lastword Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) Readers of the Star will know that for the past couple of weeks they have been looking at the state of British speedway and possible ways forward. Some well known names have had a say (Chris Louis for example) and this week's issue features an interview with Alex Harkess, BSPA chairman. It takes the form of a Q and A across two pages, and after reading it I challenge anyone to have an optimistic view of the future of our sport. In truth Harkess is very honest in his replies but sadly each response seems to say' 'yes that's a problem but I don't really know how to fix it'. A reminder: Mr.Harkess has been in this job for six years. All in all the hidden message he seems to be giving is that the sport needs an independent c.e.o (?) to drag the game into the real world with regard to sponsorship, publicity and marketing. He doesn't go that far ,but the answers to the questions he is posed add up to just this conclusion in my opinion. Read it if you have the chance and see what you think. I find it so dispiriting that after six years in the job he sounds so pessimistic. EDIT: Apologies to Mr H. for my incorrect spelling of his surname in the original post. Edited August 22, 2015 by lastword Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quasartech Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 He's been in the job 6 years, and you still can't get his name right. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 Readers of the Star will know that for the past couple of weeks they have been looking at the state of British speedway and possible ways forward. Some well known names have had a say (Chris Louis for example) and this week's issue features an interview with Alex Harness, BSPA chairman. It takes the form of a Q and A across two pages, and after reading it I challenge anyone to have an optimistic view of the future of our sport. In truth Harkness is very honest in his replies but sadly each response seems to say' 'yes that's a problem but I don't really know how to fix it'. A reminder: Mr.Harkness has been in this job for six years. All in all the hidden message he seems to be giving is that the sport needs an independent c.e.o (?) to drag the game into the real world with regard to sponsorship, publicity and marketing. He doesn't go that far ,but the answers to the questions he is posed add up to just this conclusion in my opinion. Read it if you have the chance and see what you think. I find it so dispiriting that after six years in the job he sounds so pessimistic. Its obvious that an Independant Body needs to be set up to run the sport.but we all know that's not going to happen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remembertheracers Posted August 21, 2015 Report Share Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) Too late - and by many years! Edited August 22, 2015 by remembertheracers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Once a decline sets in anywhere it's hard to reverse the process, Sadly, that's an ongoing problem now facing BRITISH speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Central Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) On my first reading of the Harkess interview I all too easily fell into my default position of being uber-critical of all those at the top of British Speedway admin. I was about to call him 'hapless' and other derogatory terms. But after a little more thought, I have reconsidered. The truth is. He actually is in the same position as me. Exactly. He can identify all the problems. He knows that an awful lot of them are self inflicted by those within the sport on each other; but he also knows full well that NO ONE is capable of changing that. He knows many of the problems are from the international nature of the sport; and he also recognises that SGB is such a small part of that, it will not be changed from here. And knows that pretty much all the other problems come from a changing outside world and society in which Speedway is a very ill-fitting part. That has no real solution at all. No after all these years in charge, thinking once that he could do something to halt the decline, he has come to the same conclusion as some of us here. Survival, and managing to eek out as long as we can, that is our only option. Lets make the best of what we have whilst it's here, but be wary of all those saying that THEY know what will work to change things for the better. They think they do, but they are probably going to be wrong. To change my tack completely from where I was before reading his interview. I would say: 'Step down Alex - not because you have failed, but because you deserve the retirement'. Edited August 22, 2015 by Grand Central 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I think Harness lacked support...I'll get me coat 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Glasgow have shown that some improvement is possible without changing the rules and structure of the sport (true that not every promotion can afford to spend to their level) but a return to busy stadiums is highly unlikely. The two best supported leagues are in Poland and Sweden and both of them have seen numbers decline by probably a greater percentage than here (they just began their decline from a higher level). Another problem that can't be got around with current bikes and noise regulations, is that too many tracks are miles from anywhere and aren't particularly local to anyone, I used to go to Halifax, Bradford, Belle Vue, Sheffield and Doncaster by public transport, I even went further for some away meetings, these days that's impossible in most parts of the country. I've introduced lots of friends to the sport and explained what was going on, most enjoyed it but almost all of them drifted back to whatever occupied their time on their evenings and weekends before they were introduced to Speedway. It's a sad state of affairs but as Alex Harkess says "it's difficult to produce a cure for the ills." 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Positivity is vital!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Central Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Positivity is vital!! Is this meant to be ironic? It is being so positive, surely, about the Grand Prix that has been your hallmark, after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I'm talking about 'our' league Speedway, nowt else! BSI do their own thing and how easy it is to be positive about promoting the best riders in the world! But they have ballsed up time and time again of course! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 As I left lakeside last night, I thought any first timer in attendance would find it hard to believe that speedway could be finished at purfleet. Good weather, decent racing and a big crowd, the three most important ingredients to any speedway promoter. The sport can be a success when these things come together, unfortunately they rarely do. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple.H. Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Things that are glaringly obvious to me are if your a promotor you get to vote as of then not 3 years down the line. Everything they vote on affects your business so why the hell can't you vote on it. Fixed entry prices say for instance Workington,Berwick or Plymouth for the sake of argument wanted to charge a tenner to get in why shouldn't they It's their business and they'd hardly be poaching fans off local rivals. I won't even mention advertising the fact that there's a team and meetings taking place, far better to keep it a secret for the chosen few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I'm talking about 'our' league Speedway, nowt else! BSI do their own thing and how easy it is to be positive about promoting the best riders in the world! But they have ballsed up time and time again of course! Taken all in all - the worst thing to happen to the Sport as far as British Speedway is concerned. Of course, that is only my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chadster Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 I thought that he wouldn't reveal a blue print for reform in the Star but rather discuss it with his fellow promoters first. Like other posters I did notice a slightly defeatist tone in the interview. I can understand that some problems are difficult to resolve, if not intractable, but surely there can be no excuse for poor track preparation and poor presentation. The other thing that struck me was that certain initiatives hadn't been thought through. The idea that the EL and PL should be closer in standard was explained in terms of promotion and relegation but then you would expect that to be introduced but doubling up makes it impossible and if you strengthen the PL then of course it makes it much harder to step up from the NL, which is now where there is a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R87 Posted August 22, 2015 Report Share Posted August 22, 2015 Alex Harkness' time as chairman has included the winter of discontent, the continued watering down of the product, clubs going to or very close to the wall, the guest rule spiral out of control to a point where virtually every meeting has guests among other PR disasters. Now I realize that not all of these are directly down to him, but his legacy as BSPA chairman will not be particularly well remembered. Until speedway eradicates itself of its self-centred approach to government and its stuck in the past presentation, whoever replaces him will be stuck in the same cycle. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted August 23, 2015 Report Share Posted August 23, 2015 in summary for those who havent purchased a copy.... "The sport has many, many problems"... "Many of which we know are self inflicted as we have made decisions to solve other issues which have left bigger issues in their wake".. "Promoters constantly argue with each other, seeking to gain an advantage which the MC then try and resolve" "We know what is happening isn't right if you want to run a professional sport with integrity and expect to generate a crowd that believes in what you do" "Ultimately we cannot fix all the problems as we don't have a magic wand"... And one more... "The weather has been really bad this year which has been a major reason crowds are down....." Suppose the last one is better than saying that the World Athletic Champs in Beijing or The Tour De France are effecting the crowds.... The again, the Boat Race being run on a Saturday must effect some tracks surely?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted August 23, 2015 Report Share Posted August 23, 2015 Harkess comes across as not having the first clue where to start trying to put things right. If he's supposed to be the Captain of the ship there's only one way things are going to go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted August 23, 2015 Report Share Posted August 23, 2015 Easily said but just what will put things right? Ask 100 people on here and you'll get lots of ideas, most of which will cost money and not increase crowds. Unlike being BSPA Chairman nobody putting those ideas up has to sell it to the people who stand to lose a great deal of money. Personally I think the guy is at least being honest which is about all you can ask. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted August 23, 2015 Report Share Posted August 23, 2015 Harkess comes across as not having the first clue where to start trying to put things right. If he's supposed to be the Captain of the ship there's only one way things are going to go. Aaaaahhhhh!! But will he go down with it? :unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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