The White Knight

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.

Not good enough, I'm afraid. But crucially, Speedway is supposed to be a Sport. Naturally, Supporters like to know what is going on. Not everything, of course not, just little slips of information. Supporters like to feel involved in their Sport. After all, these Supporters are their Customers, their bread and butter. Sadly the attitude to the Speedway Publlic, and indeed the General Public seem to be the old mushroom theory - keep then in the dark and cover them with ****. They'll be back next Season. Doesn't work these days.

There is a lot of negativity on here, and little wonder. Our Sport seems to be staggering on being wafted around like a leaf in the wind. I don't know what will happen when Rachel Reeves starts increasing this Tax and that Tax. I feel that disposable income in most homes will be needed for food, mortgages, rents, fuel, electricity and gas etc.. Things are very bad at present - things could get even worse soon for all of us, not just Speedway Supporters. I sincerely hope I am wrong, but I'm afraid I cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel. Sorry.

Thanks very much for that Fromafar. 👍🙂

Was it ever thus? I am really sad about Danny King. Great Rider in my opinion.

When is this much vaunted A.G.M. ?

Zero - being Zero.

When is deadline day?

Well said, sir, on ALL counts.

Northampton 'Cobblers'?

I'm sorry. I can't agree with you. Betting would ruin Speedway - that's my view.

Very true. Bring back the upright engines. Safer, Cheaper and, most importantly - fast enough.

Couldn't agree more on both points. Personally I think Betting on Speedway would be a disaster. For many years we have marketed ourselves as a family Sport. Bring in Betting, and you will ruin Speedway as we know it. Introduce Betting and the Sport will be tainted with corruption in no time. I want to see Speedway thrive - but not at the price of dirty money. At the moment, as singy13 says it is largely, I believe, an honest Sport - that would all go out of the window if Betting were allowed. Not for me at any price.

(i) Red: Well, we have Redcar to thank that they (Poole) didn't. (ii) Blue: But do you not think that is part of Speedway's problem. It's a predictability thing. I don't think that one or two Clubs winning everything every year is good for Speedway. Speedway is a Sport, there must be competition. Becoming like what Rangers and Celtic used to be in Scottish Football can be very,very boring.