The continuing decline of Speedway

[montie]

3 hours ago, waytogo28 said:

 

That is another problem of the BSPA. They linger on slowly hoping for the miracle that will draw in substantial numbers of new fans.

are you blaming them for lack of shale on tracks?

 

The last few meetings i have seen

 

Redcar v Scunthorpe--super race track and well prepped,some excellent racing

Peterbourgh V Scunthorpe--  mega hot day and evening,brilliant race track, billiantly prepared,great racing and a close score,it was excellent speedway

Scunthorpe v Glasgow --  mega hot day,great racing an even ,fair race track,last heat decider  outstanding meeting put on on by both teams

Sheff V Scunthorpe  --smooth and consistant race race,all riders prepared to have a good,good crowd and a good meeting

then you look at both the main leagues,the race for the play offs is wide open in both,impossible to call and the teams that can make the play offs are evenly matched, an exciting finish to the season ahead in both leagues

 

yes we still have doom and gloom, i dont understand it really

Edited August 8, 2018 by montie

[waytogo28]

My point was all about the decline in turnstiles clicks, as so many people are concerned about the crowd numbers falling away sharply. Even such meetings as those you attended and enjoyed do not seem to be bringing in new supporters and turning them on to speedway. Did any of those have more than 1,000 people paying to get in?

[montie]

15 minutes ago, waytogo28 said:

My point was all about the decline in turnstiles clicks, as so many people are concerned about the crowd numbers falling away sharply. Even such meetings as those you attended and enjoyed do not seem to be bringing in new supporters and turning them on to speedway. Did any of those have more than 1,000 people paying to get in?

no they didnt,and thats my point,im not sure what more they [BSPA/CLUBS] can do as they were meetings that were top draw 

One interesting point was i spoke to a chap at Peterbourgh and he was last of a group of 4 who attended the show ground together,,i ask why this was as i thought it was great,i sat in comfort,great view of the racing,racing was good,track was mint,presentaion was good  --what more do thay want i asked

 

they not allowed to stand up at the back of the main stand anymore which they loved to do was was his reply

[moxey63]

48 minutes ago, montie said:

are you blaming them for lack of shale on tracks?

 

The last few meetings i have seen

 

Redcar v Scunthorpe--super race track and well prepped,some excellent racing

Peterbourgh V Scunthorpe--  mega hot day and evening,brilliant race track, billiantly prepared,great racing and a close score,it was excellent speedway

Scunthorpe v Glasgow --  mega hot day,great racing an even ,fair race track,last heat decider  outstanding meeting put on on my both teams

Sheff V Scunthorpe  --smooth and consistant race race,all riders prepared to have a good,goo crowd and a good meeting

then you look at both the main leagues,the race for the play offs is wide open in both,impossible to call and the teams that can make the play offs are evenly matched, an exciting finish to the season ahead in both leagues

 

yes we still have doom and gloom, i dont understand it really

24

The race for the Play-Offs may be exciting to some as it's a close scrap for the final places, but turnstile clicks are the whole thing that keeps the sport going. The crowd may seem good but compare it to even a decade ago and the trend is worrying. The attendance may be good but it isn't good regularly, isn't keeping speedway in profit. Tracks will struggle and close. Or the diminishing number of fans will happily pay more to subsidise the ones that have gone. The confidence has been lost that our promoters can resurrect it any day soon. In fact, the slowing at the turnstiles will probably just see them order another can of WD40 and try to get another year out of the way with the promise of a fresh dawn next winter. Speedway runs entirely on short-termism.   

[montie]

37 minutes ago, moxey63 said:

The race for the Play-Offs may be exciting to some as it's a close scrap for the final places, but turnstile clicks are the whole thing that keeps the sport going. The crowd may seem good but compare it to even a decade ago and the trend is worrying. The attendance may be good but it isn't good regularly, isn't keeping speedway in profit. Tracks will struggle and close. Or the diminishing number of fans will happily pay more to subsidise the ones that have gone. The confidence has been lost that our promoters can resurrect it any day soon. In fact, the slowing at the turnstiles will probably just see them order another can of WD40 and try to get another year out of the way with the promise of a fresh dawn next winter. Speedway runs entirely on short-termism.   

100% correct but my point is im really not sure what more they can do that what has been provided in the meetings i previously mentioned

Good tracks,good racing,decent presentation,close exciting results,with good friends and a few beers

 

im not really sure what else they can do...answers on a postcard i guess

[steve roberts]

3 minutes ago, montie said:

100% correct but my point is im really not sure what more they can do that what has been provided in the meetings i previously mentioned

Good tracks,good racing,decent presentation,close exciting results,with good friends and a few beers

 

im not really sure what else they can do...answers on a postcard i guess

...there lies the question? A real dilemma that the sport faces. Personally I think that youngsters (potential new fans) are too obsessed with technological innovations  (sweeping generalisation I know) and it's a difficult process in trying to avert/engage within that scenario. I'm sure speedway could take on board certain initiatives as regards engaging with technology (as have often been highlighted on here) but my personal experience working within tourism I see the effects of trying to engage with people more and more challenging whilst attempting to grab their attention and concentration.

Bikes going around in circles perhaps just doesn't grab them enough?

[SPEEDY69]

This is my view: http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/86663-no-word-from-the-bspa/&do=findComment&comment=3169007

 

Edited August 8, 2018 by SPEEDY69

[Pinny]

Maybe we just need to admit speedways a thing of the past ?

[montie]

24 minutes ago, Pinny said:

Maybe we just need to admit speedways a thing of the past ?

 i hate to say it but......despite what a good product it is ,is it enough,   it really is a tough one

 

 

 

 

[Crump99]

34 minutes ago, Pinny said:

Maybe we just need to admit speedways a thing of the past ?

Said the same about darts in the late 80s early 90s.

[bruno]

Just seen a picture in our local paper of the crowd at The Hawthorns and while it may have looked younger than a speedway crowd there wasn't many youngsters, teenagers or even 20 year olds in it. Maybe it's not just a speedway problem. Even the crowds at darts are mainly middle aged and over

[Crump99]

2 hours ago, montie said:

no they didnt,and thats my point,im not sure what more they [BSPA/CLUBS] can do as they were meetings that were top draw 

One interesting point was i spoke to a chap at Peterbourgh and he was last of a group of 4 who attended the show ground together,,i ask why this was as i thought it was great,i sat in comfort,great view of the racing,racing was good,track was mint,presentaion was good  --what more do thay want i asked

 

they not allowed to stand up at the back of the main stand anymore which they loved to do was was his reply

That's an excuse, not a reason. I'd say that there's more to it than that. As a long termer who still goes, I'd agree that the view and comfort is as good or better than anywhere, the track is rarely the same twice, presentation is probably good compared to the rest but compared to what it has been at Peterborough I'd say it's average. As to what more do people want, something more akin to what they had I guess although that didn't bring the crowds in either, so buggered if I know. A winning team usually does it and Rathbone seems to have got a handle on that now, hence Sunday's crowd.

[TesarRacing]

2 hours ago, montie said:

100% correct but my point is im really not sure what more they can do that what has been provided in the meetings i previously mentioned

Good tracks,good racing,decent presentation,close exciting results,with good friends and a few beers

 

im not really sure what else they can do...answers on a postcard i guess

You see, that's exactly the problem in a nutshell - who uses postcards anymore?!!  

[Dave Jones]

5 minutes ago, bruno said:

Just seen a picture in our local paper of the crowd at The Hawthorns and while it may have looked younger than a speedway crowd there wasn't many youngsters, teenagers or even 20 year olds in it. Maybe it's not just a speedway problem. Even the crowds at darts are mainly middle aged and over

They are all youngsters at the Hawthorns really, it's just that having to put up with the stuff TP & Pardew served up it's taken its toll on them.

[Spl77]

I want to see is my team v their team with the contracted riders and not a whole host guests and doubling up etc. Until they can get rid of doubling up and and guests no one can take it as a serious team sport. Its impossible to build up rivalry either between teams or individual riders if the following week some of this weeks visitors are riding for you. The blame for the chas that doubling has brought and the resulting lack of riders can only be placed firmly at the door of the BSPA. Before I get shot down and the 'guests are part of speedway and can't be helped' line comes out remember if you can the National League of the mid to late 1980s. That league ran for number of seasons with out guests and injuries were covered either with a member of the junior team stepping on or with rider replacement and a number 8 being named. So it could be done however the policy changes brought in over the years by the BSPA saw that system removed and changed to the shambles that we see today. 

Edited August 8, 2018 by Spl77

[chunky]

13 hours ago, steve roberts said:

...Interesting views and I have watched speedway via you-tube and/or DVDs from the so-called Pioneer Years and it seemed so much rawer back then and less refined. Perhaps modern speedway is too clinical and less 'dirty' but I guess that would be a backward step in this modern age? 

That is exactly the way I feel. Speedway evolved from "dirt-track" racing.  Watching burly men wrestling bucking broncos through heavy cinders was a spectacle!  It wasn't just about passing, or close racing; watching the skill and sheer strength that was needed to keep a bike upright was worth the admission price!

Sad thing, it's not just speedway.

Now, we have fancy "motocross" on man-made indoor circuits instead of "scrambles" in waist-high mud!

We have cool looking indoor trials over man-made obstacles rather than run the risk of getting dirty outdoors.

Football went from a man's game to a an over-refined non-contact sport.

Hell, look at life in general.  We see these Facebook posts about what life was like when we were kids.  We went outside, we got dirty, we got wet, we ate dirt, we drank from hosepipes, we played football with metal studs, we fell off slides and roundabouts and landed face first on gravel!  "Ooooh no, we can't do that now..."

None of that is cool now, and a much duller world it is as a result...

Steve

 

Edited August 8, 2018 by chunky

[customhouseregular]

2 hours ago, chunky said:

That is exactly the way I feel. Speedway evolved from "dirt-track" racing.  Watching burly men wrestling bucking broncos through heavy cinders was a spectacle!  It wasn't just about passing, or close racing; watching the skill and sheer strength that was needed to keep a bike upright was worth the admission price!

Sad thing, it's not just speedway.

Now, we have fancy "motocross" on man-made indoor circuits instead of "scrambles" in waist-high mud!

We have cool looking indoor trials over man-made obstacles rather than run the risk of getting dirty outdoors.

Football went from a man's game to a an over-refined non-contact sport.

Hell, look at life in general.  We see these Facebook posts about what life was like when we were kids.  We went outside, we got dirty, we got wet, we ate dirt, we drank from hosepipes, we played football with metal studs, we fell off slides and roundabouts and landed face first on gravel!  "Ooooh no, we can't do that now..."

None of that is cool now, and a much duller world it is as a result...

Steve

 

Spot on Chunky.

[waytogo28]

11 hours ago, chunky said:

Hell, look at life in general.  We see these Facebook posts about what life was like when we were kids.  We went outside, we got dirty, we got wet, we ate dirt, we drank from hosepipes, we played football with metal studs, we fell off slides and roundabouts and landed face first on gravel!  "Ooooh no, we can't do that now..."

Oh Yes! Will there be a backlash in the next 50 years or will the interest in "tasting life in the raw" lead to humans really being dominated by AI and robots of all kinds by the end of this century? Maybe going outside and climbing trees will be an extreme sport for kids in 2075 and even a teenagers only event in the Olympics ( before their scrambled risk-taking brains settle down ). Think of the changes in society since 1900 and let your imagination visualise 2100! Wow! And speedway? Well, it will be viewed on antique digital devices and people will gasp in wonder at Tai Woffinden other GP warriors of today.

[moxey63]

14 hours ago, chunky said:

That is exactly the way I feel. Speedway evolved from "dirt-track" racing.  Watching burly men wrestling bucking broncos through heavy cinders was a spectacle!  It wasn't just about passing, or close racing; watching the skill and sheer strength that was needed to keep a bike upright was worth the admission price!

Sad thing, it's not just speedway.

 

 

At last, someone else who feels the same as I do. I have only got to plonk an old video (now dvd) on and I know I still love speedway... just not this speedway of 2018. It is so different now. Where have the times gone where riders had to earn their point, beating both opponent and using their entire strength for 60-odd seconds to defeat the track as well? Nowadays the track seems so smooth but the riders still aren't able to fully control the machines that sometimes turn into pogo sticks mid-race. It seems like rev -and -go speedway now. In my day, even if the racing was dire you still admired riders battling, say, to a four-point score and walking away feeling he deserved double that for his efforts alone. I look at score grids now and, tell me if I'm being daft, but even a 13 point score doesn't seem the same as a 13 point score from when tracks were deep and riders were men. And leathers made them more appealing too.

[montie]

20 hours ago, Crump99 said:

That's an excuse, not a reason. I'd say that there's more to it than that. As a long termer who still goes, I'd agree that the view and comfort is as good or better than anywhere, the track is rarely the same twice, presentation is probably good compared to the rest but compared to what it has been at Peterborough I'd say it's average. As to what more do people want, something more akin to what they had I guess although that didn't bring the crowds in either, so buggered if I know. A winning team usually does it and Rathbone seems to have got a handle on that now, hence Sunday's crowd.

for sure a wining team does click the turn styles a few more time,but i do wonder if the extra clicks actually cover the cost of a winning team

interesting point about the track not being same each week, is that a good thing or a bad thing?  i guess as long as its raceable and provides entertainment its ok

Track curators seem to try and produce a track that suits the riders of the hme team,i often wonder if that is right for the paying spectators

i must say that my visit to the show ground last month the track was perfect for what i consider good speedway and the quality  meeting represented that,it really was in tip top condition,but then during a rider interview the said rider commented that the track was a bit ``iffy`` ........