National League Fours At Coventry - 10th August 2014

[mdmc82]

just got back from the meeting, the part of the track the riders were moaning about at the start didn't seem to cause any problems, most of the problems were caused by lesser riders overtrying or with wrong set up, as the FTR seemed fine with the exception of perry who was all over the place all day. well I enjoyed it

I agree that the track was okay once they did the extra work on it and produced some good racing.

The more experienced riders did well whilst some of those not on the FTD or less experienced struggled abit which is what you find on most tracks regardless of track work or not.

[bruno]

As some of said it wasn't really the track it was the lesser riders who couldn't cope.the top riders had no problem except Tom perry who slid off twice with no reason.must admit with the initial delay then it took an age to get going after 5 heats I was almost hoping we didn't get thru so I could go home.however it got better and I'm glad I went.I suppose winning it made things better tho.on the initial delay there's really no excuse.the weather was perfect to get it sorted before the start of the meeting.it seems to me there's not actually anyone at Coventry in charge of things.it seems be fire fighting all the time instead of having everything right from the start.then again isn't that speedway all over

[FTM]

What a bloody mess!

 

Makes you feel so proud to be a speedway fan.

 

Almost went to this charade, so pleased I didn't make the effort!!!!!

As you didn,t go how can you and all the other armchair fans pass any comment on what the track was like and what actually caused the delay to the start .Its very easy to have a go at track staff from the safety of your own front room sat behind your keyboard .Mick Horton is not responsible for track prep but hey don,t let that stop anyone putting the knife in .There was one soft spot on the entrance to the third bend which after the track walk by the Referee and also Chris Louis (don,t know why he was accompanying her ) she asked for remedial work to be carried out .The meeting was put back 1 hour to do said work and after Coventry,s Captain James Serjeant did 6 laps testing the track the meeting was started on the 15..30 start time .There were a few falls but not because of the track but as someone else has already said just keen young men overriding and making mistakes .Cradley were deserved winners as they seemed to want it more once the last 8 hts came around in the second half of the meeting .Just a footnote to the track problem we had a stock car meeting last Saturday which consisted of 22 races of stox and Bangers and other forms of short track race cars I counted at least 12 cars throughout the meeting that lost wheels and still carried on racing causing damage to the track they are supposed to be black flagged but its not their track so why worry .Come the start of the week lot of damage and inclement weather doesn.t help .Who,d be a trackman

[Heathen1984]

Yes Cradley won but still should never of even started. Track was unsafe. Awful meeting.

[Halifaxtiger]

Whoops !!!!

 

Horton and Watson can't cope with arrangements to prepare a track at the start of the season and now once again at the end of the season.

 

Having difficulty writing this as am pis@ing myself with laughter.

 

Glad I stayed at home, as watching paint dry is probably better entertainment.

 

good job Horton doesn't have to rely on his income from speedway to survive - hang about, does he ?

 

Rumour has it he is booked to present a prize at this years 'Channel 4' National Comedy Awards -

sure he due an award too for his comedy routines in his services to British Speedway.

 

As one or two have pointed out, Mick Horton is not responsible for track preparation at Coventry. As I understand it, it was part of the agreement when he took over that the stadium would do that. As such, he has about as much control over the state of the track as he does over the weather.

 

It is therefore unreasonable to blame him not just for the fiasco today, but for the poor condition of the surface at Brandon all season.

 

Lets start pointing fingers at those who are actually culpable - the stadium owner and the incompetents he employs.

 

According to the riders and officials I spoke to, the track at start time was dangerous due to a soft area on the third bend to the degree that riders were refusing to ride and there was talk of abandonment. All were critical of Coventry's track staff.

 

It was remedied by pouring six sacks of cement into the hole created by the digging out of the soft spot and, while the riders were certainly wary, I didn't think it was dangerous - indeed, there were more problems on the second bend.

 

I thought the semi finals were poor, though, with little decent racing. The final, however, wasn't bad at all and was run in 45 minutes or so which was pretty impressive.

 

Whoever is to blame, we once again had the sight of fans being allowed to enter a stadium when there was a very real threat of abandonment on a day almost perfect for speedway.

 

With that sort of couldn't care less attitude to the paying supporter, its little wonder the sport is on its knees.

 

As to the question 'who'd be a trackman ?' I'd say somewone whose skills run to a bit more than continually trotting out excuses why their track is so poor.

[greyhoundp]

As you didn,t go how can you and all the other armchair fans pass any comment on what the track was like and what actually caused the delay to the start .Its very easy to have a go at track staff from the safety of your own front room sat behind your keyboard .Mick Horton is not responsible for track prep but hey don,t let that stop anyone putting the knife in .There was one soft spot on the entrance to the third bend which after the track walk by the Referee and also Chris Louis (don,t know why he was accompanying her ) she asked for remedial work to be carried out .The meeting was put back 1 hour to do said work and after Coventry,s Captain James Serjeant did 6 laps testing the track the meeting was started on the 15..30 start time .There were a few falls but not because of the track but as someone else has already said just keen young men overriding and making mistakes .Cradley were deserved winners as they seemed to want it more once the last 8 hts came around in the second half of the meeting .Just a footnote to the track problem we had a stock car meeting last Saturday which consisted of 22 races of stox and Bangers and other forms of short track race cars I counted at least 12 cars throughout the meeting that lost wheels and still carried on racing causing damage to the track they are supposed to be black flagged but its not their track so why worry .Come the start of the week lot of damage and inclement weather doesn.t help .Who,d be a trackman

 

 

I had every sympathy for The Coventry Track at the start of the season, however things seemed to improve for a time, but recently we seem to be back to square one, I know you are the Track man and as you said 22 races of Stocks and Bangers, but hey that was 8 YES 8 Days ago, did it rain on everyone of those days ? Im sorry but you need to hold your hand up and admit, the Track was badly prepared on this occasion, Experienced riders were complaining about the Track prior to the meeting, couldnt You see the same problems that they saw, after all you have years of experience preparing tracks, I feel sorry for the riders who got injured trying to provide a spectacle for the paying public, lets hope we can have a better prepared track for wednesday as the Sport is rapidly losing credence with the public, and this did no one any favours, least of all The Trackman..

Edited October 26, 2014 by greyhoundp

[Dave Stummings]

Mick Horton and his side kick Lawrence Rogers. just stood at the 3rd bend and watched Len Silver and Chris Louis organise track prep. Horton was the host promoter and he should take full responsibility. How come he didn't check the track on his arrival and it was other people who noticed the problem on the 3rd bend? Programme inserts sold out by 1:50pm and the programme itself a few minutes later. £2:50 for the programme was way over the top. Horton I'm sorry to say must take the blame. Just as he should when he ran Oxford, Mildenhall, Peterborough. Always somebody else's fault. He takes the fans for granted, as do other promoters I'm afraid. I for one am won't return to Coventry, no big loss your probably thinking. But I'm not the only one. When people who live a stones throw from the track and they don't bother because of the way it's run says it all. Charles Ocltree would be turning in his grave if he saw the clown that runs Coventry now.

[cityrebel]

The worse thing is, I was not at all surprised by the track farce at coventry this afternoon. It's the sort of thing that us long suffering speedway fans get used to. The problem is, there are a lot less of us now prepared to put up with it.

[FTM]

 

 

I had every sympathy for The Coventry Track at the start of the season, however things seemed to improve for a time, but recently we seem to be back to square one, I know you are the Track man and as you said 22 races of Stocks and Bangers, but hey that was 8 YES 8 Days ago, did it rain on everyone of those days ? Im sorry but you need to hold your hand up and admit, the Track was badly prepared on this occasion, Experienced riders were complaining about the Track prior to the meeting, couldnt You see the same problems that they saw, after all you have years of experience preparing tracks, I feel sorry for the riders who got injured trying to provide a spectacle for the paying public, lets hope we can have a better prepared track for wednesday as the Sport is rapidly losing credence with the public, and this did no one any favours, least of all Trackman..

Sorry to Correct you but I am not the current Track Curator I have,nt been since 2009 I just drive a vehicle on race night /day to help out if needed

 

 

As one or two have pointed out, Mick Horton is not responsible for track preparation at Coventry. As I understand it, it was part of the agreement when he took over that the stadium would do that. As such, he has about as much control over the state of the track as he does over the weather.

 

It is therefore unreasonable to blame him not just for the fiasco today, but for the poor condition of the surface at Brandon all season.

 

Lets start pointing fingers at those who are actually culpable - the stadium owner and the incompetents he employs.

 

According to the riders and officials I spoke to, the track at start time was dangerous due to a soft area on the third bend to the degree that riders were refusing to ride and there was talk of abandonment. All were critical of Coventry's track staff.

 

It was remedied by pouring six sacks of cement into the hole created by the digging out of the soft spot and, while the riders were certainly wary, I didn't think it was dangerous - indeed, there were more problems on the second bend.

 

I thought the semi finals were poor, though, with little decent racing. The final, however, wasn't bad at all and was run in 45 minutes or so which was pretty impressive.

 

Whoever is to blame, we once again had the sight of fans being allowed to enter a stadium when there was a very real threat of abandonment on a day almost perfect for speedway.

 

With that sort of couldn't care less attitude to the paying supporter, its little wonder the sport is on its knees.

 

As to the question 'who'd be a trackman ?' I'd say somewone whose skills run to a bit more than continually trotting out excuses why their track is so poor.

 

I Do not continually trot out excuses ,as you put it ,just putting people in the picture of why things are as they are in some cases also I believe my skills do stand up up to the test over the last 14 yrs as 6 yrs of curating at Cardiff until Ole brought in his own crew and also an Elite League title at Peterborough in 2006 plus 2 and a half yrs at Oxford till they closed down and then brought back to Coventry in 2009 for 2 seasons speaks for itself but everyone has a right to his/her opinion .

[Gemini]

So who is the trackman? You would think after all the years speedway has been running that someone would have an idea how to prepare the track at Coventry. It just seems like one disaster after another and no reason to blame a stock car meeting over a week ago or bad weather this time. There's no excuse for a long delay again while we stand around watching track preparation that should have taken place in the morning. No wonder fans are giving up on speedway. That's it for me this year as I certainly won't be going on Wednesday now. Hopefully I can get some enthusiasm back next April.

 

By the way....the best thing about today was the music and presentation by Chris Simpson. He deserves a medal for trying to keep things up beat amongst all the chaos.

Edited October 26, 2014 by Gemini

[Blackbird]

By the way....the best thing about today was the music and presentation by Chris Simpson. He deserves a medal for trying to keep things up beat amongst all the chaos.

Hmm, you must have better ears than me - the PA was so muffled (and this in the main grandstand) couldn't hear a thing. Certainly couldn't hear any proper explanation for the delay nor a single word of apology at any point from Mr. Horton..? What's that - oh apparently there wasn't any..

[Mimmo]

Up until yesterday, the biggest farce I'd ever been unlucky enough to witness, was the Conference League Pairs at Wimbledon in 2005, but this one at Coventry took the biscuit.

 

Agreed the actual final produced a few half decent races, but the rest of the afternoon was the bore of many a long season, and that wasn't the fault of the riders, who gave it their all. I'm no fan of Mick Horton, but as someone else has said on the BSF, it's not him that prepares the track, and following on from the fiasco at the start of the season, the powers that be need to ask some serious questions about this venue.

 

The programme dated 10th August and priced at £2.50 with no updated editorial as part of the insert, was a disgrace, and needs looking at if a similar situation should occur in future years. With printing costs being what they are, I can understand the need to use previously printed programmes....but come on!!

 

The PA system in the grandstand was so muffled that you couldn't hear what was being said properly. Peter York came over fairly audible, but why oh why they really need Chris Simpson standing on the centre concrete, telling you things that is part and parcel of the announcers job, I don't really know, because he is the one that you can't understand. Maybe he's putting the microphone to close to his mouth when he speaks, and it's no more than that.

 

It's been mentioned on the British Speedway Forum that Mick Horton didn't make an apology at any point for the terrible situation that the paying public and riders had to endure, but that isn't true, because he most certainly did. But that of course doesn't alter the fact that he should have had to have done that in the first place.

 

So all in all, an extremely disappointing way for my speedway season to reach it's conclusion.

 

Congratulations to ALL riders for doing their best, and well done to Cradley Heath, who were the eventual deserving winners.

[Guest]

Up until yesterday, the biggest farce I'd ever been unlucky enough to witness, was the Conference League Pairs at Wimbledon in 2005, but this one at Coventry took the biscuit.

 

I well remember that 2005 Wimbledon meeting - it was also hit by a downpour during racing.

[mdmc82]

Hmm, you must have better ears than me - the PA was so muffled (and this in the main grandstand) couldn't hear a thing. Certainly couldn't hear any proper explanation for the delay nor a single word of apology at any point from Mr. Horton..? What's that - oh apparently there wasn't any..

Horton came out and was interviewed on the centre green and apologised as well as thanking the fans, track staff and the fans for their patience

Edited October 27, 2014 by mdmc82

[Dave Stummings]

A half hearted apology from Horton to say the least during the interval. That should have been while the mess was being sorted out. Look, Horton is the promoter. Surely to god on his arrival the first thing you do is check the track, especially with what's gone on this year. For visiting officials to highlight the problem is pathetic!

I'm sorry but as I have said the blame is quite simply the host promoter.

If as suggested Horton is behind Milton Keynes revival god help us.

[Gemini]

Hmm, you must have better ears than me - the PA was so muffled (and this in the main grandstand) couldn't hear a thing. Certainly couldn't hear any proper explanation for the delay nor a single word of apology at any point from Mr. Horton..? What's that - oh apparently there wasn't any..

Loud and clear on the back straight and yes there was an explanation for the delay - soft spot on the track entering bend 3 which was obviously solved by pouring concrete on it. Mick Horton did apologise for the delay too, along with thanking us for our patience. Personally I definitely wasn't very patient and was cheesed off with yet another diabolical track for National League racing.

[Halifaxtiger]

Sorry to Correct you but I am not the current Track Curator I have,nt been since 2009 I just drive a vehicle on race night /day to help out if needed

 

 

I Do not continually trot out excuses ,as you put it ,just putting people in the picture of why things are as they are in some cases also I believe my skills do stand up up to the test over the last 14 yrs as 6 yrs of curating at Cardiff until Ole brought in his own crew and also an Elite League title at Peterborough in 2006 plus 2 and a half yrs at Oxford till they closed down and then brought back to Coventry in 2009 for 2 seasons speaks for itself but everyone has a right to his/her opinion .

 

This isn't you, then:

 

 

you are welcome to your opinion but no way was there any skimping (as you call it) on the track prep .When Sky are involved they need to understand how to prepare a track and what time scales you need leading up to the meeting commencement.This has been and always will be out of their remit as they have no bloody idea whatsoever as was proved tonight .The track prep was put on hold from 3.30 as regards ripping the track on the bends and as there was a threat of rain forecast from 4pm there had already been a heavy localised downpour at 2.30onwards so at that time the track was smooth but drying out as the afternoon went on .At 6.30 with only 1 hr to go a panic situation arose from Sky we need bends ripped up to give some outside overtaking moves .Now yourself and probably 90% of fans don,t realize it isn,t possible to rip this late without losing a certain amount of what was a good track up until then .By the time the trackwork had finished it was too late to water to any degree of success when Sky had a 7.30 start deadline so track now having been opened up is going to dry the more the evening goes on .Now I would like to know having been told 7.30 National Anthem why was there then a 20+min delay before we saw any bikes on track .Then the pedantic and stupid (IMO) refereeing in the opening few heats the track is deteroiating even more with no chance to water or grade .The final problem as regards getting a chance to redeem any hope of providing any success at all was the Sky company , or whoever was the tv coverage provider, told the track prep guys they were only allowed two laps after 4,7,10 and 14 as the coverage was being wrapped up by 21.05 as they had other highlights to include in the 2 hr show .This is not a cop out in any way shape or form as the track was poor but the weekend incl Friday ,s rain off onwards there was a lot of work done preparing the track from early Sat morning for 16 Stock Car /Banger races 5 pm to 10 30pm then up until 2 am Sun morning when things to do with the Dogs then had to be started for Sun nights meeting then change again Mon ready for a tv meeting .Being close to most of the work this weekend I thought I would put the opinion from the other side of the fence to probably a lot of you fans that are not party to what goes on .. Reference Stox at Eastbourne they don,t run on the speedway track

 

I'd say from that list your qualifications very much stand up. What I saw yesterday would suggest otherwise although, to be fair, you have said you are not the track curator.

 

Perhaps it would be better if you were.

Edited October 27, 2014 by Halifaxtiger

[lucifer sam]

Shame FTM is not still the track curator, this wouldn't have happened on his watch.

 

All the best

Rob

[tsc1]

Loud and clear on the back straight and yes there was an explanation for the delay - soft spot on the track entering bend 3 which was obviously solved by pouring concrete on it. Mick Horton did apologise for the delay too, along with thanking us for our patience. Personally I definitely wasn't very patient and was cheesed off with yet another diabolical track for National League racing.

we was told after they got rid of the polish guy and pratty was going to do the track it would be a lot better??????? what a joke its been bad for a few meetings. and I know for a fact its not mick hortons fault its got to be down to pratty and co for the prep????????????????????????????????????????????

[waco]

Regardless of the poor condition of the Coventry track ( not the first time this season ) The whole format of this meeting is a farce ,,why should 50% of the riders have to travel hundreds of miles for just two races,resulting in undoubted loss of earnings compared to any other meeting ..I would go further and say most of that 50% would have considerable losses. It should also be run on a neutral track in my opinion....