Regarding the possible change of race day to Sunday. I agree with comments above – not a good idea.
I and some others I know, could not go very often due to home, family and work commitments. If this year’s fixtures had been run on Sundays, would there have been significant improvements in attendances to watch the 2012 team? I suspect not. As the newest Sunday club, we would have to concede choice of race day to the other Sunday clubs, meaning some meetings being run on another day, making the fixture list even more of a shambles than it has been recently. The fixture list should be agreed by February each year, and apart from a few late season play-offs, everyone would benefit by knowing exactly what’s what.
Maybe an earlier start time of 7.30 would be better, allowing spectators to get home a little earlier.
If Sheffield Wednesday or Sheffield United ever got back in to the Premier League, there would be some Sundays which clashed. There are also some FIM meetings and Sunday fixtures for other sports, as well as people having commitments at home. Speedway and Sheffield Wednesday on a Sunday afternoon? The traffic and parking would be a nightmare.
Speedway, not just Sheffield, needs to make the product more enjoyable to watch and greatly reduce riders’ expenses. As David Howe suggested recently, a change of tyre may do it, rather than scrapping a load of engines and replacing them all. There are plenty of experienced officials, riders and ex-riders about who can advise. It’s probably too late now for next season, but why not create a team of 3 and let them come up with their recommendations to the BSPA?
Track surfaces should also be more consistent. Anything to help make for closer racing and to have a solid fixture list is going to benefit, rather than just a change of race day.
If one of the reasons to consider changing race days is to accommodate Simon Stead doubling up, I would be surprised if Simon wanted to ride again for Swindon after what they did to him a few weeks ago. I wouldn’t.
It’s a good idea for the Promotion to flag up alternative thoughts, but I don’t think this one is worth considering for too long. No-one has posted a comment in agreement as yet.
