Pieman72

Speedway needs a lot more than a makeover.

Thanks Sue an excellent post. I think this emphasises the 'bunker mentality' of the sport and the post is evidential to what needs to happen in speedway. Whether your a die hard or a newcomer just an anorak (like me) lol or not any contribution is welcome, what we don't need is anything offensive. We all have self interests and as I get older I become welded to the past but I do realise what needs to happed. Thanks again for some brilliant replies keep em coming !!

Very good point speedway should be for everyone. My rational is: 1) Potential sponsors. 2) Speedway is generally watched by 'blue collar' individuals. 3) Tracks are in less affluent area's where they have not been developed into housing. 4) The median income of the uk is particularly low so it is a bigger market. 5) A low admission price will potentially bring in more supporters? I'm interested in your discussion point as this is what my post was about. Please continue the thread as everything is invaluable.

This is ok for individuals with a reasonable disposable income but the type of person that we need to attend speedway meetings does not have that kind of money. I would be far happier with 1000 people paying £10 than 500 paying £18. It would bring in more money create more atmosphere and they are more likely to buy food, drink and memorabillia etc. Where as people like me will take a flask plus sandwiches wrapped in greaseproof paper lol. How can speedway justify the eye watering admission prices when the stadfiums are closing and empty?

The solution is lowering the admission price and to run meetings on a Friday and Saturday night and if they don't want to play then find some local talent i.e. training schools, bikes provided and sponsors. Drawing an analogy to the England Football team performance recently and the Premier League rammed full of foreign players is a good example of what speedway is experiencing. A lot of football clubs are struggling hand to mouth and at the top is your favourite pay to view predator.

The demograph of the typical speedway fan was a manual skilled worker and we need to understand what the current generation would like to watch thus constructing the sport around the past and present visitor to a speedway track. It's no point expecting a new supporter to pay £18-£20 it just isn't going to happen. I think the sport is reflected in the type of sponsor the more watchable it is the better the sponsor. Love the posts from by-gone days you were privileged to have seen the likes of Ove Fundin and Peter Craven.

People don't like change and that's understandable and it's no point reminiscing we have to look forwards; good or bad. From the contributions made following my original post I think there is a passion that won't let the sport die. Me and others will contribute financially but definitely not under the present system. I'm so impressed with the replies thanks to everyone I think this is starting to take off keep the posts coming. Change will happen !!

Nice idea's... crucially meetings should cost £10 no more. At the moment £41 including a programme for me and my wife is ridiculous we don't spend that much on food then there is petrol the odd pint and a burger, someone in charge of speedway needs a reality check. Most individuals do not posess that amount on money for a leisure activity.

What an excellent post. This shouldn't be the case in a professional sport. Who pays your mortgage/rent, food, car....wife etc. Get rid of the prima donna's and bring on local talent intermingled with the odd foreign rider. A certain Danish gentleman started this and it was continued by his protege and as a result we have the Scandinavian World Championship and British Speedway in a very sorry state. Who's got new idea's on how to make the meetings more interesting. Unfortunately if we don't attract a younger audience the sport will decline further.

Do like your realism I think there is a half way point between Grasstrack and Speedway and most Grassboys do like the opportunity to race on shale but the costs are inhibitive. It certainly would be taking Speedway back to it's roots. Flat Track has never found a market in this country and fans are more used to the thrills and spills of Speedway.

Unfortunatly I/we can't guarantee anything. Many thanks for all the contributions we are all passionate about this sport. Has anyone any idea's about engines. bikes, formats and racing schedules? I would like to float the idea of shale racing using a different format with different engines and capacities giving the percentage of profit (if any) to the riders. Any idea's? Do we have to use 1920's style engines with methanol and odd lubrication systems that require a high level of maintenance particularly running high compression?

Unfortunately Coventry Speedway is no more fixtures, fittings and shale have all been removed. housing will be built on the site and speedway will be no more. Fundamentally profitability entertainment and survival is the crucial situation. To fight off housing propectors, the sites must turn in a profit. I'd rather have a full stadium with £10 per head than £18 and an empty one. It would be more profitable, draw an analogy between the discount supermarkets and the big four it can't be clearer. Same products but without the frills.

Losing Coventry is a massive blow to speedway hopefully it will be a 'wake up call' for everyone invoved in the sport.

The concencus seems to be that an organisation needs to be formed that can engage with and promote motor cycle racing on dirt/shale in a stadium that is fully insured and regulated but without the red tape and overheads that is moderating the sport. Thanks for the wonderful replies and it is so nice that they are pregmatic and sensible. Keep the ideas coming !!

We can twaek the sport once it's in better health. What I require is idea's something not tried or racing that gives better value and entertainment at a realistic admission price. Amateur riders probably aren't the way forward as it's too expensive and you would need a second full time income? Clicking turnstiles is the answer. Protential promoters need to try new formats and see what does and doesn't work. Pirate tracks aren't the answer but something devolved from the SCB may be the solution?

Speedway is the same format, same people, same rules, same bikes and what people enjoy is mixing it up. For example different make/size/fuel/engines/frame, scratch races grasstrack type supension for the more agricultural tracks and above all admission prices that reflect out current financial climate. Empty stands do not make for a good atmosphere. You can change rules make the racing more competitive but fundamentally to get people through the turnstiles change has to occur. Speedway is a wonderful spectacle particularly under floodlights and the smell of 'R' is something special but we need to attract individuals who are not as an anoraky as myself.

Keep the thread going. Some excellent very pragmatic comments. Fundamentally we need idea's and proposals to be fair anything. My feeling is that the sport needs reorganising from the top down with people who look outside the box and not in it recycling tired old idea's used way back in the halcyon days of the 70's.

Looking at the situation with regards to Coventry and other teams 'teetering on the brink'. I think it's time that supporters and promoters alike start to take a serious look at how the sport is run. There seems to be a bunker attitude that everything will carry on as normal as long as we keep doing the same. Making connotations to the National League in the 1960 is a valuable historical premise but then there was a thriving Provincial League. On every level there needs to be change i.e. admission prices, expensive foreign riders, making the bikes cheaper and more available to experienced and novice riders alike, entertainment value, marketing and above all reaching out to a new audience. Unless something is done I fear that the sport will cease to exist. Any idea's either serious or fanciful will be welcome and contribute to the future of our wonderful family sport

Got any photo's of the track?

Good point I'm just showing concern that it usually effects attendances and if Speedway continues to decline there will be no Elite League to broadcast.

I'd rather pay at the turnstyle soak up the atmosphere, smell the Methanol and Oil while putting some money into the sport. TV Speedway is convenient but the continantal version is killing the sport in this country. Still if we vote out (which I haven't) promoters will have to apply for work permits.....difficult.

I have tried several attempts to stimulate proposals to reconstruct speedway but alas it has failed to change the mindset and I'm afraid speedway remains in a stable but critical condition.

Realisticly if a track can turn in an operating profit gross then you can invest in the facilities and look to the future, running training schools and possibly supplying machines for budding riders. The consequence would be less dependency on foreign riders. Oh well I can dream. Running a track as a money making venture is never going to be possible but operating at a profit covering the loans and investing in the future then becomes a viable option.

I think everyone has missed the point here. Speedway is not a charity and the figure do not add up what comes in does not cover the costs. It's no point living in the past Speedway has to change. I'm looking to put money into a future venture but in it's present form the Bank Manager and my wife would have a seizure.

British Speedway is uniquely different to the continental model and is fundamentally an on terrace spectator sport having a coffee and a burger or better still a pint if your not driving. Our model is not comfortable with TV and the razzematazz of the Slovenian GP. To make matters worse there are too many rules and regulations which need simplifying and relaxing while ensuring the safety of rider and spectators alike.