The White Knight

Whilst I take your point, that the future is the way to go, I do not agree with your your premise regarding Doris and Bob. You need to think about ALL Speedway Supporters and that includes the elderly. There is a theory that you can learn from History. Perhaps you could look back to when Speedway really was popular, when good folk, young and old, flocked to Speedway Meetings for the noise, the excitement, the smell, the thrills, the spills and the entertainment. Look at those points I make now. How many apply today? Noise - Yes, Excitement - Yes, Smell - No, Thrills and Spills - Yes (too many of the latter, these days), Entertainment - No, not really. No second Half from where you grow your future riders. I would argue that Speedway, which purports to be a Sport, has lost it's way. The Grand Prix system, I believe, has degraded the Sport in this Country. It is too gimmicky. I just mention the laughably named - Last Qualifying Round/Race. Too many places are given to the top riders from the previous year - these riders are SELECTED from their efforts this year for the World Championship for next year. What is fair and equal about that? Then we come to the League - no the wonder Supporters drift away when their Team win the League, only to find they have to win another competition to win it AGAIN (Play Offs aka: an injustice) - not fair. If you want another competition - fine - but don't call it the League Championship, for that it isn't. They (the Promoters) have changed what used to be a great Sport that people used to attend enthusiastically, into fifteen races - and that's it. Bare minimum offered to Supporters. High prices to be paid, when money these days is extremely tight. Finally the riders themselves have lost touch with the Supporters. No going for a drink afterward as in the old days. All of these things add up. Well, I am off to get my flask and my blanket - it is cold this time of year. Much Love Doris and Bob.

Which of the current Teams would you condemn to the scrapyard then? What about their Supporters? You are condemning five clubs to oblivion. I am afraid I cannot agree with you.

I have had a great time at Peterborough Speedway over the years. I used to travel down from Sunderland. I wish you all the very best in your efforts. Good Luck.

I would say that most of us do Dean. Speedway was a fair chunk of my life too. The trouble is the Sport has changed since the 60', 70's and 80's - it just isn't the same any more. I do have my memories though, and that is something.

You should be banned from this Forum. Were I a Mod - you definitely would be.

I don't see it that way. When the SGP was at Cardiff, it was a special occasion. Even then though crowds were decreasing. Now we have two GPS in two days at the NSS. Smaller than Cardiff and doesn't hold as many people. Perhaps interest is waning in this Country. Perhaps we should return Speedway to it's roots. Do away with GPs and have a genuine Word Final, as was - a much more spectacular occasion. There is a reason folk are not attending, the powers that be have changed everything and people are voting with their feet.

I already have an adblocker. Seems to work on everything else, but sadly not on this Forum.

Mike - My Track closed closed 51 years ago. The two periods it was opened got me really hooked on the Sport. Finally, it all came to an end in 11974. I was frustrated and upset. The Promoters on BOTH occasion closed us down. One in 1964 after only 9 home meeting. Our Riders poached to strengthen two other Teams. Reasons given by Promoters as Bad Weather (we had NO postponements) and crowd levels - 6,000 at our penultimate meeting Source: (Sunderland Echo). Regarding crowds, I never missed a meeting in 1964, so I know that both reasons were just so much bull. 1971 We opened again under Allied Presentations who were very supportive for 3 years. 1974 We were then sold to a Promoter who was not really up to the job. We staggered on winning very few matches, and losing many Supporters, until about 3/4 of a Season passed and he walked away. To her eternal credit, Mrs. Taylor (Promoter at Berwick) took over the reins and saw us through until the end of the Season, when we finally closed for good. Speedway Promoters have never been very kind to Sunderland.

Free of so many ADVERTS. 🤬 Please note - I am not saying no Adverts, just not so many.

WOW!! Obviously organization at Head Office appears to be as organised as the rest of Speedway. You couldn't make it up.

I would scrap all of the GPs. I am not sure that British Speedway has benefitted too much from having them. The old World Final was a much better way of deciding the World Champion than the GPs. However, we have what we have and I suppose we will have to put up with it.

Sobering stats - YES. Happy memories though.

Really sorry SteelShoe. I did not mean to depress you, but that is the way I see it, I'm afraid.

Bring back proper race jackets, same as in the 50's, 60's and 70's. They looked good and made for a far better look than the flashy boring suits they wear today. As Marko says, "they all look the same". They have removed all sense of individuality from Speedway. Sad, I think, as that was part of the attraction of the Sport.

................ as they have done since the seventies. Look where we are now.