Star Lady Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I left before the end, which has to be said isn't the first time with Peterborough.......unfortunately. The meeting started at 7.40pm (I don't know what time it actually finished, as I left after Heat 13, totally fed up with the usual delays, plus to be fair, the cold too), but it must have been after 10.00pm. Assuming it finished at curfew time, that's a total of 2 hours 20 minutes. There was just over 15-minutes of racing, approximately 20-minutes of sun delay (unavoidable). Approximately 15-minute delay for the Richard Hall accident (unavoidable). Total time of approximately 45-minutes. That means we are paying to watch 1 hour 35 minutes of tractor grading, which seems to be done to excess at this particular venue, and general time wasting. Emma Strowger posed the question in her column in the programme last night, "Why are attendance levels falling in the sport".............Answers given above in my particular case. As for the meeting when it intermittently happened, the racing was excellent, as it nearly always is at the Showground, in fact it's hard to think of a track that currently provides better racing. Both sides gave it their all, and were a joy to watch, but as others have said, and I agree, to many other shenanigans spoil the evening out. Year in year out, supporters complain about the length of time it takes to get through a meeting, yet they continue to get ignored, so is it little wonder they stop attending, and that is sad. I've been saying similar things about Lynn for years. Funnily enough on my last 4 visits to Peterborough I've never thought they were long drawn out affairs (and that includes Monday when Blackbird was injured). Maybe the difference for me is what's provided between the racing.....reasonable music/ rider interviews/knowledgeable presenter giving info and shock horror fans being kept informed why there was a delay and the fact that intervals are taken when there is a delay and not added on regardless. I eagerly anticipate each race at Boro cos the track provides it so it's worth waiting for whereas Saddlebow Road (as it will always remain )nowadays simply doesn't. It's all in the perception and expectation I guess. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I've been saying similar things about Lynn for years. Funnily enough on my last 4 visits to Peterborough I've never thought they were long drawn out affairs (and that includes Monday when Blackbird was injured). Maybe the difference for me is what's provided between the racing.....reasonable music/ rider interviews/knowledgeable presenter giving info and shock horror fans being kept informed why there was a delay and the fact that intervals are taken when there is a delay and not added on regardless. I eagerly anticipate each race at Boro cos the track provides it so it's worth waiting for whereas Saddlebow Road (as it will always remain )nowadays simply doesn't. It's all in the perception and expectation I guess. It certainly is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
em1500uk Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I have to agree with StarLady. I've never ever felt that a meeting at Peterborough has been a long drawn out affair. First time I've ever known there to be a sun delay last night (the delay last night between heats 5/6). Yes, that went on for about 30mins, BUT at least that was then considered the only interval of the night instead of having another one after heat 9 or 10 or 12 later on (which is what Lynn seem to like doing these days! ) Apparently way back when, according to my father and a mate of mine, riders used to wear tinted goggles and just got on with racing in the sun, as let's face it, all tracks have always been in the positions they've been in (unless a club has moved home) and the sun shining is not a new phenomenon, so what's changed? Yes, there was then another 15min delay or so later anyway due to Richard Hall's crash, but you know, I can live with delays after crashes as those things can and are more likely to happen now. Beyond all that, my Peterborough mate was great company (as always!) and we normally have sensible and interesting discussions about the sports problems and what have you plus he throws a bit of banter in toward me which I don't really mind in the slightest. Yes, he went to Lynn on Thursday and I didn't and now he claims I really have dropped the Stars and become a fully fledged Panthers supporter instead I wouldn't go that far, but I now seem to enjoy my visits to Peterborough more than ever these days. Last night was no exception. Great racing. It's fun watching Michael Palm Toft completely miss the gate and then pass everyone and get first in the run to the line. His heats were the best of the night! I think I'm in love I cannot get from Canary Wharf to EOES for 7.30pm on a Friday - Almost Mission impossible - M11/25 Junction and A14 are almost gridlocked that time on Friday evening Sorry I was forgetting that! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barncooseboy Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I am not sure if it applies to race situations but a little elf at the back of my brain has reminded me that tinted visors were made illegal a few years ago for road use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 I can live with delays after crashes as those things can and are more likely to happen now. Why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
em1500uk Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 (edited) Why? Bikes are lighter/faster than they were years ago. The faster a bike is travelling, the more likely that you're going to hurt yourself if you fall off. That's my thinking. Edited May 30, 2015 by em1500uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPanther Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Bikes are lighter/faster than they were years ago. The faster a bike is travelling, the more likely that you're going to hurt yourself if you fall off. That's my thinking. And you would be correct em... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdjfan Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Lukas I can't remember back in 2006 ever being at a meeting where there was a crowd of 5 to 6000 people think that's a bit of an exaggeration!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Lukas I can't remember back in 2006 ever being at a meeting where there was a crowd of 5 to 6000 people think that's a bit of an exaggeration!!No exaggeration, easily that amount at play off final. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 No exaggeration, easily that amount at play off final.5,000 Reading Fans !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arson fire Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Must have been 30 deep on back straight 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukas Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Its not an exaggeration..and what a night that was..sends a shiver down my spine when I watch that heat 15 where Hans n Ryan fended off Hancock..how times have changed! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panthers89 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Isn't that a case of British speed in general though? Crowds twindling, big name riders not here anymore? Don't get me wrong I'll never forget that night but it's not just Peterborough sadly! Your telling me mpt wasn't equal to that action alone Friday night? Crowds have been up on the last couple of seasons imo so onwards and upwards! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilK Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Found ourselves at Peterborough last night after our planned trip to Coventry to see the Fen Tigers was rained off.I think in all honesty we may have been lucky as this was a fantastic meeting especially for the neutral. If Fisher had performed and Hall not withdrawn iit could have been very close indeed The racing was excellent all evening, Palm Toft's races especially eagerly awaited. Someone commented that Lambert no giving Hall room was the cause of his fall, really dont see that! From where we were on the 1st bend it was just hard racing, Hall had plenty of room to get round Lambert, just a shame he crashed as it was an cracking raceOllie Greenwood could do with finding a NL club in my opinion to give him more racing and restore his confidence. He is a better rider than he looked last night. If Peterborough are considering a change James Shanes could be a good call, the Peterborough track looking just right for his all action style. Looking forward to visiting the EOES again very soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 Bikes are lighter/faster than they were years ago. The faster a bike is travelling, the more likely that you're going to hurt yourself if you fall off. That's my thinking. I was thinking more about the delays and their length rather than their reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
em1500uk Posted May 30, 2015 Report Share Posted May 30, 2015 (edited) And you would be correct em... Gotta be right about something at some point LOL! I was thinking more about the delays and their length rather than their reason.Oh! Sorry! Obviously one of my many confused moments LOL! Well...the delays surrounding giving medical attention to someone I can understand. Riders need looking after if they're seriously hurt and that can take time depending on the injury. It's the delays for the sun and what have you that annoy me the most, but again, if you've already had a sun delay, don't go and have another interval later on, like Lynn seem to like doing as I say. That's when it starts to seem to take the biscuit! Someone commented that Lambert no giving Hall room was the cause of his fall, really dont see that! From where we were on the 1st bend it was just hard racing, Hall had plenty of room to get round Lambert, just a shame he crashed as it was an cracking race If Peterborough are considering a change James Shanes could be a good call, the Peterborough track looking just right for his all action style. Agree on both counts. I saw James Shanes at the Fenland Grasstrack last August with Zach (can't spell his surname!) who's now at Birmingham. Both were very good. Shanes did well at Mildenhall in the U21s back in April too. I would certainly welcome him in at reserve. Would certainly be entertaining! Edited May 30, 2015 by em1500uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 (edited) .em1500uk....... It's the delays for the sun and what have you that annoy me the most, but again, if you've already had a sun delay, don't go and have another interval later on, like Lynn seem to like doing as I say. That's when it starts to seem to take the biscuit! Don't say Peterborough are going to start having sun delays as well? Just when I thought I was turning into a Panthers fan, although admittedly only on Sunday's as I am at Coventry on Friday's. I'm not going to like all this hanging around and more tractor action than speedway races. Edited May 31, 2015 by Gemini Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukas Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 Don't know why such a big deal is being made about it..its happened in the past at this time of year on an evening meeting and they can just have it as the interval. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
em1500uk Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 (edited) Don't say Peterborough are going to start having sun delays as well? Just when I thought I was turning into a Panthers fan, although admittedly only on Sunday's as I am at Coventry on Friday's. I'm not going to like all this hanging around and more tractor action than speedway races. Don't worry! It will just count as an early interval if it happens again I imagine, like on Friday night. Don't know why such a big deal is being made about it..its happened in the past at this time of year on an evening meeting and they can just have it as the interval.I'm not making a big deal out of it. It's just the first time that I've personally known it to happen there that's all. And credit to Peterborough that they then consider that the interval instead of having another one later! Edited May 31, 2015 by em1500uk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PE7Panther Posted May 31, 2015 Report Share Posted May 31, 2015 (edited) Just sppoken to Ryan Fisher, he is devastated by yet more engine problems last night. His engines wernt back to his tuner of choice after last weeks problems at Posh, ithey were caused by a bolt falling out of the rockers, last night what happened after the tuners efforts during the past week, a bolt or stud felll out of the rockers within seconds of firing up and was found ithis morning in the chain locker not broken, had just screwed itself out and fallen, nut still on it. How do you fight things like that? Just spoken to a friend he suggests a firm kick in the slatsre. "at Posh": Their season finished a couple of weeks ago! FYI, "Posh" is just the nickname of PUFC, and not a generic nickname for anything & everything Peterborian. 5,000 Reading Fans !!!yeah, right..... that's why the place erupted when Hans & Flyin' Ryan flew past the finish line. Edited May 31, 2015 by PE7Panther 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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