Aces51 Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 12 hours ago, singy13 said: Oh such happy days, with the sport booming. If only there was a simple solution to regaining such appeal for Speedway. The product still can provide 'magic'...as per Monday nights finale at Poole......and my brilliant Comets last Saturday...great stuff. But Joe Public who followed the sport many moons ago is a hard nut to crack regarding joining the turnstile queues again...............(hopefully some still read the SS though) The are some who have returned at the NSS. Only a few of the many who had been regulars at Hyde Road but gave up with the poorer racing at the dog track. The trouble is many of those stopped going in 1988/89 and that makes it difficult considering their likely age, health and having got out of the habit so long ago plus, of course, those no longer with us. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singy13 Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 1 hour ago, Aces51 said: The are some who have returned at the NSS. Only a few of the many who had been regulars at Hyde Road but gave up with the poorer racing at the dog track. The trouble is many of those stopped going in 1988/89 and that makes it difficult considering their likely age, health and having got out of the habit so long ago plus, of course, those no longer with us. Hyde Road crowds superb...used to try and get there - from Cumbria - as often as poss...never been to dog track. Did visit NSS on non meeting day - hoping to see 'brick' I paid £50 for...but not possible as they are in locked foyer section (i.e. locked on non speedway day drat)......nice stadium though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) 4 hours ago, singy13 said: Hyde Road crowds superb...used to try and get there - from Cumbria - as often as poss...never been to dog track. Did visit NSS on non meeting day - hoping to see 'brick' I paid £50 for...but not possible as they are in locked foyer section (i.e. locked on non speedway day drat)......nice stadium though. Just been re-reading Eric Boocock's autobiography "Booey- Around In Circles" and the chapter regarding his taking over the Aces made interesting reading. Considering that he was referring to 1975 his comments were that the stadium was shabby even then and needed serious attention and wouldn't have passed Health & Safety requirements (especially after the Bradford City tragedy) today. However he does confirm what we all know is that the racing was first class and offered many different racing lines. He continued to comment that no matter how good the stadium was/is if the racing wasn't/isn't upto scratch then it's all for nought...contentious view but one I agree with to an extent. Edited October 4, 2018 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 2 hours ago, steve roberts said: Just been re-reading Eric Boocock's autobiography "Booey- Around In Circles" and the chapter regarding his taking over the Aces made interesting reading. Considering that he was referring to 1975 his comments were that the stadium was shabby even then and needed serious attention and wouldn't have passed Health & Safety requirements (especially after the Bradford City tragedy) today. However he does confirm what we all know is that the racing was first class and offered many different racing lines. He continued to comment that no matter how good the stadium was/is if the racing wasn't/isn't upto scratch then it's all for nought...contentious view but one I agree with to an extent. I think we all agree that the promoters need to get their heads together and do the right thing with their tracks for the best possible racing, they must want to help one another out in this case? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 On 10/3/2018 at 7:52 PM, singy13 said: Regarding "shut up shop" comment I fear for the future of the wonderful Speedway Star....I mean once the season 'fully' ends how on earth does this magazine survive? Surely most sales are made at the tracks? So come the close season won't those figures slump to possibly alarming levels? I get mine thru subscription.....it's a read I love and would be lost without it.....how about you? TRACK sales used to be quite important but were always a small percentage of overall figure. For the past few years, with a lack of continuity of fixtures, etc, our track sales have shrunk to being almost non-existent outside of a couple of tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 INTERESTING interview with Chris Louis ... http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/louis-looks-back-at-difficult-season-for-witches-1-5723216 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirates Of Poole Posted October 4, 2018 Report Share Posted October 4, 2018 1 hour ago, PHILIPRISING said: INTERESTING interview with Chris Louis ... http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/louis-looks-back-at-difficult-season-for-witches-1-5723216 Sounds to me like Ipswich are now seriously looking to move up along with Sheffield. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spl77 Posted October 5, 2018 Report Share Posted October 5, 2018 9 hours ago, PHILIPRISING said: INTERESTING interview with Chris Louis ... http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/louis-looks-back-at-difficult-season-for-witches-1-5723216 If only others would listen.... He seems from the outside looking in a lone voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWC Posted October 5, 2018 Report Share Posted October 5, 2018 So the bikes are dangerous and holding back better racing. I wonder if a better track surface would make them safer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skid Sprocket Posted October 5, 2018 Report Share Posted October 5, 2018 11 hours ago, Spl77 said: If only others would listen.... He seems from the outside looking in a lone voice. I think there are a couple of others with similar thoughts, just not enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moxey63 Posted January 12, 2019 Report Share Posted January 12, 2019 I am only nudging this topic back to life because I have just come across a Speedway Star survey in their new year edition for 1997, a time of another speedway crisis. The survey results showed nothing has been done really to resolve the problems since then of speedway relying on the old brigade of fans to keep the sport going. Two decades ago, just as speedway was benefitting from new public awareness which SKY's coverage of Grand Prix gave, it is interesting to see the feedback of the questions the Star put to fans in the winter of 1996/97: Do you attend speedway less or more than you did five years ago? About the same (39%), more (27%), less (27%), and 6% didn't attend five years ago. Another question: How did you become interested in speedway? Taken by family (62%), recommended by friends (30%). Just eight per cent were attracted by advertising etc. Sixty-four per cent of people said they had introduced new fans in the last two years (1994-96). More than 54% had taken along two-to-four new people. The report revealed that once new fans had been introduced, 80% had become occasional or regular attendees. The main worry was the level of new supporters during the last five years of the survey being compiled? I wonder how that survey would compare to one now. Remember, we have had the good fortune of wall-to-wall live domestic matches over two decades since. How much has that luxury helped or hindered the sport over here? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 15, 2019 Report Share Posted January 15, 2019 This item is from 2015 but many of the points the BBC survey make are relevant IMO. It possibly also answers the BBC attitude in regard to SPOTY and why a speedway candidate is not considered these days. I would also emphasis that because I am placing this Link it should not be taken as my sharing or NOT sharing the findings. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/33724964?fbclid=IwAR38_EJtKwFoJ9eFz0p9X8hcmXegGAGjzA1eCUC2noUPvwOv2FiumDIj050 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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