Pieman72

Why not there is the Formula Honda Grasstrack Club running 250 Honda's. What association are you talking about. When there are millions of cars burning petrol I don't think there is an environmental argument. Oh this bunker mentality no wonder speedway's in this dire position. Speedway needs change and it's beginning to happen.

But why does speedway have to operate in stadiums? Internally its viewed as a sideways alternative to superbikes but externally its seen in the same light as stockcars and banger racing. So why don't / can't clubs run successfully on a lower glamorous environment? Couldn't agree more. Can't beat a cooking your dinner on the side of the track and sitting in your car watching 1000cc sidecars belt round like a bulldozer. Lets get shale racing back to basics.

Just giving the opportunity for semi-professional riders to compete would be excellent for spectators, riders and administrators. I would expect riders to pay to ride but this would make the sport more sustainable for the future. There could be 125s/250s/350s/500s(upright, lay-down(2valve,4valve) even pre75 and vintage. The permutations are endless but fundamentally lets go racing. Finding a suitable track or surface for this to take place is the most difficult element.

The facilities a Stadiums are dire and expensive like the food well I could hardly describe it as food like Niceland on steroids. The type of speedway fan that exists now is quite happy with the price, food, facilities and standard of racing and promoters know this. Having different formats, racing, bikes and even sidecars i.e. Grasstrack on an oval shale track would be so interesting and would attract a broader clientele.

What gets me is a £20 take it leave it attitude. No attempt to attract a new audience or throwing in additional entertainment just this is our track aren't you lucky to have permission to come in and watch our racing.

Speedway has a tendency to take the view 'if it aint broke don't fix it'. The JAP engine was a prime example even in the 1950's it was a throwback to the 1920's but speedway persisted with something that should have been on the London to Brighton run. It think to have different engines fuels and formats could revitalise are tired sport. A bit more racing would hurt either.

Promoters have always ignored the obvious and the VSPL have a bunker mentality and definitely won't change. They have never had the best interests of the sport Dan NcCormack Cradley/Monmore Green Greyhound promoter turned out to be be a disaster for speedway and the decline has persisted since. Also a now defunct premier stadium was sold to a property developer. It's a complex situation that can't attract sponsorship when it should and we have to ask why. The consequences are the admission prices have to cover all the outgoings.

Superb synopsis. I think the promoters need to get a grip and run tracks on a sensible evening with riders that are affordable else a vicious circle ensues.

I'm sorry never intended to be derogatory. I'm trying to make the point that speedway is dying and some of the reasons are admission prices that are not affordable to younger families.

The main problem is methanol engines are specialised consequently it becomes expensive. A mass produced petrol engine put into a speedway frame is an ideal opportunity to create cheap racing for those who want to compete in all forms of oval racing bit of a no brainier for novices.

Carry on then there's not a problem Gramps.

Speedway tracks are like buses expensive empty dinosaurs stuck in the past.

Alan Grahame actually raced it at the old Perry Barr track and it was successful unfortunately it was at the time when BSA was facing closure and the project ran out of money. Cheap stock petrol engined bikes could be very successful in providing the next generation of riders?

Yes I can remember seeing them at Wolves but the recent meeting at IOW put it on a firm footing. They tried it at Stoke (Grassway Challenge) a few years back and it was cancelled in the end. There is definitely a place for different classes capacities and combinations in a wider format Speedway Meeting that could support the current set up.

Hopefully the was Speedway is morphing petrol could well become an option. Who would have expected Grasstrack bikes on a Speedway track?

Most motorcycle enthusiasts will probably find something else to spend £20 eg food, rent, insurance.

Good point die hards will pay it but they are a dying breed.

The generalising speedway is unaffordable for most working people. Most people who follow speedway just don't have £20 to watch 15 races apart from pensioners.

I think that confirms the only people with that sort of disposable income are pensioners obviously the promoters have tagged on to this. We need to attract a younger clientele who can afford lower prices.

Speedway bikes can run on petrol or methanol but the engines are different. Methanol engines run cooler so they need a higher compression ratio and would not be adaptable for petrol. There have been many trials Honda and Kawasaki engines ran perfectly well. If speedway was more flexible there could be an amateur class for petrol powered bikes probably be a lot cheaper and easier to maintain if you could use a cut down stock engine.

Nice to see Cradley Heath alias competing in four team format at the Isle of Wight new speedway spectacular.

From what I can see the first meeting at the Isle of Wight went very well and an admission cost of £12 bring it on.

A step in the right direction. As a Grassman I've been rapping on about this for sometime. The VSPL are so narrow minded who do they have in their interests themselves or track racing? No wonder British Speedway is dying. Best luck to the Promotion at the Isle of Wight.

Everybody's talking anoraky when we have only 6 teams the situation is dire.

Speedway promoters are a slippery lot and many of Speedway's problems could be aligned with their attitude to riders, supporters and the sport in general.