After a lot of careful consideration and listening to people we have decide to amend Pit access at Sheffield for Sunday 26th July.

As previously explained we have to introduce a control with regard access to the pits and this has to be done via the turnstiles and a wristband obtained to gain access. This is how it has to be.

There has been considerable debate over a nominal £1 charge, done to cover administration however, without getting out the sick bucket, we are
not as a promotion in the business of alienating customers - quite the reverse and actively encourage constructive criticism and suggestions.

As a promotion, we have done everything possible to contain costs with no increases for 2009 and where possible reduce costs and therefore the charge was designed to cover the admin cost.

[b]However, referring to the above, we have to listen and acknowledge peoples views and therefore for 2009 at least we have with immediate effect removed the nominal charge - it will, therefore be free - and we will revisit for 2010.

There are some things important to fight for and some better to listen to - and this is one of those points.

Sheffield needs everyones support, Sundays event looks good car wise and we as promoters in fairness should not contribute to creating prejudices.

I re-iterate however that you must obtain a wristband in the manner prescribed.

This isn't a U turn in commenting on forums - or necessarily that we have an event on Sunday - we do read forums and where applicable take on board some points if we can.

In the end, forums and the internet are with us to stay and can be an integral part of the sport - what we all have to do is find a sensible way to re-engage and move on so points can be debated/ discussed sensibly.

Hopefully, everyone understands tracks cannot run for free, particularly with the additional costs at Sheffield - and the many challenges at the venue which is one that will never be a 60 car venue due to the demanding challenges of the track - Sunday however will produce a welcome entry compared to May and has healthy support bookings and every incetive for drivers and fans to enjoy a Northern double header - we also have to acknowlegde the decent people who support the sport week in week out which is the main reason for our re-assesment as we appreciate that support.

Nice one Steve

We took the view Wolfy - whilst we have to have the system, we have to look after those who support us without sounding cheesy and sometimes you have to take a step back - we certaonly do not want to alienate fans and lose people on pricniple similar to when M&S introduced a 5p charge for carrier bags.

Sheffield already suffers in a non prime race day/date due to fixture congestion, we have to ensure that we provide a platform for it to be supported - or it will be lost to solely Banger Racing as it cannot run at a loss continually.

Sunday has a very attractive programme and it deserves to be supported, hopefully and indications are it will, and Sheffield rarely fails to deliver excellent racing and one thing we are certain of, there will be more F1's and Minis than May!

I won't rake over the whole 'pit'gate debate again. I paid the £1 that day. I was a little surprised at being charged it but not upset (if you want to get upset, see where your taxes are spent and your TV licence fee goes on!).

However, it's clear some people were upset judging by some of the furor on the forums. As Olwerton relies on the hardcore fan base to keep Stock Cars profitable, I can see the sense in not wanting to alienate your customer base over this 'fee' no matter how small it is.

Just one thing Steve, just make sure you give people penty of warning if you decide to charge in 2010

Looking forward to Sunday, weather so far (fingers crossed) is looking promising. Should be a great northern, steel towns double header

Firstly Steve, well done and THANKS on the behalf of ALL stock car fans for your actions on pit access at Sheffield, we all, including myself, critise, and rightly so, when things are wrong, but very few put the same effort into praise and thanks when things are good.
Secondly, thanks again for sticking with f1's at Sheffield, I really do believe it could be mecca for f1's, and I hope Sheffield gets a weekend of being the only meeting next year, as it always seems to get the s*** end of the stick for fixtures, including doubling with BV.
If you could only find a way of getting 40+ cars to attend, I'm sure, no, I know good crowds would follow. If people travel to Kings Lynn and Skegness, Sheffield must be "local" to many of them the same applies to drivers.
Asking around, the fence is the key, is there any way we could help resolve the issue? ( apart from giving my lottery winnings £10 last week )

The fence isn't actually the problem - it's cause an effect - The layout of the track is a lmost full throttle d shape and quite narrow particularly combined with the speed - the effect is step off the the line and hit the fence - and usually at 20mph + faster than Belle Vue.

Sheffield is FIM approved and Speedway would not consider widening. changing the profile.

The fence does cause car damage - always has since 1976 - BUT - there are good points to the fence in so much as the fence and collateral damage to cars absorbs and dissipates the energy - and as cars get faster, solid walls are becoming a problem.

That said, damage costs - Majaor improvements continue to be made to the fence - credit to Martin Ford and his team and experiments with now 7 ropes in places are underway [ already from turn 3 to the front straight ] which at the last meet bounced cars away - this work will continue.

To be fair, other than the odd hiccup, car turnouts at Sheffield apart from May 31st - and certainly early May and in 2008 were on a par with most venues and with around 27 cars booked for Sunday - should be a brilliant meet.

The biggest problem with SHEFFIEL is being a Sunday track and a shortage of decent dates for it - without getting the violins it, it deserves everyones support as we conceded to allow Scunthorpe the night before this and the October F1 sessions for the good of the sport, hardly however commercially ideal for us!

We have done everything that people have asked - admission prices are competitive v costs but we need support otherwise the track is heading towards almost full time Banger Racing and when a stadium of the calibre of Sheffield is lost to stock car racing, trust me, talking to other promoters, given it's costs, it won't re-open.