marko Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 I noticed at Arena on Friday they only had a single piece of tape on the starting gate, and that was not exactly very taught, is this something new for the 2018 season or was this a one off where maybe they forgot to order some tape and only had one bit to hand? Starting gate tape has always been two lengths of tape joined by droppers at various points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 The tapes were the standard type at Peterborough last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aces51 Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 And at Belle Vue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 Perhaps Nillsson has taken them as down payment 1 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stainlesssteelride Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 Plenty of tracks use 3 tapes too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icicle Posted March 26, 2018 Report Share Posted March 26, 2018 Some even have yellow sticky tape!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_Jones Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 9.3 A Starting Gate, operated solely by the Referee, shall support easily breakable 2 or 3 cotton tapes (not rayon, nylon, plastic or other material that may cause injury to a rider colliding with them) that are tightly stretched across the track and directly above the Start / Finish line, which must be clearly marked at all times. The lowermost tape must be between 50cm and 60cm above ground level when in the down position. The tapes shall be attached with rubber bands as loose metal hooks are not permitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
macinter Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 (edited) Personally I would like to see some thought given to an alternative to the tapes for starting races. With one televised race last season taking four attempts to get started it doesn't really help much towards attracting new fans to our sport. I wonder how many potential newcomers to speedway might have been watching that race, got fed up waiting for it to start and just switched off watching on TV or left the stadium. But I would be surprised if many fans would vote to change the starting method as speedway is a bit set in its ways sometimes, as per the hullabaloo when the world championship changed to a GP system. Edited March 27, 2018 by macinter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E I Addio Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 3 hours ago, macinter said: Personally I would like to see some thought given to an alternative to the tapes for starting races. With one televised race last season taking four attempts to get started it doesn't really help much towards attracting new fans to our sport. I wonder how many potential newcomers to speedway might have been watching that race, got fed up waiting for it to start and just switched off watching on TV or left the stadium. But I would be surprised if many fans would vote to change the starting method as speedway is a bit set in its ways sometimes, as per the hullabaloo when the world championship changed to a GP system. Most of the problems at the start are nothing to do with the tapes, they are invariably caused by the riders trying to jump the start. Whatever method of starting you have, there will always be a few problems as long as riders try to jump the start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 3 hours ago, E I Addio said: Most of the problems at the start are nothing to do with the tapes, they are invariably caused by the riders trying to jump the start. Whatever method of starting you have, there will always be a few problems as long as riders try to jump the start. ...I remember when the tape touching rule was introduced there were those who complained about slipping clutches drawing riders into the tapes until Pete Adams commented (tongue in cheek) that by replacing the tapes with barbed wire one would soon see how often riders would suffer with that particular problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
workyboy Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 7 hours ago, macinter said: Personally I would like to see some thought given to an alternative to the tapes for starting races. With one televised race last season taking four attempts to get started it doesn't really help much towards attracting new fans to our sport. I wonder how many potential newcomers to speedway might have been watching that race, got fed up waiting for it to start and just switched off watching on TV or left the stadium. But I would be surprised if many fans would vote to change the starting method as speedway is a bit set in its ways sometimes, as per the hullabaloo when the world championship changed to a GP system. Why not put them in traps, just like greyhounds. Then no need for tapes, therefore no false starts!!!! For the more serious amongst you out there .................... I JEST!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stainlesssteelride Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 Of course you jest, you clearly know horse racing stools would be far better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambo Posted March 27, 2018 Report Share Posted March 27, 2018 I don't think you can beat Chris Durno and his elastic band with a spanner tied on the end! Nobody ever jumps the start then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted March 28, 2018 Report Share Posted March 28, 2018 16 hours ago, Stainlesssteelride said: Of course you jest, you clearly know horse racing stools would be far better. With horse crap being thrown up behind the rider the start marshall will not be very popular 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BangerBoy Posted March 28, 2018 Report Share Posted March 28, 2018 On 27/03/2018 at 2:43 PM, E I Addio said: Most of the problems at the start are nothing to do with the tapes, they are invariably caused by the riders trying to jump the start. Whatever method of starting you have, there will always be a few problems as long as riders try to jump the start. Is a jump start a perfect start ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronScorpion Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 From what I have been reading from the updates site is that if you are moving the ref will hold the tapes longer leading to riders going through the tapes. The new rule to be applied this year is if you touch the tapes with bike or gear, then you are excluded. Movement does seem to be an issue to be clamped on by the ref's this year. There has been a couple of races that have been classed as unsatisfactory starts even though the tapes have not been touched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tosh1218 Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 An exclusion should only be if a rider touches or breaks the tapes , riders will always chance it (James Sargent a prime example)but sometimes a rider makes a perfect start and is penalised for it by having a re start . Let’s make it a black and white decision with no in between 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted March 29, 2018 Report Share Posted March 29, 2018 1 hour ago, Richard Weston said: Adam Allott suffered from this. Was never sure whether he guessed right, was damn lucky or . . . but I saw him excluded too many times for "alleged" starting offences. I am all in favour of making in touch tapes or not. Having said that, the ref should ensure the riders are all perfectly still at the tapes before he pressed GOOOOO That can happen but do not forget there is a variable delay between pressing the buton and the tapes going up, during which the rider could move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 2 hours ago, adonis said: Variable delay ? Yes, the ref presses the button and the time between pressing the button and the tapes going up has a built in delay and changes for each race. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted April 3, 2018 Report Share Posted April 3, 2018 6 minutes ago, adonis said: scrapped in the 90's far too many restarts Did not realise that, it was bought in to stop the riders counting the seconds and predicting the time between the green light going out and the tapes rising, something some riders had down to a tee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.