keepturningleft Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 There is an excellent interview with Richard Clarke of Speedway Star in the current edition of Backtrack magazine which includes concerns about sales in line with the general decline of speedway. However I believe there may be a way of boosting interest. Given that speedway fans spend almost as much time watching tractors circling the track as they do actually watching racing, wouldn't it be an idea for Speedway Star to merge with one the tractor magazines? 'Speedway Star & Tractor Weekly'. It has a ring to it. This will bring added interest to the evening as Instead of whinging and complaining about the tractor breaks, fans would thumb through the mag and try and identify the tractor type and engage with fellow fans on the terrace. Backtrack magazine could also engage with this idea with vintage features on the tractors we fondly remember going round and round in the 70’s and 80’s. Naturally the mag would be renamed Backtractor. Just an idea. 1 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 4 hours ago, keepturningleft said: There is an excellent interview with Richard Clarke of Speedway Star in the current edition of Backtrack magazine which includes concerns about sales in line with the general decline of speedway. However I believe there may be a way of boosting interest. Given that speedway fans spend almost as much time watching tractors circling the track as they do actually watching racing, wouldn't it be an idea for Speedway Star to merge with one the tractor magazines? 'Speedway Star & Tractor Weekly'. It has a ring to it. This will bring added interest to the evening as Instead of whinging and complaining about the tractor breaks, fans would thumb through the mag and try and identify the tractor type and engage with fellow fans on the terrace. Backtrack magazine could also engage with this idea with vintage features on the tractors we fondly remember going round and round in the 70’s and 80’s. Naturally the mag would be renamed Backtractor. Just an idea. Excellent idea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 4 hours ago, keepturningleft said: There is an excellent interview with Richard Clarke of Speedway Star in the current edition of Backtrack magazine which includes concerns about sales in line with the general decline of speedway. However I believe there may be a way of boosting interest. Given that speedway fans spend almost as much time watching tractors circling the track as they do actually watching racing, wouldn't it be an idea for Speedway Star to merge with one the tractor magazines? 'Speedway Star & Tractor Weekly'. It has a ring to it. This will bring added interest to the evening as Instead of whinging and complaining about the tractor breaks, fans would thumb through the mag and try and identify the tractor type and engage with fellow fans on the terrace. Backtrack magazine could also engage with this idea with vintage features on the tractors we fondly remember going round and round in the 70’s and 80’s. Naturally the mag would be renamed Backtractor. Just an idea. How about Shire horses pulling the grader, anything they drop could be left on the track to add interest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS50 Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 45 minutes ago, foamfence said: How about Shire horses pulling the grader, anything they drop could be left on the track to add interest. Hope the dirt deflectors work well if they do. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris116 Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 I hope Philip Rising doesn't see this thread, it could be bad for his health! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 59 minutes ago, Chris116 said: I hope Philip Rising doesn't see this thread, it could be bad for his health! GONE for a lay down in a darken room ... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 6 minutes ago, PHILIPRISING said: GONE for a lay down in a darken room ... Sure it isn't an upright? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFCB Wildcat Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 It could work for me because many years ago I was a huge tractor enthusiast but then lost interest and gave it all up. It turned out to be beneficial though recently as I saved a lot of people when the room we were in filled with dense smoke. Lucky for them I was an ex tractor fan. 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigACE Posted August 1, 2019 Report Share Posted August 1, 2019 The magazine is brilliant as it is. I just hope it keeps going along with programmes forever. Getting the Star is part and parcel of my life. I get all angry if for any reason i have to wait until Friday to get mine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted August 2, 2019 Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) 20 hours ago, foamfence said: How about Shire horses pulling the grader, anything they drop could be left on the track to add interest. The detritus will hit the fans for sure. Edited August 2, 2019 by waytogo28 correction 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted August 2, 2019 Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 I know someone who used to work at Massey Ferguson in Coventry - I’m sure he’d do an article for the new magazine Also, I have some photos of the Banner Lane factory which could be used 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 2, 2019 Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 (edited) In the late 1950s-early 1960s several speedway magazines also covered stock car racing (ala short circuit car racing). Perhaps a resumption of that coverage could be of benefit to SPEEDWAY STAR? Edited August 2, 2019 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flitters Posted August 2, 2019 Report Share Posted August 2, 2019 I got into tractors by helping Glyn Taylor at Belle Vue with the track. I ended up with buying the Belle Vue Massey 35. There are plenty of tractor fans that would enjoy watching the tractors. My long suffering wife is now an extractor fan as I now have 5 tractors and a steam engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted August 3, 2019 Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 9 hours ago, Richard Weston said: New idea: Speedway Star and Tractor Weekly incorporating Traction Engines Got to be a winner. Seriously, the Speedway Star, with no tractors, traction engines, gets better week by week. The editorial team are hitting their stride now. It's sharper, punchier, to the point, a super front cover every week...and again becoming a 'must read' print magazine. They understand the secret is to give your readers something you cannot read for free on the internet. Keep it up. It's the way forward. Spot on.. The story behind the story is invariably always more interesting.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Posted August 3, 2019 Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 The tractor in the thatchers advert looks like one of leicesters lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted August 3, 2019 Report Share Posted August 3, 2019 On 8/1/2019 at 12:45 PM, keepturningleft said: There is an excellent interview with Richard Clarke of Speedway Star in the current edition of Backtrack magazine which includes concerns about sales in line with the general decline of speedway. However I believe there may be a way of boosting interest. Given that speedway fans spend almost as much time watching tractors circling the track as they do actually watching racing, wouldn't it be an idea for Speedway Star to merge with one the tractor magazines? 'Speedway Star & Tractor Weekly'. It has a ring to it. This will bring added interest to the evening as Instead of whinging and complaining about the tractor breaks, fans would thumb through the mag and try and identify the tractor type and engage with fellow fans on the terrace. Backtrack magazine could also engage with this idea with vintage features on the tractors we fondly remember going round and round in the 70’s and 80’s. Naturally the mag would be renamed Backtractor. Just an idea. I wouldn't mind but this 'tractor racing' is very important to keep tracks safe imo if they have any dirt on them at all. If we want no tractors going round then let's concrete the tracks .... I think all promoters should get a full compliment of track rakers in again too who can drag the shale away from the airfences so riders don't get into difficult in the deep stuff near the fences that the tractors can't access .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 On 8/1/2019 at 10:13 PM, craigACE said: The magazine is brilliant as it is. I just hope it keeps going along with programmes forever. Getting the Star is part and parcel of my life. I get all angry if for any reason i have to wait until Friday to get mine. THANK you ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepturningleft Posted August 4, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 At this point, I'll just interject and make it clear that my original post was not entirely meant to be taken seriously although I wouldn't mind, one day, seeing 'Speedway Star and Classic Water Bowser' on the news stand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted August 4, 2019 Report Share Posted August 4, 2019 (edited) I could suggest a merger with Stationary Engine Magazine. But seriously while I mostly like the new look of Speedway Star, I'm still a subscriber, I am disappointed team maangers race times are no longer included in meeting results. Example; Craig Cook in the recent SON, following the very unfortunate collision with team mate Robert Lambert, we alll expected we'd seen the last of Cook in this meeting. But he bravely returned to action scoring a third, a second place and a heat win and it would have been interesting to see how his winning time corresponds to the other race winners. In addition the Swindon track has been shortened this season and we have been informed 'winning times are falling' but not by how much. Also when from time to time a replacement team manager is utilised, it might be useful to compare the stand-in to the regular TM. Perhaps the meeting referee or time keeper could supply race times and team manager details for the official score chert.... Edited August 4, 2019 by martinmauger grammar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawks 1975 Posted August 5, 2019 Report Share Posted August 5, 2019 It's such a shame that those superb Jeff Davies covers every week are not face out on the W H Smith shelves anymore. It's also bloody annoying when my postman delivers my copy, and the lovely pristine magazine and the superb cover has been screwed up/damaged en route! Any chance of stronger envelopes Philip - sometimes the edges of the current ones arrive with the mag poking through almost! PS - after his brilliant antics at the British Final last week, surely you have to do an in depth article on Mr Ayres! Congrats to everybody who puts together such an excellent production every week. Long may it continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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