What Outsiders Think.....

[Guest]

It's always nice to hear what the public at large think or know about speedway. This afternoon I was in WHS at Croydon, Surrey, and saw 'Speedway Star' which I started to browse.

Another customer watched me for a few moments, then commented: "Speedway - the dead sport that won't lie down."

[cityrebel]

if i mentioned it at work, most people would not know what i was talking about!

[jimmy jimmy]

People I know tend to say I saw it on tv and seem to enjoy it by and large. The main problem if you go to a match without someone who is a fan, is to follow what is going on.

 

It's always nice to hear what the public at large think or know about speedway. This afternoon I was in WHS at Croydon, Surrey, and saw 'Speedway Star' which I started to browse.

Another customer watched me for a few moments, then commented: "Speedway - the dead sport that won't lie down."

 

What a weird thing for someone to say to you. Was it Moxey?

Edited June 6, 2013 by jimmy jimmy

[Trees]

It seems my enthusiasm for the sport has rubbed off on many of my work mates and customers Having said that I only live 10 miles from Norwich and the amount of people who used to go there and remember it like yesterday is legendary

[Barney Rabbit]

When still working, if I mentioned speedway to colleagues it was usually 'I went once or twice to Donny, Sheffield, Hull, Scunny (all fairly local). Might as well stop it after ten yards, first to the corner won. Bored to tears'. I could cite cases where that wasn't the case but, let's be honest, it is very often! Ok, if you're hooked by the smell, the noise, whatever it is you go for then that's something you live with but for a newcomer......

Many of my sports-orientated colleagues watched it on Sky in preference to Emmernation St, Eastenders, or bog-snorkling on the other Sky Sports channels but not if football, cricket or a rugby code was on.

[manchesterpaul]

if i mentioned it at work, most people would not know what i was talking about!

 

Gustix keeps saying that in various threads. Do you work in a Convent or a Monastery that has no links to the outside world?

 

I find it difficult to believe that nowadays someone wouldn't have caught sight of a mention of speedway either on tv, in the printed press, tv magazine listings with a photo attached or online media.

 

Are these people blind not to even be aware of speedway, i find it hard to believe they've never caught sight or mention of the sport. It's been on the biggest sports platform for over a decade in primetime viewing hours. Whilst national media gives little coverage local media is often good. That's an important market as i remember the Manchester Evening News pointing out a few years back that it outsells on a daily basis each of the major national newspapers within the Greater Manchester area.

 

In the 70's, when speedway had vastly larger crowds at the tracks (little did we know of the desolate terraces to come), you would have accepted that people had never heard of the sport due to it not being on primetime television year after year. But come on? never heard of speedway?

[Barney Rabbit]

Gustix keeps saying that in various threads. Do you work in a Convent or a Monastery that has no links to the outside world?

 

I find it difficult to believe that nowadays someone wouldn't have caught sight of a mention of speedway either on tv, in the printed press, tv magazine listings with a photo attached or online media.

 

Are these people blind not to even be aware of speedway, i find it hard to believe they've never caught sight or mention of the sport. It's been on the biggest sports platform for over a decade in primetime viewing hours. Whilst national media gives little coverage local media is often good. That's an important market as i remember the Manchester Evening News pointing out a few years back that it outsells on a daily basis each of the major national newspapers within the Greater Manchester area.

 

In the 70's, when speedway had vastly larger crowds at the tracks (little did we know of the desolate terraces to come), you would have accepted that people had never heard of the sport due to it not being on primetime television year after year. But come on? never heard of speedway?

 

I live on a development of seven dwellings. Only one other has Sky, and neither of us has SkySports. None of us bothers with the now weekly local paper, favouring broadsheet dailies. I have a season ticket for Posh and two others support them, going fairly regularly but choosing their matches. We're all retired. When I first arrived and we were going to Alwalton, decked out in Panthers' jackets, they all, at some time, asked us where we were going since it wasn't football season. I told them, and, all but one, had no idea what or where it was. Why should they? They had no interest in motorcycles and had other interests - none of us sit and mope in our homes, certainly not me even now I've stopped going!

OK, you're interested in speedway, not everybody else is!

[manchesterpaul]

I live on a development of seven dwellings. Only one other has Sky, and neither of us has SkySports. None of us bothers with the now weekly local paper, favouring broadsheet dailies. I have a season ticket for Posh and two others support them, going fairly regularly but choosing their matches. We're all retired. When I first arrived and we were going to Alwalton, decked out in Panthers' jackets, they all, at some time, asked us where we were going since it wasn't football season. I told them, and, all but one, had no idea what or where it was. Why should they? They had no interest in motorcycles and had other interests - none of us sit and mope in our homes, certainly not me even now I've stopped going!

OK, you're interested in speedway, not everybody else is!

 

That's a very extremely limited sample of the UK public...seven dwellings! Yourself and friends are "all retired", i think you'll find that younger and middle-aged people do tend to have the latest thing be it gadgets or in the television word satellite tv a.k.a Sky. Pretty much most people don't have a F1 car in their garage but will watch that sport. Followers and television viewers of most sports don't have the equipment involved in it in their possession, or even have a daily interest in the tools of the sport.

 

You say "OK, you're interested in speedway, not everybody else is!" I didn't remotely say everyone is interested in speedway, The observation i made and question i asked was how can the people that Gustix mentions here and there in threads and also the OP here not be aware of speedway, due to the reasons i gave above.

 

Good for you mate getting out and about, i'm sure you know the worst thing that someone advancing in years can do is sit inside all day, so if you're physically able to, cool get out there Geez even if it's only loitering on street corners - although i hasten to add avoid getting into turf battles with those young 'uns lol.

[Guest]

It's always nice to hear what the public at large think or know about speedway. This afternoon I was in WHS at Croydon, Surrey, and saw 'Speedway Star' which I started to browse.

Another customer watched me for a few moments, then commented: "Speedway - the dead sport that won't lie down."

 

if i mentioned it at work, most people would not know what i was talking about!

 

Gustix keeps saying that in various threads.

 

I did NOT indicate in my lead Post that the person I met in WHS Croydon had never heard of speedway. From what he said that obviously DID know about the sport and was comparing it with much better times to what is happening these days. Please read the comment again.

[Barney Rabbit]

 

 

That's a very extremely limited sample of the UK public...seven dwellings! Yourself and friends are "all retired", i think you'll find that younger and middle-aged people do tend to have the latest thing be it gadgets or in the television word satellite tv a.k.a Sky. Pretty much most people don't have a F1 car in their garage but will watch that sport. Followers and television viewers of most sports don't have the equipment involved in it in their possession, or even have a daily interest in the tools of the sport.

 

You say "OK, you're interested in speedway, not everybody else is!" I didn't remotely say everyone is interested in speedway, The observation i made and question i asked was how can the people that Gustix mentions here and there in threads and also the OP here not be aware of speedway, due to the reasons i gave above.

 

Good for you mate getting out and about, i'm sure you know the worst thing that someone advancing in years can do is sit inside all day, so if you're physically able to, cool get out there Geez even if it's only loitering on street corners - although i hasten to add avoid getting into turf battles with those young 'uns lol.

 

I gave that example in answer to your 'how can people not know about speedway' type comment. But since you mention youngsters, I've got a couple of kids, both in their thirties who know about speedway because their parents went. I moved several times during my career, and my kids made friends with kids who didn't know about speedway - some obviously did, but some didn't and they all lived in the same area. If people are interested, they'll look. If they're not, well....

But just think on this...Why do you like speedway? I was asked that several times. I told them I liked the unique smell, the noise, the dust....They're not everybody's cup of tea, are they?

Edited June 6, 2013 by Barney Rabbit

[RonButler]

Ah yes - speedway - I remember speedway. I remember it well. I remember it when it was known as speedway RACING. That's was it was, racing. Men racing against their opponents and using their machines as racing vehicles. Racing was then defined as four men riding to their personal physical limit. Asking no quarter nor getting any from the moment the tapes went up to the moment when the chequered flag was waved. This applied to the man in fourth place as much as it did to the leader.

 

Those wqere the days my friend. I thought they'd never end. Sadly they did!

 

R.I.P speedway RACING.

[cityrebel]

Gustix keeps saying that in various threads. Do you work in a Convent or a Monastery that has no links to the outside world?

 

I find it difficult to believe that nowadays someone wouldn't have caught sight of a mention of speedway either on tv, in the printed press, tv magazine listings with a photo attached or online media.

 

Are these people blind not to even be aware of speedway, i find it hard to believe they've never caught sight or mention of the sport. It's been on the biggest sports platform for over a decade in primetime viewing hours. Whilst national media gives little coverage local media is often good. That's an important market as i remember the Manchester Evening News pointing out a few years back that it outsells on a daily basis each of the major national newspapers within the Greater Manchester area.

 

In the 70's, when speedway had vastly larger crowds at the tracks (little did we know of the desolate terraces to come), you would have accepted that people had never heard of the sport due to it not being on primetime television year after year. But come on? never heard of speedway?

i work as a site manager at a special needs school. none of the staff i work with have ever been to speedway, one or two might of heard of it. i don't think you realise what a minority sport speedway is these days, especially among the younger generation.

[Barney Rabbit]

i work as a site manager at a special needs school. none of the staff i work with have ever been to speedway, one or two might of heard of it. i don't think you realise what a minority sport speedway is these days, especially among the younger generation.

 

I worked in Leicestershire, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and, finally, Yorkshire before retiring. All areas had speedway teams but if I asked the question 'what does Belle Vue mean to you', the answer was usually 'Doncaster Rovers' home ground'. And Belle Vue are, historically, the top team in British speedway. As you post, it really is a minority sport.

[billybikespeedway]

Ah yes - speedway - I remember speedway. I remember it well. I remember it when it was known as speedway RACING. That's was it was, racing. Men racing against their opponents and using their machines as racing vehicles. Racing was then defined as four men riding to their personal physical limit. Asking no quarter nor getting any from the moment the tapes went up to the moment when the chequered flag was waved. This applied to the man in fourth place as much as it did to the leader.

 

Those wqere the days my friend. I thought they'd never end. Sadly they did!

 

R.I.P speedway RACING.

 

Never a truer Word Spoken Those Were the Days

[T.N.T.]

Lived and worked in the midlands are most of my life, but have travelled and work has often made me be in various parts of the country and meet people from various backgrounds and ways of life.

 

When not at speedway, I don't have one friend or close colleague that goes to speedway, but do have a number that used to go, even if it was the odd time. Many do watch the sport on TV and are pleased t have found out that the Grand Prix's are still on TV but now on Eurosport and not Sky Sports.

 

On a Tuesday night I play in a local pool league which I run single handed. Quite a few will know how Wolves got on the previous night and many have caught on to the buzz surrounding Tai Woffinden at the moment and how well he is doing in all competitions and now his injury.

 

However the main thing I hear when talking about speedway is "I used to go but haven't been for ages and last time was when Ole Olsen was the main man" ...... OR ...... "Speedway ? ...... Is that cars or bikes ?" ....... OR ....... "They do that at Hednesford dont they ?" (Hednesford Raceway is a solely Stock Car arena)

 

 

Going back to going to various parts of the country. I have been to, past or close to many tracks that I know are there, but have never seen adverts or directions to the track. Even at home some dont realise that Wolves ride at Monmore Green, the same venue that has the Greyhounds !! ..... Even approaching Wolves, the only sign posts are to Monmore Green Stadium .... not Wolves Speedway.

 

 

A few years ago, I went to Great Yarmouth and passed by the Peterborough and Kings Lynn tracks and unless I had been there previously, there was nothing to attract people to the fact the sport is there. .... While parked up in Great Yarmouth there were fliers put on car windscreens for local attractions ..... has anyone had a flier put on ther car about speedway ?

 

 

At one part of the country I was working in regular had a small track that is still running today. The stadium is not exactly pretty considering what most stadia are lke these days and the track is looked after with 1960's tractors and equipment. Within 500 yards of this track was a national company that hires and sells construction machinery like wacker plates, cement mixers and even tractors and diggers.

 

While there I was speaking to them about the speedway and the conversation led to how they have equipment that would be very handy at the track. They said if they had a page advert in each programme and a sign up at the stadium, they would be able to sponsor them with euipment instead of cash. ..... When I told pased this information on, they said NO ... They want cash only. ... This was a national company willing to get involved and speedway turning their back on them.

 

 

In a number of cities around Britain, there are tracks close to large numbers of colleges and universities with 17-21 year olds looking for group entertainment. ..... Why can't tracks offer students admission with their ID card for say £2 .... If you get 50 turn up, it's £100 you never had before and hopefully some will carry on going for many more years when they have become lawyers, doctors or simply shop staff !!

 

 

It's fine some saying the sport is as good as it used to be, but unless the spor is seen and avertised to a much bigger audience, the sport is hiding away in a corner and only seen by a select few. Get it seen and attract new or old fans to return

[van wolfswinkel]

I don't reckon there's many people that haven't heard of speedway or heard the bikes on a Thursday night in Swindon. Even passengers I pickup in my cab from elsewhere might say "Whats this speedway thing talk about in this place?!". Trouble is most of these "fans" are ex-fans.

They might not go anymore because its either too expensive, the stadium facilities are outdated, or there are too many foreign riders/ or constantly changing personnel, they preferred Saturday evening racing etc.,

Its seen as being stuck in the past by a lot of people.

It will always survive in some form though.

[manchesterpaul]

I did NOT indicate in my lead Post that the person I met in WHS Croydon had never heard of speedway.

 

Hence why i said

Gustix keeps saying that in various threads.

 

I worked in Leicestershire, Suffolk, Lincolnshire and, finally, Yorkshire before retiring. All areas had speedway teams but if I asked the question 'what does Belle Vue mean to you', the answer was usually 'Doncaster Rovers' home ground'. And Belle Vue are, historically, the top team in British speedway. As you post, it really is a minority sport.

 

I pointed out several years ago that if you Googled (before search engines used algorithms to heavily regionalize results) or mentioned Belle Vue the most popular result was an American hospital and that more media mentions were for the Rugby League stadium. As a result i suggested it would be an excellent idea for the Aces to be renamed and referred to in all publicity as 'Belle Vue Manchester'. This resulted in the expected shock horror responses from those who watched the sport in the leg-trailing days and original mention of the Red Devil (Frank Varey i think).

 

Let's be clear 'Belle Vue' is a tiny area within Manchester. Most of the 2.7 million residents of Greater Manchester would not be able to pinpoint it on a map. 'Manchester', especially in the world of sport is internationally known. Casual TV viewers would have more interest in a sporting contest involving a match between say Birmingham and Manchester than an unheard of Belle Vue (and hey! Perry Barr). It's a persistent myth that 'Belle Vue' is world famous. It may have been in the 30's or 40's, yep even in South America! but sorry in the modern world including the last few decades it is NOT a world famous sporting club.

 

It's been, still is, an interesting thread and i think the general consensus now is that most people HAVE heard of speedway.

Edited June 7, 2013 by manchesterpaul

[pandorum]

I had never heard of football until someone told me of it's existence and explained it to me.

I used to enjoy it a lot but now find it quite boring since they changed the rules out of all proportion to what I used to see and now never watch it as it's gone from a hard contact sport played by men to a totally non contact sport played by millionaire pansies.

It's not just speedway that has silly rules.

 

My point is that speedway needs someone to actually 'promote' the sport and new converts will be found.

It would help is those in charge ensured that tracks were properly prepared and conducive to racing.

Speedway is one of the most exciting motor sports it just needs everyone on board commited to promoting a good product.

 

Instead we have a bunch of self centred vindictive imbiciles who are too stupid to see that what they do is driving their own hardcore away.

 

It does not really matter what 'outsiders' think when those who love the sport are being driven away by the cretins who are supposed to be in charge.

 

Speedway may not be a dead sport yet but it's doing it's level best to get there here in the UK.

[Grand Central]

It's been, still is, an interesting thread and i think the general consensus now is that most people HAVE heard of speedway.

 

I note that it was you that admonished another poster for jumping to conclusions from a small sample size of responses.

 

I really don't think that your 'general consensus' has been achieved here, at all.

[Guest]

Hence why i said

 

 

 

 

I pointed out several years ago that if you Googled (before search engines used algorithms to heavily regionalize results) or mentioned Belle Vue the most popular result was an American hospital and that more media mentions were for the Rugby League stadium. As a result i suggested it would be an excellent idea for the Aces to be renamed and referred to in all publicity as 'Belle Vue Manchester'. This resulted in the expected shock horror responses from those who watched the sport in the leg-trailing days and original mention of the Red Devil (Frank Varey i think).

 

Let's be clear 'Belle Vue' is a tiny area within Manchester. Most of the 2.7 million residents of Greater Manchester would not be able to pinpoint it on a map. 'Manchester', especially in the world of sport is internationally known. Casual TV viewers would have more interest in a sporting contest involving a match between say Birmingham and Manchester than an unheard of Belle Vue (and hey! Perry Barr). It's a persistent myth that 'Belle Vue' is world famous. It may have been in the 30's or 40's, yep even in South America! but sorry in the modern world including the last few decades it is NOT a world famous sporting club.

 

It's been, still is, an interesting thread and i think the general consensus now is that most people HAVE heard of speedway.

 

Google Belle Vue Speedway and you get this. That's because it's more definitive in regard to the search,

http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Belle+Vue+Speedway&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=-62xUdSyEaGc0wXvo4DYCw