British Speedway to be reborn?

[Hacksaw Jim Duggan]

Just now, RobMcCaffery said:

It won't simply because someone will always have the idea "Hey, what about four guys racing on a stadium track that all spectators can see, and have a team to support"

It might fade away temporarily at the top but at grass roots there will always be speedway, it's a simple sport. The trick is not to mess it up by making it complicated. As long as there are bikes, tracks and guys mad enough to use both it'll survive. 

 

I suppose it depends on the definition of survival, but yeah sure, somewhere in the country there will be some field where some people watch 4 guys racing a bike. 

[steve roberts]

Just now, RobMcCaffery said:

It won't simply because someone will always have the idea "Hey, what about four guys racing on a stadium track that all spectators can see, and have a team to support"

It might fade away temporarily at the top but at grass roots there will always be speedway, it's a simple sport. The trick is not to mess it up by making it complicated. As long as there are bikes, tracks and guys mad enough to use both it'll survive. 

 

I tend to agree. I'm sure that speedway will survive and hopefully common sense will previal and expenses looked at...the days of super-charged bikes costing thousands to tune may well be at an end as it's unsustainable at the present level certainly in this country. If that means that "The Stars" look abroad for the mega bucks then so be it.

[Theboss]

14 minutes ago, RobMcCaffery said:

It won't simply because someone will always have the idea "Hey, what about four guys racing on a stadium track that all spectators can see, and have a team to support"

It might fade away temporarily at the top but at grass roots there will always be speedway, it's a simple sport. The trick is not to mess it up by making it complicated. As long as there are bikes, tracks and guys mad enough to use both it'll survive. 

 

Could community run/owned clubs be an option?

[Garry1603]

As others have said, it looks like there's virtually no chance to have any meaningful team meetings this season, all we can hope for is to be allowed to run some open meetings.

If, and it's a big 'if', we get the go ahead (say in August / September), how about each track hosting a 'Festival of Speedway' round for the British based riders (of any division) - maybe with a 'final' at the NSS on tv for the top scorers? Maybe even have under 15s in their own category and / or sidecar racing if it were feasible.

As has been said though - any costs would have to be outweighed by the revenue generated.

People will be desperate to get out and about again and if it were marketed properly it might just attract a few new fans / sponsors for next season.

Some say that I'm a dreamer...………...

 

Edited April 20, 2020 by Garry1603

[waytogo28]

18 minutes ago, jchapman said:

Could community run/owned clubs be an option?

This is a great way forward IF it could be replicated as much as it has been in Sweden. But this is a medium term possibility as I doubt if it coul dbe "sold" to councils and or comminuty groups in a few months.( even in 12 months ).

 

I suggest that it is entirely renamed - perhaps as "Dirt Track Racing" or somesuch. It needs to be on standard bikes with no tuner add ons and therefore easier to have a go and start riding for youngsters . F2? Perhaps even 250cc bikes ( as the 500cc rockets ships have inherent problems in their use inc safety & cost ) . Perhaps on a single manufacturer's machine. Get the empahasis on talent winning ( and having a beter chance of proving more reliable exciting racing ) and not the increasingly "first away wins". Boring! Include handicap racing - maybe in ability bands to offer a better on track experience for the younger new supporters. What is clear that the same old, same old of at least the last 20 years will not attract a sufficent new audience for the sport to survive. Definitely improve the P.A. everywhere ( so that interviews etc can be heard ) and Please DO change the music played and general style of 1970s presentation. That's the dim and distant past and a turnoff in trying to sell the new style action. Get those yawning time gaps deleted from meetings! Concrete starting grid - so NO gardening and more time wasted. I could go on!

[Theboss]

41 minutes ago, Garry1603 said:

As others have said, it looks like there's virtually no chance to have any meaningful team meetings this season, all we can hope for is to be allowed to run some open meetings.

If, and it's a big 'if', we get the go ahead (say in August / September), how about each track hosting a 'Festival of Speedway' round for the British based riders (of any division) - maybe with a 'final' at the NSS on tv for the top scorers? Maybe even have under 15s in their own category and / or sidecar racing if it were feasible.

As has been said though - any costs would have to be outweighed by the revenue generated.

People will be desperate to get out and about again and if it were marketed properly it might just attract a few new fans / sponsors for next season.

Some say that I'm a dreamer...………...

 

I think a 'festival fo speedway' is a great idea

[Garry1603]

8 minutes ago, waytogo28 said:

This is a great way forward IF it could be replicated as much as it has been in Sweden. But this is a medium term possibility as I doubt if it coul dbe "sold" to councils and or comminuty groups in a few months.( even in 12 months ).

 

I suggest that it is entirely renamed - perhaps as "Dirt Track Racing" or somesuch. It needs to be on standard bikes with no tuner add ons and therefore easier to have a go and start riding for youngsters . F2? Perhaps even 250cc bikes ( as the 500cc rockets ships have inherent problems in their use inc safety & cost ) . Perhaps on a single manufacturer's machine. Get the empahasis on talent winning ( and having a beter chance of proving more reliable exciting racing ) and not the increasingly "first away wins". Boring! Include handicap racing - maybe in ability bands to offer a better on track experience for the younger new supporters. What is clear that the same old, same old of at least the last 20 years will not attract a sufficent new audience for the sport to survive. Definitely improve the P.A. everywhere ( so that interviews etc can be heard ) and Please DO change the music played and general style of 1970s presentation. That's the dim and distant past and a turnoff in trying to sell the new style action. Get those yawning time gaps deleted from meetings! Concrete starting grid - so NO gardening and more time wasted. I could go on!

I agree with all of that - maybe have a 'speedway app' that could enhance the experience for the watching fans as well (and the ones who can't be present at the meeting).

The bikes don't have to be tuned up thoroughbreds, a good race is four riders closely racing, not follow your leader at high speed.

[Theboss]

11 minutes ago, waytogo28 said:

This is a great way forward IF it could be replicated as much as it has been in Sweden. But this is a medium term possibility as I doubt if it coul dbe "sold" to councils and or comminuty groups in a few months.( even in 12 months ).

 

I suggest that it is entirely renamed - perhaps as "Dirt Track Racing" or somesuch. It needs to be on standard bikes with no tuner add ons and therefore easier to have a go and start riding for youngsters . F2? Perhaps even 250cc bikes ( as the 500cc rockets ships have inherent problems in their use inc safety & cost ) . Perhaps on a single manufacturer's machine. Get the empahasis on talent winning ( and having a beter chance of proving more reliable exciting racing ) and not the increasingly "first away wins". Boring! Include handicap racing - maybe in ability bands to offer a better on track experience for the younger new supporters. What is clear that the same old, same old of at least the last 20 years will not attract a sufficent new audience for the sport to survive. Definitely improve the P.A. everywhere ( so that interviews etc can be heard ) and Please DO change the music played and general style of 1970s presentation. That's the dim and distant past and a turnoff in trying to sell the new style action. Get those yawning time gaps deleted from meetings! Concrete starting grid - so NO gardening and more time wasted. I could go on!

I like the idea of 250cc bikes prior at the start of a meeting and then 500cc standard spec bikes for the main event. 

No idea why music is so bad at some tracks, many moons ago you could understand it as the cost of a DJ was prohibitive for some tracks but now we have spotify and can upgrade to ad free music for just £10 per month! Speaker systems have also been an issue for many moons because of the cost, however it would now be easy to broadcast through an app so supporters could hear it through their headphones connected to their mobile phone.

[Crabba59]

Why can't we run with the engine's they tried in the meeting that was run at the isle of wight? It would be cheaper for riders promoters ect. And the racing maybe better? What do people think?

[Theboss]

4 minutes ago, Garry1603 said:

I agree with all of that - maybe have a 'speedway app' that could enhance the experience for the watching fans as well (and the ones who can't be present at the meeting).

The bikes don't have to be tuned up thoroughbreds, a good race is four riders closely racing, not follow your leader at high speed.

I was literally writing about an app for hearing intervioews as you wrote this. I agree, an app could contain all the race information, scorers and advertisers. It would reduce the cost of attendance for fans as programmes would no longer be required.

[Theboss]

1 minute ago, Crabba59 said:

Why can't we run with the engine's they tried in the meeting that was run at the isle of wight? It would be cheaper for riders promoters ect. And the racing maybe better? What do people think?

I never knew about this, what engines were these and how much do they cost?

[Bagpuss]

2 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

Any rider on a British licence will have to ride just in Britain then surely....

If said rider wanted to be based in Poland and ditch the British Leagues then I would expect his licence to be revoked......

There is one particular British rider for whom you can see that particular scenario happening unfortunately. 

[Grachan]

Just now, jchapman said:

I like the idea of 250cc bikes prior at the start of a meeting and then 500cc standard spec bikes for the main event. 

No idea why music is so bad at some tracks, many moons ago you could understand it as the cost of a DJ was prohibitive for some tracks but now we have spotify and can upgrade to ad free music for just £10 per month! Speaker systems have also been an issue for many moons because of the cost, however it would now be easy to broadcast through an app so supporters could hear it through their headphones connected to their mobile phone.

The issue isn't the music that's available. It's the choice of whoever is selecting what to play. The best thing is to play a variety from all eras - from 60s to current - and mix it about.

The idea of having meeting music broadcast through an app and through a pair of headphones is, in my opinion, a terrible idea.

[cityrebel]

1 hour ago, Garry1603 said:

As others have said, it looks like there's virtually no chance to have any meaningful team meetings this season, all we can hope for is to be allowed to run some open meetings.

If, and it's a big 'if', we get the go ahead (say in August / September), how about each track hosting a 'Festival of Speedway' round for the British based riders (of any division) - maybe with a 'final' at the NSS on tv for the top scorers? Maybe even have under 15s in their own category and / or sidecar racing if it were feasible.

As has been said though - any costs would have to be outweighed by the revenue generated.

People will be desperate to get out and about again and if it were marketed properly it might just attract a few new fans / sponsors for next season.

Some say that I'm a dreamer...………...

 

I'd accept any form of racing right now. The lovely spring weather adds to the frustration. If it was pouring down every day, i wouldn't give it much thought.

[Crabba59]

9 minutes ago, jchapman said:

I never knew about this, what engines were these and how much do they cost?

It was 2v jawa. All the riders did a ballet for engine's then fitted into there own bikes.  If you look on YouTube it's on the isle of wight page. All the engine's where sealed 

 

[geoff100]

13 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

There is one particular British rider for whom you can see that particular scenario happening unfortunately. 

Is he " british" ? Or just when it suits?

[Garry1603]

30 minutes ago, Grachan said:

The issue isn't the music that's available. It's the choice of whoever is selecting what to play. The best thing is to play a variety from all eras - from 60s to current - and mix it about.

The idea of having meeting music broadcast through an app and through a pair of headphones is, in my opinion, a terrible idea.

Generally, I'd agree, but it could be an option if somebody wanted it.  I was thinking more of rider interviews, updates, scores from round the country, even in race commentary, just something to keep the customer engaged and feeling part of the occasion rather than as an inconvenience as it sometimes feels.

Edited April 20, 2020 by Garry1603

[Grachan]

1 minute ago, Garry1603 said:

Generally, I'd agree, but it could be an option if somebody wanted it.  I was thinking more of rider interviews, updates, scores from round the country, even in race commentary, just something to keep the customer engaged.

As a way of keeping score I think it is a decent idea, although people can always go to the Updates site if they want to know the score without a programme.

A much better idea. A decent scoreboard. This should be a must at every track like it is with Ice Hockey & Basketball. Just a simple place to look and see the score. End of a race, update the scoreboard. Simple.

An app for music will never work. Who would even listen to it? If people want to hear music on headphones they will play their own. And if people did, for some reason, do it then it would kill any atmosphere stone dead.

 

[Skodaman]

1 hour ago, Garry1603 said:

As others have said, it looks like there's virtually no chance to have any meaningful team meetings this season, all we can hope for is to be allowed to run some open meetings.

If, and it's a big 'if', we get the go ahead (say in August / September), how about each track hosting a 'Festival of Speedway' round for the British based riders (of any division) - maybe with a 'final' at the NSS on tv for the top scorers? Maybe even have under 15s in their own category and / or sidecar racing if it were feasible.

As has been said though - any costs would have to be outweighed by the revenue generated.

People will be desperate to get out and about again and if it were marketed properly it might just attract a few new fans / sponsors for next season.

Some say that I'm a dreamer...………...

 

Not sidecars! I enjoy watching sidecars but the rip up the track causing problems for the solos.

[Crabba59]

Not sure that's right when they had the bigger wheels and grass tyres may have been true,  but now they use speedway tyres so no different to solos ?