British GP Cardiff Saturday 2nd September

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

4 minutes ago, iainb said:

As strange as it may sound, Speedway & Cricket have many similarities and should probably be fighting for the same audience... they're both heavily effected by the weather, the participants play for many teams around the world and locally in the UK have to work around the giants of the IPL, they're both sold as "family" sports, especially the 100 & T20's.

Speedway really should be looking to replicate the Cricket model

The huge difference however is participation and the interaction that brings

[IainB]

3 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

The huge difference however is participation and the interaction that brings

Not sure what you mean?

[IainB]

Interesting post on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/SpeedwayGP/status/1698281487244595332

When asked why no Manchester GP in 2024, SGP actually replied to a tweet with the answer "Contracted to 2024"... I wonder if anything can be read into that? As WBD have generally ditched all of the "Destination" tracks in favour of "Traditional" tracks

[SPEEDY69]

4 minutes ago, iainb said:

Not sure what you mean?

I think he means lots of people play cricket, in school and beyond.  Easy to do anywhere.

[IainB]

1 minute ago, SPEEDY69 said:

I think he means lots of people play cricket, in school and beyond.  Easy to do anywhere.

That maybe so, I'm obviously not saying they're identical, just a lot of similarities... for some reason, folk will turn up to watch a load of people we've not really heard of (club players) and we need to be looking at why that is

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

9 minutes ago, iainb said:

Not sure what you mean?

The fact that many thousands play cricket and how easy it is to have a go increases the interest in the spirt and therefore spectator numbers

Speedway doesn't have that.  It doesn't even have the biker following as the machines are so niche

[IainB]

Just now, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

The fact that many thousands play cricket and how easy it is to have a go increases the interest in the spirt and therefore spectator numbers

Speedway doesn't have that.  It doesn't even have the biker following as the machines are so niche

Many people Go-Kart... with the advent of these electric bikes maybe something could be setup along the line of go-karts to let the general public have a go, like a stag weekend activity

[OveFundinFan]

55 minutes ago, iainb said:

Many people Go-Kart... with the advent of these electric bikes maybe something could be setup along the line of go-karts to let the general public have a go, like a stag weekend activity

You are thinking outside the box.... that's fine. However this can only be a non starter. Letting the public loose on a two wheel motor cycle, even an electric powered one, has to be a no go. A go kart has  four wheels and a bumper guard all round.  Need a lot of cotton wool to prevent serious injuries on any form of 2 wheel racing.... unless they have stabilisers lol.

[Ovalman]

Phil Morris the race director does a great job. The clerk of the course looked like Michael Hunt?, ex-Swindon clerk, and manager of our local Tesco Express.

[Spidvej]

1 hour ago, iainb said:

As strange as it may sound, Speedway & Cricket have many similarities and should probably be fighting for the same audience... they're both heavily effected by the weather, the participants play for many teams around the world and locally in the UK have to work around the giants of the IPL, they're both sold as "family" sports, especially the 100 & T20's.

Speedway really should be looking to replicate the Cricket model

Not sure about that, personally. 
 

As both a Speedway and Ice Hockey fan, I see more similarities with Ice Hockey than cricket. 
 

The thing with speedway fans in this country is that some claim they want the sport to modernise whilst at the same time harking back to the so called glory years when the British League was THE league, with the Swedish and Polish leagues not really being of any consequence. 
 

Stating the obvious, and of course I am not the first person to say this, but speedway in this country has to modernise and soon, it’s not so much drinking in the last chance saloon, it’s reached last orders. 
 

I read in last weeks Speedway Star that Danny Ford says one big league won’t work. It’s going to have to, otherwise, with the sad demise / potential sad demise of Wolves, Peterborough, Leicester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and even Poole,  if the two senior league system is maintained, just who will these teams race against, will it be a schedule of 4 x home and 4 x away matches, which will probably bore fans even more than some are already. 
 

Thr race format probably needs looking at. In Poland, heat 1 is 1 & 3 v. 1 & 3. We need to see the top riders here racing each other more often. We all know speedway can be a great product, fantastic entertainment, but currently, it’s like your grandmother’s best China tea set at the back of the dresser, a bit dusty and down at heal, it needs a bit of a wash and polish, to bring back some sparkle and entice fans again. As the saying goes, if you do what you always do, you get what you’ve always got. 
 

Its 2023, league speedway in this country must change to entice people, both old and new fans, otherwise in these days of streaming services, gaming, etc. speedway here will be consigned to history within 5 - 10 years. As a long time fan, it saddens me to say this, but things have to change. 

Edited September 4, 2023 by Spidvej

[IainB]

30 minutes ago, OveFundinFan said:

You are thinking outside the box.... that's fine. However this can only be a non starter. Letting the public loose on a two wheel motor cycle, even an electric powered one, has to be a no go. A go kart has  four wheels and a bumper guard all round.  Need a lot of cotton wool to prevent serious injuries on any form of 2 wheel racing.... unless they have stabilisers lol.

The public are currently let loose on the foot paths of the UK on electric scooters and electric bikes that go at a fair old pelt... This would be even safer than that with protective equipment, you could even lay a soft foundation like they have in children's playgrounds

[IainB]

10 minutes ago, Spidvej said:

Not sure about that, personally. 
 

As both a Speedway and Ice Hockey fan, I see more similarities with Ice Hockey than cricket. 
 

I'm not at all familiar with Ice Hockey... what are the similarities?

[hagonshocker]

46 minutes ago, auntie doris said:

Phil Morris the race director does a great job. The clerk of the course looked like Michael Hunt?, ex-Swindon clerk, and manager of our local Tesco Express.

Yep, still a familiar face at Cardiff 

[SPEEDY69]

2 hours ago, iainb said:

Many people Go-Kart... with the advent of these electric bikes maybe something could be setup along the line of go-karts to let the general public have a go, like a stag weekend activity

The stuff which Aidan and Les Collins do at Buxton is marketed for those types of people, so it can be done but not at local tracks due to the time and council restrictions on events at many venues.  Other attractions at the speedway - so, holding parties/events is something which could be done though, including exclusive access to speedway stuff.

[IainB]

16 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

The stuff which Aidan and Les Collins do at Buxton is marketed for those types of people, so it can be done but not at local tracks due to the time and council restrictions on events at many venues.  Other attractions at the speedway - so, holding parties/events is something which could be done though, including exclusive access to speedway stuff.

That may be more down to noise issues which you wouldn't have with leccy bikes.

It'd be more akin to horse riding... and there's nothing more unpredictable as a horse having been on one once 

[eric i]

3 hours ago, iainb said:

Interesting post on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/SpeedwayGP/status/1698281487244595332

When asked why no Manchester GP in 2024, SGP actually replied to a tweet with the answer "Contracted to 2024"... I wonder if anything can be read into that? As WBD have generally ditched all of the "Destination" tracks in favour of "Traditional" tracks

What does that mean though.... I thought cardiff was out of contract after this year hence the rumours of a move to belle vue?

[IainB]

16 minutes ago, eric i said:

What does that mean though.... I thought cardiff was out of contract after this year hence the rumours of a move to belle vue?

Maybe it was extended a year due to covid? Or was 2024 all along? Or they've done a1 year rolling extension?

[topaz325]

Looked at a hotel this morning for two nights next year then looked a few minutes ago price had went up by about £300, there is though a four bed apartment for £16k.

[Neila]

40 minutes ago, topaz325 said:

Looked at a hotel this morning for two nights next year then looked a few minutes ago price had went up by about £300, there is though a four bed apartment for £16k.

Got a premier Inn booked yesterday just after date announced, just ove £300 for 2 notes, can live with that price, looked later as a friend was trying to find somewhere, same hotel £600 !!! Other 4* hotels £600 a nite !!! Not a bit of wonder people think twice about going, can do Poland cheaper

[Diamonds85]

3 hours ago, Neila said:

Got a premier Inn booked yesterday just after date announced, just ove £300 for 2 notes, can live with that price, looked later as a friend was trying to find somewhere, same hotel £600 !!! Other 4* hotels £600 a nite !!! Not a bit of wonder people think twice about going, can do Poland cheaper

Nail hit firmly on the head... This country is f''ed. I decided this year to do the full week in Poland for the SWC over a weekend in Cardiff, because it was a similar price (despite the length difference) Poland is way more interesting and the racing/atmosphere is was better over there anyway... But mainly the price is what swayed it for me.

Edited September 4, 2023 by Diamonds85