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Oxford used to have a problem when the sun would set over the third bend blinding the riders (and referee... but taking into account some of the decisions made over the years one could argue that some referees were continuously 'blinded' whether the sun was setting or not!) as they entered the back straight. Only happened occasionally, however, and the promoters would hold up proceedings for a few minutes to allow it to sink sufficiently. It also depending on the time of year so wasn't an ongoing problem.

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Lynn haven't got much of an alternative, it's no big deal, no worries, have a coke, have a chat, read the prog

It was damn freezing with a gale force wind even though the sun was out. Sorry but I couldn't regularly put up with sun breaks and I'm not convinced nothing can be done either as surely some sort of screen could be erected even if it's just a big piece of black material? Wouldn't cost a bomb to sort out. I can't remember any tracks having these breaks years ago.

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I went to football regularly for years and saw many, many occasions where thousands turned up to watch a total non event in terrible wind and rain swept conditions. In fact wasn't Man U Man City a joke the other week there? I agree that you need to get core product right and that's far from perfect in Speedway, but don't kid yourself in football. Thousands turn up week in week out to watch utter s**** football. Speedway isn't going to attract that tribal element (thankfully) but there is a big audience out there for minority sports and all the razzmatazz matters to them.

 

Also if you, say, have young daughters. Are you going to take them along to a hovel with dirty toilet facilities, dangerous terracing, cold, miserable etc? The presentation is now a very important part of it. I can guarantee if a family comes along and the place is a dump, the food's crap and there's nothing to keep the kids busy - e ven if you have a great team on the track a lot of people won't come back. Hence why I think Harkess' comment this year (good work he's done fully appreciated) were absolute mince.

 

Having said all that, I agree with everything you say about the tracks and thelength, inconsistency of preparation and racing lines.

Edited by damosuzuki
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Having said all that, I agree with everything you say about the tracks and thelength, inconsistency of preparation and racing lines.

 

I'm glad you do because there's plenty on here who refuse to see reality and state there's nothing wrong with the basic product and they think it's the stupid public who are wrong because they don't turn out and watch.

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It was damn freezing with a gale force wind even though the sun was out. Sorry but I couldn't regularly put up with sun breaks and I'm not convinced nothing can be done either as surely some sort of screen could be erected even if it's just a big piece of black material? Wouldn't cost a bomb to sort out. I can't remember any tracks having these breaks years ago.

 

Me neither. Maybe it's something to do with elf n safety these days....

 

Me neither. Maybe it's something to do with elf n safety these days....

Thinking about it, they didn't have such big peaks on the helmets "back in the old days", so they could put their heads down to shade out the sun and still see where they were going. Used to do it myself, but not often, 'cos we mostly wore helmets to keep the rain off. Sunny days, it was flat caps, but the same principle applies. Don't try this at home, kids, helmets are a good thing - we just didn't know it at the time.

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It was damn freezing with a gale force wind even though the sun was out. Sorry but I couldn't regularly put up with sun breaks and I'm not convinced nothing can be done either as surely some sort of screen could be erected even if it's just a big piece of black material? Wouldn't cost a bomb to sort out. I can't remember any tracks having these breaks years ago.

Been a problem at Lynn for years. ...
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In days of yore, the 1970's / 1980's at least, riders used to have tinted visors or tinted lenses for their goggles, seems few do these days. And many also had 'big' helmet peaks; the 'duck bill peak' anyone? Olsen, PC, John Louis & Simmo defo used them at times.

 

Failing that, the late, great Kelly Moran had a novel way of making it around turns 1 & 2 at Hull (Boulevard) when the sun was strong:

"When I go over the start / finsh line I count 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi then I turn".

 

Not sure he was being entirely serious....

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I can never understand why, when it is a young participation sport, speedway seems to be known for its "older" supporters.

Good news; having watched GPs and Elite & Premier League meetings on TV, my Grandson wants me to take him to Peterborough's meetings next season.

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