Daniel Smith Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 If it was that bad why did you bother watching it ? Gives me control over the TV rather than the Wife's usual crap she puts on I just can't stand Lakeside as a race track, every time it's on TV it looks very poorly prepared. Saying that, there were 1-2 good races generally involving Nicholls, Bridger & Steve Worrall. Apart from that abysmal and I'm not just blaming Lakeside. This seems to be the Elite League as a whole the last couple of years. We watch 2 good races out of 15 and we use that as justification of spending £17-£18 a week. WHAT ARE WE DOING & WHY ARE WE PUTTING UP WITH THIS!!!!!! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reliant Robin Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Please bear one thing in mind. As far as I'm aware, 'The Fat (useless) Controller' AKA Ronnie Russell, is the track curator and the one who has total responsibility for calling the shots for SKY's televised meetings. And, from having seen it first hand, he really does rule the roost and dictate what HE wants. How he can ever be considered even mildly competent to fulfil this duty is, of course, extremely questionable. No doubt 'a nice little earner' from bro 'Tel Boy'. Yes, the same guy who actually removed 'Big Ron' from having any track responsibility at Swindon - by demoting him to simply being in charge of sorting out the drainage problems on the greyhound track a few years since. Fact remains, having worked at Lakeside for a few years, it would have been utter madness setting up a slick, gaters track given the ability of some Belle Vue riders. From what I witnessed on TV, that track certainly took me back to the days of the aforementioned utter clown; and how he nearly took our club to the point of extinction. Would the fact that Ronnie Russell wasn't even there last night lead to any kind of retraction? How about the fact that you are 100% incorrect about him simply being put in charge of the drainage at Swindon...he still has full responsibility for the track at Swindon (whether that's good or bad is up for debate!). Your post is completely made up rubbish (other than perhaps the last paragraph, I don't know much about that one) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marko Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 I did not see Big Ron there and certainly Gerald was, but what you also have to factor in is the weather was quite warm yesterday and it's not always the case that the club has full access to the track in the day leading up to the meeting, (Friday's I think they do?) also there was a stock car/banger meeting on Monday so that might have affected the process, was the track normal? No but I can't remember the last time sky were in town and it was, not watched it back on telly but being their I personally enjoyed the meeting but then I did have the advantage of the sound and the smell, as well as an investment in seeing my team win, for the neutral sitting at home? maybe it wasn't that good? maybe it was even boring? but I can't imagine what was seen last night was any worse than the fare we got from Leicester recently, not that it was the sort of benchmark we should be aiming to beat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 I must be mellowing as I'm missing all the criticism. Yes it took a while to get going as riders couldn't stay on and not go through the tapes but I thought it was a good meeting with quite a lot of passing. I'm not sure what people want?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 (edited) Am I the only one thinking the ref got the Nicholls exclusion for the incident with Bridger completely wrong ? Yes Scott locked up a bit but at no point did he stop sliding in the right direction. Surprised the incident hasn't been mentioned on this thread as yet. It would have been harsh to exclude Bridger, but the one decision I didn't think the referee could justify was to exclude Nicholls. I'd have gone with an unsatisfactory start as neither were really at fault and given where the incident occurred you could probably get a way with that. Rico Edited May 5, 2016 by Rico 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Good question! And one of your more enlightened posts. If/when (not sure of the current situation?) they do shut that track and, if they actually manage to get another, then tell them to put in a proper sized track with a decent surface. No more toytown speedway. Nothing wrong with 'smaller' tracks. That's why wolves win best race track the majority of seasons. Preparation is key not size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Smith Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 I must be mellowing as I'm missing all the criticism. Yes it took a while to get going as riders couldn't stay on and not go through the tapes but I thought it was a good meeting with quite a lot of passing. I'm not sure what people want?! I know what I want but it's never gonna happen. I want an Elite League the bigger tracks in it:- King's Lynn Belle Vue Swindon Coventry Leicester (once turns 1-2 are finished) Sheffield Glasgow Berwick Peterborough Isle of Wight Workington Although smaller, always prepared well: Wolverhampton Somerset Scunthorpe Am I the only one thinking the ref got the Nicholls exclusion for the incident with Bridger completely wrong ? Yes Scott locked up a bit but at no point did he stop sliding in the right direction. Surprised the incident hasn't been mentioned on this thread as yet. It would have been harsh to exclude Bridger, but the one decision I didn't think the referee could justify was to exclude Nicholls. I'd have gone with an unsatisfactory start as neither were really at fault and given where the incident occurred you could probably get a way with that. Rico I was the same as you, although he locked up it didn't seem any worse than when riders were trying cutback moves lastnight. The turns are so so tight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Bad day at the office for The Aces together with some bad luck. They need to knock these poor starts to meetings as we are then on the back foot early doors and that can set a tone for the meeting. The racing was ok for Lakeside and I think people's perception were skewed due to the early delays. We keep getting fans and riders saying the track isn't normal when Sky are in town and generally Sky matches are very poor in terms of entertaining racing. I've never seen a good Sky match from Wolves even with their award laden track. Something needs to be done about Sky's involvement with track prep as essentially this is our weekly two hour advert and it needs to look good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 If it was that bad why did you bother watching it ? That's what I asked myself after a few heats of that rubbish. How do they keep it going with no crowd, it was pathetic and probably reminded a lot of people why they stopped going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcatdiary Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Nothing wrong with 'smaller' tracks. That's why wolves win best race track the majority of seasons. Preparation is key not size. What and you think dust clouds in the opening race is ok. I will be honest and say it wasn't the worst meeting I have ever seen at Lakeside or on sky but it was hardly a classic either. The best track award is given by votes from the referees and let's be honest it's probably decided by how good the tea and sandwiches are. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 What and you think dust clouds in the opening race is ok. I will be honest and say it wasn't the worst meeting I have ever seen at Lakeside or on sky but it was hardly a classic either. The best track award is given by votes from the referees and let's be honest it's probably decided by how good the tea and sandwiches are. Like I said preparation is key, so no, dust in opening race is not good at any track regardless of size or shape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marko Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 That's what I asked myself after a few heats of that rubbish. How do they keep it going with no crowd, it was pathetic and probably reminded a lot of people why they stopped going? To answer your question they don't keep it going on crowds like that, Lakesides crowds have actually been pretty good so far bar last night and that was only because Sky were filming it and with Lakesides location attracting support from a wide area most did not want to travel if they could save themselves a little time and money, does it make it look good on telly when it's like that? nope but that's another argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoke Potter Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 The best racing on a big track will always be better than the best racing on a merry-go-round. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 (edited) The best racing on a big track will always be better than the best racing on a merry-go-round. Disagree, if the track prep isn't good racing will be poor. Best racetracks IMHO Peterborough, Scunthorpe, Somerset, Wolves. Well prepared tracks the biggest reason. Edited May 5, 2016 by stevebrum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Smith Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Disagree, if the track prep isn't good racing will be poor. Best racetracks IMHO Peterborough, Scunthorpe, Wolves. Well prepared tracks the biggest reason. Somerset?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Somerset?? Ooops, how could I forget Somerset! Edited my original post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E I Addio Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Bad day at the office for The Aces together with some bad luck. They need to knock these poor starts to meetings as we are then on the back foot early doors and that can set a tone for the meeting. The racing was ok for Lakeside and I think people's perception were skewed due to the early delays. We keep getting fans and riders saying the track isn't normal when Sky are in town and generally Sky matches are very poor in terms of entertaining racing. I've never seen a good Sky match from Wolves even with their award laden track. Something needs to be done about Sky's involvement with track prep as essentially this is our weekly two hour advert and it needs to look good. Good post, and one I would think most except the usual suspects woukd agree with. Admitedly Lakeside had the rub of the green and quite possibly the Aces could have got a point out of it if the cookie had crumbled the other way at times, but that's the way sport goes. Craig Cook was I thought excellent considering he has never seen the place before and it was tough on the Aces to lose him. Lakeside will breath a sigh of relief to get that one out of the way. Very well done to Steve Worrall but what on earth are the BSPA doing in allowing a rider of that calibre in the EDR while his Brither Richie is kept out of it ? Lakeside can take comfort from the fact that everyone chipped in with a few points and there were no seriously weak links but there is still room (and a need) for some to up their game a bit. With regard to the track I think we can make two observations . Firstly after almost every TV meeting we have almost the same people all the time moaning about the track, wherever it is and it makes you wonder why they bother watching, when plenty of others who said it was ok. Football, cricket , rugby, almost any sport you can think of has its good bad and middle of the road meetings. Ouch is spot on though in saying that these Sky meetings are never all that great. The first problem is that without without the noise , smell and sheer excitement of seeing it live it's never going to be quite the same but the bigger problem is that Sky's involvement invariably disrupts the flow of the meeting, not just with commercial breaks, but with more people milling around the pits, races being run to a schedule and a whole range of other factors not present in a normal meeting. But it's the price we pay for a major TV sponsor and it's the way the real world works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkafag Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 The Worrall’s are a great representation of the good and the bad of the FTR system and could both be used as a template to show how the system can be improved. Steve has progressed tenfold since the introduction of the system IMO. He was always talented albeit very raw but is now a polished accomplished rider who has benefited from the system and the chances he has had to race. He now needs the introduction of the next step to help him move on again. Richie on the other hand has somewhat stagnated since the system was introduced and suffered as a result of poor decisions re the selection process and the grade structure, he should have been part of the system but was excluded because he was good and it has hurt him a little. He was pushed out as a result of progression, the same thing could happen to others who have benefited from the FTR system. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Disagree, if the track prep isn't good racing will be poor. Best racetracks IMHO Peterborough, Scunthorpe, Somerset, Wolves. Well prepared tracks the biggest reason. And proof again that good racing doesn't necessarily equate to biggest crowds, despite what some on here try to argue... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted May 5, 2016 Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 (edited) And proof again that good racing doesn't necessarily equate to biggest crowds, despite what some on here try to argue... I wasn't aware that Wolves and Somerset have problems with their crowds. Peterborough is a mystery while keeping Scunthorpe alive in a town where the threat of mass unemployment hangs over it with the doubts over the future of the steelworks is a hell of an achievement. Looking at the dismal state of the sport these days I don't think with the current support racing does really matter. I think those that went for the racing have long gone apart from a few diehards, leaving just those who want to see winning left. If the sport is to have a sane and stable future it needs good racing to attract fans back and find new fans, but your statement is rather like saying a patient doesn't need to be healthy - after all they're sick but not dead. I think you'll find if the NSS doesn't provide great racing then it will struggle to pay for itself. If great racing isn't important why was so much effort put into the design of the shape of the track to give such great racing? You also have to factor-in population and catchment area when judging why certain tracks get good attendances, together with the efforts of the promotions. If we don't need or want good racing then why do we bother? Edited May 5, 2016 by rmc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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