moxey63

Only half of May 13th last year was My Best Sporting Day - the Man City last minute title victory only subdued on hearing of Lee Richardson's death later that evening. Other than that, I recall the 1978 Whit Bank Holiday Monday and the trip to King's Lynn to watch the Aces, who fell 10 behind early on and played some masterly tac-subs to win eventually 35-43. Lovely morning at Saddlebow Road, then we journeyed on t o the Embassy International meeting at Wimbledon in the evening. Peter Collins had scored a paid maximum in the morning and carried on the form at Plough Lane, despite starting slowly, I recall, and winning a three-man race-off (John Davis adn Malcolm Simmons starring) to take the trophy and seal what was a most memorable day for a 15 year-old (that was me, I was young once!). It was a total contrast from 12 months earlier for this Belle Vue fan - Belle Vue losing at Lynn, Wilkie and his infamous ladder trek to the ref's box, and then PC bombing out at Wimbledon in the evening's Internationale, scoring way down the field.

It came over as a well promoted meeting, which says something about how things are taken for granted. Going back 14 years, to when SKY first began covering live Elite League matches, EL promoters did their part to make the crowd decent and put on a lot better showpiece than they do at the moment. Now, back to last night. Because it was a one-off, Berwick and the riders on parade, as well as supporters, recognised it as a plum date... and they didn't dissapoint the viewers at home. It says, perhaps, that we become stale of the same thing over and over, and next week's match between Poole and King's Lynn is already being yawned at by this hard-to-please fella. Let's have more variety. Promoters have shown they can promote, but perhaps not every week of a seven months season. As a one-off, they have proved they can capture an evening.

Class performer, Tommy was... sheer class. Remember reading the headline of his death in the following night's Manchester Evening News - he had only ridden at Belle Vue a few weeks before in the John Player meeting and was in good form. My second death in my time watching speedway - Gary Peterson the other. Both, as they all are, were real shocks.

Having thought about it, perhaps my belief that the Tac Sub rule was a lot better than the current Golden Double is only because it's what I was introduced, educated and had got so damn used to. I don't like the Golden Double rule but, to a newcomer, I suppose both seem strange. It's like a cover song of a famous classic is never the same, just can't get used to it. Band Aid's first Christmas tune in 1984 will never be bettered, in my view, though a few occasions there have been attempts. Possibly being too set in my ways, I can't get used to the Golden Double and will always prefer TS... neither have I ever forgiven the so-called promoters... ditching the 13 heat format all those years ago. As one post states, perhaps best thing is to have no tactical changes. Then again, if the racing's boring, the scores are wider than a cheshire cat's grin... what else is there?

It is wrong to suggest one rule change would make you walk away (or at least bother to attend live matches on the terraces), it is probably a succession of the drip-drip introduction of changes, the shifty treatment fans receive from so-called promoters who are guardians of the sport they love. The time comes... when you can't answer a question about a rule that someone beside you on the terraces asks, you scratch your head and think, despite a fan of 30 years... I haven't a clue. You cannot be bothered any longer keeping up with the petty tinkering of rules that seem to be changed one week after another... or riders and keeping up with what team they actually ride for full time and are not just doubling up. I also liked it best when you didn't need qualifications to work out the current league table, what team scored this there and therefore picked up this... it is too much, trying to improve the sport everywhere with little side-dishes and Best Programme Of The Year Awards. Just let us focus on the actual entertainment, the one out on the track aspect. Let us go back to having a simple sport.

I think Peterborough clawed back (using Golden Double - two 8-1s) something like 14 points over two heats in the Play-Off Final, 2006, a lot different than had it been the old tac-sub (would have been 8 points). Peterborough won on aggregate, 95-94. Under the old tac-sub rule, using standard 3, 2, 1, 0 scoring system, Reading would have been easy (and derserving) victors. It proves a different scoring system than the normal method has its advantages to those who utilize it properly. Speedway Star asked readers immediately after the play-off final to vote for or against the GD rule. Over 91.9% voted for its abolishment from the 1161 votes cast - only 94 voters wanted to keep it! How many disillusioned fans began voting with their feet from then on.

Although the rule was swiftly played about with afterwards, when it made the sport a right old laughing stock (even to loyal diehards), the Golden Double has been known to be unfair. Anyone recall a certain Play-Off Final between Reading and Peterborough, think t'was 2006? Surely any sport who wanted to retain/return a bit of saving face should have ditched the rule over the nearest grass verge there and then. I know, I know, the rule was altered because of what happened to Reading back then... but it showed how unfair it can be.

Nobody will ever convince me that today Double-Bubble rule is more credible than the Tac Sub. How can a rule be worthy of a professional sport if it allows a teammate to make sure his partner finishes ahead of him, and the farcical situation of riders slowing down yards in front of the finishing line? Is this racing - or is it throwing races? A serious sport doesn’t need such antics. Pedersen and Crump, in one the recent World Cups, proved Double-Points could sometimes be too much of a carrot to dangle - even in front of so-called professionals. Part of the interest for me went when Golden Doubles came in. But, it is all about opinions. I no longer attend, you perhaps do. How many no longer attend because of bizarre rule changes?

How can the TR be fair - it breaks speedway's longstanding rules of 3 points for a win etc? It’s a joke and is like having two throws in a snakes-and-ladders game. It is seen as childish to most. As regards the old TS, which I prefer and feel its demise has meant less interesting matches, so, alright, riders were often introduced in heats where lower standing opponents were in - but it didn't always mean the switch worked... and it added interest, seeing if the top man could get his wings clipped. Now, even when TR works, it rarely makes much difference in the outcome of the result and speedway matches are more predictable than they were under Tac Sub. Nowadays, with TR, if the move fails you have to wait another calendar month before you can use you second double. As long as you remained six in arrears, the old TS put the pressure on the leading side until all advances on their lead had been doused. The old TS was much more attractive to terrace team managers and even in the most boring race-meeting often kept fans awake pondering who was coming in for who.

I am only stating facts. Speedway and its supporters are not like other motorcycle forms of sports. I could argue with you all day, Jimmy Jimmy, have a bit of fun, but I would still find it hard to eductae someone with your opinions. Blinkered they are. So I'll let you move on, I have toyed for long enough. You have stated, in the post above... that I have to keep coming back for one last insult, which is a statement implying I will never be going away then. For once, you could be spot on.

Speedway machines, apart from the pioneer days, have never resembled anything near to a typical road machine. Trials bikes do have a similarity with everyday two-wheelers. But riding down your local High Street on a speedway bike will be as strange as being perched on one of those C5 things, the invention and downfall of Clive Sinclair in the 80s.

Speedway is a weird sport that does not tickle the fancy of many motorcycle owners. On the other hand, I bet a big percentage of speedway hardcore followers have never sat on a motorbike, let alone ridden one. I bet speedway is the only motorcycle sport that speedway fans follow, that alone saying speedway and its fans are a bit of an odd coulple.

I have been watching a programme on one of the channels, about Stockcar racing. based around Sussex (Eastbourne). They get a healthy crowd at these events, I feel, because events can be spread about throughout the calendar year, and not, as speedway, shoved into once a week for seven months. Therefore, promoters can advertise more and focus on one date. Race watchers have more time to build back up appetites. Less is more, they say. Nevertheless, I also think more attend Stockcars because the sport is seen to be a lively night out and a bit of fun. It is cars being smashed-up, which is partly why TV programmes like Top Gear are popular. Having never been to a stockcar meet, I would go along (if forced) just to watch a bit of a mad night. Speedway comes over as being slightly more serious. To attend speedway, I would have to fill in the scores; stockcars comes over as a bit of smash-and-bang. I think people (ones that know it actually exists) tend to believe you have to have a love for motorbikes to have an interest to set foot in a speedway arena. More people have something in common with cars than motorbikes... you don't even see that many motorbikes parked outside stadiums on speedway nights, as speedway is a sport that doesn't even attract many from the motorcycle fraternity. Just a thought.

That has answered my other question... how to actually answer the questions you asked, Tony. Before your latest post, had thought of doing it in the style of the "On Two Minutes" section you have in Backtrack, but started doing it in the story-telling way, which is just as well.

Tony - are the questions on the Retro website linked to the book? They are similar. If so, I have already filled it in. I have done my part.

Be good if a publication like Backtrack could do more yearbooks, as it did with 1982. I purchased that one, but it was ashame it was on cd and not printable. Perhaps one in hard copy would be a better seller.

I will do my bit... for the good old days. Good idea, I think, a book about the olden days... by fans, from the golden age... just hope it'll be priced at retro day price... about thirty bob or something.

Afraid can't race speedway bikes on motorways... cars would be an problem.

For the information, what would you charge per dvd without the picture on the disc?

Bruiser Not all matches at Hyde Road were classics - and I recall 1984 Belle Vue Vue v Eastbourne (Colin Richardson stopping BV from a maximum whitewash by beating Kenny Mac) - in fact, Belle Vue hammered every one that year at home and had mostly poor gaters, meaning the most exciting overtakes I recall - and most weeks. I think, when the racing is follow that leader, tracks are too smooth, too perfect I suppose. In my day, riders had to battle with both track and opponent - nowadays riders could draw a perfect oval, if you stuck white powder on their dirt-deflector. For example, I think Bradford was too perfect, as I never recalled a decent race at Odsal in all the times I went. It was for fast engines, whereas Hyde Road, I think, it was all about knowing best parts of the track. Maybe I am wrong... and I'm sure I'll be shot down. I mean, for all its criticism, some of the racing at Kirky Lane over the years has been tremendous. Perhaps it's about riders making mistakes, being careful etc, that allows others to take advantage and pass, which means having a bit of a rough spot, a house brick sticking up here and there, may improve racing.

And a good racetrack. One of my most memeorable seasons at Belle Vue was 1994. The team finished bottom for the first time since the 50s but some of the racing was top drawer. Thing is, crowds dipped alarmingly over that season, meaning that it's maybe the winning team that will keep the fans and not good racing.

Agree with Iris... Belle Vue will get a good first-night crowd, about 6,000 some are guessing. It is whether they can keep even a fraction coming back, of course, as many will be newcomers brought along by publicity or some just showing an interest from surrounding tracks, so they can say they went to the first meeting at the new place. A successful team is important, as is being able to be positive you will be entertained and actually want to return the following week. It is alright getting good support early on, the real work begins once the novelty of newness has worn away. I am just being honest... and it is only one person's view.

If anybody is interested in the opening round GP programme for this season - staged in New Zealand - not filled in and in new condition, please PM me.

Listen Tsunami Idiot I am certainly not, therefore I refuse to hand over my prized cash for a product I don't really enjoy at the present time. It is good news, Belle Vue's new stadium, and I may be tempted to partake in an experience there when it opens. But let's not pretend a corner shop opening on a rundown shopping mall is the end to a treble-dip recession.

Least we still show an interest in the sport, no matter what. Imagine all the voices that are no longer even interested in airing their views - one time speedway fans from past - that have gone off to find proper lives. Least Oldace and moxey remain loyal. Anyhow, other threads have loads of posts crying out how bad speedway is... from fans who actually still attend! Someone needs to give their heads a wobble. When two non-attendees have something to say, it's a case of closing ranks by the ones - the few - which words "heads" and "sand" can be attributed to.