IainB Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 33 minutes ago, Haza said: why does Stock Cars get such big crowds ? Weekend racing might have something to do with it I guess they seem to advertise stock cars with posters .It’s as if most speedway promotions have given up run out of ideas . Cars are more relatable to the general public, there won't be many people around that haven't been in a car at some point in their lives... Bikes on the other hand are more niche... and Speedway even nicher among the biking community 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 2 hours ago, bigcatdiary said: Most fans just want their team to be competitive and have a decent race track which allows racing and overtaking, it really doesn't matter whether it’s Premiership or Championship. Unfortunately I am told lay-downs react to grippy or deep tracks more causing more problems for the inexperienced riders. Predominately the better riders like slick conditions especially the better trappers who can then win more easily when they make the gate. But you of course this makes for boring gate and go meetings which doesn’t encourage supporters to attend. If the racing was decent then I dare say more supporters would attend and you wouldn’t see stadiums 90% empty like this weeks World Cup so far. There seems to be the impression that 'gate and go' only applies to one or two riders per race?! 'Gate and go' can apply to all 4 riders in a race, is very often NOT boring and often provides decent, fast racing by riders that 'miss the gate'! If all 4 'gate and go' then the racing can be very close even when there are no overtakes!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toady Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 41 minutes ago, Skidder1 said: There seems to be the impression that 'gate and go' only applies to one or two riders per race?! 'Gate and go' can apply to all 4 riders in a race, is very often NOT boring and often provides decent, fast racing by riders that 'miss the gate'! If all 4 'gate and go' then the racing can be very close even when there are no overtakes!! I agree with that and I have to say we have been treated to some fantastic racing at Oxford this year lots of passing by various riders of home and away teams top riders and youngsters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FromBendThree Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 1 hour ago, Haza said: Definitely needs something more to attract younger people 15 heats isn’t enough 15 minutes racing spun out over 2 hours for £22 - why does Stock Cars get such big crowds ? Weekend racing might have something to do with it I guess they seem to advertise stock cars with posters .It’s as if most speedway promotions have given up run out of ideas . Stox get decent crowd on a Wednesday at Arlington. So not necessarily day of week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, iainb said: Cars are more relatable to the general public, there won't be many people around that haven't been in a car at some point in their lives... Bikes on the other hand are more niche... and Speedway even nicher among the biking community Less meetings too.. Which means bigger crowds per meeting.. Which reflects better on the standing of the sport from a reputational point of view.. Speedway clubs will (now and again) have four meetings per month with a similar sized total crowd that the one meeting per month stock car meeting will have.. Therefore One looks and feel "quite popular", when you are there, and the other doesn't.... Most clubs have at least 2000 to 3000 followers, many of whom "watch from afar", and attend now and again.. They dont attend regularly due to the way the sport is ran, and the ever increasing admission costs for, what is in essence, 15 mins action.. Edited July 28, 2023 by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) During the lunch break of the Ashes cricket today on BBC 5 sports extra, there was a live interview with sports promoter Eddie Hearn. He made several interesting and relevant points about the sports he promotes and some others that he enjoys eg cricket. He reckons that in every sport - team or individual - you have to create 'characters'. Any sport should have characters that fans can relate to, even if the personas are 'made up' to generate supporter and media interest. ( Wrestling,Darts etc) 'Sports should be entertaining - not just in the actual live competition, but also in the pre and post publicity'. 'Whatever the sport purists want it can be achieved but also every event must entertain by creating characters - heroes and villains'! Interesting....... Edited July 28, 2023 by Skidder1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haza Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 14 minutes ago, Skidder1 said: During the lunch break of the Ashes cricket today on BBC 5 sports extra, there was a live interview with sports promoter Eddie Hearn. He made several interesting and relevant points about the sports he promotes and some others that he enjoys eg cricket. He reckons that in every sport - team or individual - you have to create 'characters'. Any sport should have characters that fans can relate to, even if the personas are 'made up' to generate supporter and media interest. ( Wrestling,Darts etc) 'Sports should be entertaining - not just in the actual live competition, but also in the pre and post publicity'. 'Whatever the sport purists want it can be achieved but also every event must entertain by creating characters - heroes and villains'! Interesting....... We had characters in the sport in years gone by now I can only think of Nicki Pedersen - in the past there was Kenny Carter and most of the American team Carter seemed to dislike especially Bruce Penhall - that American team of the 80s plenty of young girls thought they was fantastic- at Kings Lynn we had Ian Tiddler Turner a character if ever was one - but nowadays can only think of Nicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haza Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 56 minutes ago, FromBendThree said: Stox get decent crowd on a Wednesday at Arlington. So not necessarily day of week. That’s that theory out the window then . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 16 minutes ago, Haza said: We had characters in the sport in years gone by now I can only think of Nicki Pedersen - in the past there was Kenny Carter and most of the American team Carter seemed to dislike especially Bruce Penhall - that American team of the 80s plenty of young girls thought they was fantastic- at Kings Lynn we had Ian Tiddler Turner a character if ever was one - but nowadays can only think of Nicki I think you could class Woffy as a "Character" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 I’ve introduced , this season, four almost five 15 year old lads, school mates of my sons. They enjoy speedway in its raw form. They are happy to go to every home meeting. I’m taking two to Cardiff too. The problem is the questions I get asked and I wince. Here are a few: 1. “How come their ( the opposition), number 1 and number 3 have raced for us this season?”. 2. “What’s the commentator mean by he is doing well riding for two teams as well as appearing for us occasionally?” 3. “Why is it every week I come it seems to be the same 14 riders but a different team?” 4. “Where’s Poole?” 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) One more “ How come we’ve lost almost every match, yet commentator keeps saying we might make the play offs?” Now in the lads defence as a Brummies fan, it does feel a bit strange. Edited July 28, 2023 by Deano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcatdiary Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 3 hours ago, Skidder1 said: There seems to be the impression that 'gate and go' only applies to one or two riders per race?! 'Gate and go' can apply to all 4 riders in a race, is very often NOT boring and often provides decent, fast racing by riders that 'miss the gate'! If all 4 'gate and go' then the racing can be very close even when there are no overtakes!! Clearly your interpretation of racing is different to mind if you find follow the leader decent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DazS Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 i like Dan Bewleys black panther fist wave after he wins a race. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 45 minutes ago, DazS said: i like Dan Bewleys black panther fist wave after he wins a race. I think if Tim Henman had been a speedway rider he would have celebrated like Dan... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, bigcatdiary said: Clearly your interpretation of racing is different to mind if you find follow the leader decent. Why should 'gate and go' mean 'follow the leader'? All 4 riders could gate and go, and the racing could be fast and close, Clearly a 'leader' is going to win with others following, other wise every race would be a 4-way dead heat (if the transponders allow?) Maybe the answer is in the heat format and there should only be heat leaders v heat leaders; 2nd strings v 2nd strings and reserves v reserves, rather than always blaming the tracks? Edited July 28, 2023 by Skidder1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) For me next season we HAVE to put an end to doubling up. It doesn't matter how they do it they've just got to do it... it's effecting the sports credibility and therefore crowds, it effects what nights clubs can run on... and therefore crowds and in turn because clubs can only run on 2 nights of the week it causes fixture congestion and therfore effects crowds. That particular genie is well and truly out of the bottle and is going to take a massive change to get it back in Edited July 28, 2023 by iainb 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 9 minutes ago, iainb said: For me next season we HAVE to put an end to doubling up. It doesn't matter how they do it they've just got to do it... it's effecting the sports credibility and therefore crowds, it effects what nights clubs can run on... and therefore crowds and in turn because clubs can only run on 2 nights of the week it causes fixture congestion and therfore effects crowds. That particular genie is well and truly out of the bottle and is going to take a massive change to get it back in No chance I would think.. The riders will say they cannot make it pay.. And the promoters and fans in the 2nd Div will expect to use and see Div 1 HL"s.. A ludicrous situation that was allowed to happen is now "the norm"... Unraveling it all will be nigh on impossible I would say, given all the stakeholder's individual requirements.. An example of what you get when the top league gets its tail wagging it.. And when no one is really in charge to say "not happening" to the latest ridiculous short term rule or reg that gets proposed.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 (edited) 10 minutes ago, mikebv said: No chance I would think.. The riders will say they cannot make it pay.. And the promoters and fans in the 2nd Div will expect to use and see Div 1 HL"s.. A ludicrous situation that was allowed to happen is now "the norm"... Unraveling it all will be nigh on impossible I would say, given all the stakeholder's individual requirements.. An example of what you get when the top league gets its tail wagging it.. And when no one is really in charge to say "not happening" to the latest ridiculous short term rule or reg that gets proposed.. I don't imagine for one moment it will and it's certainly not a cure all solution but the sport won't be anything again in this country until somebody takes charge and puts an end to it... even if it means 5 or 4 rider teams, to restore some credibility to what after all should be a team sport. @KenB1 seems to have sussed it out from day 1... I wonder if he still attends speedway? Edited July 28, 2023 by iainb 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris116 Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 Doubling up is a curse of British Speedway but the riders need to race for two teams because of the very limited number of fixtures each team races. The only way to solve the problem is to form one big league with teams running a home meeting every week meaning the rider races in the same number of meetings as at present but they are all for the same team. If we have to run with five man teams it will mean the riders get more races in each meeting which is a good thing from the riders point of view as they can make more from each meeting they race. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moranboys Posted July 28, 2023 Report Share Posted July 28, 2023 40 minutes ago, iainb said: For me next season we HAVE to put an end to doubling up. It doesn't matter how they do it they've just got to do it... it's effecting the sports credibility and therefore crowds, it effects what nights clubs can run on... and therefore crowds and in turn because clubs can only run on 2 nights of the week it causes fixture congestion and therfore effects crowds. That particular genie is well and truly out of the bottle and is going to take a massive change to get it back in I bet it also affects things as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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