Fromafar Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 I think the biggest problem regarding this matter is that after the "gardening" Tai made 4 decent starts,so now you will see Everyman and his Dog trying this.After all they copy everything else the GP riders invent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
INCOGNITO Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 Firstly let me correct those that think Tai took the dirt off gate four. He actually took the dirt at the side of the fence a few yards away and brushed dirt from behind his starting position in to the ruts on gate three. Secondly Craig Cook also went out and picked up loose dirt to fill his ruts on gate one to which Chris Morton found quite amusing and I didn't see anyone else complaining from the other riders crew's. However I do think it was a bit out of order but having said that if there is no rules stopping it then is he doing anything worse than the famous tractors at Arlington ? Gates do get rutted quite a bit at all tracks but I have never seen track staff taking loose dirt from the fence and filling in all the ruts. Surely this could be done between heats as it would make the gates more equal all night for all levels of riders. In the end Tai made a poor start in the final and it was only his skill that got him to the front and win the title again. It was also my opinion that there could quite easily have been just Tai and Bomber in the final as the referee was lienent in two of the stoppages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 Firstly let me correct those that think Tai took the dirt off gate four. He actually took the dirt at the side of the fence a few yards away and brushed dirt from behind his starting position in to the ruts on gate three. Secondly Craig Cook also went out and picked up loose dirt to fill his ruts on gate one to which Chris Morton found quite amusing and I didn't see anyone else complaining from the other riders crew's. However I do think it was a bit out of order but having said that if there is no rules stopping it then is he doing anything worse than the famous tractors at Arlington ? Gates do get rutted quite a bit at all tracks but I have never seen track staff taking loose dirt from the fence and filling in all the ruts. Surely this could be done between heats as it would make the gates more equal all night for all levels of riders. In the end Tai made a poor start in the final and it was only his skill that got him to the front and win the title again. It was also my opinion that there could quite easily have been just Tai and Bomber in the final as the referee was lienent in two of the stoppages. A waste of time Cook filling up a rut ,he's rolled out of it before the tapes go up!!!!!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 (edited) I thought it added some theatre to the final and a bit of tension. Though it did go OTT time wise. If I was one of the other riders I would have taken it as a compliment the amount of time, effort and ingenuity the World Champion put in to ensure he beat me out the traps. I do have one serious concern though. If as Tsunami suggests, how long before we have gate mechanics? I'd take that a stage further .... How long before we have Polish gate mechanics doing it for cash, undercutting our boys and putting them out of work?! Edited June 18, 2014 by george.m 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve0 Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 I can't believe this is still being discussed - time to move on... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 If ever a mountain has been made of a molehill this is it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 If ever a mountain has been made of a molehill this is it. It wasn't even molehill sized..Anthill maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 Opposing camps digging their heels in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybikespeedway Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 (edited) Hot News the BBC have offered Tai Woffenden a job to Replace Alan Titchmarsh and Diamuid Gavin as Their Gardening Expert Edited June 18, 2014 by billybikespeedway 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diana spencer Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 i have asked alan " rosco " rossiter to provide all the gb world team cup squad with tool belts to hold all their personalised shovels and gardening gear from lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 Hot News the BBC have offered Tai Woffenden a job to Replace Alan Titchmarsh and Diamuid Gavin as Their Gardening Expert Aye, and Nikki Pedersen will be in Charlie Dimmock's blouse replacing her whatsits! (.)(.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E I Addio Posted June 18, 2014 Report Share Posted June 18, 2014 Cant believe all this rubbish being posted on here. and the opinions of some. I don't hate Woffy, but his behaviour has to be looked at sensibly. No, he didn't break any rules, No, it didn't gain him an advantage, but it could be seen to set a precedent of future meetings. Had the referee been strong enough, he could have taken control of the situation and ordered the riders back to the pits, end of story. We want this sport to prosper, to appeal to new supporters. We want the meetings to flow, with little or no holdups. What we don't want is riders going to the start area prior to an important race to do preparation work . Can you imagine the issues if this was done at a SGP final. No of cause not.... This has to be stopped now.... Whether you saw no wrong in what Woffy was doing, it has no place in our struggling sport. Good post. I totally agree action needs to be taken to avoid a precedent being set. If it is acceptable for a rider to try to enhance his own gate then equally one might say it is just as acceptable to interfere with someone else's gate. What if Tai went out and scraped dirt off the other gates or poured water on them ? Nothing in the rules to say he can't do that before the riders come under starters orders. The referee should have taken control of the situation but he didn't so we can't blame Tai for weak refereeing but there has to be at least some kind of guideline set for what a rider can or cannot do to the gate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim the whipper Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 Hot News the BBC have offered Tai Woffenden a job to Replace Alan Titchmarsh and Diamuid Gavin as Their Gardening Expert Even hotter news , Woffinden has insisted that Wolverhampton employ Charlie Dimmock as his personal start tart , she is to come complete with spade ,rake and whacker plate , and will be responsible not only for Tai's gardening but also for obscuring the view of the other 3 gates with her huge appendages , There is also speculation that Woffinden is having his own changing room built complete with Tattoo and body mutilation studio and a room for a stylist to use between races , until its completion the Pits have been demolished to make room for his Winnibago and a marquee for his entourage , the rest of the riders will be provided pit space out in the car park behind their own vans , CVS assures all the riders who make up the numbers at Wolverhampton this is only a temporary measure , and they are guaranteed pit space in the shadow of the world champions building ASAP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 The most worrying this is that some folk actually seem to truly believe that what Tai did provided him with an advantage. Try watching his 'starts'. I think there might have been one where he has actually made the jump first.. on two of them he is trailing halfway to the bend, but gets there first as he keeps the gas on and doesn't lift. Nothing whatsoever to do with any comedy gardening he was doing. As for the 4th start he was 3rd into the 1st corner anyway. He was providing the crowd with some entertainment, it's as simple as that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 The most worrying this is that some folk actually seem to truly believe that what Tai did provided him with an advantage. Try watching his 'starts'. I think there might have been one where he has actually made the jump first.. on two of them he is trailing halfway to the bend, but gets there first as he keeps the gas on and doesn't lift. Nothing whatsoever to do with any comedy gardening he was doing. As for the 4th start he was 3rd into the 1st corner anyway. He was providing the crowd with some entertainment, it's as simple as that. Whether he gained an advantage or not, it was not in the spirit of the sport.... Easy rule to amend for league racing, riders not allowed onto the starting gate area until the 2 minutes warning is sounded, except prior to the start of heat 15.. That should do it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 (edited) Whether he gained an advantage or not, it was not in the spirit of the sport.... Easy rule to amend for league racing, riders not allowed onto the starting gate area until the 2 minutes warning is sounded, except prior to the start of heat 15.. That should do it.... Ah I see, providing some entertainment to the paying spectators while the meeting drags on is 'not in the spirit of the sport'. We can see why speedway struggles to attract crowds can't we. What makes Heat 15 so special? Edited June 19, 2014 by BWitcher 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike.Butler Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 (edited) thats a very fair point. From an entertainment point of view Tai's extra-curricular activities between restarts was the only reason my wife allowed me to keep the bedroom tele on until the end, having told her an hour previously we could go to sleep after the last couple of heats... Bit like the cameraman at Rye House on Saturday who delayed a race when the ref spotted him adjacent to the safety fence to get a picture, only for him to then to virtually straddle the fence once the race had started..why not live and let live..let's have more individualism from all (riders, fans and officials).. Edited June 19, 2014 by Mike.Butler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barncooseboy Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 surely whilst there is a difference between gate surfaces that result in one position being better than another it is to be expected that gardening will go on, it is an artificial handicap to a riders earning potential. Congratulations to Tai for bringing a bit of humour to the situation, its time for a return to a few characters along the lines of Chris Julian, Jack Millen, Clive Hitch and of course Vic Lonsdale. Nicki Pedersen v Vic Lonsdale that would have the terraces packed. Gate position looked allocated to me inside to outside in scoring order which actually made auti o final qualification a handicap, unless of course you had the use of a model aircraft engine fuel tank time to fly i think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 Ah I see, providing some entertainment to the paying spectators while the meeting drags on is 'not in the spirit of the sport'. We can see why speedway struggles to attract crowds can't we. What makes Heat 15 so special? in heat 15, don't the manager/selected riders choose which gate they are taking? I know 1 & 3 or 2 & 4 are decided at the toss, but they get to choose there options for heat 15, if they are off 1 & 3, they decide who goes off 1 & 3 So, the riders do get a look at the gate conditions before heat 15. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketrod Posted June 19, 2014 Report Share Posted June 19, 2014 8 pages of topic because a bloke picks up a rake shows that: 1) Some people have no idea or concept of entertainment values within sport, The last heat dragged on because of crashes, now has anyone stopped to consider maybe just maybe Tai Woffinden was entertaining the crowd during long delays, humour isn't for everyone but I thought it was a bloke stated digging with his foot, thought hang on i'l get a rake and a dog poo scooper and see what I can get away with in front of a crowd and a television audience. 2) Every sport has heroes and villains, but every sport needs both to survive, How many of us are looking forward to the next Zagar/Pedersen race ? 3) We have an English world champion, he might not be in your team , but back him while he's here, looking at the state of British Speedway which WE all follow it's gonna be a long time before we have another Tai Woffinden. Im not a Wolverhampton fan nor a Tai Woffinden devotee ,all im saying debate is healthy and fantastic , but some of the comments on here and in the forum in general makes me think its little more than playground bickering. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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