stratton Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 When Bruce retired the sport seemed to be in reasonable shape, but once he retired the sport seemed to go into a downward spiral.The sport then lost alot of its superstars all within the same time span which did not help.Alot of people have there view on Bruce, i thought he was awesome for the sport and it was a massive loss when he quit.I often wonder would Hans and Erik have ever of won 7 titles between them with Bruce still about.? Maybe the sport was already being dragged down before he quit, but this is the point i believe the decline really set in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantherite Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 No it was James Hunt winning the F1. Â Discuss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 No I don't believe so sidney. Â From a peak in the Seventies the Sport entered a slow but sure decline. There were of course times when Seasons bucked the trend but by and large the decline in Speedway began in the Seventies. Â Prior to the Seventies too there had been hard times, especially when compared to the Crowds shortly after the War - I believe the formation of the Provincial League breathed new life in to an ailing Sport. Crowds increased to, as I say, a peak in the Seventies - there has been a slow and gradual decline in Speedway's fortunes ever since. Â It's all very sad really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted January 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 (edited) No I don't believe so sidney. Â From a peak in the Seventies the Sport entered a slow but sure decline. There were of course times when Seasons bucked the trend but by and large the decline in Speedway began in the Seventies. Â Prior to the Seventies too there had been hard times, especially when compared to the Crowds shortly after the War - I believe the formation of the Provincial League breathed new life in to an ailing Sport. Crowds increased to, as I say, a peak in the Seventies - there has been a slow and gradual decline in Speedway's fortunes ever since. Â It's all very sad really. And as i know you were a big supporter of the one off final, when it went do you think that had an affect?.I will concede that the GP series is decent i enjoy it but has it improved thing,s no it has buggered our league set up no doubt about it.The PL have nearly got thing,s right a good product i enjoy it and thing,s at that level should be fine in the future.The EL has alot to do in my book,overall the racing is not great the same old tracks no variation also this year with the NL riders it is a massive call.I hope it works out though with a few young Brits getting a chance and improving but is the EL a 17 quid night out now.? Edited January 17, 2014 by sidney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 And as i know you were a big supporter of the one off final, when it went do you think that had an affect?.I will concede that the GP series is decent i enjoy it but has it improved thing,s no it has buggered our league set up no doubt about it.The PL have nearly got thing,s right a good product i enjoy it and thing,s at that level should be fine in the future.The EL has alot to do in my book,overall the racing is not great the same old tracks no variation also this year with the NL riders it is a massive call.I hope it works out though with a few young Brits getting a chance and improving but is the EL a 17 quid night out now.? Â The Grand Prix Series did NOTHING at all to help British Speedway. The 'one off' World Final (at Wembley) did at least put some money in to Speedway's coffers. I do believe though that Speedway's decline had started long before the Grand Prix Series. The Grand Prix Series has, to my mind, hastened that decline. :sad: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dudleywood4eva Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 I think several things have sped the decline ... Alternative pastimes, speedway not moving with the times, lack of dirt, poor racing, poor stadium facilities ... but going back to the original post i think Bruce was a superstar in every way and we have a lack of personalities these days. Darcy Ward is a crowd puller and someone like Greg hancock is superb with the fans. Bruce was a phenominal rider and conducted himself well in the press but i think his rivalry with kenny carter added spice to meetings. The last big rivalry was Hans v Erik. The sport needs some fresh new ideas to pull in new spectators or someone with a lot of money to pour into the coffers to advertise and promote it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 Penhall's antics at the white city tarnished his reputation in a lot of peoples eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 (edited) I think the demise of GB as world number 1, and the Yanks and Danes taking over in the 80s was the main factor in fans losing interest. No I don't believe so sidney. Â From a peak in the Seventies the Sport entered a slow but sure decline. There were of course times when Seasons bucked the trend but by and large the decline in Speedway began in the Seventies. Â Prior to the Seventies too there had been hard times, especially when compared to the Crowds shortly after the War - I believe the formation of the Provincial League breathed new life in to an ailing Sport. Crowds increased to, as I say, a peak in the Seventies - there has been a slow and gradual decline in Speedway's fortunes ever since. Â Crowds started tumbling mid-80s onwards. They certainly had some big crowds at Blunsdon late 70s/early 80s, over 16000 on one Crumpie Golden Helmet occasion! Poor facilities and stuck in the past, and got too expensive, and poor value-for-money as it is today. Â Â Edited January 18, 2014 by Mad Moose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted January 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 Penhall's antics at the white city tarnished his reputation in a lot of peoples eyes. I was there i liked all of the Americans so i never took alot of notice but it was a disgraceful act you would not believe that a PC or Lee would let anybody through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted January 18, 2014 Report Share Posted January 18, 2014 I think it was the beginning of the end when they started letting foreigners ride in the UK. And it got even worse when they started letting foreigners ride for Great Britain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 jokers, guests, gp rides goin awol on rce nights, doubling up, atmospheres, poor pa"s, decline in crowds, stadiums still in dark ages, all this and more not hlping matters,,,i also think the play off system stops fans travelling,,if your laying comfy in the top 3, away losses are no big deal as you only need a top 4 finish,,id bring back golden helmet match race under the old formula where its challenged 1 time a month,,the days of individuals are no longr a draw,,blue riband, star of Anglia, olimpque, no longer the same as fields reatlly watered down 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 jokers, guests, gp rides goin awol on rce nights, doubling up, atmospheres, poor pa"s, decline in crowds, stadiums still in dark ages, all this and more not hlping matters,,,i also think the play off system stops fans travelling,,if your laying comfy in the top 3, away losses are no big deal as you only need a top 4 finish,,id bring back golden helmet match race under the old formula where its challenged 1 time a month,,the days of individuals are no longr a draw,,blue riband, star of Anglia, olimpque, no longer the same as fields reatlly watered down  You forgot Double Points. :shock: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted January 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 You forgot Double Points. :shock: I have changed my mind WK, double points have to stay! no only joking i hate it as much as you do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 having watched the penhall/carter collision, LOADS of times in slow motion and real speed, I still couldn't say with conviction who id exclude...at a push penhall, due to him looking for carter during that race, turning left down the straight, and I THINK, flicking his back wheel at last second,,,,1 moment wouldn't wanna be a ref Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted January 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) having watched the penhall/carter collision, LOADS of times in slow motion and real speed, I still couldn't say with conviction who id exclude...at a push penhall, due to him looking for carter during that race, turning left down the straight, and I THINK, flicking his back wheel at last second,,,,1 moment wouldn't wanna be a ref Carter was so unlucky and who knows thing's could of turned out so differently for him. It was 50/50 but Penhall was very lucky he got the call no doubt about that, that incident was on a par with the Nielsen/Knudsen incident in 86. Edited January 21, 2014 by sidney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 no camera angle gave me a positive view on that...do believe ermolenko got lucky in 93 in his final ride as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekker Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 When Bruce retired the sport seemed to be in reasonable shape, but once he retired the sport seemed to go into a downward spiral.The sport then lost alot of its superstars all within the same time span which did not help.Alot of people have there view on Bruce, i thought he was awesome for the sport and it was a massive loss when he quit.I often wonder would Hans and Erik have ever of won 7 titles between them with Bruce still about.? Maybe the sport was already being dragged down before he quit, but this is the point i believe the decline really set in. Â More likely it coincided with more options for discretionary spending and IMO the bikes got too fast for the majority of tracks which date back to the 40s at the latest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Â More likely it coincided with more options for discretionary spending and IMO the bikes got too fast for the majority of tracks which date back to the 40s at the latest. Â Â Actually - I agree with this - by the Seventies definitely. They are ridiculously fast now hence all the injuries we seem to get. There WERE injuries in the Sixties and Seventies too but - certainly NOT as many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) Was Penhall,s Retirement The Start Of The Decline In Speedway.?Started by sidney, Jan 17 2014 09:08 AM When Bruce retired the sport seemed to be in reasonable shape, but once he retired the sport seemed to go into a downward spiral.The sport then lost alot of its superstars all within the same time span which did not help.Alot of people have there view on Bruce, i thought he was awesome for the sport and it was a massive loss when he quit.I often wonder would Hans and Erik have ever of won 7 titles between them with Bruce still about.? Maybe the sport was already being dragged down before he quit, but this is the point i believe the decline really set in. ::: Has this gone off topic since the initial comment by Sidney (above)? Edited January 22, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted January 22, 2014 Report Share Posted January 22, 2014 Â Was Penhall,s Retirement The Start Of The Decline In Speedway.?Started by sidney, Jan 17 2014 09:08 AM Â Â Oops!! Â Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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