UK speedway slowly dying

[Wessexbobcat]

Finished for me ,I live in Dorset we lost Weymouth again 11 years ago .I have no interest in Poole so stopped going.The lay down engine started the decline along with the GP’s taking weekend’s away.I keep an eye on speedway here.I was once a supporter who did 5-6 meetings a week. Can see no point that I will return soon !

[steve roberts]

1 hour ago, Wessexbobcat said:

Finished for me ,I live in Dorset we lost Weymouth again 11 years ago .I have no interest in Poole so stopped going.The lay down engine started the decline along with the GP’s taking weekend’s away.I keep an eye on speedway here.I was once a supporter who did 5-6 meetings a week. Can see no point that I will return soon !

Agree!

[Hawk127]

1 hour ago, Wessexbobcat said:

Finished for me ,I live in Dorset we lost Weymouth again 11 years ago .I have no interest in Poole so stopped going.The lay down engine started the decline along with the GP’s taking weekend’s away.I keep an eye on speedway here.I was once a supporter who did 5-6 meetings a week. Can see no point that I will return soon !

In your circumstances the only offering that may be worth a look at is the IOW. Apart from this I agree with your sentiments but alas those in charge do not give a fig about the true speedway supporter as opposed to a club follower. Many like to watch the racing and if it is close and competitive most are happy. Teams are a joke with riders competing in all three leagues. It might be better if meetings were individual events made up of riders assigned to club names and at the end of September the riders with the most points were drawn to represent four clubs in a play off. Those clubs could be drawn out of a hat. Ridiculous it may seem but no more than what we have now.

[enotian]

3 hours ago, Wessexbobcat said:

Finished for me ,I live in Dorset we lost Weymouth again 11 years ago .I have no interest in Poole so stopped going.The lay down engine started the decline along with the GP’s taking weekend’s away.I keep an eye on speedway here.I was once a supporter who did 5-6 meetings a week. Can see no point that I will return soon !

Diamonds vs Weymouth was the first match I went to. Late 70's.  Don't really recall it at all but I think I still have the programme in the loft.  Owen vs Yeates was the big deal.  From memory of the programme I think Simon Wigg and/or Cross were in the Weymouth team. Future stars.

Serious question though, have you not been tempted to subscribe to the BSN streaming service? I think they stated it was aimed at attracting lapsed supporters without a team to follow locally, like yourself. Interesting to know if that appeals to you or if not why?

Whilst I'm on 'interesting' chat by the Sky commentary team about the state of World cricket during the rain delays at today's ODI.  Expressing concern of the monopoly of the top three nations and the negative impact that has on the other nations. Interesting discussion, acknowledging that you need a range of competitive nations for the sport to grow and you can't base the product around a 'local derby' (the ashes). So not just Speedway having problems.

[Wessexbobcat]

11 hours ago, enotian said:

Diamonds vs Weymouth was the first match I went to. Late 70's.  Don't really recall it at all but I think I still have the programme in the loft.  Owen vs Yeates was the big deal.  From memory of the programme I think Simon Wigg and/or Cross were in the Weymouth team. Future stars.

Serious question though, have you not been tempted to subscribe to the BSN streaming service? I think they stated it was aimed at attracting lapsed supporters without a team to follow locally, like yourself. Interesting to know if that appeals to you or if not why?

Whilst I'm on 'interesting' chat by the Sky commentary team about the state of World cricket during the rain delays at today's ODI.  Expressing concern of the monopoly of the top three nations and the negative impact that has on the other nations. Interesting discussion, acknowledging that you need a range of competitive nations for the sport to grow and you can't base the product around a 'local derby' (the ashes). So not just Speedway having problems.

Not interested without a club to follow.I don’t think the cost justifies what you get either.15 races of follow your leader, same riders double up down guest amateur at best .I probably won’t  bother online with speedway soon.Will always remember the 70’s and 80’s National League great racing no guests , or playoffs and proper tac sub rule.They call it progress maybe?(self distract I think)

[AndyPresley]

17 hours ago, Dnorthstar1970 said:

I find it laughable the way they tart up the British gp anybody who didn’t follow British speedway would think all was Fine but to be honest British speedway is dead 

Tell me about it. What are they thinking by doing all that promotion. You would think they were trying to sell tickets or something. Ridiculous.

[SteveLyric2]

13 minutes ago, Wessexbobcat said:

Not interested without a club to follow.I don’t think the cost justifies what you get either.15 races of follow your leader, same riders double up down guest amateur at best .I probably won’t  bother online with speedway soon.Will always remember the 70’s and 80’s National League great racing no guests , or playoffs and proper tac sub rule.They call it progress maybe?(self distract I think)

Your name is not Stewkesbury or Hodder is it?

[Wessexbobcat]

1 hour ago, Skidder1 said:

Your name is not Stewkesbury or Hodder is it?

Stewkesbury was certainly one of our best promoters at Weymouth. Hodder good on the Mike too .Me just a Weymouth supporter.

[ArthurRudge]

2 hours ago, Wessexbobcat said:

Not interested without a club to follow.I don’t think the cost justifies what you get either.15 races of follow your leader, same riders double up down guest amateur at best .I probably won’t  bother online with speedway soon.Will always remember the 70’s and 80’s National League great racing no guests , or playoffs and proper tac sub rule.They call it progress maybe?(self distract I think)

Totally agree Speedway in the UK is a joke and has been for a while, I still follow the GP's and some Polish matches but UK nothing!

[ArthurRudge]

20 hours ago, Dnorthstar1970 said:

I find it laughable the way they tart up the British gp anybody who didn’t follow British speedway would think all was Fine but to be honest British speedway is dead 

yeah it's very embarrassing.

[Wessexbobcat]

1 hour ago, ArthurRudge said:

yeah it's very embarrassing.

Couldn’t agree more.GP stops all weekend speedway and attracts people who won’t go again until the next one!

[topsoil]

4 hours ago, Wessexbobcat said:

Not interested without a club to follow.I don’t think the cost justifies what you get either.15 races of follow your leader, same riders double up down guest amateur at best .I probably won’t  bother online with speedway soon.Will always remember the 70’s and 80’s National League great racing no guests , or playoffs and proper tac sub rule.They call it progress maybe?(self distract I think)

The BSF summed up in a post

[Ovalman]

Packed crowd at Oxford a month ago, will be packed again in couple of weeks for the Pairs. Far from dead yet.

Probably needs one big league and/or definitely more teams in Premier, 6 isn't enough.

Edited July 25, 2022 by auntie doris

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, auntie doris said:

Packed crowd at Oxford a month ago, will be packed again in couple of weeks for the Pairs. Far from dead yet.

Probably needs one big league and/or definitely more teams in Premier, 6 isn't enough.

Cant see there ever being anymore than 6 Teams in Premier now,Oxford will probably be ask to go up next season especially if Peterborough don’t run.Powers at be don’t want a restructure.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Tonight wolves were at home to Kings Lynn, I live 2 miles from the track, I had nothing else to do, I was brought up a wolves fan, while I think it’s too expensive in general money is not an issue for me, I am speedways greatest fan, always have been and yet I didn’t want to go tonight,It just didn’t grab my attention enough to attend, I watched it on tv but that didn’t really stop me going either and I missed the first 3 heats as I was watching something else, it’s just not grabbing me, I can’t affiliate with a team of mercenaries who parade as my team, there is no point in having a league with teams that are filled with riders that ride for someone else, I know I am sounding like a broken record but if the sport can’t grab someone like me what chance does it have for a new audience, when I watch British speedway now I feel like I’m watching something else, on track speedway is full of bad annoying habits like starting offences, gardening, adjusting chains etc after a restart, it’s not needed it’s habit and annoying habit at that, 

[heathen52]

Deanno, I know exactly how you feel, the BSPL are in it for there own benefit not for the benefit of Speedway in GB, when the Tuners appear to be the only ones making money from the sport apart from a few over paid riders, those at the top simply wont/cant see where its wrong for a rider to have 2/3 Teams in the same country, as for equipment costs I wont even go there.

[HGould]

10 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Tonight wolves were at home to Kings Lynn, I live 2 miles from the track, I had nothing else to do, I was brought up a wolves fan, while I think it’s too expensive in general money is not an issue for me, I am speedways greatest fan, always have been and yet I didn’t want to go tonight,It just didn’t grab my attention enough to attend, I watched it on tv but that didn’t really stop me going either and I missed the first 3 heats as I was watching something else, it’s just not grabbing me, I can’t affiliate with a team of mercenaries who parade as my team, there is no point in having a league with teams that are filled with riders that ride for someone else, I know I am sounding like a broken record but if the sport can’t grab someone like me what chance does it have for a new audience, when I watch British speedway now I feel like I’m watching something else, on track speedway is full of bad annoying habits like starting offences, gardening, adjusting chains etc after a restart, it’s not needed it’s habit and annoying habit at that, 

Agree with every word.

It pains me to agree with every word but you're spot on in your analysis.

We have a generation of over 30's riding  who started when money and interest were greater but who now effectively hold the sport to ransom for their guarantees or over-inflated pay rates. That feeds down to a younger generation, few of whom are making real progress but who want more money that Promoters can afford and the trappings of vans and engine tuners - the latter of which are bleeding the sport dry.

The few innovative thinkers who have emerged have been broken by the system or their owm nievity of the system or have in the case of someone like Adrian Smith just walked away. God Bless those who try to buck the trend at places like Glasgow, Redcar, Oxford, Plymouth.

The Management of the BSPL sit in a parallel universe apparently happy to brag about how much they have lost and had to make good each year; rather than try to plug the drain and to work  towards a model that goes back to basics and starts from the bottom based on realistic pay rates, realistic break even figures, realistic level of riders it can attract etc. Riders are worn out in late July not from riding in a 6 team PL and 10 Team CL for a Club in each but for rising for just about every other Club in both leagues at some point.

How far are we away from the Rider who steps up and says "I've ridden for every CL and PL Club this season"??..

I used to look forward to going to Brum every week and around 10 away matches around the Country.This year I've done 4 Fixtures at Brum, 2 at Oxford, 1 at Plymouth and 2 at Leicester. Have I come away from any having been actually entertained and actually enjoyed the experience, probably twice if i'm being honest and both at Oxford where at east you get a sense of the buzz and excitement I used to. I bet that will be drained out though before too long.

As you have suggested, if we aren't gripped and excitied any more and have become bored and dis-interested, what hope is there.

Each year another one or two will drop out, some with good ideas unfulfilled and no doubt having lost a small fortune, having lost the Masons who did some good work, I now fear for our new Promotion who simply can't be making ends meet nor enjoying the stress and hassle of a sport in decline, with no leadership nor direction, largely mercanaries racing the bikes and not enough excitement.

THANK GOD for the likes of Josh Pickering who has given me some enjoyment this season, we need more of him and a new wave , but I fear its too late. 

 

 

Edited July 26, 2022 by HGould
spell / missed word

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

For those paying attention speedway along with other sports is heading for the toughest period ever and it’s going to be bad, really bad and it’s not if it’s own making but I just feel speedway will just try to carry on like everything is normal and then when it hits the wall the Bspl will blame everyone but themselves, the sport is reactive,it should be proactive, reactive this time may be fatal, saying all that it’s not my money at stake 

[IainB]

1 hour ago, HGould said:

Agree with every word.

It pains me to agree with every word but you're spot on in your analysis.

We have a generation of over 30's riding  who started when money and interest were greater but who now effectively hold the sport to ransom for their guarantees or over-inflated pay rates. That feeds down to a younger generation, few of whom are making real progress but who want more money that Promoters can afford and the trappings of vans and engine tuners - the latter of which are bleeding the sport dry.

The few innovative thinkers who have emerged have been broken by the system or their owm nievity of the system or have in the case of someone like Adrian Smith just walked away. God Bless those who try to buck the trend at places like Glasgow, Redcar, Oxford, Plymouth.

The Management of the BSPL sit in a parallel universe apparently happy to brag about how much they have lost and had to make good each year; rather than try to plug the drain and to work  towards a model that goes back to basics and starts from the bottom based on realistic pay rates, realistic break even figures, realistic level of riders it can attract etc. Riders are worn out in late July not from riding in a 6 team PL and 10 Team CL for a Club in each but for rising for just about every other Club in both leagues at some point.

How far are we away from the Rider who steps up and says "I've ridden for every CL and PL Club this season"??..

I used to look forward to going to Brum every week and around 10 away matches around the Country.This year I've done 4 Fixtures at Brum, 2 at Oxford, 1 at Plymouth and 2 at Leicester. Have I come away from any having been actually entertained and actually enjoyed the experience, probably twice if i'm being honest and both at Oxford where at east you get a sense of the buzz and excitement I used to. I bet that will be drained out though before too long.

As you have suggested, if we aren't gripped and excitied any more and have become bored and dis-interested, what hope is there.

Each year another one or two will drop out, some with good ideas unfulfilled and no doubt having lost a small fortune, having lost the Masons who did some good work, I now fear for our new Promotion who simply can't be making ends meet nor enjoying the stress and hassle of a sport in decline, with no leadership nor direction, largely mercanaries racing the bikes and not enough excitement.

THANK GOD for the likes of Josh Pickering who has given me some enjoyment this season, we need more of him and a new wave , but I fear its too late. 

 

 

I can't quite believe what I've just read there... when somebody does suggest something to try and entice people along to watch Speedway, people like you actually throw every imaginable hurdle in the way as to why not to do it. I suggested that Birmingham should have run some kind of Commonwealth Riders Championship meeting (an absolute no brainer) to cash in on the games being held down the road, with the athletes village on the doorstep and you were quite rude to me about it on the Brummies thread... and you've only been 4 times this season, unbelievable!

Edited July 26, 2022 by iainb

[keepturningleft]

It's shocking and depressing to see Belle Vue half empty most meetings.