The Voice Of Reason Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 for all those who say that riders should 'sit perfectly still' at the start, you have clearly never handled a clutch on a motorbike; let alone one that is powered by an ultra-powerful 500cc racing engine! As you clearly haven't got a clue what you are talking about, please don't inflict your utter rhetoric on others. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted July 9, 2015 Report Share Posted July 9, 2015 Astonishing how people think going back to tape touching would be improving things. It was got rid off because riders kept going backwards and forwards trying to get a flyer, and there was endless complaining about delays and unfair starts. The tape touching rule was one of the few rules of recent times that's been any good. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 for all those who say that riders should 'sit perfectly still' at the start, you have clearly never handled a clutch on a motorbike; let alone one that is powered by an ultra-powerful 500cc racing engine! As you clearly haven't got a clue what you are talking about, please don't inflict your utter rhetoric on others. I have and still do and can sit as still as you like. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bream Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 Is it time to re... HELL NO! I like how it is these days but restart should be done quicker. Clutch might get hot but you are not forced to take a test start everytime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 (edited) From what I remember, it did take much longer for races to start as riders seemed to take it in turns to anticipate the start after one had tried it... If the same happened today could the bikes handle being revved so long? Get rid of tapes, do it all with lights and lasers - move and you're excluding (or killed by laser)But this being Speedway instead of a lazer they will use a torch from B&Q with some red crepe paper over it held on by a 'lacky band' and the person holding it waving it from side to side making that noise out of Star Wars... Zzzzzzzzzzeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr, Frrrrrrrrrrzzzzzzzzzzzzz, Zrrrraaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr Edited July 10, 2015 by mikebv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bringbackHalifax Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 If Tommy gun had of been warned for the first excluded for the second he might not have done it the third time. Refs not being firm on starting cheats is the issue. The rules are already there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 IMO the start of races is a key element in the entertainment value of the sport I don't want to see robotic starts one after another ,the tapes are as important to the sport as anything else .I dont want a lazer that has little visual appeal and would add nothing to the sport except cost ,if riders are at the start and trying to out wit their fellow riders it is better than leaning on the airfence while someone pretends to adjust their bikes .If it suited the powers that be tape touching would be reintroduced tomorrow whether we like it or not that is a fact as it happens all the time .It seems that most prefer gate and go and the risk of a top rider being excuded less lightly as they historically were the ones caught out and the underdogs gifted points at their expense .Many times you would see Mauger return to the pits after breaking the tapes, loved the rider but would often make a meeting more interesting happy days !!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie B Posted July 10, 2015 Report Share Posted July 10, 2015 I say bring back rolling starts - no tapes to touch then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) Perhaps they should put a laser across as well as the tapes because what annoys me is when a rider gets a great start but has to be pulled back cos 'he must have moved to get a start like that!' Edited July 11, 2015 by Trees 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Lee Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 A lot of the problems are down to poor start marshalling. In speed hillclimbs, they put a chock behind the rear wheel to make sure they can't get a roller. The chock is on the end of a long pole (no Gollob jokes please!) held by a someone in suitable PPE. How difficult can it be to do the same in speedway? Then they can move or do what they like at the start, but they will never get a flyer. Tape breaking would be the only offence, and you could let the race run then disqualify the offender at the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffdiamond Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 A lot of the problems are down to poor start marshalling. In speed hillclimbs, they put a chock behind the rear wheel to make sure they can't get a roller. The chock is on the end of a long pole (no Gollob jokes please!) held by a someone in suitable PPE. How difficult can it be to do the same in speedway? Then they can move or do what they like at the start, but they will never get a flyer. Tape breaking would be the only offence, and you could let the race run then disqualify the offender at the end. That all sounds a bit too simple, good idea tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Perhaps they should put a laser across as well as the tapes because what annoys me is when a rider gets a great start but has to be pulled back cos 'he must have moved to get a start like that!' A laser that automatically brings on the correct exclusion light and no arguments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhamboy66 Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Lets go back to tape touching but if not lets introduce a one minute warning in the case of unsatisfactory starts where no rider has fallen. The constant returning to the pits for refuelling clutch cooling etc is now the most boring thing about speedway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voice Of Reason Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) For those people on here with short memories, how did 'tape touching' delay meetings more than present-day starting procedures? Back in the day (and this isn't looking through rose-tinted spectacles, as I have programmes to prove it!) at Hackney, we'd start at 8pm. 13 heats of British League Speedway, followed by 'rider of the night' over another five heats. Sometimes, three Golden Helmet match race-offs thrown into the mix, and I'd still be in my local just after 10pm. These days, promoters seem happy to string out 15 heats of utter borefest; and if that isn't bad enough, 'an interval' after Heat 10. WHY? Why do we need to have a bloody 'interval'! It's not as if tracks these days have so much shale that the tractor needs to do 20 laps to pull the material back in from the boards! So I have to disagree with those who say rolling at the gate wasted time. In my honest opinion: - Current rules on tape touching, and the subsequent penalty, WASTES time. - Riders continually going back for 'maintenance' WASTES time. - Riders being pulled back for 'unsatisfactory'(?) starts WASTES time. - Pulling all riders back, when someone gets a flyer, WASTES time. Edited July 11, 2015 by The Voice Of Reason 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 For those people on here with short memories, how did 'tape touching' delay meetings more than present-day starting procedures? Back in the day (and this isn't looking through rose-tinted spectacles, as I have programmes to prove it!) at Hackney, we'd start at 8pm. 13 heats of British League Speedway, followed by 'rider of the night' over another five heats. Sometimes, three Golden Helmet match race-offs thrown into the mix, and I'd still be in my local just after 10pm. These days, promoters seem happy to string out 15 heats of utter borefest; and if that isn't bad enough, 'an interval' after Heat 10. WHY? Why do we need to have a bloody 'interval'! It's not as if tracks these days have so much shale that the tractor needs to do 20 laps to pull the material back in from the boards! So I have to disagree with those who say rolling at the gate wasted time. In my honest opinion: - Current rules on tape touching, and the subsequent penalty, WASTES time. - Riders continually going back for 'maintenance' WASTES time. - Riders being pulled back for 'unsatisfactory'(?) starts WASTES time. - Pulling all riders back, when someone gets a flyer, WASTES time. Come on - the Bar has to make a profit............. Too bad on the poor punters freezing their bollox off waiting for Heat 11. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voice Of Reason Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) I really can't make out why we have an interval White Knight. It's just an excuse for promoters to drag out proceedings; in the vain attempt to make the happy-clappy automatons believe that they've had their money's worth - by taking two hours to provide 15 poxy minutes worth of actual entertainment. And at an average price of around £18, we're led to believe that its good value! Speaking of which, the cost of the aforementioned meetings at Hackney cost (referring to a programme) £2.50 admission in 1982. Basing that price upon The Financial Times inflation calculator, £2.50 in 1982 is worth £8.57 today. So, in effect, we are getting fleeced MORE THAN DOUBLE what admission used to cost. Added to which in The British League, we saw the World's cream of the crop; not the (cheaper waged) Premier League fill-ins dished up today within this so called 'Elite League'. Seriously, its no wonder that this once great sport is now on the bones of its @rse, is it! Edited July 11, 2015 by The Voice Of Reason 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) The tightening up of the tape-touching rule is one of the few good decisions that have been made in more recent times. Edited July 13, 2015 by frigbo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Voice Of Reason Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) The tightening up of the tape-touching rule is one of the few good decisions that have been made in more recent times.The tightening up of the tape-touching rule is one of the few good decisions that have been made in more recent times. You can say it as many times as you want mate..............but I'm not going to agree with ya! Edited July 11, 2015 by The Voice Of Reason 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Nothing wrong with the existing set up apart fron how far back from the tape some (many!) riders are. The regs do have a distance stated as a requirement (7.5cm?) but many are 4 times that back - often drawing back after the start marshall has stepped forward before creeping forward to gain advantage without touching the tape. Perhaps what is needed is a new reg whereby any rider drawing back after the start marshall has moved is punished as if the have touched the tape. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruffdiamond Posted July 11, 2015 Report Share Posted July 11, 2015 Come on - the Bar has to make a profit............. Too bad on the poor punters freezing their bollox off waiting for Heat 11. Should go in the bar then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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