Anyone Else Considering Walking Away From Speedway?

[moxey63]

I would say any rule that allowed one team to used subs when the other team can't is stupid . but I forgot because it was in the old days it was ok and fair .

You're only right again...

[mikebv]

Never 'walked away' as such, but had 'sabbaticals'...

 

What I do now is simply pick and choose which meetings to attend and they are the ones that have at least a modicum of integrity to them. eg no select sides, no riders missing through riding elsewhere, no ringers brought in due to teams deliberately planning in meetings so they can etc etc ad nauseam...

 

This year I will have attended the new NSS around half as much as I attended the dog bowl last year

 

(But that is still more than Max Fricke)😁..

 

(But not as much as Danny King)😂

 

Considering that the new stadium is great, the racing is often superb, and we are top of the league it doesn't bode well for how much the sport will make out of me in the future.

 

As many say, when done well, the sport has few peers, hence we still attend it..

 

Sadly British Speedway isn't done well often enough to increase those visits, which is worrying, as given its lack of capability in attracting 'newbies' it needs the 'die hards' to attend every week more than ever I would say..

 

As I say, you never really 'walk away' as it stays in the blood..

 

Which is ironic given the sport needs one hell of a 'transfusion'..

[capone]

Go and watch Ice Hockey, no rain offs, no guests, no r/r, well prepared surface, 60 minutes actual action, you'll be surprised how many ex speedway supporters you will see watching.

[/quo

te]

big problem....less places have an ice rink than have a speedway track

I have been involved, albeit in a small way with the track prep at Leicester since 1981, and when Leicester closed, still kept involved with Kings Lynn until around 1989, and I have loved speedway, since 1972.. Apart from a brief 4 yr stint supporting Long Eaton during the Leicesterless years, I have always believed that the top division in the UK was where I wanted to be..

 

When Leicester joined the Elite League 3 seasons ago, I was finally happy, or so I thought..

 

But things have gone from bad to worse, what a bloody shambles this league is. Promoters that don't promote, riders that well, at best, use this league for pin money, no loyalty, no team spirit, and most have no thought for the paying fans.

 

I have always tried to make allowances for them, the riders, but now I am so disillusioned with speedway, I think this will be my last season as a supporter and volunteer..

 

I don't think I want to drop to premier league, or national league, I want to see the best that is available, end of......

 

Unless, the AGM makes some radical changes, and stops sitting on its arse and self congratulating itself, that's me done....

do what i did walk away partially,...just go to the (or some) gps

[britmet]

Anyone Else Considering Walking Away From Speedway?

 

I already have !

 

[ProperSport]

I love Speedway , always have always will , Im a glass half full type of chap and naive perhaps ignore the negatives and enjoy the positives , the daughter loves the sport ... , the smell , the racing when good is good and outweighs any other sport , I collect Badges and Programmes and enjoy doing that and have done so for a few years and my passion for the sport is as strong as it was when my dad took me to Belle Vue every home watch

 

Adore the sport , maybe Im easily satisfied but cannot imagine not going , watching Speedway

[Daniel Smith]

I love Speedway , always have always will , Im a glass half full type of chap and naive perhaps ignore the negatives and enjoy the positives , the daughter loves the sport ... , the smell , the racing when good is good and outweighs any other sport , I collect Badges and Programmes and enjoy doing that and have done so for a few years and my passion for the sport is as strong as it was when my dad took me to Belle Vue every home watch

 

Adore the sport , maybe Im easily satisfied but cannot imagine not going , watching Speedway

 

It is great some supporters are still really enthusiastic about Speedway.

 

Unfortunately for most of us the negatives far outweigh the positives.

Attendances prove this.

Also proven by the attendances of Play-Off finals by how many Speedway fans come out.

 

Speedway in this country could be really healthy but every year BSPA and more importantly, promoters running their clubs appallingly.

 

Honestly, imo Speedway should fall back to basics and start again.

Scrap double points, tac subs etc.

Every rider has 4 programmed rides and a nominated heat 15 - done.

Only have rider's committed to all fixtures.

Put on some genuine entertainment for the fans

[moxey63]

I find it interesting that someone bemoans the use of two golden doubles, which could give that team a 6 point advantage over two heats.

Whereas the old tac sub rule could produce a swing of 8 points per heat, so 16 points in two heats.

 

Perhaps it's the messing about with the stuck-in-stone 3, 2, 1 scoring method in exchange for It's A Knockout type of thing, which gives you a two-throws-of-the-dice scenario in one go. The sport may as well have promoters running round dressed as clowns, for god's sake...

 

It's like men dressing up as women for a laugh on a boys' night out. Don't know whether it's serious or cringeworthy.

Edited September 20, 2016 by moxey63

[waiheke1]

I think most of us prefer the old tac sub rule tbh. But it was - in most circumstances - more advantageous to the trailing team than the double points.

Either way, I'd suggest it's way down the list of things wrong with speedway.

[moxey63]

I think most of us prefer the old tac sub rule tbh. But it was - in most circumstances - more advantageous to the trailing team than the double points.

Either way, I'd suggest it's way down the list of things wrong with speedway.

 

Having been brought up in the 3, 2, 1 system, and a keen collector of speedway facts and figures type of stuff, I haven't been able to accept the double-bubble system one bit. A rule that encourages a team mate to slow down to allow his double-pointer team mate to win a heat and get the maximum double points was one punch more than I could accept from my speedway. Supposed to be a race, but you often got the scenario of a would-he, wouldn't he slow down to allow his double-pointer partner passed on the run-in, or, if they couldn't understand the rule, some riders just went out and won the heat to the annoyance of his double-bubble partner and team boss.

 

We have been forced in life to accept certain things... but no way, no way, will I ever accept the double-bubble blinking joker. I mean, women parading round holding aloft that giant joker playing card up for god's sake... and that's a good image for a sport supposedly trying to claim new fans? It ain't prime time Saturday night TV - X-Factor or Strictly Come Dancing. It is meant to be blooming serious (speedway, that is, not X-Factor).

Edited September 20, 2016 by moxey63

[orion]

I think most of us prefer the old tac sub rule tbh. But it was - in most circumstances - more advantageous to the trailing team than the double points.

Either way, I'd suggest it's way down the list of things wrong with speedway.

Spot on it's miles down the list ..and we know the old tac sub was just as stupid and more unfair ...just imagine in another sport the only team being allowed to used subs are team that are losing ..but you still got fans who somehow class that as serious

[waiheke1]

Tbf I liked the old tac sub rule. I guess because it's what I grew up with. And the aces won the 83 premiership with a 2nd leg, heat 13, 5-1 with my all time favourite rider Larry Ross coming in as tac sub to (in conjunction with PC) win through meeting for the Aces.

But what speedway really needs to do is run meetings in 90 minutes, provide decent entertainment between heats, market itself, a well planned fixture list, produce a simple and transparent set of rules, and that would be a solid starting point.

The racing is as good as it ever was (imho) but that in itself is not enough these days.

[orion]

Tbf I liked the old tac sub rule. I guess because it's what I grew up with. And the aces won the 83 premiership with a 2nd leg, heat 13, 5-1 with my all time favourite rider Larry Ross coming in as tac sub to (in conjunction with PC) win through meeting for the Aces.

But what speedway really needs to do is run meetings in 90 minutes, provide decent entertainment between heats, market itself, a well planned fixture list, produce a simple and transparent set of rules, and that would be a solid starting point.

The racing is as good as it ever was (imho) but that in itself is not enough these days.

I think most people like what the grew up with . as .I said Before White Knight had it correct any form of tac sub is stupid ..the problem you got is when you a couple of old timers trying to make out it was somehow fair ...the moment they do that then opinion about can only be classed as living in the past

[stevebrum]

I think most people like what the grew up with . as .I said Before White Knight had it correct any form of tac sub is stupid ..the problem you got is when you a couple of old timers trying to make out it was somehow fair ...the moment they do that then opinion about can only be classed as living in the past

Agree.

Although Poland and Sweden still use the old tac sub rule and they have better crowds than we do. However the double points rule we have gives excitement but gives very little credibility.

[Sidney the robin]

Went to Scunny the other day and came out of there really buzzing.My enthusiasm had come racing back showed me how much i still love the sport.I have not enjoyed watching at Swindon for a while now but still go everyweek can't imagine ever giving up on Speedway though.Like another post said i collect programmes memorabilia autographs (ect) really enjoy that keeps me busy.

[Joe Beevers]

I think the reasons I wouldn't walk away from speedway are:

 

1) Britain has a World Champion and a genuinely world classed rider.

2) Although the rules are odd and full of loopholes, it gets more and more interesting every year there is an AGM announcement.

3) Exciting young British riders coming through like Lambert, Ellis and Bates.

4) A future signal that the GP riders are going to comeback into speedway even of it is half a season or a playoffs with which the finances of most I would accept.

5) Last year was a very close E.L finale won by a few points and this year could be even closer with 3 evenly matched sides who could easily win it.

6) A new national stadium has just been built. Hopefully better times for it unlike the start of this season.

7) Some of the racing has been really exciting with tracks being well prepared and passing more than other seasons.

8) The Great Dane is back in speedway.

9) Some real characters are managing in the Elite League such as Gary Havelock and Alan Rossiter

10) The race for the World Title is starting to really heat up.

 

Why would you want to walk away from speedway now?

[Trees]

Nah, love a good race, love supporting my team 😆💙💛👏👏

[heathen chemistry]

fans are walking away because its not a level playing field.. corruption . fiddles back handers . speedway is only going to continue downwards look whats happened the last 5 yrs ...when one club seems to have a blank cheque to sign riders but all other clubs carnt afford adecent track curator things are seriosly wrong...

[proud panther]

Speedway isn't perfect by any means, & I have questioned my sanity on the way home from Peterborough a few times this year. But when I remember the Cardiff Grand Prix, & the World Cup at Belle Vue, they far outweigh any bad thoughts. Two brilliant meetings in my opinion, both from the racing & the atmosphere generated by the fans. Not a sign of trouble, just lots of people enjoying friendly banter.

[waiheke1]

Tbh the grand prix and swc have it right, that's speedway as it should be. What you need to do is take that and apply it to sport at elite league level - the issue is that it would cost money to do so, anfmd typically the approach has been to cut costs rather than work out how to grow revenue.

[Sidney the robin]

I have changed my mind about the GP series the product you have to say is excellent.Was against it at first mainly because i was a fan of the old one off W.Final now speedway has gone to another level.With Dudek now qualified we only have Emil/Gregorij missing so we nearly have the best line up available the series is in great shape.