iainb 4,863 Posted August 18, 2020 1 minute ago, Ben91 said: International competition every year, absolutely. But I’d keep the World Cup name for the team event solely. You could also stage the Under-21 World Cup on an odd year and make a bigger deal of that event. This is a big digression from the thread of course though! Some already think that because the name "Speedway of Nations" doesn't include the words world and cup that it lacks gravitas and I can see that point of view for somebody outside of Speedway. Whatever it's called I think it'll need to be sanctioned by the FIM for riders to be required to ride and not forced to stay in Poland and concentrate on their league... I think we're allowed small digressions now and again aren't we 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 18, 2020 12 minutes ago, Ben91 said: International competition every year, absolutely. But I’d keep the World Cup name for the team event solely. You could also stage the Under-21 World Cup on an odd year and make a bigger deal of that event. This is a big digression from the thread of course though! Should there ever be an international competition of the type being suggested I wonder what sort of attendances and media coverage it would attract in the UK? And aside from Belle Vue what suitable UK venues are there for events of this stature? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 4,863 Posted August 18, 2020 49 minutes ago, gustix said: Should there ever be an international competition of the type being suggested I wonder what sort of attendances and media coverage it would attract in the UK? And aside from Belle Vue what suitable UK venues are there for events of this stature? When it was done in the early 00's I think, of those still left, the SWC was held at the likes of Peterborough, Poole, KL, Eastbourne, Sheffield Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben91 1,743 Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) 59 minutes ago, gustix said: Should there ever be an international competition of the type being suggested I wonder what sort of attendances and media coverage it would attract in the UK? And aside from Belle Vue what suitable UK venues are there for events of this stature? I think if such an event happens it has to be held every four years and not every year as it is currently. To make it yearly would dilute the prestige and fan interest in my opinion. If it is run over a two-three week period then fans could travel abroad for it and take in the whole tournament. We certainly have the infrastructure to run such an event, as do Poland, Sweden and Denmark. There are potentially other countries who do too. We have staged World Cup events before Belle Vue’s new stadium was built although it would be an ideal place for a final. As for the press coverage I believe that is a two way street. People can be quick enough to criticise the mainstream media for not covering the sport but in reality is the sport reaching out to the mainstream media and saying “something worth covering is happening here.”? Edited August 18, 2020 by Ben91 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) Time to have an enquiry into the death of Speedway I find the comments in this thread interesting. They certainly cause the need for thought. For all that it implies that speedway is dead whereas that is far from being the case. It also tends to indicate speedway world-wide PERHAPS and that is again far from the case. For me - and it's just my opinion and no more than that - a better thread title might have been 'Time to have an inquiry into the problems facing British Speedway' Edited August 18, 2020 by Guest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ben91 1,743 Posted August 18, 2020 2 hours ago, gustix said: Time to have an enquiry into the death of Speedway I find the comments in this thread interesting. They certainly cause the need for thought. For all that it implies that speedway is dead whereas that is far from being the case. It also tends to indicate speedway world-wide PERHAPS and that is again far from the case. For me - and it's just my opinion and no more than that - a better thread title might have been 'Time to have an inquiry into the problems facing British Speedway' After 13 pages of good debate/discussion I’d suggest there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the title. If anything it probably piqued the interest of more forum users than had the title been “Time to have an inquiry into the problems facing British Speedway.” 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted August 18, 2020 4 hours ago, gustix said: Time to have an enquiry into the death of Speedway I find the comments in this thread interesting. They certainly cause the need for thought. For all that it implies that speedway is dead whereas that is far from being the case. It also tends to indicate speedway world-wide PERHAPS and that is again far from the case. For me - and it's just my opinion and no more than that - a better thread title might have been 'Time to have an inquiry into the problems facing British Speedway' 1 hour ago, Ben91 said: After 13 pages of good debate/discussion I’d suggest there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the title. If anything it probably piqued the interest of more forum users than had the title been “Time to have an inquiry into the problems facing British Speedway.” Valid comment Ben91. As you indicate "...no theread title change needed..." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LagutaRacingFan 1,919 Posted August 18, 2020 I think Speedway needs fewer clubs. Each region should have a super franchise team with 1 star rider. Fewer meetings spread over Friday nights, mainly in the summer. Birmingham Bears - Bartosz Zmarzlik Manchester Aces - Martin Vaculik Norfolk Ninjas - Robert Lambert Somerset Scorchers - Tai Woffinden Scottish Saints - Leon Madsen Swindon Sizzlers - Artem Laguta 6 teams play each other once home and away, make an event of it. Have good entertainment on at half-time, each team can sign one star rider like Zmarzlik, Sayfudinov, Madsen and Vaculik. Tickets are £20. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shrub 1,109 Posted August 18, 2020 13 hours ago, cityrebel said: So did i, we sat in the Hackney car park thinking it would be off. I also went to Australia v New Zealand at Wimbledon, New Zealand v Russia at Reading and the Wembley final. I phoned my Dad earlier this evening - not to just ask him about this I hasten to add - but I did ask him if he remembered it and he said that it was p!ssing it down! A boiler suit meeting as he called them. Couldn't really remember the meeting but the car (a huge white Ford Zephyr) ran minus one cylinder on the way home from around Chelmsford back to Felixstowe! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,241 Posted August 18, 2020 15 minutes ago, Shrub said: I phoned my Dad earlier this evening - not to just ask him about this I hasten to add - but I did ask him if he remembered it and he said that it was p!ssing it down! A boiler suit meeting as he called them. Couldn't really remember the meeting but the car (a huge white Ford Zephyr) ran minus one cylinder on the way home from around Chelmsford back to Felixstowe! ...remember dad having to drive all the way back from Hackney to Oxford in a car that had lost third and fourth gear and that was after being reported to the police for looking suspicious awaithing a phone call from a public phone box in the East End during the middle of the night. What memories! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shrub 1,109 Posted August 18, 2020 Just now, steve roberts said: ...remember dad having to drive all the way back from Hackney to Oxford in a car that had lost third and fourth gear and that was after being reported to the police for looking suspicious awaithing a phone call from a public phone box in the East End during the middle of the night. What memories! Must have been something dodgy about leaving your car in the car park at Hackney! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,241 Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Shrub said: Must have been something dodgy about leaving your car in the car park at Hackney! I recall the trip back along the North Circular, A40 and the M40 at 20 mph and the engine screaming (especiallly down Stokenchurch)...it took a long, long time! You don't forget things like that in a hurry! We were actually reported for acting suspiciously as it was during the time of the IRA bombing spree in London. Edited August 18, 2020 by steve roberts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
noaksey 342 Posted August 18, 2020 49 minutes ago, Shrub said: Must have been something dodgy about leaving your car in the car park at Hackney! It was much safer than leaving it on the road! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cityrebel 2,960 Posted August 19, 2020 9 hours ago, Shrub said: I phoned my Dad earlier this evening - not to just ask him about this I hasten to add - but I did ask him if he remembered it and he said that it was p!ssing it down! A boiler suit meeting as he called them. Couldn't really remember the meeting but the car (a huge white Ford Zephyr) ran minus one cylinder on the way home from around Chelmsford back to Felixstowe! I had the luxury of travelling to meetings in an S type jag in those days. My old man had a fit, when it got covered in shale dust in the Rayleigh car park! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spl77 337 Posted August 19, 2020 16 hours ago, KeirStarmerFan said: I think Speedway needs fewer clubs. Each region should have a super franchise team with 1 star rider. Fewer meetings spread over Friday nights, mainly in the summer. Birmingham Bears - Bartosz Zmarzlik Manchester Aces - Martin Vaculik Norfolk Ninjas - Robert Lambert Somerset Scorchers - Tai Woffinden Scottish Saints - Leon Madsen Swindon Sizzlers - Artem Laguta 6 teams play each other once home and away, make an event of it. Have good entertainment on at half-time, each team can sign one star rider like Zmarzlik, Sayfudinov, Madsen and Vaculik. Tickets are £20. One of the many issues with this idea is that the poles ride on a Friday. I think that British speedway needs to find an operating model that works for level of support that can be currently generated. So at the highest level its no more than semi pro with standard equipment that is easy and cost effective to run. At the same time work on improving the credibility and image of the sport is a must. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites