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BFMDan

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Posts posted by BFMDan


  1. I'm from the U.S. . . . so, all I really know about Speedway is watching Speedway GP. So, I'm trying to get a grasp of the status/level of Speedway as compared to other sports (for my understanding - US related). Over here in the states, we don't have the leagues like you folks do in G.B./EU.

     

    We have a community that keeps the sport of speedway alive over on the west coast . . . but, that's about it.

     

    I'm wondering about income level - I s'pose . . .

     

    So, are Speedway racers (and, I guess, the tracks/organizations) more similar to - on the same level as:

    1) Professional top line sports (National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, NASCAR)

    2) Professional lower level sports (US Soccer, Womens National Basketball Association, Supercross)

    3) Minor league professional sports (major league baseball farm teams, arena football)

    4) US Flat track Pro racers (90%+ of these "Pro" riders still have regular full time jobs, except for maybe the top 3 or 4)

    5) AMA regional MX pro racers (race for a couple hundred $$ per event, then go to work 9-5 during the week)

    6) Local stock car racers (basically an expensive hobby - LOL)

     

     

    Sorry if this has been asked before . . .

     

     

     

    HB


  2. Here in the states, we've had a few of these problems blow through. Even at the SuperCross level.

     

    I'm not a pharmacist . . . but, just in reading it seems that "Adderall" (I believe it is) is utilized for the same reason some youngsters use it in school - because it intensifies Focus and Attention.

     

    Helpful in blocking out all outside distractions, zeroing in on the start release, etc.

     

     

    HB


  3. My own personal reaction to this is probably something none of us want to admit . . . I'm a racer, fan, owner, media rep, and speedway announcer . . . so this bothers me just as much as any one.

     

    But, when you strip away every single piece of decoration from the sport (speedway, flattrack, even stock cars) . . . all it really boils down to is some competitors going around in circles - week after week. Not much "new-ness" to that - at the very basest of levels.

     

    So, why is there some attention . . . ever?

     

    Well, it's the very human desire to experience something different. "I haven't been to the races in a while; let's go check it out." Then the thrill hooks them for a while until they realize what I posted above. And then they fade away again.

     

    So, the sport (in reality, ANY sport) is pressed with the goal of introducing variety to the "casual fan". You know the hard-core fans will return . . . my father used to compare motorsports to a disease, "once it's in your blood, there's no cure!" (LOL).

     

    So, again, to hook the "casual fan" the promoter needs to find a way to introduce the "unexpected" . . . but, on a regular basis! (figure that out, and you're a promotional zillion-aire!)

     

    The concept of "not really knowing what to expect" is what pulls the "casual fan" to a speedway. Possible tumble/wreck, sure. But, also,

    • different winners,
    • different grandstand entertainment,
    • different prizes,
    • different confrontation between a the "fan favorite" and a "black hat bad guy" (I'm not a fan of this, but it DEFINATELY creates 'water cooler talk'),
    • different food,
    • different style of competition,
    • different pages/photos in the weekly program,
    • different front gate promotion,
    • etc.

    Sure, advertising and education is some of it . . . but, think of it this way, would you return to the local cinema week after week, if they were only showing the same movie over and over? Nope. But, what if you didn't know from week to week if they were:

    • selling beer or wine at the concession stand,
    • picking 10 random people out of the crowd and giving them free admission to the following week,
    • the movie suddenly had a completely different ending than last week,
    • putting an intermission into the middle of the movie - during which a clown would come out and juggle flaming chain saws! LOL

    Again, those aren't suggestions to cure Speedway . . . just silly examples. But, examples for a reason.

     

    "Casual Fans" won't pay hard earned cash (for ever) for "sameness". It becomes blasé, predictable, and not exciting.

     

    The thing that brings them back is the POTENTIAL to experience something different.

     

    Just my humble opinion . . .

     

     

    P.S. - I don't have the answers either. :cry:

     

     

    HB

     

    . . . just look at towns where they re-open tracks after years of being without the sport. Weymouth opened and for the first couple of years pulled very good crowds indeed but over the years they gradually dwindled away to the stage where there weren't enough there to pay the bills most weeks. They had a lot of people helping out and promoting the sport but gradually the crowd dwindled down to a hardcore of regular support.

     

    The same pattern is repeated throughout the history of the sport, new track opens and draws good crowds which slowly reduce year on year. I think weekly Speedway is too much for many people and fortnightly meetings would probably do better, . . .


  4. I don't know if we could scrape up a big enough crowd to make it a monetary success . . . but, YES PLEASE!!

     

    Slight tangential thought . . . some of the Mile Flattrack races (Springfield, for example) do present HUGE crowds - Springfield 2 this September was a packed house! So, the potential does exist . . .

     

     

    HB

    Greg to win title number 4 this year and to start his defence in Los Angeles in what will be his final year in GP, before retiring?.


  5. Watching from "The States" . . . I hope you'll all understand my open cheering for Mr. Hancock!



    However, at the same time . . . I would not at all be displeased if Mr. Doyle went on to claim the title. Obviously, I've never met him . . . but, from interviews he strikes me as a "regular dude" and all around "good guy". :)




    HB



  6. You'll have to forgive my ignorance . . . but, I don't think I've ever seen/heard Ermolenko provide commentary. I just started seriously watching the Speedway GP streams around 2013 . . . during that time (and I'll admit that I have missed a couple events), I only recall Nigel and Kelvin.

     

     

    HB

    Out of interest, what do you think of Ermolenko's commentary?


  7. I thought this as well. Tuning into the Live Stream, I was expecting a "Full House" . . . and, as I'm trying to spread the 'good word' of Speedway over here in The States, had invited others to watch as well - with the statement, "Check it out, That place will be packed!".

     

    I was very surprised to see all the empty seats. :(

     

     

    HB

    I'd be interested to hear what the "offical" attendance is as it looks as though someone (not BSI ;) ) has lost their shirt on this one.


  8. Hello from the USA! I've been watching Speedway for several years now, and just realized that I lack understanding of what appears to be two very basic/elementary principals with regards to line-ups.

     

    FIRST

    In looking at the Score Card for this Saturday's Speedway GP, I see that:

    Maciej JANOWSKI is 1

    Kim NILSSON is 2

    Tai WOFFINDEN is 3

    Antonio LINDBACK is 4

    and so on through the rider listing.

     

    How is each rider assigned that number? Is there a Practice/Qualifying session which I've never noticed? Or, is it some random draw scenario?

     

    SECOND

    As riders are placed into the heats, does it ALWAYS go in this order:

    Heat 1: Riders 1,2,3,4

    Heat 2: Riders 5,7,6,8

    Heat 3: Riders 10,11,9,12

    Heat 4: Riders 15,14,16,13

    Heat 5: Riders 13,1,5,9

    And so on through the heat line-ups.

     

     

     

     

    Thank you for taking any time you may, to explain these most basic of rules to me. It is much appreciated!

     

     

    HB


  9. I watch the YouTube Stream over here in "The States" (USA) and I thoroughly enjoy the commentary provided by NP & KT!

     

    I watch US SuperCross coverage on a weekly basis, Summer Motocross coverage when I can - and I am a Stock Car/Flattrack/MX/SX announcer at the regional level . . . so I view commentary from both sides of the fence. And for me, personally, I enjoy their commentary when I have my "fans hat" on . . . but, at the same time, when I listen to them with my "professional hat" on, I also rank them very highly!

     

    Two enthusiastic thumbs up from me! :)

     

     

    HB

    • Like 1

  10. Hello from across the muddy pond (USA).

     

    I've just found this forum and registered (post #1 right here - LOL), so please forgive if I'm asking a question which has been covered to death . . .

     

    Um, can you imagine the difficulties facing a Speedway racing fan over here in America?

     

    1.) This discussion about KODI . . . is this something available world wide?

    2.) SpeedwayGP used to be available here in the states via LiveStream . . . they are now streaming it live via YouTube. Is this still the best options?

    3.) On LiveStream, I used to see the raw feed from the track (no commercial breaks, just 3 solid hours of glorious coverage) . . . this most recent GP (Horsens?) the feed included "In Studio" commentary during track-prep sessions. Is there a way to go back to just the raw feed?

     

    I'll toss in further questions as they come to me.

     

    Thanx!

     

     

     

    HB

     

     

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