waytogo28 Posted June 12, 2019 Report Share Posted June 12, 2019 Like all "leaders", politicians and dictators Chapman began with all kinds of honeyed ideas for bringing about a UK revival if things were done HIS way. Empty pointless hot air - shouted from the outside while he was a noisy looker-on, not sitting at the top table. The other promoters who had exhausted all their ideas gave him the green light and we have ended up going much, much faster down the slippery slope to non-viability. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawk127 Posted June 12, 2019 Report Share Posted June 12, 2019 25 minutes ago, Trees said: More exciting racing might save the sport imo (real or contrived). Every fan loves close racing/passing/team riding, it's what gets fans excited and talking about the sport away from the track. It's also something no fan can make happen, it's down to the promoters and riders .... Totally agree. It needs a level playing field with fixed points money which then drives costs and if all riders participated using standard equipment and were then forced to hone their riding skills instead of being gate and go merchants on bikes that many if not most fail to control across a wide range of track conditions then the sport might get back to close racing, team riding and entertaining the punter. Until they bite the bullet and do what is right for speedway and not their own insular but contrived business arrangement where they operate on outdated business models with no idea of what the punter is crying out for, speedway will not even register on the sports radar of any potential new follower. SGP and many of the other televised European meetings as well as the overseas leagues have been given carte blanche to crap on U.K. speedway from a great height and this has been condoned by the BSPA headed by two cronies who the sport would be better off without. Sacrifice is needed for the greater good and the sooner that some of those running clubs realise this the better. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted June 12, 2019 Report Share Posted June 12, 2019 1 hour ago, Trees said: More exciting racing might save the sport imo (real or contrived). Every fan loves close racing/passing/team riding, it's what gets fans excited and talking about the sport away from the track. It's also something no fan can make happen, it's down to the promoters and riders .... I think that's owhat would please the current hardcore fans but it's the whole experience which could attract new followers. At present, between races its dull, the environment is poor with few seats/liitle rain cover at many tracks, presentation tired and no alternative entertainment in the downtime (and I don't mean on the centre green) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted June 12, 2019 Report Share Posted June 12, 2019 50 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said: I think that's owhat would please the current hardcore fans but it's the whole experience which could attract new followers. At present, between races its dull, the environment is poor with few seats/liitle rain cover at many tracks, presentation tired and no alternative entertainment in the downtime (and I don't mean on the centre green) If the racing was great then I think we would be reeling from the excitement of it, talking about what we just saw etc, nothing else required! IF the promoters and riders could attract more fans/more money then it would open up more opportunity to provide more razzmatazz if that's what you are after, etc etc Hopefully more young people with oodles of enthusiasm would be attracted too because that makes a difference .... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted June 12, 2019 Report Share Posted June 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Hawk127 said: Totally agree. It needs a level playing field with fixed points money which then drives costs and if all riders participated using standard equipment and were then forced to hone their riding skills instead of being gate and go merchants on bikes that many if not most fail to control across a wide range of track conditions then the sport might get back to close racing, team riding and entertaining the punter. Until they bite the bullet and do what is right for speedway and not their own insular but contrived business arrangement where they operate on outdated business models with no idea of what the punter is crying out for, speedway will not even register on the sports radar of any potential new follower. SGP and many of the other televised European meetings as well as the overseas leagues have been given carte blanche to crap on U.K. speedway from a great height and this has been condoned by the BSPA headed by two cronies who the sport would be better off without. Sacrifice is needed for the greater good and the sooner that some of those running clubs realise this the better. But SGP and the European leagues could often provide better racing too. I keep being told that crowds are going down everywhere so it could all be improved eh .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 Standardised - non tuned machinery will be part of any revival after the Great Extinction - if there are any stadiums left willing to try F2 Racing or whatever it will be. There is certainly no razzamatazz in UK speedway nowadays. Not even enough interest in many places to raise a cheer and hardly a boo to be heard. Few villains and only a few plonkers on track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 (edited) The Promoters disrespect their own competitions by using a truly ridiculous operating model, taking away any credibilty or kudos in winning them.. Speedway meetings become meaningless under such administration.. Fans are not daft, therefore many who still follow the sport closely, and love watching it, don't attend domestic speedway but will pay good money to travel to Poland regularly to watch their Leagues, and attend GP's, SoN etc around the globe.. Stop running meaningless meetings by bringing integrity to the competitions and make them worth winning, and maybe those many, many disillusioned fans would start to return? One thing is for sure, keep doing the "same old, same old" and you only have one outcome.. Edited June 13, 2019 by mikebv 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 All things have a shelf life. All the Promotions are doing now is ‘kicking the can down the Road’ For those who still need a weekly fix then enjoy it while you can. Its had a great run 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWC Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 To my mind it has to be one professional league of at least 14 clubs to make the opposition more varied. Riders would be able to spend what they want on equipment and overseas riders accepted. The best stadia should be allowed into this set up and sell it to tv sponsors etc as the UK speedway league with teams of riders who don’t ride for other clubs. Remaining clubs will be semi professional in a second league with costs restricted. They would be weekend tracks in the main and geared for rider development. The current set up is making a mockery of the sport but I understand why it is so at this time. It will need promoters to come together ignoring self interests. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 I do t think it’s rocket science particularly. Better racing on hole-free tracks, more entertainment between raves to create an atmosphere, regular fixtures, less R/R and particularly guests, cheaper admission and better facilities for paying spectators where possible. Standards at the moment are very low and the bar needs raising. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tellboy Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 12 minutes ago, Bagpuss said: I do t think it’s rocket science particularly. Better racing on hole-free tracks, more entertainment between raves to create an atmosphere, regular fixtures, less R/R and particularly guests, cheaper admission and better facilities for paying spectators where possible. Standards at the moment are very low and the bar needs raising. Now we're talking,that should pack the placetakes me back about 30yrs but i will be there 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bald Bloke Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 19 minutes ago, tellboy said: Now we're talking,that should pack the placetakes me back about 30yrs but i will be there Brings back memories Tell. From about 18- 30 I used to arrive at the stadium around 6.30 on Sat night. Have a few pints in the back straight bar, and a scan through the programme . I used to stand on the 2nd bend, just before the bar. A few more pints during the meeting, then afterwards over to the home straight bar, where a good few riders used to come in. A few more pints in there. Back then they had Champs nightclub at the stadium, with free entry from the speedway bar, so many times I ended up nearly doing a 12 hour night (6.30-2am). Cost me a bloody fortune mind 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 14 hours ago, Trees said: If the racing was great then I think we would be reeling from the excitement of it, talking about what we just saw etc, nothing else required! IF the promoters and riders could attract more fans/more money then it would open up more opportunity to provide more razzmatazz if that's what you are after, etc etc Hopefully more young people with oodles of enthusiasm would be attracted too because that makes a difference .... Too right, i came away from Peterborough v Poole a few weeks ago thinking, this is why i went to speedway in the fist place. Unfortunately these occasions are few and far between. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tellboy Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 54 minutes ago, Bald Bloke said: Brings back memories Tell. From about 18- 30 I used to arrive at the stadium around 6.30 on Sat night. Have a few pints in the back straight bar, and a scan through the programme . I used to stand on the 2nd bend, just before the bar. A few more pints during the meeting, then afterwards over to the home straight bar, where a good few riders used to come in. A few more pints in there. Back then they had Champs nightclub at the stadium, with free entry from the speedway bar, so many times I ended up nearly doing a 12 hour night (6.30-2am). Cost me a bloody fortune mind Was you in there when Nigel Leaver(sure it was him)done a collection because he had blown an engine,riders weren't so well off then.In exchange for people putting money in,his wife/partner done a bit of a strip.I soon got my money in the glass. Seriously though had some great nights in Champs bar,then food in Lynn then back home to Wisbech.Remember ending up round Henka's once for an after party,party.That was when Simon was about 2/3yrs old.I could waffle on for ages about all that stuff,but i did make a lot of good friends from those days. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bald Bloke Posted June 13, 2019 Report Share Posted June 13, 2019 5 hours ago, tellboy said: Was you in there when Nigel Leaver(sure it was him)done a collection because he had blown an engine,riders weren't so well off then.In exchange for people putting money in,his wife/partner done a bit of a strip.I soon got my money in the glass. Seriously though had some great nights in Champs bar,then food in Lynn then back home to Wisbech.Remember ending up round Henka's once for an after party,party.That was when Simon was about 2/3yrs old.I could waffle on for ages about all that stuff,but i did make a lot of good friends from those days. Damn, missed that one . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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