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NO WORD FROM THE BSPA

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9 minutes ago, cityrebel said:

The problem I have with pre meeting junior racing is, what if there is an incident that requires the ambulance to leave the stadium. This could have a serious impact on the main event, especially if the track has a curfew in place.

I suppose you could have 2 ambulances, but then double the cost, I imagine. 

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Whats the point in 3 lap races?  A 4 lap race is lets say, 60seconds, and we get 15 races. So we make a race approx. 40 seconds, just cant see that stimulating interest. Lots of races are won by an overtake on the last lap, last bend even...…. so we cut that out.....sounds good (not).

A meeting as a package has to change.  Races need to be "snappier", cut out time wastage ie you going to get false starts, but cut out the pit gates opening, send them straight back to the tapes. Give them time for "gardening" but keep it to a minute or less.

Whole meeting entertainment needs upping. Anyone remember Johnnies Marching Girls at Belle Vue…. put on whatever the modern equivalent of that is. Riders that win a 5-1 go a lap with the club flag, like I seen in Sweden,  Get the riders to interact with the crowd, signing autographs etc, even if its over the fence at the interval (doesn't seem much chance after the meeting as the "stars" are often away quick to their next country, so I read).

Add 5 races at the end of the 15 heat league match.  First 2 will be for the 4 top scorers of each team, top two in each race will go to a final (race 5). Race 3 and 4 will be for the reserves plus local juniors. The race 5, should be able to get local sponsors for £250 prize money for the winner.

Publicity seems to be lacking, need someone to be tackling local radio stations, local newspapers, and billboards still play an important part is advertising.  Get members of the team at local super markets during the afternoon of an event - with bikes, stickers, autographs etc. Get the word out.

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Remember the "bring a friend" slogan? Speedway survived for decades using this method. I bet most fans were introduced by a friend or family member.

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1 hour ago, OveFundinFan said:

Get the word out.

We can all play a small part but really "  get the word out  = promoters job in the main. This week in the SS Belle Vue have a double page spread saying ( among other things ) that that is what is needed in Manchester. Has "get the word out" not been left far, far too late?

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I didn't mean "we", the fans, get the word out (though we can play a part). Its the speedway clubs job todo it in a professional way, I agree

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Ove fundin fan .... 3 lap races 45 seconds of action riders will know the last lap is lap 3 and sort out their passing attempts accordingly. Most modern results are decided after lap one ( well by bend 2 mostly)  . Maybe have more heats in a meeting ?  Cut out all the time wasting at the start - if they aren’t up to the tapes let the tapes up .....the riders will soon stop their b gardening antics. There has to be MORE entertainment and less prims Donna rider antics. Appoint a Race Director at every meeting ( Phil Morris) who keeps things moving. 

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3 lap 45 second races instead of 4 lap 60 second races - spectators will end up paying the same for 15 races at 45 seconds. Why do you want 45 second races, those tracks that can be altered should be altered to allow exciting racing. If as you say “most modern results are decided after lap one (well by bend 2 mostly)”, sound like you really want to advocate ONE lap races.

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Here is an idea , if we want a Mickey  Mouse sport to attract the kids ,have the riders dress as Disney characters. The rider in red would be Prince  Charming, in blue Mickey, in white The Wicked Witch and yellow/ black would be Black Beard the pirate (no  disrespect to Poole). 

 

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20 hours ago, old bob at herne bay said:

None of this tinkering will save UK speedway on its downhill spiral. More fans are needed at the turnstiles.

Cricket saved itself by inventing 20 over crash bang wallop “T20 “ . Purists hate it but it gets the punters paying to watch.  

Maybe Speedway needs a kick up the bum and change the 4lap 15 heat format for every meeting

So maybe have 3 lap races ..... no race stoppages - if you fall off get off the track or you will be excluded .... do as you like at the tapes but if you touch em you are excluded. No first bend bunching - if you fall and don’t get off the track or remount you are excluded.2 minute rule shortened to one minute. Fail to make the warning you are excluded no replacements allowed . 

 

So if you fall in the middle of the track, the race isn't stopped. What happens next time the riders come round? Massive pile-ups to get the crowd in?

Why have a one minute warning instead of a 2 minute warning? Why not just put the 2 minute warning on 1 minute earlier?

Races are already pretty short. I see no reason to have 3 lap races. The only meeting I've seen with 3 lap races was a Golden Greats one, with a bunch of old fogeys that were nearly as old as Greg Hancock.

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I may have said this before but I don't think the racing is actually the most important thing - a few more passes in a meeting won't make people flood through the turnstiles.  It needs a more conducive environment for fans within the stadium.  If the place itself is somewhere people fancy going to socialise with friends and see a bit of racing as well then people other than us purists may want to attend. 

Kids go free is a good incentive but what do they do when they get there?  Maybe trampolines or bungees, maybe video games, food/drink for kids with seating, soft play area or sandpit/pillow.  These things will attract them.  Now, for older folks then somewhere warm, covered and seating are important.  Motorcycle themed activities maybe - a speedway simulator or bikes to sit on/view, you could have motorcycle rider allowed to park together and encourage club meet ups, provide a room/venue for parties/events within the stadium with catering facilities. 

I'm just throwing these things out there but reducing the large payouts to some riders would give the money to be able to offer some of these things as attractions - when at a dull meeting what else is there to keep you entertained?  So will you come back? 

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An "outside the box" idea. Rolling starts?!?

Most of the damage caused to equipment is at the start. So, from the start, rider's line-up as normal from gates 1>4. A dude on a scooter in front of the gates takes off, the rider's follow behind for 1 lap, on lap 2 the scooter pulls off at any point, then the racing starts and it's 4 laps of racing.

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Ove  fundin fan, I think we are on the same page.....meetings need to snappier,less delays etc etc .... maybe 3 laps doesn’t help .. but why are we sticking to 15 heats ? Let’s have 18 heats ...... maybe have a separate 3 lap tournament with 2 meetings each of 13 heats in an evening..... lets have KO cup matches with say 16 heats - variety is the spice of life......it’s all so same old same old . You can tarmac the starts and stop gardening at a stroke . Or stick a scaffold pole behind em when they get to the tapes. 1 minute warning will get some urgency into the  riders getting to the starts. 2 minutes is TOO LONG for a restart after a tapes infringement. 

Problem I have with speedway 2018 is as well as the BSPA, most diehard fans appear to have accepted the appalling presentation, the appalling stadia, the appalling delays as “part and parcel” of the sport....... trouble is no new fans are interested. 

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, old bob at herne bay said:

2 minutes is TOO LONG for a restart after a tapes infringement. 

Yes, it is far too long. back to the start straight away. Tarmac or concrete starting area, please. Get on sharply with the interesting bits.

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In my opinion, every track should have a 2-minute clock. If the rider isn't ready to race in the two minutes, tough they are thrown out. 

 

I would allow rolling at the starts as long as the rider didnt actually touch the tapes. This would cut down on restarts when someone moves. 

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And to keep older fans interested, perhaps keep the race gaps to a few minutes so they don't forget what they're actually there for and don't get confused thinking it's a tractor show.  

Edited by moxey63
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