When Did Uk Speedway Decline Start?

[Fromafar]

Think the whole Team ethos has gone out the sport over the last few years and fans can't can't identify their Team.It just 4 riders / laps which still produces the same thrills but it's easy just to give it a miss as winning trophies just isn't the same when everybody in the league has ridden for you and against you.I wonder how many fans nowadays sacrifice of few regular visit to their home tracks and with the money saved take in a GP as an alternative.

Edited December 24, 2016 by Fromafar

[Ray Stadia]

It seemed to start to decline when I first started going. Great!

That kind of thing normally happens to me Mike! On this occasion, I started watching in the 60s, Rayleigh. However, I would say the last 2 seasons Rayleigh raced, 72/73, the crowds were often poor.

[Guest]

Let me emphasise this point. I do like 'stock car' racing in most of its formats. But I don't want to turn this into a debate on its merits or otherwise. I just want to pose one question.

Did the arrival of 'stock car' racing in Britain at New Cross at Easter 1954 and its subsequent development in any way play a part in the start of the decline of interest for speedway in the UK? Or is car racing so diverse from speedway that it then had - and still has - no impact on attracting supporters away from the bikes?

​I do not think stock cars had any real effect on what has happened in speedway. It is more to my way of thinking the increase in TV programming in the mid-1950s had far more influence in affecting speedway attendances.

Edited December 24, 2016 by Guest

[Tsunami]

Let me emphasise this point. I do like 'stock car' racing in most of its formats. But I don't want to turn this into a debate on its merits or otherwise. I just want to pose one question.

Did the arrival of 'stock car' racing in Britain at New Cross at Easter 1954 and its subsequent development in any way play a part in the start of the decline of interest for speedway in the UK? Or is car racing so diverse from speedway that it then had - and still has - no impact on attracting supporters away from the bikes?

​I do not think stock cars had any real effect on what has happened in speedway. It is more to my way of thinking the increase in TV programming in the mid-1950s had far more influence in affecting speedway attendances.

So why the fukc bring it up.

[Guest]

Let me emphasise this point. I do like 'stock car' racing in most of its formats. But I don't want to turn this into a debate on its merits or otherwise. I just want to pose one question.

Did the arrival of 'stock car' racing in Britain at New Cross at Easter 1954 and its subsequent development in any way play a part in the start of the decline of interest for speedway in the UK? Or is car racing so diverse from speedway that it then had - and still has - no impact on attracting supporters away from the bikes?

​I do not think stock cars had any real effect on what has happened in speedway. It is more to my way of thinking the increase in TV programming in the mid-1950s had far more influence in affecting speedway attendances.

 

 

So why the fukc bring it up.

 

Because I was expressing my own opinion and thought that other BSF members may have had a contrary view. Did you really need to use fukc in your comment?

In case you didn't know a debate is meant to find differing views on a topic and that in my view is what I have done.

Edited December 24, 2016 by Guest

[Tsunami]

 

 

 

Because I was expressing my own opinion and thought that other BSF members may have had a contrary view. Did you really need to use fukc in your comment?

In case you didn't know a debate is meant to find differing views on a topic and that's in my view is what I have done.

Yes, by introducing your own sport in a debate that you have stated has not been affected by said sport. Other posters would introduce it IF THEY thought it had a bearing, but they haven't but you being you still bring it into the discussion. It's not relevant to the discussion so why drag this sport into it.

[The White Knight]

 

 

 

Because I was expressing my own opinion and thought that other BSF members may have had a contrary view. Did you really need to use fukc in your comment?

In case you didn't know a debate is meant to find differing views on a topic and that's in my view is what I have done.

It is a good Thread this. I have learned a lot (again) from it.

 

I think it is fair to say that Speedway today is a totally different thing to what it was back in the '60s and 70s. I honestly believe that your Riders rode for your Club Season after Season and actually talked to and socialised with the Supporters.

 

Many on here could say things similar to this - at Sunderland in the 70s we had Russ Dent, George Barclay, Dave Gatenby, Brian Havelock, Jack Millen etc. who we actually got to know as people. That simply doesn't happen nowadays and, I believe Speedway suffers because of it. That and ever increasing Rule changes that make the Sport lack credibility - Double Uppers/Downers, Double Points etc..

 

I also agree about the Silencers - the noise and the strong smell of the Castrol 'R' were a big part of Speedway too - the Sport has suffered with their loss as well.

 

Sadly I don't, at present, see any end to the decline - I just wish that Speedway could go back to the way it used to be - but - I am not holding my breath.

 

I stopped going because of one stupid Rule - I wonder how many others have stopped for the same reason, or how many others have stopped because of one particular reason/Rule that they can't abide. There must be many of them.

[bruno]

It's not just speedway riders who don't mix like they used to, look at the footballers. Doesn't seem to harmed footie attendances though

[robert72]

There is a lot of interesting debate in regard to problems facing UK speedway at the present time. The indications from these Posts are that the problems are on-going.

I would be interested to read comments from other members as to when they think speedway's present ills started - and what is the main problem?

IMO the first chinks were in the mid-1950s when -

::: the composition of how many riders comprised a team.

::: the introduction of the guest rider system.

​::: the end of the 14 heat match format and disappearance to a very large extent of second-half racing.

::: I have several other opinions and I will put these forward if this thread evolves in a constructive and debatable manner.

Ronnie Russell bringing in a German and Dane in the British national league, the gates opened to the foreign riders many not as good as British juniors but given more chances.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

It's not just speedway riders who don't mix like they used to, look at the footballers. Doesn't seem to harmed footie attendances though

but in the main top flight football is corporate venture driven by the media and there are many ex fans who say the same as speedway fans do , but one big difference is when they play for a club they are the club and they are not swanning off to play for another team

Think the whole Team ethos has gone out the sport over the last few years and fans can't can't identify their Team.

a perfect example of this is max clegg , last season he rode for wolves and Cradley , now for any fan of either team , you either ride for Cradley OR wolves not both but the club ethos has been diluted so much this is accepted , well it shouldn't be accepted if you are in a team sport , it's wrong on all levels and makes the sport a joke and then we wonder why nobody follows team speedway in great numbers anymore

[cityrebel]

The decline started for me when I was a kid. In the south east in the space of a couple of years I lost west ham, wembley, romford, rayleigh and reading as league venues. Although the racers returned in a different stadium it's been mainly downhill ever since.

[Guest]

The decline started for me when I was a kid. In the south east in the space of a couple of years I lost west ham, wembley, romford, rayleigh and reading as league venues. Although the racers returned in a different stadium it's been mainly downhill ever since.

 

I know how you feel about the London track closures cityrebel. I saw the 'rise' of speedway in London from April 1946 through to its decline and know full well how you feel.

However, what factors do you think contributed to the sport's failure in the capital? Along with others who are following this thread I would be interested to read your observations. Indeed, from reading views on London's decline it could well be that the reasons are basically also those affecting the sport generally in the UK at the present time.

Just to recap with you in regard to speedway tracks in London and its surrounds this list may be of interest?

http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/thread/1202/london-area-tracks-1928

Edited December 25, 2016 by Guest

[R87]

3 things for me and contributed.

 

1. The loss of regular action in London (a sport without any base in a country's capital city has no chance of being taken seriously).

2. The Sunday People's infamous "Race Fixing Scandal".

3. Poland opening the gates to overseas riders and then refusing to even try and co-operate with the other leagues.

[Guest]

3 things for me and contributed.

 

1. The loss of regular action in London (a sport without any base in a country's capital city has no chance of being taken seriously).

2. The Sunday People's infamous "Race Fixing Scandal".

3. Poland opening the gates to overseas riders and then refusing to even try and co-operate with the other leagues.

 

I agree with your views mb1990 and agree that the first item in your comment is especially crucial in regard to the decline. While these days we accept the London-orientation of Rye House and Lakeside Hammers (aka Arena Essex) neither are venues likely to impress National Media as did old-time venues, especially Wembley, West Ham, Wimbledon and Harringay.

[steve roberts]

3 things for me and contributed.

 

1. The loss of regular action in London (a sport without any base in a country's capital city has no chance of being taken seriously).

2. The Sunday People's infamous "Race Fixing Scandal".

3. Poland opening the gates to overseas riders and then refusing to even try and co-operate with the other leagues.

Personally I never took the Sunday People 'exclusive' too seriously as anybody following the sport knew of 'favours' being done going back years but I guess that those unfamiliar with the sport would have drawn their own conclusions damning the sport (although similar allegations made against football and cricket seem not to have influenced the public's thinking!)

 

I go with Ivan Mauger's response when asked by a journalist for a comment "who the hell cares about what was said nobody reads you ****ing paper anyway!"

Edited December 25, 2016 by steve roberts

[Paulco]

3 things for me and contributed.

 

1. The loss of regular action in London (a sport without any base in a country's capital city has no chance of being taken seriously).

2. The Sunday People's infamous "Race Fixing Scandal".

3. Poland opening the gates to overseas riders and then refusing to even try and co-operate with the other leagues.

Elite League ice hockey doesn't have a London club and it is thriving . Most tracks are away from towns and cities nowadays and Rye House is only a half hour train journey away from London Liverpool Street .

[Guest]

Elite League ice hockey doesn't have a London club and it is thriving . Most tracks are away from towns and cities nowadays and Rye House is only a half hour train journey away from London Liverpool Street .

 

​Your comment Paulco prompted me to look on dear old Wikipedia where I specifically researched UK attendance figures. If my interpretation is correct, ice hockey clubs have bigger gates than speedway. This is what I found on Wikipedia under Elite Ice Hockey League:

Comparison to other leagues

In attendance, the EIHL ranks 8th among the European top leagues with an 2,719 average. Three teams are among the top 100 of the continent, 2016 challenge cup champions Nottingham Panthers at 40th (5,713 average), 2012 league champions Belfast Giants at 80th (4,544) and 2016 league champions Sheffield Steelers at 83rd (4,489)

Edited December 25, 2016 by Guest

[wealdstone]

It seems to me the total lack of ambition or more likely the acceptance of mediocrity is to blame. Regarding the lack of speedway or indeed ice hockey in London is due to small crowds and lack of available venues.

[Guest]

It seems to me the total lack of ambition or more likely the acceptance of mediocrity is to blame. Regarding the lack of speedway or indeed ice hockey in London is due to small crowds and lack of available venues.

 

What a worrying thought that is wealdstone. In a follow up vein does not mediocrity eventually lead to demise? I relate that conjecture to UK speedway generally and not just what has happened over the years in London.

[moxey63]

It was when the Speedway Star stopped doing those wonderful Christmas covers. Now all year round they look the same!

 

Seriously though, we all have varying times we feel the sport started to wane. Is it the longer you watch, the more cracks you see, the more cynical you become. I could take the ridding of the 13 heats, the guests, but it was when my boys started having other clubs names beside them when they featured in various publications, world championship programmes - clubs as far apart as Denmark, Sweden and Poland, as well as here. My boys couldn't really give their all for my team. My team wasn't entirely their team anymore. There's only so much you can give, both as a rider and a supporter. If they aren't fully focused on your support, the it raises concerns about your support for them is deserving.

 

But for someone else, my reasons will be scoffed at. They will have other reasons, and therefore it is a big mix of why we fell out with the sport. For example, there are pop groups I liked a certain period but not another part. In speedway, I can guess I like anything post-2000s is a give or take for my speedway memory.

 

It just seems my love of the sport, initially because it is a team game, has been scoffed at by riders who choose it as an individual game in which they are simply earning a living as agency workers. Most teams nowadays are puzzled together like some kind of testimonial event for one day and without any desire to formulate a team that can grow a bond with the fans, that the sport needs to survive.

Edited December 25, 2016 by moxey63