Stadium Racing

[Countershaftcounter]

It would have to be 500, not 1000 sidecars. They go round the same way and use the same engines as speedway bikes and be easier to relate to. Also the size of some speedway tracks in the uk you wouldn't be able to fit four 1000 chairs in safely

[Starman2006]

With the demise in tracks and attendences particulalry in urban areas I would like to propose a different type of racing that could include different classes capacities and also the inclusion of sidecars and grasstrack bikes. There are a lot of lads out there and lasses who I'm sure would relish the opportunity to race on the shale. This very much only a discussion and I'd welcome comments or ideas that could take this proposal a stage further.

What oin the same night , ? Eh, no.

[Gresham]

Very, very true and quite strange at the same time.

Speedway is a motor sport that isn't a really a motor sport - if that makes any sense.

 

From my observations, speedway fans are more likely to be into football than any other motor sport.

I'd agree with that...most other 'motor sports' have a following that seem to have a keen interest in the bikes or cars, many riding or driving, or tinkering.

 

Speedway has a few...but far less, from my experience, who could actually tell you about the workings of a Speedway bike, or have any interest in it what so ever.

 

Seems to be a following made from football, train spotting and darts :-)

 

If Speedway could find a way of harnessing that 'Club' feel in a better way, like football or rugby, then I feel things could improve spectator wise at tracks.

[RobMcCaffery]

It's because it's a team sport, or at least an individual sport adapted into one. It attracts people who want to support a team and the bikes are just a means to an end like a ball in football or a puck in ice hockey.

 

The scoring and general statistical side also attracts a different kind of supporter to general motor sport.

 

Rather than try to fix labels or lament a wider interest in motor sport let's celebrate what we love and acknowledge that it is a sport 'apart'.

 

We still have that 'club' feel at many tracks but it is greatly diminished since too many riders are far too busy getting to another country to stay after the meeting and get to know the fans.

 

We're on the level of non-league football, the amateur level of rugby and what are minority spectator sports in the UK, ice hockey and basketball Just look at the crowd figures (estimated in speedway of course) to see. The difference is that while the last two do have limited numbers of foreign players they are based here and not constantly flying round Europe. How we think we can have riders flying thousands of miles to perform in front of hundreds of people does beat me.

 

Too often those vital social links are now broken - they made people feel part of the 'club' and perhaps a little more tolerant and understanding of the odd defeat. It may have been a defeat, but it weas OUR team giving its all.

 

If only we could find more to understand and share our love. Leave the 'labelling', whether kind or hostile to others.

Edited May 27, 2016 by rmc

[Pieman72]

Critically I'd like some radical ideas that are practicable rather than what has been done and failed in the past. What are we getting for a £17 to £19 admission charge and is watching exactly the same bikes racing round and round going to pull in the punters?

[startline sid]

 

1000cc sidecars is mental the rate that the sidecars slam into the passenger is crazy.. I do agree speedway is one I follow but I wont shy away from watching sidecars if its on at a speedway track.

 

It would have to be 500, not 1000 sidecars. They go round the same way and use the same engines as speedway bikes and be easier to relate to. Also the size of some speedway tracks in the uk you wouldn't be able to fit four 1000 chairs in safely

Try going to Coventry stadium next Friday (June 3rd) - full programme of 1000cc sidecars plus supporting 500cc sidecar races. They held 2 meetings there last season and I think 4 are planned for this year. Four 1000cc outfits on the track at the same time - no problem but it does get a bit hectic at times

[berniev123]

This idea was called Cavalcade of Speed meetings back in the day. I enjoyed the ones we had a Cradley, although they appeared at other tracks as well, as the Midgets cars were first class, never really took to the side cars tho.

Perhaps some enterprising promoter could try them again in some form.

Edited June 1, 2016 by berniev123

[Pieman72]

Some excellent idea's are being put forward and thanks for the likes and comments. Speedway supporters and a great bunch. Realisticly it has to be pure racing and definitely Speedway only. Having a 250 class would enable young and under financed riders to compete they work perfectly well on the grass and points money must be dependent on the crowd. I want something inexpensive and exciting that I can look forward to every meeting tall order but achievable.

[Pieman72]

In respect of Barry Bishop and the Isle of Wight Masters Series going in the right direction. Just thought I'd post this as I have been advocating Grasstrack Stadium racing for years. Hopefully it will grow and more venues will be able to stage this unique interesting racing enabling riders to capitalise on their expenditure on equipment.

[Sings4Speedway]

19 minutes ago, Pieman72 said:

In respect of Barry Bishop and the Isle of Wight Masters Series going in the right direction. Just thought I'd post this as I have been advocating Grasstrack Stadium racing for years. Hopefully it will grow and more venues will be able to stage this unique interesting racing enabling riders to capitalise on their expenditure on equipment.

Im keeping my fingers crossed for the return of the 1000cc sidecars to the Island. Suits an end of season event as they trash the track surface but crikey do they serve up some brilliant entertainment.

[mikebv]

27 minutes ago, Pieman72 said:

In respect of Barry Bishop and the Isle of Wight Masters Series going in the right direction. Just thought I'd post this as I have been advocating Grasstrack Stadium racing for years. Hopefully it will grow and more venues will be able to stage this unique interesting racing enabling riders to capitalise on their expenditure on equipment.

I remember the side cars at the old Hyde Rd track doing 2nd Half races and also remember the crowds that stayed behind were much higher than the usual 2nd half racing attracted.. 

A novelty value maybe, but Speedway could certainly do with a few of those..

Those with bigger tracks may run Stox already so the sidecars wont rip up the tracks as badly as those monsters do..

And having seen them in the US racing on tiny 110m circuits without destroying the surface, ran alongside the solos rather than after them, (akin to Grasstrack), I can definitely testify that they are a great watch.. 

15 heats of Solo racing in a contrived made up team sport scenario isnt cutting it so anything else that can pull punters in has to be worth a go .

[Pieman72]

The big problem is the 1000cc Chairs plough up the surface and need a a large field with a lot of room rather than a restricted track to operate properly. Must admit they are spectacular on shale. There are few if any tracks large enough to stage them. There is no reason why 500's could be used which provide great entertainment. I just can't understand why no one had gone down this stadium route before 250's, 350's even GT 150's. There are loads of riders in all classes who'd like the opportunity just race and stadium racing gives them the perfect opportunity. I see IOW have got James Shanes and Edward Kennet on board they are full on and spectacular well done and good look to everyone at Smallbrook what entertainment for £12 hopefully this will grow and more stadiums will become available. Chasewater Stadium, Cannock, Staffs now demolished staged a Long Track years ago but that's they type of venue that's required. This won't replace current Speedway team racing but is a good opportunity for British riders to compete as opportunities for them and becoming very expensive and virtually non existent.

[Sings4Speedway]

1000cc chairs do need the bigger circuits to produce their best but IOW, Belle Vue, Somerset have all hosted spectacular racing in the past, i think Kings Lynn has also. The 500 chairs can produce entertainment but it is a bit dialled down and don't quite have the thrill of the big chairs. That said lower power can generate closer racing, i feel that if the main solo class was downgraded to 250cc machines it would mean every rider would have to get everything out the engine and use track craft to get the wins rather than being reliant on having the best motor and the biggest b&lls which is often the case now. All of these require gradual changes over time but fastest isn't always bestest. 

[mikebv]

7 minutes ago, Sings4Speedway said:

1000cc chairs do need the bigger circuits to produce their best but IOW, Belle Vue, Somerset have all hosted spectacular racing in the past, i think Kings Lynn has also. The 500 chairs can produce entertainment but it is a bit dialled down and don't quite have the thrill of the big chairs. That said lower power can generate closer racing, i feel that if the main solo class was downgraded to 250cc machines it would mean every rider would have to get everything out the engine and use track craft to get the wins rather than being reliant on having the best motor and the biggest b&lls which is often the case now. All of these require gradual changes over time but fastest isn't always bestest. 

As my lad was told when he started cycle Speedway racing..

"You dont have to be the fastest, you just need to be fast enough to not let them past"..

[Ray Stadia]

31 minutes ago, Pieman72 said:

The big problem is the 1000cc Chairs plough up the surface and need a a large field with a lot of room rather than a restricted track to operate properly. Must admit they are spectacular on shale. There are few if any tracks large enough to stage them. There is no reason why 500's could be used which provide great entertainment. I just can't understand why no one had gone down this stadium route before 250's, 350's even GT 150's. There are loads of riders in all classes who'd like the opportunity just race and stadium racing gives them the perfect opportunity. I see IOW have got James Shanes and Edward Kennet on board they are full on and spectacular well done and good look to everyone at Smallbrook what entertainment for £12 hopefully this will grow and more stadiums will become available. Chasewater Stadium, Cannock, Staffs now demolished staged a Long Track years ago but that's they type of venue that's required. This won't replace current Speedway team racing but is a good opportunity for British riders to compete as opportunities for them and becoming very expensive and virtually non existent.

I think this is one of the problems with speedway, clinging onto team racing, is what is killing speedway as a sport. You could have several individual meetings, spit the country into zones or centres (similar to grasstrack) and every now and then, create a team from the riders within the centre/zone/district, whatever you want to call it, to race against other teams, in a team meeting. Once again, similar to grasstrack's inter-centre meetings. This will create more variety for the supporters. Pay the riders? No, pay them prize money based on gate takings.  

[mikebv]

23 minutes ago, Ray Stadia said:

I think this is one of the problems with speedway, clinging onto team racing, is what is killing speedway as a sport. You could have several individual meetings, spit the country into zones or centres (similar to grasstrack) and every now and then, create a team from the riders within the centre/zone/district, whatever you want to call it, to race against other teams, in a team meeting. Once again, similar to grasstrack's inter-centre meetings. This will create more variety for the supporters. Pay the riders? No, pay them prize money based on gate takings.  

Bingo...

Dont run 20 meetings and pay out literally hundreds of thousand in salaries for 40 meetings, with poor returns and attendances....

Instead run say 10 meetings over six months from April to September (March if Easter falls then), with BIG prize money and promote and advertise them properly, using all the Bank Holidays available, and run Saturday and Sunday if it's your best day to attract a crowd..

Even those who rent must be able to negotiate 10 meetings per season only with their landlords given the current economic situation, and those landlords who keep the bar and car park take would be pleased to have large crowds attending Speedway meetings that have some "meaning" surely?

16, or even 12 at a push, riders of similar level at each meeting, therefore all races competitive and (if only 12 riders) the prize money shared would be greater.. 

Plenty of meetings for the riders, a chance to still earn good money and "proper, meaningful speedway" for the fans to watch..

Stick in a few "extras" to supplement the racing similar to the way the IOW do and who knows, it may help relaunch some "team racing" that starts again from scratch and doesnt remake all the mistakes which has led it to its current situation..

 

[Sings4Speedway]

24 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Bingo...

Dont run 20 meetings and pay out literally hundreds of thousand in salaries for 40 meetings, with poor returns and attendances....

Instead run say 10 meetings over six months from April to September (March if Easter falls then), with BIG prize money and promote and advertise them properly, using all the Bank Holidays available, and run Saturday and Sunday if it's your best day to attract a crowd..

Even those who rent must be able to negotiate 10 meetings per season only with their landlords given the current economic situation, and those landlords who keep the bar and car park take would be pleased to have large crowds attending Speedway meetings that have some "meaning" surely?

16, or even 12 at a push, riders of similar level at each meeting, therefore all races competitive and (if only 12 riders) the prize money shared would be greater.. 

Plenty of meetings for the riders, a chance to still earn good money and "proper, meaningful speedway" for the fans to watch..

Stick in a few "extras" to supplement the racing similar to the way the IOW do and who knows, it may help relaunch some "team racing" that starts again from scratch and doesnt remake all the mistakes which has led it to its current situation..

 

Genuinely doesn't sound that daft does it. Paying out for away meetings basically paying 14 riders from each gate, if its a 12 rider meeting then saving is already there, then throw in that you can pick and match up the riders to create a good meeting and you don't have to pick the top stars to create good racing but still use riders that are on show every week at CL level for example. Then as stated bulk out with additional races, 2nd halves throughout the match with riders that would happily turn out and put on a good show for just a contribution towards their costs. 

[wealdstone]

Dumbing down  leads to more dumbing down which leads to there is nothing left to dumb down.

[Ray Stadia]

14 minutes ago, wealdstone said:

Dumbing down  leads to more dumbing down which leads to there is nothing left to dumb down.

What would be your solution? 

[Fromafar]

27 minutes ago, wealdstone said:

Dumbing down  leads to more dumbing down which leads to there is nothing left to dumb down.

There is nothing left to dumb done now,just stop paying out more money than coming through the gate just to give riders a nice little earner.When Will they finally accept that fact,as Clubs go to the wall one by one.