Trees Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Hi Trees! I remember corresponding with you years ago on the Oxford forum! Yes, moving to York has diminished my enthusiasm and when I rarely pick up a 'Speedway Star' I don't understand much of what I am reading...points scored, match points etc and all of the other weird changes that have apparently taken place since I last attended. It's a simple sport made very confusing by the daft rules implemented at each AGM. I always recall the late Bernard Crapper stating that he no longer understood the rule book after he withdrew from promoting at Oxford (and he used to know it inside out!) I realise the sport is desperately trying to entice new fans to the sport but in the words of John Berry 'it wasn't the fans who turned its back on speedway but that speedway turned its back on the fans!' My biggest criticism of the sport is that there is no longer any continuity and fans can no longer associate with their teams and its rider make up...a situation that existed in my time but has increased significantly over the years. Eight members of my family used to attend but gave up years ago which, I guess, is a sad reflection on where the sport is going? You say there is no continuity but Lynn had all their 2014 team back in 2015 apart from Lewis Rose who we had to let go because of the rules ......I KNOW I would be the same if Lynn closed tbh ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 (edited) Speedway is Speedway, four riders, four laps. To implement anything like this would mean rule changes in every country that hosts the sport really, and why would the Poles change when the sport is doing well there? These ideas may work here as part of a meeting or an entertaining second half idea but ultimately they won't bring people through the gate. The sport just needs promoting, races over four laps are fine, they last long enough to be entertaining and not just a circular drag race, while they don't drag on and become boring. A beauty of Speedway which not many other motorsports have in my opinion is that you see the whole race in front of you when you are at the event, people pay stupid money to go to F1, Moto GP etc and just see the competitors whizz past them in the same spot 40-50 times. We have a great product being undersold basically. I agree, and so will every other hard core fan that pays to go week in week out. But, what about the ones who aren't interested. The reason I put the suggestions, was based on the twenty20 cricket. Cricket to a none fan is slow, boring and followed by old men, speedway to a none fan is first out the gate, a cold night and followed by plebs in bright coats. To make cricket fast and interesting they invented twenty20, a white ball that you can't spin, batsman can therefore hit regular sixes, with a winner over twenty overs.. or 3 hours (I think). Worcester now sells out!!! So how can speedway re-invent itself and create a sell out atmosphere... to make sure every race has over-taking, is close, competitive and puts hairs on the back of your neck? Four blokes, four laps ain't going to do it.... Edited October 16, 2015 by Deano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Hello Steve from another ex-attendee now living in York. I agree with all of your comments. When West Ham closed I lost interest in league speedway and stopped going to speedway completely in 1985. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 I'd like to add something positive regarding modern day speedway but can't I'm afraid! Having followed the sport for thirty plus years but being out of the loop for the last twelve I have no enthusiasm in attending a meeting. It's not the sport I remember and with the AGM fast looming it will be another exercise whereby the promoters appear to be obsessed in just 'moving deck chairs around on the ill fated Titanic!' As I have previously stated that until an independent body takes control of the sport it will continue to spin forever downwards. John Berry spoke a lot of sense and how the sport could do with someone like him now! ooh john berry..now were talking!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Do you really believe it is a great product ? There are thousands of seasoned fans who used to go but now choose not to, not sure they would agree with you. The question is why ? The product is no different than it was 30 years ago when I started going. There are those who will have you believe that racing was better then. It wasn't. My old Dad went in the 50's and said to me when I started going it was first out of the gate, first home. Points limit ? Speedway has had some form of rider control for 50 years. Tactical rides ? Its had them for 50 years too. The only difference I can think of is cost. That has gone up disproportionately, but hasn't it in most sports ? I'd maintain that the first step is to get the product as good as it can be first and that means promotions doing everything they can to ensure that people come back - because I am nowhere near convinced that is the case - with the most important factor being that the track is set up for racing. For every good track surface I have seen this season I have seen a bad one. Its all very well saying promote the sport, but a dog turd in a shiny wrapper is still a dog turd and people will only buy it once. When speedway is good, its very, very good. Too often, though, it falls short of that for reasons that are wholly preventable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Play offs help , Glasgow was rocking last night , easily over 2000 at last night's meeting against Edinburgh . I know there are still fans who are against the play off system , but last night again proved that they are now a necessity in our sport 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arson fire Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Play offs help , Glasgow was rocking last night , easily over 2000 at last night's meeting against Edinburgh . I know there are still fans who are against the play off system , but last night again proved that they are now a necessity in our sportmakes no odds if you dont make the playoffs though.... So should in no way be a necessity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 makes no odds if you dont make the playoffs though.... So should in no way be a necessity. True , but the incentive to get there is more evident now than ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Play offs help , Glasgow was rocking last night , easily over 2000 at last night's meeting against Edinburgh . I know there are still fans who are against the play off system , but last night again proved that they are now a necessity in our sport If that is double the normal attendance then it might make a difference of say 100 on each meeting over a season which could well help a team break even or make money.But then the way to go is to do an Ice Hockey style play-off and have 4 or 5 meetings to really get the crowds in???? Probably not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid Sprocket Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 The question is why ? The product is no different than it was 30 years ago when I started going. There are those who will have you believe that racing was better then. It wasn't. My old Dad went in the 50's and said to me when I started going it was first out of the gate, first home. Points limit ? Speedway has had some form of rider control for 50 years. Tactical rides ? Its had them for 50 years too. The only difference I can think of is cost. That has gone up disproportionately, but hasn't it in most sports ? I'd maintain that the first step is to get the product as good as it can be first and that means promotions doing everything they can to ensure that people come back - because I am nowhere near convinced that is the case - with the most important factor being that the track is set up for racing. For every good track surface I have seen this season I have seen a bad one. Its all very well saying promote the sport, but a dog turd in a shiny wrapper is still a dog turd and people will only buy it once. When speedway is good, its very, very good. Too often, though, it falls short of that for reasons that are wholly preventable. What was the cost of entry ticket in,say, 1965? After a quick google £15 today equates to 16shillings in 1965 (80p) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) What was the cost of entry ticket in,say, 1965? After a quick google £15 today equates to 16shillings in 1965 (80p) Good point, can't answer your question though. Also we need to add, Is speedway for a rider also the same cost as it was back then? Cars and travel was more expensive in the 60's than it is now. So was having a bike on the back of an estate really cheaper, than having a van full of tools which doubles up as a mobile workshop? In real terms? In a fans forum, Leigh Adams was asked, why he didn't go into the more lucrative moto GP series due to him having a natural riding ability. His answer was anyone can buy a cheap speedway bike and race it cheaply. It's such an easy sport to get into. Where as Moto GP needs cash cash and more cash..... So speedway wins hands down in terms of getting kids on board racing. Edited October 17, 2015 by Deano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 When I first went to speedway in 1972 (12 years old) it cost me 30p admission and 8p for the programme! I know that it's all relative but interesting all the same!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 When I first went to speedway in 1972 (12 years old) it cost me 30p admission and 8p for the programme! I know that it's all relative but interesting all the same!? Interesting because when I first went to football in 1973(Tottenham) it cost me 25p for league matches!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulco Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 When i first went i had rickets and only ate Hovis bread , you could get 6 pints , 20 fags , a pint of milk and still have change from a pound 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) When i first went i had rickets and only ate Hovis bread , you could get 6 pints , 20 fags , a pint of milk and still have change from a pound The life of most Glaswegian kids back then Edited October 17, 2015 by iris123 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arson fire Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Cup of tea at Newcastle is £1.20 ffs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 When i first went i had rickets and only ate Hovis bread , you could get 6 pints , 20 fags , a pint of milk and still have change from a pound this has the makings of a monty python sketch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybikespeedway Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 this has the makings of a monty python sketch no it's Capstick comes home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinMills Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 If that is double the normal attendance then it might make a difference of say 100 on each meeting over a season which could well help a team break even or make money.But then the way to go is to do an Ice Hockey style play-off and have 4 or 5 meetings to really get the crowds in???? Probably not 100 a meeting extra needed? not saying its easy by any means, but to attract 100 extra customers must be within the realms of possibility?..a concerted effort from fans to entice just 1 friend to bring along must be possible in itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid Sprocket Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 100 a meeting extra needed? not saying its easy by any means, but to attract 100 extra customers must be within the realms of possibility?..a concerted effort from fans to entice just 1 friend to bring along must be possible in itself? I agree and it should be possible, if attendances were published every week it could be an incentive for us all to help numbers creep up. Come on promotions give us some numbers to work with and we'll try to better them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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