Pieman72

Most people in this line of work are self employed to pay for the equipment the world has changed a lot.

Something will rise from the ashes. There is still a lot of interest in Grasstrack and Speedway and there is an opportunity to wean ourselves off foreign riders. Traditionally a lot of tracks ran on Friday and Saturday the transition to midweek racing has been the demise of British League Racing.

Sad isn't it Sports Stadiums and Pubs are easy prey for greedy housebuilders and property speculators. Cradley Heath was a very nasty one and Grabbats cost the council a fortune in legal fees. It was an iconic stadium with world class riders but still they won. Going to Cradley was an experience not to be missed and never to be repeated. Saturday nights are for take away's now as if we're not fat enough already.

There are plenty of riders who have the equipment to race and I'd be happy to watch UK riders cut their teeth. Riders have to start somewhere. I suppose after you've parted with your hard earned dosh you might feel used.

Just looking at Isle of Wight Masters Championship. www.dirthub.co.uk/island-masters-shale-track-championship-schedule-entry-list/ You have to applaud the promoters for taking on meetings of this format. There's no reason why stadium racing of this type can't be run with both speedway and grasstrack bikes dependent on the size and condition of the track. I think individuals on this forum are too quick to dismiss this type of event ultimately who cares at least it gives UK riders an opportunity to race instead of applauding Wolverhampton with their plethora of imports.

Brilliant idea it just highlights what a mess Speedway is in.

I agree it's a track for speedway bikes and 18" tyres. I noticed it was very deep. Zach did well to win one race. It was very well presented better than Kings Lynn which looks like a builders yard. I wish we had a track of that stature.

Just watching the World Longtrack Championship from Poland talk about sorted or what and Zach Wajtknecht is superb? Speedway is suffering from the British disease living in the past, we've been doing it for the last 50 years and it works ok. We managed to crash both the motorcycle and car industries into the wall and Speedway is following the same tracks. RIP British Speedway.

Very sad a perfect gentleman with a wonderful sense of humour.

You can't do that it makes it more watchable, exciting and spectacular.

I remember the British League Riders Championship at the old Belle View Hyde Road Stadium before that Huddersfield crook Bamforth sold it down the river. Splattered with granite dust and washing myself off at Keele Services. The lighting was a bit iffy but what a spectacle. We were very fortunate to have watched speedway in that era.

How can speedway re-invent itself. There aren't enough teams and speedway fixtures after August are getting thin on the ground. What's more inviting than watching speedway under floodlights on a crisp October evening. What a mess. Still CVS can save on the electricity bill.

Yep really sorry for Sally and the organisers hopefully they can re stage.

There is one answer you don't need Training Schools, Practice Tracks or Speedway recruitment programmes just do a Wolverhampton problem solved. I agree the Isle of Wright and Barry are trailblazers while it may not be the perfect model it's definitely the way forward. There are 2 issues the deafly silence from the Speedway royalty particularly Phil and the negative but very polite comments from the Speedway fraternity. There is a bigger world out there of different bikes, engines and racing. Something will rise from the ashes of Speedway but in it's present form the decline will continue.

I go to Grasstrack meetings and the difference from Speedway is getting narrower. Few if any top Speedway riders compete in Grasstrack as there is definitely little financial incentive thus investing in a Grassbike would be prohibitive. All bikes must to pass scrutineering so they have to be proper machines. I'm tying to put forward the positives not the negatives and basically lads want to race and people want to watch oval racing it's not 'rocket science'.

The USA doesn't have Grasstrack's. I think this one flew over the grandstand !!

I wouldn't expect all riders to compete in the week as they have full time occupations but if this were to become popular it could help maintain and support the equipment and overheads. It must cost a small fortune to compete in the 500's. There are so few Grasstrack meetings that probably Stadium Racing can enable the opportunity to ride. Lets face it it's all hypothetical, please lets go racing. Yes hopefully the weather will be kind. I'd encourage anyone with a motorcycle interest to go, superb venue overlooking the Black Mountains excellent line up for the 1000cc RH Sidecars and 500 Solo's and a perfect venue for the Grasstrack connoisseur with every class on display £25 for 2 days and 100 heats of racing. Good luck to everyone !!

There are stadiums that want income the main element is there a track or has there been a track in the past. I'm sure there are Greyhound tracks that are suitable for Grasstrack bikes? This widens the scope of Stadium Racing?

Sorry there are so many on here who knowv nothing about the bikes. Oh the JAP wonderful sounding engine I remember Egon Muller on his. How did such a 'stone-age' engine last so long or was the simplicity it's winning formula? I've seen a 4 valve version of it. I can see your point about the Chairs.

How can you say that 1000cc Sidecars at full throttle on the Grass are a wonderful exciting spectacle. Obviously you haven't been to a Grasstrack. With so many riders and so few tracks it's such a pity the promoters go elsewhere for riders. Have Speedway fans become complacent and brainwashed into accepting the model of Speedway served up by the BSPL. Reading the posts on here seems to give a naive acceptance that promoter knows best.

Good point. I'm not suggesting Grasstrack type racing on shale replacing speedway more like complementing. Grasstrack supporters are a more diverse bunch drawing from motor sports in general. Unfortunately Speedway supporters have become quite unique and prepared to watch rather boring events at a premium admission price watching the latest bunch foreign superstars. Realistically with more tracks closing and just 6 teams in the Premier League it's unlikely to survive in it's current form. Excellent point about the 1000cc Sidecars but no track is large enough to provide full on racing. There are loads of riders with equipment suitable for the Grass but nowhere to ride transferring to shale is an ideal opportunity to race. This is a conversation I never thought I'd have back in 2016 !!

It's the capital of Blackcountrybrexit Land living the dream wonderful place 'bucking the trend' lol.

The silence from the speedway establishment is worrying. What are they hiding when tracks are closing at an alarming rate.

Oh it is albeit very slowly. Have you ever been to a grasstrack? 45+ heats of adrenaline filled racing of every combination you can think of the top it all with 1000cc Sidecars what's not to like. Transfer that onto the shale and you've got a successful operation. Some of the Speedway fans are dire and would accept anything that went round in circles especially a Yank and not a care about the machines engine or funding.

Speedway is every week and a family sport which becomes very expensive. Football is predominantly a male domain every fortnight and in the winter. On my own fine with the family expensive. With the demise of Greyhounds stadiums will be glad of the income. Birmingham operated a dictatorial policy regarding the Grandstand with security guards now you just pay a quid. How times have changed I really feel for the promoter he's inherited years of mismanagement. Families just don't have the disposable income with rents of £500 per month there can't be much left.