mike1944 Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 (edited) What I cannot understand is that in the 1950/60s i used to watch speedway at Norwich there were men with drag rakes on every bend, smoothing out any bad ruts and dragging the loose shale to the inside from the safety fence. The tractor dragged a bar frame around after every heat levelling the shale. I have seen racing when the riders looked like mud men and raced in far worse conditions than tonight's meeting at Birmingham also the track at Norwich appeared to take far more water than they do today with better drainage on the inside of the track onto the grass. A short shower now and the tracks are greasy and virtually unrideable. In those days they had no fancy visors or helmets either but just a few pairs of thin cellophane lenses with elastic round them worn over standard goggles and of course proper leathers. Edited June 3, 2014 by mike1944 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 and 1970's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy robin Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 What I cannot understand is that in the 1950/60s i used to watch speedway at Norwich there were men with drag rakes on every bend, smoothing out any bad ruts and dragging the loose shale to the inside from the safety fence. The tractor dragged a bar frame around after every heat levelling the shale. I have seen racing when the riders looked like mud men and raced in far worse conditions than tonight's meeting at Birmingham also the track at Norwich appeared to take far more water than they do today with better drainage on the inside of the track onto the grass. A short shower now and the tracks are greasy and virtually unrideable. In those days they had no fancy visors or helmets either but just a few pairs of thin cellophane lenses with elastic round them worn over standard goggles and of course proper leathers. The track tonight was very bumpy in the corners & that wasn't down to the weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Fromafar Posted June 2, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 technology has ruined the sport and the powers at be will still not recognise it.there is more to the sport than speed,get some dirt on the track and produce some rules to slow the sport down and bring back the skill factor instead of just holding on too a rocket ship.Fans are just not going to be interested in turning up if there is a cloud in the Sky.Listening to Rosco tonight shows how the sport is all about self interest.Clown.He should have at least been diplomatic about it.We have now seen both sides of Rosco in the last 2 weeks. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mini Jack Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 The track tonight was very bumpy in the corners & that wasn't down to the weather. The track was actually much better after the initial downpour and grading, just a shame the heavens opened for the second time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy robin Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 The track was actually much better after the initial downpour and grading, just a shame the heavens opened for the second time. Usually Birmingham is such a great track but not tonight before or after the rain & not sure why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 technology has ruined the sport and the powers at be will still not recognise it.there is more to the sport than speed,get some dirt on the track and produce some rules to slow the sport down and bring back the skill factor instead of just holding on too a rocket ship.Fans are just not going to be interested in turning up if there is a cloud in the Sky.Listening to Rosco tonight shows how the sport is all about self interest.Clown.He should have at least been diplomatic about it.We have now seen both sides of Rosco in the last 2 weeks. Very well said fromafar. That would also make the Sport safer for the Riders, cheaper too probably. Says it all really. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weatherwatcher Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 There is no comparcance to a 1960/70's speedway track to the ones they produce now. A track was riden in most conditions other than very heavy rain. The track where far softer with lots of shale on them. Now they are more like a road than a race track you may just as well let them race on tarmac. They are so fimly packed and slick with very little in the way of shale that even a light shower stays on the surface and turns it into an ice rink. Better if they had spiked tyres as in ice speedway at least then when we had showers they could just change tyres and carry on. I think it is time that the tracks where changed back again not only to help with the drainage problems but to give us some better closer racing. Maybe the riders are getting soft these days I don't mean in a sense when the have an accident, but in the way they all stand pulling faces and shaking heads at the signs of a shower. Does the rain harm them in some way, or is it the fact that they don't like getting mud on thier kelvars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffdiamond Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 There is no comparcance to a 1960/70's speedway track to the ones they produce now. A track was riden in most conditions other than very heavy rain. The track where far softer with lots of shale on them. Now they are more like a road than a race track you may just as well let them race on tarmac. They are so fimly packed and slick with very little in the way of shale that even a light shower stays on the surface and turns it into an ice rink. Better if they had spiked tyres as in ice speedway at least then when we had showers they could just change tyres and carry on. I think it is time that the tracks where changed back again not only to help with the drainage problems but to give us some better closer racing. Maybe the riders are getting soft these days I don't mean in a sense when the have an accident, but in the way they all stand pulling faces and shaking heads at the signs of a shower. Does the rain harm them in some way, or is it the fact that they don't like getting mud on thier kelvars sounds good in principal, but,,, what happens when they go to kick the back end out, go straight on into the airfence and pop it,,, a few times ??? apparently, they are hard to clean :-( lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthur cross Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 Listening to Rosco tonight shows how the sport is all about self interest.Clown.He should have at least been diplomatic about it.We have now seen both sides of Rosco in the last 2 weeks. You're overlooking one thing ... Rosco's too big a numpty to ever have any hope of acquiring something as useful as "diplomatic" skills. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 (edited) the sport must have had what? over 10 million quid from SKY over the past 15 years or so? maybe more? yet not one set of track covers purchased among all of the EL tracks..... a sport so effected by the vagaries of the uk weather hasnt developed a way of getting meetings on when lots of call offs happen even though weather at the scheduled start time is perfect for speedway... once again british speedway reaping its rewards for its forward planning and the foresight of its rulers...... foolishly I paid to get in tonight a kirky lane, the track was wet but I have seen worse.. years ago, chuck some sawdust down, don the boiler suits and lets give it a go was the mantra.. simply now as a fan you look at the forecasts and often say 'sod it' if it is anything remotely like an evening that may have a downpour as basically you fear getting shafted..... and a sport with fans (die hards too) who think like that has real problems... Edited June 2, 2014 by mikebv 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted June 2, 2014 Report Share Posted June 2, 2014 the sport must have had what? over 10 million quid from SKY over the past 15 years or so? maybe more? yet not one set of track covers purchased among all of the EL tracks..... a sport so effected by the vagaries of the uk weather hasnt developed a way of getting meetings on when lots of call offs happen even though weather at the scheduled start time is perfect for speedway... once again british speedway reaping its rewards for its forward planning and the foresight of its rulers...... foolishly I paid to get in tonight a kirky lane, the track was wet but I have seen worse.. years ago, chuck some sawdust down, don the boiler suits and lets give it a go was the mantra.. simply now as a fan you look at the forecasts and often say 'sod it' if it is anything remotely like an evening that may have a downpour as basically you fear getting shafted..... and a sport with fans (die hards too) who think like that has real problems... Yup! Boiler suits donned, copious amounts of sawdust spread on the racing line, puddles near kerbs swept down drains, bulldog clip on helmet peak, stacked with plenty of small perspex squares with different corners creased, and off they raced, slower times, but they raced.... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted June 3, 2014 Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 Yup! Boiler suits donned, copious amounts of sawdust spread on the racing line, puddles near kerbs swept down drains, bulldog clip on helmet peak, stacked with plenty of small perspex squares with different corners creased, and off they raced, slower times, but they raced.... Yes - that was when SPEEDWAY was SPEEDWAY. :sad: I mourn it's passing. :sad: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weatherwatcher Posted June 3, 2014 Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 I just shows what a farce the British leagues have become all 3 EL matches called off or stopped part way through, This 10 races to be awarded the match is stupid, if half the meeting is finished then after heat 7 the match should be awarded, that would have seen Brum win last night and well deserved better team by far on the night. Why have the rider become so soft, if it is dangerous to ride at the speeds they go then they should slow down to a safe speed and get the meeting over and done with. But with the way the tracks are laid these days they would need to end the meeting in speedboats as the tracks all seem to flood. can't for the life of me ever remembering Long Eaton flood like the tracks do these days. The are just to hard packed and slick for the water to go anywhere. If they have drainage in the centrese of the tracks then they must be poor to say the least. We need to get something sorted and soon, because it seems that the British summers are getting wetter, with May, June July and August some of the wetest months of the year. So we can't rely on the great British summers of the past to help speedway to go ahead. It would be far better to have the races in the late Autum and early Spring as these months are far drier. So if they continue to ride in the summer then they need to change the track surfaces and the attitudes of the riders and team management who are so keen to call off matches. If riders saftey is the issue slow them down.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 The rain is more likely to kill off speedway than the usual complification of the rules on a yearly basis . Out of the 10 home meetings Glasgow should have had by now , 4 have been rained off , including the last two , and one curtailed . And especially having a Sunday afternoon raceday , folk will just get sick of the constant postponements and find something else to do on a Sunday . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 I just shows what a farce the British leagues have become all 3 EL matches called off or stopped part way through, This 10 races to be awarded the match is stupid, if half the meeting is finished then after heat 7 the match should be awarded, that would have seen Brum win last night and well deserved better team by far on the night. Why have the rider become so soft, if it is dangerous to ride at the speeds they go then they should slow down to a safe speed and get the meeting over and done with. But with the way the tracks are laid these days they would need to end the meeting in speedboats as the tracks all seem to flood. can't for the life of me ever remembering Long Eaton flood like the tracks do these days. The are just to hard packed and slick for the water to go anywhere. If they have drainage in the centrese of the tracks then they must be poor to say the least. We need to get something sorted and soon, because it seems that the British summers are getting wetter, with May, June July and August some of the wetest months of the year. So we can't rely on the great British summers of the past to help speedway to go ahead. It would be far better to have the races in the late Autum and early Spring as these months are far drier. So if they continue to ride in the summer then they need to change the track surfaces and the attitudes of the riders and team management who are so keen to call off matches. If riders saftey is the issue slow them down.. I think your point regarding regarding meetings being called off without being completed is a valid point,people are fed up knowing if the weather is dodgy they will attempt to run 10 heats just to get a result that is short changing the paying public,if the meeting starts it should be run to a finish except in exceptional circumstances .Birmingham the other night had very little dirt and grading was a waste of time.We need dirt on the track and the riders to slow down if circumstances dictate.I remember the days when some riders liked a wet track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YAMYAMBANDIT Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 I think your point regarding regarding meetings being called off without being completed is a valid point,people are fed up knowing if the weather is dodgy they will attempt to run 10 heats just to get a result that is short changing the paying public,if the meeting starts it should be run to a finish except in exceptional circumstances .Birmingham the other night had very little dirt and grading was a waste of time.We need dirt on the track and the riders to slow down if circumstances dictate.I remember the days when some riders liked a wet track. I remember when a pint cost 1/10p, things have moved on, don't live in the past, it really was not a nice place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 (edited) The rain is more likely to kill off speedway than the usual complification of the rules on a yearly basis . Out of the 10 home meetings Glasgow should have had by now , 4 have been rained off , including the last two , and one curtailed . And especially having a Sunday afternoon raceday , folk will just get sick of the constant postponements and find something else to do on a Sunday . correct... add in also the seemingly inevitable 'tactical call offs' which seems to blight the sport too and you very easily find yourself with an issue whereby people simply can no longer be bothered as it simply becomes 'not worth the effort' to attend... it is interesting though how when we come to the season's end, and matches need to be raced to ensure teams qualify for the play offs, matches seem to take place at all costs... late september/early october must be a safer time to ride speedway in the wet I presume?! or maybe it's a different kind of rain that falls!? Edited June 4, 2014 by mikebv 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 (edited) I remember when a pint cost 1/10p, things have moved on, don't live in the past, it really was not a nice place. Its not about living in the past,speedway is in dire state, there are lot of others things to replace it nowadays and a bit of damp weather has become a major issue in the sport ,some thing needs to be done the majority of the fans are not that gullible.Like has been pointed out in another these rain -off meeting will have be be run at the end of the season where if conditions are bad they will soldier on just to complete.Except there will be no one to watch the ways things are handled just now. Edited June 4, 2014 by Fromafar 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 I remember when a pint cost 1/10p, things have moved on, don't live in the past, it really was not a nice place. The Past is a foreign Country - they do things differently there. L.P. Hartley. ............................... and as far as Speedway is concerned - they did it better. :sad: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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