MACK1

Might it be a good idea to invite a representative from Sky to the BSPA meeting. They seem to have their finger on the pulse of popular opinion. The large 2 minute timer they had at recent televised meetings was a step in the right direction.

Might it be a good idea to invite a representative from Sky to the BSPA meeting. They seem to have their finger on the pulse of popular opinion. The large 2 minute timer they had at recent televised meetings was a step in the right direction.

Why don't they?Inthe old days when rakes were used to rake the dirt back from the fence on to the bends,the track rakers would heap dirt on to ruts and pound it with the rakes held vertically(much like tarmacing repairs)and thus restore a smooth surface.Any track curators out there who would like to comment?

Agreed.A sensational advert for Speedway.Congratulations to all at Sky for a superb production;not forgetting those who provided such a great track.All in all it looks good for the future.

Clearly the riders from gates 3 & 4 have agreater distance to travel to the inside line than those from gates 1 & 2.Could this be addressed by arranging the tapes so that gate 3 has say a half metre start and gate 4 has say a 1 metre start?Sounds a bit simplistic and maybe I am talking total rubbish (it has happened before!)Anyone else got any ideas?

Don't know if you have been to Peterborough.but their grandstand,from a comfort and viewing perspective is pretty well perfect.

Thanks for your reply.You must be a tough and fit guy.Long may it continue to be so.You are absolutely correct:the main thing is the product:SPEEDWAY.

Definitely not.If it was a choice of speedway with seats or no speedway I would be there ,standing! I just feel that in this day and age everything should be done to attract supporters.Seating I think would attract some of the older supporters.If a track could attract say 500 more through the turnstyles it would make a significant difference. Cost of course is the big issue plus agreement of landlords at rented stadiums.Any property owner must welcome an improvement to their property if it was at minimal cost to them.This is my suggestion: 1.Sponsorship/advertising. 2.Local authority grants. 3.Owner contribution. 4.Other users contribution. 5.BSPA contribution! 6.Lottery finance.Must be worth a try. 7.Speedway tenant contribution. Any other ideas?

I didn't mean totally seated stadiums.The track I go to has one decent grandstand along the start/finish straight and this is usually fairly full with the majority of supporters in the older age bracket . Mighty impressed with the three fold crowd increase and agree with you that success certainly pulls in the support;not too sure about reducing admission costs>It would be a huge gamble for the promoters,but who knows it might just work;perhaps one third off as astart.

Just to add my tuppenceworth:I think it should be mandatory for every speedway stadium to have open fronted,covered grandstands with seats in this day and age.

I guess that instead of a knee jerk reaction, the sports governing body are taking a long and calm look at the situation, before making a reasoned response.Thursday's Speedway Star should be a good read.

Not a direct follow -on to your posting,but it reminded me that I read somewhere in the last few days that a track is being laid at Wembley for car racing.Speedway next?

Made this posting more in hope than expectation,so was very pleased with your excellent response.Thanks.I would guess that the modern speedway engine is a pretty potent piece of machinery,even in standard form,so I can well understand that a reduction in power can be advantageous in some circumstances,i.e.massive power output is no good if it cannot be translated into forward motion of the bike. P.S. Was intrigued to see that you have access to engine power outputs and wonder if you are in the tuning business?

Is there anyone out there who knows what engine tuners actualy do,even vaguely?

3 engine tuners spring to mind, but do not know if they are still active.Guy Allot,Eddie Bull & Otto Lantenheimer(spelling?)from Germany.Anyone with more information?

Like your last paragraph.I completely agree that the guys you mention are all successful businessmen outside of speedway,but,I think that problem occurs when they all get together with their fellow promoters at the BSPA.Management by large commitees does not seem to work satifactorily.I believe that if the BSPA were to slimmed down to say a maximun of three of the most able and astute people available it would be a massive step forward.I further believe that one of these people need not even be a current speedway promoter.

Speedway is a business and like all businesses has to consolidate,improve and move forward.Unfortunately it is not doing this.The way forward is to appoint a small independent controlling body.3 people max.Obviously these people have to be of the right calibre to do the job.Will it happen? I doubt it.

Just shows what can be acheived when you put little kids on 50cc bikes and train them for 10 years or so!

Thanks for your witty response.It made me laugh.Some achievement after the debacle of Monday night.Heres to success in the next round.

As I watched the meeting,with the Danes and the Swedes powering out the starts and the first bend, my mind went back several decades to the time when the late Les Owen was riding for Coventry.At that time everybody rode with JAP. engines.Suddenly the Swedes[no mean performers even in those days]upped their game and started flying.It transpired that they had fitted to their engines what became known as the 'big cam'.All perfectly legal of course.Somehow this got known and a handful of British riders obtained supplies, fitted them and quite mediocre riders started flying.My point being:are there some ace scandanavian engine tuners out there carrying out advanced developement of engines etc ?for the benefit of their riders ?

Serious omission last night.Why were the riders not introduced individualy to the crowd?At least then we could have have given each of our boys a cheer.

Nice one Ballinger.Concise,succinct and so very much a factor.

Had a quick scan through posts. Scott Nichols was and still is a great rider,but even he cannot control a bike with using only one arm(i.e.he had a badly damaged shoulder).It speaks volumes for the bloke's courage that he was prepared to give it a go.Make no mistake Scotty will be back and improving on that GP final place he earned at Cardiff.