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

[Sidney the robin]

You have a short memory Sid.Wasn't it only last week that you misread and post by the Doc and lost your rag???

Hands up and i admit when i am wrong said I was sorry.You well your personal vendetta against Gustix you can hardly spin yourself off as a saint eh!😅

[steve roberts]

I certainly remember him! What a character. The unscripted 'debates' between him and Ole Olsen were pure comedy gold.

Remember when he had a heated argument with Garry Middleton at Cowley in 1972 and 'Cassius' invited him over to continue the 'discussion!' It all revolved around the Second Half Final (bring back second halves) in which Garry was the last man standing after Ted Hubbard had taken out Ray Wilson much to the annoyance of said 'Soldier Boy!'

 

This all happened next to me much to my amusement!

[Tsunami]

Think,as Bwitcher has already pointed out that the actual standard of racing is still very good,it is just the whole feeling around the sport that it isn't very important any more because of the medias lack of enthusiasm and the lack of crowd enthusiasm....

Whilst I agree to that, I also think the perception of those who attended, and still attend, has been changed with time and their own circumstances. How many youngish people attended in an era, and the excitement and the company they were with made for a unique experience in sport. Maybe they met new friends, met future wife/husband, travel to other tracks for Mini tours, joined the supporters club joined in their activities, etc. Maybe 30 or 40 years on these attractions are no longer there, and they now stand with a group of similar circumstances and views they all hold. They are all full of MEMORIES in a difference time and place, and as we know, the racing is still racing and just as exciting. Yesterday was raw, developing and simple. These days it is different with more professionalism, as you would expect all sports to do, in an attempt to try and meet legal requirements and the perceived requirements of a crowd now older, wiser and having more expectations.

[BWitcher]

Whilst I agree to that, I also think the perception of those who attended, and still attend, has been changed with time and their own circumstances. How many youngish people attended in an era, and the excitement and the company they were with made for a unique experience in sport. Maybe they met new friends, met future wife/husband, travel to other tracks for Mini tours, joined the supporters club joined in their activities, etc. Maybe 30 or 40 years on these attractions are no longer there, and they now stand with a group of similar circumstances and views they all hold. They are all full of MEMORIES in a difference time and place, and as we know, the racing is still racing and just as exciting. Yesterday was raw, developing and simple. These days it is different with more professionalism, as you would expect all sports to do, in an attempt to try and meet legal requirements and the perceived requirements of a crowd now older, wiser and having more expectations.

 

Agree 100%.

 

What the sport has failed to do unfortunately is to attract the attention of enough younger fans in order for them to create a fresh set of 'memories'.

[steve roberts]

when the gp started

Continuity was lost and tracks had to juggle their fixtures to fit around the GPs.

[BWitcher]

Continuity was lost and tracks had to juggle their fixtures to fit around the GPs.

 

Again the decline had set in a long time before the GP's started.

[Sidney the robin]

Again the decline had set in a long time before the GP's started.

 

But we were at least then in control of our own fixture list YES?

[Vincent Blachshadow]

 

Again the decline had set in a long time before the GP's started.

 

Fair enough, but those that still went after 'the decline' but have stopped going since - this century, for instance - have their own reasons for stopping. Aren't they allowed a say? Their opinions could be more pertinent than somebody who gave up when Ronnie Moore stopped riding.

 

If you only want to know why folk stopped going at the start of 'the decline' you're looking in the wrong place. They're long departed this forum or this world.

[RobMcCaffery]

British Speedway was at its strongest when it had weekly fixtures, almost always on the same race night, except for matches between two teams sharing the same race night. Fridays and Saturdays were key nights.

 

A wider appreciation of the sport beyond winning league points allowed open events to succeed and vary the entertainment. Individual events were taken seriously by riders and public.

 

Racing was not so dependent on machinery.

 

Most of all the sport was fun. We'd have public rants by team managers and promoters (often staged) and the odd villainous rider to hate.

 

It was a show and everyone contributed to make it so. Meetings were affordable.

 

We have lost almost every one of those positive attributes.

 

This isn't blind, rosy-tinted memory of the 'good old days'. I can list forever matters outside speedway that have improved hugely. The key is - outside speedway. About the only positive changes within the sport I can think of are air and foam fences, greater control of safety and making riders stay still at the start.

 

Yes the world has moved on but that does not mean that we cannot repair the errors made over many years although it will be a long process.

 

Customers need to be made welcome, whichever side they support, facilities must be acceptable, tracks up to standard to allow good racing, running under clear, sensible rules. Most of all everyone from promoter to fan must work together to make it work.

 

I am privileged to have seen some wonderful years of speedway and want them back. Costs have to be controlled and the entertainment raised. We must offer value for money.

 

I've seen speedway work and want to see it do so again. That won't happen as long as we dismiss the lessons of the past in the futile belief that the only way to progress is to carry on in the same direction. In my opinion that path leads to a very large cliff.

 

We cannot rely on winning keeping fans. Only three teams can win league titles and someone has to lose for someone else to win.

 

We need the competition to come out of the meeting room and back on the track.

 

Perhaps if we only used riders who were committed to the sport here the fans might sense and respond?

 

There is so much wrong now that it is hard to know where to start, but still I love this sport but too often now I wonder why.

[Gresham]

British Speedway was at its strongest when it had weekly fixtures, almost always on the same race night, except for matches between two teams sharing the same race night. Fridays and Saturdays were key nights.

 

A wider appreciation of the sport beyond winning league points allowed open events to succeed and vary the entertainment. Individual events were taken seriously by riders and public.

 

Racing was not so dependent on machinery.

 

Most of all the sport was fun. We'd have public rants by team managers and promoters (often staged) and the odd villainous rider to hate.

 

It was a show and everyone contributed to make it so. Meetings were affordable.

 

We have lost almost every one of those positive attributes.

 

This isn't blind, rosy-tinted memory of the 'good old days'. I can list forever matters outside speedway that have improved hugely. The key is - outside speedway. About the only positive changes within the sport I can think of are air and foam fences, greater control of safety and making riders stay still at the start.

 

Yes the world has moved on but that does not mean that we cannot repair the errors made over many years although it will be a long process.

 

Customers need to be made welcome, whichever side they support, facilities must be acceptable, tracks up to standard to allow good racing, running under clear, sensible rules. Most of all everyone from promoter to fan must work together to make it work.

 

I am privileged to have seen some wonderful years of speedway and want them back. Costs have to be controlled and the entertainment raised. We must offer value for money.

 

I've seen speedway work and want to see it do so again. That won't happen as long as we dismiss the lessons of the past in the futile belief that the only way to progress is to carry on in the same direction. In my opinion that path leads to a very large cliff.

 

We cannot rely on winning keeping fans. Only three teams can win league titles and someone has to lose for someone else to win.

 

We need the competition to come out of the meeting room and back on the track.

 

Perhaps if we only used riders who were committed to the sport here the fans might sense and respond?

 

There is so much wrong now that it is hard to know where to start, but still I love this sport but too often now I wonder why.

Absolutely cracking post...spot on.

 

When Speedway is done right...it's an amazing sport.

 

Watched a cracking meeting last night that had many positives and made for great entertainment.

 

I'll use it as an example and mention some of the positives and where improvements could be made.

 

Somerset is often described as the best racing circuit in the uk, so they are pretty lucky compared to some tracks.

 

The first thing I noticed was how little shale/dirt there was.

 

In fact after heat four, the exit of bend 2 was completely bare and down to the base.

 

I noted in my programme any passing.

 

The first five heats were all won from the gate...apart from one down to engine and not rider skill.

 

A guy from Wolverhampton spoke to me and said he was disappointed as he had heard it was such a good racing circuit.

 

It was very processional although close.

 

There was a quick break for track grading.

 

In that break they interviewed Josh Grajczonek, who had come 3rd in his first ride.

 

When asked about that ride...he mentioned he missed the start ( something to do with clutch ), then quote ' went to go outside, but there was nothing there, so couldn't pass'. And that was in heat one.

 

If a rider is making that statement, where does the problem lie?

 

After the grading...the racing actually improved.

 

In fact there was some cracking races, especially when Somerset riders missed the gate.

 

In all...there were 8 races that finished as the riders gated.

 

There were 7 cracking races, the majority in the latter half of the meeting.

 

Last night was a good advert for Speedway...it had many good elements.

 

Shame TV wasn't there.

 

A good size crowd...many youngsters running around having fun.

 

Lots of banter and some good racing.

 

Good to see many stay on to watch the second half meeting...although that was a bit of a shambles tbh.

 

In fact there are only two things I would wish to improve on last night...a bit more shale/dirt on the track and watered more....and I'm now going to call the Rebels, the Somerset Stingers....was really funny seeing people being stung on there posteriors and said folk having to tamp down what seemed a whole back straight of the itchy blighters haha.

 

To conclude...when the racing was processional and strung out...the crowd were quiet.

 

When the racing was good...the crowd got excited and the banter and atmosphere increased.

 

Get the track and racing right and imo, the crowds would improve.

Edited May 14, 2016 by Gresham

[Trees]

Absolutely cracking post...spot on.

 

When Speedway is done right...it's an amazing sport.

 

Watched a cracking meeting last night that had many positives and made for great entertainment.

 

I'll use it as an example and mention some of the positives and where improvements could be made.

 

Somerset is often described as the best racing circuit in the uk, so they are pretty lucky compared to some tracks.

 

The first thing I noticed was how little shale/dirt there was.

 

In fact after heat four, the exit of bend 2 was completely bare and down to the base.

 

I noted in my programme any passing.

 

The first five heats were all won from the gate...apart from one down to engine and not rider skill.

 

A guy from Wolverhampton spoke to me and said he was disappointed as he had heard it was such a good racing circuit.

 

It was very processional although close.

 

There was a quick break for track grading.

 

In that break they interviewed Josh Grajczonek, who had come 3rd in his first ride.

 

When asked about that ride...he mentioned he missed the start ( something to do with clutch ), then quote ' went to go outside, but there was nothing there, so couldn't pass'. And that was in heat one.

 

If a rider is making that statement, where does the problem lie?

 

After the grading...the racing actually improved.

 

In fact there was some cracking races, especially when Somerset riders missed the gate.

 

In all...there were 8 races that finished as the riders gated.

 

There were 7 cracking races, the majority in the latter half of the meeting.

 

Last night was a good advert for Speedway...it had many good elements.

 

Shame TV wasn't there.

 

A good size crowd...many youngsters running around having fun.

 

Lots of banter and some good racing.

 

Good to see many stay on to watch the second half meeting...although that was a bit of a shambles tbh.

 

In fact there are only two things I would wish to improve on last night...a bit more shale/dirt on the track and watered more....and I'm now going to call the Rebels, the Somerset Stingers....was really funny seeing people being stung on there posteriors and said folk having to tamp down what seemed a whole back straight of the itchy blighters haha.

 

To conclude...when the racing was processional and strung out...the crowd were quiet.

 

When the racing was good...the crowd got excited and the banter and atmosphere increased.

 

Get the track and racing right and imo, the crowds would improve.

Soooooooo right, PROMOTERS ARE YOU LUSTENING!!!!! Action is the future, we want close racing!!

[Gresham]

Soooooooo right, PROMOTERS ARE YOU LUSTENING!!!!! Action is the future, we want close racing!!

Not sure what you are trying to promote here Trees...but I feel you maybe on to something.

 

'Lustening' has plenty of close action...not sure I've seen any promotors i'd like to witness doing it though ;-)

[waiheke1]

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.

[Gresham]

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 agree with your last sentence...there are many reasons for that.

 

However...surely we are talking about the weekly domestic league Clubs here?

[Trees]

Not sure what you are trying to promote here Trees...but I feel you maybe on to something.

 

'Lustening' has plenty of close action...not sure I've seen any promotors i'd like to witness doing it though ;-)

Yeah might be fun lol ...... obviously U is next to I on the qwerty, trust me!

[Sidney the robin]

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 don't know what others feel but the series and International meetings don't mean as much to me as league racing.The series now is a travelling circus a closed shop in a way a bit like the Champions league Football needs freshening up a bit what about only the Top 6 qualifying everyyear maybe?

[ColinMills]

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.

spot on, said it for months and months...gp and world cup is PROPER speedway...it works because we have lock tight rules, passion, "proper team" no rider sharing rubbish...league speedway is not dying, its dead, imo

[Trees]

spot on, said it for months and months...gp and world cup is PROPER speedway...it works because we have lock tight rules, passion, "proper team" no rider sharing rubbish...league speedway is not dying, its dead, imo

Glad u added imo 😊

[Shale Searcher]

The advent of colour tv, colour photographs, that's what killed speedway!

[ColinMills]

Glad u added imo

of course it is only imo.....think attendances ranging from "400" at some places kinda back this up "imo"