Bt Coverage

[Grand Central]

TV production in Sweden was handled by the same people who were at King's Lynn.

 

In a very different way, though.

[PHILIPRISING]

 

In a very different way, though.

CAMERA positions are obviously dependent on where they can put them in any given stadium.

[Stoke Potter]

Great tracks please the devoted. Awful stadia repel the general public. Tracks in fields with limited facilities but a great racetrack will appeal to you but not the majority of the public that we need to attract to survive. People's standards and expectations are higher than ever today.

 

Obviously you want a great track AND decent facilities and I have always believed that great racing is more important than 'names'. but in the 21st century people are more likely to notice the lack of facilities rather than the racing on first visits, unfortunately.

 

What the committed speedway fan wants and what the potential fan want do not always coincide.

 

Going back to my original point, which clearly was misunderstood, my comment that undercover seating should be a minimum requirement was referring the stadium, not the track They are two completely different things!

 

I have some very good friends who I've known for nearly forty years now. Without talking to me they decided to visit Kirkmanshulme Lane as one of their 'dodgy sports' nights. The talk afterwards was how awful the stadium was, not the racing.

It's about the bigger picture, i.e. fixing the sport. Tracks in nice stadia, as in Cardiff, are occasions and people go for the atmosphere.

How many would turn up if it were every week or even every month?

Improving the sport at club level requires decent tracks as in Torun, Vastervik, Belle Vue. Nice facilities are great but no point if the track is flawed.

[steve roberts]

It's about the bigger picture, i.e. fixing the sport. Tracks in nice stadia, as in Cardiff, are occasions and people go for the atmosphere.

How many would turn up if it were every week or even every month?

Improving the sport at club level requires decent tracks as in Torun, Vastervik, Belle Vue. Nice facilities are great but no point if the track is flawed.

A point I have often made in the past. The racing, surely, is the most important thing but unfortunately the public now expect more in the way of facilities and speedway will never be able to match football ground standards (with massive incentives from successive Governments) hence the problem the sport now faces.

Edited July 5, 2017 by steve roberts

[New Science]

A point I have often made in the past. The racing, surely, is the most important thing but unfortunately the public now expect more in the way of facilities and speedway will never be able to match football ground standards (with massive incentives from successive Governments) hence the problem the sport now faces.

Ive happily stood on a grass bank to watch terrific speedway in the World Cup many years ago at Peterborough. Nobody minded

You can have as good a stadium as you like , if the product is no good people wont come

Edited July 5, 2017 by New Science

[steve roberts]

Ive happily stood on a grass bank to watch terrific speedway in the World Cup many years ago at Peterborough. Nobody minded

You can have as good a stadium as you like , if the product is no good people wont come

I did exactly the same for thirty plus years travelling the country experiencing all sorts of racing in all sorts of stadia...the racing was more important to me than the surroundings.

Edited July 5, 2017 by steve roberts

[speedibee]

I'm just grateful that we have Speedway on Telly. To be honest I don't care who the commentators are.

 

I think the ones we already have do a very decent job - but that is only my opinion - I know lots of people wouldn't agree with me.

I used to think they were ok .but the last couple of gps I have turned the sound off . not so much Tatum ,but Pearson does my head in .probably because his tongue is down Wofifnden and Doyles trousers , 2 riders I absolutely detest .. jaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyysssssssssooooooooonnnnnnn Doyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyllllllllllllllle ................................................ Mute button

[Bald Bloke]

Not keen on Woffy because of his Team UK snub.Doyle,i'm not a ya or a na.

[RobMcCaffery]

It's about the bigger picture, i.e. fixing the sport. Tracks in nice stadia, as in Cardiff, are occasions and people go for the atmosphere.

How many would turn up if it were every week or even every month?

Improving the sport at club level requires decent tracks as in Torun, Vastervik, Belle Vue. Nice facilities are great but no point if the track is flawed.

At the risk of having to repeat myself yet again, great racing in a squalid stadium will please the devoted fan but repel the general public.

 

Yes we want great racing but you HAVE to meet the needs of the uncommitted to get them to comer back.

 

There was a transport museum that had a superb collection, absolutely fascinating, stowed in filthy sheds with unmade floors. Loos were a couple of portaloos. They couldn't work out why they could only attract a small number of people. Then they built a proper toilet block, comfortable cafe and a great, clean display hall. They are booming. Before the husbands were delighted to go but the wives couldn't wait to get out. Now they sit in the cafe and let them get on with it.

 

If facilities don't matter and all you need is an entertaining product why aren't films shown in fields?

 

Now can you please finally read this:

 

I was talking about STADIA, not the tracks when I made my comment about the need for covered accommodation! Surely that's clear enough?

Ive happily stood on a grass bank to watch terrific speedway in the World Cup many years ago at Peterborough. Nobody minded

You can have as good a stadium as you like , if the product is no good people wont come

You might be happy, but plenty more wouldn't. Sadly we can't survive just on people prepared to put up with grass banks.

 

You're taking the point of view of a speedway supporter. I've stood in many a basic stadium. I remember being one of many Rockets fans at Scunthorpe jumping up to celebrate a win - and finding ourselves sinking right through the dirt terracing when we landed. That was 38 years ago!

 

There was another 'midden' when one of the best views of the circuit was standing up in the gents loos. That was 40 years ago.

 

Time's moved on. It's all very well saying what YOU want but what about people who need to be brought into the sport?

 

This silly discussion really does illustrate that it's not just the promoters who can be accused of having their heads in the sand.

 

We have to find new supporters. We might find them but we won't keep them if we offer facilities that were embarrassing 40 years ago!

I did exactly the same for thirty plus years travelling the country experiencing all sorts of racing in all sorts of stadia...the racing was more important to me than the surroundings.

Maybe for you, but what about the general public?

 

I really cannot believe this discussion. Of course we need good racing but we also need to wise up to why it's only the diehards that still go.

Edited July 5, 2017 by Rob McCaffery

[RobMcCaffery]

Apologies for the way an innocent comment about the need for decent stadia got hijacked in that way, especially when the key subject here is so important for the future of the sport. If only people would actually read what is posted and not make assumptions.

 

To get back on topic, re Vastervik, it is so true that you can you can only put cameras where you can. To me though it's too easy to rely on a very high, wide shot. The real test of camerawork is at close quarters, keeping framing and focus right while fast panning. I thoroughly enjoyed both SWC meetings - great coverage with the scores keeping it fascinating and the racing on Tuesday being exceptional. I may have missed it but one key interview question should have been to Hans Nielsen "Where now?"

 

Obviously on Tuesday BT were carrying the international feed as with an SGP. Was there a different international feed to BT's live on-site coverage at King's Lynn with the Suzi Perry/Scott Nicholls/Natalie Quirk work being only for BT viewers?

 

Is it possible to know who's providing the facilities in Leszno?

Edited July 6, 2017 by Rob McCaffery

[PHILIPRISING]

Apologies for the way an innocent comment about the need for decent stadia got hijacked in that way, especially when the key subject here is so important for the future of the sport. If only people would actually read what is posted and not make assumptions.

 

To get back on topic, re Vastervik, it is so true that you can you can only put cameras where you can. To me though it's too easy to rely on a very high, wide shot. The real test of camerawork is at close quarters, keeping framing and focus right while fast panning. I thoroughly enjoyed both SWC meetings - great coverage with the scores keeping it fascinating and the racing on Tuesday being exceptional. I may have missed it but one key interview question should have been to Hans Nielsen "Where now?"

 

Obviously on Tuesday BT were carrying the international feed as with an SGP. Was there a different international feed to BT's live on-site coverage at King's Lynn with the Suzi Perry/Scott Nicholls/Natalie Quirk work being only for BT viewers?

 

Is it possible to know who's providing the facilities in Leszno?

ONLY BT viewers were able to see Perry, Nicholls, Quirk at KL ... they do not go out on the world feed. The same for Vastervik and the SGPs (and indeed Leszno) when only British viewers see Natalie and Scott in the BT studio.

 

Steve Saint will as usual be the producer in Leszno using a Polish production team (guys who do the SGPs) - cameras, director, etc. There are no breaks in the world feed so while UK viewers are seeing N/S or commercials and other countries are taking a break Messrs Tatum and Pearson just keep rattling along, often for a three-hour stint.

[steve roberts]

At the risk of having to repeat myself yet again, great racing in a squalid stadium will please the devoted fan but repel the general public.

 

Yes we want great racing but you HAVE to meet the needs of the uncommitted to get them to comer back.

 

There was a transport museum that had a superb collection, absolutely fascinating, stowed in filthy sheds with unmade floors. Loos were a couple of portaloos. They couldn't work out why they could only attract a small number of people. Then they built a proper toilet block, comfortable cafe and a great, clean display hall. They are booming. Before the husbands were delighted to go but the wives couldn't wait to get out. Now they sit in the cafe and let them get on with it.

 

If facilities don't matter and all you need is an entertaining product why aren't films shown in fields?

 

Now can you please finally read this:

 

I was talking about STADIA, not the tracks when I made my comment about the need for covered accommodation! Surely that's clear enough?

You might be happy, but plenty more wouldn't. Sadly we can't survive just on people prepared to put up with grass banks.

 

You're taking the point of view of a speedway supporter. I've stood in many a basic stadium. I remember being one of many Rockets fans at Scunthorpe jumping up to celebrate a win - and finding ourselves sinking right through the dirt terracing when we landed. That was 38 years ago!

 

There was another 'midden' when one of the best views of the circuit was standing up in the gents loos. That was 40 years ago.

 

Time's moved on. It's all very well saying what YOU want but what about people who need to be brought into the sport?

 

This silly discussion really does illustrate that it's not just the promoters who can be accused of having their heads in the sand.

 

We have to find new supporters. We might find them but we won't keep them if we offer facilities that were embarrassing 40 years ago!

Maybe for you, but what about the general public?

 

I really cannot believe this discussion. Of course we need good racing but we also need to wise up to why it's only the diehards that still go.

That was obviously the case once upon a time but as you say things are very different now with people's expectations.

 

Not sure how it can be changed, however, considering that many promotions only rent/lease their stadiums.

 

I used to watch 'The Rebels' during their three seasons at Wood Lane and the stadium was magnificent...so was the racing sometimes...but it didn't offer the best view in many people's eyes. Trouble is that stadiums like White City, Wimbledon, Crayford, Oxford and now Coventry amongst many others have disappeared for differing reasons and the fan base is no longer there to be able to construct a stadium that compares with non-league/amateur football never mind premiership standard.

 

Football received many incentives from successive Governments but, alas, speedway and/or greyhound stadiums were left to fend for themselves.

 

I've not been to the new Belle Vue so can't comment but Hyde Road offered tremendous racing in a stadium that was beginning to show it's age and suffered thru' the Taylor Report amongst other things.

 

Really chicken and egg scenario and I, for one, have no answers however basic facilities like toilets and catering are a must and I do remember on my visits around the country that these basic needs varied considerably!

Edited July 6, 2017 by steve roberts

[OveFundinFan]

 

Really chicken and egg scenario and I, for one, have no answers however basic facilities like toilets and catering are a must and I do remember on my visits around the country that these basic needs varied considerably!

 

Apart from having a RACE track its these basic facilities like toilets and catering that MUST have attention paid to them.

Who wants to travel even a modest distance, never mind an away fan who may have travelled 60, 80, 100 mile or more, turning up to dingy smelly toilets. Long term hire (or purchase) of portacabins with flushing loos should not be out of the question. Catering facilities - way beyond a greasy burger now, people want and expect healthy snack/sandwiches.

These things are an investment for the future.

If your in business, you got to meet the needs of the customers you want to attract.

Speedway is living in the past generally speaking, and the past didnt go well for the dinosaurs.

[waytogo28]

This is so true!

If you want more people to go then fix the damn tracks.

(Message to Naysayers, yes I will keep banging this drum about crap tracks because it's the fundamental problem.)

The racing tonight at Vastervik was light years ahead of what you got at Lynn the other night.

King's Lynn needs reshaping, a one-line wonder.

 

The track at Vastervik allowed those riders who really wanted to try to pass, to succeed ( and often be re-passed! ) What we saw at KL was almost a different kind of sport to what we saw at Vastervik. Passing was almost impossible at KL - sadly.

[steve roberts]

 

Apart from having a RACE track its these basic facilities like toilets and catering that MUST have attention paid to them.

Who wants to travel even a modest distance, never mind an away fan who may have travelled 60, 80, 100 mile or more, turning up to dingy smelly toilets. Long term hire (or purchase) of portacabins with flushing loos should not be out of the question. Catering facilities - way beyond a greasy burger now, people want and expect healthy snack/sandwiches.

These things are an investment for the future.

If your in business, you got to meet the needs of the customers you want to attract.

Speedway is living in the past generally speaking, and the past didnt go well for the dinosaurs.

....I agree with most of your points however dinosaurs were hugely successful living in various guises for hundreds of million years before becoming extinct...which is more than the human race will achieve or, indeed, the sport of speedway!

Edited July 6, 2017 by steve roberts

[PHILIPRISING]

 

The track at Vastervik allowed those riders who really wanted to try to pass, to succeed ( and often be re-passed! ) What we saw at KL was almost a different kind of sport to what we saw at Vastervik. Passing was almost impossible at KL - sadly.

NOT sure that is totally fair. You wouldn't really expect most of the USA or Czech team to pass riders from Australia and GB. Craig Cook passed a few but overall I agree with your sentiments.

 

Sadly, the track at Saddlebow Road (as I remember it) is no longer the great racing circuit it once was, especially when events like the Commonwealth Final and test matches were held there. I remember Kelvin Tatum telling me how much he loved going there and that was common amongst all riders.

 

I have no pretence to be a track expert but during my days as Assistant Race Director of the SGP and SWC to Ole Olsen and especially Tony Olson I learned a lot. I was actually RD at two and a half (just practice day) SGPs and ran SWC practice at KL when TO was delayed and on one occasion actually took the reins for the whole meeting when he wasn't there. During those events at KL I had many a discussion with Buster Chapman about the track and often had to allay the fears of the referee who feared it would not be ready (after morning practice) for the main show in the evening.

 

On the occasion that I was RD I had to pull rank (no easy task) on Buster to allow the USA team their full practice allotment. We were running late and he told me that if the Yanks went out again there would be no meeting that night. For a moment I thought I had blown the meeting but Clerk of the Course Sean simply said give him a few minutes to calm down and it will be fine.

 

Buster worked for hours on end (under a blazing sun) to completely relay the track. No one could fault his work ethic but there was a feeling that the material then (and maybe now) being used on the track was not really conducive to lots of passing.

[speedibee]

ONLY BT viewers were able to see Perry, Nicholls, Quirk at KL ... they do not go out on the world feed. The same for Vastervik and the SGPs (and indeed Leszno) when only British viewers see Natalie and Scott in the BT studio.

 

Steve Saint will as usual be the producer in Leszno using a Polish production team (guys who do the SGPs) - cameras, director, etc. There are no breaks in the world feed so while UK viewers are seeing N/S or commercials and other countries are taking a break Messrs Tatum and Pearson just keep rattling along, often for a three-hour stint.

thank goodness Perry couldn't be seen by the rest of Europe , saved british sports broadcasting and speedway being embarrassed by her airheaded incompetence

[flagrag]

I am a little surprised with GB in final and given they have had a weeks notice that BT have not moved the presentation to be live from the track as could still use Natalie and Scott with Brando to do some BT interviews in the pits.

[oldace]

 

 

I've not been to the new Belle Vue so can't comment but Hyde Road offered tremendous racing in a stadium that was beginning to show it's age and suffered thru' the Taylor Report amongst other things.

 

 

The Taylor report was in the aftermath of Hillsborough in 1989 and was published in 1990. Hyde Road was demolished in 1987. Valley Parade in 1985 was really the death knell for Hyde Road

[iris123]

ONLY BT viewers were able to see Perry, Nicholls, Quirk at KL ... they do not go out on the world feed. The same for Vastervik and the SGPs (and indeed Leszno) when only British viewers see Natalie and Scott in the BT studio.

 

 

World feed was amusing.Don't remember the name of the woman doing the interviews in between Kelv and Shouty,but she was a bit off putting.The question of the night must have been after the first 4 heats talking to Hans and at the end she asked him what the plan was for the rest of the meeting.Even Hans couldn't stop himself from laughing and said "win every heat!!!"