When Did Uk Speedway Decline Start?

[New Science 1,059]

Speedway may have been in decline since the height of the roaring 30's and 40's . But speedway's decline has been noticeably rapid since 2011 when the new silencers came in. Our heavy clay based tracks in Britain particularly the smaller ones where its not flat out all the way round simply aren't compliant with today's machines, to produce good enough racing often enough to keep fans attending regularly.

[Sotonian 610]

Speedway may have been in decline since the height of the roaring 30's and 40's . But speedway's decline has been noticeably rapid since 2011 when the new silencers came in. Our heavy clay based tracks in Britain particularly the smaller ones where its not flat out all the way round simply aren't compliant with today's machines, to produce good enough racing often enough to keep fans attending regularly.

In truth, the decline was well underway before then but that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. The poor racing combined with the loss of the classic speedway roar was too much to bear.

[stevehone 3,429]

What I mean by the social aspect of the sport dissapeared is speedway used the be somewhere you went to socialise with your mates and generally the riders were a big part of that scene but now riders seem to be trying to be this sort of athelete and the bond between the fans and riders has been lost , its hard to put into words but I suppose fans don't feel like riders are everyday blokes anymore ,they can't bond with riders anymore ,sometimes when I see woffinden I feel like he is doing another sport similar to speedway but not the speedway I love , I know this sound wierd and maybe I'm not getting across what I'm trying to say but hopefully someone will get me , maybe I'm just getting old and living in the past and speedway is moving on but from what I can see the new speedway is not flicking the switch like the previous one for many people

 

having a drink in the bar after a meeting, local riders for local teams, bikes on the back of the car .. somewhat more down to earth and approachable riders

[Paulco 7,075]

 

having a drink in the bar after a meeting, local riders for local teams, bikes on the back of the car .. somewhat more down to earth and approachable riders

Some still are , especially in the second tier . Nobody was more approachable than Saint Shane Parker . But some of todays riders still have time for the fans

[New Science 1,059]

In truth, the decline was well underway before then but that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. The poor racing combined with the loss of the classic speedway roar was too much to bear.

Spot on post !

[WembleyLion 413]

I first went to Speedway in 1970 when crowds turned up for meetings in numbers that some clubs would now be happy if they got in a season.

 

In those 47 seasons I have travelled far and wide to spectate and clocked up nearly 3,000 meetings and would say the sport has pretty much been in decline throughout although there were probably some periods of a few years or so where the decline was not so marked but sadly overall it has been a downward trend with no real sign of ever being reversed.

 

Despite this I have thoroughly enjoyed virtually every moment of my involvement with the sport although I regret to say I can easily understand why so many have been driven away and why it is not that attractive to newcomers!

 

It is not just a UK thing though as throughout the Speedway world there is a decline. The sport is almost extinct in some European countries now!

 

Naturally there are many reasons for the downward spiral all of which probably get aired from time to time on this forum!

[Guest]

I first went to Speedway in 1970 when crowds turned up for meetings in numbers that some clubs would now be happy if they got in a season.

 

In those 47 seasons I have travelled far and wide to spectate and clocked up nearly 3,000 meetings and would say the sport has pretty much been in decline throughout although there were probably some periods of a few years or so where the decline was not so marked but sadly overall it has been a downward trend with no real sign of ever being reversed.

 

Despite this I have thoroughly enjoyed virtually every moment of my involvement with the sport although I regret to say I can easily understand why so many have been driven away and why it is not that attractive to newcomers!

 

It is not just a UK thing though as throughout the Speedway world there is a decline. The sport is almost extinct in some European countries now!

 

Naturally there are many reasons for the downward spiral all of which probably get aired from time to time on this forum!

 

Sadly you are so correct in your opinion WembleyLion. Speedway's decline is a topic in this forum's YEARS GONE BY section as Countries Where League Racing Has Failed

[Paulco 7,075]

When i was a teenager we used to go to Coatbridge on a Friday night and Paisley on a Saturday night . I remember reading somewhere that Paisley shut down at the end of their second season when the crowds dipped below five thousand ...........scary or what .

[Guest]

When i was a teenager we used to go to Coatbridge on a Friday night and Paisley on a Saturday night . I remember reading somewhere that Paisley shut down at the end of their second season when the crowds dipped below five thousand ...........scary or what .

 

An interesting comment in regard to crowd attendance Paulco. When New Cross closed early in the 1953 in a dispute where they were refused permission to sign Olle Nygren, and they claimed he was needed as crowds were small, I was told (and this has never been confirmed) that attendances were averaging 10,000! But of course actual admission charges and the cost of the programme were then probably around 15 shillings (old money - now about 75p).

[Mike.Butler 601]

It seemed to start to decline when I first started going. Great!

[Fromafar 10,361]

Think the whole Team ethos has gone out the sport over the last few years and fans can't can't identify their Team.It just 4 riders / laps which still produces the same thrills but it's easy just to give it a miss as winning trophies just isn't the same when everybody in the league has ridden for you and against you.I wonder how many fans nowadays sacrifice of few regular visit to their home tracks and with the money saved take in a GP as an alternative.

Edited December 24, 2016 by Fromafar

[Ray Stadia 1,071]

It seemed to start to decline when I first started going. Great!

That kind of thing normally happens to me Mike! On this occasion, I started watching in the 60s, Rayleigh. However, I would say the last 2 seasons Rayleigh raced, 72/73, the crowds were often poor.

[Guest]

Let me emphasise this point. I do like 'stock car' racing in most of its formats. But I don't want to turn this into a debate on its merits or otherwise. I just want to pose one question.

Did the arrival of 'stock car' racing in Britain at New Cross at Easter 1954 and its subsequent development in any way play a part in the start of the decline of interest for speedway in the UK? Or is car racing so diverse from speedway that it then had - and still has - no impact on attracting supporters away from the bikes?

​I do not think stock cars had any real effect on what has happened in speedway. It is more to my way of thinking the increase in TV programming in the mid-1950s had far more influence in affecting speedway attendances.

Edited December 24, 2016 by Guest

[Tsunami 10,219]

Let me emphasise this point. I do like 'stock car' racing in most of its formats. But I don't want to turn this into a debate on its merits or otherwise. I just want to pose one question.

Did the arrival of 'stock car' racing in Britain at New Cross at Easter 1954 and its subsequent development in any way play a part in the start of the decline of interest for speedway in the UK? Or is car racing so diverse from speedway that it then had - and still has - no impact on attracting supporters away from the bikes?

​I do not think stock cars had any real effect on what has happened in speedway. It is more to my way of thinking the increase in TV programming in the mid-1950s had far more influence in affecting speedway attendances.

So why the fukc bring it up.

[Guest]

Let me emphasise this point. I do like 'stock car' racing in most of its formats. But I don't want to turn this into a debate on its merits or otherwise. I just want to pose one question.

Did the arrival of 'stock car' racing in Britain at New Cross at Easter 1954 and its subsequent development in any way play a part in the start of the decline of interest for speedway in the UK? Or is car racing so diverse from speedway that it then had - and still has - no impact on attracting supporters away from the bikes?

​I do not think stock cars had any real effect on what has happened in speedway. It is more to my way of thinking the increase in TV programming in the mid-1950s had far more influence in affecting speedway attendances.

 

 

So why the fukc bring it up.

 

Because I was expressing my own opinion and thought that other BSF members may have had a contrary view. Did you really need to use fukc in your comment?

In case you didn't know a debate is meant to find differing views on a topic and that in my view is what I have done.

Edited December 24, 2016 by Guest