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UK speedway slowly dying


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Greg Hancock was saying to Scotty Nicholls yesterday that when he rode on temporary tracks such as Cardiff he would use a different, heavier bike, as lighter one would take off over ruts. Before the semis yesterday some riders in front of us at bend one, the worse, were slowing down like a junior/ amateur rider going into a bend. The tractors, rakers did a good job to get it rideable again, farce of a situation.

Edited by auntie doris
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13 minutes ago, GWC said:

Liked Jason Crump’s comments ‘we raced on worse didn’t we Scott’ ! 

All in all it made for a poor spectacle and now possibly brings Belle Vue into the equation - so long as it doesn’t rain!

 

Better track but stadium far too small.

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On 8/13/2022 at 9:53 PM, cowboy cookie returns? said:

Watching the GP from Cardiff tonight. Shame about the track the most positive thing I took from the meeting on TV was Scott's interview with top gears Chris Harris. He seemed genuinely impressed & the comment perfect blue print for a evening of motor sport at least shows there is something positive.

 

Well, that's one on the attendance for next year... all we have to do now is get him to pay for a ticket ;)

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15 minutes ago, iainb said:

Well, that's one on the attendance for next year... all we have to do now is get him to pay for a ticket ;)

It seems that for people who were watching speedway for the first time, this was actually a great meeting.

I've just seen a post on Facebook by people saying ti was their first meeting and they loved it and intend to go next year.

Also, my son's mate came along, and in the car on the way home he phoned his dad and was saying how brilliant it was, how there were loads of people there and how he wants to go again next year.

Imagine what these people would have thought if there has been great racing and a bigger crowd.

I hope that the crowds will be back to at least previous levels next year. There are many factors this year that could have affected attendance.

I also hope the organisers come out and explain the problems with the track, and how they are going to rectify them.

A bad track can happen. Wasn't it Warsaw where it happened a few years back? I hope the poor track this year doesn't cause the attendance to drop again. This is more of a spectacle with more people watching.

The atmosphere in the stadium was still brilliant, but there were far too many empty seats where there used to be crowds.

The riders not trying to race were a let down too. If Dan and Jack Holder - who only got into the series as substitutes - could ride it, there's no reason why the other riders couldn't.

 

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3 hours ago, Grachan said:

It seems that for people who were watching speedway for the first time, this was actually a great meeting.

I've just seen a post on Facebook by people saying ti was their first meeting and they loved it and intend to go next year.

Also, my son's mate came along, and in the car on the way home he phoned his dad and was saying how brilliant it was, how there were loads of people there and how he wants to go again next year.

Imagine what these people would have thought if there has been great racing and a bigger crowd.

I hope that the crowds will be back to at least previous levels next year. There are many factors this year that could have affected attendance.

I also hope the organisers come out and explain the problems with the track, and how they are going to rectify them.

A bad track can happen. Wasn't it Warsaw where it happened a few years back? I hope the poor track this year doesn't cause the attendance to drop again. This is more of a spectacle with more people watching.

The atmosphere in the stadium was still brilliant, but there were far too many empty seats where there used to be crowds.

The riders not trying to race were a let down too. If Dan and Jack Holder - who only got into the series as substitutes - could ride it, there's no reason why the other riders couldn't.

 

I loved my first Cardiff visit, 2005, soo different to Blunsdon. The racing was no different just the atmosphere. I took a young relative to a GP but they lost interest at Swindon.

I'm sure the crowds will be back next year, August not the best time to hold it, several adverse factors.

The Championship Pairs at Oxford the previous night had poor track, poor racing.

The long drive and heat was worth it, to see a Bewley the Brit win, fantastic. Great performance from ex-Swindon skipper Doyley, 3 crashes yet reaches semis.Ard as nails Jason.

Edited by auntie doris
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3 hours ago, Grachan said:

The riders not trying to race were a let down too. If Dan and Jack Holder - who only got into the series as substitutes - could ride it, there's no reason why the other riders couldn't.

Exactly what I said. They attacked the track, and it paid off. If you're going to act like you're scared of the track, stay home...

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2 hours ago, chunky said:

Exactly what I said. They attacked the track, and it paid off. If you're going to act like you're scared of the track, stay home...

Watching a lot of "old stuff" on YT it is noticeable how the riders would often "free wheel" into the turns and then put the power on when into the bend and bring the back wheel around..

Similar to the way grasstrack racers do...

I presume it was down to the deep cinders...?

Lots of races were won by riders passing others who were "hopping" around after hitting a deep part of the track....

And they used throttle control to control the bikes reaction...

It also meant plenty of entertainment for those watching...

Some of the races on Saturday had riders showing this "old school" style, but the likes of Bewley and Zmarzlik kept full on the gas and definitely got advantage for it...

Those brought up on GB tracks like Bewley, Doyle and Holder certainly seemed better equipped to deal with the problems (even though Doyle kept falling off:D)...

Which probably says something about GB track preparation...;)

Zmarzlik is obviously just a once in a generation world class rider who is fearless and can ride anything. ..

Edited by mikebv
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2 minutes ago, mikebv said:

Watching a lot of "old stuff" on YT it is noticeable how the riders would often "free wheel" into the turns and then put the power on when into the bend and bring the back wall round..

Thank you so much! That is the one thing I find really obvious from old vids, and didn't know if anyone else had noticed?

It almost looks amateurish to me, and is a far cry from the style we see today. And the worst one for that coasting? Mauger!

That is one of the main reasons for me why modern speedway is more exciting; riders power INTO the bends...

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4 minutes ago, chunky said:

Thank you so much! That is the one thing I find really obvious from old vids, and didn't know if anyone else had noticed?

It almost looks amateurish to me, and is a far cry from the style we see today. And the worst one for that coasting? Mauger!

That is one of the main reasons for me why modern speedway is more exciting; riders power INTO the bends...

It is also the reason they need wider entrances and exits to bends nowadays too, as the bikes are pretty much "virtually sideways" before they are even "in the bend" at some tracks...

Meaning less room to go under or around for those behind at lots of circuits..

The NSS being almost the "perfect template" to follow as going in to bends "sideways" there will not only scrub off speed but also, given how much space exists, provide plenty of room to pass for those not bringing the back wheel round so quickly, and letting the bike "run" instead....

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23 hours ago, Grachan said:

It seems that for people who were watching speedway for the first time, this was actually a great meeting.

I've just seen a post on Facebook by people saying ti was their first meeting and they loved it and intend to go next year.

Also, my son's mate came along, and in the car on the way home he phoned his dad and was saying how brilliant it was, how there were loads of people there and how he wants to go again next year.

Imagine what these people would have thought if there has been great racing and a bigger crowd.

I hope that the crowds will be back to at least previous levels next year. There are many factors this year that could have affected attendance.

I also hope the organisers come out and explain the problems with the track, and how they are going to rectify them.

A bad track can happen. Wasn't it Warsaw where it happened a few years back? I hope the poor track this year doesn't cause the attendance to drop again. This is more of a spectacle with more people watching.

The atmosphere in the stadium was still brilliant, but there were far too many empty seats where there used to be crowds.

The riders not trying to race were a let down too. If Dan and Jack Holder - who only got into the series as substitutes - could ride it, there's no reason why the other riders couldn't.

 

Speedway always has been and always will be a great sport for a newbie. You can't fail to be impressed by the skill and bravery of the riders, the noise, the smell, the sheer spectacle of it all... it's only when you scratch the surface that (especially now in Britain) it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. Some folk will realise "it's all about the start", some will make it a bit further and say "it's all about the first bend"... then you only have to attend a few fiascos, go home covered in dust, realise that your rider is riding for every other Tom, Dick and Harry and you're out

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Let's be honest there's so much more wrong with speedway than the points system. Tinkering yet again, green helmet anyone. The fiasco Saturday has seriously got me wondering why I bother and I don't normally do moaning. Lucky I have a track on my door step or I don't think I'd bother. Was going to Oxford for first time tomorrow since it re opened but il Keep money for the pub instead

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On 8/1/2022 at 8:09 PM, mikebv said:

100000%....

Hype! Hype! Hype!...

It doesnt even have to be true...

It just has to make enough people believe it is...:D

 

Having the BBC on your side helps, if we were talking women's or transgender speedway, they'd be on it like a shot! 

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3 hours ago, OGT said:

Having the BBC on your side helps, if we were talking women's or transgender speedway, they'd be on it like a shot! 

Tell them Danielle Bewley won on Saturday then.. :D

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5 hours ago, bruno said:

Let's be honest there's so much more wrong with speedway than the points system. Tinkering yet again, green helmet anyone. The fiasco Saturday has seriously got me wondering why I bother and I don't normally do moaning. Lucky I have a track on my door step or I don't think I'd bother. Was going to Oxford for first time tomorrow since it re opened but il Keep money for the pub instead

Have to agree ,they have a lot to worry about than who gets a bonus point.

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6 hours ago, iainb said:

Speedway always has been and always will be a great sport for a newbie. You can't fail to be impressed by the skill and bravery of the riders, the noise, the smell, the sheer spectacle of it all... it's only when you scratch the surface that (especially now in Britain) it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny. Some folk will realise "it's all about the start", some will make it a bit further and say "it's all about the first bend"... then you only have to attend a few fiascos, go home covered in dust, realise that your rider is riding for every other Tom, Dick and Harry and you're out

I was hooked form the very first meeting that I attended...everything about it! Standing on the terraces with fellow enthusiats and chewing the fact/arguing made it a great night out! Never bothered me personally the gaps between races...that's when we all became an 'expert' Team Manager! Don't go along with gimmicks which is what the general public with their short attention span now seem to expect. I attended two American Football matches at Wembley and I found all the razzmatazz all a bit tedious and it struck me that was what the fans were more interested in. The Mexican Wave was in vogue then and the spectators appeared to take more notice of that rather than what taking place on the pitch. Speedway when presented right takes some beating but, alas, those in control thru' years of mismanagement have allowed it become a pale shadow of its former glorious self!

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22 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Never bothered me personally the gaps between races...that's when we all became an 'expert' Team Manager!

That's a huge part of the sport that is missing these days, TM's are so limited in what they can do other than swap reserves around

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