Speedway Star Toothless Pussycat

[Guest]

Revolutions in sport tend to emanate from capitalising on the premier events. Cricket has been infinitely enriched by selling the rights to the various World Cups and test matches, from which the ECB in turn the counties and grassroots sport directly benefits. The same with probably a dozen other and more sports to varying degrees, and even in football, a lot of money still filters down from the World Cup despite all the corruption.

 

I think we'd all accept that speedway has nothing like the commercial leverage of some other sports and likely never will, but it's also almost unique in giving its commercial rights away for nothing. Yes, I know it'll be argued that the FIM is benefitting, but how much of that money does speedway itself actually receive?

 

Not the fault of BSI I'd fully agree, but yet this arrangement has never once been discussed or questioned by the Star as far as I'm aware. Why not ask the FIM where all the money goes?

 

As for revolutionising the World Championship, I'd agree that Cardiff can be considered a vast improvement over Pocking and Norden, and Copenhagen and Stockholm similarly if they prove to be sustainable. Countering that though, is the ex-gulag in Riga and Terenzano for the past few seasons (now off the circuit thank goodness), with the rest of the venues being largely middling circuits where speedway has always been staged.

 

On the commercial side, no real blue chip companies getting involved after 13 years, and clearly such an important sport for Sky that it was consistently moved to the red button before they finally cut it from their schedules completely.

 

Maybe that's revolutionising the World Championship in the eyes of some though..

 

Surely the objective of venues like Riga and Terenzano - even Pocking and Norden - is to further popularise speedway. It's no god continually "preaching to the unconverted." Why then Western Springs in New Zealand - a country with just three solo speedway tracks - and these tracks don't run on a weekly basis. NZ also has only a three team league competition (of sorts) which hardly makes a hot-bed of speedway racing.

[waiheke1]

 

Surely the objective of venues like Riga and Terenzano - even Pocking and Norden - is to further popularise speedway. It's no god continually "preaching to the unconverted." Why then Western Springs in New Zealand - a country with just three solo speedway tracks - and these tracks don't run on a weekly basis. NZ also has only a three team league competition (of sorts) which hardly makes a hot-bed of speedway racing.

Because bill Buckley was willing to front the cash, and it enabled an extra gp to be run very early in the European season.

[The Pedaler]

It is what annoys some FIM leagues - especially EL - as the new One Sport fixtures, in addition the the SGP series will have an increasing effect on some EL league meetings!

 

What annoys the rest of the world is that the EL in particular can't organise a p-up in a brewery. Why should any foreign organisation pay a blind bit of attention to the EL fixture calendar when it is 100% guaranteed to change again and again?

 

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/birmingham-brummies-boss-blasts-chaos-6694692

 

And what the hell does the EL matter in the global scheme of things anyway? Britain is no longer a force in world speedway. Britain no longer has an empire. Britain no longer matters any more. Anyone who thinks that Britain is important is living in the past.

[RobMcCaffery]

 

 

And what the hell does the EL matter in the global scheme of things anyway? Britain is no longer a force in world speedway. Britain no longer has an empire. Britain no longer matters any more. Anyone who thinks that Britain is important is living in the past.

We haven't had an empire for half a century.

 

We do however still run far more speedway meetings a year than any country on Earth. Sorry to interrupt your rant with a fact, but there you go.

[BWitcher]

 

What annoys the rest of the world is that the EL in particular can't organise a p-up in a brewery. Why should any foreign organisation pay a blind bit of attention to the EL fixture calendar when it is 100% guaranteed to change again and again?

 

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/birmingham-brummies-boss-blasts-chaos-6694692

 

And what the hell does the EL matter in the global scheme of things anyway? Britain is no longer a force in world speedway. Britain no longer has an empire. Britain no longer matters any more. Anyone who thinks that Britain is important is living in the past.

 

Try and think of something original to say in your next post.. We've had nigh on 140 posts saying the same thing over and over.

[phillipsr]

 

Try and think of something original to say in your next post.. We've had nigh on 140 posts saying the same thing over and over.

Why should they change what they say especially when they have a point? Your hardly someone who can comment on someone bringing up the same point over and over and over again

[The Pedaler]

We do however still run far more speedway meetings a year than any country on Earth. Sorry to interrupt your rant with a fact, but there you go.

 

The quantity over quality argument eh? Get enough National League meetings on to bump up the numbers and somehow that brings Britain onto the big boys table? Seriously?

 

Why is the number of meetings a good thing? Ask any of the big name riders (Holder's been quoted saying as much recently) and they'll tell you that it's the number of meetings that's driving the stars away from this country and killing the sport here.

 

And why is it that a country with more meetings than anyone else on earth, with more tracks of various shapes sizes and characteristics than any other country on earth produces a team to compete in the SWC that gets trounced by a quartet from a country like Latvia boasting only one track, no league of its own, a population a quarter the size of London, and featuring riders all living within a short drive of that track? - Maybe investigating THIS point would make for a good Speedway Start article as well!

Edited February 19, 2014 by The Pedaler

[Gambo]

 

The quantity over quality argument eh? Get enough National League meetings on to bump up the numbers and somehow that brings Britain onto the big boys table? Seriously?

 

Why is the number of meetings a good thing? Ask any of the big name riders (Holder's been quoted saying as much recently) and they'll tell you that it's the number of meetings that's driving the stars away from this country and killing the sport here.

 

And why is it that a country with more meetings than anyone else on earth, with more tracks of various shapes sizes and characteristics than any other country on earth produces a team to compete in the SWC that gets trounced by a quartet from a country like Latvia boasting only one track, no league of its own, a population a quarter the size of London, and featuring riders all living within a short drive of that track? - Maybe investigating THIS point would make for a good Speedway Start article as well!

 

So Mr Holder and the like get their way with fewer meetings in Britain, so that they have more time for lucrative European meetings? What about the other riders, with no European meetings? How are they supposed make a living?

 

ATB

 

Dave

[jeffster]

Whatever people think of the magazine, I, for one, am thankful its still going, and I still buy it every week.

 

With the news today that the sole British Ice Hockey magazine, Powerplay, has ceased publication with immediate effect, I hope there is s still a place for the Star in an age where the march towards consumption of magazines, music, etc is increasingly relentless

[The Pedaler]

IT IS ABOUT THE MONEY.

So what if it is? So is most everybody's occupation. As a self-employed contractor of course a rider is in business. Nowhere does it say that riders are supposed to be a Social Service.

 

If they were getting Polish rates p[er meeting they'd adore the British fixture list.

Which illustrates how the money and the power is now in Poland, and how insignificant Britain has become

 

Now you seem to be one who lives to argue (not discuss) so I won 't feed your ego further but I will leave you wih a question to ponder.

You mean I offer up points of view uncomfortable to the establishment? Well, so be it! "Discussions" are supposed to allow for alternative points of view and not just choruses of "here here"

 

Do you actually like speedway?

Yes I do, as the amount of money I have and will continue to spend in going to watch it will testify. What I don't like is what British speedway has become and where it is going.

[BWitcher]

So what if it is? So is most everybody's occupation. As a self-employed contractor of course a rider is in business. Nowhere does it say that riders are supposed to be a Social Service.

 

Which illustrates how the money and the power is now in Poland, and how insignificant Britain has become

 

You mean I offer up points of view uncomfortable to the establishment? Well, so be it! "Discussions" are supposed to allow for alternative points of view and not just choruses of "here here"

 

Yes I do, as the amount of money I have and will continue to spend in going to watch it will testify. What I don't like is what British speedway has become and where it is going.

 

There are a great number of us who aren't happy with British speedway. I have been very vocal in the past about this. However, most of us have also, when voicing our complaints have presented ideas, alternatives, solutions etc.

 

All you seem to do is whinge and whinge and blame most things on the Speedway Star. How about coming up with something constructive?

 

You've told us that the 'top riders' (given one name, Chris Holder) are saying too many meetings are ruining British speedway. Yet the fans themselves are saying a lack of fixtures in recent seasons has been the cause for further decline.

 

Let me ask you this, was Chris Holder bleating about too many meetings when he first arrived from Australia, or was he anxious to get as many meetings under his belt as possible?

[Tom Turner]

I expect its because the powers in speedway are very short tempered and irrational. Not to mention they don't have much in the sense department. Wouldn't take much to get them banned from every stadium thanks to the muppets up top.

[SPEEDY69]

 

The quantity over quality argument eh? Get enough National League meetings on to bump up the numbers and somehow that brings Britain onto the big boys table? Seriously?

 

Why is the number of meetings a good thing? Ask any of the big name riders (Holder's been quoted saying as much recently) and they'll tell you that it's the number of meetings that's driving the stars away from this country and killing the sport here.

 

And why is it that a country with more meetings than anyone else on earth, with more tracks of various shapes sizes and characteristics than any other country on earth produces a team to compete in the SWC that gets trounced by a quartet from a country like Latvia boasting only one track, no league of its own, a population a quarter the size of London, and featuring riders all living within a short drive of that track? - Maybe investigating THIS point would make for a good Speedway Start article as well!

I agree with previous comments that surely to fuel a constructive debate there needs to be views which do alter following discussion, otherwise it's just opinions being voiced and that only needs to happen once, not repeatedly.

 

I disagree entriely with the notion that British speedway is insignificant: All modern day World Champions have ridden regularly in British speedway. Without it would they have got to where they did? The biggest GP event on the calendar is held in Cardiff and the riders all talk about it as the big one. There is a thriving amateur speedway scene in Britain, as well as three tiers of league speedway operating regularly March-October.

 

I disagree entirely that it's the number of meetings that is killing the sport here: I presume you are referring solely to the EL and I am of the opinion that it was the lack of meetings in the EL here last year that affected attendances. Without supporters, clubs close and the sport dies.

 

The world cup side is a subject debated on other threads and there are a number of issues at play there, including things like the opportunites given to foreign riders to develop their skills in this nation, a lack of investment (which doesn't just mean money) in developing British riders, the relatively comfortable living that can be made by those British riders not wishing to push themselves into international combat and many others. As you frequently mention 'top riders' or 'big boys', perhaps we can agree that the top rider in any year should be considered to be the World Champion? In the last 10 years or more, how many Polish world champions have there been? how many Swedish? how many Danish?, how many British? How many Australian? These stats reveal that we are equal to some of those you refer to as the 'big boys'. Plus, how many of those nations have regular league programmes as extensive as those in Britain? (this means most Australians for example develop their skills in Britain)

 

Onto the speedway star - where I think this magazine could make further improvement is in paying more attention to the strategic perspective and include an editorial column, where they can be more controversial/provocative - such as the BSI/One SPort issue or who are the FIM/ FIM Europe. They could also cover more of the amateur programme in Britain.

[The Pedaler]

There are a great number of us who aren't happy with British speedway. I have been very vocal in the past about this. However, most of us have also, when voicing our complaints have presented ideas, alternatives, solutions etc.

 

All you seem to do is whinge and whinge and blame most things on the Speedway Star. How about coming up with something constructive?

Talking about ideas in forums is all well and good. You at no risk are you? It's never your money that gets spent is it?

 

What I take more notice of is when a promotion tries new ideas, tries to do things their way, and meets resistance from the establishment both in terms of the BSPA with their cartel co-horts Russell/GoSport and the Pearson/Povey media alliance, in such a way that they are forced to do things "our way or no way" that I am forced to conclude that no amount of hot air ideas in forums or money wasting ideas tried in practise will work. The whole sport is corrupt from top to toe to such a degree that nothing short of evicting the lot of them from their comfortable ivory towers and starting again with a clean sheet of paper will ever work. That's how tightly the people in high places in this sport have got everyone involved in it by the balls.

 

Defeatist? Maybe. Inevitableist? Yeah, probably! Borne out of seeing people who have paid the price and tried to be different suffer the consequences.

[Arson fire]

Talking about ideas in forums is all well and good. You at no risk are you? It's never your money that gets spent is it?

 

What I take more notice of is when a promotion tries new ideas, tries to do things their way, and meets resistance from the establishment both in terms of the BSPA with their cartel co-horts Russell/GoSport and the Pearson/Povey media alliance, in such a way that they are forced to do things "our way or no way" that I am forced to conclude that no amount of hot air ideas in forums or money wasting ideas tried in practise will work. The whole sport is corrupt from top to toe to such a degree that nothing short of evicting the lot of them from their comfortable ivory towers and starting again with a clean sheet of paper will ever work. That's how tightly the people in high places in this sport have got everyone involved in it by the balls.

 

Defeatist? Maybe. Inevitableist? Yeah, probably! Borne out of seeing people who have paid the price and tried to be different suffer the consequences.

Are you Nick from Newport??.... You post like you've lost a few quid in speedway.... Against anything that would cost promoters a penny for some reason??

[BWitcher]

Talking about ideas in forums is all well and good. You at no risk are you? It's never your money that gets spent is it?

 

What I take more notice of is when a promotion tries new ideas, tries to do things their way, and meets resistance from the establishment both in terms of the BSPA with their cartel co-horts Russell/GoSport and the Pearson/Povey media alliance, in such a way that they are forced to do things "our way or no way" that I am forced to conclude that no amount of hot air ideas in forums or money wasting ideas tried in practise will work. The whole sport is corrupt from top to toe to such a degree that nothing short of evicting the lot of them from their comfortable ivory towers and starting again with a clean sheet of paper will ever work. That's how tightly the people in high places in this sport have got everyone involved in it by the balls.

 

Defeatist? Maybe. Inevitableist? Yeah, probably! Borne out of seeing people who have paid the price and tried to be different suffer the consequences.

 

So you keep telling us and many of us have stated similar things in the past.

 

However, you have still failed to present one single idea. Let's hear them.

[SteveLyric2]

There's a very good - and lengthy - letter in this week's Star from Steve Evans, Team USA Director on the state of British Speedway, entitled 'Showtime'!!

 

He makes many good and valid points, but the main theme of the letter is 'To put on a great, value-for-money show' and market/promote the event rather than continually cutting back on costs!!

 

'A downward spiral only has one destination'! (that's mine not his)!

[Bruiser McHuge]

this too many meetings argument is a farce...the only people saying there are too many meetings are the elite top few riders because it gets in the way of their well paid meetings in the other leagues....the fact is that there are not too many meetings...back in the day you knew that if it was a certain night then your team had a meeting...these days you never know when a meeting is being held or not which certainly doesn't help from a fans perspective

I don't blame any rider for maximising their earnings , they have to do that, but at least be honest and say they race abroad for the money and racing in Britain would get in the way of that and the too many meetings argument is a red herring..

[Gemini]

Too true and I'm so pleased the BSPA have ignored their wishes and we have more meetings this season not less. Doubt very much if any of them would come back and it's just an excuse.

[freddyfivetoes]

Back on subject: Last week's issue of the Star gives an excellent summary by Peter Oakes on the FIM v OneSport affair, two stories on Sayfutdinov and Pedersen's issues because of the fight. No punches pulled there, just good straightforward journalism.

 

Also an interesting feature (Oakes again) on David Hemsley, the opinionated Down Under column provoked smiles as usual but is by no means toothless and, best of all, a really good history on Ken Le Breton who was from before my time, which was marvellously informative.

 

So, a good and worthwhile read. Well worth my money.