British Speedway - Dead Or Alive?

[mikebv]

Speedway first of all is about 4 men 4 bikes 4 laps of full throttle mayhem.

If speedway isn't about that to you and you need big names for eg hancock, then you need to go back and rethink what speedway is actually all about. Id pretty much watch any level and enjoy it. On this forum I've came to realise that there is many speedway snobs who only want gp stars.....go and follow gp's then if thats the only calibre of rider you wish to see. Club/team speedway is the best way to get the fix with or without the big money stars.

Agree, but only if the teams on show have credibility and the league's they are running in have integrity...

 

Two major and (lets face it, very basic) requirements in any team sport, but sadly requirements British Speedway finds almost impossibility in delivering through its current year on year operating model..

 

Thats the biggest challenge that needs sorting to move the sport forward. The level of riders on show is largely totally irrelevant when what you are watching is often nothing more than a series of heats participated in by an often random selection of riders with very little affinity or connection (if indeed any) to the actual team they represent..

 

Fix that first I would suggest, and then build the rest around it...

Edited January 18, 2017 by mikebv

[Halifaxtiger]

Some very interesting comments. Thank you for taking the time you share your views even if some of you don't agree with me. There is nothing like a good debate.

 

One aspect I forgot to add to my post was is speedway dead or alive? For now maybe its just clinging on. If you look at the current league structure and costs of British speedway you will have noticed that in the last couple of seasons most of the established tracks have decided to cut their losses and drop down to the National League. Eastbourne and now Lakeside. Tracks who found they simply could not survive in the higher tiers such as Birmingham and Plymouth. On the other hand does one see Kent or Cradley stepping up anytime soon? errmm NO! Their owners would have to have very big pockets and be financial suicidal. From what I can gather the only track that makes any money is Poole?

 

Will speedway in the UK be dead in the next 10 years? Very very probable! Why do I say this? Land and the need of it for housing. I actually work in the housing sector so know what I am talking about here. I'm sure unless you have been living in the deepest darkest jungles of the Congo for the past few years most of you will be aware of the housing crisis in the UK. It is a two way scenario. Firstly there is a shortage of social housing. Secondly the government in partnership with the developers want to provide more people for opportunity for people to buy new builds with schemes such as help to buy and shared ownership.

 

Available land is now a premium. Landowners are being asked name your price (depending on the area obviously). It's well noted Coventry will be gone shortly. But there will come a time when the land owners of all tracks close to populated area's will be tempted to bite the cherry. Think it will never happen to my team? Well take into account last weeks news that the Jockey Club want to sell off Kempton Park Racecourse. Kempton Park - one of the UK's most famous and premier racecourses! It's certainly not making a loss and attracts huge crowds to its feature meetings. However it is very close to London and the Jockey Club have been rumored to be asking £100m for the land.

 

Maybe in 2027 we will have an elite league with just Buxton and Mildenhall. Poole may be making money but its only a matter of time before Mr Ford accepts the millions.

 

My good friend Tim Allan went to Dorchester Town the other night and the attendance was around the 300 mark. Most speedway tracks attract more than that. So it won't just be speedway stadiums that are targeted for housing, but almost every other minority sport and even semi pro football.

 

Is it a realistic possibility that across the land a majority of our sports stadiums will in the next 10 years be bulldozed to build houses on ?

 

Speedway losing stadiums to housing is hardly new. West Ham, for example, was developed 50 years ago. Leicester, Scunthorpe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Middlesbrough, Plymouth, Belle Vue - all have lost stadiums to housing, commercial or retail, yet they will all be at the tapes in 2017 (counting Redcar as Middlesbrough).

 

As to ones likely to close it is typical that there has been a far larger threat over Mildenhall than, for instance, Glasgow. One is the middle of nowhere, the other close to a major city centre.

 

I repeat (again) : there will be more speedway tracks in operation in 2017 than there were 30 years ago. True, the standard of rider is lower but there are still more. In addition, maybe you are unaware that two tracks have indeed stepped up leagues in 2017.

 

To suggest that in 10 years the sport will be almost dead in this country is, in my view, nonsense and, as I have said, is usually spouted by those that do not go any more.

 

One final point : Matt Ford doesn't own Poole Stadium. The council does.

Edited January 18, 2017 by Halifaxtiger

[berniev123]

"Speedway first of all is about 4 men 4 bikes 4 laps of full throttle mayhem."

 

"There will be more speedway tracks in operation in 2017 than there were 30 years ago. True, the standard of rider is lower but there are still more."

 

I have copied the above two comments and have to agree with them 200%!

 

A rebrand as the first as opposed to a 'Family Sport' may help, as I have been a Cradley fan since 1959 and still hold a Season Ticket today and Speedway was NEVER sold to me as such.

Speedway teams have always come and gone as is the nature of the sport but to have more now than 30 years ago, mind you more than in 1965, is a major achievement in any sport!

Be careful for what you moan about, being a Cradley fan I have lost and regained a lot since 1959. Thank you Nigel and all at Heathens HQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Discuss................................

Edited January 19, 2017 by berniev123

[Humphrey Appleby]

Is it a realistic possibility that across the land a majority of our sports stadiums will in the next 10 years be bulldozed to build houses on ?

 

It's also linked to the popularity of the particular sports. There's more a case for keeping a stadium if the sport being played is thriving and stadium is regularly used.

 

The problem with football for example, is as much the slow (and in some cases fast) decline of the lower levels and clubs folding, as grounds coming under pressure of re-development.

[cityrebel]

My good friend Tim Allan went to Dorchester Town the other night and the attendance was around the 300 mark. Most speedway tracks attract more than that. So it won't just be speedway stadiums that are targeted for housing, but almost every other minority sport and even semi pro football.

 

Is it a realistic possibility that across the land a majority of our sports stadiums will in the next 10 years be bulldozed to build houses on ?

 

Speedway losing stadiums to housing is hardly new. West Ham, for example, was developed 50 years ago. Leicester, Scunthorpe, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Middlesbrough, Plymouth, Belle Vue - all have lost stadiums to housing, commercial or retail, yet they will all be at the tapes in 2017 (counting Redcar as Middlesbrough).

 

As to ones likely to close it is typical that there has been a far larger threat over Mildenhall than, for instance, Glasgow. One is the middle of nowhere, the other close to a major city centre.

 

I repeat (again) : there will be more speedway tracks in operation in 2017 than there were 30 years ago. True, the standard of rider is lower but there are still more. In addition, maybe you are unaware that two tracks have indeed stepped up leagues in 2017.

 

To suggest that in 10 years the sport will be almost dead in this country is, in my view, nonsense and, as I have said, is usually spouted by those that do not go any more.

 

One final point : Matt Ford doesn't own Poole Stadium. The council does.

As a frequent visitor to west ham during my misspent youth, I must point out that custom house was closed for redevelopment a mere 44 years and 8 months ago!. Like you say losing stadiums to the developer is nothing new. Bristol knowle was one of the first big venues to go at the end of 1960, quickly followed by stoke sun street, southampton, Norwich, Edinburgh meadowbank and glasgow white city by the end of the decade.

[Pieman72]

Fundamentally speedway is a spectator sport and is totally reliant on admission prices and sponsorship. With many young people privately renting and living costs / inflation rising the amount of disposable income from the target audience is restricted. To attract new fans and to hang on to current ones admissions costs have to fall. For a single person who is passionate about the sport that is fine but the majority of spectators look on speedway as a recreational pursuit to be enjoyed with a partner and family.

Ultimately we need to look at the entertainment value and what we are getting for £19 admission. The empty terraces with old enthusiasts like me reminiscing about the past won't pay the bills or take the sport back to health. It's not the odd exciting race that we need to focus on but the foundations and scaffold of speedway that have held it together for nearly 90 years. Home grown riders would be a good point of reference.

 

Realistically it's not point arguing about the merits of paying £18 or £20 to watch a meeting for most people it is unaffordable but for some reason no one seems to get it?

[ytsejam]

Fundamentally speedway is a spectator sport and is totally reliant on admission prices and sponsorship. With many young people privately renting and living costs / inflation rising the amount of disposable income from the target audience is restricted. To attract new fans and to hang on to current ones admissions costs have to fall. For a single person who is passionate about the sport that is fine but the majority of spectators look on speedway as a recreational pursuit to be enjoyed with a partner and family.

 

Ultimately we need to look at the entertainment value and what we are getting for £19 admission. The empty terraces with old enthusiasts like me reminiscing about the past won't pay the bills or take the sport back to health. It's not the odd exciting race that we need to focus on but the foundations and scaffold of speedway that have held it together for nearly 90 years. Home grown riders would be a good point of reference.

 

Realistically it's not point arguing about the merits of paying £18 or £20 to watch a meeting for most people it is unaffordable but for some reason no one seems to get it?

 

 

Spot on really. Sadly I have no answer to the question but paying over £1 for every MINUTE of racing you see cannot be under any circumstances classed as good value for money, especially when at least 75% of each minutes racing is about as exciting as watching paint dry more times than not!!

Edited January 19, 2017 by ytsejam

[Pieman72]

Thanks for the support I shall keep lobbying for changeas I know I'm not on my own. I'm a motorsport enthusiast and some of the speedway boys have to realise it's not a social service and won't carry on indefinitely unless there are more spectators. Speedway seems to be going the same way as your local pub as they are expensive and not everone wants the same old lager, cider and beer. The ones that have diversified into coffee, soft drinks and food generally survive due to attracting a new clientel.

[The White Knight]

Thanks for the support I shall keep lobbying for changeas I know I'm not on my own. I'm a motorsport enthusiast and some of the speedway boys have to realise it's not a social service and won't carry on indefinitely unless there are more spectators. Speedway seems to be going the same way as your local pub as they are expensive and not everone wants the same old lager, cider and beer. The ones that have diversified into coffee, soft drinks and food generally survive due to attracting a new clientel.

Speedway isn't a Pub.

 

However I agree with the main thrust of your argument. Quite how you would change Speedway though - I am not too sure.

 

Certainly a number of Rules need changing.

 

Perhaps finding a way to fill in the gaps between Races might be a start.

 

I wish I knew the answer - but sadly I don't.

[Starman2006]

You spin me right round baby right round like a record baby round round right round.

[Hawk127]

Slick presentation might help. Riders ready to go on track as the riders cross the line for the preceding race. If an infringement occurs at the start, cut the crap, get back round to the start and none of this back to the pits etc. They were under starters orders and that is it, no changes, no adjustments, and if a rider delays the start put them on fifteen metres. If a rider is adjudged to be the cause of a stoppage, disqualify and put a reserve in. People come to watch races of four laps with four riders. When the powers that be think first about the presentation and the paying public and then the rules, it might just improve the image. Until then you have a Mickey Mouse sport that does not even pretend unlike WWE. Trying to take yourself seriously is not going to work. If. Sell it as professional sportsmen taking calculated risks then you might create an image. For now the image is dire.

[Pieman72]

Excellent post baba a realist. Diversification and local riders.

[New Science]

Slick presentation might help. Riders ready to go on track as the riders cross the line for the preceding race. If an infringement occurs at the start, cut the crap, get back round to the start and none of this back to the pits etc. They were under starters orders and that is it, no changes, no adjustments, and if a rider delays the start put them on fifteen metres. If a rider is adjudged to be the cause of a stoppage, disqualify and put a reserve in. People come to watch races of four laps with four riders. When the powers that be think first about the presentation and the paying public and then the rules, it might just improve the image. Until then you have a Mickey Mouse sport that does not even pretend unlike WWE. Trying to take yourself seriously is not going to work. If. Sell it as professional sportsmen taking calculated risks then you might create an image. For now the image is dire.

Maybe the riders for heat 2 could wait on the infield and when the last rider crosses the line we go with heat 2 as soon as heat 3 riders are on the infield and so on. Realistically we could have a meeting through in 25 minutes or so. If there is fixture backlog,double or even triple headers would not be a problem.

[baba]

I agree the price coming down would help persuade more to attend.

[Shale Searcher]

Slick presentation might help. Riders ready to go on track as the riders cross the line for the preceding race. If an infringement occurs at the start, cut the crap, get back round to the start and none of this back to the pits etc. They were under starters orders and that is it, no changes, no adjustments, and if a rider delays the start put them on fifteen metres. If a rider is adjudged to be the cause of a stoppage, disqualify and put a reserve in. People come to watch races of four laps with four riders. When the powers that be think first about the presentation and the paying public and then the rules, it might just improve the image. Until then you have a Mickey Mouse sport that does not even pretend unlike WWE. Trying to take yourself seriously is not going to work. If. Sell it as professional sportsmen taking calculated risks then you might create an image. For now the image is dire.

 

 

What I don't quite understand is, well, back in the 1970's/80's tracks were graded by tractor and rakers after "EVERY" race!!!

 

The main meeting was nearly always done by 9pm/9.15pm..(13 heats)

 

Now we have 15 heats, grading is only usually done 4, maybe 5 times per match, after heats 4, 7, 10 and 14 (roughly) depends on track conditions.... Still only finishing around 9.30pm, what's the difference? More regular grades, but shorter grades are perhaps quicker overall, than fewer, more extensives grades....

 

Possibly?

Edited January 20, 2017 by Shale Searcher

[pugwash]

You spin me right round baby right round like a record baby round round right round.

Didn't whoosh me, mate. I wouldn't be seen 'dead or alive' listening to that.

 

I'll get my coat.

Edited January 20, 2017 by pugwash

[Sidney the robin]

We all moan and whinge about the sport but for me it is worth the 17 pound entrance fee.Last year i went to Scunthorpe the once i saw a cracking meeting and came away thinking wow this Sport can be great.I know everywhere is not like Scunny but the sport can still be great and the product is there..My take is i don't mind what level it is as long as the racing is decent i am happy.I also don't care about winning or losing as long as i have enjoyed the evening and can go home knowing that i have been entertained.

Edited January 20, 2017 by Sidney the robin

[Barney Rabbit]

We all moan and whinge about the sport but for me it is worth the 17 pound entrance fee.Last year i went to Scunthorpe the once i saw a cracking meeting and came away thinking wow this Sport can be great.I know everywhere is not like Scunny but the sport can still be great and the product is there..My take is i don't mind what level it is as long as the racing is decent i am happy.I also don't care about winning or losing as long as i have enjoyed the evening and can go home knowing that i have been entertained.

 

As the majority of folk used to be when happiness was 40-38, with 38-40 not far behind. Someone came top, another came bottom with the rest somewhere in between and speedway folk weren't over-bothered which of those positions their team occupied. Now it's all about winning and there are promoters prepared to do anything to ensure their team is a winner.

Edited January 20, 2017 by Barney Rabbit

[Sidney the robin]

 

As the majority of folk used to be when happiness was 40-38, with 38-40 not far behind. Someone came top, another came bottom with the rest somewhere in between and speedway folk weren't over-bothered which of those positions their team occupied. Now it's all about winning and there are promoters prepared to do anything to ensure their team is a winner.

And that is not good Barney,even now the NL is more about winning for me that league is only there for one reason to give the young uns a chance.Hopefully then to help to produce the likes of Bewley,Parkinson, Hume, Smith,Jenkins (ect)who can go on to progress.I watched the NL last year and i was amazed by the standard terrific not many wobblers about.

[The White Knight]

 

As the majority of folk used to be when happiness was 40-38, with 38-40 not far behind. Someone came top, another came bottom with the rest somewhere in between and speedway folk weren't over-bothered which of those positions their team occupied. Now it's all about winning and there are promoters prepared to do anything to ensure their team is a winner.

Decent crowds in those days.

 

No Double Points, no Play Offs etc. Just plain old fashioned Speedway Races with a Second Half to add to your enjoyment. The League Champions were just that - League Champions.

 

Those were the days.