topaz325 Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Rather than dwell on the Alex Harkness interview i thought i would highlight the item in this weeks Star with Sale Sharks head of Media Dave Swanton. Dave at least comes up with some ideas about improving Speedway and dragging it into the 21st century , some ideas may take money to be invested other,s just hard work, an interesting interview nonetheless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Rather than dwell on the Alex Harkness interview i thought i would highlight the item in this weeks Star with Sale Sharks head of Media Dave Swanton. Dave at least comes up with some ideas about improving Speedway and dragging it into the 21st century , some ideas may take money to be invested other,s just hard work, an interesting interview nonetheless. Who is Alex Harkness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topaz325 Posted August 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Who is Alex Harkness? Sorry my fault Harkess.....to tell the truth i was in two minds wether to write this topic in view of recent events, kind of put me off Speedway really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Rather than dwell on the Alex Harkness interview i thought i would highlight the item in this weeks Star with Sale Sharks head of Media Dave Swanton. Dave at least comes up with some ideas about improving Speedway and dragging it into the 21st century , some ideas may take money to be invested other,s just hard work, an interesting interview nonetheless. Thought it was a good article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Interesting to read Dave Swanton's opinions, and he is of course entitled to his opinion,but mostly he doesn't know what he is talking about. He suggests getting big screens, saying screens can be hired nowadays, they have the big screen at horse race meetings and it is definitely not cheap, cannot see tracks being able to afford this and where would it be situated so as not to block someones view. He mentions the whiff of methanol is fabulous, I have not smelt the whiff of methanol for many years now. He says he would not allow anyone to race in this country if they are not attached to a club here, how does that help British speedway, another daft idea. He says Peter Karlsson flies in and out of UK on race days so he can be with his family, and to Swanton that's not fair on the supporters, he has no affiliation to the fans. I mean what does Swanton think, if Karlsson stayed in this country would all the fans visit him at his house, what a daft thing to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topsoil Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Personally I think speedway could benefit from listening to the views of more people from outside the sport. After all, the sport is trying to attract new fans. Maybe some of the ideas may be above speedway at the moment, but these are people who know what they are talking about. Nothing wrong with the idea of a big screen, look at the number of times in meetings where you get a collision and you want to get a second look at who was to blame, or want to see a replay of a great race. Yes it is expensive, but for big meetings it could attract more fans. And maybe Peter Karlsson was a bad example given his allegiance to Wolverhampton, but there are certainly enough foreign riders who teams in this country have wasted money on in the past who picked up the money and didn't care. Speedway should listen to as many views as possible to try and get out of the present situation. But I have a horrible feeling it will stick it's head in the sand again. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Interesting to read Dave Swanton's opinions, and he is of course entitled to his opinion,but mostly he doesn't know what he is talking about. He suggests getting big screens, saying screens can be hired nowadays, they have the big screen at horse race meetings and it is definitely not cheap, cannot see tracks being able to afford this and where would it be situated so as not to block someones view. He mentions the whiff of methanol is fabulous, I have not smelt the whiff of methanol for many years now. He says he would not allow anyone to race in this country if they are not attached to a club here, how does that help British speedway, another daft idea. He says Peter Karlsson flies in and out of UK on race days so he can be with his family, and to Swanton that's not fair on the supporters, he has no affiliation to the fans. I mean what does Swanton think, if Karlsson stayed in this country would all the fans visit him at his house, what a daft thing to say. Got to agree with your points.When I read how a guy who hasn't been to a speedway meeting in 30 years chooses to criticise Peter Karlsson,a foreign rider who has hardly missed a fixture in over 20 years, his opinions lost all credibility.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted August 25, 2015 Report Share Posted August 25, 2015 Interesting to read Dave Swanton's opinions, and he is of course entitled to his opinion,but mostly he doesn't know what he is talking about. I didn't think what he said was all daft, although he's coming from the perspective of a sport that's much better able to leverage good television and sponsorship revenues. He also does identify part of the issue that riders and fans have little attachment to each other these days, although his proposed solution is obviously unworkable as things currently stand. Â With respect to the large screen, there's so few fans on the terraces these days that I doubt it would block the view of anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 From what I read, attendances at Birmingham have been impressive this season. Perhaps an indication that supporters do have a bond with a full 7 man team of young British riders, rather than a mix of forgettable EU riders, guests and rider replacement... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveallan81 Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 This will be the same Sale Sharks that posted losses of £1.5m in 13/14 and required wealthy owner Brian Kennedy to write of £12m worth of loans to keep the club as a going concern.  Next week - Fred West gives gardening tips... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 From what I read, attendances at Birmingham have been impressive this season. Perhaps an indication that supporters do have a bond with a full 7 man team of young British riders, rather than a mix of forgettable EU riders, guests and rider replacement...Or maybe regular fortnightly speedway.... I often think we have too much speedway in the UK. If you miss this week it doesn't matter, go next week. Or if you're a Coventry fans next week, if you miss Minday just go Wednesday and if you can't make that then go Friday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
van wolfswinkel Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Regular fortnightly racing would be ok...as some people especially families cant afford to go every week. Ridiculous situation at The Abbey in June, only 1 home meeting, and an empty stadium on some warm sunny Thursdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 How did we ever manage 30 meetings a year, eh? Yes, times have moved on but you don't see other sports slashing the lengths of their seasons. Â If the product's value for money there wouldn't be a problem. It seems many are hell-bent on reducing our schedule down to that of other countries on the delusion that somehow that will make our leagues as strong. Â The gaps in the season give people ample chance to find other things to do on racenights. Â Do people really want a 7-10 match home season? If so, do they actually like speedway? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 If the product's value for money there wouldn't be a problem. It seems many are hell-bent on reducing our schedule down to that of other countries on the delusion that somehow that will make our leagues as strong. Well it's because people believe it'll allow the British leagues to fit around the likes of the SGP and SEC - competitions that don't benefit Britain in any way, and with riders that Britain can't afford. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 How did we ever manage 30 meetings a year, eh? Yes, times have moved on but you don't see other sports slashing the lengths of their seasons. Â If the product's value for money there wouldn't be a problem. It seems many are hell-bent on reducing our schedule down to that of other countries on the delusion that somehow that will make our leagues as strong. Â The gaps in the season give people ample chance to find other things to do on racenights. Â Do people really want a 7-10 match home season? If so, do they actually like speedway? Because the riders didn't also ride in Sweden and Poland. Plus the GPs. Times move on, we can defiantly stand here and refuse to back down because we had a league first and must be obeyed or we can move on and do what it takes to make us handle the changes and come out stronger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Positive Thinker Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 Mr Swanton's opinions are worth reading. To decry the whole article on one point someone doesn't like is silly. Â Speedway needs ideas. New ideas, old ideas revamped and ideas to arrest the current decline. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 So what happens when the fortnightly meeting is 'rained off' ~ wait another 2 weeks for the next one so it's one in a month? Sorry but I'd like to go to the Speedway every week and know that Friday night is Speedway night at Coventry and if that means getting rid of the GP/SEC riders so there is no clash with our matches I'll put up with it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 Not impressed at all and to have a go at PK one of the finest riders that has graced our tracks proves he hasn't got a clue!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 Poor old editor who sanctioned that article sounds like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bostonian Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 Have to agree with Gemini.. I regularly attend at Sheffield, I know thursday night is speedway night and I look forward to it most of the week. If it becomes fortnightly, then we get a rain off, what will myself and other fans do? Probably find something else that we can do most weeks. What works in other countries doesn't mean it will work here. Some riders prefer Britain because it means more regular meetings, and if the GP boys don't like it then off they go to Poland and Sweden. They'll soon be back when they get dropped or can't get a team place. I'd rather see a team of the same 1-7 most weeks and continue to enjoy a home meeting every thursday with the odd away trip when possible. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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