Humphrey Appleby Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 THERE was never a Wellington GP ... who ever put out that was way off the mark. Erm... FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH BENFIELD Sports International (BSI), rights holders of the FIM Individual and Team World Speedway Championships, today announced the provisional 2003 calendar. Next year's Speedway Grand Prix Series (SGP) will see the individual speedway world championship competed over eleven rounds, one Grand Prix more than 2002, with the additional event taking place at Westpac Trust Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand. Who was the press officer back in those days...? The reason the FIM sold on a long-term basis is quite simple: any prospective bidder for the commercial rights would require a significant length of time to build the product and reap the rewards. It doesn't take 20+ years. A 10-year deal would have been more than generous, and periodic re-tendering would determine the market value of the rights once the series was established. Theoretically, of course, the BSPA have no claim on the World Championship. Neither did the F1 teams originally, but they realised they and their drivers were the show and insisted on effective control and much larger share of the profits. That's precisely what the BSPA should have done before they ended-up being emasculated, and should have just bypassed the ACU if they got in the way. It is the ACU who are affiliated to the FIM and I would suggest that clubs in Sweden and Poland are quite happy with the current set-up. One wonders if they're really aware of what's being given away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Erm... FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH BENFIELD Sports International (BSI), rights holders of the FIM Individual and Team World Speedway Championships, today announced the provisional 2003 calendar. Next year's Speedway Grand Prix Series (SGP) will see the individual speedway world championship competed over eleven rounds, one Grand Prix more than 2002, with the additional event taking place at Westpac Trust Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand. Who was the press officer back in those days...? Not me if that's what you think. My press role with the SGP has always been with accreditation and overseeing press facilities and operations at individual events. As far as I can remember BSI reserved a date with the FIM but it was never a realistic proposition and, as previously mentioned, IMG are a very different kettle of fish. As far as the rest of your post is concerned, we have different views. Nothing wrong with that but surely you cannot compare F1 with speedway. John Postlethwaite's original idea was to have sponsored teams of two riders competing in the SGP but that was borne out of his previous association with F1 and Beneton in particular but it was never going to work in speedway. There just isn't the dosh. It doesn't take 20+ years. A 10-year deal would have been more than generous, and periodic re-tendering would determine the market value of the rights once the series was established. Neither did the F1 teams originally, but they realised they and their drivers were the show and insisted on effective control and much larger share of the profits. That's precisely what the BSPA should have done before they ended-up being emasculated, and should have just bypassed the ACU if they got in the way. One wonders if they're really aware of what's being given away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyluck Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 You mean Benetton? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Nothing wrong with that but surely you cannot compare F1 with speedway. John Postlethwaite's original idea was to have sponsored teams of two riders competing in the SGP but that was borne out of his previous association with F1 and Beneton in particular but it was never going to work in speedway. There just isn't the dosh. It's true that speedway isn't F1 in terms of structure and certainly not in terms of money. However, lessons can still be learned from F1 and other sports as to how speedway can maximise its income from its premier event. IMG are a very different kettle of fish Although they seem to have invested in a few turkeys rather than fish in the past couple of years.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehammer Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 well looks like we'll be able to sit back and watch a GP without whingers then. Totally agree Kiwi.... People always try to knock things, and until they're given a go you never know if it will work. I've already told the misses she may get a trip up to go and stay at her Aunt and Uncle's near Auckland next year for a weekend as I'll be making my way to the speedway Would be good to meet some New Zealand fans like yourself too.... I know enough from England... I need more over here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennylane Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 (edited) Sad to say but speedway will have to be really top class to match the cars at Auckland - midget cars and sprint cars. Take a look at some of the links both main and to the right to be found here: Edited April 8, 2011 by kennylane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bavarian Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 Sad to say but speedway will have to be really top class to match the cars at Auckland - midget cars and sprint cars. Take a look at some of the links both main and to the right to be found here: I really can't see what is so exciting about those sprint car races. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 Sad to say but speedway will have to be really top class to match the cars at Auckland - midget cars and sprint cars. Take a look at some of the links both main and to the right to be found here: No worries, mate... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted April 8, 2011 Report Share Posted April 8, 2011 I really can't see what is so exciting about those sprint car races. You'll have to come along to a meeting sometime - they are brutally fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexter Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I've never seen sprintcars racing live but I have had a chance to see them on TV. Looks really fast and fight is really good. Unlike midgets for example. I think they still run them at Parramatta, don't they. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwi Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 Totally agree Kiwi.... People always try to knock things, and until they're given a go you never know if it will work. I've already told the misses she may get a trip up to go and stay at her Aunt and Uncle's near Auckland next year for a weekend as I'll be making my way to the speedway Would be good to meet some New Zealand fans like yourself too.... I know enough from England... I need more over here We'll be in Chch next meeting. 88a 250 class Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 I've never seen sprintcars racing live but I have had a chance to see them on TV. Looks really fast and fight is really good. Unlike midgets for example. I think they still run them at Parramatta, don't they. Yep. still have Midgets or 'Speedcars' at Parramatta; racing is usually fast, four wide & furious! Incidentally tonight is the 700th meeting at Parramatta, with the winner of the first event in 1977. Bob Blacklaw, the special guest. Hopefully he'll be presenting the winner's trophy to the Territory's own Bad Boy Benny Atkinson, in the No 2 Pick'n Payless car (driving for 10-time Aussie Champ Gary Rush), who's currently the runaway leader in the Sydney Sprintcar Championship from Ian Loudon and Mitch Dumesny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehammer Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 We'll be in Chch next meeting. 88a 250 class Unfortunately I won't be about as the Football season now started and I'm coaching for 3 teams as well as playing... but hopefully next year will catch up with ya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olddon Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 You mean Benetton? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olddon Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 (edited) HOW wrong you are ... No worries, mate... I believe a GP in Auckland will attract a large crowd - probably about 30,000. However, many of them will not be speedway fans but going there to watch 'something new.' How many of them will subsequently attend future speedway meetings is open to conjecture. At the most, there are four tracks in New Zealand staging speedway-only meetings, and these are virtually once a month meetings. Other speedway races go on as filler events at car race meetings. I wonder what percentage of the theoretical 30,000 crowd will be interested enough to watch more bike speedway races after the GP and how they will react when they see difference in standard between New Zealand speedway, at best akin to National League racing, compared to the world class stars of the GP? JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT Edited April 9, 2011 by olddon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olddon Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 No worries, mate... I believe a GP in Auckland will attract a large crowd - probably about 30,000. However, many of them will not be speedway fans but going there to watch 'something new.' How many of them will subsequently attend future speedway meetings is open to conjecture. At the most, there are four tracks in New Zealand staging speedway-only meetings, and these are virtually once a month meetings. Other speedway races go on as filler events at car race meetings. I wonder what percentage of the theoretical 30,000 crowd will be interested enough to watch more bike speedway races after the GP and how they will react when they see difference in standard between New Zealand speedway, at best akin to National League racing, compared to the world class stars of the GP? JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT No worries, mate... I believe a GP in Auckland will attract a large crowd - probably about 30,000. However, many of them will not be speedway fans but going there to watch 'something new.' How many of them will subsequently attend future speedway meetings is open to conjecture. At the most, there are four tracks in New Zealand staging speedway-only meetings, and these are virtually once a month meetings. Other speedway races go on as filler events at car race meetings. I wonder what percentage of the theoretical 30,000 crowd will be interested enough to watch more bike speedway races after the GP and how they will react when they see difference in standard between New Zealand speedway, at best akin to National League racing, compared to the world class stars of the GP? JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olddon Posted April 9, 2011 Report Share Posted April 9, 2011 No worries, mate... I believe a GP in Auckland will attract a large crowd - probably about 30,000. However, many of them will not be speedway fans but going there to watch 'something new.' How many of them will subsequently attend future speedway meetings is open to conjecture. At the most, there are four tracks in New Zealand staging speedway-only meetings, and these are virtually once a month meetings. Other speedway races go on as filler events at car race meetings. I wonder what percentage of the theoretical 30,000 crowd will be interested enough to watch more bike speedway races after the GP and how they will react when they see difference in standard between New Zealand speedway, at best akin to National League racing, compared to the world class stars of the GP? JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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