British Tracks - Can your local track be improved?

[Stoke Potter]

Plenty of debate on other threads about what makes a decent track.  Lets have a survey.  

Can your local track be improved? 

For the moment lets (conveniently) overlook the financial aspect of doing any track work, as the point is to find out how many could physically fit a Belle Vue type circuit within the confines of the stadia.

So minimum 300m with sweeping bends and plenty of width.  I could answer for a few but I'll leave that to the locals of the particular track as they are likely to know better.

So I'll start with my local circuit:

Stoke:  yes a BV track could easily be fitted in.

Next...
 

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

Ipswich no unless stock cars were to move out

[Andrew]

Sheffield.Take the white line in a few meters and shorten the straights,something ex promoter Ray Glover considered doing back in the early 80's.

[steve roberts]

11 hours ago, Stoke Potter said:

Plenty of debate on other threads about what makes a decent track.  Lets have a survey.  

Can your local track be improved? 

For the moment lets (conveniently) overlook the financial aspect of doing any track work, as the point is to find out how many could physically fit a Belle Vue type circuit within the confines of the stadia.

So minimum 300m with sweeping bends and plenty of width.  I could answer for a few but I'll leave that to the locals of the particular track as they are likely to know better.

So I'll start with my local circuit:

Stoke:  yes a BV track could easily be fitted in.

Next...
 

...Oxford was a perfect shape (but I would say that) except I would say that the exits from the bends were a bit narrow and widening of same would have been advantageous.

[IainB]

My local track, Leicester, pretty much perfect I'd say 

[Whisperer]

11 minutes ago, iainb said:

My local track, Leicester, pretty much perfect I'd say 

I liked Blackbird Road too !

[OveFundinFan]

As far as I know Leicester was purpose built in recent years. Looking at a top view I don't really see many constraints, so why it is shaped as it is seems odd to me. Could easily have been built as a proper race track..... unless some one knows different.

[IainB]

11 minutes ago, Whisperer said:

I liked Blackbird Road too !

That's what makes what we've got at BP all the more galling

[Andy Downes]

You could have at Bristol but nowadays you'd run into the collect and cash section of IKEA    

[Halifaxtiger]

22 hours ago, Stoke Potter said:

Plenty of debate on other threads about what makes a decent track.  Lets have a survey.  

Can your local track be improved? 

For the moment lets (conveniently) overlook the financial aspect of doing any track work, as the point is to find out how many could physically fit a Belle Vue type circuit within the confines of the stadia.

So minimum 300m with sweeping bends and plenty of width.  I could answer for a few but I'll leave that to the locals of the particular track as they are likely to know better.

So I'll start with my local circuit:

Stoke:  yes a BV track could easily be fitted in.

Next...
 

I'd say Stoke is one of the best shaped tracks in  British Speedway anyway. It makes the dreadful reputation they have all the more damning.

While few could make themselves wider by cutting into the outside (ironically, Rye House is one) some could by cutting on the inside.  

 

[Baldyman]

I think the answer to the question is, all tracks could be made better, even the best ones.

[IainB]

On 7/19/2018 at 8:45 AM, OveFundinFan said:

As far as I know Leicester was purpose built in recent years. Looking at a top view I don't really see many constraints, so why it is shaped as it is seems odd to me. Could easily have been built as a proper race track..... unless some one knows different.

Here are 4 tracks 2 of them, Sheffield and Peterborough renowned for good racing, Wolves also can be pretty good... and Leicester. Sheffield and Peterborough seem to be more rounded ovals where Leicester seems to be shaped more like Wolves. Wolves is 264m, Leicester 300m, Peterborough 336m & Sheffield 361m. Leicester does have a lot of weird off camber banking though.

Pick the bones out of that

[steve roberts]

9 minutes ago, iainb said:

Here are 4 tracks 2 of them, Sheffield and Peterborough renowned for good racing, Wolves also can be pretty good... and Leicester. Sheffield and Peterborough seem to be more rounded ovals where Leicester seems to be shaped more like Wolves. Wolves is 264m, Leicester 300m, Peterborough 336m & Sheffield 361m. Leicester does have a lot of weird off camber banking though.

Pick the bones out of that

...some great images although I would question Wolves. Too much like a hairpin with long straights and tight bends (Kirky Lane similar) Recall John Berry saying that to get round Wolves a rider would have to put a high gearing on which would compromise circumnavigating the bends which caused the bikes to rev too hard. However it would sort out the serious contenders and one can't argue with the greats who excelled at Monmore Green...in particular Ole Olsen, Hans Nielsen and Sam Ermolenko. Not one of my personal favourites however although Oxford's record there was second to none. 

[IainB]

26 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

...some great images although I would question Wolves. Too much like a hairpin with long straights and tight bends (Kirky Lane similar) Recall John Berry saying that to get round Wolves a rider would have to put a high gearing on which would compromise circumnavigating the bends which caused the bikes to rev too hard. However it would sort out the serious contenders and one can't argue with the greats who excelled at Monmore Green...in particular Ole Olsen, Hans Nielsen and Sam Ermolenko. Not one of my personal favourites however although Oxford's record there was second to none. 

I think if Wolves was any bigger it probably wouldn't work, there's no doubt it's a technical trick track but I have seen some cracking racing there.

[Fromafar]

Track that is prepared properly can give great racing.Imo

[*JJ]

On 7/19/2018 at 8:45 AM, OveFundinFan said:

As far as I know Leicester was purpose built in recent years. Looking at a top view I don't really see many constraints, so why it is shaped as it is seems odd to me. Could easily have been built as a proper race track..... unless some one knows different.

In the early days there, I spoke to David Helmsley  (at a training day), and he said that he wanted a 'fast' speedway; this is why it was built with long straights. He obviously refused to listen to Sam Ermolenko who left the promotion before it opened, as his ideas turned out to be wrong, which is why the track has had to be rebuilt twice.

[Jester]

I don't think there's too much wrong with the shape of the track at King's Lynn - we just need some proper Speedway shale down like we used to have. 

[steve roberts]

21 minutes ago, DanielC said:

I don't think there's too much wrong with the shape of the track at King's Lynn - we just need some proper Speedway shale down like we used to have. 

...good point shale. Often overlooked. I recall conversations over the years that it was becoming increasingly difficult in obtaining a good quality shale. Inferior shale obtained too much clay and that used to reflect the quality of the racing. May have been a discussion that I once had with track curator Colin Meredith (?) when I helped out at Cowley prior to one particular season.

Edited July 20, 2018 by steve roberts

[Jester]

17 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

...good point shale. Often overlooked. I recall conversations over the years that it was becoming increasingly difficult in obtaining a good quality shale. Inferior shale obtained too much clay and that used to reflect the quality of the racing. May have been a discussion that I once had with track curator Colin Meredith (?) when I helped out at Cowley prior to one particular season.

I think that's definitely part of the problem at King's Lynn. I believe they switched shale suppliers around five/six years ago to a more clay-based/stock-car friendly material - which does roughly coincide with the downfall in the racing. 

As an example, take a look at the racing in Heat 18 and 19 of the SWC meeting in 2012:

You can clearly see the number of different lines through the corners, the entry/exit options for overtaking and the slingshot off the dirt on the outside out of turns 2 and 4.

Now compare that to the same meeting from last year where there were about three overtakes over the entire night (resulting from rider mistakes mostly) because the track was so one-lined - it's like night and day! Presumably the newer clay-based shale just doesn't produce the same number of lines?

[Bald Bloke]

Lynn used to be one if not the best in the UK. I know BV now holds that...The bangers probably have something to do with it, and they are well supported and pay to enter !! .

Lynn has had good racing since the bangers came along, as seen in the vid.. If it takes a few hours to blade the track, why can't Lynn have 2 shale piles. One for each?

I know big events make for better racing whatever the track, as there's more at stake. But it  proves it's not all the bikes fault...They are not much different from 2012 !!Lynn is better this season, hope it can continue this way.

Edited July 20, 2018 by Bald Bloke