singy13

Sadly speedway keeps losing tracks and it's possibly the final countdown for the great sport. What occurs to me, rightly or otherwise, is that speedway is short of top promoters - guys with funds and ideas to introduce new parties to the ranks. I see there are over 400 non league soccer grounds in existence. Plus more rugby stadiums. So can't a wealthy promoter (if they exist of course) find at least 5/6 stadiums capable of joining the speedway world? Ok it would need soccer's permission to build a track around a pitch but why not? I mean for approx 30 years I enjoyed seeing the Comets race 398 yards around Derwent Park's rugby pitch with minimal problems and great speedway. Surely down South or in the Midlands some stadia exist awaiting a promoters call?

Major comment there bellevueace. It's most certainly a factor that alienates the non speedway fraternity. And despite my best efforts to persuade some folk to attend speedway it makes it so difficult to sell the sport. In the 1970's, my early start to speedway fixes, you wouldn't see any riders plying their trade with two teams (go on prove me wrong) in fact guests were minimal with R/R the injury option, mostly. I know riders need to make a living but sadly it has cost speedway big style and the future is grimmer than ever.

Ian Thomas was a top promoter of speedway. And presentation was a strong point of his. I'll always recall the 1970 season when packed crowds at Derwent Park saw and heard the Comets (and away 7) march from the pits to starting area with the track staff to the Radetzky March by Strauss...that tune is still my fave classical piece. The sometimes downside was when you only counted 6 Comets - Ian would explain Bob took a fall last night, at Sheffield, so R/R will operate (naff to hear this about Bob Valentine). Although sometimes riders had just arrived and missed the aforementioned march however made their heats. But most certainly great days to live on in the memory bank. UTC.

Absolutely correct IainB..I'm quite shocked that the Plymouth meeting survived with only two of their team available. It makes a mockery of speedway as a serious sport. I'm a rugby league fan of Workington Town, as well as the Comets, and I have always fought verbal differences with the fellow RL fans who ridicule speedway for so many reasons. One main weapon they'd use against me is the 'guest' system. For example Stoney guesting for a team challenging Comets for the title - how does that happen they ask. And it's so hard to convince non speedway folk it's acceptable (no it's not actually but hey ho) so at the next Town match I'll not supply them with Plymouth bullets to down me. Speedway is a great sport so badly organised.

You can tell the difference when a Northside meeting finishes and ones that did at Derwent Park. So now everyone heads for the various car parks, there's not many on foot. But at Derwent Park traffic was held up while pedestrians, lots of them in the good times, blocked the bridge exit for vehicles (apart from the those who went to the bar of course).And DP is only 150 yards from the railway station. Northside a longer trek but well worth the effort folks.

Yeah enjoyed meeting you too - despite the dialect probs ha ,ha. Who knows maybe one day Somerset mind find a wealthy fan generous enough to get that track up and running again.

If there is four fixtures in one night that will require 56 physically fit riders to be allocated - nah no chance.

Yes the beauty of Derwent Park is the 1,000 seat grandstand with bars underneath which post meeting was well attended by riders and fans alike. I believe there is a bar at Northside above bends 1 and 2 ??? - not been to it. I had a good chat with a Somerset fan who, with his family, was on a tour of speedway stadiums. What a great way to enjoy summer hols. Also beside me was a geordie on first visit to the track. he was less than complimentary - calling it "a gaters paradise"....oh well it's hard to please everyone I suppose.

Table with phone on it by starting gate to encourage angry riders to shout at ref. 30 yard marker to keep riders in lane. Fans up to track fences. Reserves race after 13 heats of match -followed by 'rider of the night'. Guys scraping shale off fences. People on ladders outside stadium having free view (at Workington). Programme 6d. Challenge matches. Foreign touring teams e.g. Sweden, Poland, Checks (can't spell). Inter league challenges. 4000 crowds not 400..etc, etc, so what went wrong?

Well every race would have a winner. And back in 1970 a packed Derwent Park cheered every winner a 'wobbler' or otherwise - really unpredictable stuff so therefore entertaining.

Nope.....Oxford would only have one team in a one league set up.

Yeah Oxford will only run one team.

Better at maths than me marra.

That would work.......and have enough heats to allow all riders 5 rides each (instead of 4 as now)to make extra cash.

Are you a piece of string.......(answer above).

Did this in March 2000......Both teams lost home legs...BV 42-48....Comets 40-50.

Talking of a bumper crowd is there any regular 'stars' fan able to guesstimate last nights attendance - I notice the start was delayed to allow the big queue in.

Thank you.....that's how us regular back straight fans saw it - gaps aplenty right opposite us. And let's be honest in this weather(hot, hot, hot) whatever time speedway starts lots of folk have other plans.

Well on the home straight, hit by the strong sun, there were plenty of *gaps*...granted the thankfully nicely shaded back straight was quite busy for sure. *sight* is courtesy of specsavers!

I was in my usual position ,on the back straight, and looking over at the home straight opposite my mate and I both were of the opinion it was the least populated for many a match - was very sparsely attended. But there seemed more around us than normal. Talking to fans next to us they said because the back straight was in the shade, very very warm day, they, and many others, had left the 'hot spot' down the home straight for comforts sake. So all things considered probably disappointing for Andrew and co. ???

Yes there will be enough riders for the 13 teams in one league. Out of the current teams we'll lose Birmingham, Workington - and Oxford will run with just one team. Spare riders galore then. Obviously some juniors will be in many line-ups. a good learning curve. But each race has just one winner whatever - and the more variety will be attractive for fans.

And as well as the rent the rugby club took all the food and bar takings.

Yeah Berwick are a top speedway fraternity.

Yeah she did. But nothing different to those who ran the club before her. Or indeed just like so many failed speedway promoters throughout the country!

Well considering the population of Workington is approx 25,000 and neighbours Whitehaven similar I think the speedway lady promoter did well during her reign. Comets first appeared for the west Cumbrian sporting public in 1970,,,a reported crowd of 6,000 came to watch, This spell of male promoters lasted 12 seasons. Glasgow came to use the track in mid eighties ( can't be bothered to check proper date), Then Messrs Thomas and Mole brought Stoney and co. to Derwent Park in 1999 - this time the opening event only saw 4,000 attend, cough, cough. With the final chapter of this era being in 2018 (history and all that ). So yes Laura took over running Comets for the final handful of seasons at the previous venue, and she did very well compared to other promoters without squaring circles at all. To say that team speedway is not viable in Workington is an unfair comment given that a great many clubs have folded and re-appeared on several occasions down the years - some from cities way bigger than little 'Worky'..e.g.Newcastle (where are they now ?)..Oxford, Sheffield. Barrow....oh I give up!!!!......