How To Make Speedway More Appealing To Younger Fans?

[philfromcov]

Can't believe I'm reading this sentence, filthy stadiums!!! Dirt is a part of speedway, I never once worried about my children getting dirty at speedway or anywhere else come to that, it's what kids do!!!! Just dress them accordingly, take some wipes to clean their little dannies and go with it ................

 

I'm all for the kids entrance price being continued until youngsters are out to work really, they just need to show some evidence.

have you seen the state of the toilets?

how most are not condemed i have no idea, the point being people are used to shopping malls and nice football stadiums, they then come to essentially a farmers field with a whole in the ground for a bog!

[bringbackHalifax]

Don't post too often but here goes

 

47 years old - going to speedway since 2 yr old.

 

I am one of the anoraks.To get kids - and others engaged they need to be involved and feel attached.

 

Have a timetable in programme for each heat

Have a 2 min countdown clock on centre green

All meetings start on time

Track grading built into timetable

All meetings completed in two hours

Use planned track grading gaps to interview riders.

Scrap the interval

Compulsory lap of honour for race winner

7 riders in a team - bottom 2 reserves - top 5 any order.

ht 15 at team manager discretion - no restrictions

fixed pay per point for everyone in each league.

elite 100 quid

prem 55 quid

national 30 quid

 

Don't like it don't ride as need to cut the cloth accordingly

 

If you need more money get a day job as well.

 

This will lead to riders of similar standard earning equally and racing should be closer = entertainment.

 

Offer average discount to riders staying with club for the next year. 2nd consecutive year -5%, 3rd consecutive year 6%, 4th year 7%. This will create " local names " which will drive attachment with the teams and therefore the fans.

 

Let the stars chase the dollar elsewhere as a gp rider racing a prem league number 7 in the elite ( look back it happens in a lot of meetings ) is not going to be spectacular even for us anoraks.

[Bream]

fixed pay per point for everyone in each league.

elite 100 quid

prem 55 quid

national 30 quid

 

I would say it would be harsh to pay the same for every rider. But maybe fixed pay per point for each number. Rider nro 1. rider would have largest payment and of course riders 6 and 7 with smallest payment per point? All the teams paying the same for their riders.

[The White Knight]

I would say it would be harsh to pay the same for every rider. But maybe fixed pay per point for each number. Rider nro 1. rider would have largest payment and of course riders 6 and 7 with smallest payment per point? All the teams paying the same for their riders.

 

Good idea - but - it will never work.

 

Too many vested interests would be prepared to bung plain brown envelopes in to people's hands.

[BluPanther]

What, even those kids that go to speedway and enjoy it?

Not those who go, im sure they still enjoy it. Its getting them to go in the first place and keeping their attention.

[SixTenSW]

I am young and there is so many things I can think off, but working on these two things will make the biggest differance. Improve the racing and get the racing over with, not standing waiting round for two hours, try and get it finished for about 1 hour and a half.

[Animal]

I am one of the anoraks.To get kids - and others engaged they need to be involved and feel attached.

 

Have a timetable in programme for each heat

Have a 2 min countdown clock on centre green

All meetings start on time

Track grading built into timetable

All meetings completed in two hours

Use planned track grading gaps to interview riders.

Scrap the interval

Compulsory lap of honour for race winner

7 riders in a team - bottom 2 reserves - top 5 any order.

ht 15 at team manager discretion - no restrictions

fixed pay per point for everyone in each league.

elite 100 quid

prem 55 quid

national 30 quid

 

Don't like it don't ride as need to cut the cloth accordingly

 

If you need more money get a day job as well.

 

This will lead to riders of similar standard earning equally and racing should be closer = entertainment.

 

Offer average discount to riders staying with club for the next year. 2nd consecutive year -5%, 3rd consecutive year 6%, 4th year 7%. This will create " local names " which will drive attachment with the teams and therefore the fans.

 

Let the stars chase the dollar elsewhere as a gp rider racing a prem league number 7 in the elite ( look back it happens in a lot of meetings ) is not going to be spectacular even for us anoraks.

 

You were going so well bringback, some really good ideas, until you got to the financial bit!!!

fixed pay per point for everyone in each league.

elite 100 quid

prem 55 quid

national 30 quid

 

Don't like it don't ride as need to cut the cloth accordingly

 

 

Nobody will ride for the figures you propose, they would be riding at a loss. Do you know how much a bike actually costs to build and maintain, assuming you don't crash and need to repair it? That's before you add on all the other costs, like licences, insurance, travel costs, mechanic etc. Outside of the very top GP riders, most of the other riders are currently struggling to even make speedway pay.

 

If you need more money get a day job as well.

 

 

And find an employer who is willing to be very flexible on the hours you work! Many riders are already doing day jobs, just to be able to ride speedway.

 

There are a lot of complaints about admission prices, promoters are generally running at a loss, most riders aren't making any money, fans aren't coming because they have less disposable income, speedway has to compete for every pound it brings in. You make some great points about the running of a meeting, it just takes too long and most people (including some anoraks), get bored. Although the youngsters will identify more with the riders they see on tv, exciting racing and a slick presentation is what will bring them (and newbies) back to a meeting.

 

As has been said elsewhere, speedway is an extreme sport and needs to promote itself as such!

[The White Knight]

 

And find an employer who is willing to be very flexible on the hours you work! Many riders are already doing day jobs, just to be able to ride speedway.

 

Back in the '70's and 80's that's what most Riders did. They found ways of fitting Speedway Meetings around their working schedule. I actually know a Rider at Newcastle who had to ride at Exeter - he took the afternoon off as a holiday and then drove down to Exeter, rode in the Match, and his wife drove him home again whilst he slept in the car. He arrived home at about five o'clock in the morning in time for a cup of tea and then off to work. The Roads weren't like they are these days either, not near so many Motorways as there are nowadays. They did it for their Sport.

[ford]

Many riders are already doing day jobs, just to be able to ride speedway.

 

There are a lot of complaints about admission prices, promoters are generally running at a loss, most riders aren't making any money

 

 

 

 

Where is all the riders money going then.

[bringbackHalifax]

I think you will find if we start afresh with those pay rates speedway will find a level it can operate at. Saying a rider won't ride for those figures is not true. I accept that some superstars won't hang around, but we cannot afford them, so let them go.

The alternative is that the so called names who are unwittingly bleeding the sport dry will hang around until the pot is empty then clear off anyway, leaving nothing for the none superstars.

The top riders in the prem would have to move up to the elite. those professional national league riders would step up to the prem and the national league would be for the novices.

The top to bottom gap in rider skill and ability would be closer, racing closer, entertainment better.

 

I know of some, (can think of a dozen ) riders who have not had a job outside speedway all winter and they are racing in the premier league, so let's not kid ourselves, that all riders are skint. The premier league was never meant for the pro to make enough to money to race 8 months a yr and then 4 months off.

 

I do know how much engines cost ( just paid for 2 ). But if we take out the top end and the rest of the riders find a level the sport can be entertaining, create new names and engage the public which may create the attachment that people need to keep coming back.

 

Or we can do nothing............ But hope

 

 

[SteveLyric2]

Many riders are already doing day jobs, just to be able to ride speedway.

 

There are a lot of complaints about admission prices, promoters are generally running at a loss, most riders aren't making any money

 

 

 

 

Where is all the riders money going then.

 

Engine tuners!!

 

Bring on Formula 2 Speedway!!

Edited March 17, 2013 by Skidder1

[Fromafar]

I think you will find if we start afresh with those pay rates speedway will find a level it can operate at. Saying a rider won't ride for those figures is not true. I accept that some superstars won't hang around, but we cannot afford them, so let them go.

The alternative is that the so called names who are unwittingly bleeding the sport dry will hang around until the pot is empty then clear off anyway, leaving nothing for the none superstars.

The top riders in the prem would have to move up to the elite. those professional national league riders would step up to the prem and the national league would be for the novices.

The top to bottom gap in rider skill and ability would be closer, racing closer, entertainment better.

 

I know of some, (can think of a dozen ) riders who have not had a job outside speedway all winter and they are racing in the premier league, so let's not kid ourselves, that all riders are skint. The premier league was never meant for the pro to make enough to money to race 8 months a yr and then 4 months off.

 

I do know how much engines cost ( just paid for 2 ). But if we take out the top end and the rest of the riders find a level the sport can be entertaining, create new names and engage the public which may create the attachment that people need to keep coming back.

 

Or we can do nothing............ But hope

I agree with you on this one,even if the sport reverts back to Semi Professional it would not effect the entertainment value IMO .

[Vince]

Back in the '70's and 80's that's what most Riders did. They found ways of fitting Speedway Meetings around their working schedule. I actually know a Rider at Newcastle who had to ride at Exeter - he took the afternoon off as a holiday and then drove down to Exeter, rode in the Match, and his wife drove him home again whilst he slept in the car. He arrived home at about five o'clock in the morning in time for a cup of tea and then off to work. The Roads weren't like they are these days either, not near so many Motorways as there are nowadays. They did it for their Sport.

 

Do you really think that things haven't changed in the employment market or that there are a lot less employers who are Speedway fans these days and willing to give riders the time off they need? Do you really believe that riders (and parents when they are young) are not going from one end of the country to the other and then straight into work? If so you are wrong, there are plenty of riders working every hour they can and then working on their bikes or travelling to and from meetings.

 

The very first weekend my son rode team Speedway we left Newcastle at 11pm and I was supposed to be at work in Southampton by 3am so started late and rushed around to get finished while he cleaned and serviced the bikes so he could be in Weymouth for a Bank Holiday afternoon meeting.

 

Even so it is very much harder to find work that is flexible enough to allow time off for Speedway these days, don't forget that for postponed meetings that can be at very short notice as well so no chance of booking holiday.

 

There are more than enough applicants for every job without needing to consider somebody who needs to finish early, take days off and probably need considerable sick leave every 2 or 3 years.

[ford]

Engine tuners!!

 

Bring on Formula 2 Speedway!!

 

Nah! let's keep it going as an expensive engineering exorcise, look forward to seeing engines revving to around 15,000 rpm in 3 years time, with titanium etc. An F1 engine only cost's around 10 million quid, so there's obviously plenty of room for development work on a speedway engine.

[OGT]

Nah! let's keep it going as an expensive engineering exorcise, look forward to seeing engines revving to around 15,000 rpm in 3 years time, with titanium etc. An F1 engine only cost's around 10 million quid, so there's obviously plenty of room for development work on a speedway engine.

Have to agree, titanium turbos all round, that's what I say.