New To Speedway And Surprised At The Negativity, Are Things Really That Bad?

[E I Addio]

I for one, would never say the end product is crap. I appreciate the sport is dangerous and the riders put on the best show they can and I enjoy speedway whatever level I watch it at. The racing I have no issue with. But it doesn't stop me wishing it was like it was 'yesteryear'. When we had 2 leagues that were full of home grown talent. When teams virtually stayed together from one season to another. When local riders rode for their local team. When the stadiums had half decent attendances. And as has been said, many individual meetings that had meaning and were popular. There is much more I could say. That is what I miss! But, yes the basic product is still there, but for me, I want the 'old fluff' as well!

 

I don't disagree with any of that, but there is a difference between nostalgia and moaning for the sake of moaning, there are certain ones that invariably make the same disparaging comments after every TV meetingirrespective of whether it was good or bad. One wonders why they bother.

[van wolfswinkel]

 

Didn't stop me marvelling at Tai Woffinden's incredible last to first on Saturday night, seeing Matej Zagar at his sublime best at Belle Vue (because when he's good, he's very, very good), watching Jack Holder hold off Simon Stead for three laps at Sheffield or witnessing a terrific race between Danny Halsey and Kyle Hughes at King's Lynn.

 

Great speedway at every level of our sport and not affected by fluff in the slightest.

 

And that's the point. As far as I am concerned, the rule bending, the cheating, the backbiting and the viciousness simply doesn't exist when those four blokes drop their clutches.

 

I have a lot of regard for you, Ian, you know that. But for the life of me I can't grasp the mentality of walking away from the sport that you have admitted you love for the sake of one rule.

 

In the overwhelming majority of cases, that's simply not true.

 

On Friday night, a friend of mine posted pictures on Facebook of her little girl with first Danny King and then Rohan Tungate and that is repeated across the sport.

Used to enjoy chatting to the riders in the bar, pits and car park at Worky, especially guys like Steady, Wrighty, Stoney, Aidan Collins, Rusty Harrison, Woody, Kauko Niemenen, great bunch of dudes, but appreciate some speak little English, and there is now stricter security at some tracks to stop fans accessing the pits areas.

Swindon used to have riders going into the crowd afterwards to sign autographs, now that doesn't happen. Needs to be more interacting between riders and fans, especially the kids.

[Guest]

 

There was a lot to be said for the old "club" setup in British speedway

From this old grump

 

Well said Midland Red.

When we had 2 leagues that were full of home grown talent. When teams virtually stayed together from one season to another. When local riders rode for their local team.

My thoughts as well Ray Stadia.

Edited July 6, 2015 by Guest

[mikebv]

 

Dead right

 

Tsunami told me years ago that its about 4 blokes on bikes without brakes for 4 laps for 3 points and that everything else is more or less fluff.

 

Best and most profound statement I have ever heard about the sport and as valid and correct today as its ever been.

Sadly 'the fluff' includes getting those '4 blokes on bikes without brakes for 4 laps for 3 points' into a 'team framework' which, as is clearly proven week in, week out, cannot be achieved without a huge lack of the integrity required when putting teams out to compete in a professional league...

 

Those who love watching the '4 blokes' race find themselves thinking 'but why do it and what is it all for'? when one of the teams they see has, for example, five riders from other teams riding for them...

 

As Kelvin T said last week, 'it's a great sport when it is done well'...

 

Never have truer words been said...

 

Speedway, in this country, just needs to find a way to do it 'well' consistently around the country...

Edited July 6, 2015 by mikebv

[Humphrey Appleby]

It did my head in...the best advise someone gave me, like has been said before...just watch 4 blokes racing and forget the rest.

If it were just four blokes riding round in circles, I'd lose interest pretty quickly and it's one of the reasons I have little interest in individual racing. Team racing adds all sorts of dimensions, and I think team riding, substitutions and other strategy keeps interest even if the racing itself isn't spectacular. Teams also allow for better continuity - individual riders come-and-go, but fans can establish allegiances to teams over many years.

 

The problem is the concept of team speedway has been damaged by lack of continuity, scheduling conflicts, punitive team building restrictions, inconsistent application of the rules, and so on...

Edited July 7, 2015 by Humphrey Appleby

[hammers66]

I think people Like Tai, Darcy, Pederson (love him or hate him) and a few others are a good draw too. i know when I first started watching the sport these were the names that stood out. This helped draw me in and gave me a good starting point and names to look out for.

 

As a newbie, could someone explain the double points rule, as I Havel got a clue?

 

Someone mentioned it earlier and I have to say I like the sound of a knock out cup.

 

I am desperate to get to my first meeting but do not drive. Hoping to get to Lakeside one day!

[Gresham]

If it were just four blokes riding round in circles, I'd lose interest pretty quickly and it's one of the reasons I have little interest in individual racing. Team racing adds all sorts of dimensions, and I think team riding, substitutions and other strategy keeps interest even if the racing itself isn't spectacular. Teams also allow for better continuity - individual riders come-and-go, but fans can establish allegiances to teams over many years.

 

The problem is the concept of team speedway has been damaged by lack of continuity, scheduling conflicts, punitive team building restrictions, inconsistent application of the rules, and so on...

I probably didn't explain myself so well...but that's what I was trying to insinuate.

 

Basically watch the lads racing and forget the politics.

 

I get the team allegiances....ive had three in my lifetime.... Bristol, Swindon and Somerset. Although riders move team so much these days, it's just a 'team' by name very often.

[Ray Stadia]

I think people Like Tai, Darcy, Pederson (love him or hate him) and a few others are a good draw too. i know when I first started watching the sport these were the names that stood out. This helped draw me in and gave me a good starting point and names to look out for.

 

As a newbie, could someone explain the double points rule, as I Havel got a clue?

 

Someone mentioned it earlier and I have to say I like the sound of a knock out cup.

 

I am desperate to get to my first meeting but do not drive. Hoping to get to Lakeside one day!

Well, when you eventually get to your first 'up front and personal' speedway meeting, you may end up joining 'The Moaners Club', with the rest of us!

[ruffdiamond]

I think people Like Tai, Darcy, Pederson (love him or hate him) and a few others are a good draw too. i know when I first started watching the sport these were the names that stood out. This helped draw me in and gave me a good starting point and names to look out for.

 

As a newbie, could someone explain the double points rule, as I Havel got a clue?

 

Someone mentioned it earlier and I have to say I like the sound of a knock out cup.

 

I am desperate to get to my first meeting but do not drive. Hoping to get to Lakeside one day!

 

WKD would be the best 1 to explain the double points rule

 

Newcastle like the sound of the KO cup this year,,,

 

Lakeside might not be the best place to go, but it'll put down a marker,,,

[hammers66]

WKD would be the best 1 to explain the double points rule

 

Newcastle like the sound of the KO cup this year,,,

 

Lakeside might not be the best place to go, but it'll put down a marker,,,

 

 

Just wanna see some live action to be honest. Sittingbourne is also not a million miles away.

[weatherwatcher]

The double points rule (which I personally detitest) Goes like this, if a team are 10 or more points down after heat 5 then they can nominate a rider to go out in the Black and White helmet colours to get double points for his team, whether it be is own ride or to come in, in place of another rider. If he finishes in front of the oppostion the he gets double pionts ie first 6 points second 4 points third 2 points and last as quite a few do nothing.

If he finishes first then what was a 20 points to 10 could then become 21 to 18 if both the riders finished first and second, it is all how well they race.

I think it is totally unfair that a team has ridden their guts out and got a 10 point lead to see the Black and White come out and if they have done well to bring them to within 3 points of the other team, I say if a team as rode well and got that far in front than that is how it should stay.

The best thing they could do to make speedway much more competative is as stated on here already, out of the box factory sealed engines, with no tunning allowed ( let them do it in the GP's if they want but leave the leagues out of it) get rid of the tacticle rides, bring the stadiums in this centuary, not as some of them are, stuck in the 1960's dog track era with the fans in grey macks trillby's and silk scalves. It has to move on and they only way to bring in the fans is to get all of the stadiums upgraded that need it. There are so many around the country that are a total disgrace. The only way you would dare go to the toilet would be to stand on the roof with a gas mask on.

Lucky for me I go to Leicester Lions and this has only been built for 4 years, the toilets are superb,the racing may be suspect at times, more bad racing than good over the last 4 years but it is getting better, Needs to get better still, but that needs track shape changes that will never happen under the currewnt owners.

The track that really needs praise is the way that the new owners of Glasgow have pored one and a half million or so was stated into bring that track up to scratch. Such a shame it is so far away from me. Would love to see it in the flesh, so to speak.

Hammers66 I do hope you make at to a live meeting, there is nothing that can compare, to when those 4 riders are at the tapes, nearlly make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

[hammers66]

Great post mate and thanks for taking the time to explain that to me. That is all new to me and does seem very unfair as ws you say, a team can ride well and claim the points but then can have a deficit taken away by one ride - That makes no sense to me at all.

 

Will keep my eye out for any races at Glasgow and try and watch some on TV if on.

 

Yeah, I really want to get to a meeting but as a non-driver it is not the easiest but will do my best.

The double points rule (which I personally detitest) Goes like this, if a team are 10 or more points down after heat 5 then they can nominate a rider to go out in the Black and White helmet colours to get double points for his team, whether it be is own ride or to come in, in place of another rider. If he finishes in front of the oppostion the he gets double pionts ie first 6 points second 4 points third 2 points and last as quite a few do nothing.

If he finishes first then what was a 20 points to 10 could then become 21 to 18 if both the riders finished first and second, it is all how well they race.

I think it is totally unfair that a team has ridden their guts out and got a 10 point lead to see the Black and White come out and if they have done well to bring them to within 3 points of the other team, I say if a team as rode well and got that far in front than that is how it should stay.

The best thing they could do to make speedway much more competative is as stated on here already, out of the box factory sealed engines, with no tunning allowed ( let them do it in the GP's if they want but leave the leagues out of it) get rid of the tacticle rides, bring the stadiums in this centuary, not as some of them are, stuck in the 1960's dog track era with the fans in grey macks trillby's and silk scalves. It has to move on and they only way to bring in the fans is to get all of the stadiums upgraded that need it. There are so many around the country that are a total disgrace. The only way you would dare go to the toilet would be to stand on the roof with a gas mask on.

Lucky for me I go to Leicester Lions and this has only been built for 4 years, the toilets are superb,the racing may be suspect at times, more bad racing than good over the last 4 years but it is getting better, Needs to get better still, but that needs track shape changes that will never happen under the currewnt owners.

The track that really needs praise is the way that the new owners of Glasgow have pored one and a half million or so was stated into bring that track up to scratch. Such a shame it is so far away from me. Would love to see it in the flesh, so to speak.

Hammers66 I do hope you make at to a live meeting, there is nothing that can compare, to when those 4 riders are at the tapes, nearlly make the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

[oldtimer]

Used to attend Premier League every week even had season ticket for few years. Don't go now because of missing riders, foreign commitments R/R, guests and the number of absences caused by injuries because the bikes have got more powerful but the size of the tracks is still the same. Also to much standing around with nothing happening due to poor presentation. Plenty of speedway on TV.

[Ray Stadia]

Great post mate and thanks for taking the time to explain that to me. That is all new to me and does seem very unfair as ws you say, a team can ride well and claim the points but then can have a deficit taken away by one ride - That makes no sense to me at all.

 

Will keep my eye out for any races at Glasgow and try and watch some on TV if on.

 

Yeah, I really want to get to a meeting but as a non-driver it is not the easiest but will do my best.

You really need someone to offer you a lift Hammers66!

[ruffdiamond]

If you have access to ' sky ',,,, Berwick v Peterborough match t'morro might be ok, 'The life of Tai ', if you can find it is worth watching,,, there is loads of old and newish stuff on YouTube,,,

[cityrebel]

Not true.One big difference between then and now is lots of the alternatives have moved with the times.I used to go to Celtic Park or Highbury and the toilets were terrible,if people could even be bothered to use them.Often they just watered the concrete anywhere they could find a free spot.You were squeezed in and often had no real control on where you were taken by the mass.Go to a football stadium now and it is a totally different experience and that is probably why lots more females go and you will also see a lot more cosmopolitan crowd.Speedway is basically the same experience it was back in the 70s with much the same crowd that went in the 70s.Thse that are still interested.Do you see many minorities at a speedway meeting?

I saw quite a few youngsters at kent kings last, they are definetly a minority at speedway these days.

[Humphrey Appleby]

Not true.One big difference between then and now is lots of the alternatives have moved with the times.I used to go to Celtic Park or Highbury and the toilets were terrible,if people could even be bothered to use them.Often they just watered the concrete anywhere they could find a free spot.You were squeezed in and often had no real control on where you were taken by the mass.Go to a football stadium now and it is a totally different experience and that is probably why lots more females go and you will also see a lot more cosmopolitan crowd.Speedway is basically the same experience it was back in the 70s with much the same crowd that went in the 70s.Thse that are still interested.Do you see many minorities at a speedway meeting?

Football (and speedway) was a relatively cheap form of entertainment until the early-90s, standards were lower, and treating people like cattle seemed to be acceptable. There was also something exciting about going to football as a young person, being part of baying mob and surging up and down the terraces, but Bradford and Hillsborough brought home the fact that people could die. I also cringe now at the racist abuse, plus of course there was (and to some extent still is) an appalling hooligan element. It's commonly said that hooligans only fought other hooligans, but that's frankly not true and regular fans were taking their lives into their hands almost every time they went to a big match.

 

The reality was that attendances were falling throughout the 70s and 80s because football was not a nice place to go for women, families and ethnic minorities, and that whilst I find the football experience much more sterile than in my youth, I'm glad I can now sit in some comfort, not get crushed, suffocated or burned to a crisp, and not have to run the gauntlet of post-match violence (as much perpetrated by the police as anyone else).

 

I suspect though, speedway wishes it has the problems of there being enough people to cause a crush in the first place...

Edited July 8, 2015 by Humphrey Appleby

[hammers66]

You really need someone to offer you a lift Hammers66!

 

 

Agreed mate. Would be willing to share fuel costs with anyone.

[ch958]

the site sometimes makes you cynical - i know it does me

 

for example some may feel that Hammers66 is a made up profile for one of the regulars to provoke some discussion - like the double point rule, etc

 

as i say the site makes you cynical - plus its happened before

[hammers66]

the site sometimes makes you cynical - i know it does me

 

for example some may feel that Hammers66 is a made up profile for one of the regulars to provoke some discussion - like the double point rule, etc

 

as i say the site makes you cynical - plus its happened before

 

 

Hi Mate. and thanks for your reply. A shame that anyone would think this was a made up profile but I suppose that is the way of the internet world this could be the case.

 

I watched the speedway in Sweden last night and thought that was a good meeting.