NO WORD FROM THE BSPA

[Byker Biker]

2 hours ago, Big Al said:

So if (as the leaks and rumours are indicating) there is to be amalgamation between the current three leagues into two leagues with the "top" one having around 14 teams, a playoff (for want of a better word) involving the top 8 finishers would be likely. I'm sure there are many other examples around, but Super League and Australian Rules (AFL) come to mind as both of these have an 8 team playoff although the formats differ quite a bit.

The problem is what happens to the 8 teams not making the playoffs, their seasons come to a complete halt if there isn't a competition for them, as happens I think with AFL but not Super League. So would we be looking at, in effect, a Second Division being formed by those 8 teams (and maybe decided by playoff system which assures at least 2 further home matches). So you begin the season with two leagues/titles and you end it with three? Or maybe even four, if the original second league also does a similar split?

Doubling up would of course still be necessary, and probably a lot of Danish and German riders! ( who should be allowed into the second tier providing of course that the UK hasn't closed it's borders to foreigners by then).

 

 

The bottom 8 will supply the guests for the top 8 when they race on Fridays as Friday will be Guest day, always used to be fish on Fridays when I was a lad now it's just fishy. So the riders from the bottom 8 will get to ride in the Play Offs anyway 

[old bob at herne bay]

None of this tinkering will save UK speedway on its downhill spiral. More fans are needed at the turnstiles.

Cricket saved itself by inventing 20 over crash bang wallop “T20 “ . Purists hate it but it gets the punters paying to watch.  

Maybe Speedway needs a kick up the bum and change the 4lap 15 heat format for every meeting

So maybe have 3 lap races ..... no race stoppages - if you fall off get off the track or you will be excluded .... do as you like at the tapes but if you touch em you are excluded. No first bend bunching - if you fall and don’t get off the track or remount you are excluded.2 minute rule shortened to one minute. Fail to make the warning you are excluded no replacements allowed . 

 

[waytogo28]

18 minutes ago, old bob at herne bay said:

None of this tinkering will save UK speedway on its downhill spiral. More fans are needed at the turnstiles.

Cricket saved itself by inventing 20 over crash bang wallop “T20 “ . Purists hate it but it gets the punters paying to watch.  

Maybe Speedway needs a kick up the bum and change the 4lap 15 heat format for every meeting

So maybe have 3 lap races ..... no race stoppages - if you fall off get off the track or you will be excluded .... do as you like at the tapes but if you touch em you are excluded. No first bend bunching - if you fall and don’t get off the track or remount you are excluded.2 minute rule shortened to one minute. Fail to make the warning you are excluded no replacements allowed . 

 

Speedway in the UK does need a huge change to bring thrills and excitement back and attract a lot more punters. It may well be something like this. Or even more radical - Le mans push starts, standardised - untuned bikes, it has to meld into something people will pay to see.

[foamfence]

19 minutes ago, old bob at herne bay said:

None of this tinkering will save UK speedway on its downhill spiral. More fans are needed at the turnstiles.

Cricket saved itself by inventing 20 over crash bang wallop “T20 “ . Purists hate it but it gets the punters paying to watch.  

Maybe Speedway needs a kick up the bum and change the 4lap 15 heat format for every meeting

So maybe have 3 lap races ..... no race stoppages - if you fall off get off the track or you will be excluded .... do as you like at the tapes but if you touch em you are excluded. No first bend bunching - if you fall and don’t get off the track or remount you are excluded.2 minute rule shortened to one minute. Fail to make the warning you are excluded no replacements allowed . 

 

Sounds like the 50s, except for the three laps.

[Ray Stadia]

1 hour ago, old bob at herne bay said:

None of this tinkering will save UK speedway on its downhill spiral. More fans are needed at the turnstiles.

Cricket saved itself by inventing 20 over crash bang wallop “T20 “ . Purists hate it but it gets the punters paying to watch.  

Maybe Speedway needs a kick up the bum and change the 4lap 15 heat format for every meeting

So maybe have 3 lap races ..... no race stoppages - if you fall off get off the track or you will be excluded .... do as you like at the tapes but if you touch em you are excluded. No first bend bunching - if you fall and don’t get off the track or remount you are excluded.2 minute rule shortened to one minute. Fail to make the warning you are excluded no replacements allowed . 

 

A number of people have mentioned on here that they want value for money. I know most tracks have a curfew and can't operate beyond a certain time, so something like a second half is difficult. However, is there any reason why speedway couldn't have a pre-match half that started say at 6.30 pm and had races for the juniors, which would perhaps encourage local would be riders the chance to ride and be future team riders. Now, not all speedway fans want to see the 'wobblers', but for those that want to see more speedway in an evening, they will have it and it may just entice youngsters in the surrounding towns to come and watch their mates going round. 

Edited August 6, 2018 by Ray Stadia
Typo!

[moxey63]

1 hour ago, old bob at herne bay said:

None of this tinkering will save UK speedway on its downhill spiral. More fans are needed at the turnstiles.

Cricket saved itself by inventing 20 over crash bang wallop “T20 “ . Purists hate it but it gets the punters paying to watch.  

Maybe Speedway needs a kick up the bum and change the 4lap 15 heat format for every meeting

So maybe have 3 lap races ..... no race stoppages - if you fall off get off the track or you will be excluded .... do as you like at the tapes but if you touch em you are excluded. No first bend bunching - if you fall and don’t get off the track or remount you are excluded.2 minute rule shortened to one minute. Fail to make the warning you are excluded no replacements allowed . 

 

Kill me... now.

[moxey63]

I'd have police chasing the riders in helicopters screened live on TV. Imagine it for fans watching at home. And the losing team manager can use one of those "stinger" implements to throw across the track and puncture opponents' tyres. And, what about this one... the top rider from the leading team actually transferring to the losing team mid-match to keep scores close and fans interested. If the match ends as a draw, how about a tug-of-war between rival fans for an extra tug-off bonus point?

[Big Al]

5 hours ago, Grachan said:

So, basically, forcing the top teams from the CL into the top league as they won't do it themselves, and then having a proper second division instead of "top league lite".

Sounds good to me.

More like those left in the (now) PL downshifting a few notches, and some CL teams upshifting by one notch!

[cityrebel]

2 hours ago, Ray Stadia said:

A number of people have mentioned on here that they want value for money. I know most tracks have a curfew and can't operate beyond a certain time, so something like a second half is difficult. However, is there any reason why speedway couldn't have a pre-match half that started say at 6.30 pm and had races for the juniors, which would perhaps encourage local would be riders the chance to ride and be future team riders. Now, not all speedway fans want to see the 'wobblers', but for those that want to see more speedway in an evening, they will have it and it may just entice youngsters in the surrounding towns to come and watch their mates going round. 

The problem I have with pre meeting junior racing is, what if there is an incident that requires the ambulance to leave the stadium. This could have a serious impact on the main event, especially if the track has a curfew in place.

[Ray Stadia]

9 minutes ago, cityrebel said:

The problem I have with pre meeting junior racing is, what if there is an incident that requires the ambulance to leave the stadium. This could have a serious impact on the main event, especially if the track has a curfew in place.

I suppose you could have 2 ambulances, but then double the cost, I imagine. 

[OveFundinFan]

Whats the point in 3 lap races?  A 4 lap race is lets say, 60seconds, and we get 15 races. So we make a race approx. 40 seconds, just cant see that stimulating interest. Lots of races are won by an overtake on the last lap, last bend even...…. so we cut that out.....sounds good (not).

A meeting as a package has to change.  Races need to be "snappier", cut out time wastage ie you going to get false starts, but cut out the pit gates opening, send them straight back to the tapes. Give them time for "gardening" but keep it to a minute or less.

Whole meeting entertainment needs upping. Anyone remember Johnnies Marching Girls at Belle Vue…. put on whatever the modern equivalent of that is. Riders that win a 5-1 go a lap with the club flag, like I seen in Sweden,  Get the riders to interact with the crowd, signing autographs etc, even if its over the fence at the interval (doesn't seem much chance after the meeting as the "stars" are often away quick to their next country, so I read).

Add 5 races at the end of the 15 heat league match.  First 2 will be for the 4 top scorers of each team, top two in each race will go to a final (race 5). Race 3 and 4 will be for the reserves plus local juniors. The race 5, should be able to get local sponsors for £250 prize money for the winner.

Publicity seems to be lacking, need someone to be tackling local radio stations, local newspapers, and billboards still play an important part is advertising.  Get members of the team at local super markets during the afternoon of an event - with bikes, stickers, autographs etc. Get the word out.

[moxey63]

Remember the "bring a friend" slogan? Speedway survived for decades using this method. I bet most fans were introduced by a friend or family member.

[waytogo28]

1 hour ago, OveFundinFan said:

Get the word out.

We can all play a small part but really "  get the word out  = promoters job in the main. This week in the SS Belle Vue have a double page spread saying ( among other things ) that that is what is needed in Manchester. Has "get the word out" not been left far, far too late?

[OveFundinFan]

I didn't mean "we", the fans, get the word out (though we can play a part). Its the speedway clubs job todo it in a professional way, I agree

[old bob at herne bay]

Ove fundin fan .... 3 lap races 45 seconds of action riders will know the last lap is lap 3 and sort out their passing attempts accordingly. Most modern results are decided after lap one ( well by bend 2 mostly)  . Maybe have more heats in a meeting ?  Cut out all the time wasting at the start - if they aren’t up to the tapes let the tapes up .....the riders will soon stop their b gardening antics. There has to be MORE entertainment and less prims Donna rider antics. Appoint a Race Director at every meeting ( Phil Morris) who keeps things moving. 

[OveFundinFan]

3 lap 45 second races instead of 4 lap 60 second races - spectators will end up paying the same for 15 races at 45 seconds. Why do you want 45 second races, those tracks that can be altered should be altered to allow exciting racing. If as you say “most modern results are decided after lap one (well by bend 2 mostly)”, sound like you really want to advocate ONE lap races.

[Thornaby48]

Here is an idea , if we want a Mickey  Mouse sport to attract the kids ,have the riders dress as Disney characters. The rider in red would be Prince  Charming, in blue Mickey, in white The Wicked Witch and yellow/ black would be Black Beard the pirate (no  disrespect to Poole). 

 

[Grachan]

20 hours ago, old bob at herne bay said:

None of this tinkering will save UK speedway on its downhill spiral. More fans are needed at the turnstiles.

Cricket saved itself by inventing 20 over crash bang wallop “T20 “ . Purists hate it but it gets the punters paying to watch.  

Maybe Speedway needs a kick up the bum and change the 4lap 15 heat format for every meeting

So maybe have 3 lap races ..... no race stoppages - if you fall off get off the track or you will be excluded .... do as you like at the tapes but if you touch em you are excluded. No first bend bunching - if you fall and don’t get off the track or remount you are excluded.2 minute rule shortened to one minute. Fail to make the warning you are excluded no replacements allowed . 

 

So if you fall in the middle of the track, the race isn't stopped. What happens next time the riders come round? Massive pile-ups to get the crowd in?

Why have a one minute warning instead of a 2 minute warning? Why not just put the 2 minute warning on 1 minute earlier?

Races are already pretty short. I see no reason to have 3 lap races. The only meeting I've seen with 3 lap races was a Golden Greats one, with a bunch of old fogeys that were nearly as old as Greg Hancock.

[SPEEDY69]

I may have said this before but I don't think the racing is actually the most important thing - a few more passes in a meeting won't make people flood through the turnstiles.  It needs a more conducive environment for fans within the stadium.  If the place itself is somewhere people fancy going to socialise with friends and see a bit of racing as well then people other than us purists may want to attend. 

Kids go free is a good incentive but what do they do when they get there?  Maybe trampolines or bungees, maybe video games, food/drink for kids with seating, soft play area or sandpit/pillow.  These things will attract them.  Now, for older folks then somewhere warm, covered and seating are important.  Motorcycle themed activities maybe - a speedway simulator or bikes to sit on/view, you could have motorcycle rider allowed to park together and encourage club meet ups, provide a room/venue for parties/events within the stadium with catering facilities. 

I'm just throwing these things out there but reducing the large payouts to some riders would give the money to be able to offer some of these things as attractions - when at a dull meeting what else is there to keep you entertained?  So will you come back? 

[Daniel Smith]

An "outside the box" idea. Rolling starts?!?

Most of the damage caused to equipment is at the start. So, from the start, rider's line-up as normal from gates 1>4. A dude on a scooter in front of the gates takes off, the rider's follow behind for 1 lap, on lap 2 the scooter pulls off at any point, then the racing starts and it's 4 laps of racing.