Speedway On Itv The Motorbike Show

[Guest]

This really does work. I recommend it to other members. I have just added a couple of more names. Now they can read me but I don't have to read them. A wonderful world!

 

I found it annoyed me. You can see the have posted just not what they have posted, it made me want to read what they posted even more.

 

Yes, I agree with you SCB but I can resist that temptation.

[Shale Shaker]

So what's everyone's opinion of the Motorbike Show then, or am I in the wrong place?

 

Thought I'd gone into the "Testing" forum by mistake?

[Ray Stadia]

So what's everyone's opinion of the Motorbike Show then, or am I in the wrong place?

 

Thought I'd gone into the "Testing" forum by mistake?

I made a contribution, one or two....or twenty posts previous! In a nutshell, I thought it was very good!

[StevePark]

So what's everyone's opinion of the Motorbike Show then, or am I in the wrong place?

 

Thought I'd gone into the "Testing" forum by mistake?

 

A great 'free' advert for speedway.

 

Hopefully it will encourage some youngsters to try their hand at the sport (maybe some more Moto X's), who might not have necessarily done so, without seeing it for themselves.

[Ray Stadia]

A great 'free' advert for speedway.

 

Hopefully it will encourage some youngsters to try their hand at the sport (maybe some more Moto X's), who might not have necessarily done so, without seeing it for themselves.

The academy sounds a great idea, although one negative on the academy, not the programme, looking at the Hagon Academy website, the cost, even if you use your own bike is quite steep! Which means you will only get those with dad's that have deep pockets. It's a pity that the academy can't be subsidised somehow.

[Vince]

Given that most training schools run for about 4 hours and cost about £40 (+ licence in many cases) with your own bike I thought the costs with all the equipment thrown in was very reasonable. It's a fact of life that it's not much good attracting kids to have a go at Speedway unless their parents are willing to find a good few quid to keep them going (notice 'find' not 'afford'!). It will certainly cost a lot more than that to run your own equipment.

[Ray Stadia]

Given that most training schools run for about 4 hours and cost about £40 (+ licence in many cases) with your own bike I thought the costs with all the equipment thrown in was very reasonable. It's a fact of life that it's not much good attracting kids to have a go at Speedway unless their parents are willing to find a good few quid to keep them going (notice 'find' not 'afford'!). It will certainly cost a lot more than that to run your own equipment.

The track (Hagon Academy), appears to be a similar size to a Cycle Speedway track. Thurrock, which is very near Lakeside, used to have a Cycle Speedway track/club. As an introduction to speedway, maybe Cycle Speedway could be reintroduced to the area, using the academy track. All these sports of association help, as does junior Grass Track.

[Guest]

The track (Hagon Academy), appears to be a similar size to a Cycle Speedway track. Thurrock, which is very near Lakeside, used to have a Cycle Speedway track/club. As an introduction to speedway, maybe Cycle Speedway could be reintroduced to the area, using the academy track. All these sports of association help, as does junior Grass Track.

 

The nearest cycle speedway is East London CSC, which is in the area near to the old West Ham's Custom House Stadium.

[Vince]

The track (Hagon Academy), appears to be a similar size to a Cycle Speedway track. Thurrock, which is very near Lakeside, used to have a Cycle Speedway track/club. As an introduction to speedway, maybe Cycle Speedway could be reintroduced to the area, using the academy track. All these sports of association help, as does junior Grass Track.

 

I still believe that Grasstrack needs to be the route into Speedway for youngsters in this country. Both sports are dying at the moment but if Speedway clubs associated themselves with a local Grasstrack club, or even formed one it could really be of benefit. Not much point kids taking up Grasstrack at the moment because there are not many meetings within reasonable travelling distance and nowhere to practice. However with the requirements for a practice track being a field, some posts and some rope it is a much easier and cheaper way to get kids on bikes than a Speedway track.

Get the riders from the Speedway club along to meetings to help the youngsters and give second half rides at the Speedway as the prize for getting to the finals, bring Grasstrack kids into the pits as mechanics at the Speedway and just maybe you will see kids wanting to ride Grasstrack and Speedway rather than MX. Ultimately the Speedway will benefit not only by an influx of possible new talent but by all those kids and parents turning up to watch their mates ride Speedway.

[Guest]

I still believe that Grasstrack needs to be the route into Speedway for youngsters in this country. Both sports are dying at the moment but if Speedway clubs associated themselves with a local Grasstrack club, or even formed one it could really be of benefit. Not much point kids taking up Grasstrack at the moment because there are not many meetings within reasonable travelling distance and nowhere to practice. However with the requirements for a practice track being a field, some posts and some rope it is a much easier and cheaper way to get kids on bikes than a Speedway track.

Get the riders from the Speedway club along to meetings to help the youngsters and give second half rides at the Speedway as the prize for getting to the finals, bring Grasstrack kids into the pits as mechanics at the Speedway and just maybe you will see kids wanting to ride Grasstrack and Speedway rather than MX. Ultimately the Speedway will benefit not only by an influx of possible new talent but by all those kids and parents turning up to watch their mates ride Speedway.

 

With respect, grasstrack racing is rather more developed - and expensive to compete in - than you indicate. It gets excellent and interesting coverage every week in the 'Speedway Star.' However, I accept you were probably referring to the establishment of JUNIOR grass track racing, which also exists and is supported by the various clubs that organise grass track racing. try a visit to this website you may see the contacts you need.

http://www.grasstrack.net/

Edited July 24, 2013 by Guest

[Ray Stadia]

I still believe that Grasstrack needs to be the route into Speedway for youngsters in this country. Both sports are dying at the moment but if Speedway clubs associated themselves with a local Grasstrack club, or even formed one it could really be of benefit. Not much point kids taking up Grasstrack at the moment because there are not many meetings within reasonable travelling distance and nowhere to practice. However with the requirements for a practice track being a field, some posts and some rope it is a much easier and cheaper way to get kids on bikes than a Speedway track.

Get the riders from the Speedway club along to meetings to help the youngsters and give second half rides at the Speedway as the prize for getting to the finals, bring Grasstrack kids into the pits as mechanics at the Speedway and just maybe you will see kids wanting to ride Grasstrack and Speedway rather than MX. Ultimately the Speedway will benefit not only by an influx of possible new talent but by all those kids and parents turning up to watch their mates ride Speedway.

I agree with the above. Grass Track is relatively cheaper than Speedway, in my opinion and is an excellent introduction to a 'sideways' sport.

[Vince]

With respect, grasstrack racing is rather more developed - and expensive to compete in - than you indicate. It gets excellent and interesting coverage every week in the 'Speedway Star.' However, I accept you were probably referring to the establishment of JUNIOR grass track racing, which also exists and is supported by the various clubs that organise grass track racing. try a visit to this website you may see the contacts you need.

http://www.grasstrack.net/

 

I have a fair idea of how Grasstrack works but there are nowhere near the amount of meetings or opportunities to practice available to riders that there were in the past and without a doubt the sport is in danger of disappearing. T Why any youngster would even contemplate buying a Grasstrack bike these days is beyond me, for the same money they can buy a MX bike and choose from practicing or racing every weekend throughout the year without travelling more than an hour or so from home in most cases. This has also damaged Speedway as the two were always closely associated and in my day (many,many years ago) Grasstrack was THE route into Speedway.

 

Imagine if, say, Swindon and Poole were to join forces and set up a Grasstrack club where the emphasis was on the Junior riders. Neither track has availability for youngsters to practice but between them they could probably rent fields inexpensively because they are bound to have some landowners or their associates as customers. The rest is relatively inexpensive to set up and the riders still pay entrance fees so the financial outlay could be kept low. If they ran half a dozen meetings during the season and the same number of practices off season perhaps it would be an incentive to get kids away from MX and onto Grasstrack. If they knew that their heroes (the Speedway riders) were going to be around to help them and they in return had access to the pits as mechanice a couple of times a year there is even more incentive. Throw in second half rides for the top 4 in each class and discounted entry for members and their families and it becomes an attractive proposition.

 

Get Eastbourne and Lakeside to do the same thing and suddenly Grasstrack riders in the south can be on their bikes every other weekend and the sport is once again worthwhile doing. Roll it out across the country and in 3 or 4 years you have a thriving Grasstrack scene and a healthy supply of talented young riders who want to race Speedway........well it's a good dream!

[Ray Stadia]

I have a fair idea of how Grasstrack works but there are nowhere near the amount of meetings or opportunities to practice available to riders that there were in the past and without a doubt the sport is in danger of disappearing. T Why any youngster would even contemplate buying a Grasstrack bike these days is beyond me, for the same money they can buy a MX bike and choose from practicing or racing every weekend throughout the year without travelling more than an hour or so from home in most cases. This has also damaged Speedway as the two were always closely associated and in my day (many,many years ago) Grasstrack was THE route into Speedway.

 

Imagine if, say, Swindon and Poole were to join forces and set up a Grasstrack club where the emphasis was on the Junior riders. Neither track has availability for youngsters to practice but between them they could probably rent fields inexpensively because they are bound to have some landowners or their associates as customers. The rest is relatively inexpensive to set up and the riders still pay entrance fees so the financial outlay could be kept low. If they ran half a dozen meetings during the season and the same number of practices off season perhaps it would be an incentive to get kids away from MX and onto Grasstrack. If they knew that their heroes (the Speedway riders) were going to be around to help them and they in return had access to the pits as mechanice a couple of times a year there is even more incentive. Throw in second half rides for the top 4 in each class and discounted entry for members and their families and it becomes an attractive proposition.

 

Get Eastbourne and Lakeside to do the same thing and suddenly Grasstrack riders in the south can be on their bikes every other weekend and the sport is once again worthwhile doing. Roll it out across the country and in 3 or 4 years you have a thriving Grasstrack scene and a healthy supply of talented young riders who want to race Speedway........well it's a good dream!

You mention Poole and Swindon, Wiltshire and Dorset were both 'hot beds' for Grass Track. I too would imagine fields could be found, fairly easily. And then Eastbourne and Lakeside, Kent and Sussex were another 'hot bed'. The ironic thing is, The Hagon family are a Grass Track dynasty. Yes they have done Speedway, but biggest success was on grass. Your idea is great in my opinion. I suspect the majority of fans and promoters have forgotten this 'one time' very important connection. Sounds a funny thing to say, but one reason, I believe, is the amount of foreign riders here. Outside of the UK, Germany, Holland and France, there is not much Grass Track. Therefore, the Poles, Scandinavians etc all come via Speedway. I would say Aussies, but I think they have some Grass Track.

[Chewbacca]

 

 

Such a sad comment, and what's more totally wrong.

 

To illustrate his ignorance these are the latest BARB ratings for the week ending 14/7/2013.

 

Live Speedway - Poole v. Wolves 45,000

The Top ten ITV 4 programmes for that week all had audiences in excess of 320,000. Indeed even the time delayed ITV4+1 had an audience in excess of the speedway!!!

 

Source: http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/weekly-top-10

 

It was a joke.

 

Apologies for the attempted humour. I won't do it again

[Vince]

While I am dreaming!

 

5 years down the line and we have team building rules that allow clubs using riders bought in through their own Grasstrack and training system given a 1.5 point reduction.

 

Clubs using riders developed through others system allowed a 1 point reduction after paying a transfer fee that is paid directly to the developing clubs training arm.

 

Foreign licence holders never allowed to drop below their assessed average.

 

The average 5000 crowd at Speedway getting 20 overtaking moves on a manicured track for their £10 admission fee and all completed in 90 minutes (OK I'm getting carried away now!!!)