Speedway In Japan

[f-s-p]

Hi f-s-p,

So British speedway has a monopoly or has patented the name 'speedway'.

I did not realise that was the case.

Regards.

Ray Rocket  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No, thats not what I mean. If you go to a FIM rule book you wont find ice speedway but ice racing. They do speedway on ice at Telford. Here in Finland we call it "jääspeedway - icespeedway" but thats not english is it.

 

And if you type speedway in to google you'll find loads of American car racing track's that are infact speedway's. Like Arlington, Daytona, Laguna Seca and track's like that. I pointed this out because I've never heard of American motor speedway, the sport. They ride speedway though in the states.

 

Then again I didn' even bother to check...

 

EDIT: checked

Edited April 26, 2006 by f-s-p

[Ray Rocket]

No, thats not what I mean. If you go to a FIM rule book you wont find ice speedway but ice racing. They do speedway on ice at Telford. Here in Finland we call it "jääspeedway - icespeedway" but thats not english is it.

 

And if you type speedway in to google you'll find loads of American car racing track's that are infact speedway's. Like Arlington, Daytona, Laguna Seca and track's like that. I pointed this out because I've never heard of American motor speedway, the sport.

 

Then again I didn' even bother to check...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Hello f-s-p,

 

Sorry f-s-p, I thought you were having a dig.

 

All I was really saying is, yes, I know Japanese Autoracing is not the speedway racing as we love and understand, but the fact it's not on the loose stuff, does not mean that it should dismissed. In my opinion.

 

Sayoonara.

 

 

Ray Rocket

[Grachan]

Autoracing is derived from conventional speedway, so it has more to do with Speedway than some may think.

 

Conventional speedway took place in Japan until the mid sixties, when it was amazingly banned for being too dangerous. As a result, it mutated into Autorace, so it is directly connected.

 

Obviously it isn't Speedway, but there is a direct connection.

 

I believe Barry Briggs once had a go at it!

[Ivan]

Looking at the uniform and precise way all the riders take the corners , never getting out of shape or throwing their bikes around , i'd suggest Daniel Davidsson may be better suited to Autoracing .

[TwoMinuteWarning]

Hello 2minwarning,

 

Several motorsports contain the name 'speedway', such as:

 

* American motor speedway

 

* Ice speedway

 

Agreed it is not speedway as we in Britain understand it, but you have to admit, the Japanese autoracing is very similar, for the following reasons:

 

* Similar machinery

 

* Oval track

 

* Anti-clockwise racing

I think it looks very exciting, however, I still prefer the 'loose stuff' type racing, whether it be speedway, long track or grasstrack.

 

(Notice long track and grasstrack doesn't have the name speedway!)

Regards.

 

Ray Rocket 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Ray, I fully agree with everything you say, I was referring to speedway as we understand it on this Forum. Apologies if I sounded a little abrupt.

 

"Speedway" was a term used as long ago as the early 1900's to refer to an enclosed race track for motorcycles/cars.

 

When "dirt-track racing" arrived in the UK in 1928 (or 1927 if you come from Manchester), some of the stadiums where it was staged soon became known as speedways. Nobody liked the name "dirt-track racing" and a newspaper competition was even held to find a new name for the sport. Names like "Dracing" instead of dirt-track (and "Gracing" instead of greyhound racing) never really caught on, and strangely it took until mid-1929 before the term "speedway racing" was used.

 

Unfortunately, there has never been a definition of "speedway racing" as we understand it, but I think that the "loose surface" is fundamental to the sport, whether it be cinder, shale, sand, etc., as it enables what used to be called "broadsiding".

 

That dosen't feature in Japanese Autoracing, which is more like mini-road racing. I would agree that it looks exciting, though it probably wouldn't exist without betting! I believe all the riders use "standard" bikes too, from a central compound, not their own machines. See, there IS something we could learn from Japan!

 

Sorry for the long-ish post!

[Ray Rocket]

Ray, I fully agree with everything you say, I was referring to speedway as we understand it on this Forum. Apologies if I sounded a little abrupt.

 

Hello again 2minwarning,

 

Thanks for the message.

 

I am also sorry for being so defensive. It was interesting what Grachan had to say.

 

 

Best regards.

 

 

Ray Rocket

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

(Grachan @ Apr 23 2006, 12:35 PM)

I don't think it would be worth their while to come over here. The Autorace riders are very well paid. It would be great to see a few come over and do some demonstration races though, and give conventional speedway a go.

 

How about a Japanese GP? That would, I suspect, be massively succesful.

 

Interesting page here: http://www.autorace.or.jp/guide/en/

 

 

 

 

 

 

They would not stand a chance on conventional 'lose dirt tracks'. Its a means to an end it would seem. Gambling. They could be cornflakes packets for all the 'fans' would care about. As 'twominute warning' claims it has no connection with Speedway as we know it. End of.

 

Triangle profile tyres was the norm for road racing in the 60's and 70's. The idea being that the bikes were banked over at 45 degrees most of the time and the center of the tyre only used for a small amount of the time and when least required. Going down the straight.

 

 

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[Grachan]

They would not stand a chance on conventional 'lose dirt tracks'. Its a means to an end it would seem. Gambling. They could be cornflakes packets for all the 'fans' would care about. As 'twominute warning' claims it has no connection with Speedway as we know it. End of.

 

Triangle profile tyres was the norm for road racing in the 60's and 70's. The idea being that the bikes were banked over at 45 degrees most of the time and the center of the tyre only used for a small amount of the time and when least required. Going down the straight.

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<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Except there is a connection as it is directly derived from it.

 

True, the riders probably wouldn't stand a chance on a conventional Speedway track, just as Speedway riders wouldn't stand much of a chance on an Autorace circuit.

 

Also, totally true about the 'fans' attitude. A race meeting has the atmosphere of a gambling establishment. People do cheer for riders, but it's the ones they have had a gamble on, that's all.

 

It makes for an interesting experience for a Speedway fan to go to one of these meetings, but give me a team to support any day.

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

Except there is a connection as it is directly derived from it.

 

True, the riders probably wouldn't stand a chance on a conventional Speedway track, just as Speedway riders wouldn't stand much of a chance on an Autorace circuit.

 

Is there? I disagree. Its a made up sport where all the fans can see what is going on and having a flutter. Riders on bikes like I said could be cornflakes packets.

 

Also, I think most speedway riders would blow them into the weeds at their own game. If there is gambling and money at stake at that level there is also the possibility that there is corruption.

 

Japan, produces some seriously talented motorcycle racers with fantastic abilities. This 'sport' has no connection with them or they with it.

Edited May 5, 2006 by Jim Blanchard

[Grachan]

Is there?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yes.

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

No. The only connection to speedway as we know it is that the bikes have two wheels and they turn left. Other than that; call it what you want but its just a gimmick with the aim of gambling.

Edited May 3, 2006 by Jim Blanchard

[Grachan]

Well my 'Speedway with Briggo' book which I chose as a Good Work Prize at school for getting 10 commendations (Oh yes!!) had a whole section on Speedway in Japan. Can you guess which Sport it featured?

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

Sumo Wrestling?

 

Liked the deleted comment though; and in answer to that no. You have the last word please. It obviously means more to you than me.

Edited May 5, 2006 by Jim Blanchard

[Grachan]

It obviously means more to you than me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Doesn't.

[Ray Rocket]

Hi,

 

As this was my posting, perhaps I should have the last word.

 

As Japan is a long way away, it is unlikely many of us will ever go to Japan anyway.

 

We all know speedway is regarded as a minority sport and has some international representation, but once again on a minority basis.

 

I think it is great that a sophisticated country, as Japan is, has a version/type of speedway racing. Surely it is as close as you can get to the 'loose stuff'/conventional type of speedway, as you can get.

 

If I had the opportunity to go to Japan, I would watch it and I love the 'loose stuff'.

I would personally prefer to go to watch autoracing over road racing.

 

After all Grachan has been to Japan, is obviously a big 'loose stuff' fan, but has told us the history of the sport/activity and Grachan clearly thinks there is a similarity. That's good enough for me.

 

God bless speedway, wherever it is and whatever guise it is in.

 

 

Regards.

 

 

Ray Rocket

[SwineTown]

Bloody hell Jim! Bit defensive.

 

All Grachan is saying is that, as the Autorace is DERIVED from "our" sport, then there is indeed an historical connection - and Briggo WAS involved in Far East speedway inititives AFAIK - and finally the oval track, bikes, equipment, anti-clockwise, etc add a further point of contact.

 

IMO I would send a more sensible member of the BSPA on a fact-finder and a schmoozer to see if there is any room for tangible connections. Even a Japanese Dream Team would be cool and a very good stunt. Should be done in Swindon thru Honda - after all they wanted in on STFC but it never happened as planned - maybe the Speedway could give them extra local sport presence- but then that would require BSPA investment in a big gamble. How reckless! Best stick to our fading turnouts, increasing prices, diminishing crowds, ageing audience, etc etc.......

Edited May 4, 2006 by SwineTown

[Conkers]

Going off at a Tangent I know, but I just got a copy of an Australian Publication from Peter White (Publisher of "Speedway World") called "Where Are They Now" .

In it is an article on Juneichi ("Jimmy") Ogisu, who is now 73, and still alive, living in Tokyo.

He says he started racing at Funabashi Speedway, in Tokyo in 1953. He rode all the Japanese Speedways and they were dirt in those days, but later when they all changed to Asphalt, they had to change the bikes too.

He was the Japanese Speedway Champion in 1964, and visited Australia to race in 1962 and again in 1969. He held the track record at Funabashiu from 1964 to 1967.

In 1970, he raced in New Zealand, then Dave Lanning got him a ticket to England where he rode in Hackney and at The Wills Internationale at Wimbledon. He only scored one point as all the others were so much faster than him (his description).

After the high point of his career, riding at Wimbledon, he retired, and runs a Cleaning company in Tokyo.

His first wife died in 1969, and his second wife and he have been married since the 1970s. His son owns a compant with a UK branch.

Juneichi intends to retire "in another 10 years or so".

 

Hope you found this interesting.

[TwoMinuteWarning]

Going off at a Tangent I know, but I just got a copy of an Australian Publication from Peter White (Publisher of "Speedway World") called "Where Are They Now" .

In it is an article on Juneichi ("Jimmy") Ogisu, who is now 73, and still alive, living in Tokyo.

He says he started racing at Funabashi Speedway, in Tokyo in 1953. He rode all the Japanese Speedways and they were dirt in those days, but later when they all changed to Asphalt, they had to change the bikes too.

He was the Japanese Speedway Champion in 1964, and visited Australia to race in 1962 and again in 1969. He held the track record at Funabashiu from 1964 to 1967.

In 1970, he raced in New Zealand, then Dave Lanning got him a ticket to England where he rode in Hackney and at The Wills Internationale at Wimbledon. He only scored one point as all the others were so much faster than him (his description).

After the high point of his career, riding at Wimbledon, he retired, and runs a Cleaning company in Tokyo.

His first wife died in 1969, and his second wife and he have been married since the 1970s. His son owns a compant with a UK branch.

Juneichi intends to retire "in another 10 years or so".

 

Hope you found this interesting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Certainly did, Conkers, many thanks for sharing that with us.

 

Is this a recent publication?

[Conkers]

It's actually called "Speedway Heroes - Where Are They Now?" and it's published by Peter White's Speedway World in Australia. The issue I have is Issue 4 and was put out last month. It came with my May Issue of Speedway World. Have a look on The Speedway World Website and you should have more details

[TwoMinuteWarning]

It's actually called "Speedway Heroes - Where Are They Now?" and it's published by Peter White's Speedway World in Australia. The issue I have is Issue 4 and was put out last month. It came with my May Issue of Speedway World. Have a look on The Speedway World Website  and you should have more details

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Many thanks