Back in the 70s Speedway seemed to be covered quite well on TV and in print. Regular coverage on World of Sport, daily results/meeting reports and news in the papers and at least everyone seemed to know of the sport if not actually go. I seem to remember PCs world title win making the front page of the Daily Mirror.
Even in to the mid 80’s Speedway seemed to do ok, Wiggy and Kenny Carter were never off Breakfast TV or so it seemed, ITV regularly showing Wc quails, even test matches but at least you could mention the sport to most people and not have them look at you like you were from outer space!
So what went wrong, why did people stop going, why did the media lose interest?
I’m as guilty as the next man, for various reasons I couldn’t go as much as I liked [and I used to go everywhere, believe me] then eventually stopped altogether. Planning on going to Plymouth this year, I have never fallen out of love with Speedway just drifted away. Followed it as much as I could online and on TV.
Is the answer that simple, far too many people of my generation drifted away, and with it any media support?
