Great 'tape Touchers'

[FAST GATER]

I was never put off going to speedway because of the starts ,I didn't considered it time wasting just part and parcel of the whole spectacle and hugely entertaining nothing better than seeing a top riders sent back to the pits for tape breaking .

[Odds On]

rolling at the start is the same as using model airplane fuel...cheating!

[FAST GATER]

rolling at the start is the same as using model airplane fuel...cheating!

i beg to differ IMO provided everyone has the ability to roll how can it be cheating ? the ONLY penalty should be for breaking the tapes and no way should flyers be brought back especially under the current rules.The Refs used to know the rollers and it was a duel between them which added another dimention to the sport ,I believe that the like of Olsen ,Mauger and Kilby woud still have been the riders they were today even under the current rules ,riders can either "gate " or not regardless of the rules .

[Ommer Mon]

I know it's never going to happen but it would be interesting to have an end of season challenge run under the old rules. Doubt if any of the current riders would be able to adapt for a one off meeting though.

[TonyMac]

When I stood in as announcer at Eastbourne in the mid 80s I soon learned that the starting gate was controlled by the ref by thumping a mechanical lever, not electrically operating it by a button.

 

Accordingly the home stars had learned to watch for the ref's shoulder to move - so one was determined to learn how to operate it without moving his shoulder........

 

I always thought Bob Dugard controlled the starts at Eastbourne! Or Charlie Dugard, who in his role as 'timekeeper' would be sat next to the ref....

i beg to differ IMO provided everyone has the ability to roll how can it be cheating ? the ONLY penalty should be for breaking the tapes and no way should flyers be brought back especially under the current rules.The Refs used to know the rollers and it was a duel between them which added another dimention to the sport ,I believe that the like of Olsen ,Mauger and Kilby woud still have been the riders they were today even under the current rules ,riders can either "gate " or not regardless of the rules .

 

Ivan Mauger has always said as much. The best gaters remain the fastest starters no matter what the rules.

I know it's never going to happen but it would be interesting to have an end of season challenge run under the old rules. Doubt if any of the current riders would be able to adapt for a one off meeting though.

 

As an experiment, you'd think some enterprising promoter would at least stage a one-off challenge match under the old 13-heat format using the rules that applied in those days (tape-touching allowed, tac subs valid after going 6pts behind after four races, etc).

 

Or why not run a competition (KO Cup?) along those lines, just to offer something different from the present 15-heat norm?

Edited May 20, 2016 by tmc

[RobMcCaffery]

Charlie Dugard used to sit right by me when I was there. Well, it was Russell Lanning who'd hired me and he was just making sure.

 

The Eagles had an electronic timing system. I was working at what was at the time a rare night meeting and the track record went a couple of times, presumably due to different track conditions. At that point Charlie suggested I add the odd second or two onto any other records on the basis he didn't want riders risking themselves chasing the record!

[TonyMac]

Charlie Dugard used to sit right by me when I was there. Well, it was Russell Lanning who'd hired me and he was just making sure.

 

The Eagles had an electronic timing system. I was working at what was at the time a rare night meeting and the track record went a couple of times, presumably due to different track conditions. At that point Charlie suggested I add the odd second or two onto any other records on the basis he didn't want riders risking themselves chasing the record!

 

This is exactly why I have always taken so-called track records with a large pinch of salt. They are so imprecise - basically, all down to when the timekeeper (employed by the home track) decides to start the clock. When you think how track records are 'broken' on margins as small as one tenth of a second...

Edited May 20, 2016 by tmc

[heathen chemistry]

in the 1986 world final neil evitts admitted to gambling at the start in his heats ,virtually ending erik gundersens chance of winning the title 3 times on the trot

 

in todays times the race would be brought back and done fairly , and could of changed history and erik winning 3 on the spin (he'd already beat nielsen in the heats)

[Red Flag]

in the 1986 world final neil evitts admitted to gambling at the start in his heats ,virtually ending erik gundersens chance of winning the title 3 times on the trot

 

in todays times the race would be brought back and done fairly , and could of changed history and erik winning 3 on the spin (he'd already beat nielsen in the heats)

typical spoon blame someone else,in today's times Eric would have tried to cheat and touched the tapes

[Terry]

in the 1986 world final neil evitts admitted to gambling at the start in his heats ,virtually ending erik gundersens chance of winning the title 3 times on the trot

 

in todays times the race would be brought back and done fairly , and could of changed history and erik winning 3 on the spin (he'd already beat nielsen in the heats)

 

Erik only scored 7 points in that final, so it wouldn't have made much difference even if he'd won the race.

[waiheke1]

 

Erik only scored 7 points in that final, so it wouldn't have made much difference even if he'd won the race.

You don't think bring on 6 pts after 2 rides instead of 3 would have made any difference to performance in subsequent heats?!?

[Terry]

You don't think bring on 6 pts after 2 rides instead of 3 would have made any difference to performance in subsequent heats?!?

 

Maybe, but he also had an engine failure in his last ride.

[steve roberts]

in the 1986 world final neil evitts admitted to gambling at the start in his heats ,virtually ending erik gundersens chance of winning the title 3 times on the trot

 

in todays times the race would be brought back and done fairly , and could of changed history and erik winning 3 on the spin (he'd already beat nielsen in the heats)

Not as I remember it (I was there) The riders were stationary and as the tapes rose Evitts momentarily moved into the path of Gundersen and Erik shut off which allowed the two outside riders (Evitts was on the inside) to take the initiative with Neil winning the race.

Am I wrong in remembering that Garry Middleton used to do a fair bit of tape-nudging in his time at Hackney?

'Cass' also perfected the art of sending opponents thru' the tapes when he rode for Oxford in 1972 by nudging the tapes.

 

Simmo once did the same to Kenny Carter at Arlington I seem to recall...much to Carter's annoyance!

Edited May 23, 2016 by steve roberts

[TonyMac]

Simmo once did the same to Kenny Carter at Arlington I seem to recall...much to Carter's annoyance!

 

I recall Simmo telling me about that - he was well chuffed and saw the funny side of his actions.

To be fair, he said Kenny came up to him in the pits afterwards and, though he was annoyed that he'd been duped, he begrudgingly gave Malcolm credit for mugging him off.

[Notenoughnerve]

Three great starts called foul at Poole last night. Cook's first one was just fine and dandy. What's wrong with just admitting somebody made a really good gate?