Speedway In Britain & Rain Leading To Numerous Postponements, Why?

[Shale Searcher]

I think nowadays the air fence takes the brunt of most of the shale, I was under the impression they were introducedto help riders visibility when following other riders and getting filled in by rear wheel roost. When meetings get cancelled or abandoned due to rain, they nearly always quote rider visibility as being one of the reasons as they can't see..... So if air fences keep the majority of the shale on the track and dirt deflectors don't stop wet roost, what is there main function now............?

[screm]

At scunthorpe some fans have clear unberellas on the first bend cause the dirt hurts so much. What does that tell you ?

 

It tells me there are some very silly people in Scunthorpe.

[weatherwatcher]

From the amount of rain that has fallen in some of the area's that the matches have been cancelled. Today at Leicester for one. I checked the rainfall, and it was less than half an inch in 2 days. That was after the match had been called off. To me it looks like the tracks are packed way to tight with the surfaces so hard that the rain can;t get through the top of the shale.

I know you want a surface that dosen't break upbut to have them with the surface so hard and slick that the water just stays on the top surface, then they surely have got to have something wrong. The rain offs have been getting worse these last few years. So there has got to be some reason and all I can see is it has to be down to the track surface. May be wrong, but that is my idea.

[Tsunami]

From the amount of rain that has fallen in some of the area's that the matches have been cancelled. Today at Leicester for one. I checked the rainfall, and it was less than half an inch in 2 days. That was after the match had been called off. To me it looks like the tracks are packed way to tight with the surfaces so hard that the rain can;t get through the top of the shale.

I know you want a surface that dosen't break upbut to have them with the surface so hard and slick that the water just stays on the top surface, then they surely have got to have something wrong. The rain offs have been getting worse these last few years. So there has got to be some reason and all I can see is it has to be down to the track surface. May be wrong, but that is my idea.

On the other hand, a hard slick track and banking, gets the water running off the shale, and not destroying the actual surface. Leave it loose, and the water is trapped and absorbed.

[weatherwatcher]

There has to be a happy medium between the 2. From some of the pictures from the tracks that had matches called off they looked more like small lakes than speedway tracks. They either have very poor drainage after it runs off the track or no drainage at all.

Something has to be done to address this silly situatation. That matches are getting called off after a few showers speaks badly of the current situation of this country speedway stadiums.

They either need to get the track situation sorted or get better drainage into the track infastructure. There are far to many matches being lost these days and all it is doing is causing a big back log of fixtures with very few days to fit them all into.

There as got to be a cheap solution to some sort of overhead coving of the stadiums. Not a fixed roof but something that can be easily put of the stadiums if the weather looks bad. What they need is a big plastic bag each

Edited May 26, 2014 by weatherwatcher

[The White Knight]

^{Being what feels like 100 years old some days I can remember standing on bends pre dirt deflector days and have to say I believe there is a noticeable difference in the amount of shale thrown over the fence. That's not to say that I think dirt deflectors and their spare parts should cost anything like they do.}

There doesn't seem to be any shale these days - so Dirt Deflectors are a waste of money anyway.

 

There isn't any DIRT to deflect.

[Tsunami]

There doesn't seem to be any shale these days - so Dirt Deflectors are a waste of money anyway.

 

There isn't any DIRT to deflect.

You obviously weren't at Brough last night.

[Vince]

There doesn't seem to be any shale these days - so Dirt Deflectors are a waste of money anyway.

 

There isn't any DIRT to deflect.

Go to a training day when there are sometimes riders not using deflectors and you might be shocked at the difference.

[The White Knight]

You obviously weren't at Brough last night.

Fair comment Dave - I wasn't.

 

Watching 'Warbirds' at Air Shows was my weekend. Duxford Saturday and Sunday. The Shuttleworth Collection Saturday Evening.

 

Looking forward to next Sunday though..

[Tsunami]

Fair comment Dave - I wasn't.

 

Watching 'Warbirds' at Air Shows was my weekend. Duxford Saturday and Sunday. The Shuttleworth Collection Saturday Evening.

 

Looking forward to next Sunday though..

If you and DEAN, had watched tonights EL 's Swindon meeting, you would have both seen the plumes of shale that were flying off the back wheels, but parallel to the track,having been deflected by the DIRT DEFLECTORS. Watch the replay tomorrow and see.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

If you and DEAN, had watched tonights EL 's Swindon meeting, you would have both seen the plumes of shale that were flying off the back wheels, but parallel to the track,having been deflected by the DIRT DEFLECTORS. Watch the replay tomorrow and see.

of which thats what it has always done with or without dirt deflectors. They are a waste of money in a sport that can not afford it. Fine if thats what you want then let the sport dissapear into history because nobody will challenge the boys club .ive pretty much had enough of the way speedway is run. Self intrest and jobs for the boys are killing speedway. A good shake up of speedway starting with the bikes is needed but will it happen ? I doubt it because nobody will challenge anything because they dont want to upset their mates Edited May 27, 2014 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Tsunami]

of which thats what it has always done with or without dirt deflectors. They are a waste of money in a sport that can not afford it. Fine if thats what you want then let the sport dissapear into history because nobody will challenge the boys club .ive pretty much had enough of the way speedway is run. Self intrest and jobs for the boys are killing speedway. A good shake up of speedway starting with the bikes is needed but will it happen ? I doubt it because nobody will challenge anything because they dont want to upset their mates

No it hasn't. It was directed up over and into the riders behind, and over the fence. Watch the old films.

[BWitcher]

IVAN Mauger (think he knows a thing or two) said publicly on many occasions that the introduction of dirt deflectors was one of the best things to happen to speedway. Not only for riders (not that Ivan was behind too often!) but spectators as well.

 

Don't have to be a Michelin chef to know a good meal when you taste it.

CONSIDERING that my 'mates' as you call them have reached the very top of the speedway ladder I make no apology in respecting and quoting their opinions.

 

Your mate sat on an armchair at home and made accusations of cheating in a meeting.

 

When challenged, despite consistent claims it would be investigated further.. more info would appear in the Speedway Star... NOTHING was forthcoming.

 

So we have two scenarios..

 

Either your mate Briggs was just after a bit of attention or your mate Briggs was perfectly happy for cheats to prosper.

THAT they are not being fitted properly?

 

Ask riders whether dirt deflectors are good or bad and a fair percentage will base their answer on cost rather than effectiveness. My own experience outside the track these days is rather limited to GPs where the fitting of dirt-deflectors is properly monitored. Of course, some dirt still comes off the track but no where near what was the case before they became compulsory.

 

And now more accusations of cheating taking place from yourself.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

No it hasn't. It was directed up over and into the riders behind, and over the fence. Watch the old films.

if you say so. All those years riding then it must of been people throwing rocks at me and they must have been the same ones at the czech gp last year because it couldnt of been shale from the tracks

[greyhoundp]

of which thats what it has always done with or without dirt deflectors. They are a waste of money in a sport that can not afford it. Fine if thats what you want then let the sport dissapear into history because nobody will challenge the boys club .ive pretty much had enough of the way speedway is run. Self intrest and jobs for the boys are killing speedway. A good shake up of speedway starting with the bikes is needed but will it happen ? I doubt it because nobody will challenge anything because they dont want to upset their mates

 

 

Deanno, the sport has gone, but they keep the blinkers on and they wont listen to ideas, The draft system in theory a good idea, but really only a cost cutting idea, but was it combined with reduced admission ? NO, so therefore people are not getting value for money, 2 less heats of EL racing for the same money. When the present generation of spectators moves on Speedway will be finished in the UK, but the powers that be cant or wont see it, it needs new ideas, reduce costs of equipment and quick, SKY or Bet 365 wont save Speedway in the UK they will just prolong the death of it.

[orderly]

one thing an independent body could look at is different track materials - there seems far less work on this than bike 'improvements'

It has been muted that volcanic ash is a good material to use on race tracks as the particles do not become water logged and stay separate which could be the base for a “water proof track surface”

When dirt deflectors were first introduced the machine examiner would check the distance from the bottom of the deflector to the ground with a measuring gauge as supplied by the powers that be, but in the last 5 or 6 years I have not seen any deflectors checked and like most things if it is fitted properly then it will perform correctly

 

THAT they are not being fitted properly?

 

Ask riders whether dirt deflectors are good or bad and a fair percentage will base their answer on cost rather than effectiveness. My own experience outside the track these days is rather limited to GPs where the fitting of dirt-deflectors is properly monitored. Of course, some dirt still comes off the track but no where near what was the case before they became compulsory.

Edited May 27, 2014 by starshooter

[PHILIPRISING]

 

Your mate sat on an armchair at home and made accusations of cheating in a meeting.

 

When challenged, despite consistent claims it would be investigated further.. more info would appear in the Speedway Star... NOTHING was forthcoming.

 

So we have two scenarios..

 

Either your mate Briggs was just after a bit of attention or your mate Briggs was perfectly happy for cheats to prosper.

 

And now more accusations of cheating taking place from yourself.

IT is up to the various authorities and their appointed representatives to ensure that all the rules, including those governing the fitting of dirt deflectors, are adhered to.

 

The accusations made by Briggo in SS were echoed by a number of machine examiners up and down the country. And also passed on to the SCB. The ball is in their court.

 

Certainly at SGP events the dd examinations that take place are more stringent but I very much doubt, as does Barry, that that is the case at every meeting in the UK let alone across the whole speedway spectrum.

[BWitcher]

IT is up to the various authorities and their appointed representatives to ensure that all the rules, including those governing the fitting of dirt deflectors, are adhered to.

 

The accusations made by Briggo in SS were echoed by a number of machine examiners up and down the country. And also passed on to the SCB. The ball is in their court.

 

Certainly at SGP events the dd examinations that take place are more stringent but I very much doubt, as does Barry, that that is the case at every meeting in the UK let alone across the whole speedway spectrum.

 

So if Briggs is to be believe we have the following....

 

1: Riders are cheating

2: Machine Examiners are not doing their jobs

3: Team Managers are turning a blind eye (Briggs referred to this).

4: Other riders who aren't cheating are quite happily allowing those that are to continue.

5: The SCB are aware of the cheating and are also turning a blind eye.

 

or it could simply be that Briggs sat on his armchair at home wanted a bit more publicity.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

IT is up to the various authorities and their appointed representatives to ensure that all the rules, including those governing the fitting of dirt deflectors, are adhered to.

 

The accusations made by Briggo in SS were echoed by a number of machine examiners up and down the country. And also passed on to the SCB. The ball is in their court.

 

Certainly at SGP events the dd examinations that take place are more stringent but I very much doubt, as does Barry, that that is the case at every meeting in the UK let alone across the whole speedway spectrum.

and that is because nobody (riders mechanics,fans and machine examiners ) gives a damn about the dirt deflector and its claims to hold .it hasnt brought one person through the turnstiles and hasnt done anything for safety of the sport . Edited May 27, 2014 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[PHILIPRISING]

 

So if Briggs is to be believe we have the following....

 

1: Riders are cheating

2: Machine Examiners are not doing their jobs

3: Team Managers are turning a blind eye (Briggs referred to this).

4: Other riders who aren't cheating are quite happily allowing those that are to continue.

5: The SCB are aware of the cheating and are also turning a blind eye.

 

or it could simply be that Briggs sat on his armchair at home wanted a bit more publicity.

BARRY doesn't need any publicity and probably the answer to most of the questions above is yes

and that is because nobody (riders mechanics,fans and machine examiners ) gives a damn about the dirt deflector and its claims to hold .it hasnt brought one person through the turnstiles and hasnt done anything for safety of the sport .

YOU have no evidence, and nor do I, as to whether or not the introduction of dirt deflectors has added to or detracted from attendance numbers. As to your second point about safety, there are plenty, including riders, who beg to differ.

 

As in most things in life, there are two sides to an argument so let's leave it at that.