rusky Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 As you may well know, in the Tomas Topinka farewell meeting we elected to use the old 13 heat format, with second half culminating in an individual final. Initially we went that route as we couldn't decide whether we wanted a team meeting, or an individual so we decided to go with both...... The interesting thing though, was that a significant number of people at the meeting had never seen this meeting format before, and the overriding opinion was that this was a vast improvement on what they currently see week in, week out (it obviously helps that the scoreline was close, there was very entertaining racing, and both teams were well constructed and evenly matched). Does anybody else have any thoughts on this ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatwick Rocket Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 As an oldie I much prefer the 13 heat format plus second half. I was very pleased to see it used for the Tomas Topinka meeting. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 I prefer the 13 heat format but would like to see a more structured second half set-up than we used to get, if it ran on the same format at every track, it could contribute to some sort of championship (maybe the British Open) and be used as a lure to increase sponsorship. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 (edited) I much prefer 15 heats. Especially the nominated heat idea. If a meeting's been decided prior it still gives something to look forward too. And my memory of second halves was the frequent disrespect shown by riders - uncompetitive riding, testing engines, finishing last in their first heat so they could leave and get to the pub before it closed, or just plain leaving the stadium due to a prior appointment (to get to the pub before it closed). Nowadays it would be leaving to get a flight to Poland. For £16 I want 15 competitive races, not 13. Second halves - no thank you. Edited March 10, 2013 by george.m 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Personally I thought the second half the other night provided the five worst races of the night. I don't think second halves would work nowadays with riders not interested in hanging around any longer than they need to and the nominated race needs to be kept IMO. Would be great if speedway was still like 'the good old days' but its not unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Have always been - and always will be - a huge supporter of 13 heats. The sport enjoyed its most productive and enjoyable periods during the years it operated this format, I believe 1968-87. It would reduce costs for a start, just need to do something about a few additional heats for after the interval (end of match, that is, and before the second-half feature of junior league or scratch heats). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduds1 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 I much prefer 15 heats. Especially the nominated heat idea. If a meeting's been decided prior it still gives something to look forward too. Why look forward to something you've just seen 2 races earlier ( in 90+% of meetings) Under the 13 heat system No 1's only met in heat 1 ( unless T/R or R/R ), therefore only meeting possibly twice a season ( 1 Home 1 Away ). If my memory serves me correctly Poole visited Wolves 4 times last season meaning I watched Lindgren v Holder 12 times + ( possibly 3 times every other week in the GP's ). I was unable to travel to away meetings last year but if I did I would have seen the above 2 riders against each other 24 times plus a possible 33 times in GP's. This is a possible 57 times in 1 season ( not withstanding numerous times in Poland and Swedenn via the web ). The old saying familiarity breeds contempt springs to mind, which I feel is a big reason for falling attendances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 (edited) I much prefer 15 heats. Especially the nominated heat idea. If a meeting's been decided prior it still gives something to look forward too. Why look forward to something you've just seen 2 races earlier ( in 90+% of meetings) Because I'm an optimist! And can't get enough of a good thing. I go to speedway to see good racing first and foremost - entertainment! Have seen many great heat 13s followed by similar 15s. Often riders motivated by gaining revenge! The old saying familiarity breeds contempt springs to mind, which I feel is a big reason for falling attendances. The converse of that logic is move to 13 heats and speedway attendances increase. I'm sure you don't believe that. The familiarity in the Elite league is the lack of teams. Not the number of heats. Edited March 10, 2013 by george.m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 (edited) Happiness is 40-38 Edited March 10, 2013 by Telboy68 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
refereerick Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Happiness is 40-38 A meeting rained off after heat 13??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduds1 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 The point i'm making is not the heat formulae bringing back the crowds, but the anticipation of seeing the better riders meeting each other less frequently. you say you look forward to heat 15 because of the better riders, but by the time this race comes along the result of the meeting has already been decided in most cases, and riders are not going to risk injury racing hard when nothing depends on it. Surely there's more anticipation seeing the top riders meeting heat 1 when something depends on it, and this only a couple of times a season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Happiness is 40-38 Damn - you beat me to it. 13 Heats every time for me. But then again - I'm an 'old git' and can remember the good times. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike.Butler Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 13 heats is my preference...but this is just the popular view that has been stated before and nobody takes any notice...15 heats is fine provided I get to watch 20 heats minimum ...as 15 is a rip-off for the money...a junior match is fine but if not why not have a proper 2nd half....I feel like an old record Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Yeah less heats for the same money. Surely the saviour of speedway... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 (edited) 13 heats is my preference...but this is just the popular view that has been stated before and nobody takes any notice...15 heats is fine provided I get to watch 20 heats minimum ...as 15 is a rip-off for the money...a junior match is fine but if not why not have a proper 2nd half....I feel like an old record So do I - click - so do I - click - so do I - click - so do I. Edited March 10, 2013 by The White Knight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 I think top riders meet each other too much in a league match. In my day, you used to have to get there for the start of the match because quite often the likes of the two number ones only met once - in the first race. The nominated heat, I feel, has taken the gloss away from top riders meeting one another... it's a bit like having fish and chips more than once or twice a week. Something special in time loses its appeal when it become less special. Less is more, so they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 Why did the 13 heat formula get binned anyway ? Because that format had a tired look about it at the time . The second halves started with a reserves race , which featured the two number sevens from both sides and two track juniors . Then you had three rider of the night heats wich the three winners plus the fastest runner up made the final . You had another reserves race before the final . If we had a southern based team up at Glasgow , they were generally keen to get on the road and few tried very hard in the rider of the night heats . You normally ended up with mainly home riders in the final . Sometimes some away riders didn't even bother hanging around for the 2nd half , which turned the whole excercise into a farce . We tried 15 , 16 and 18 heat formats since then , but i think what we have now probably works best . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 The point i'm making is not the heat formulae bringing back the crowds, but the anticipation of seeing the better riders meeting each other less frequently. Surely there's more anticipation seeing the top riders meeting heat 1 when something depends on it, and this only a couple of times a season. I respect you have your opinions, which you're entitled to. I can't agree. As what you are saying is less, is more. I've been to many meetings where the end result is influenced by heats 13 and 15 as the meeting is that close. May not be your experience, granted. I'd rather see as much of the top riders as possible, not less. Surely that's why so many go to the GP at Cardiff, to see as many top riders racing each other as possible? Interesting to see the views of others in the "Dissertation Questionnaire - Results" thread: Why do you personally like Speedway? - The racing 32% Not suggesting you're wrong in your opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 The current format does encourage strong sides that have two decent riders for heats 13 and 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted March 10, 2013 Report Share Posted March 10, 2013 The current format does encourage strong sides that have two decent riders for heats 13 and 15. There is that , but not being able to use the t/r after heat 12 has helped in that respect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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