Belle Vue

[Ian]

Many older tracks were built within greyhound stadia or around football/rugby pitches. Those factors dictated track length.

New, especially standalone tracks, are smaller due to price and availability of land (and maybe to minimise track maintenance too?).

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I'm not so sue about that, Sotonian.

 

Remembering back to the 60s and 70s, as a general rule the tracks around football or rugby pitches were generally larger than those confined within a greyhound track (if that's what it's called).

 

Also, I don't think there are that many stand-alone or purpose-built tracks.

[iris123]

Just read that a few riders(S.Katt,M.Kröger...) had a trial at the trotting track here in Hamburg.If they go ahead with plans to hold a meeting the track length is 1300m

[Hazzman]

Ye but wont that be long track?

[fireblade]

Only just 

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he's uglier!!

[Topcat]

Try a visit to Ashfield or Armadale then you'll see that the racing at smaller tracks is just as exciting.

[Liontamer]

A final question. WHY have tracks become smaller? I'm sure there must be an obvious reason, but I can't think what it is.

 

I'm sure I read somewhere that big tracks aren't allowed these days. I might be wrong, but I too yearn for the days when tracks like Exeter, Halifax, Crewe, Belle Vue etc were as common as the tiddlers. I remember the first time I rode at Crewe & thinking "Christ, this is bloody huge", then I hit the wooden fence & I don't remember anything else until I woke up the next day.

[Liontamer]

Try a visit to Ashfield or Armadale then you'll see that the racing at smaller tracks is just as exciting.

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I love Ashfield. There are/were some fantastic small tracks around, take Trelawny for instance, such a sad loss.

Edited June 9, 2005 by Liontamer

[Subedei]

I often - well, not that often to be honest, in fact I'd say occasionally - wonder what Tomasz Gollob would have thought about the old Hyde Road. I'd imagine it would have induced wet dreams aplenty for the guy.

[iris123]

On his current bike he would be lapped

[Subedei]

Sad, but true.

He needs to get his machinery sorted. He's still a fine rider, but at the weekend he was making great starts and losing it. He only really made the semis because Hampel took pity on him.

[iris123]

Yes,i was listening on Radio Oxford,so can't say how it looked,but it was unreal to hear he made the start a few times and was overtaken.Anyway,thinking about it,if it was possible with a time-machine.A match race series with Gollob,Collins ,Craven and Morton...with the first race on 50's era bikes,then 70's and then todays bikes.Would be worth a few quid of anyones money

[shaleslider]

I went to hyde road 4 times, 3 were rained off but the one time I saw a match BV drew with Swindon with Phil Crump & Alan Grahame scoring a 5-1 in the last race over PC & Mort. Trip home afterwards on the coach was somewhat hazy, hic:)