Speedway Star - Point Of View

[orion]

 

 

They went before the end of the match. Maybe they found it boring or didn't take to it, maybe they felt their time would be better spent in their local pub, I don't know. What I do know is they didn't think much to that rule and told me so and left not long after. I never posted they left because of the rule but that, despite the fact the extra points gave the visiting team a chance of getting a point in heat 15 these folk weren't there to see it.

 

Sorry if they didn't agree with some posters' opinions of that rule but there you go - not everybody does.

And as I said when in the old days when you could bring in a world champion for a reserve as a tac sub that was great and the new fans found it really fair and came back each week . Edited July 9, 2013 by orion

[LagutaRacingFan]

The bottom line is how could Birmingham's Chris Harris help their rivals Wolverhampton Wolves increase their lead at the top.

 

This is why speedway will never be regarded as a serious sport by the media and most credible journalists.

[Barney Rabbit]

I went to speedway as often as I could, to Oz, USA, many GP venues, every track in GB open as of pre-WOD whilst employed and for the first few years of retirement. During that time I lived in various parts of the country before returning home to Peterborough on retiring. I took quite a few people with me to speedway meetings at various tracks but none of them took to the sport, not even my kids once they grew up and made their own decisions. Obviously I always asked why and, although most just shrugged and said they couldn't take to the stop/start nature of the sport some did cite the rules as a contributary factor. Surprisingly, none gave the state of the stadia as a reason, many saying that a good sporting spectacle would override the state of the place it was taking place in (and, having seen football in Donny Rovers' (then) Belle Vue stadium with them, I know what they mean).

I gave up going after November 2010 and I've posted why on relevant threads in the past but it wasn't any particular rule. There were/are some I don't agree with (and I don't agree with tac rides) but they weren't the reason I stopped going.

I have, however, taken the opportunity on some of the sunny Sundays we've had recently to take the lid off the MG and drive down to Mildenhall to watch some speedway there. I'll probably carry on doing that but, at the moment, I have no desire to attend the sport at PL or EL level. This may well change, we shall see.

[Cockney Rebel]

I stopped going to speedway, simply because of a continuation of niggles along the years. I personally don’t feel the sport is believable anymore due to silly rules, riders dashing all over the place to race for other clubs at home and abroad and a certain lack of continuity with clubs and the men who turn out for them.

 

I know a lot of short termism is down to points limits, but I remember the days when team photographs weren’t outdated after one match, as of now, and you knew that your riders gave all for your team, and rules were just about as simple as they needed to be.

 

Different points for teams winning by certain margins... it is too much hassle to keep up with. I can’t be bothered keeping tabs on that sort of thing. It doesn’t add anything to the overall excitement of the product. It is a cheap way out of getting the racing more exciting, like the pathetic Golden Double ridded us of the Tac Sub rule.

 

Speedway is too far fetched now, when all that most fans wish for is a bit of decent racing and stability.

 

I can’t justify the chilly terrace stand of a couple of hours pretending that riders are committed to the team to warrant me being there. The lack of actual real racing in the league (especially the Elite) is down to riders doing too much.

 

I want riders to be loyal, not skipping in and out of airport lounges so they can race for another club. Would you begin to question it, say, if your misses had as many lovers as speedway riders had clubs… whether it was you she loved most of the four men she was dating? Would you question, the first time she had an off night with you but was a different person with her Tuesday-night date 24 hours later.

 

I want riders, when they have had a bad match for my team, to ride back into form for my team and not buzz off somewhere else and suddenly look a different rider.

 

Thank you for answering my question Moxey63. I to long for the days when a rider rode for your club only and not two or three other clubs dotted around Europe but riders nowadays are professionals not part time pros as they were back in the 60/70s and as such they need to earn a living. They do this by riding as often as possible you can't blame them for that. Unfortunately we can't turn the clock back or we'd have one off World Finals at Wembley every year.Ohh Yes! And the riders mate doing the oil and dope for him instead of a team of mechanics, psychologist, Physios etc, that would keep the cost down. Then the Elite league teams could afford the best riders but sadly those times are gone. Having got all nostalgic and looking back through rose tinted glasses I still enjoy the racing so I'll keep going for as long as I can. I do think however that the Elite League needs a shake up somehow as the gulf between the top riders Holder, Ward, Woffy, Lindgren etc and the bottom riders, sometime a National Leaguer is too great. As seen on TV the Premier League doesn't have such a huge gulf and the reult is better racing(generally).

[BWitcher]

 

 

Of course there is BW. They say they want to 'make the Meetings closer to maintain excitement' - what is that if it is not contriving the Score. It is a contrivance to ensure a closer Result which ever way you look at it.

 

 

 

Wrong, the league points scoring system DOES NOT contrive results, which you claimed it does earlier in the thread. If I misunderstood that, apologies, but that was what I was referring too.

 

Of course tactical subs of any kind help to keep a meeting closer, that's been the case for 50 odd years so its hardly the cause of the sports problems.

 

The sports problems stem from many issues. Lack of promotion. Lack of presentation. Too much in fighting which leads to a lack of a cohesive plan to drive the sport forward.

 

I agree with Moxey in a lack of continuation in squads.. however that only applies to certin clubs. My own team, Wolverhampton has a very good continuity, sometimes perhaps at the expense of success but I am happy that I've seen many riders remain loyal to the club over a large number of years. Ermolenko, Correy, the Karlssons, Skornicki, Lindgren, Woffinden, Proctor and many more over the years.

 

There has been too much in fighting, promoters trying to get the best of each other, it might bring them short term success, but it's only long term harmed the entire league.

Edited July 9, 2013 by BWitcher

[Cockney Rebel]

From what can be seen above some people do just go off the sport for a variety of reasons and that will always be the case. People stopped going in their masses in the fifties I bet there wasn't a specific reason there, just that people found something else to do so you won't stop people from stopping, if that make sense, but the problem is finding new customers. If I knew how to do that I wouldn't have to pay to see a meeting again as the promoters would be letting me in for free. As someone mentioned when the youngsters get to a certain age they don't want to be seen to be enjoying what their parents enjoy, it's just not cool. So do you keep things as they are and keep the oldies happy or do you jazz things up and hope the the younger generation will flood in but risk alienating the long standing loyal oldies. Not an easy decision to make. What would you do if you were a promoter?

[Chadster]

I haven't been to speedway for a few years now, largely since Wimbledon closed. I'd prefer the old tac. sub rule but I can see the thinking behind the tactical ride, though I can see why it would puzzle newcomers because it is so unlike other sports, many of whom have substitute rules. Scoring systems are complicated in a lot of sports (bonus points in cricket and rugby, away goals in football) so why are these things not issues in those sports (perhaps they are, but I'm not aware of it). I suspect the difference is that speedway is perceived to be in crisis where the other sports aren't and so its fans are casting round for a solution and these seem to be obvious targets. Personally, my nearest track is Rye House and I don't go because it's a long trek by public transport for some not very good racing the last few times I was there. The racing there used to be good in the days of Ronnie Russell and I went regularly. So, my suggestions are, well-prepared tracks, evenly matched riders and speedway can still be immensely attractive.

[SCB]

I've gone from 60+ meetings a season about 5 years ago to 5 meetings in 24 months. Why? It's no ruled, it's Matt Ford and self interest. Kildemand-gate was the straw that broke the camels back.

[AlanF]

First step has to be to do some market research. You can't give the people what they want if you don't know what it is that they want.

 

My personal view is that it is nothing to do with the racing or the rules. If you go to a US sporting event there is hardly a moment where there is nothing going on. There are interveiwers with roving mikes talking to fans, competitions with instant prizes and lots of music that is relevant to what is happening on the field. Give the riders their own theme tune that they come onto the track to. Play a snippet of three songs and have the fans text in which one they want to hear in full. Make the fans feel involved in the event. Would also help to have decent PA systems where everything comes over loud and clear. Half heard interviews and tinny music are a real turn off.

 

Some of these ideas may cost a few quid, but the Sky money should have been used to build infrastructure and promote the sport, not subsidize pay rates that the sport could not afford.

[ch958]

I've gone from 60+ meetings a season about 5 years ago to 5 meetings in 24 months. Why? It's no ruled, it's Matt Ford and self interest. Kildemand-gate was the straw that broke the camels back.

 

which is why a ruling body independent of bspa is vital or else every dcision will be driven by self interest

[crazysue]

 

 

I would have thought that if there was one fan in speedway who is definitely not (and indeed won't be) 'billy no mates' its you.

 

Aww thanks..the truth is, only a few know who I am at the meetings, my name may be known but but not the face so I can be completely anonymous at speedway.

[Trees]

_{How to make speedway attractive to youngsters, make it cheaper and give some tickets out free for starters to get them there in the first place, facebook and twitter are the only way to contact them too and/or high schools, colleges and unis ........................ and present meeting as though you are presenting/selling it to newbies, be bias, be loud, be enthusiastic??}

Edited July 9, 2013 by Trees

[Halifaxtiger]

 

I've gone from 60+ meetings a season about 5 years ago to 5 meetings in 24 months. Why? It's no ruled, it's Matt Ford and self interest. Kildemand-gate was the straw that broke the camels back.

 

Rules and in particular the bending of them annoy me intensely.

 

But there's no way I'll give up on the sheer excitement of 4 nutcases on bikes without brakes because of that.

 

 

which is why a ruling body independent of bspa is vital or else every dcision will be driven by self interest

 

If that's adjudication of disputes, completely agree,

 

Aww thanks..the truth is, only a few know who I am at the meetings, my name may be known but but not the face so I can be completely anonymous at speedway.

 

Strip off next week at Foxhall and run round the track naked. Everyone will know who you are then !!

 

The bottom line is how could Birmingham's Chris Harris help their rivals Wolverhampton Wolves increase their lead at the top.

 

This is why speedway will never be regarded as a serious sport by the media and most credible journalists.

 

The media took speedway very seriously indeed in the 1970's when it was Britain's second most popular spectator sport, despite the fact that guests were permitted then.

 

Its not taken seriously now because it is a minority sport.

 

II have, however, taken the opportunity on some of the sunny Sundays we've had recently to take the lid off the MG and drive down to Mildenhall to watch some speedway there. I'll probably carry on doing that but, at the moment, I have no desire to attend the sport at PL or EL level. This may well change, we shall see.

 

Two of the best reasons why people go : good weather and good racing.

 

So, my suggestions are, well-prepared tracks, evenly matched riders and speedway can still be immensely attractive.

 

Completely agree. Prepare tracks for your paying customers,not your paid employees.

[oldace]

The media took speedway very seriously indeed in the 1970's when it was Britain's second most popular spectator sport, despite the fact that guests were permitted then.

 

Its not taken seriously now because it is a minority sport.

 

 

In reality though it pretty much always has been.

 

It was popular late 20s early thirties because it was new but pretty soon was in decline, the invention of team racing carried it through to the war.

 

Of course post war with a population starved of entertainment in had a boom 1946 to the early/mid 50s but by then (not helped by the entertainment tax) it was in decline up to the formation of the British League in 1965.

 

This was the longest level of success the sport has known but by the early eighties the decline had started again and carried on right through to today.

 

In an 85 year existence the sport was only really popular for less than 25 of those years, and in truth that was more luck than judgement.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Oldace

[Grand Central]

The media took speedway very seriously indeed in the 1970's when it was Britain's second most popular spectator sport, despite the fact that guests were permitted

 

This is not really a true reflection of the seventies.

 

I do not believe the 'second most popular sport' tag at all.

I'm not sure who first came up with this but the use of hyperbole tends to incriminate Dave Lanning, but I may be wrong.

What is more certain is that you have misquoted, as is often done.

The correct quote from back in the day is 'second most popular summer spectator sport'.

Subtly, but vitally, different.

And still, probably, untrue. But who would know?

 

I also think it is an overstatement that Speedway was taken seriously' by the media.

 

The Nationals had Speedway correspondents then, whereas today there are none.

So, things are dramatically worse, no doubt.

But I don't think that many of those reporters found it easy going to get their editors to go with a Speedway story at all.

 

The Mirror Group sponsored the British events of the World Championship so they gave decent coverage of that.

And the other events they supported like the International Tournament

As did the other papers like the Express.

The London Papers did quite a bit around events at Wembley, too.

But the broadsheets did not do anything.

 

Guests have always been a difficult 'sell' to outsiders.

And those that always hated the sport anyway eagerly used them against us.

But did it have any effect on media coverage, really?

I'm not sure as mostly it was the international stuff that got the column inches anyway.

 

The provincial local papers have always reported well in Speedway Towns.

This is the only place that has ever gone big on League coverage.

And they have never made much fuss about guests.

 

Most of the time (even in the seventies), people in speedway moaned about the lack of coverage.

And with quite a few newspaper archives now online you can see just how right they were.

Better than now, by miles.

But nowhere near as good as we would like to think.

And certainly nothing to get excited by.

 

And on TV we got a regular fix on World of Sport.

The BBC did their annual joke on us by covering the Internationale in comedy fashion.

 

The prescribing of Rose tints for the spectacles of older folks now appears mandatory.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Grand Central

[Grand Central]

Previous post edited.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Grand Central

[PHILIPRISING]

WHEN I was speedway correspondent for the Daily Express, between the mid-seventies and late eighties, I was expected to produce a story most days of the week, usually around six paragraphs, more if relative to a major event. Not all made the paper, some just the early editions, but most did. And bear in mind that national newspapers devoted far less pages to sport than they do now.

 

It was the same for Keir Radnedge (Daily Mail), Peter Oakes (Daily Star), Graham Baker (Daily Mirror) and Dave Lanning (The Sun). In those days, of course, Sports Editors were far more receptive to speedway stories even though we would often get ridiculed about the use of guests. If there was a big story it was generally treated as such and we were afforded good space, quite often page leads.

 

Much of the newspapers enthusiasm waned during the late eighties when Denmark dominated the international scene. I remember calling back to the Express office after one World Championship final (could have been team or pairs) and being asked, "who won?" "Denmark," I replied and was told a couple of pars would do. It has been a slippery slope since then.

[Grand Central]

WHEN I was speedway correspondent for the Daily Express, between the mid-seventies and late eighties, I was expected to produce a story most days of the week, usually around six paragraphs, more if relative to a major event. Not all made the paper, some just the early editions, but most did. And bear in mind that national newspapers devoted far less pages to sport than they do now.

 

It was the same for Keir Radnedge (Daily Mail), Peter Oakes (Daily Star), Graham Baker (Daily Mirror) and Dave Lanning (The Sun). In those days, of course, Sports Editors were far more receptive to speedway stories even though we would often get ridiculed about the use of guests. If there was a big story it was generally treated as such and we were afforded good space, quite often page leads.

 

Much of the newspapers enthusiasm waned during the late eighties when Denmark dominated the international scene. I remember calling back to the Express office after one World Championship final (could have been team or pairs) and being asked, "who won?" "Denmark," I replied and was told a couple of pars would do. It has been a slippery slope since then.

 

This is interesting.

Earlier in the year the Express archive on line, which incorporates the Daily Star, did a cheap deal on their archive, so I spent a weekend trawling through and downloading interesting content.

I was astonished just how that terribly small amount of column inches I could get on Speedway compared to my memory.

Tiny stories and just very occasional page leads.

 

It is worth a look just to see if others memory matches with the archive.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Grand Central

[oldace]

This is interesting.

Earlier in the year the Express archive on line, which incorporates the Daily Star, did a cheap deal on their archive, so I spent a weekend trawling through and downloading interesting content.

I was astonished just how that terribly small amount of column inches I could get on Speedway compared to my memory.

Tiny stories and just very occasional page leads.

 

It is worth a look just to see if others memory matches with the archive.

 

Have a look at September 06th 1976. All the back pages were almost given over entirely to speedway on that day

[Grand Central]

Have a look at September 06th 1976. All the back pages were almost given over entirely to speedway on that day

 

A rather exceptional day, you would agree.

 

And one that I certainly have looked at.

Some Manchester editions went very strongly on PCs win.

 

But from the Express archive Michael Beale (presumably Philip Rising) got seven or eight paras on a side column.

As Kent had beaten Somerset to win the Sunday League and that got most of the rest of the back page.

 

We would all agree light years ahead of anything of recent times.

But the papers still kept things in THEIR persepective.

Edited July 10, 2013 by Grand Central