Riding In Europe In The Old Days

[ch958]

Another sparkling contribution....as always insightful and lucid.

 

Sadly you did unfortunately (and probably unintentionally) make yourself look a little silly earlier.

 

There will be those on here who pointed out the serious flaw in your original argument, who would regard your comments describing them as having no original thoughts or ideas, as a rather arrogant comment in itself.

 

Food for thought perhaps????!!!!!

 

 

go away

To answer the original question the reason that riders were exclusively riding in Britain was simple.

 

Firstly pre 1989 and the fall of communism Poland, and the rest of Eastern Europe, wasn't readily accessible like today and they certainly weren't awash with money at that time. The odd touring party used to go either way (the Poles often with security to make sure they went home) but that was it. The fall of the Berlin wall opened up Poland to the west and, if I recall, it was Hans Nielsen who first took the opportunity by signing for Motor Lublin?

 

Swedish speedway from the mid sixties was in pretty poor shape and was played out to only a handful of spectators, little money for the home based Swedes let alone flying them in from the rest of Europe. The early 90s saw something of a resurgence and, like Poland, the Eurpean based riders happily jumped on the bandwagon.

 

These things happened at the same time British Speedway was falling from the publics favour and very very quickly Britain went from number one priority league to number 3.

 

yes - the original question

i was going from memory only but this and Arnieg's replies have satisfied my curiosity

thank you for your reply

it does show that these things go in cycles and that perhaps the current pre-eminence of Polish, Swedish and maybe Danish league racing may not last forever.

[oldace]

 

 

go away

 

yes - the original question

i was going from memory only but this and Arnieg's replies have satisfied my curiosity

thank you for your reply

it does show that these things go in cycles and that perhaps the current pre-eminence of Polish, Swedish and maybe Danish league racing may not last forever.

 

I think that is definitely the case. Polish speedway is currently recreating British speedways mistakes from 35 - 40 years ago. They are paying out more money than is coming in and upping admission to pay for it. While crowds are still high compared to here they are well down on their peak and in real terms speedway in Poland is as expensive, or even more expensive, than here.

 

Like Britain after the war, Poland, post communism, was a nation starved of live entertainment and flocked to the (then) relatively cheap speedway tracks. As Poland becomes more 21st century speedway is slowly not the attraction it once was. The big Sunday afternoon paydays of Poland will fizzle out inside 10 years.

[Guest]

 

 

go away

 

yes - the original question

i was going from memory only but this and Arnieg's replies have satisfied my curiosity

thank you for your reply

it does show that these things go in cycles and that perhaps the current pre-eminence of Polish, Swedish and maybe Danish league racing may not last forever.

There are several countries where the concept of league racing has died out - South Africa, Holland, Australia, USA spring readily to mind. And the New Zealand League is not the force it was in the late 1940s - these days little more than a challenge round series.

[The White Knight]

There are several countries where the concept of league racing has died out - South Africa, Holland, Australia, USA spring readily to mind. And the New Zealand League is not the force it was in the late 1940s - these days little more than a challenge round series.

Lets hope Speedway never reaches that situation here. The problem is - it could in the future if things continue as they are.

[Bruiser McHuge]

Not sure if it was the 70's or 80's but I seem to remember John Davis riding in the German league.

 

Yes I watched John Davis ride in a German League meeting in the 80's when I was in Germany...

 

In the 70's and 80's most top riders rode in Germany on Sunday's in individual meetings and of course the longtrack scene was much bigger back then and a lot of riders did German longtrack at weekends..

I remember the Polish League opening up to foreigners around 1989 or 1990 and that was where riders really wanted to go....I remember Paul Thorp telling my brother in law around that time what he was earning in Poland and that he really had to get a place over there...I don't think that early money lasted for a lot and some got their fingers burned but it was the start and of course foreign riding in the main now means Polish League

[Guest]

The old Buffalo Stadium in Paris used to be popular with British-based riders.