Speedway Star

[Grand Central]

Like so many here I have been a weekly purchaser of the Star for my whole life.

And for the last several years an online subscriber to the Exact editions e format.

 

I offer no criticism of pricing or coverage.
I certainly would never use the term 'crap'.

It is a very pretty production and Speedway can expect no better.

 

My 'beef' has always been over it's weak-livered editorial policy.

 

On the whole, I actually think that Philip Rising (personally) does have the balls to give his honest view, when he chooses to exercise it.

And when he does express a view I am happy to disagree with it, whilst appreciating his right to differ.

Unfortunately the actual Editor - a Mr Clark I believe- seems to be devoid of any descernible opinion himself.

But is happy to give full vent to the very narrow and restricted Burbidge-view of the Speedway world.

Which is a pity.

 

The Star's greatest failings IN MY VIEW have related to some of the biggest issues of the past few years.

And it's very weak attitude towards them.

 

Darcy Ward and the p!ssed up dehydration fiasco.

BSI and it's "varied" record of performance (think Warsaw 2015) and Gelsenkirchen/Gothenburg and Cardiff before.

Greg Hancock and the race fixing 'clutch' fiasco.

Belle Vue and the hagiography of Gordon and Morton.

 

All have represented very great lows in the life of the Star.

 

It would not have cost a penny more than the good value £2.90 to have just done better with journalistic and editorial content.

Edited November 30, 2016 by Grand Central

[Mad Potter 2]

Been having the comic weekly since 1966.

[Starman2006]

I read it every Wednesday...

[martinmauger]

I also subscribe to Backtrack and enjoyed the 5-1 mag, think it ran for 2 or maybe 3 seasons and I have plenty of VSMs (remember that?) and Classic Speedway too. I'm not saying the 'Star is perfect but it is a good read....

[PHILIPRISING]

PETER Oakes's new feature is a great read and a fabulous addition to SS ... Peter, as befits a top journalist with his track record, has a terrific eye for a story.

 

Thanks for all the comments. Cannot please all of the people all of the time.

 

As for the cost ... if we sold a few thousand more we could afford a cheaper cover price. Unfortunately in a market that has diminished dramatically in recent years that simply isn't a viable option.

[arnieg]

I have read every issue of Speedway Star from March 1952 to date. In my view it has maintained a high standard over the years and it has certainly retained my interest. On the whole I feel the magazine reports the news (and results) in a timely manner and allows readers to form their own views on events. I appreciate that on occasions a degree of investigative journalism can be enlightening in any publication, but if facts and events are reported comprehensively this gives the reader every opportunity to form their own views and reach their own conclusions. I am sure that anyone who feels there is a topic which has not been covered in a balanced way or in sufficient depth could air their views and promote further debate through the letters page.

 

I wouldn't claim to have read every copy, but I do own every single issue! It generally does a good job with a good mix of match coverage, stats, colour articles, nostalgia and gossip. The winter track reviews provide an excellent historical resource that goes back over 50 years.

 

And if you have a topic to air it's not just the letters page - I felt strongly about the over use of guests, and having compiled the stats it ended up in a six page article in the Star (in November 2014).

[E I Addio]

Credit where it is due: the quality of th production is good for the sort of magazine is, some of the articles in the close season are very good and in many ways it's a better read in the winter than in the summer, and the price is cheaper than most specialist magazines. It's actually not much dearer and much better value than a cup of coffee in Starbucks, especially on subscription so no complaints about the price as such BUT I cancelled my subscription some time ago and now just by it occasionally when there is something I particularly want to read.

 

A lot of it seems to be hot air to fill the space. Others on the thread have already pointed out various shortcomings and apparent lack of clear editorial policy. Personally , I don't believe and never have believe that it is the propaganda arm of the BSPA, but it's easy to understand why others feel that way, with the lack of objective or constructive criticism. My real complaint is the lack of balance in a lot of the articles, some rider or promoter says something and no attempt to explain the opposite point of view. That to me is not journalism. I don't want to read pages and pages of windbaggery. A classic example, I. One of the last editions of SS I bought was Niel Middleditch banging on about poor refereeing but when one examined the example he cited they were not bad refereeing decisions at all they were either 50/50 calls that didn't go his way or they were decisions that were wrong from his line of vision but not necessarily from the refs box. To me, those sorts of one sided articles are a waste of space. Something with a big more insight is required. The price is not an issue for me but I can't be bothered to go out of my way to get it any more in its present form

 

No cut and paste ? There is plenty in there that I have already read on clubs websites when SS arrives.

 

In short, SS is like the sport itself. Both are potentially good products but need a long hard good look at themselves to see what can be done to up their game.

[Vince]

I really like the Star and have no wish for the sports only magazine to start becoming an investigative tabloid type read. There is enough knocking of the sport on the internet in my opinion we don't need more in print.

 

My favourites are the technical articles and I actually prefer the magazine in the off season as they look for different articles.

[Gresham]

PETER Oakes's new feature is a great read and a fabulous addition to SS ... Peter, as befits a top journalist with his track record, has a terrific eye for a story.

 

Thanks for all the comments. Cannot please all of the people all of the time.

 

As for the cost ... if we sold a few thousand more we could afford a cheaper cover price. Unfortunately in a market that has diminished dramatically in recent years that simply isn't a viable option.

Forgive me if you have already done this...but how much market research has been done by the magazine with it's readers and speedway fans online, as to what they would want from the magazine?

 

What is the age demograph of the readers? Are sales decreasing every year? What are the projections each year? Is the magazine looking to the future or doing the same as Speedway and ignoring what people actually want?

[Vince]

Forgive me if you have already done this...but how much market research has been done by the magazine with it's readers and speedway fans online, as to what they would want from the magazine?

 

What is the age demograph of the readers? Are sales decreasing every year? What are the projections each year? Is the magazine looking to the future or doing the same as Speedway and ignoring what people actually want?

 

Hopefully they are too busy producing a magazine to get too involved in the theory of whether it is a sensible proposition in the business sense. Like Speedway itself too much research is likely to conclude it's not sustainable. However we are fortunate enough to have some people around the sport who allow passion to overcome logic and put in the money and/or work to keep the sport alive rather than worry about market research and the like.

 

No doubt it is a big part of the reason why Speedway survives rather than either thrives or disappears with the help of sound business sense but survive it does.

 

Market research and consultants could very easily be the end of this sport as it has been for many businesses that live because of passion rather than theory.

[Tsunami]

Forgive me if you have already done this...but how much market research has been done by the magazine with it's readers and speedway fans online, as to what they would want from the magazine?

 

What is the age demograph of the readers? Are sales decreasing every year? What are the projections each year? Is the magazine looking to the future or doing the same as Speedway and ignoring what people actually want?

Having refound speedway, are you going to agree or accept anything within the sport. Que concrete starts, coloured leathers, etc.

[bruno]

haven't bought it for ages but off shopping in a bit so will pick it up, same price as a pint where I drink

[waiheke1]

haven't bought it for ages but off shopping in a bit so will pick it up, same price as a pint where I drink

cheap pints in the uk, you'd get two speedway stars for the price of a pint here!

[New Science]

Like so many here I have been a weekly purchaser of the Star for my whole life.

And for the last several years an online subscriber to the Exact editions e format.

 

I offer no criticism of pricing or coverage.

I certainly would never use the term 'crap'.

It is a very pretty production and Speedway can expect no better.

 

My 'beef' has always been over it's weak-livered editorial policy.

 

On the whole, I actually think that Philip Rising (personally) does have the balls to give his honest view, when he chooses to exercise it.

And when he does express a view I am happy to disagree with it, whilst appreciating his right to differ.

Unfortunately the actual Editor - a Mr Clark I believe- seems to be devoid of any descernible opinion himself.

But is happy to give full vent to the very narrow and restricted Burbidge-view of the Speedway world.

Which is a pity.

 

The Star's greatest failings IN MY VIEW have related to some of the biggest issues of the past few years.

And it's very weak attitude towards them.

 

Darcy Ward and the p!ssed up dehydration fiasco.

BSI and it's "varied" record of performance (think Warsaw 2015) and Gelsenkirchen/Gothenburg and Cardiff before.

Greg Hancock and the race fixing 'clutch' fiasco.

Belle Vue and the hagiography of Gordon and Morton.

 

All have represented very great lows in the life of the Star.

 

It would not have cost a penny more than the good value £2.90 to have just done better with journalistic and editorial content.

Spot on post

[bruno]

cheap pints in the uk, you'd get two speedway stars for the price of a pint here!

best is its 6 percent as well, got the winter ale on at the minute,snowflake,8 percent,it is £2.10 for half tho. 2 and half rubys and half a snowflake tonight. superb

[mickthemuppet]

Depends on how you view value for money.

 

I buy 'BackTrack' and 'Classic Speedway' Magazines on Subscription and think they are excellent value for money.

 

I don't believe that Speedway Star fits in to that category these days. I used to have it delivered from the Newsagents years ago and in those days, it was indeed value for money. Not now unfortunately.

Surely if you want value for money would it not make more sense to take out a subscription

[blueherb777]

For a minority sport,I think we are lucky to have a Magazine like the Star.

Always a good/interesting read in the season and off season.

I always subscribe for six months from the BIG issue,but still buy the others from Sainsbury/Morisons.

Have done this for a while. Silly really but there you are.

[Sidney the robin]

For me the edition that comes out previewing the new season ahead is always a brilliant read.I often wished it could be like that every week but it is great value at 2.90.Look at the price of the Racing Post how much that has gone up over the years where the star has been pretty stable keeping its price.

[Guest]

Grand Central raised an interesting point. Unlike most publications, we rarely see any input from the editor Richard Clark. It would be nice to see the SS deliver praise and credit where justified and also cast a critical eye when there is a telling need to do so.

 

Notable examples where the SS should have raised it game are the new Swindon stadia and the situations at Belle Vue and Leicester.

Edited December 1, 2016 by Guest

[Halifaxtiger]

Like so many here I have been a weekly purchaser of the Star for my whole life.

And for the last several years an online subscriber to the Exact editions e format.

 

I offer no criticism of pricing or coverage.

I certainly would never use the term 'crap'.

It is a very pretty production and Speedway can expect no better.

 

My 'beef' has always been over it's weak-livered editorial policy.

 

On the whole, I actually think that Philip Rising (personally) does have the balls to give his honest view, when he chooses to exercise it.

And when he does express a view I am happy to disagree with it, whilst appreciating his right to differ.

Unfortunately the actual Editor - a Mr Clark I believe- seems to be devoid of any descernible opinion himself.

But is happy to give full vent to the very narrow and restricted Burbidge-view of the Speedway world.

Which is a pity.

 

The Star's greatest failings IN MY VIEW have related to some of the biggest issues of the past few years.

And it's very weak attitude towards them.

 

Darcy Ward and the p!ssed up dehydration fiasco.

BSI and it's "varied" record of performance (think Warsaw 2015) and Gelsenkirchen/Gothenburg and Cardiff before.

Greg Hancock and the race fixing 'clutch' fiasco.

Belle Vue and the hagiography of Gordon and Morton.

 

All have represented very great lows in the life of the Star.

 

It would not have cost a penny more than the good value £2.90 to have just done better with journalistic and editorial content.

That pretty much sums up my view, too and is indeed why I don't very often buy it. I fully accept Phil's view that it isn't a BSPA mouthpiece but I can see why there are those who think it is.

 

You simply can't claim to be fully credible if you completely duck or ignore the abuses that exist within the sport, and the Star does that far too often.