The White Knight Posted January 29, 2015 Report Share Posted January 29, 2015 We often have MDL as a second half at Lynn. I think 90 minutes from tapes up of heat one to chequered flag of heat fifteen is about right if there is a second half for people to stay and watch if they wish. Meetings are dragged out to increase bar takings and while that is fine on a summers evening it's not fair on people if its cold. Precisely. :approve: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Meldrew Posted January 30, 2015 Report Share Posted January 30, 2015 what is this sport coming too... not allowed to dismount to do a bit of gardening.... pathetic, bloody pathetic. The sport is dying a slow painful death IMO and the powers to be come up with this... :rofl: bloody muppetts. The riders who waste time at the start of the race digging up the track like chickens are the real muppets. These antics do not exhibit a professional presentation to the general public at the start of the race. If a rider dismounts to concentrate on digging up the track surface or filling in ruts then can it be said that he is fully in control of his machine ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dump that clutch Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 The riders who waste time at the start of the race digging up the track like chickens are the real muppets. they are not the ones wasting time.... that i'm afraid is down to the referee... These antics do not exhibit a professional presentation to the general public at the start of the race. so what exhibits professionalism to you... it's part of the speedway set up for as long as i can remember. If a rider dismounts to concentrate on digging up the track surface or filling in ruts then can it be said that he is fully in control of his machine ? tell me how many riders have lost control of their machine over the last 20 years whilst preparing their starting gate..? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 (edited) The riders who waste time at the start of the race digging up the track like chickens are the real muppets. they are not the ones wasting time.... that i'm afraid is down to the referee... These antics do not exhibit a professional presentation to the general public at the start of the race. so what exhibits professionalism to you... it's part of the speedway set up for as long as i can remember. If a rider dismounts to concentrate on digging up the track surface or filling in ruts then can it be said that he is fully in control of his machine ? tell me how many riders have lost control of their machine over the last 20 years whilst preparing their starting gate..? Tai Woffinden certainly was not in control of his machine when he was running around with a shovel. :D Edited February 2, 2015 by The White Knight 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 I think the timer clocks on the centre green are the way to go and then it's up to the ref to time the meeting. As long as they allow time for track grading and time for riders to do a celebratory lap then I'll be happy :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Meldrew Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 The riders who waste time at the start of the race digging up the track like chickens are the real muppets. they are not the ones wasting time.... that i'm afraid is down to the referee... These antics do not exhibit a professional presentation to the general public at the start of the race. so what exhibits professionalism to you... it's part of the speedway set up for as long as i can remember. If a rider dismounts to concentrate on digging up the track surface or filling in ruts then can it be said that he is fully in control of his machine ? tell me how many riders have lost control of their machine over the last 20 years whilst preparing their starting gate..? 1. If the riders came up to the start line well within the two minutes ready to race then they would not be wasting time. 2. Gardening is not part of the speedway set up. There were clearly issues to be resolved hence the proposed action by the SCB (probably in consultation with the BSPA). We have not seen the revised wording yet - let's wait and see how the new rules operate in practice. 3. Suggest you refer this one to the Health & Safety Executive for a Risk assessment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted February 3, 2015 Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 Tai Woffinden certainly was not in control of his machine when he was running around with a shovel. :D Don't sit on the fence - call a spade a spade!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Meldrew Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 On the National Speedway Museum website John Chaplin, the renowned Speedway historian, has this to say about Gardening at the Gate : " ...the irritating and time-consuming habit of riders digging grooves in the track surface at the starting line with the object of creating a launch pad to project themselves into the first turn ahead of their rivals. Getting groovy at the gate may bring a feel-good factor to the competitive agenda of many big-time throttle jockeys, who also use it as a psychological tactic to unsettle opponents alongside. But it infuriates fans, frustrates starting marshals and television directors and also fearfully annoys referees." 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I am sure what JC says is correct, for the very reasons stated. Would be ok if they did it within the 2 minute rule, but its ridiculous the amount of time taken. Time to sort it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 On the National Speedway Museum website John Chaplin, the renowned Speedway historian, has this to say about Gardening at the Gate : " ...the irritating and time-consuming habit of riders digging grooves in the track surface at the starting line with the object of creating a launch pad to project themselves into the first turn ahead of their rivals. Getting groovy at the gate may bring a feel-good factor to the competitive agenda of many big-time throttle jockeys, who also use it as a psychological tactic to unsettle opponents alongside. But it infuriates fans, frustrates starting marshals and television directors and also fearfully annoys referees." It's simple. The two minutes go on, and within that 2 minutes the tapes go up. If you're not ready then tough, you're excluded or play catch up using your now wonderfully prepared bit of start gate - not much us if your bike is on it's side as the other enter turn 1 though is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 It's simple. The two minutes go on, and within that 2 minutes the tapes go up. If you're not ready then tough, you're excluded or play catch up using your now wonderfully prepared bit of start gate - not much us if your bike is on it's side as the other enter turn 1 though is it? Great idea SCB. They should adopt this as a Rule straight away. :approve: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
INCOGNITO Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I can't see the problem with gardening at the tapes as long as they are ready when the race is due to start. The problem I see is having a rider being called to the gate and still carries on digging and then pulls back to clear his goggles or adjust his clutch lever. When all four riders are at the tapes the referee should flash the green light a few times and this means that they should be still at the tapes and ready to go. The green light is then put on and if any rider is not in position they are excluded. This would soon ensure all riders would be ready when the green light flashes and races would go out in time. The starting area should be maintained through the meeting by the start Marshall or a member of track staff so little gardening is required Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 I can't see the problem with gardening at the tapes as long as they are ready when the race is due to start. The problem I see is having a rider being called to the gate and still carries on digging and then pulls back to clear his goggles or adjust his clutch lever. When all four riders are at the tapes the referee should flash the green light a few times and this means that they should be still at the tapes and ready to go. The green light is then put on and if any rider is not in position they are excluded. This would soon ensure all riders would be ready when the green light flashes and races would go out in time. The starting area should be maintained through the meeting by the start Marshall or a member of track staff so little gardening is required Actually, it was at Sunderland. The Starting Marshal, my Pal and Myself were responsible for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrycuda Posted February 4, 2015 Report Share Posted February 4, 2015 (edited) Post removed Edited June 2, 2015 by Barrycuda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenga Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 More engine failures this season due to slipping clutches and the best clutch wins. lol.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 NKI's view on the new gardening rules for British Speedway http://www.speedwaygp.com/news/article/3948/gardening-grief 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 NKI's view on the new gardening rules for British Speedway http://www.speedwaygp.com/news/article/3948/gardening-grief A very reasonable view to take - and he is right. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coventry1963 Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 Maybe making it an exclusion to touch the tapes at any time would stop at least half of the gardening that goes on as riders try to prepare the first yard beyond the start line nowadays as well as the starting area behind the line! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Meldrew Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 NKI's views have already been reported in Speedway Star and are OTT !! If he wants to ride in the British League then he will have to comply with the SCB Regulations. The two minute time allowance is a long stop - e.g. if a rider has a machine problem - riders should be at the tapes ready to race well before the two minute warning is sounded. A two minute clock visible to all riders and spectators is long overdue at British tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewer Posted February 7, 2015 Report Share Posted February 7, 2015 (edited) so leave a hump of dirt just as you leave the start, it was oh so better when riders used to roll back and forth through the tapes hoping they wouldnt break them trying to get the best start back in the good old days, NOT. as has been said by many 2 minutes thats your lot, over, done with, garden if you wish, if you leave the pits late and the clock is ticking , tough your fault. at the end of the day this is nothing more than a knee jerk reaction to the british final last year, and as i have said before no rules were actually broken the blame lied totally with the referee and meeting coordinator in NOT putting the 2 minutes on sooner, so aside from twiddling thumbs in the pits Tai made use of his time constructively without a breach of the rules. Edited February 7, 2015 by brewer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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