cityrebel Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 looking at many of the threads on this forum, it does seem one of the biggest gripes with fans is how long it takes to run meetings. crashes aside, there does seem to be far too many delays that slow down the meeting like late and long drawn out parades, exstensive tractor breaks, riders returning to the pits for no apparent reason, too much gardening at the starting gate, long intervals and my biggest moan, referees with no urgency that lose control of the meeting. any thoughts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ore Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 (edited) Getting rid of the parades and interval would be a great start. If the team managers won't get the riders on the track then the referees should get on the button more swiftly. I always recall many years ago at Arena Essex when Frank Ebdon was on the button. As soon as the announcements from a heat were over he put the two minutes on, keeping the show moving. Upon realising this and for no productive reason, the then home announcer delayed giving out the heat details to slow matters down. After a couple of delays for this Frank started putting the two minutes allowance on before the heat result was announced. Up yours Mr Announcer. It can be done. I was fortunate enough to take in a league match at Daugavpils last year where the whole gambit was finished in just over an hour and there was a brilliant buzz around the stadium all match as a result. You had a far younger crowd profile and I don't just mean kids, a modern stadium and tremendous atmosphere, plus they still had a parade, if that's what floats your boat. I had another beer while this was going on. The attendance was about 4 times higher than a "bumper" crowd is in GB too. Grading every third race was done swiftly and efficiently by a fleet of tractors and fans were regularly topping up their beers during these minor gaps and even then maybe missing some racing owing to queues. The thing was everyone was buzzing even the flask and blanket brigade were partying and looking forward to the next match. American tracks just go bang, bang, bang with races and again it is a party atmosphere and the action continues. Try filling in a programme before the next heat starts and it is not easy but the continuity adds to the entertainment. Compare this with British tracks in all leagues. I can't be alone in running out of digits to count the number of matches I have attended where 15 heats haven't been completed owing to the weather, yet they have still had a 20 minute break with only a few heats remaining. Why? Surely it is not beyond the ability of someone to ensure that those who need to be fed and watered on the centre green could have the stuff brought to them, instead of having to leave en mass. Again other than the doctor, I am sure that a "comfort" break can be fitted in too should it be needed, without delaying the races to accommodate. That said I'm bursting but my staff can easily cover this temporary absence from my post. Edited March 18, 2013 by Mr Ore 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruiser McHuge Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 i think that riders "gardening" and a bit of messing about at the tapes can actually add to the anticipation of a crucial race...i don't mind that too much....there are far too many delays though between races with nothing actually going on apart from some dreadful 70's MOR music over the tannoys.. Maybe promoters want to drag things out to make fans feel that they have had 2 plus hours worth of entertainment...if they rushed through every heat then you could finish in 45 minutes and people would be off home at 8.30 !! i can't believe that people want to get rid of parades.....i think the 14 bikes and riders lined up at the tapes before a meeting is part of the entertainment and the kids like that aspect of it i think....it means the riders are not just faceless individuals ....that shouldn't be got rid off. what can go on too long though is once that parade id finished then the riders can spend far too long on the track doing practice starts etc...that all delays the start of the meeting , but the actual parade and introduction of the riders is fine by me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 As Bruiser says, I don't see the major issue with the 'gardening'. There's something to see when that's going on. Meetings do drag on too long though and I am beginning to hate the inevitable 'interval' more than ever, especially on cold nights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brummie Kev Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I think it varies from club to club, I generally have not found a problem when Ive gone to Birmingham. I only live a 10 minute drive away and most of the time I'm back in my house about 9.30. There are occasions when there are delays due to crashes or weather but usually they go straight through in that case. I remember a rain affected meeting against Somerset a few years back, the meeting started at 7.45 and was finished way before 9. When I go to away tracks, alot of them run meetings at a much slower pace which I don't like. One way of speeding it up is not open the pit gate when there is an unsatisfactory start, as you are always waiting for that rider which slows the meeting down. I think its ridiculous that they are allowed back into the pits, when its only been an unsatisfactory start, good to see many riders now just go back to the start line but there's always one!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Part of the reason for the 'long' Interval is so that the Promoter can make sure that plenty of Cash is taken in the various Bars or Bar. It is not conducive to good Customer Relations though. You are standing there, freezing cold, waiting for the next Race. It's only the diehards like us 'old gits' who are prepared to put up with it. Far too many cases of Riders returning to the Pits after a false start - everything seems geared to delaying things. Speedway Meetings should be FAST AND FURIOUS - like the Racing. Sadly - it isn't. :sad: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 From comments made by referee Mick Posselwhite at the Poole fans forum, it would seem that all referees are going to warn riders about returning to the pits after a restart is called!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPanther Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 It must be sorted out for sure. In my opinion its the biggest reason why so many people only go once and never come back, especially youngsters. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 From comments made by referee Mick Posselwhite at the Poole fans forum, it would seem that all referees are going to warn riders about returning to the pits after a restart is called!!! That's a start, but how about simply forbid it? Pit gate remains closed, unless there is a crash then its understandable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAMMER57 Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I can only agree with the post about the pit gate and restarts lets hope refs can keep it shut and stop riders going back in all the time. WE all know a dry clutch gets hot but if it burns out thats racing.Having said that only needs a few riders to say about cost of clutch and the pit gate will be open again Who would be a ref lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 There are probably various reasons why meets take so long but to see how it can be done, pop along to one of the amateur meets at Scunny. I've seen them rattle though 68 heats (yes, 68) in just under 4 hours. Despite stoppages for spills, etc they get through races at a fair old clip in the main due to the 'dummy grids' just inside the pit gate, bikes are lined up 3 heats in advance of programmed rides with none of the "you have 2 minutes" then "30 seconds to go" mallarky. Meaning too much faffing about getting ready and you can easily miss your race. Riders usually only ever do that the once.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Part of the reason for the 'long' Interval is so that the Promoter can make sure that plenty of Cash is taken in the various Bars or Bar. Never understood that logic though. Ever tried to get a beer or even food during the interval? Queues galore. I go just after a race, straight to the bar served and out again before the next heat. A steady flow all night should be better than one big rush I'd have thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Crew Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I actually like the parade and love the spectacle at Wolves of all 14 riders out practising, but still feel control of meeting needs tightening by referees, I know certain aspects can't be controlled but as a parent I sometimes find myself looking at my watch, especially during term time, the uncertainty of what time we will be getting home can be a nightmare sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenga Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 the answer to all these problems is, let the fans in through the gates after they have paid up. then play some crap music and let the mic guy attempt to butt in while the ref is going through his checks. lights n siren etc . then 2 riders have a race off over 2 laps (to cut down the waste of running a further 2 laps. no victory wheelie stuff. barbed wire instead of those flimsy tapes. new track records every meeting because the old records only last 48 hrs. punters back out the doors .we all go home happy and wonder what to do for the next 3 hours. yea , lets cut out all the excitement and razzmatazz then we will all be satisfied .. cut out all the overtime at YOUR place of work and live like we all should do... sad but happy knowing that we dont have to endure all those wasted hour at speedway meetings.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I don't particularly have an issue with riders going back to the pits after an unsatisfactory start, but get fed up with the time they take or are allowed to take by the referee. If an unsatisfactory start happens, once the red lights go on, I would have the two minutes on immediately after. A rider can go back to the pits but they will already be on 2 mins. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WembleyLion Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I think it would also help if meetings started at their advertised start time. Some tracks are not too bad but there are a few that have no urgency whatsoever to run a meeting promptly and you only need someone like Tony Steele in charge to be sure of a long night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatwick Rocket Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 I commented in another thread recently that they could run batches of heats back to back with minimal break in between races, eg 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, 13-15. Between each batch of heats could be a break for track grading and pits activity. I'm sure this would enable more excitement and momentum than the current drawn out affair. No doubt someone in the know on the technical side of things will point out reasons why this might not work. Of course if there was stuff to keep the fans interested between heats then the long gaps wouldn't be such a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keef robin Posted March 18, 2013 Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 (edited) I was losing the will to live at Blunsdon last Thursday...stood in the bleedin' cold for almost 3 hours on a grass bank, to watch about 23 minutes of mainly processional racing, that cost me 20 quid. Also dread those intervals, regrades, and tractor watching. Wont encourage new fans to return. I like the parades, and the music at Swindon is ok. Edited March 18, 2013 by beefy keefy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 (edited) It takes so long because it's a deliberate ploy to make you think you have had an evening out. If you got there for the first race at 7-30,and the meeting was over by 8-00 you would think that was an expensive half an hour and would not go again. Edited March 19, 2013 by oldtimer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 It takes so long because it's a deliberate ploy to make you think you have had an evening out. If you got there for the first race at 7-30,and the meeting was over by 8-00 you would think that was an expensive half an hour and would not go again. It would never be half an hour. 5 mins per race is reasonable so there is no reason for the whole nights racing to take more than 75 mins. Throw in a worthwhile interval and the whole show should be 90 mins 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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