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Stoke Potter

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Everything posted by Stoke Potter

  1. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    I'd probably go with more 320 - 350 but anything over 300 is ok I'd say, everything else being equal.
  2. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    I would say banking rather than camber but it's difficult to describe good banking on a forum, suffice to say a big wide track needs to be adequately banked. I don't disagree that you can get decent racing on smaller tracks but, as I think I've said on another thread, the best big track will always be better than the best small one. I'd agree with that too apart from the last bit. Giving them a period of years to comply softens the blow to some extent. Exactly and you still get people coming on here denying it! For a 15 heat match at most tracks, the track is probably at it's best for heats 8 -12.
  3. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    It will improve the product and it's a stupid idea. Really! If you're being stubborn about it, then change the rules just for new tracks. So basically what you're saying is there is nothing wrong with the fundamentals? Seriously? Ok, in a couple of sentences tell me what the problem with the sport is?
  4. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    Promoter say's fan has stupid idea! Now there's a novel thing!!! It's not standardisation, it's increasing minimum dimensions, lengths and widths, to make the tracks more conducive to close racing/overtaking. They don't all have to be the same. Speedway has fundamental flaws, the biggest of which is too many tracks that don't produce good racing. Fix them first.
  5. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    Agreed, another reason that it is fundamentally flawed. Is crap speedway better than no speedway? Do something radical, revise the rules on track sizes/widths, give all existing tracks x years to comply. Some would, some wouldn't. Remember not so long ago compulsory airfences were going to shut virtually every track in the country...
  6. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    I agree with what you say there. I'd venture that one of the reasons that tracks are sometimes perceived to be poorly prepared is that the same things are generally done each time regardless of the weather. Nobody said it was easy. It would take time, effort, knowledge, experimentation and, above all, money to do the job properly. This thread is about why don't more people go to speedway. The answer is, for the most part, it is a poor spectacle, particularly for the layman. Track size, shape and condition are fundamental to that.
  7. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    Tatum's commented on a fair few, it also applies to GP tracks. The "x" heat bedding situation is the usual situation at most tracks. So tell where is this track that you don't win heat1 by hugging the kerb?
  8. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    They might well be prepped all day but you don't get decent racing in heat 1, or usually for the first 5,6,7+++, pick whichever number it is at your particular track . How many times does Tatum (and plenty of others) say about the dirt moving out after a few heats to create more/better lines? Heat 1 everywhere is pop out the start and hug the kerb. To say anything else is just wrong. I never said I had any issue with track grading during the meeting, that is definitely required. Of course the reason is that tracks can't be prepared consistently is because the laws of physics and chemistry don't apply to speedway tracks..! Or that is what the "experts" would have you believe.
  9. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    The more specifics you are after are those who have been involved over that time. And no, I couldn't name them, but there are likely to be little more than a handful I would guess.
  10. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    Shouldn't that be more like 3 decades? Interesting to see a list of promoters who have been involved for those 3 decades. The decline happened on their watch, a large portion of the blame should be put at their door...
  11. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    Yes and the reason is because most tracks are not conducive to good racing! And they never have been, but it is even more apparent with today's bikes/engines.
  12. Stoke Potter

    Attendances

    No it isn't. The fact is most races at most tracks are boring and processional. The reason is that the vast majority of tracks are too small and narrow and not conducive to passing/close racing. Fix the size of the tracks, minimum 300m, with plenty of width. Next thing, track preparation. Why does it take 5-6 races for the dirt to move and create a racing line, utter crap, prepare it properly in the first place. And if you still can't prepare it to give decent racing from heat 1 then run a 5 heat pre-meeting first. rocket science it ain't but it is for speedway promoters!
  13. Stoke Potter

    Agm 2015 / 2016

    ;-) Don't forget foresight, intellectual rigour and integrity.
  14. Who is the senior driving force behind this project? My guess is it would be David Gordon? If so, he should be given the senior role in the BSPA and direct a New Track Building Programme which should be set-up to deliver a new generation of dedicated speedway stadia around the country. The only real way to see the sport prosper in this country; top class tracks in bespoke modern facilities.
  15. Anybody going to Cardiff for the racing will be sadly disappointed, as I was when I attended the first GP there. People may go to Cardiff for the event, atmosphere, etc. but not decent racing. Hopefully the new B.V. will give fans top class racing and that would be more than enough reason to go.
  16. That's the funniest thing I've heard in a while! Seriously, Wolves? A Merry-go-round! Scoot down the straight, fold the bike in half, scrub all the speed off and go back where you came from. Creep up the inside of someone if you're lucky! What a joke. Big track, wide open spaces, multiple lines and the correct amount of banking is what's required. To be fair there's nothing in this country that totally fits that bill but hopefully the new BV might if they don't balls it up.
  17. Stoke Potter

    Swindon's New Stadium

    I would agree with that; 350 yards being around 320m. The reason I cited Poole is that it is one of the few that quotes length and widths. I don't see how anybody could ever argue that the best small track is ever better than the best big track.
  18. Stoke Potter

    Swindon's New Stadium

    In the case of the GP's, IMG are the "money men" behind that.
  19. Stoke Potter

    Swindon's New Stadium

    Isn't the GRA now owned by venture capitalists who basically want to realise the value of all their land assets (i.e. stadia) ? It should be made into an opportunity but, as ever, British Speedway will miss it. If the BSPA had any foresight or intellect, they would develop a REAL plan and that involves getting the money men involved and being able to invest some real millions in it. No it wouldn't be easy and would need business acumen and charisma, amongst other things, but it could be done. First thing, change the rules on tracks sizes. The rules on minimum track length and width should be increased. A track the size/width of Poole should be considered the minimum. Brace yourself for the howls of derision on that one! ;-)
  20. Stoke Potter

    Swindon's New Stadium

    Yes I agree totally with that, very few promoters do have those skills, that's a large part of the problem. And yes you get passing on small circuits but the fold the bike in half, scrub the speed off, and creep up the inside type passing does not compare with the multiple lines you get on the best big tracks. And yes, not all the big tracks are the best, but all the best tracks are big!
  21. Stoke Potter

    Swindon's New Stadium

    It's perfectly reasonable to criticise because basically they are trying to shove tracks where they don't fit and the racing is compromised as a consequence. The best racing is always produced on the bigger, wider tracks. You have to ask the question why the greyhounds are (apparently) building a stadium and the speedway are usually renting, rather than the other way round.
  22. Stoke Potter

    Swindon's New Stadium

    One of the problems with British Speedway is that the modern bikes have outgrown the majority of the tracks, because they are relatively small and narrow. If your new stadium does appear then great but if the track is based on Cardiff then it's going to be a small, narrow hug-the-kerb borefest. If you were getting a "Torun" then it would be amazing but I very much doubt you are. The penny still hasn't dropped with the British promotors that the number 1 consideration is to produce a track that is conducive passing/good racing.
  23. Stoke Potter

    Swindon's New Stadium

    Is it really going to be that great anyway if it's going to be based on Cardiff?! I feel for Swindon fans, how can you build a stadium in that time? And the attitude of Russell leaves a lot to be desired, no way to treat the fans.
  24. Yes I would imagine you're correct, it won't be anything like £12k.
  25. I was thinking the same. Perhaps this is a case of "Trigger's Broom" (Only Fools & Horses). Looking at the bigger picture, it would've been far better for someone to invest £12k (or whatever the actual amount is) in the facilities/infrastructure at Loomer Rd., thereby enhancing the experience for the fans.
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