When Did Speedway Stop Being As Good As It Used To Be…

[Eduds1]

So why have their attendances reduced by as much as two thirds at some tracks? They used to be the number one sport in Poland but these days they don't get anywhere near football.

Because most of them are standing in the dole queue over here.

[customhouseregular]

For me it coincided with the general introduction of lay down engines and bikes looking like advertising hoardings.

 

Also tracks just before then were getting slicker and slicker.

 

I also think Ole Olsen had a major say in how tracks developed....for the worse imo.

 

As for match fixing...what sport doesn't? Match fixing has been documented in so many sports...yet people still go to watch them.

 

I'd be interested to know what percentage of people watch the sport live, who used to pre mid 80's, to those that got interested after those years?

 

I'd guess it's a lot less, as I see more faces in the 50's and over category at tracks.

 

I also notice, especially on this forum...many who seem besotted with what their team are doing, and whether they are winning or not.

 

It seems they are more interested in their team winning, than for the love of speedway racing itself, as a spectacle.

 

I get the feeling that's a modern phenomanom, as you get that in football as well. Fans only turning up in numbers when their team are winning.

I think your last point is very true. Back in the day I would turn up at Custom House for every meeting, if we were bottom of the league, if it was a meaningless challenge or a pointless open meeting to fill a fixture gap. I would stay for the "second half", the reserves races and after meeting pracices. Are many of today's fans that committed?.

[RobMcCaffery]

Learn lessons from the past by all means. But don't assume that success can be replicated by copying what worked historically. Expectations of a modern audience are higher and there is much increased competition for the conumerous spend.

There are no instant fixes, but there are many simple things that could be done to improve things.

But I would say the quality of racing when I watch gps and swc is certainly as good or better than what the old world champs served up.

I was trying to stress that you can't blindly try to adopt the past. Let me offer an analogy.

 

A friend is diagnosed with a serious illness. Do you help them fight the illness and restore the good health that they used to have or do you wring your hands, give up and say "the world has moved on"?

 

Your point regarding SGP and SWC is correct though in many cases.. It's clear that when riders are sufficiently motivated and the track given to them suitable for purpose (obviously this excludes several GPs) you can still have excellent speedway. Likewise in Poland.

 

Sadly that vital combination so rarely comes together in Britain. There's not enough money on offer for most star riders to put in their best efforts or use their best equipment, even if they can be bothered or are allowed to turn up. Britain is just a source of a bit of 'pin money' and practice for too many.

 

In the short to mid term while we rebuild we have to show them the door. The names may be box office but how often do their UK performances match and crucially bring in the revenue to pay them?

[Gresham]

Because most of them are standing in the dole queue over here.

There were a good dozen Polish paying to get in at the turnstiles at Somerset last night...I wonder how many go to watch speedway in this country regularly?

 

As for them being in the dole queue...really? All the one's I've seen are working over here, doing the low paid jobs, getting their hands dirty, which a lot of the lazy brits don't want to do. You know the one's...they appear on Jeremy Kyle every morning.

 

After what the Poles and Czechs did for us in the past.... I know a lot of the older generation are ashamed at what they have fought for in this country...at least the Poles are bloody hard working.

 

I respect them for their work ethic.

[ColinMills]

There were a good dozen Polish paying to get in at the turnstiles at Somerset last night...I wonder how many go to watch speedway in this country regularly?

 

As for them being in the dole queue...really? All the one's I've seen are working over here, doing the low paid jobs, getting their hands dirty, which a lot of the lazy brits don't want to do. You know the one's...they appear on Jeremy Kyle every morning.

 

After what the Poles and Czechs did for us in the past.... I know a lot of the older generation are ashamed at what they have fought for in this country...at least the Poles are bloody hard working.

 

I respect them for their work ethic.

why don't you get yourself down to the appropriate thread, and "discuss" how "lazy" us brits are at working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gresham]

why don't you get yourself down to the appropriate thread, and "discuss" how "lazy" us brits are at working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a thread about it?

 

Hope you've not misinterpreted my post...as there are many hard working Brits.

 

I'm just not a fan of a certain minority, that would prefer to sit at home doing nothing, whilst complaining about the likes of the Poles doing jobs they could quiet easily do themselves....many of them working two jobs.

[thebaron]

It is something I often read on here, that the sport isnt what it used to be, bikes are too fast now and tracks are poorly prepared. If that is the case when did that trend begin?

 

When did this era of the sport with poor crowds, poor tracks etc start and the last era end, who was part of the last era of the sport when it was entertaining and how well attended was the sport during that era?

 

I am curios to differentiate between what the sport was and where it is now, and what it is that has changed so much and how attendances have changed, how long the "rot" has been set in.

 

Anyone who was lucky enough to witness last nights British Semi Final @ Scunthorpe will tell you on the evidence of that meeting it has not stopped being as good as it used to be. Its better ! and first watached speedway in the 70s so have experienced some of the sports hey days. Edited May 14, 2016 by the outsider

[Sidney the robin]

Anyone who was lucky enough to witness last nights British Semi Final @ Scunthorpe will tell you on the evidence of that meeting it has not stopped being as good as it used to be. Its better ! and first watached speedway in the 70s so have experienced some of the sports hey days.

Chuffed you enjoyed your night last night and Scunthorpe are a credit to our sport.But on the other hand there is a lot of dross as well and at times Swindon included.

[frigbo]

Decline started in the mid 80's as the top league dwindled in numbers. This was exacerbated by the Polish and Swedish leagues becoming top dogs in the 90's and riders not giving two tosses about the UK.

 

Racing is no worse than the so-called 'good old days'

Edited May 14, 2016 by frigbo

[billybikespeedway]

I think the start of the decline started I think either 74 or 75 ,when Neil Street returned from Australia with his 4 valve Engine for him and his son in law Phil Crump, it started the whole "got to have the fast bike regardless of cost "

[cityrebel]

When there were no tracks left in london!

[RobMcCaffery]

Decline started in the mid 80's as the top league dwindled in numbers. This was exacerbated by the Polish and Swedish leagues becoming top dogs in the 90's and riders not giving two tosses about the UK.

 

Racing is no worse than the so-called 'good old days'

I do wonder if it depends on the track you watch at. Some tracks were as appalling for racing in the past as they are now.

 

Never once used the crass phrase "good old days". I just have the ability to remember and have the video to help.

 

People had genuine concerns in the mid 70s how the four valve engines were spoiling the quality of racing. I suppose in the late seventies we were all reminiscing about the "good old days" of the early 70s.

 

The same happened later with lay-downs.

 

Some people believe what they wish to believe and try to dismiss those with a contrary view of stupidly living in the past - all very convenient and prevents actually having to think.

 

Perhaps I spent too much time at decent tracks which produced great racing?....and Rye House.... ;-) - Well we did our best with what we had but it was a heck of a step down from Rayleigh.

 

So, next time I'm at a track watching 15 processions from the gate I can console myself by thinking it was just as bad in 1972? Dream on guys. You can fool yourselves but don't try to fool me.

Edited May 14, 2016 by rmc

[orion]

I do wonder if it depends on the track you watch at. Some tracks were as appalling for racing in the past as they are now.

 

Never once used the crass phrase "good old days". I just have the ability to remember and have the video to help.

 

People had genuine concerns in the mid 70s how the four valve engines were spoiling the quality of racing. I suppose in the late seventies we were all reminiscing about the "good old days" of the early 70s.

 

The same happened later with lay-downs.

 

Some people believe what they wish to believe and try to dismiss those with a contrary view of stupidly living in the past - all very convenient and prevents actually having to think.

 

Perhaps I spent too much time at decent tracks which produced great racing?....and Rye House.... ;-) - Well we did our best with what we had but it was a heck of a step down from Rayleigh.

 

So, next time I'm at a track watching 15 processions from the gate I can console myself by thinking it was just as bad in 1972? Dream on guys. You can fool yourselves but don't try to fool me.

You go back and watch 15 processions heats in 1972 if you want as it happen all the time ... the racing was just as hit and miss as it always been ..the only one who is dreaming is you .

Edited May 14, 2016 by orion

[ColinMills]

i cant imagine one person who would say speedway (league racing) is better or as good as 1972

[Hawk127]

I think in the 70,s and early 80's it was the promotors who were the real characters as they knew how to put on a show and I can recall vividly the wind ups between Uncle Len at Rayleigh, Dave Lanning of Eastbourne over the use of fuel additives, Johnnie Hoskins and again Uncle Len going toe to toe and then when Ipswich came calling at Rayleigh the banter than went on with fans and the promoters. All good harmless fun added to which you had the villains on two wheels, Ted Hubbard, Brian Foote, Arthur Price, Jack Milne etc. And then you had the good guys Geoff Maloney, Trevor Barnwell, the Kennett brothers, Dougie Templeton, Hughie Saunders, Dingle Brown Terry Stone etc and so many more. Ivan Miller the grass track rider who took up speedway and whooped Arthur Price several times in one home match against Boston. Poor Scunthorpe being lent Red Ott from Rayleigh who scored 10 Of the their 19 points. All good memories and it was a joint effort with riders and promoters plus local derbies which mad such a difference. Whether regionalisation could recreate the the 'needle' factor and more teams keeping a settled 1 to 7 from one season to the next would make any difference but I guess we will never know. Team riding rarely takes place and it has become more like drag racing then a competitive team sport. I guess it is what it is but I wonder how many of the current crop of riders and promotors have the sort of charisma and will be remembered in 40 years time. As some have already said, it has to move on but perhaps by adopting some parts of what once worked might not be that bad a thing to do if it turns the fortunes of what is basically a simple fast and exciting sport in the right hands on the right tracks on the right days

[orion]

i cant imagine one person who would say speedway (league racing) is better or as good as 1972

Speedway as a whole package was ..but the racing is just the same ..the trouble people look back with misty eyes ...the racing most of the time just like now was from the gate

[ColinMills]

Speedway as a whole package was ..but the racing is just the same ..the trouble people look back with misty eyes ...the racing most of the time just like now was from the gate

you right, the package was better, the uk held all the cards, we are down the pecking order now, so its taking some adjusting.

[E I Addio]

 

So, next time I'm at a track watching 15 processions from the gate I can console myself by thinking it was just as bad in 1972? Dream on guys. You can fool yourselves but don't try to fool me.

 

Yep, 1972, when Ivan Mauger was World Champion. Every race he used to miss the gate every time and have to fight through from last to first. Makes us wonder how he ever got a reputation as a gater. Must be people fooling themselves about what it was really like.

[The White Knight]

Yep, 1972, when Ivan Mauger was World Champion. Every race he used to miss the gate every time and have to fight through from last to first. Makes us wonder how he ever got a reputation as a gater. Must be people fooling themselves about what it was really like.

How very true.

[ColinMills]

Yep, 1972, when Ivan Mauger was World Champion. Every race he used to miss the gate every time and have to fight through from last to first. Makes us wonder how he ever got a reputation as a gater. Must be people fooling themselves about what it was really like.

think you will find he applied the rules of the times..