Mark Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Does anyone else? You answer a question with a negative question. But yes they do. It can be improved but plenty enjoy the sport. Try it, you might enjoy it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Try it, you might enjoy it. I did once, and regularly went for 25-odd years. Like many before me though, I eventually tired of the farcical organisation and found better things to spend my time and money on. I do occasionally go to the odd meeting - I might even have gone to Melbourne if I was in Australia this month. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 DON'T think David Lander was in the business of giving too many tickets away. Costs for that meeting were astronomical ... hiring of the Olympic Stadium (as it was originally known), flying 20 riders plus equipment from Europe, hotels, etc, etc. I didn't realise until I got there that (like Wembley/London) the stadium was a long way out of town, it was an unseasonably cold night and the meeting was live on TV. Lander did a lot right but unfortunately rapidly fell out with John Postlethwaite and insead of being able to build on the first one, and perhaps take it to a smaller stadium in Sydney the following year, he pulled the plug. Don't leave it there, why did he fall out with Postlethwaite? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 JP massively raised the bar of the World Championship when he (BSI) bought the commercial rights. Sure, he wanted to make money and why not? But he was also prepared to spend considerable sums to improve the profile of the sport and always wanted things done to exacting standards. He was also an enigma and could be tough on himself and those around him. I always told him that I would work with him but not for him. Lander was also very strong willed and, of course, it was his money that was on the table and he lost a bundle. It is 13 years ago now so my recollection of some events has faded but JP and Lander just didn't hit it off, think John felt that going to what was Australia's biggest stadium from the outset was a mistake and might have been better to start with something a little smaller and build from there. Although I wasn't party to what was going on between the two it was easy to sense that some things weren't right. I certainly wouldn't fault Lander for the effort he made. The pre-meeting Press Conference, at which the riders were introduced to the media, was held at the Sydney Opera House. On the Friday night there was a dinner cruise round Sydney Harbour for riders, officials, media, etc. Everything was on a grand scale but, of course, also very costly and the return on the night simply didn't add up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 He was also an enigma and could be tough on himself and those around him. Certainly an enigma in terms of starting businesses that don't work out, and I'd imagine it's tough on the investors in those. Lander was also very strong willed and, of course, it was his money that was on the table and he lost a bundle. It is 13 years ago now so my recollection of some events has faded but JP and Lander just didn't hit it off, think John felt that going to what was Australia's biggest stadium from the outset was a mistake and might have been better to start with something a little smaller and build from there. Whilst Stadium Australia was undoubtedly too big, it was at the time a white elephant looking for a purpose, so maybe it was as cheap to hire as a smaller venue. I seem to remember it being reported from Down Under at the time that Lander was unhappy about being charged for things that he shouldn't have been charged for, amongst other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPNY Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 One thing I will say for JP, when there was the cock up in Gothenburg, he faced the media, you could see him was FUMING. Bellamy was the worst ever when things went wrong, just literally pretended they didnt happen. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Undercover Elephant Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 If Cardiff was the last GP of the season, and the World Champ had been effectively crowned at the GP before - would I still go?? Of course I would. And I would expect the newly crowned world champ to put on a good display 1) because he wants to assert his authority as world champ 2) because he would be so relaxed that it would probably bring the best out of him. Thats why I think this GP for us down here has a bit of a cool factor to it. Sure the standings are mostly set. Apart from Nicki and Greg vying for runner up spot, there's needle in this duo alone. Tai being crowned in Poland, and his obvious connection with Australia, he'll want to put in a good display. No question he wants to win this. Which in turn creates competition with the likes of Holder and Doyle, if they're engines and set up suit the conditions in the hunt. Will the roof be open if Melbourne soaks in sun all day like we've had this week so far? I think for those who are attending, whether from down under or from Europe, can't wait to see a stadium like the Etihad, who host AFL games during the season be transformed into a Speedway Arena. I have the same goosebumps now, like the time leading up to the first Cardiff I went to in 2001 for 10 consecutive trips until moving overseas. I've been crying out for a GP in Melbourne in this sporting city and regardless if fans think it's a damp squid in essence, I think there is a showcase to be performed by the riders to win this GP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Bruv was saying around 40000 attended the Sydney GP with just under 20000 paying punters. Hopefully will be a bigger turnout in Melbourne. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Bruv was saying around 40000 attended the Sydney GP with just under 20000 paying punters. Hopefully will be a bigger turnout in Melbourne. A bigger paying attendance certainly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 That's a huge number of freebies if the numbers are anywhere near accurate, though pretty sure attendance has been estimated at closer to 32k earlier on this thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 That's a huge number of freebies if the numbers are anywhere near accurate, though pretty sure attendance has been estimated at closer to 32k earlier on this thread I think this is a major problem throughout Speedway. I reckon there will be money lost at all Tracks on a weekly basis because of of this. It is criminal really in a failing Sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 I think this is a major problem throughout Speedway. I reckon there will be money lost at all Tracks on a weekly basis because of of this. It is criminal really in a failing Sport. These were not the type of freebies that blight the elite league, these freebies were literally dragged in off the street to make a semblence of a crowd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Bruv was saying around 40000 attended the Sydney GP with just under 20000 paying punters. Hopefully will be a bigger turnout in Melbourne. ANY actual evidence of that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 ANY actual evidence of that? There were plenty of people in Sydney on the day virtually accosted to attend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted October 10, 2015 Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 What ever happened to Malaysia? Still there between Thailand and Singapore last I looked ;-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I was interested to see the Etihad track will be 346m. in length as I would have expected the stadium layout to be very similar to the Millenium. I assume this is due to Melbourne having more retractable seats than Cardiff. Racing should be better on the bigger track...375 yards equivalent so could be a better experience than Cardiff, so long as 40,000+ turn up and make enough noise. For me at least Cardiff would be better with a 375 yard track. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I was interested to see the Etihad track will be 346m. in length as I would have expected the stadium layout to be very similar to the Millenium. I assume this is due to Melbourne having more retractable seats than Cardiff. Racing should be better on the bigger track...375 yards equivalent so could be a better experience than Cardiff, so long as 40,000+ turn up and make enough noise. For me at least Cardiff would be better with a 375 yard track. Straights are 12m(Cardiff 11) bends 15m(Cardiff 14) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
severnsider Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 I was interested to see the Etihad track will be 346m. in length as I would have expected the stadium layout to be very similar to the Millenium. I assume this is due to Melbourne having more retractable seats than Cardiff. Racing should be better on the bigger track...375 yards equivalent so could be a better experience than Cardiff, so long as 40,000+ turn up and make enough noise. For me at least Cardiff would be better with a 375 yard track. Think it is due to the stadium being made for Aussie rules and cricket rather than for football and rugby. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Thanks for that severnsider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ned Kelly 41 Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 They'll be working flat out next week on this one -- Saturday night has Melbourne Victory against Melbourne City (soccer) and therefore no track work could begin until Sunday at earliest. Practice on Friday afternoon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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