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Drawn Out Meetings


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They obviously don't but it's time they got the message. The last away match I attended was Kings Lynn v Coventry and I won't be in a hurry to go back for the 'B' fixture. 40 minute delay waiting for the sun to go down - okay that's reasonable but if it's a regular problem why not start at 8pm instead of 7.30pm? Standing around in a bitterly cold wind was not much fun. Heat 11 Iverson took out Chris and Danny on the 1st bend so the race needed to be re-run but not before the 2 Bees riders sorted out their damaged machinery. So why not bring the interval forward one heat to have it during the delay? But no we have to wait and then have an interval after the next heat. Drives me mad all this messing around. Just get on with it! 15 heats - no interval to keep the match flowing. :mad:

Well said Gemnini - I couldn't agree more. :t::approve: :approve: :approve:

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It never used to bother me, drawn out meetings. But then you add up how long you are stood at the speedway, when racing isn't taking place, and it suddenly hits home. Matches are probably drawn out, it gives the false feeling of a decent night. Speedway - a £20 sport for 2 and half hours entertainment.

 

As I think back, to all the years I stood there, I shudder to think how many hours were wasted... how many programmes I re-read.

 

I didn't mind it... but any newcomers may be put off by the hold ups. I know I wouldn't do it any more... the interest isn't there, through age or the sport being less attractive.

Edited by moxey63
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Just over 75 minutes for the NL match at Scunny on Monday :approve:

 

Yeah, Rob G doesn't like to mess about. He was onto the ref, when the first meeting didn't start bang on 3pm on Monday.

 

It's the way it should be.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
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More hold ups than stagecoaches held up by outlaws in a western in speedway at the moment.

For the spectators its hold your hands up and we will take all your money.

Love it!!! :t::rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

Except it isn't really funny. :sad: :sad:

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I think it should be enshrined in the rules, to assist promoters who don't realise they are harming their own business. Let's say the optimum length of a 15 heat match is 1 hr 45 mins. Tracks should be fined if they take longer without a good reason. If there is a crash which say takes 15 mins to sort out, then that can be added to the time ie now you are aiming for 2 hours (though ideally the meeting would be speeded up to compensate for the delay).

 

This would also impact on referees who are slow with the 2-minute warning.

 

It's amazing how a fast-presented meeting without much good racing can seem better than a long slow drag even with some decent races.

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How do you fancy been the Sheriff then to sort that lot out. :t:

By the way where is my tigers head.

Four foot from it's Tail. :t::rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

Lonnie Donegan - 'My Old Man's A Dustman'.

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In the olden days, I am talking 1970 to 1980, tracks were graded after every race, not after 4, 7, 11 and 14 like today, yet the main meetings were always done and dusted by 9pm, 9:15 latest, and the gates were opened after heat 10 and anybody could walk in and watch the last couple of races and second half for nowt!!!!

Wonder if that would work now......

Edited by Shale Searcher
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Very good and well done. :t::D

I'm a big Lonnie Donegan Fan. :t::approve: :approve:

 

That's my era - Buddy Holly, Elvis, Eddie Cochrane, The Everly Brothers, Marty Wilde - it hasn't got any better than that since.

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What really gets my 'goat' is when there is perhaps a sun-delay of 15-20 mins a couple of crashes and a fence repair and some clubs still insist on having an interval!

 

It's annoying when it happens at home meetings (for the home fans), but worse when it happens away from home (therefore for the away fans!) when you might have a 4 or 5 hour drive home and you're leaving at something like 9.30pm to get home maybe 1-2am.

Edited by Steve Park
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What gets me, was when we were at Leicester last month they seemed to take great delight in telling us, "the interval will be after heat 10 today" and "we'll be having the interval after the next heat" and just constantly informing us of the interval. It was almost as if we had gone to the speedway for the interval! Took nearly 2 an a half hours to run that meeting.

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What gets me, was when we were at Leicester last month they seemed to take great delight in telling us, "the interval will be after heat 10 today" and "we'll be having the interval after the next heat" and just constantly informing us of the interval. It was almost as if we had gone to the speedway for the interval! Took nearly 2 an a half hours to run that meeting.

 

 

To be fair though, at Leicester its the best bit of the nights entertainment

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It really gets under my skin when there is a treat of rain and the interval still takes place.

 

I heard recently that a meeting took place at Leicester and was sped through due to the dubious forecast then there was a big gap before the MDL was sent out. In which time the heavens had opened and the track was awash.........that's how we treat what future the sport does have!

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Seriously, though, I have seen my share of drawn out matches. My love of standing there, or even watching at home, for hour upon hour have long since gone. Times change, and no longer do I sit in my living room, watching a live GP for three hours or more, just cos it's live. If I wish to watch, I'll record and then just watch the main feature.

 

I think TV speedway should do away with the live stuff and just show the highlights in an edited programme. Much better that way.

I've long advocated a highlights package over a weekly live meeting. It would a great chance to cut some of the rubbish and showcase the best action.

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One of the good things (and I loved the format altogether) about 13 heats was the separation between the match and second half.

 

One format I thought used to kill a match was the 1993 18 heat one - when the last three heats were dependent on the riders' scores that nights and usually followed a lengthy interval after heat 15.

 

I thought it often killed a match that could have been in full swing.

 

Too many long gaps between races makes me wanna yawn and start having a fascination with what time it is.

Edited by moxey63
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I am surprised Birmingham BMX took that long it's normally very well run when my son has ridden there.

 

At Braintree last Sunday we did about 130 races in 2.5 hours, which is about right unless there are very big crashes.

 

Please also remember it was free and run by volunteers (parents like me) plus the riders are unpaid.

 

At least it wasn't 'dusted off'. Give it another try you may have just picked a bad day.

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