Rules Are A Joke

[Blazeaway]

They will have evolved, as they do in all sports.. some will also have changed due to technology/environmental issues. No doubt increased Health & Safety will have added a few in too.

 

But the core rules, those that govern the on track action haven't changed much, its still 4 riders over 4 laps, 3-2-1-0.

 

or 6- 2-1-0 or 3-4-1-0 or 3-2-2-0 etc!

[BWitcher]

 

 

or 6- 2-1-0 or 3-4-1-0 or 3-2-2-0 etc!

 

Of course, every now and then.. not rocket science though

[Blazeaway]

Of course, every now and then.. not rocket science though

 

I agree mate.

[TesarRacing]

They will have evolved, as they do in all sports.. some will also have changed due to technology/environmental issues. No doubt increased Health & Safety will have added a few in too.

 

But the core rules, those that govern the on track action haven't changed much, its still 4 riders over 4 laps, 3-2-1-0.

Maybe ignorance was bliss then. I just remember standing on the terraces amongst pretty large crowds not knowing the rule book. Not knowing which promotions were doing what, where and how every minute of the day but just enjoying my speedway immensely.

[Grand Central]

Maybe ignorance was bliss then. I just remember standing on the terraces amongst pretty large crowds not knowing the rule book. Not knowing which promotions were doing what, where and how every minute of the day but just enjoying my speedway immensely.

 

Yup. In large part it is just that.

I'm afraid it is called 'getting older'..

[TesarRacing]

Yup. In large part it is just that.

I'm afraid it is called 'getting older'..

Defo right there GC!!

[Cockney Rebel]

Having read most of the posts on this topic I am now totally confused. People are saying the sport has to change (that of course means some of the rules) to survive, yet others complain that the sport has changed too much over the years. Remember all the changes that have been brought in and then thrown out, different league formats, different race format for the KO cup were brought in with good intentions, do you really think that the BSPA thought "Hey tha's a crap idea that's bound to annoy the fans lets put that in we can always change it again when it doesn't work". As BWitcher points out the only rule change in the past fifty years to affect what happens on the track has been the tape touching rule. When I started watching speedway in 1963 four riders went to the tapes,the two home riders wore red and blue helmet covers and the away teams riders wore white and yellow/black, the tapes went up and all four went hell for leather for FOUR laps, the winner got three points for his team, second got two points and third got one. When I go to speedway now four riders come to the tapes, the home team riders wear red and blue helmets and the away team wear white and yellow, the tapes go up and all four riders go hell for leather for FOUR laps the winner gets three points for his team and so on. Nothing has changed when you watch a race. Whether the rider is wearing a red helmet, a blue helmet, a black and white helmet or one one with floppy ears like Shawn McConnell wears, the action and excitement is the same. How the teams were put together was irrelevent then and as far as track action goes is irrelevent today. Many of the rules concerning the make up of each team have been brought about by the increasing globalisation of the sport. In the good old days even the top riders Briggs, Fundin, Mauger etc weren't riding for several clubs so the use of guests was restricted to injured riders, there was no GPs so the top men didn't go missing every other week. We have different leagues with different standards in the three main countries so there has to be a way of assessing how good or bad a rider is so riders a are given an assessed average but of course if a promoter thinks his new wunderkid has been given too high an average he will complain and try to juggle the rules to his advantage. If promoters accepted the spirit of the rules as well as the letter there wouldn't need to be so many rule changes. If a rule is stuck to to the letter and it goes against you, up goes the cry "where's the commom sense, it's doing a rider out of a job" or whatever yet if they say "in the best interest of the sport" ie: commom sense people complain that the rules are not being adhered to. Some people insist on comparing Speedway to football "Ooh you wouldn't have Wayne Rooney playing for one team one night and another team the next" that to me is like comparing bathroom tiles to a lawn mower. Footballers are JUDGED on their skills and therefore value to a team, a speedway rider's value to a team is MEASURED by the amount of points he scores. You can't judge Rooney against Rio Ferdinand cos their job on the pitch is different but you can compare Chris Holder against Mickey Dyer say cos their job is the same ie: win the race. With this in mind it's easier to level teams at the beggining of a season by using the rider's averages as opposed to judgement, so we come to a points limit and as long as we've got it, and we need it, you will get arguments and promoters trying to bend the rules so new rules are bought in to stop that happening and another promoter finds another loophole etc etc.

 

Blimey I have gone on a bit haven't I? I could go on for longer but I can hear you all yawning and screaming obscenities the screen so I'll shut up now. But remember SPEEDWAY is the greatest sport on Earth and it doesn't really matter how the team building is done cos it's still riders going hell for leather for four laps

[BWitcher]

Great post Cockney Rebel.

[jimmy jimmy]

Apart from the double points rule, which I do think is a bit daft, what's wrong with the rules?

[The White Knight]

Apart from the double points rule, which I do think is a bit daft, what's wrong with the rules?

 

Not a great deal to answer your question jimmy jimmy.

 

But - Double Points - 'aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh' :mad: :mad:

[SCB]

Having read most of the posts on this topic I am now totally confused. People are saying the sport has to change (that of course means some of the rules) to survive, yet others complain that the sport has changed too much over the years. Remember all the changes that have been brought in and then thrown out, different league formats, different race format for the KO cup were brought in with good intentions, do you really think that the BSPA thought "Hey tha's a crap idea that's bound to annoy the fans lets put that in we can always change it again when it doesn't work". As BWitcher points out the only rule change in the past fifty years to affect what happens on the track has been the tape touching rule. When I started watching speedway in 1963 four riders went to the tapes,the two home riders wore red and blue helmet covers and the away teams riders wore white and yellow/black, the tapes went up and all four went hell for leather for FOUR laps, the winner got three points for his team, second got two points and third got one. When I go to speedway now four riders come to the tapes, the home team riders wear red and blue helmets and the away team wear white and yellow, the tapes go up and all four riders go hell for leather for FOUR laps the winner gets three points for his team and so on. Nothing has changed when you watch a race. Whether the rider is wearing a red helmet, a blue helmet, a black and white helmet or one one with floppy ears like Shawn McConnell wears, the action and excitement is the same. How the teams were put together was irrelevent then and as far as track action goes is irrelevent today. Many of the rules concerning the make up of each team have been brought about by the increasing globalisation of the sport. In the good old days even the top riders Briggs, Fundin, Mauger etc weren't riding for several clubs so the use of guests was restricted to injured riders, there was no GPs so the top men didn't go missing every other week. We have different leagues with different standards in the three main countries so there has to be a way of assessing how good or bad a rider is so riders a are given an assessed average but of course if a promoter thinks his new wunderkid has been given too high an average he will complain and try to juggle the rules to his advantage. If promoters accepted the spirit of the rules as well as the letter there wouldn't need to be so many rule changes. If a rule is stuck to to the letter and it goes against you, up goes the cry "where's the commom sense, it's doing a rider out of a job" or whatever yet if they say "in the best interest of the sport" ie: commom sense people complain that the rules are not being adhered to. Some people insist on comparing Speedway to football "Ooh you wouldn't have Wayne Rooney playing for one team one night and another team the next" that to me is like comparing bathroom tiles to a lawn mower. Footballers are JUDGED on their skills and therefore value to a team, a speedway rider's value to a team is MEASURED by the amount of points he scores. You can't judge Rooney against Rio Ferdinand cos their job on the pitch is different but you can compare Chris Holder against Mickey Dyer say cos their job is the same ie: win the race. With this in mind it's easier to level teams at the beggining of a season by using the rider's averages as opposed to judgement, so we come to a points limit and as long as we've got it, and we need it, you will get arguments and promoters trying to bend the rules so new rules are bought in to stop that happening and another promoter finds another loophole etc etc.

 

Blimey I have gone on a bit haven't I? I could go on for longer but I can hear you all yawning and screaming obscenities the screen so I'll shut up now. But remember SPEEDWAY is the greatest sport on Earth and it doesn't really matter how the team building is done cos it's still riders going hell for leather for four laps

You're not meant to quote a whole post to say I agree but sod it. I agree. The issues with the sport are not the rules.

[uk_martin]

Whether the rider is wearing a red helmet, a blue helmet, a black and white helmet or one one with floppy ears like Shawn McConnell wears, the action and excitement is the same.

 

Classic!