Pieman72

The silence from the speedway establishment is worrying. What are they hiding when tracks are closing at an alarming rate.

Oh it is albeit very slowly. Have you ever been to a grasstrack? 45+ heats of adrenaline filled racing of every combination you can think of the top it all with 1000cc Sidecars what's not to like. Transfer that onto the shale and you've got a successful operation. Some of the Speedway fans are dire and would accept anything that went round in circles especially a Yank and not a care about the machines engine or funding.

Speedway is every week and a family sport which becomes very expensive. Football is predominantly a male domain every fortnight and in the winter. On my own fine with the family expensive. With the demise of Greyhounds stadiums will be glad of the income. Birmingham operated a dictatorial policy regarding the Grandstand with security guards now you just pay a quid. How times have changed I really feel for the promoter he's inherited years of mismanagement. Families just don't have the disposable income with rents of £500 per month there can't be much left.

The type of format that is similar to Grasstrack would attract a spectator as opposed to a supporter. Less Anorakky and less dumbing down?

The big problem is the 1000cc Chairs plough up the surface and need a a large field with a lot of room rather than a restricted track to operate properly. Must admit they are spectacular on shale. There are few if any tracks large enough to stage them. There is no reason why 500's could be used which provide great entertainment. I just can't understand why no one had gone down this stadium route before 250's, 350's even GT 150's. There are loads of riders in all classes who'd like the opportunity just race and stadium racing gives them the perfect opportunity. I see IOW have got James Shanes and Edward Kennet on board they are full on and spectacular well done and good look to everyone at Smallbrook what entertainment for £12 hopefully this will grow and more stadiums will become available. Chasewater Stadium, Cannock, Staffs now demolished staged a Long Track years ago but that's they type of venue that's required. This won't replace current Speedway team racing but is a good opportunity for British riders to compete as opportunities for them and becoming very expensive and virtually non existent.

In respect of Barry Bishop and the Isle of Wight Masters Series going in the right direction. Just thought I'd post this as I have been advocating Grasstrack Stadium racing for years. Hopefully it will grow and more venues will be able to stage this unique interesting racing enabling riders to capitalise on their expenditure on equipment.

I'd be happy to pop down the road and watch some British riders and not breaking the bank in the process. Oh and a cheap pint and something to eat not dripping with fat.

Your doing a great service to speedway Barry. Everyone wants racing and lots of it keep it up !!

It would be very constructive for someone like Phil or an administrator to contribute to the discussion as there needs to be a conversation regarding the future of speedway. The BSPL hold all the cards so they are in the best position to make changes.

Would you put up the finance with the VSPL on board?

Couldn't agree more. Promoters are killing speedway keeping to a hierarchical model of management that failed Britain in the 1970's and they will not listen. Something will rise from the ashes but not sure what.

Probably expensive flat beer too. I went to Birmingham 2 seasons ago. As I've said before never again I was treated like like a vagrant the last time I was there mostly due to the stadium management but you can't treat you paying public this way. I drove a good distance with my wife who was not impressed either. I just don't understand it.

Like Grasstrack it will continue but in what form who knows?

If the Isle of Wight Warriors goes well then that may be the future. Speedway in it's current format will probably cease but something will come along to replace it. There are too many riders officials and supporters around to let it die.

Your right it's 125 Juniors. What do you think?

I thought they were running 250's too?

The VSPA did a lot sat on their backsides and watch tracks close one after another.

Could you give me the link for this stipulation as it's very important. I'm not talking about Speedway moving to petrol but creating a class of racing that's affordable. Honda Grasstrack provides affordable racing and spectating for people with little finance or a springboard to more professional racing it's been going years formerly Formula Bantam Racing.

I bought a bike that previously had a Velocette 350 with a Triumph 350 piston. I went to the recent VMCC Warwick Grasstrack meeting admission....a £10 donation to the club entertainment superb, value for money incalculable.

Naa it will be the death of speedway. The noise and the smell is what makes so addictive. Motox tends to be spectacular on electric or conventional perhaps more so with electric as they are so powerful. The engines don't need to be developed as they are already in production. There are a plethora of engines on the grass that work perfectly well even a BSA B34 !! Speedway fans have been brainwashed into accepting this standard of racing washed down with a £5 lager and a dodgy burger it's getting a bit stale and boring.

Going 'off piste' there is one answer avoid. Branded items generally are overpriced and taste the same apart from washing powder lol. I do find the discounters have limited lines of produce but Aldi seems to be aware of this and is extending it's range. There's a Russian discounter Mere on the horizon !! Back to speedway to be fair the VSPA are operating a cartel and like the big 4 are expensive and have a 'take it or leave it' attitude.....that's fine I'll not bother thanks. Like a Mackie D once you've took away the packaging your paying an awful lot for very little and walk out still hungry. We need to support our younger riders who've invested £1000's in equipment only for promoters to default to a foreign 'prima donna' at great expense.

Perhaps running petrol engines as a separate class with different engines of the same capacity could drive some interest. I hardly think a speedway meeting is going to be climate changing and electric is a non-starter. There are loads of petrol engines out there the only problem is separating them from the drive train? Look at the F2 bike surely a stock engine Sachs etc is going to be cheaper particularly if a good order is placed.

The best analogy is our supermarkets. For years we experienced 'price wars' when they were running cartels and costing less when in fact they increased prices and reduced the range in tired buildings. Along came Aldi, Lidl and Netto. Netto went into a failed enterprise with Sainsbury's but as for the Teutonic predators they have taken over and the rest is history. I think the promoters are worried this may happen in speedway why have such draconian penalties for potential new alternative tracks.

Sorry I was wrong they used to be Bantams good point but I'm not talking about changing fuels. What I'm suggesting is a class of racing that is affordable using stock engines and frames. The IOW Shale Racing are using 250 methanol Jawa engines though these are still bespoke and expensive !! https://www.dirthub.co.uk/appleton-masterclass-at-island-masters-shaletrack-opener-race-report-results/ There is a world beyond the BSPA, BSPL and the SCB.

No junior grass bikes generally use petrol and the 1000cc Sidecars use petrol. There isn't a problem. 500cc laydown methanol burning speedway bikes are expensive to buy , run and maintain and are generally a bespoke item.