild card slot in the BSI run 2012 Speedway Grand Prix series. The Robert Maxwell Theory of Banking dictates that the SGP requires the magic dust, freshness, devil may care elan, brio and excitement that (Nigel Pearson so often – in a speedway world apparently rich with opinions – reminds us) Darcy provides. Clearly BSI need Darcy in the SGP 2012 to help revive their increasingly stale format as well as disguise their mounting problems much more than he needs them! That said, Darcy’s youthful enthusiasm, love of competition and racing will probably dictate he accepts.

If we briefly review the decision making landscape Darcy enjoys, his acceptance is by no means the sure fire certainty it would have been only a few years ago. Darcy is a 19 year-old frequent flier supremely gifted in his chosen career (riding a speedway bike) who’s already well remunerated for his skills. What he doesn’t have much of during any speedway season is time. Nor does he suffer from a lack of travel. Given from 2012 competing in the Polish Ekstraliga – the most important league in the speedway world if judged by quality of field, crowd size, rider payments, frequency of event, popularity and volume of print/broadcast media coverage – will definitely always trump most Speedway Grand Prix obligations, any rider would be well advised to exit the SGP series to ensure they gain net income growth as well as the additional competitive advantage of guaranteed ‘freshness’ each and every post-SGP Sunday.

If we accept, for a moment, the oft cited canard that “only the best” and cream of the cream actually participate in the SGP, this (notionally) cost saving one SGP rider rule change in Poland presages problems. It either means (as some self-interestedly claim) that the quality levels of the Ekstraliga immediately dilute or – much more likely – that there will be a premium paid in signing on fees, guaranteed payments and additional benefits to any top notch star rider who’s likely to excel, entertain and win regularly (but isn’t part of the SGP circus).

The bargaining power of certain individual riders – such as Nicki, Freddie, Darcy & even Bomber – are suddenly – overnight – massively increased in a speedway mad country where already it’s not unheard of for riders to command seven figure payments for a single season. Sadly for BSI, the SGP series they’ve touted as supreme (in the face of ongoing sustained indifference from the proper print and broadcast media) and for so long milked as a cash cow without long term strategic planning or substantial real investment, instantly looks less attractive. Indeed, this rule change reveals the actual contemporary balance of financial and speedway power.

Let’s have a quick look at nine key ‘benefits’ Darcy – or any other rider – gains if he decides to commit and compete in the 2012 Speedway Grand Prix series:

1. Additional travel (22 extra days added into any schedule)

2. Further logistical stress getting to often obscure locations – making travel to Poland afterwards for Ekstraliga meetings unnecessarily complex and/or inconveniently tiring

3. Pitiful prize money – total SGP prize money over six Top 8 finish seasons (2005-2010) for Greg Hancock is $351,500 and for Tomasz Gollob $386,950. One 2012 signing on fee in the Ekstraliga for any non-SGP top performing rider will instantly dwarf both these sums!

4. Massively increased staff, travel, tuning & equipment costs

5. The chance to ride on temporary tracks or specially prepared regular tracks with their zest completely removed

6. Falling UK television audiences

7. Plateaued audiences for live, nearly live & packaged formats in markets with few speedway sponsors to monetise or, at best if the organisers publicity is granted credibility, exponential growth in audiences far flung countries with no record of speedway rider sponsorship and low average incomes

8. Stale format (upside: reduced chance of elimination from series even if injury, desire or skill dramatically declines) that’s guaranteed to maximise rides and travel

9. Almost complete lack of global sponsors – new or otherwise (best option remains to get a contract with Red Bull incentivised by his position in the averages in the Swedish, Polish & British speedway leagues rather than SGP participation)

Fifth in the current Polish Ekstraliga averages, Ryan Sullivan already illustrates the rejuvenating results and career longevity that can flow from operating outside the SGP charmed circle. Greg Hancock, Tomasz Gollob & Jason Crump also already restrict the volume of meetings they ride (by sitting out the British Elite League) to reduce their travel, chance of injury while increasing their career longevity.

With the increased bargaining power non-SGP riders command in Poland during 2012, non-SGP riders need to listen to their investment advisors or bodies. If they factor in the lifestyle and performance benefits that flow from the reduced weekly schedules – already successfully operated by Hancock/Crump/Gollob – strategically Nicki Pedersen (7^th in 2011 Polish Ekstraliga averages), Fredrik Lindgren (15^th) and Darcy Ward should all opt to refuse the wild cards they’re likely to be offered this weekend by SGP organisers. But, when push comes to shove – and remember how BSI punished Hans Andersen for having the temerity to express an honest sceptical opinion – will they dare?

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Postscript
Interviewed by enthusiastic in the know journalist Paul Burbidge (SGP website reporter and blogger) in the Speedway Star published after this post (issue dated 8th October) – Darcy Ward says, “To be honest if you’re not in the (SGP) top four, you lose money. You get more money racing at Eastbourne on a Monday than you do in the Grand Prix. It’s so overrated in terms of prizes, unless you’re winning of course. Poland is where you earn your money to pay your mechanics and have all your gear. Maybe a couple of the older guys will drop out and concentrate on Poland. I really don’t know.” While Chris Holder notes,  “I think with his riding ability – no problem. (Darcy) could be in the GP easily. It’s not his riding that could let him down. It’s all the other stuff. It’s a lot of organisation. You have run a full-blown team with three guys. You need ferries and hotels and then you have Poland the next day. It’s a big thing”

Unmissable

“the Sultan of Cheese always delivers” NME
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“there’s nothing else like this” Melody Maker

“watch out Tony” Smash Hits