Speedway Star

[PHILIPRISING]

EVER since I joined this forum, initially to put right some misinformation being peddled about the actual ownership of Speedway Star, I have willing accepted criticism of the magazine. Everyone has a right to criticise although on occasions I do wonder whether those doing so have actually read or seen SS for sometime.

 

It irks me when people on the bsf say we are in hoc to the BSPA or simply cut and paste press realises. Neither is true.

 

But what particular disappoints is when people, as one did recently, call Speedway Star "crap."

 

That is more often than not balanced by others, including members of the general media, who are amazed how we manage to put together such a good weekly publication for such a small audience and with limited resources.

 

I am no longer involved with the day-to-day running of the mag and nor with its content but I am very proud of those who are.

 

This week for example SS includes:

 

POOLE may have been the all-conquering team of the Elite League era, but it wasn’t always so. In the first 46 years of the Pirates’ existence, they managed only one league title triumph – back in the formative years of the British League in 1969. In this week’s Speedway Star, we track down the surviving members of that Poole side in a fascinating seven-page feature. Returning to more modern times, we also talk to up-and-coming teenager Kyle Bickley about a big year ahead for the Cumbrian kid, plus interviews with the retiring Simon Stead and Jake Knight, new Plymouth promoters Laurence Rogers and Mark Phillips talk about their plans for the Devils, and for Scunthorpe supporters, it’s their side’s 2016 track review, which doesn’t always make the happiest of reading for Scorpions fans!

 

Cut and paste? I think not.

[Fromafar]

The Star is very good for a weekly magazine.Every journalist is entitled to give their view of situations that occur in the sport whether readers agree or not ,it's all about opinions.Constructive criticism is perfectly acceptable I'm sure,but to call the Magazine crap is uncalled for IMO.Still enjoy reading it,keep up the good work.

Ps

I disagreed with its reporting on the Hancock situation recently,but it's all about opinions.

Edited November 30, 2016 by Fromafar

[J_D]

I for one love it. Still a great read. It would be missed if it was not here. Like Richard Watson said, cut back on the black background with white type set, I think I have commented on that before!

[barncooseboy]

I agree that the choice of an ink colour on a colour background sometimes make it difficult to read but suspect that 'onscreen' it probably looked fine it became less visible when transferred to print form.

 

May I take this opportunity to offer my best wishes to longtime South West correspondent and track announcer over the years at Trelawny, Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol, Newport and. I think Swindon, Graham Hambly who is currently recovering in Derriford Hospital Plymouth from an unexpected medical problem, GET WELL SOON mate.

[Mike.Butler]

I continue to look forward to it dropping through my letter box every Thursday. I read it cover to cover (except for the grasstrack pages)

[ch958]

i think its fine - it may be that to reduce costs all round the SS could be produced more like a newspaper than a magazine. Wouldn't bother me to lose the gloss.

Also heed should be paid to the success of retro - maybe more retro articles?

[The White Knight]

I find the Magazine quite pricey for what you get.

 

Not a good buy for me I'm afraid.

i think its fine - it may be that to reduce costs all round the SS could be produced more like a newspaper than a magazine. Wouldn't bother me to lose the gloss.

Also heed should be paid to the success of retro - maybe more retro articles?

I don't agree. Speedway Star is a current Magazine - the Retro Speedway scene is already more than adequately filled by 'BackTrack'and 'Classic Speedway' Magazines.

 

I would not expect 'BackTrack' or 'Classic Speedway' to get involved in current Speedway - it would probably put me off buying it. Likewise I believe Speedway Star should stick to it's job of reporting on current Speedway events and happenings.

 

I certainly would not want them to go in to competition with each other.

[macinter]

I think it is an almost excellent magazine with just a little too much of days gone by. Please stick to more current affairs as I am sure there is plenty of news out there, although it must be a touch difficult during the close season. Why not some reasonably comprehensive articles on our young riders who look as though they might have a speedway future. How did they get into speedway and what do they think it needs to get it more into the public domain for a start. Perhaps, with all due respect, us old codgers have just too much influence on what passes as speedway news.

[Sidney the robin]

I find the Magazine quite pricey for what you get.

 

Not a good buy for me I'm afraid.

 

I don't agree. Speedway Star is a current Magazine - the Retro Speedway scene is already more than adequately filled by 'BackTrack'and 'Classic Speedway' Magazines.

 

I would not expect 'BackTrack' or 'Classic Speedway' to get involved in current Speedway - it would probably put me off buying it. Likewise I believe Speedway Star should stick to it's job of reporting on current Speedway events and happenings.

 

I certainly would not want them to go in to competition with each other.

I still like the speedway star but my ONLY gripe is to please go back to having only one main picture on the front cover.

[bellevueace]

Ive always enjoyed the SS and have again just renewed my subscription. I find it up to date with current news and in the winter months it features some superb articles from yesteryear. All in all I find it a good read at a reasonable price and always look forward to it popping through the letterbox every Thursday.

[The White Knight]

I think it is an almost excellent magazine with just a little too much of days gone by. Please stick to more current affairs as I am sure there is plenty of news out there, although it must be a touch difficult during the close season. Why not some reasonably comprehensive articles on our young riders who look as though they might have a speedway future. How did they get into speedway and what do they think it needs to get it more into the public domain for a start. Perhaps, with all due respect, us old codgers have just too much influence on what passes as speedway news.

Because it is mainly 'Old Codgers' who go to Speedway these days. :sad:

[mickthemuppet]

Speedway Star is a great magazine for such a small sport. I also used to have the Ace magazine which covered Tennis all over the world. Sadly as it was not profitable and ceased about 5 years ago.So Speedway is such a lucky sport to have such a magazine

[The White Knight]

Speedway Star is a great magazine for such a small sport. I also used to have the Ace magazine which covered Tennis all over the world. Sadly as it was not profitable and ceased about 5 years ago.So Speedway is such a lucky sport to have such a magazine

I agree with that actually.

 

That does not though, make it immune from criticism.

[foamfence]

It is very professional in appearance. The two biggest problems are that 1= I'ts always going to be a week out of date and 2= It isn't quite as crusading as some would like. Others will undoubtedly disagree with my reservations and it is their right to hold whatever opinions they might have. With so many internet sources of information, I find myself buying it less and less, and not really missing it when I don't.

[GWC]

If we lost the Star it would be the demise of Speedway in the UK so buy it while we have it.

[Gresham]

Speedway Star holds a place in my heart.

 

As a kid I would run home from school on a Thursday afternoon, and rush through the door to get my grubby mitts all over it.

 

I was gutted if it was ever a day late...I would cycle up to the Newsagents just to see if it had been delivered late and the paper boy had missed it.

 

Used to read it from cover to cover. Was overjoyed if a favourite rider was featured. Would go through the league tables and averages religiously.

 

Back in those days it was the only way of getting news. Nowadays it's just a click away on the Internet.

 

I still buy it occasionally...but never read it cover to cover like I used too.

 

Maybe it's me...but I really don't like overly fussy presentation. Clean, neat and simple is my preference.

 

It's a bit like Bike covers emblazoned with different colours and sponsors logos...you either love it or hate it.

 

Front and back cover for me....should just have one photograph, Speedway Star as a heading and the price...nothing else...just clean and classy.

Edited November 30, 2016 by Gresham

[The White Knight]

If we lost the Star it would be the demise of Speedway in the UK so buy it while we have it.

Not at that Price.

 

Print it along the lines of 'Motorcycle News' and reduce the Price accordingly and I would agree with you.

Speedway Star holds a place in my heart.

 

As a kid I would run home from school on a Thursday afternoon, and rush through the door to get my grubby mitts all over it.

 

I was gutted if it was ever a day late...I would cycle up to the Newsagents just to see if it had been delivered late and the paper boy had missed it.

 

Used to read it from cover to cover. Was overjoyed if a favourite rider was featured. Would go through the league tables and averages religiously.

 

Back in those days it was the only way of getting news. Nowadays it's just a click away on the Internet.

 

I still buy it occasionally...but never read it cover to cover like I used too.

 

Maybe it's me...but I really don't like overly fussy presentation. Clean, neat and simple is my preference.

 

It's a bit like Bike covers emblazoned with different colours and sponsors logos...you either love it or hate it.

 

Front and back cover for me....should just have one photograph, Speedway Star as a heading and the price...nothing else...just clean and classy.

I can concur with all of the highlighted section of your Post.

 

I used to read it from cover to cover too. When I buy it now - I am very selective in what I read and then it is straight in to the bin.

[martin_t]

Haven't missed an issue since I started buying it in 1970.

[Gemini]

If we lost the Star it would be the demise of Speedway in the UK so buy it while we have it.

It would probably be the demise of Starman2006 as well. Perish the thought.

[waytogo28]

Seems to me that the SS is far from "frank, fearless and free" from vested interest and has included very little of fan's response to the BSPA re-vamp, which seems from what I read here, to have been pointless. No-one outside the sport will have noticed, so hordes of new, younger fans will not be clogging the turnstiles at any tracks. Every idea introduced has been tried before and failed ( or just quietly dropped when it didn't succeed ) Sticking a new name badge on will do nothing to address the basic problems of the sport. The SS should be having a fan's "referendum" at least twice a year in order to encourage true feedback from fans about what could / should be done or tried.