I would think that last night's heat 13 in the best I have ever seen in Speedway

[mickthemuppet]

Hats off to Max Fricke, Colin Cook , Jason Doyle and Jack Holder and also the track curator Has there ever been a race without a crash that all four riders have led at anyone time.

Any other races to rival this  

[Garry1603]

Brilliant race yes, certainly the best I've seen for ages. Congrats to all four riders and track staff.

An old chestnut, but I still can remember the great Collins / Michanek race off in 1973 at Hyde Road and I always regarded that as the best ever.

 

[nw42]

12 minutes ago, Garry1603 said:

Brilliant race yes, certainly the best I've seen for ages. Congrats to all four riders and track staff.

An old chestnut, but I still can remember the great Collins / Michanek race off in 1973 at Hyde Road and I always regarded that as the best ever.

 

Me too Garry, that run off between PC & Michanek was the best I ever saw, the lead was exchanged on every bend for the whole 4 laps, pure theatre it was.  Last night's race was excellent though, all 4 riders going at it for the whole 4 laps, you cannot ask for any more than that.

[Gemini]

6 hours ago, mickthemuppet said:

Hats off to Max Fricke, Colin Cook , Jason Doyle and Jack Holder and also the track curator Has there ever been a race without a crash that all four riders have led at anyone time.

Any other races to rival this  

Colin Cook?   Happy memories of one of my favourite Leicester riders.  Agree about the race though ~ brilliant.

[IainB]

As I've posted elsewhere that was one of those races I'll remember for the rest of my life, I was fortunate enough to have been there to watch it live too, others that I was there for and always remember: Erik Gundersen world final 1985, Penhall Olsen 1981 and I also vividly remember Per Jonsson bursting between 2 riders at Odsal back in the late 80's/early 90's, not particularly a great race but Trick's wall of death!

The one that sticks out for me that I wasn't there for Gollob Jimmy Nilsen

Edited September 7, 2018 by iainb

[moxey63]

The best racetrack produces one of the best races. That is why I still love speedway racing.

Thank you, Chris Morton and Dave Gordon.

[waytogo28]

It was indeed, Proper Speedway and out of the Top Drawer ( as someone once said ).

[Stoke Potter]

1 hour ago, moxey63 said:

Thank you, Chris Morton and Dave Gordon.

For me this cannot be said enough. 

If British Speedway survives then those 2 should be regarded as the saviours.  They've shown everyone what a proper Speedway track looks like.
The BSPA should now go off and do the right thing and get a few more tracks the same as BV.

And yes, that Heat 13 is truly one of the best I've races I've seen in 30+ years watching the sport.  Massive credit to all the riders.  I think Fricke especially will be something special.

[martinmauger]

I somehow missed the match, was at folks' place so could easily have watched (aarrgghh!!).  But Ht13 was out of the top draw, if every race, and racetrack was like that, stadia in the UK wouldn't be big enough.  That heat alone shows why we all follow speedway, still a brilliant sport.  Mostly.  Know what, gonna watch it again ....

[Baldyman]

Great race and great race track...but the fans still are not flocking back to watch at belle vue...so just shows me that speedway as  we know it will  soon be a thing of the past.

[Halifaxtiger]

12 hours ago, Baldyman said:

Great race and great race track...but the fans still are not flocking back to watch at belle vue...so just shows me that speedway as  we know it will  soon be a thing of the past.

Little pessimistic. The attendance wasn't good but Belle Vue, like others, have been badly affected by the move to FRN. Mondays and Wednesdays simply don't attract the same number of people as Fridays. For myself, I would have bought a season ticket had they stayed on Friday, as it is I have been an occasional visitor only (fortunately Wednesday was one of them )

This match was also out of school holidays and on the television. 

What is of relevance is that when the Aces changed stadiums by most accounts gates more than doubled. 

The really interesting thing about that truly stunning race is without the play off system - and Belle Vue's need to get a result on Wednesday - its entirely possible it wouldn't have happened.

[KrisB]

 

[coldace]

4 hours ago, Halifaxtiger said:

Little pessimistic. The attendance wasn't good but Belle Vue, like others, have been badly affected by the move to FRN. Mondays and Wednesdays simply don't attract the same number of people as Fridays. For myself, I would have bought a season ticket had they stayed on Friday, as it is I have been an occasional visitor only (fortunately Wednesday was one of them )

This match was also out of school holidays and on the television. 

What is of relevance is that when the Aces changed stadiums by most accounts gates more than doubled. 

The really interesting thing about that truly stunning race is without the play off system - and Belle Vue's need to get a result on Wednesday - its entirely possible it wouldn't have happened.

Agree with you Halifaxtiger.  Last year we saw attendances steadily build but Mondays just don't work for many.  I'd imagine the promotion will be doing everything to get back to Fridays in 2019 and with Friday nights, a track as good as the NSS and, don't forget, the team that prepare it so well, attendances will be on the upturn again.  As a season ticket holder for the last two years, I'd really welcome you joining us.  

Incidentally, one of the benefits of being a season ticket holder this year has been a pre-meeting visit to the pits and the opportunity to watch three heats for the centre green.  A really wonderful experience and so much credit to Andy Mellish and his wife for conducting the tours, explaining the whole pre-meeting procedure and answering countless questions.  He has been so good in this role; intelligent, respectful and really interesting insights to what is going on.  

Hats of to Adrian Smith and his team for introducing such innovations, in the many, many years of watching speedway, I can't remember too many more professional approaches to promoting the sport.

[Halifaxtiger]

3 hours ago, coldace said:

Agree with you Halifaxtiger.  Last year we saw attendances steadily build but Mondays just don't work for many.  I'd imagine the promotion will be doing everything to get back to Fridays in 2019 and with Friday nights, a track as good as the NSS and, don't forget, the team that prepare it so well, attendances will be on the upturn again.  As a season ticket holder for the last two years, I'd really welcome you joining us.  

Incidentally, one of the benefits of being a season ticket holder this year has been a pre-meeting visit to the pits and the opportunity to watch three heats for the centre green.  A really wonderful experience and so much credit to Andy Mellish and his wife for conducting the tours, explaining the whole pre-meeting procedure and answering countless questions.  He has been so good in this role; intelligent, respectful and really interesting insights to what is going on.  

Hats of to Adrian Smith and his team for introducing such innovations, in the many, many years of watching speedway, I can't remember too many more professional approaches to promoting the sport.

Fingers crossed 

Just one thing. I know a track where to get a pits visit and a go on the centre green you don't have to pay, be a season ticket holder or even a home fan 

Isle of Wight.

They really do set the standard for promotion. 

[Stoke Potter]

On 9/9/2018 at 2:44 PM, Halifaxtiger said:

Fingers crossed 

Just one thing. I know a track where to get a pits visit and a go on the centre green you don't have to pay, be a season ticket holder or even a home fan 

Isle of Wight.

They really do set the standard for promotion. 

Shame their track is pants and needs improvement.

[bruno]

That has to be a joke comment from a Stoke fan, our tracks better than yours

[barrybishop]

2 hours ago, Stoke Potter said:

Shame their track is pants and needs improvement.

that's an interesting comment, that our track is still viewed as "pants and needs improvement" out there.

I can hand on heart say that I (we) would like a perfect track (even though our riders currently complain because its now really smooth).  We have used the motorway plane, that we found in undergrowth, had serviced and is now fully operational, on several occassions this year and the track is now really quite smooth. We made further improvement to the banking to bends 1 and 2 over the year. You may of course be refering to the terrible shale that we put down at the start of the season which we had to take off and we are now using a better quality shale. I guess you can also judge the improvement by the average times this year which have been reduced by over a second and the racing quoted as some of the best ever at the Stadium.

We of course continue to put our heart, soul and all that we are into making the Warriors the best night out in speedway and continue track improvement (such as replacing the whole back straight fending last off season) will continue to take place this off season.

Hope to see you at the track sometime in 2019 and if you let me know who you are, I will gladly do a track walk with you, show you the improvements we have made, our vision for tomorrow and welcome any thoughts you may have.

All the best

Barry

[bruno]

Very diplomatic Barry, not sure the comment deserved it but credit to you. I have visited you a couple of times, once was rained off and then again last year for my wife's first ever meeting. Going to make the effort to come next year. How much is the ferry if I just come over for the meeting and back the same night. It was quite a bit last year but I was over for the week

[Dave Jones]

11 minutes ago, barrybishop said:

that's an interesting comment, that our track is still viewed as "pants and needs improvement" out there.

I can hand on heart say that I (we) would like a perfect track (even though our riders currently complain because its now really smooth).  We have used the motorway plane, that we found in undergrowth, had serviced and is now fully operational, on several occassions this year and the track is now really quite smooth. We made further improvement to the banking to bends 1 and 2 over the year. You may of course be refering to the terrible shale that we put down at the start of the season which we had to take off and we are now using a better quality shale. I guess you can also judge the improvement by the average times this year which have been reduced by over a second and the racing quoted as some of the best ever at the Stadium.

We of course continue to put our heart, soul and all that we are into making the Warriors the best night out in speedway and continue track improvement (such as replacing the whole back straight fending last off season) will continue to take place this off season.

Hope to see you at the track sometime in 2019 and if you let me know who you are, I will gladly do a track walk with you, show you the improvements we have made, our vision for tomorrow and welcome any thoughts you may have.

All the best

Barry

If only speedway had a few more" Barry Bishops", a promoter who understands the requirements of operating a business in the 21st century and the importance of keeping the fans onside.

[barrybishop]

58 minutes ago, bruno said:

Very diplomatic Barry, not sure the comment deserved it but credit to you. I have visited you a couple of times, once was rained off and then again last year for my wife's first ever meeting. Going to make the effort to come next year. How much is the ferry if I just come over for the meeting and back the same night. It was quite a bit last year but I was over for the week

Hey.... we offer a 20% discount via our website so depending on how in advance you know you are travelling the cost fluctuates. Early is obviously better but wrtie to me speedwayontheisland@yahoo.co.uk and I can point you in the right direction.

All the best

Barry