Benefit Fund Bonanza, Leicester 09/03

[mrcts]

By which point they are usually in front of the opposition courtesy of their gating skills. The word long doesn't need quotation marks - the straights at BP are actually longer than nearly every other track in the country. Yet the distance between the straights across the centre green is far shorter than most tracks. Hence we are saddled with ridiculously tight corners, the tightness exacerbated by the excessive length of the straights.

That's absolute crap,Morris has produced more passing moves at BP than every other rider combined since we opened.

Very well put 40-38. And sadly, whatever side of the 'pro' or 'con' fence you sit, this is at the core of the matter, and spoken from the heart by someone who obviously supported Leicester Speedway from the get-go. It's not moaning mate - it's telling it like you feel - and with no "agenda".

A hell of a lot of people have been to see speedway at BP since it opened, both local and from further afield, and they've no doubt all formed an opinion on what they've witnessed. They've either become fans, or as I suspect in the majority of cases, decided against coming back on a regular basis. That first season was always massively important in making an impression and ever since then it's been a case of trying to convince and persuade when the product should have done the talking for them. Speedway at it's best can and should be a great live spectacle - not something that causes heated arguments about whether it's worth it or not. The pro-people say "if you don't like it don't come". And indeed many have done precisely that. The unfortunate thing is there's a break-even point in any business model so the emphasis should be on making it a product people want to buy, not one they're invited to walk away from.

By the way, been reading this thread with interest, particularly as I didn't go on Sunday, but god only knows where this "civil war" nonsense comes from, other than in the fanciful delusions of mrcts. There never was any civil war about who runs Leicester. That's just silly. It's been DH's baby from the moment planning went in and as far as I'm aware, no-one else has ever wanted it as theirs. People have come and gone in terms of supporting him but there's never been any dispute or attempt to have any other name over the door. Really not sure what mrcts is going on about so perhaps he/she can enlighten us?

Do you really believe there was no power struggle...of course there was just ask Ken Naylor.

Good old Ken never misses an opportunity to have a pop at Hemsley hence his recent letter published in the speedway star.....no chip on the shoulder there Kenny,I also remember him trying to reinvent himself as a born again David Bellamy whilst having a dig at the surrounding area of the stadium......when I new Ken a few years ago he never once mentioned his love of fauna and flora!

The simple fact is that without Hemsley and his contacts at the city council you,Kenny and the other bunch of day dreamers would still be waiting for speedway to return to Leicester and given a choice between an average to poor track(which can and probably will be changed at some stage,so all is not lost there)or no speedway at all I know which I would choose.

It's not moaning 'mate'.

Edited March 12, 2014 by mrcts

[Leicester Lion]

That's absolute crap,Morris has produced more passing moves at BP than every other rider combined since we opened.

Very eloquent. I did say 'usually' about both Morris and Cook (who you conveniently ignored), but your point says it all about the abundance of thrilling racing at BP if the few passes Morris has produced makes up such a high proportion of the total!

[mrcts]

Very eloquent. I did say 'usually' about both Morris and Cook (who you conveniently ignored), but your point says it all about the abundance of thrilling racing at BP if the few passes Morris has produced makes up such a high proportion of the total!

So what! it's true.

[stevebrum]

 

 

 

 

The people who set up the Leicester project and build a superb venue for speedway should be applauded. Has anyone considered how much money it takes to make the changes necessary??

As so called `fan` experts perhaps they could advise the type of track/size/dimensions would make there viewing experience better?[/

 

Add up the money they are losing by fans walking away from BP compared to the money it would cost to fix the problem.

 

Also how can you applaud someone who had a clean sheet to work from and got the track shape so wrong?

 

 

Fair enough, best pull it down and walk away then eh.

[barrow boy]

I have little doubt that if Halifax/Bradford announced they were coming back there would be a huge amount of local (and national) support. How long that would last if the track proved to be rubbish is another matter, and that's precisely what has happened at Leicester.

You are indeed correct in that the level of support is less than it was but attendances are still up there with the best.

[*JJ]

You're right that the promotion need to address track issue but despite the fact that there have been four seasons of criticism from both Leicester fans and those across the country as far as I can see they have done absolutely nothing but brush the criticism aside.

Isn't it true that the track has been modified twice? Recently, and also last winter?

[robert72]

Isn't it true that the track has been modified twice? Recently, and also last winter?

If it has then they have the wrong people doing it,seriously not rocket science on what needs doing but the promotor disagrees with the paying public and said his track is superb.

 

That's where the problem lays.

[wandersome]

Isn't it true that the track has been modified twice? Recently, and also last winter?

 

no, it was modified last winter by moving the white line what appeared to be about a foot on the entry and a foot on the exit. You can google the alteration on youtube should you wish to be amused. This was going to be a major alteration done by Glyn Taylor but ended up a £200 job done by Co-promoter Dave Darcy on a saturday morning. Unfortunately i had bought two season tickets, along with a sponsorship based on the former happening (much as i had done after similar promises the previous year).

 

It hasn't been changed at all this year as far as i'm aware, but was supposedly recently getting relaid (although my uncle took a look up there a couple of weeks ago when it was supposed to be happening and told me he thought it didn't look like it had been touched).

Edited March 13, 2014 by volty

[Halifaxtiger]

 

 

The best thing is set up a group and get numbers signed up and present the information as a one body to the promotion.

That at least spells out in no uncertain terms just what fans expect.

Moaning and whinging on here is likely to achieve nothing.

 

The people who set up the Leicester project and build a superb venue for speedway should be applauded. Has anyone considered how much money it takes to make the changes necessary??

As so called `fan` experts perhaps they could advise the type of track/size/dimensions would make there viewing experience better?

 

I don't think that would make the slightest difference. The promotion are well aware of what people think - and it certainly isn't a few whiners with axes to grind - but basically brush it aside.

 

I think everyone was delighted when Leicester came back and I have never seen any post that has been anything less than praiseworthy about the stadium.

 

While I have read the cost of changing the shape would be prohibitive Robert has a point: How much is it costing not to do so?

 

I have to say I am not totally convinced its all about the shape anyway. Newcastle has long straights and tight bends but you can see good speedway there, and more to the point I have seen a good meeting at BP, back in 2012 against Scunny. The track had a lot of loose shale on it that day, and I haven't seen it the same since.

[robert72]

 

I don't think that would make the slightest difference. The promotion are well aware of what people think - and it certainly isn't a few whiners with axes to grind - but basically brush it aside.

 

I think everyone was delighted when Leicester came back and I have never seen any post that has been anything less than praiseworthy about the stadium.

 

While I have read the cost of changing the shape would be prohibitive Robert has a point: How much is it costing not to do so?

 

I have to say I am not totally convinced its all about the shape anyway. Newcastle has long straights and tight bends but you can see good speedway there, and more to the point I have seen a good meeting at BP, back in 2012 against Scunny. The track had a lot of loose shale on it that day, and I haven't seen it the same since.

your right about Newcastle and also powderhall was long straights tight bends but it was shaped differently to BP.

I think you will find people were willing to pay for changes to the track after the first and second season but DH refused to make the changes needed.

[justathought]

I think most of the problem is that the track is always very slick. I think more dirt might help.

[1 valve]

I think most of the problem is that the track is always very slick. I think more dirt might help.

I think nearly all the points re volume of shale providing grip v slick surface reducing the opportunity for passing etc are spot on. The troble I have is understanding what the balance is between the two in conjunction with the shape of the BP track.

We all have our ideas and opinions, but we are not exopert. To that end it would be great if a suitably qualified track biuld/maintenance guy could be found to provide his views.

Any chance of thi shappening?

[Shadders]

Haven't had time to trawl through every post since the meeting, but from what i've seen it's mainly negative. I've been to Leicester speedway around half a dozen times, that was probably one of the better meetings I've seen there.

 

As for the parking, it wasn't ideal. We turned up 90 minutes before the advertised start time and parked in the industrial estate, around 10-15 minutes walk. Security at the shopping centre were guiding us away from their car park, although I noticed a fair few ignoring the requests. The queue at the gate was long, around a 15 minute wait for us, but that has to be expected for these type of meetings. At least the weather was decent.

I'm not gonna mention the track shape as this has been done to death over the past couple of years. Can't change it now, just deal with it.

Good to see so many turn up for a worthy cuase, we estimated 3,500-4,000

[New Science]

Wolves has been a long established track and club and Leicester is still in its infancy. So from that perspective they are miles apart.

 

As far as blaming fans for closure of tracks, i didn't say it wasn't the fault of the promotion did i??

Obviously i have enjoyed my few visits to Leicester so i couldn't point out what it is like for a regular weekly fan.

However here is another point why fans MUST support there local track ----- If Halifax/Bradford/Wimbledon/Cradley et al were offered a track and land tomorrow do you think they would moan on and on about the quality of the track on offer??

If people don't support there local track then there might not be one to watch Speedway at. The promotion need to address the track issue some seem to find problems with, but the fans also need to back the venture.

 

 

Why do we need to agree? I have an opinion i am certainly not asking for you to share it or agree with it.

The Speedway at Monmore has been consistently good value in 2010 as in 2013. You clearly find a relevance in that.

Think your sitting on the fence there but hay ho ! Personally I would tell anyone that we used to watch the best speedway in Britain at Monmore.Can't say that anymore unfortunately as the last 3 seasons have been very average.I think its contributed to the crowds being down,there's regularly 10 of us who stand together every week,last year that was regularly down to 6 and when the match was on TV I was on my own some weeks.The outside pass seems to have gone out of fashion with even the top riders hugging the white line.There is so much choice where to spend your cash when it comes to entertainment,unfortunately long standing fans are turning their back on the sport to spend their cash elsewhere.Like alot of the Leicster fans I still attend hoping it will get better but after the last 3 years I'm doubtful,add that to the yearly watering down of the standard and I think you can see where its going. Also what's happened to the atmosphere at Monmore ? That seems to have disappeared also along with the good racing ! Edited March 16, 2014 by New Science

[Gemini]

Is it the same track curator at Wolves or is it a different one being as you're saying the track isn't producing such good racing anymore?

[New Science]

Is it the same track curator at Wolves or is it a different one being as you're saying the track isn't producing such good racing anymore?

Is it the same track curator at Wolves or is it a different one being as you're saying the track isn't producing such good racing anymore?

No the track curator is the same. "The best in the business" Doc Bridget Edited March 16, 2014 by New Science

[Falcon Hammer]

Not as good as the tractor driver - he's nearly as fast as the riders - top man

[stevebrum]

. Also what's happened to the atmosphere at Monmore ? That seems to have disappeared also along with the good racing !

 

Think we must be in different camps or parts of the stadium then.

Where i stand the atmosphere is pretty high octane because i enjoy my Speedway and so do people around me it seems!

If Wolves hasn't good racing anymore i fear that most tracks must watch dire racing week in week out!

Last season not all the lines worked as well as the past few seasons i grant you but Doc prepares a great track still with plenty of highlights in a meeting to make it worth its while.

[New Science]

Think we must be in different camps or parts of the stadium then.

Where i stand the atmosphere is pretty high octane because i enjoy my Speedway and so do people around me it seems!

If Wolves hasn't good racing anymore i fear that most tracks must watch dire racing week in week out!

Last season not all the lines worked as well as the past few seasons i grant you but Doc prepares a great track still with plenty of highlights in a meeting to make it worth its while.

Can you let us know what you do to get it "high octane" so we can all do the same ? Nearer a morgue I would describe it most weeks. Amazing how opinions differ between fans at the same meeting,appreciate this happens country wide not just at Leicester and Wolves.

[robert72]

 

Think we must be in different camps or parts of the stadium then.

Where i stand the atmosphere is pretty high octane because i enjoy my Speedway and so do people around me it seems!

If Wolves hasn't good racing anymore i fear that most tracks must watch dire racing week in week out!

Last season not all the lines worked as well as the past few seasons i grant you but Doc prepares a great track still with plenty of highlights in a meeting to make it worth its while.

Monmore has to be the worst place to watch speedway.