Spl77 Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 This topic has been covered a million times on here and in the speedway press. Sadly those in the position to make real either won't or can't. No my own personal take on the sport. One spring evening in 1989 I was taken to my local track Ipswich by a family friend at the age of 12. I was instantly hooked and gave up watching football to go every week. The sound the smell the action on track was all very exciting compared to football. At that time the crowd cheering or jeering and the banter with the rival fans who were next to you was great. This was also apparent at other tracks I visited following the witches Hackney, Peterborough during those first two seasons and then Kings Lynn in 91. Atmosphere and passion from the crowd and the riders. Those first two seasons gave me my first and only speedway heros Loram, Moggo and oddly given he rode for the opposition Galvin. The national league days at Foxhall of 89,90 were superb so many different riders most clubs visited once a season the crowd's were good and as I said passion and atmosphere, and as several school mates alos went Friday was speedway discussion day. As I went though my teenage years and into my early 20s friendships were formed that stand to this day and the social side of speedway came to the for. For me the first time I became aware of speedway politics was the winter of 98,99 when dispite being agreed the year before the league champions could no longer keep their team. After that various micky mouse decisions that the BSPA made over a 10 year period drove me away as a regular the social group that used to go went once last year. Since my last ever present season of 2007 I have been to around 15 home meetings. That group of friends once ever presents most have totally walked away a few like me do one or two a year. For me the key points for my decline in intrest are the lack of passion from the riders for their team, doubling up and down the over use of guests and the rocket ship equipment that is not suited to the UK tracks. The BSPA had a superb opportunity to re invent the sport with the sky money and turn it into a proper professional sport between 199 and 2006 but failed to capitalise on it. Looking back reading speedway books etc the infighting with the BSPA seems to have been going on for years, John berry's books certainly show that. So will the sport change or die sadly given the evidence of how the BSPA operates both now and historically it will die out. In my own personal opinion the most professionally run league set up this county had was the old national league. I want nothing more than to go along to a meeting a get the wow I have to come next week feeling and become hooked again, instead of the see you next year. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 Superb post Spl77. I hope you find your passion again but can understand why it died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 (edited) On 5/10/2020 at 4:50 PM, phillwhitewasmad said: Martin live cricket is more about the social occasion, all day sat down with your mates drinking beer generally having a good laugh and not getting covered in crap . (Well not till later when everyone has had to much beer) I (kinda) get it, cricket - day out and all that bit like Cardiff, I'm not a ball games fan at all, but in any case as I keep telling you (if you are who I think you are) 'speedway really is a silly sport' <- joking, actually I love it . Though your lad ain't half bad at it . To say the least.... Edited May 14, 2020 by martinmauger spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillwhitewasmad Posted May 14, 2020 Report Share Posted May 14, 2020 1 hour ago, martinmauger said: I (kinda) get it, cricket - day out and all that bit like Cardiff, I'm not a ball games fan at all, but in any case as I keep telling you (if you are who I think you are) 'speedway really is a silly sport' <- joking, actually I love it . Though your lad ain't half bad at it . To say the least.... Yep it’s me mate thanks for the kind words about the lad . He tries his best and has the ambition and backing so let’s see where the journey takes us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 In it to win it (hopefully), good luck to the lad.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 On 5/14/2020 at 9:09 AM, Spl77 said: For me the key points for my decline in intrest are the lack of passion from the riders for their team, doubling up and down the over use of guests and the rocket ship equipment that is not suited to the UK tracks. The BSPA had a superb opportunity to re invent the sport with the sky money and turn it into a proper professional sport between 199 and 2006 but failed to capitalise on it. Very similar to my own long, winding down of interest and I will go to one or two matches locally when on track action begins once more. I just want to see if it re-ignites my passion once again - so I will give it a couple of chances. I cannot see the same old, same old lighting my fires again , for the reasons above mostly ( and sadly ). They could and should be doing more during this hiatus and Rob Godfrey has promised that the BSPA are not sitting on their backsides. I pray they are not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proud panther Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 On 5/14/2020 at 5:27 PM, phillwhitewasmad said: Yep it’s me mate thanks for the kind words about the lad . He tries his best and has the ambition and backing so let’s see where the journey takes us Apologies if I have asked this before, but who is your lad ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillwhitewasmad Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 21 minutes ago, proud panther said: Apologies if I have asked this before, but who is your lad ? Luke Harrison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proud panther Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 32 minutes ago, phillwhitewasmad said: Luke Harrison Looks very promising. Good luck to both of you, especially you, as bank of Dad is a big responsibility lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 (edited) I'll just add this: due to a change in circumstances, largely overcoming 2 years of endless battles on every front you can possibly imagine (and a few more), but I'm still here so put the tiny violins away, I made serious plans, or so I thought, to take in many more meetings, not just at the obvious nearby Scunny, but at up to 4 other tracks . That went well . Stuff got real though and Covid-19 sadly impacted my family. But all my family members agree that life goes on, it has to, one day we will return to some kind or normality and we'll all see some speedway, hopefully this season if / when the authorities (read scientists and proper specialists) inform us it's safe to do so. Til then stay safe folks, this ain't no joke.... Edited May 17, 2020 by martinmauger spelling 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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