THE DEAN MACHINE Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Me and the misses were just having a debate about the decline of speedway and was there a single thing which started the decline. She said the time when characters started to be repremanded for a bit of playing up, so much so that there are very few characters today. I said bruce penhall retiring, speedway just seem to slowly slide away after he quit. Its not dead just yet but its definatly not thriving. Whats everybody elses single moment? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinny Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Me and the misses were just having a debate about the decline of speedway and was there a single thing which started the decline. She said the time when characters started to be repremanded for a bit of playing up, so much so that there are very few characters today. I said bruce penhall retiring, speedway just seem to slowly slide away after he quit. Its not dead just yet but its definatly not thriving. Whats everybody elses single moment? I reckon the double points tactical rule has done the sport absolutely no favors at all. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 The introduction of four valve (and later lay down) engines. I remember the days when even some top riders would arrive with one bike on a rack on the back of the car, you had to slowdown more going into the bends and riders behind always seemed in with a chance. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 I wouldn't necessarily put it down to one particular thing but the introduction of lay down engines in the mid nineties was the most significant factor since I have been watching speedway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomo1 Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Increasing costs and increased admission prices over £10. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Pretty easy answer ....when the league's in Poland and Sweden got bigger and better than the uk's and we became 3rd choice to riders . 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE DEAN MACHINE Posted January 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 I wouldn't necessarily put it down to one particular thing but the introduction of lay down engines in the mid nineties was the most significant factor since I have been watching speedway. I agree its more than one thing but i am looking for what people think was the start of the decline .i also agree the laydowns were a significant factor but i think it started before laydowns Pretty easy answer ....when the league's in Poland and Sweden got bigger and better than the uk's and we became 3rd choice to riders . My misses said that aswell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 when times changed and punters' expectations of what a 'value for money good night out' constituted, no one had the vision within the convoluted mish mash of a controlling body to find a way of delivering it.. the admission cost thread showing this years prices sum up in a nutshell how far away from reality those who put a 'price' on the sport really are..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickthemuppet Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 No more World Finals at Wembley and Bruce Pennell retiring 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 (edited) Increasing costs and increased admission prices over £10. Sadly thats is more to the point. In todays climate people now pick and choose their meetings. Sadly gone have the days where we at poole had 6 deep on the bends in the early 70's, although we still get good crowds for this day and age, and the racing can still be very good, but the crux of it is all round cost. I still say promoters need to make more of an effort to attract kids through the gates, and a little more of a concession for the OAP's, maybe the same addmision price but chuck them a programme. What i will say is our riders are very accomodating when it comes to the kids, and sign Autograpghs have photo's taken at will, and talk to the kids, But with rising costs in fuel addmission programmes Speedway Star and food,etc its now sadly out of reach for many fans to attend every week. in a day and age where speedway needs all the fans it can get.. Oh, and i nearly forgot. Then there's them rules!! Edited January 13, 2013 by Starman2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 The introduction of 4 valve engines! Previously riders would have one-two engine rebuild PER season, now its after every 4-6 meetings. Costs went through the roof for riders and promotors, the quality of racing overall went down (if you don't believe me watch a series of 2 valve races and then watch some 4 valve races), new riders found it harder to get into the sport and rider skill became less of a neccessity! The formula 2 speedway idea instigated by ex rider Pete Seaton is basically what speedway with 2 valvers was like! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 The entertainment tax in the 50's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 It's all Matt Fords fault 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 The entertainment tax in the 50's. You do make me Laugh sometimes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 (edited) Clampdown on the 'Characters' of the Sport, the likes of Jack Millen, Frank Auffret, Arthur Browning et al used to raise the roof at some Tracks. Jack Millen needed a Police escort from one Track (might have been Peterborough) when he rode for Sunderland. Tony Childs, Taffy Owen - MOST Teams had a character you just loved to hate. The PASSION has gone these days, from the Crowds as well as on the Track. 4-Valve Engines were for me the start of the big decline along with the rise of the Engine Tuner adding Cost on Cost. This drove up Rider demands which in turn drove up Admission Costs which in turn resulted in lower Gates and eventually to where we are now. It's not Rocket Science to pick up on at least some of the reasons for Speedway's decline Edited January 14, 2013 by The White Knight 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Would it necessarily be speedway related? What about alternative forms of entertainment? Speedway's hardcore support won't have decreased as much as the rest which would be easier drawn away. Colour TV in the early '70s (depends when you think the decline started) Sky TV - Especially live Premier football games 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Lay -Down engines that led to banked and slick tracks .Take banking off tracks and that will slow the racing down and we may see some overtaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 (edited) Lay -Down engines that led to banked and slick tracks .Take banking off tracks and that will slow the racing down and we may see some overtaking. Might be looking good at poole this year then! Edited January 13, 2013 by Starman2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 When they stopped calling Speedway dangerous and started with the 'family sport' image building. It was a family sport anyway but in the 60's many of the kids annuals and comics would have something about Speedway and it always emphasised the risk. That also applied to the newspapers. My memory is not good enough to say whether their coverage decreased in line with the spectators but I have a feeling the sport fell out of popularity with the press before it did with the public. To my way of thinking the idea of promoting Speedway as a family sport was very much 'selling coals to Newcastle' what teenager wants to like the same things their parents do unless they can say they do so for different reasons? There is a lot more competition for peoples money anyway so I think spectator numbers would have declined no matter what but the marketing has been poor. For me the racing is at least as good as I have ever seen (I believe better) and rose tinted glasses bear a lot of responsibility for people knocking the sport. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAMMER57 Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Hard to say really Cost maybe but what other sport can you see some of the best in the world for 17 quid Lay down engines maybe as a lot of money spent on tuning now But i think what really puts the fans off is going to a meeting and seeing your team lose because of that B----Y silly TR rule if the team has ridden to a good lead let them keep it.I think it would also stop top heavy teams ie Poole last year 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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