Speedway Star Revamp 2 Months On

[remembertheracers]

First let me say I have no intention of giving up on Speedway Star, I think it is an excllent

publication covering a struggling minority sport.

 

It had a revamp at the start of the season, but after two months I have to say I dislike

the format. I can see that the magazine now tries to get two or three stories on each club,

but dislike the way you have to leap around to find what you want.

 

As there are no Reading Racers I really have no axe to grind, except that I'd like to find the

non news stories on Belle Vue, Poole, Swindon or whoever in one place and not dotted

around.

 

Some of the writers seem less interesting than say twenty years ago, but in part

that maybe me having lost Reading, and even dear old Oxford.

 

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

 

My only other criticism is the big cutback on the Grand Prix previews. Otherwise

well done Mr Rising et al

[Starman2006]

First let me say I have no intention of giving up on Speedway Star, I think it is an excllent

publication covering a struggling minority sport.

 

It had a revamp at the start of the season, but after two months I have to say I dislike

the format. I can see that the magazine now tries to get two or three stories on each club,

but dislike the way you have to leap around to find what you want.

 

As there are no Reading Racers I really have no axe to grind, except that I'd like to find the

non news stories on Belle Vue, Poole, Swindon or whoever in one place and not dotted

around.

 

Some of the writers seem less interesting than say twenty years ago, but in part

that maybe me having lost Reading, and even dear old Oxford.

 

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

 

My only other criticism is the big cutback on the Grand Prix previews. Otherwise

well done Mr Rising et al

 

It had a re-vamp and went up in price.... I do hope, this year they push the boat out and give the British GP a good spread. This is supposed to be our flagship meeting. Good racecard, although we have to wait for the draw, maybe two three interviews with riders as to there expectations at Cardiff, statistics track size etc etc. Once a year we have this meeting, come on Mr Rising and co, lets make a big effort.. You might just sell a few more stars...

[mickthemuppet]

I think the Speedway Star is an excellent magazine and have taken it for many many years. The things I do not like so much the year are mainly the downsizing of the Grand Prix programme and the statistics which were always interesting.There should be at least two pages on a forthcoming GP

I also thought the results section was better prevoiusly when the results were given in league order and not in date order as they are now. So the results section would start with the Elite League, then the Premier league and finally the National league. I would also like to go back to team news under the heading of the various clubs , once again in league order.

My one other little gripe is the Fantasy League. Today's SS write up about it was pathetic. At one time you used to show the leading managers and the riders they had selected. I take part in the Racing Post "Ten To Follow" and there update shows the top 200 and the top ten's teams. with the horses they have selected. Although I do not expect you to put a table of 250 , it would be nice to see what the top managers teams are.

Hope this does not sound too critical but Speedway are lucky to have such a good magazine especially to people to far away to get to a track

[hiley]

I too dislike the revamp and end up reading less with the stories all over the place,.

 

As to the Grand Prix it is true that as the series goes on there are so few potential winners, but I think better previews are in order.

 

As to the writers 20-30 years ago writers like Dave Lanning, Bob Radford, Martin Rogers and Peter Oakes - to name just four - were very involved in the sport and knew their stuff, writing with a more knowledgeable approach. Only Editor Richard Clark is in that league today.

 

Paul Burbage is sometimes pretty good but Brian Burford often sends me to sleep as does Neil Evans.

 

Please Mr Rising put all the Belle Vue stores together and so on in the EL, PL and NL sections. The new format is a bit disjointed, but still thanks for the magazine. Frankly the magazine is better than the sport warrants.

Edited May 16, 2013 by hiley

[G the Bee]

I think the new columns by Kelvin Tatum are excellent. Really knowledgable insight, as you would expect from a rider with such a long involvement in the sport.

[Mike.Butler]

I always read it cover to cover (except the grass track) so the order doesn't bother me. I too liked the stats before every grand prix which i miss..in fact i recall one season (15 years ago possibly), they went overboard on the stats for league meeting coming up that week... it must have taken someone ages but it was interesting..maybe something a little less ambitious like last season's result in the corresponding fixture or no. of Home and Away wins in the fixture since elite league formed..but then i am a bit of a statto

[stratton]

I still enjoy the read some valid points from all the other readers the lay out makes no odds to me.For me i generally get two copies because the pictures are so good i still believe 2.80 is good value.I would say i would like to see more of every bodies up to date averages to be shown more.

Edited May 16, 2013 by sidney

[PHILIPRISING]

It had a re-vamp and went up in price.... I do hope, this year they push the boat out and give the British GP a good spread. This is supposed to be our flagship meeting. Good racecard, although we have to wait for the draw, maybe two three interviews with riders as to there expectations at Cardiff, statistics track size etc etc. Once a year we have this meeting, come on Mr Rising and co, lets make a big effort.. You might just sell a few more stars...

 

IT didn't go up in price... we always make a big effort for Cardiff, not least by putting on 16 extra pages

[Starman2006]

IT didn't go up in price... we always make a big effort for Cardiff, not least by putting on 16 extra pages

 

Must have been last year then, from £2.60 to £2.80.

[YerRopes]

I preferred the old format, but to be honest the SS still gives all the latest news and results...which is the reason why I buy it, so not overly bothered..

 

Having said that, I too would still like the results done by league - I read the Adam Ellis article and then had to plough through all the Leagues just to see a couple of his scores.

 

I would also like to see all team's riders averages asap - I believe this is still yet to appear this season - although my copy didn't arrive today as it should have.

 

As for the team articles, I usually have already read the Swindon ones (seemingly word for word) - they appear to be repeats.

 

Having said all this, I do appreciate that the guys/girls at SS do a great job in getting the publication out each week and I enjoyed reading the interviews with Scott Nichols and the brief revisit to previous British finals in last weeks issue

 

Keep on keeping on...

[Fromafar]

I still like prefer the new format.

[Sparky from Sheffield]

REVAMP! Just noticed they've dropped Seery's Statistics and the Angus Kix Glamour League.

[guitar_art]

I am so rarely able to find a speedway star it is difficult to give an opinion. However I do enjoy the online speedway extra every week and really wish that they would do an online version. I would gladly pay out for access to an online version and i would think that such a publication would increas circulation greatly.

[AllyN]

I miss the rider averages section of previous years' that used to show the average for each rider based on the current season's results. I thought perhaps this had been moved into the Xtra edition but no sign of statistics there either.

 

Going off topic, did anyone with a subscritption not get their copy of the Star this week? Mine has yet to arrive.

[van wolfswinkel]

Excellent read...but prefer the results in League not date order

[AlanF]

Are there any plans to offer a digital subscription version, similar to the Speedway Xtra Online version currently available? I live in the US and stopped having the Star sent to me as it was old news by the time I got it. I would happily pay for a digital version available the same day that it is on sale in the UK. Most magazines now offer this type of subscription.

 

Many Thanks

[PHILIPRISING]

STILL in the pipeline, one or two obstacles to overcome, but hopefully will happen before long.

[manchesterpaul]

First let me say I have no intention of giving up on Speedway Star, I think it is an excllent

publication covering a struggling minority sport.

 

It had a revamp at the start of the season, but after two months I have to say I dislike

the format. I can see that the magazine now tries to get two or three stories on each club,

but dislike the way you have to leap around to find what you want.

 

Very strongly agree and second both of the above. A good thread/topic and timing of it by the way.

 

I also thought the results section was better prevoiusly when the results were given in league order and not in date order as they are now. So the results section would start with the Elite League, then the Premier league and finally the National league. I would also like to go back to team news under the heading of the various clubs , once again in league order.

 

Also very strongly agree with this, makes it a bind when trying to look back for recent match reports or how individual riders have performed ahead of a meeting. Sometimes there seem to be changes made for changes sake. Have they got a new staff member who's trying to fix something that isn't broke grrrRRRRR lol.

 

I too dislike the revamp and end up reading less with the stories all over the place,.

 

As to the Grand Prix it is true that as the series goes on there are so few potential winners, but I think better previews are in order.

 

Paul Burbage is sometimes pretty good......

 

Please Mr Rising put all the Belle Vue stores together and so on in the EL, PL and NL sections. The new format is a bit disjointed, but still thanks for the magazine. Frankly the magazine is better than the sport warrants.

 

I really must express my displeasure at the new 'all over the place' layout. On occasions the paragraphs of an article are wrapped around one in the next column and one ends up reading both as one. Bits are slotted in everywhere very poorly laid out.

 

Agree with lots on here that the actual GP previews really need some discussion and insight into the actual races and meeting ahead, and not just bare stats pointed out either, that seems a very lazy way to fill space. I do like that they are including a full page rider interview that is done recent to the GP.

 

Same as with the BSF i rarely take in who has written a piece but i am gradually aware that Paul Burbage has some excellent contributions and also Philip Rising.....ooops that should animate a few on here lol. I definitely think the 'Bonus Points' section is excellent.

 

I think the new columns by Kelvin Tatum are excellent. Really knowledgable insight, as you would expect from a rider with such a long involvement in the sport.

 

Yep agree with that and as with Chris Louis who this week proves he's getting better and better with the analysis and great information (i forgot what they call the tv screen section now) it's good to see the speedway media finally responding to fans demand for limited technical insight. Couldn't ever imagine watching a Nascar race without a constant mention of the handling of the cars and the effect the track and weather conditions along with so many other variables all described in layman's terms.

 

REVAMP! Just noticed they've dropped Seery's Statistics and the Angus Kix Glamour League.

 

Lol lol. They wouldn't get any submissions as the women can't cope with the Monster girls.

 

I miss the rider averages section of previous years' that used to show the average for each rider based on the current season's results. I thought perhaps this had been moved into the Xtra edition but no sign of statistics there either.

 

? One of the utmost reasons for purchasing and praising the Star is the, with only the odd exception, weekly displaying of every club in the three leagues rider averages using the current season's matches. Or do you mean a larger version of the Top 20 or whatever it is they have now?

 

Aside from my strong agreement with the criticisms of the revamp expressed by many above on the same few changes, i will not hesitate to praise the Speedway Star to the hilt. It's a truly superb magazine. Regarding the price you get a very generous discount if you subscribe. You also save on travel costs and the annoyance and time involved in having to hunt a down a copy in the shops. Also not everyone goes to their track every week, clubs don't always race every week, plus there is the whole off season to consider.

Edited June 5, 2013 by manchesterpaul

[PHILIPRISING]

THANKS for the constructive comments. I do pass them on.

 

With regard to the Match Reports ... it was a production decision. Enables them to get some pages done and dusted earlier than before. But we will review it although in all honesty it is not something we have had many complaints about.

 

Not quite as easy to preview GP races, etc, without knowing the draw, as we did a few moons ago.

[manchesterpaul]

THANKS for the constructive comments. I do pass them on.

 

With regard to the Match Reports ... it was a production decision. Enables them to get some pages done and dusted earlier than before. But we will review it although in all honesty it is not something we have had many complaints about.

 

Not quite as easy to preview GP races, etc, without knowing the draw, as we did a few moons ago.

 

Thanks and it's good that you do pass them on as it's in the interests of the magazine to give fans/purchasers what they want (oooh i so on the edge of asking for a page 3 with so many promotional girls and start ladies around these days lol).

 

Don't see how lack of the draw has any effect whatsoever on a preview covering the upcoming clashes, residue from the previous GP and talking points of the meeting ahead. I don't recall any regular mention of what gate a rider will be starting from in each race in other meeting previews over the years.