Old Git Syndrome

[baba]

We can't find a current solution at present to solve speedways many problems. In the meantime we need to put the rule book aside and continue through the turnstiles to show that we still love our speedway and have a appetite for it.

[waiheke1]

The past is where its at IMHO, if you go back say five years then say go back year by year you just see it becoming better and better ie more choice riders bigger crowd etc more entertaining meetings & imo were cheaper and more of a spectacle.

Disagree that there were more "choice riders" or more entertaining meetings. Agree it was cheaper and bigger crowds.

More of a spectacle? Gps are certsinly better presented than the world champs of 80s and 90s.

[Ben91]

We can't find a current solution at present to solve speedways many problems. In the meantime we need to put the rule book aside and continue through the turnstiles to show that we still love our speedway and have a appetite for it.

Trouble is, if people carry on paying weekly for a poor product then promotors will think nothing is wrong with the product. Good faith only stretches so far.

[baba]

I hope this years agm is used better this year.

[mike7164]

Yes, but it's not actually there, is it?

 

(If you can sort it, I'd like to see Paul Bentley take on Sean Wilson round Brough. If you can't manage that, Wilson chasing Stonehewer round the centre green at Owlerton is something I'd pay money to see again)

I agree it's not there well partly at least as it is there in memories and for those who have videos/dvds, with regards to your meetings I may have the one with banger if that was when he was riding for us in 97? however I'd doubt I'd have the other as I am only interested in Newcastle.

 

But I still respect your opinion!

Disagree that there were more "choice riders" or more entertaining meetings. Agree it was cheaper and bigger crowds.

More of a spectacle? Gps are certsinly better presented than the world champs of 80s and 90s.

Well none of that interests me just the same as the GP's these days don't either as I am only interested in Newcastle so my view remains unchanged.

 

But I respect your views and hope you enjoy your speedway.

 

Also predominantly amateur? If you go back to a certain point?

Hmm well the same could be said for a lot of things in life.

[Terrace Grumbler]

I agree it's not there well partly at least as it is there in memories and for those who have videos/dvds, with regards to your meetings I may have the one with banger if that was when he was riding for us in 97? however I'd doubt I'd have the other as I am only interested in Newcastle.]

 

 

I'm thinking of the heat when SW allegedly broke the track record: he passed Banger during that, as I recall. Iirc Banger was guesting for us that day. Early 2000's?

 

The Stoney episode was an individual meeting, possibly the PLRC - others may know. It was so sorted by Spear and Jackson and Wilson ended up chasing Stoney with a spade.

 

In my earlier posts in this thread I asked - in as much seriousness as I could muster - whether it matters that (as I see it) the quality of the PL isn't quite what it was. Similarly, does it matter that either there aren't the personalities in the sport that there were, or that the current style of presentation doesn't allow their personality to become known?

 

Now, where's me VHS of the 1992 Gold Cup final?

 

[Tsunami]

I agree it's not there well partly at least as it is there in memories and for those who have videos/dvds, with regards to your meetings I may have the one with banger if that was when he was riding for us in 97? however I'd doubt I'd have the other as I am only interested in Newcastle.]

 

 

I'm thinking of the heat when SW allegedly broke the track record: he passed Banger during that, as I recall. Iirc Banger was guesting for us that day. Early 2000's?

 

The Stoney episode was an individual meeting, possibly the PLRC - others may know. It was so sorted by Spear and Jackson and Wilson ended up chasing Stoney with a spade.

 

In my earlier posts in this thread I asked - in as much seriousness as I could muster - whether it matters that (as I see it) the quality of the PL isn't quite what it was. Similarly, does it matter that either there aren't the personalities in the sport that there were, or that the current style of presentation doesn't allow their personality to become known?

 

Now, where's me VHS of the 1992 Gold Cup final?

 

I would say that the Diamonds team of 2016 is way stronger than any of the sides early or late 90's. Compare rider for rider and we always needed to have 3 pointers to balance up the big hitters we had. Now there are more big hitters across the team. For example, compare the 1997 team man for man. Remember we finished in 3rd position that first year.

Edited June 16, 2016 by Tsunami

[Terrace Grumbler]

I would say that the Diamonds team of 2016 is way stronger than any of the sides early or late 90's. Compare rider for rider and we always needed to have 3 pointers to balance up the big hitters we had. Now there are more big hitters across the team. For example, compare the 1997 team man for man. Remember we finished in 3rd position that first year.

Fair comment. What about the Championship team, and the team the season after that?

[mike7164]

I agree it's not there well partly at least as it is there in memories and for those who have videos/dvds, with regards to your meetings I may have the one with banger if that was when he was riding for us in 97? however I'd doubt I'd have the other as I am only interested in Newcastle.]

 

 

I'm thinking of the heat when SW allegedly broke the track record: he passed Banger during that, as I recall. Iirc Banger was guesting for us that day. Early 2000's?

 

The Stoney episode was an individual meeting, possibly the PLRC - others may know. It was so sorted by Spear and Jackson and Wilson ended up chasing Stoney with a spade.

 

In my earlier posts in this thread I asked - in as much seriousness as I could muster - whether it matters that (as I see it) the quality of the PL isn't quite what it was. Similarly, does it matter that either there aren't the personalities in the sport that there were, or that the current style of presentation doesn't allow their personality to become known?

 

Now, where's me VHS of the 1992 Gold Cup final?

 

At a guess I'd say there is a good chance I'll have the Wilson one & if you are telling me it was early 2000's I'd guess it was 2001 him filling in for Jesper Olsfen?

 

As for your comment on quality I'd say all the above comes it to it I'd also add political correctness comes in too!

 

As for the Gold Cup final I have that one plus the one from 91 vs Peterburgh too

[Andrew]

 

The Stoney episode was an individual meeting, possibly the PLRC - others may know. It was so sorted by Spear and Jackson and Wilson ended up chasing Stoney with a spade.

 

 

It was Anders Henriksson who Stoney chased with a spade at Owlerton (Tigers v Newport 1998) not a Plrc and nothing to do with Sean.

[Terrace Grumbler]

It was Anders Henriksson who Stoney chased with a spade at Owlerton (Tigers v Newport 1998) not a Plrc and nothing to do with Sean.

Thank you - I stand corrected!

 

Confused of Sunderland

[Tsunami]

Fair comment. What about the Championship team, and the team the season after that?

That's why I kept my comment to the 90's. Agree about 2001 and 2002. Cracking teams.

[StevePark]

I would say that the Diamonds team of 2016 is way stronger than any of the sides early or late 90's. Compare rider for rider and we always needed to have 3 pointers to balance up the big hitters we had. Now there are more big hitters across the team. For example, compare the 1997 team man for man. Remember we finished in 3rd position that first year.

 

You can't really, seeing as 1997 was the year of six man teams!

 

Some are saying it was 'cheaper back then.' I think you will find most things were 'cheaper back then.' How much was a gallon/litre of fuel, or a loaf of bread? The list is virtually endless.

 

Is it less exciting than 'days of old,' or do we just imagine it is? Do we just remember the good bits and forget the bad bits from yesteryear?

 

As far as the British Final is concerned, British speedway hasn't/isn't producing the plethora of decent riders like we use to. Chris Harris is the current 'second best' Brit in the Grand Prix and scored 5 points in it (I know he's failed to qualify for the GP's in 2017), Scott Nicholls did a little better, but finished last in the semi-final. Tai Woffinden (current World Champion and therefore 'top Brit') decided not to even ride in the event, which devalues the whole thing to start with.

[crescent girl]

Is it less exciting than 'days of old,' or do we just imagine it is? Do we just remember the good bits and forget the bad bits from yesteryear?

 

 

 

Absolutely, Steve. Compare this season's (brilliant) British semi-final at Scunny with a dvd from ten years ago, a video from 25 years ago or cine film from the 'glory days' of the 1940s --- today's racing can be amazing at times. And racing in the past was just as dull, just as spread out, as it can be today if you get the wrong race.

 

But we were all younger and more-impressionable back then. We loved it, and probably laughed at old-timers who told us it was so much better before the war.

 

There weren't cynics on an internet to tell us we're watching a dying sport (which was a whole lot nearer death in 1956 than it is sixty years on) and spread doom and gloom in front of the young fans of today -- who quite probably think speedway's just great today, same as we did in our own salad days........

[Tsunami]

 

 

 

You can't really, seeing as 1997 was the year of six man teams!

 

But that wasn't my point Steve. Compare man for man and the quality of the riders and winners, and the 1997 team was only a shadow of the quality of todays 2016 team.

Back in 1997 we were coming back from a 3 year sabbatical from the sport, and all was great once we got over our early season injuries, so much so we finished 3rd in the league.

Edited June 17, 2016 by Tsunami

[RobMcCaffery]

 

 

 

Some are saying it was 'cheaper back then.' I think you will find most things were 'cheaper back then.' How much was a gallon/litre of fuel, or a loaf of bread? The list is virtually endless.

 

 

People notice the prices but forget the wages. I saw a photo of a petrol station in 1987 showing petrol costing 36.9p per litre. Sounds incredibly cheap until you realise that after 30 years of price inflation that converts to about £1 - about 10p cheaper in real terms.

 

One thing that HAS risen in real terms is the cost of speedway admissions, along with many other sports. Some things are cheaper in real terms, mainly electrical appliances and high tech gadgets but others have gone the other way - badly.