Air Fences

[Shale Shaker]

I strongly suspect this is a move to standardise the safety fences across the leagues in preparation for the big merger next year.

[luluthetiger]

As detailed in today's Speedway Star, the edict came from SCB (following the lead of the FIM, who have no interest in structure or composition of domestic leagues) so it isn't anything to do with any future BSPA decision to mege leagues.

 

Article also suggests SRBF have for a couple of years been ready to offer low-interest loans to help clubs who were installing soft fences (but seems to indicate there were no takers).

 

There is also a list of six different approved fences.

[keyham]

.

[tyretrax]

Have it on good authority that Glasgow cannot under any circumstances install an air-fence at Ashfield, although -- if funding was available -- a foam-fence might be possible.

 

Don't know about that but a couple of wind bags at Ashfield could blow it up if we had one.

[Mad Potter 2]

Rather than having this endless discussion on what will happen at Sheffield, there are other PL tracks where there will have to be a "soft barrier" installed if they are to run speedway in 2014.

 

Somerset shouldn't have a problem, nor might Redcar nor Plymouth. These are speedway facilities, where installation can be achieved -- not cheaply, but achieved. If it was felt the fence had to be hung on the existing outer fence, their inside lines might be reduced to maintain track width.

 

Edinburgh and Newcastle have the problem of adjusting fencing to suit sight-lines for greyhound patrons, but again might be expected to find a way around this long-overdue regulation coming in, as they have the places such as Wolverhampton or Belle Vue (with similar stadiums) to model on.

 

Glasgow and Workington have the problem of being unable to widen their tracks by taking the inside line in after installing a barrier because of rugby or soccer ground-sharing. Glasgow are also known to be financially embarrassed.

 

Then there are the two tracks most-discussed on this thread, Rye House and Sheffield.

 

Interesting times ahead, I predict.

 

With those two bulges why do you need a air fence?

[StevePark]

Another money making scheme by the big wigs, final nail in the coffin for most speedway clubs, would like to see what evidence they do have to say the airfence are safer than wire mesh fences, most of injuries are caused by the wayward BIKES or landing on SOLID floor got nothing to do with fences.

 

Riders are always saying they want Air/Foam fences at all tracks. I think they may be in a position to have an opinion more than most fans watching the sport.

[Mr Ore]

would like to see what evidence they do have to say the airfence are safer than wire mesh fences,

Ask Jason Garrity as a recent victim. He nearly lost an eye hitting a stray bit of wire in the mesh at Sheffield. I also remember John Louis pointing out how safe the Ipswich fence was and he couldn't remember any serious injuries being caused by it. Alzheimer’s at such a young age JL. OK it referred to the fence prior to Mark Loram's crash and a different part of the track but Brett Saunders had to have his spleen removed after a collision with “the safe bit” during JL's tenure, which is pretty severe in my book. Irrespective if one injury is avoided it is worth it.

 

Let me throw one of my usual curve balls in here and suggest that if everyone posting on this forum paid £10 every track could have an air / foam fence. No doubt we will have refusals owing to other tracks already putting them in so how about we all put in £20 and pay back those who already have air fences. Allegedly everyone on here claims to have an interest in the continuation of the sport but when something positive could be done for a pittance very few would contribute. My preference would be that they charge £1 per post towards a fence fund which would definitely shut some up

Edited June 14, 2013 by Mr Ore

[ciderman]

Bearing in mind the obvious benefits these fences bring to rider safety it's a good move, however how thses are fuunded is a different matter. I believe some of the costs say 50% should be covered by the BSPA, the SKY money assuming they run next year could go towards this, it is after all BRITISH Speedway and unfair that all the SKY money goes to EL Tracks. Given the entertainment provided by the PL this year on SKY a new deal may entail a mix of both leagues next year, how would the money be shared then?

[Shale Shaker]

Sky are already showing both leagues this year so surely there must be some Sky money going to the PL already??

[screm]

Bearing in mind the obvious benefits these fences bring to rider safety it's a good move, however how thses are fuunded is a different matter. I believe some of the costs say 50% should be covered by the BSPA, the SKY money assuming they run next year could go towards this, it is after all BRITISH Speedway and unfair that all the SKY money goes to EL Tracks. Given the entertainment provided by the PL this year on SKY a new deal may entail a mix of both leagues next year, how would the money be shared then?

 

Fair enough but what of the clubs in the PL that already have air fences or polyfoam fences,for example the fence at Berwick was in part paid for by either sponsorship and/or donations from fans.

[westhamboy66]

Having seen 4 riders lock together and smash head on into the Rye House fence I don't believe there is a better fence in the sport. At least one of them would have been carried off in an ambulance any where else.

Have been watching racing at Rye since 76 and if there is a better, safer fence in speedway then i have yet to see it. Since Silver took over the stadium and binned the dog racing all potential horrors outside the track have been removed, like starting stalls electrical control boxes etc. i took some photos at Rye when Simon Lambert and Rohan Tungate locked together and Simon finish up ten or more yards into the sterile area. Had that happened at certain tracks that have airfences he would probably been seriously

injured. Without digging clubs out there are several that have heavy metal equipment within a few yards of the outside of the fence covered by an inch thick piece of foam, ridiculously dangerous. I do agree that the majority of seating areas at Rye will become obsolete as you simply wont see over the fence.

 

 

Ask Jason Garrity as a recent victim. He nearly lost an eye hitting a stray bit of wire in the mesh at Sheffield. I also remember John Louis pointing out how safe the Ipswich fence was and he couldn't remember any serious injuries being caused by it. Alzheimer’s at such a young age JL. OK it referred to the fence prior to Mark Loram's crash and a different part of the track but Brett Saunders had to have his spleen removed after a collision with “the safe bit” during JL's tenure, which is pretty severe in my book. Irrespective if one injury is avoided it is worth it.

 

Let me throw one of my usual curve balls in here and suggest that if everyone posting on this forum paid £10 every track could have an air / foam fence. No doubt we will have refusals owing to other tracks already putting them in so how about we all put in £20 and pay back those who already have air fences. Allegedly everyone on here claims to have an interest in the continuation of the sport but when something positive could be done for a pittance very few would contribute. My preference would be that they charge £1 per post towards a fence fund which would definitely shut some up

I also saw Piotr Swiderski hit the air fence head on at Ipswich and was catapulted into the air landing a long way out from the fence, didn't do its job, lucky it didnt happen at Kings Lynn or Mildenhall otherwise he would have hit something solid. Ok so Ipswich have an airfence but that didnt help Mark Loram much as he missed it. False sense of security as other more serious dangers are forgotten as airfences are the flavour of the month

 

 

 

Riders are always saying they want Air/Foam fences at all tracks. I think they may be in a position to have an opinion more than most fans watching the sport.

of course the riders safety is the most important thing but are they the best judges. How many complain about the closeness of the lamp-standards at places like Somerset, or the solid concrete wall at Kings Lynn that would be hit if they silde under the fence or the metal stock car fence at Kings Lynn or the Electrical control boxes a couple of feet from the airfence at Mildenhall. Airfences are an easy bandwagon to jump on and forget things that are potentially far more dangerous

[Tsunami]

Sky are already showing both leagues this year so surely there must be some Sky money going to the PL already??

 

Yes, appearance money for that TV meeting, but not the one off payment that all EL teams get. All the PL then get to share one equal lump payment.

[bigeddiechek]

Air fences are part of the overall safety, but not the full story.

The other areas tend to be easily remedied.

 

Money or a safer sport?

 

Safer sport every time for me.

[FTM]

I am a bit confused with the post from Sheffield concerning why they wouldn,t have time to erect an air fence after dogs. I have been working around dogs /air fences since the first one was put in at Coventry and at Peterborough and Oxford .The first two tracks are pretty easy to put up or take down as the way the tracks are built provides a solid fence to erect against .Oxford on the other hand is similar to Sheffield in that it is a mesh fence .On deflation after the meeting the bags are left lying flat still connected together at the bottom of the fence you get a clear view all the way round for dog racing and then on off days you can blow it up jet wash it clean then let it down again until race day.Once the fence has been connected together at Sheffield the Council can inspect it before the start of the season and in theory that is then a constant item which the H&S shouldn,t need to see again until the start of the next season as you are not taking it apart.Having been to Sheffield, and watched dogs on tele from there as well, there shouldn,t be any problem leaving it flat on the inside of the fence.Surely the tigers promotion would have a strong case of defence against H&S if this was left as I have explained or am I way off the mark in my understanding of your problem

.Just trying to put a few ideas across from someone who has put up and taken down quite a few in the past .cheers Mick C..

Edited June 15, 2013 by FTM

[Ariel75]

Is necesary the air defense, here in Argentine only 15 meters in bend without air defense for entry to pits , in this place crash Matija Duh and died................

[StevePark]

Have been watching racing at Rye since 76 and if there is a better, safer fence in speedway then i have yet to see it. Since Silver took over the stadium and binned the dog racing all potential horrors outside the track have been removed, like starting stalls electrical control boxes etc. i took some photos at Rye when Simon Lambert and Rohan Tungate locked together and Simon finish up ten or more yards into the sterile area. Had that happened at certain tracks that have airfences he would probably been seriously

injured. Without digging clubs out there are several that have heavy metal equipment within a few yards of the outside of the fence covered by an inch thick piece of foam, ridiculously dangerous. I do agree that the majority of seating areas at Rye will become obsolete as you simply wont see over the fence.

 

I also saw Piotr Swiderski hit the air fence head on at Ipswich and was catapulted into the air landing a long way out from the fence, didn't do its job, lucky it didnt happen at Kings Lynn or Mildenhall otherwise he would have hit something solid. Ok so Ipswich have an airfence but that didnt help Mark Loram much as he missed it. False sense of security as other more serious dangers are forgotten as airfences are the flavour of the month

 

of course the riders safety is the most important thing but are they the best judges. How many complain about the closeness of the lamp-standards at places like Somerset, or the solid concrete wall at Kings Lynn that would be hit if they silde under the fence or the metal stock car fence at Kings Lynn or the Electrical control boxes a couple of feet from the airfence at Mildenhall. Airfences are an easy bandwagon to jump on and forget things that are potentially far more dangerous

 

I'd say so, as they are the ones going out on track every week.

[BuxtonTiger]

Regarding FTM's point above and deflating airfences, at Sheffield would have to be removed fully when it stages Stock Cars.

[scaramanga]

Yes, appearance money for that TV meeting, but not the one off payment that all EL teams get. All the PL then get to share one equal lump payment.

the difference is the el is sky sports el (the clue is in the wording ) and the pl is just pl sky sponser the el just like barclays sponser footballs pl thats why all el clubs get money from sky

[phillwhitewasmad]

Can't be arsed to read all of this but do think air fences are a good idea but it all depends what's behind it

[Najjer]

Regarding FTM's point above and deflating airfences, at Sheffield would have to be removed fully when it stages Stock Cars.

 

So what's the difference between that situation and take for example, Scunthorpe? They manage it.