False dawn Posted March 29, 2015 Report Share Posted March 29, 2015 (edited) At the Coventry Wolves match it did not seem to me very polite to bring the home side onto the track on the truck when our guests were left to walk on. In fact you could almost argue it should be the other way round. Edited March 29, 2015 by False dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voice Of Reason Posted March 29, 2015 Report Share Posted March 29, 2015 Who should, or shouldn't, ride on the truck is immaterial to my mind. The fact remains that it is an absolutely woeful, half-hearted attempt at professional presentation. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Daniel Smith Posted March 29, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 29, 2015 Who should, or shouldn't, ride on the truck is immaterial to my mind. The fact remains that it is an absolutely woeful, half-hearted attempt at professional presentation. Absolutely, most of the time rider's are chatting amongst themselves with a "couldn't give a sh!+ about the fans but I'll go round with my hand half up to look interested" on parade. The same can be said for the heat victory lap (most just turn straight back to the pits though) & the victory parade. The whole presentation of British Speedway is a disgrace and it was highlighted even more so at Rory Schlein's testimonial 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agrotron Posted March 29, 2015 Report Share Posted March 29, 2015 Absolutely, most of the time rider's are chatting amongst themselves with a "couldn't give a sh!+ about the fans but I'll go round with my hand half up to look interested" on parade. The same can be said for the heat victory lap (most just turn straight back to the pits though) & the victory parade. The whole presentation of British Speedway is a disgrace and it was highlighted even more so at Rory Schlein's testimonial I couldn't agree more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post G the Bee Posted March 29, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 29, 2015 (edited) Voice of Reason hits the nail on the head. The riders coming around on a truck in an attempt to improve presentation is akin to improving the comfort of lying on a bed of nails by wearing a string vest! It's not a Coventry thing though. I'm yet to go to any track which has anything approaching decent presentation. A 7:30 prompt tapes up. Meeting over by 9. No interval. Quick turn around of heats. Compare the presentation of an EL meeting to that of a GP. They are light years apart. In a GP, you've barely got time to fill out your programme before the next heat is coming out. That's how it should be. Loud music between heats (modern stuff - even though it's not to my taste). An MC who gets the crowd going. You've got to create a party atmosphere. On Friday at Brandon, despite the meeting being pushed through at a decent pace, the atmosphere was like a morgue. And it was a local derby against Wolves! There seems to be no concept from any speedway promoter that they are in the entertainment business. Take Friday at Brandon. The meeting got down to a 1 point lead for Bees, a bit of tension had crept into the meeting in the last few heats. Bees got a 5:1 in heat 12 and then... the momentum and enjoyment went out of the window for 15 minutes as an interval was called. Just as the meeting had started to liven up a bit! And we all stood around in the cold, in a stadium that has seen better days, just... waiting... and... watching... the... tractors! Speedway spends too long doing things because it has always done them. We spend too long pandering to the cloth-cap brigade. There is a reason why the local whist club has a younger clientele than the average speedway team. If we can't find a way to get the younger generation into the sport, it is dead at league level. Edited March 29, 2015 by G the Bee 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 A 7:30 prompt tapes up. Meeting over by 9. No interval. Ah but what about the track staff who will want a cup of tea and a wee - in no particular order. Quick turn around of heats. Compare the presentation of an EL meeting to that of a GP. They are light years apart. In a GP, you've barely got time to fill out your programme before the next heat is coming out. That's how it should be. Yes that is how it should be but unfortunately it often isn't. Compare the time it takes for the riders to be ready for a re-run after a false start or a coming together on the first bend in the G.P's. It's everyone back to the pits for 5 minutes. It was never as bad in the E.L. but has now got even better with no return at all allowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Track staff should be able to go 90 minutes without the need for a wee or a cuppa. If they can't then they can take a flask and nip to the loo between races if need be in consultation with the CotC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfromcov Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 think its more to do with the takings for drink and food than having a pee! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhamboy66 Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) Voice of Reason hits the nail on the head. The riders coming around on a truck in an attempt to improve presentation is akin to improving the comfort of lying on a bed of nails by wearing a string vest! It's not a Coventry thing though. I'm yet to go to any track which has anything approaching decent presentation. A 7:30 prompt tapes up. Meeting over by 9. No interval. Quick turn around of heats. Compare the presentation of an EL meeting to that of a GP. They are light years apart. In a GP, you've barely got time to fill out your programme before the next heat is coming out. That's how it should be. Loud music between heats (modern stuff - even though it's not to my taste). An MC who gets the crowd going. You've got to create a party atmosphere. On Friday at Brandon, despite the meeting being pushed through at a decent pace, the atmosphere was like a morgue. And it was a local derby against Wolves! There seems to be no concept from any speedway promoter that they are in the entertainment business. Take Friday at Brandon. The meeting got down to a 1 point lead for Bees, a bit of tension had crept into the meeting in the last few heats. Bees got a 5:1 in heat 12 and then... the momentum and enjoyment went out of the window for 15 minutes as an interval was called. Just as the meeting had started to liven up a bit! And we all stood around in the cold, in a stadium that has seen better days, just... waiting... and... watching... the... tractors! Speedway spends too long doing things because it has always done them. We spend too long pandering to the cloth-cap brigade. There is a reason why the local whist club has a younger clientele than the average speedway team. If we can't find a way to get the younger generation into the sport, it is dead at league level. Couldn't agree more. ten minutes between races is edging towards becoming the norm, the races called back for unsatisfactory starts without an immediate two minute warning is a constant wind up. I have been fortunate enough to watch speedway at Costa Mesa and San Bernadino and those meetings were run so professionally it was a joy to be there. Riders leaving the track were immediately followed onto the track by the next four. With kids races and some demo races too 30 heats finished quicker than it takes us to do 15. Yes i know our team racing can require riders to have two or three rides on the trot but there never seems any urgency in keeping the entertainment coming thick and fast. That's the best thing about the GP's that they have an allotted TV slot and they do their very best to keep to it. As for presentation. lets have a prompt start but it takes ten minutes prior to the start to bring riders out for an introductory lap in pairs. Always the most professional way for a meeting to start if done properly. Edited March 30, 2015 by westhamboy66 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiseguy Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 It needs an overhaul for sure, maybe they should get a forward thinking promotions guy, look whats happened in darts the last few years, a complete change around from the old stereotypes of what it was in the 80's Most speedway tracks still playing the same music they were in the 80's IMO each rider should choose their walk on/ ride on music, this tune becomes synonymous with this rider and one by one they make there way to the tapes it gives the fans time to cheer their favourite rider or boo the opposition rider they dislike, all light hearted of course as soon as one heat finishes and the track is clear, the riders for the next heat should start to come out, the first rider has 1 minute to get to the tapes while their chosen song is blaring out, then the second rider does the same, repeat til all four riders are out should be no more than 5 minutes between heats unless there has been an accident Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheelman Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 If the promoters are shrewed businessman.....shouldnt they know all this stuff.....In the 60s and 70s from what i here they were more switched on and knew they were in the entertainment business Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) I doubt promoters that don't own the stadium get any revenue from food/drinks etc. Perhaps it's the Stadium owners insisted on the interval for a bit of extra profit? I'm happy when a meeting at Brandon finishes by 9.15 I think that's an acceptable time for the kids. Edited March 30, 2015 by woz01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 (edited) Track staff should be able to go 90 minutes without the need for a wee or a cuppa. If they can't then they can take a flask and nip to the loo between races if need be in consultation with the CotC. Well, yes I agree but I'm just repeating what someone said who is part of the staff - they need a break. Personally I don't see why. If I can drive from Leicester, watch all the meeting plus second half, then drive back again without needing the loo then I don't see why an interval is needed. But perhaps like someone has said it's the owner so more food/drink can be sold. IMO each rider should choose their walk on/ ride on music, this tune becomes synonymous with this rider and one by one they make there way to the tapes as soon as one heat finishes and the track is clear, the riders for the next heat should start to come out, the first rider has 1 minute to get to the tapes while their chosen song is blaring out, then the second rider does the same, repeat til all four riders are out Blimey! That would be a laugh with the men on music duty trying to sort that lot out. And what about Peter York at Coventry? When would he be able to get a word in? Edited March 30, 2015 by Gemini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruiser McHuge Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 the interval is a tricky one...most tracks are tenants and I think the landlords want to see money coming in from the bars and food and drink stalls.....an interval would certainly help that....I think that maybe something should be done during the interval though, just something to keep the fans entertained, even if it's interviews or something simple..... Regarding old promoters doing more...I'm not sure....I cannot remember any decent interval attractions going on in the 70's...they didn't even have a centre green announcer back then, the track music was still shocking...the nights were still as cold, but we didn't complain and the gates were high.......I just think people have higher expectations now, there is more to compete for our time, kids have multi channel TV and it's difficult to drag them off Minecraft on the XBox for a night stood in the cold at speedway...speedway hasn't changed much but society has and speedway hasn't really moved with it at club level. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Last season Rosco had a few very good young live artists singing before the meeting and I think during the interval as well, they seemed to go down well, but it was in the summer when it was not freezing like it was last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beowulf Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 the interval is a tricky one...most tracks are tenants and I think the landlords want to see money coming in from the bars and food and drink stalls.....an interval would certainly help that....I think that maybe something should be done during the interval though, just something to keep the fans entertained, even if it's interviews or something simple..... Regarding old promoters doing more...I'm not sure....I cannot remember any decent interval attractions going on in the 70's...they didn't even have a centre green announcer back then, the track music was still shocking...the nights were still as cold, but we didn't complain and the gates were high.......I just think people have higher expectations now, there is more to compete for our time, kids have multi channel TV and it's difficult to drag them off Minecraft on the XBox for a night stood in the cold at speedway...speedway hasn't changed much but society has and speedway hasn't really moved with it at club level. How about asking landlords to do pre-meeting offers on food and drink, to get the punters in earlier and therefore not missing too much if the interval is axed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R87 Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Not just the presentation itself, but the choice of music leaves a lot to be desired. I remember being at Birmingham about 7 years ago when they rode Somerset and they decided to play "I've got a brand new combine harvester" over the tannoy - obviously thinking they were being witty and clever. Its amateurish, juvenile, childish and just not funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruiser McHuge Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Not just the presentation itself, but the choice of music leaves a lot to be desired. I remember being at Birmingham about 7 years ago when they rode Somerset and they decided to play "I've got a brand new combine harvester" over the tannoy - obviously thinking they were being witty and clever. Its amateurish, juvenile, childish and just not funny. It's quite funny....did they follow it up with I am a cider drinker ?...........they should have done ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Hammer Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Love the Wurzels, part of my cultural heritage, being born in Exeter Musical versatility at its best: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qSLk7u2jtIE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted March 30, 2015 Report Share Posted March 30, 2015 Nothing wrong with an interval. It's just that they should have it about half way through the meeting, and just have one instead of fourteen of them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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