waytogo28
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Posts posted by waytogo28
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On 5/9/2020 at 10:02 PM, greyhoundp said:Well carry on as we are, I give it how many years 5/7 certainly not 10, look around on the terraces how many under 40,s are their and thats being generous.. a potential sponsor said they didnt like how speedway is presented but it seems the old diehards are perfectly satisfied.. Jeez how long are you going to keep the blinkers on, Speedway is on its knees in the Uk.. but carry on marching the riders out to their bikes, carry on taking 2+ hours to run a meeting that should take 1 hour at most, carry on having tractor racing, carry on having the same riders appearing for 2/3 teams, carry on playing 80,s music between heats, after all its been proven thats what the modern day spectator wants to see not!. Ohhh and i forgot its what major TV companies want to avoid, and Newspapers continue to ignore... but no lets not change anything because it aint broke..
When I joined the Forum i chose the pen name Waytogo28 becasue I do not believe we will reach that Centenary. I still think it is unlikely because of blinkered thinking by people who just will not listen to feedack and who label all who offer it, as keyboard warriors of the negative kind. I have no hope that it will struggle on much longer, if nothing changes.
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5 hours ago, HGould said:If we can start "on time" early April 2021; I think that right now, that would be an absolute result. The stark fact is that we may still be in some form of strict crowd control and social distancing measures well in to the summer of 2021.
You are right, I think that this would be the best we can hope for. But there are distinct possibilities that could mean we cannot run unti lthe summer of 2021 OR when a vaccine is widely available.
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6 hours ago, Gunner85 said:Rob Godfrey has already said that Speedway can not afford to run behind closed doors.
Even if they allow Speedway to run with it’s comparative low crowds compared to bigger sports there are impossible hurdles..
social distancing... getting in to stadium... what time would you need to open to get everyone in safely
social distancing.. using toilets
social distancing .. food and drink ...I would imagine not allowed apart from being impractical
the sooner we announce that Speedway will hopefully start back in 2021 the better
I imagine the BSPA will announce it on September 1st.
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4 hours ago, cityrebel said:You like him then!
Oh Yes, How fortunate we are - who still love speedway racing in the UK - to have a person leading the sport who is so multi faceted and equipped with a wide variety of much needed skills.
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With Rob Godfrey at the helm, I feel that UK speedway will offer more of the same old, same old, in the same slowly rusting manner until professional extinction looms and it keels over and dies. Even though he has got off his backside ( he claims ) and will bring us many new delights.
I will believe that if I live to see it.
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3 hours ago, Robinh88 said:Can't see Speedway starting this year.
And today's poll adds to the idea that a very large minority ( 40% ) are fearful of going out from even a phased easing of lockdown. The majotity of these were in the Vulnerable Elderly category. I too can't see UK speedway operating in a meanigful way this year. And for those tracks that might fancy a dabble, if permitted, could see average numbers down by 50% or more.
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13 hours ago, Mr Ore said:Didn't I read somewhere that a group of serial BSF doom and gloom merchants went for a drink together and spotted a sign saying "Happy Hour" so they all left ?.
This is what lies at the heart of the problem. The BSPA's increasing reluctance to see feedback as anything other than "doom and gloom" criticism. Of a group of five of us who got together six years ago to put forward a long list of constuctive ideas ( which were published in the Spedway Star at the time ) received not even an acknowledgement of our positive contribution - never mind a Thank You. All five are no longer regualr attenders to matches. That is perhaps the not so funny part of it. They walked away like many others.
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3 hours ago, waytogo28 said:I think that no-one within the BSPA is doing any post Covid 19 planning or decison taking other than -"when we can , we will open up for business and things will go on as usual". Deteriorating in my opinion. That is why UK speedway is in the position that it currently is - on it's uppers!
Those with influence still believe that if it aint broke, why try to fix it!
There you have it - the perfect riposte to my post from Rob Godfrey " “We need to be more open about the work we are doing because our critics seem to think we sit on our backsides and do nothing.”
All he and the rest of the BSPA have to do is to live up to the promises made with this statement - live streaming etc etc. We await actual progress and can then offer our feedback on it! And hopfully even our congratulations ( should real progress actually be made ).
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16 hours ago, Big Al said:People like David Howe should be involved in planning and decision-making in the current crisis.
I think that no-one within the BSPA is doing any post Covid 19 planning or decison taking other than -"when we can , we will open up for business and things will go on as usual". Deteriorating in my opinion. That is why UK speedway is in the position that it currently is - on it's uppers!
Those with influence still believe that if it aint broke, why try to fix it!
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11 hours ago, iwright71 said:You can forget expensive marketing, plenty of people know about speedway, watch it on TV , but choose not to go. Admittedly unless the TV match is from Manchester or Swindon its hardly exiting, mostly boring. I know nobody wants a bad news story but the sports been on a swift decline for the last 10 years and I cant see that decline being arrested even with all the goodwill in the world. Britain will not go on its own to change machinery and tracks wont change so you have what you have, with a weakening rider standard year on year.
It is that on track excitement that has strongly dimmed my love affair with speedway racing, which began in the early 50s ( when I had no choice but to go as both of my parents went and took me with them to The Firs in Norwich ), For at least the last 10 -15 years the draw of close racing and the possibility of passing ( or indeed the willngness od riders to attempt it - was it all pointless effort? ). Until those that put on speedway, address this aspect of what first pulled thousands of fans in. Less powerful bikes, tracks relaid to suit the current machinery or whatever. But it is an uphill rask of epic proportions and there is apparanelty still a feeling that "it's all alright as it is" among those putting their time and money into running speedway to a diminshing audience.
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2 hours ago, JCookie said:Has any speedway meeting *ever* started on time?
Those that went to Brandon in the era of Charles Ochiltree certainly saw every match starting on time ( unless cirumstances beyond the promoters control - eg UK weather prevented it ) . Always Prompt. But elsewhere, this century , I doubt it.
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I suspect that the 2021 season may possibly start on time, although the announcememnt today that " Covid 19 is here to stay until an effective vaccine is available" . Bearing in mind that the vast majority of supporters are in or near the vulnerable elderly category, there may not be many of them risking a trip to the speedway in 2021.
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I agree with some of that - The Clap for NHS & Carers may be a good idea for memebrs of the public but does not need orchestrated singing and dancing from Blue Light staff ( and now Carers ) In particular with some Carers moving from house to house withour any ( in some cases ) PPE and can so easily be a source of spreading infectiona. Staff in the NHS and Emergency Services are doing a splendid job - in dangerous and difficult circumstances.
A Thank You for that but sutained "applause" and appreciation should be kept for when the virus is defeated ( if indeed it is - pre vaccine availability ). In a true emergency - as we have now - almost a war like setting - those in jobs where such max, sutained efforts are of course naturally demanded, have little choice but to do their best.
My biggest concern is whay I consider to be a weak and woeful response to Vovid 19 by the recently elected Government and the Prime Minister.
Almost anyone can govern the country when all is well but we need real leadership ( without political overtones ) in the current crisis. Where is it?
These running things now ( who I voted for ) are proving not to be up to the task. Falling at the first hurdle in my opinion.
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14 hours ago, Ben91 said:The reality of the situation is simple. We must rip it up and start again. Now is as good a time as any to do so. With correct planning we could reboot British Speedway in time for the 2021 season with a model built for the long term success of the sport in this country and aspirations for it to thrive once again long term.
The biggest problem with that idea ( which I mostly agree with ) is that there does not seem to be - within the BSPA at least - a grpup of planners who could agree and handle effectively, this much needed UK re-boot. Those with key vested interests ( including financial ) want things to go ahead with as little change as possible ( IMHO ). Sort of Carry On Regardless, in front of a dimishing number of fans.
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1 hour ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:To you, I appreciate it is, but to most they are looking for the riders to be of a better standard than those we are "treated" to the in the UK, people do know what good looks like and is.
I agree and I would love to have the number of better riders increase, but I see little or no point in one "superstar" per team and then a gaggle of much lower riders. In the last few years there has been a big increase in the number of riders who say halfway into lap one " well I missed the gate, so I will wait until my next chance to trap".. Perhaps because they know they have little chance of doing better in that race?
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18 hours ago, Hacksaw Jim Duggan said:he premise that people just want to be entertained and will turn up regardless is surely blown to bits by Poole alone?
They went from a side with Rickardson, Adams, Loram etc turning out for them and attracted crowds to make most blush. They are now a watered down version of what they once were, and their attendances show that. All the while a track like Scunthorpe has never grown based solely on "entertainment"
Quality of racing with riders of a similar standard is also very important ( well to me anyway ), If Redcar, the NSS and Scunthorpe provide consistenly good racing, they should drawing in very decent crowds but they are not it seems .
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2 minutes ago, mikebv said:It must be hard to sell the racing at some tracks..
It became much too hard in recent seasons to stomach what was on offer at King's Lynn. I found myself going less and less. but am still willing to sample it again - once, to see if the promised improvements to the racing surface do result in on track racing to make it wortjwhile.
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52 minutes ago, HGould said:The biggest danger as I see it are the dinosaurs amongst the current Promoter population just carrying on regardless and killing the Sport in the process.
That for me is sadly ineveitable. It's dinosaur promoters and not dinosaur supporters that endanger the sport in the UK.
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17 hours ago, jchapman said:however it would now be easy to broadcast through an app so supporters could hear it through their headphones connected to their mobile phone.
Oh let it be so at King's Lynn where I have to, by necessity, sit on the disabled bench. That gives a reasonsble view but you can't hear much of any announcements and certainly no interviews. Riders seem to have practiced audo distancing for years and most regard the mic as something likely to do them harm. I have offered this as feedack for at least the last five seasons but with no improvement whatsoever. If you can have a word, please do. Sadly I don't have a smartphone, so I cannot go down the route suggested.
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18 minutes ago, jchapman said:Could community run/owned clubs be an option?
This is a great way forward IF it could be replicated as much as it has been in Sweden. But this is a medium term possibility as I doubt if it coul dbe "sold" to councils and or comminuty groups in a few months.( even in 12 months ).
I suggest that it is entirely renamed - perhaps as "Dirt Track Racing" or somesuch. It needs to be on standard bikes with no tuner add ons and therefore easier to have a go and start riding for youngsters . F2? Perhaps even 250cc bikes ( as the 500cc rockets ships have inherent problems in their use inc safety & cost ) . Perhaps on a single manufacturer's machine. Get the empahasis on talent winning ( and having a beter chance of proving more reliable exciting racing ) and not the increasingly "first away wins". Boring! Include handicap racing - maybe in ability bands to offer a better on track experience for the younger new supporters. What is clear that the same old, same old of at least the last 20 years will not attract a sufficent new audience for the sport to survive. Definitely improve the P.A. everywhere ( so that interviews etc can be heard ) and Please DO change the music played and general style of 1970s presentation. That's the dim and distant past and a turnoff in trying to sell the new style action. Get those yawning time gaps deleted from meetings! Concrete starting grid - so NO gardening and more time wasted. I could go on!
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On 4/14/2020 at 8:19 AM, cityrebel said:From a long standing fan of over fifty years, i just don't think speedway makes good TV viewing. The amount of meetings i record and never watch is substantial, yet i attended 80 live meetings last season. The whole product needs a revamp, but with a worldwide recession on the horizon, this seems very unlikely.
UK domestic speedway ( as we know it ) IS truly a gonna ( IMHO)! Game over and it's just writhing around towards a slow agonising death. If it werea dog, we would want to rush it to a vet to be put to sleep. Pity, because it was such a good companion for many years.
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Go For It! I would be very interested.
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21 hours ago, DC2 said:prawn and avocado on sourdough with a pinch of saffron and a soupcon of lemon zest?
I have never seen those at any speedway stadium I have visted, but I do lust for one Right Now for my lunch! Most of the speedway fare I have sampled this centurey has been - well slightly worse than what is available elewhere - but considerably more expensive.
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Far from unlikely! But please I pray not! Otherwise we are certainly dooomed!
Illegal Riding Zero Tolerance
in Speedway News and Discussions
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Sadly I feel that is so. I am honestly fearful that there is more danger for those in the high risk groups ( which includes me ) in this next new phase. I see it already as many people have dropped their concern about social distancing in the park where I walk every day. Runners decide to stop next to you, puffing and wheezing after a strenuous burst of exercise, hopefully they are not infected and carrying the virus. Some people do not think about their actions at all.