Trees Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 9 hours ago, tellboy said: Pretty much like Cardiff to me.Look back at the racing and it is pretty mediocre.But as you say the occasion and bigger crowd makes it seems better than what it is really. The last time I went to Cardiff I hated it, there were just a handful of riders I gave a damn about as the majority don't race here. A few of the races were good but I need more, an emotional attachment (probs a woman thing lol). I found myself swearing about the guys who don't race here, the organisation of the event, lots of negative stuff lol. I only went because we organised the trip as a supporters club, I won't be going again unless Robert Lambert gets in I guess. My favourite speedway these days is 100% supporting my team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 8 minutes ago, waytogo28 said: I wonder how many of the under 40's go away with such glowing memories of a "good night out, great racing and satisfaction" in recent seasons? Hmm. If it is still just as good as we imagined ( if we did imagine it ) why aren't the crowds at speedway across the UK on the up? Or at least around the 2 - 3,000 level 0f 10 - 15 years ago. Hmmm. I can think of quite a few meetings where loads of King's Lynn fans (of all ages) have walked away very happy and satisfied since 2000 Surely you haven't forgotten? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tellboy Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 39 minutes ago, waytogo28 said: I wonder how many of the under 40's go away with such glowing memories of a "good night out, great racing and satisfaction" in recent seasons? Hmm. If it is still just as good as we imagined ( if we did imagine it ) why aren't the crowds at speedway across the UK on the up? Or at least around the 2 - 3,000 level 0f 10 - 15 years ago. Hmmm. Think you miss the point re crowd levels.There is so much more for people to do now than what we had back 30/40 years ago.Add in the fact we now race midweek,although weekends probably wouldn't make that much difference now with all the different entertainment options for people to do now.Remember for me it was either speedway or a night at my Nan and Grandad's watching Starsky and Hutch or tails of the unexpected.That was pretty much my options,so it would be silly to refuse a night at the speedway.Don't think i could name all the options they have nowadays. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tellboy Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 43 minutes ago, Trees said: The last time I went to Cardiff I hated it, there were just a handful of riders I gave a damn about as the majority don't race here. A few of the races were good but I need more, an emotional attachment (probs a woman thing lol). I found myself swearing about the guys who don't race here, the organisation of the event, lots of negative stuff lol. I only went because we organised the trip as a supporters club, I won't be going again unless Robert Lambert gets in I guess. My favourite speedway these days is 100% supporting my team. I too have decided Cardiff isn't for me,just over hyped and over priced imo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 On 2/20/2019 at 7:10 PM, g13webb said: You must be a bit older than me then. I remember as a 13 yr. old on a Saturday night, catching the bus to the town, then going to the picture house and buying a bag of sweets, Ice cream in the interval, before going to Ruston's fish shop for supper, usually then having to run to catch the last bus home ..... and still had change out of the 10 shillings pocket money...... Wonderful times…... ...and then my dad would thrash us to sleep with a broken bottle....if we were lucky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 57 minutes ago, tellboy said: Think you miss the point re crowd levels.There is so much more for people to do now than what we had back 30/40 years ago.Add in the fact we now race midweek,although weekends probably wouldn't make that much difference now with all the different entertainment options for people to do now.Remember for me it was either speedway or a night at my Nan and Grandad's watching Starsky and Hutch or tails of the unexpected.That was pretty much my options,so it would be silly to refuse a night at the speedway.Don't think i could name all the options they have nowadays. Exactly, there are a million and one things for people to do with their leisure time and money nowadays, and unfortunately speedway hasn’t moved with the times to make people want to come. Add to that the way the sport is run and the often dreadful customer experience and it’s little wonder crowds are so poor. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Lady Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 On 3/16/2019 at 11:11 AM, topsoil said: You look back at the race time back then, I will use my own club Berwick as an example. Race times in the 70s and 80s are roughly the same as a Northern Junior League race now. Can you imagine many fans nowadays putting up with that as a night's entertainment. .... ....... ..... For my opinion, speedway is better now than it ever has been, throughout the sport. More riders are becoming "professional", the standard of riders have gone up as a whole, right across the sport. But all I see on the forum is doom and gloom. I find I spend very little time looking at the forum these days, the general mood starts to bring me down. I'm going to have to disagree with the top paragraph. I cannot for the life of me see how faster racing means better racing. Back in the day, races were slower BUT there were almost no super duper professionally tuned engines so as I recall the races were closer. Sure some bikes were tied together with string but that didn't impact on rider skill. As for the sport being more professional nowadays, sorry it's not. Yes riders spend thousands more than they did in the past but that doesn't make it more professional, just more costly for all concerned. They look the part but the racing is no better than before. Had promoters however put the same amount of effort etc into their part of the sport I might be more in agreement with you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 At least we have engine rev limiters to look forward to next year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mimmo Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 37 minutes ago, Star Lady said: I'm going to have to disagree with the top paragraph. I cannot for the life of me see how faster racing means better racing. Back in the day, races were slower BUT there were almost no super duper professionally tuned engines so as I recall the races were closer. Sure some bikes were tied together with string but that didn't impact on rider skill. As for the sport being more professional nowadays, sorry it's not. Yes riders spend thousands more than they did in the past but that doesn't make it more professional, just more costly for all concerned. They look the part but the racing is no better than before. Had promoters however put the same amount of effort etc into their part of the sport I might be more in agreement with you. I find National Development League meetings produce better excitement than the SGB Premiership more often than not, with times of course being slower. So I agree 100% with you on that one Star Lady. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 2 hours ago, Mimmo said: I find National Development League meetings produce better excitement than the SGB Premiership more often than not, with times of course being slower. So I agree 100% with you on that one Star Lady. Costs me a tenner for me and my 15 year old lad to sit in the 'posh seats' watching the Colts at the NSS It would cost me more than £30 to do the same to watch the Aces.. Went several times last year to watch the Colts, didn't bother with the Aces... Both the Aces and Colts will have plenty of meetings with 'random septets' on view, (so it doesn't really matter who wins or loses), so you might as well get your Speedway fix for a lot less than you pay for the Premiership.. And you get some great racing at the NSS in the NDL.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 5 hours ago, Trees said: The last time I went to Cardiff I hated it, there were just a handful of riders I gave a damn about as the majority don't race here. A few of the races were good but I need more, an emotional attachment (probs a woman thing lol). I found myself swearing about the guys who don't race here, the organisation of the event, lots of negative stuff lol. I only went because we organised the trip as a supporters club, I won't be going again unless Robert Lambert gets in I guess. My favourite speedway these days is 100% supporting my team. Interesting point you make re 'emotional attachment'.. For me that no longer applies to team Speedway (in Britain not everywhere) and is a large reason why fans have dropped off... Meeting after meeting with guest after guest has unfortunately completely eroded the credibility of the domestic comps, and ensures media coverage is (and always will be with the current structure), minimal at best... Without that emotional attachment sadly team Speedway doesn't resonate with enough people to (it appears in many places), be successful.. A shame, because 'a night out at the Speedway' can still deliver great entertainment, drama, excitement and value for money.. As Cardiff for me will no doubt deliver again this year.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 I’m struggling to identify what leisure activities are available now that weren’t around 40 years ago. Can you guys give me five out of the million and one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 29 minutes ago, Richard Weston said: And I can think of a number of meetings last year at Lynn where I left at the end of the meeting very pleased with the speedway. R, Lambert, of course, often the reason, 'That boi, our boi' haha, love watching him, if ex fans only come and watch him once this season, I'm sure they won't be disappointed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted March 17, 2019 Report Share Posted March 17, 2019 I went to a British Basketball League match today.... Plymouth Raiders v London Lions. It's not my favourite sport, but it was a good afternoon's entertainment. What's really striking about it compared to speedway is that not a single minute is wasted. Even when it is time-outs or the end of quarters, there are dancers, the mascot is up to something, kids competitions, lights, music..it is a full show. In short, it's light years ahead of speedway. And surprise, surprise, it is packed with families and the sort of demographic everyone on this forum would love to see at the speedway. I've said it before and I'll say it again...and again and again. Speedway's problem is not that it isn't what it used to be. IT'S THAT IT HASN'T CHANGED ENOUGH! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g13webb Posted March 18, 2019 Report Share Posted March 18, 2019 On 3/16/2019 at 11:11 AM, topsoil said: I've never been able to understand this theory that everything was better in the old days. You can look back to a lot of results in the 70s and 80s and see absolute hammerings. Imagine how those type of results would be treated on this forum nowadays. The "second halves", I can remember a lot of the time riders didn't fancy it and either went through the motions, or were replaced by local juniors because of bike problems. I bet the forum members would love that these days. The good old days when riders were part timers, travelling about with the one bike on the back of a car. What if that bike got damaged in a crash or blew an engine? You either had to borrow another bike or withdrew from the meeting. You can imagine that going down well these days. You look back at the race time back then, I will use my own club Berwick as an example. Race times in the 70s and 80s are roughly the same as a Northern Junior League race now. Can you imagine many fans nowadays putting up with that as a night's entertainment. Yes it would be great if we could get back to a time where we had the top riders in the world competing in our leagues, but unless we can find some rich benefactors or miraculously find some big sponsorship or TV money, we have to accept this isn't going to happen. Let's face it, we were all a lot more easily pleased in the past. There were fewer alternatives, we were less coddled in those days. Now we want instant gratification and we want it all the time. For my opinion, speedway is better now than it ever has been, throughout the sport. More riders are becoming "professional", the standard of riders have gone up as a whole, right across the sport. But all I see on the forum is doom and gloom. I find I spend very little time looking at the forum these days, the general mood starts to bring me down. Interesting to read your take on the sport and yes, I can relate with a lot of what you say. But the things you put importance in differs from my prospective greatly. Firstly the second halves were always received, not only by the fans but also the riders, yes occasionally a rider might stand down but this was an exception and not the rule.. Remembering Peter Collins and Michael Lee battling out for 4 laps in a tremendous second half final , yet you make out it didn't matter.... The race time are significantly faster, but that doesn't denote the racing is better. When Terry Betts won the first meeting at Lynn the track record was recorded at 72.8 sec. the track record now is 57.4 sec That 15 sec difference is all down to the machinery. Once upon a time the skill of the rider was the governing factor. that how now been equalled by the engine tuner... As you say the riders have become more profession, just a pity the powers in charge were not . Recalling an incident in the early 70's when Neil Street introduce his first 4 valver, Terry Betts remarked they should be banned because the sport could not afford such technology, he said when the riders ask for extra cash it means the crowd will have to pay more, As soon as that happens the number will go down. Reading your post, you identify the racing as the most important factor of the sport, but to me the occasion is far more important. I went to 10 or more World finals at Wembley and each were a wonderful advert to this sport. Always a full house made it a night to remember, but as for the racing , the good heats could be counted on one hand. For the sport to prosper like it once did, it has to appeal to everybody, and for that to happen, the occasion has to appeal to everybody... not just the purest who only recognise the best racing. Probably if speedway was run along similar lines to Moto GP or Formula 1, when the Elite rode their best equipment in World championship rounds, leaving the leagues to run a more affordable option the sport would stand a better chance of surviving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted March 18, 2019 Report Share Posted March 18, 2019 11 hours ago, falcace said: I went to a British Basketball League match today.... Plymouth Raiders v London Lions. It's not my favourite sport, but it was a good afternoon's entertainment. What's really striking about it compared to speedway is that not a single minute is wasted. Even when it is time-outs or the end of quarters, there are dancers, the mascot is up to something, kids competitions, lights, music..it is a full show. In short, it's light years ahead of speedway. And surprise, surprise, it is packed with families and the sort of demographic everyone on this forum would love to see at the speedway. I've said it before and I'll say it again...and again and again. Speedway's problem is not that it isn't what it used to be. IT'S THAT IT HASN'T CHANGED ENOUGH! I went to the Basketball play-off final a few years back. It's a great show, but they do, of course, have the advantage of the indoor lighting/facilities and so on. Interesting, also, that it attracts their biggest crowd of the season, but the play-off winners are not also league champions. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted March 18, 2019 Report Share Posted March 18, 2019 55 minutes ago, Grachan said: I went to the Basketball play-off final a few years back. It's a great show, but they do, of course, have the advantage of the indoor lighting/facilities and so on. Interesting, also, that it attracts their biggest crowd of the season, but the play-off winners are not also league champions. I also know from insiders and people who work within the sport that the sport is a "cesspit" in its governance. So, very little different from speedway there. Despite that, basketball put on a good show for the fans. I take your point that they have an advantage of indoors, but it is still a world away from speedway in terms of like for like presentation at league meetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted March 18, 2019 Report Share Posted March 18, 2019 24 minutes ago, falcace said: I also know from insiders and people who work within the sport that the sport is a "cesspit" in its governance. So, very little different from speedway there. Despite that, basketball put on a good show for the fans. I take your point that they have an advantage of indoors, but it is still a world away from speedway in terms of like for like presentation at league meetings. Not outside featuring dangerous motorbikes on a dirt track ridden by adrenaline fuelled athletes on a week night is it? That's not saying that speedway couldn't improve the presentation but just that it's not so easy ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted March 18, 2019 Report Share Posted March 18, 2019 14 minutes ago, Trees said: Not outside featuring dangerous motorbikes on a dirt track ridden by adrenaline fuelled athletes on a week night is it? That's not saying that speedway couldn't improve the presentation but just that it's not so easy ....... ...and we are back where we started. Doing anything well is not easy. The plodding on-same as last year-don't change too much-too much hard work attitude is why league speedway finds itself where it is. Scratching its head and scratching its bum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted March 18, 2019 Report Share Posted March 18, 2019 47 minutes ago, falcace said: I also know from insiders and people who work within the sport that the sport is a "cesspit" in its governance. So, very little different from speedway there. Despite that, basketball put on a good show for the fans. I take your point that they have an advantage of indoors, but it is still a world away from speedway in terms of like for like presentation at league meetings. How much extra funding does Basketball get from Sport England or the Lottery or whoever? I love it on TV (I used to play to a reasonable standard) but the major plus is that its indoors with no fears of rain-offs or variable surface conditions. Its one of the reasons that Boxing, Darts and Snooker a la Hearn are so much easier to get right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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