g13webb Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 It was good to read some constructive ideas from riders of the past. It has been so obvious for a long time something has to be done to save this sport of ours from disappearing altogether. Phil first posted his thoughts on Facebook, but now they are again published in this weeks SS. He speaks a lot of sense. No doubt there are posters out there that will contradict what he suggests. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 What's he suggested, I don't buy the Star these days? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 What's he suggested, I don't buy the Star these days? No - I don't think he suggested that. :unsure: 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g13webb Posted May 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) I can remember when JAWA ruled the roost, and were the undeniable leaders of speedway bikes and equipment. From various articles on the net, and comments from others, apparently they are now struggling to compete with the new demands of the sport. Taking on board what Phil said, was for the FIM, to approach Jawa, about re-tooling their factory and manufacture a new Standard upright styled bike that was governed to standard equipment. Hence lowering the cost of the sport, that would also encourage new young riders, that are lost to the sport because the costs are way too high to venture into......... Like he also said, making today's bike so fast, the cost of lowering the track times is costing arm and leg, but the excitement is no different than it always was......just a fraction slower.... Edited May 12, 2014 by GRW123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 From what was said on Eurosport last night Jawa is on the way back.Klaus Lausch is heading a team on developing a new engine that will give GM competition.From what was said it will be far more advanced than what GM have at the moment.So it looks like Phils wishes might come true 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 At the under 21 world championship qualifier yesterday at Leicester, only Lasse Bjerre was Jawa mounted...... He finished 3rd after a run off for 2nd spot.. The winner, Mikkel Bech had a huge stable and team.. 3 identically looking immaculate bikes, and I counted 5 in his team, all booted and suited in Team Bech clothing, he left the pits every race with 4 of them in attendance + a running spare bike... Very professional amongst a field of lads with varying backing.. having this backing does appear to make a difference.. Is this good for Speedway in general though..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
springdale Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Some great ideas, but will the powers that be listen.....I very much doubt it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Some great ideas, but will the powers that be listen.....I very much doubt it. Wher can this be found.....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hulvik Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Didn't Honda once try to introduce a bike inh the mid ninties backed by Mick Grant. If my memory seves me correctly each track held a challenge night with another Club (Hull and Sheffield were paied I seem to remember) Wth Honda supplying the bikes. The Bikes kept breaking down and the whole thing was a flop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackadder Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Wher can this be found.....? If you go to speedwaystar.net you can see the article. I can expand it enough to read on an Ipad, don't know what it's like on a PC though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScotsman Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Matchless had a speedway engine back in the sixties. Bill Landels of Edinburgh was a works rider for them. It was pretty crap though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Roe Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Iris 123 that is the opposite of what Phil wants. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 Matchless had a speedway engine back in the sixties. Bill Landels of Edinburgh was a works rider for them. It was pretty crap though!! Poor Matchless, or Associated Motorcycles! At least they had a go! It would have been the back end of their life, so they would have, probably, converted a heavy single cylinder 500 cc road engine, which would have likely been more 'clumsy' than a J.A.P. By then, it was too late really for a British motorcycle manufacturer to launch a serious speedway engine. Until we had the mighty Weslake, but they were racing engine specialists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Iris 123 that is the opposite of what Phil wants. It can't be.I posted the good news that Jawa,after a few years of difficulty and the worry of closure have been saved.The opposite would be Phil wanting the factory closed and no more engines being produced.As long as they are developing new engines then there is a chance Phils utopian idea might come to fruition.If they close then there is no chance is there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 From what was said on Eurosport last night Jawa is on the way back.Klaus Lausch is heading a team on developing a new engine that will give GM competition.From what was said it will be far more advanced than what GM have at the moment.So it looks like Phils wishes might come true It won't be an upright or cheaper than existing engines though. F2 could yet be the saviour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny the spud Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 If the new jawa "standard" bike is the saviour of the sport. What do the young riders who've recently come into the speedway do with the bikes / engines they have now ? They'd have to sell them on, ( who's going to buy them if a new standard is introduced ?) making a hell of a lot of equipment obsolete overnight. I can't see that helping young riders out 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch958 Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 If the new jawa "standard" bike is the saviour of the sport. What do the young riders who've recently come into the speedway do with the bikes / engines they have now ? They'd have to sell them on, ( who's going to buy them if a new standard is introduced ?) making a hell of a lot of equipment obsolete overnight. I can't see that helping young riders out this is always going to happen if a change is made - if you give 2 years notice that should suffice i'm afraid you can't make omlettes without breaking eggs as the old cliche goes 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 It happened when laydowns were introduced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 (edited) It happened when laydowns were introduced? That wasn't a rule was it?It was a steady move for those who wanted.There were still riders riding uprights some years after the first laydowns came in.Phil wants a backward step to a simpler cheaper engine.Now who is going to choose that when there are faster choices on the market?So there would have to be a rule brought in....... Edited May 17, 2014 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 (edited) Of course the possibility of change would difficult or impossible to do this is" speedway" were talking about after all that appears to adopt all the self distructing changes and non that would help it in regards to saving the sport or it's participants money.Won't waste too much time on this subject but as was said there could be a gradual move to phase out the present machinery over say a max 3yrs ANYTHING is possible if the parties involved are remotely willing to change . Edited May 17, 2014 by FAST GATER 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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