Swindon's New Stadium

[Stoke Potter 242]

It 'll be great to have a seat and not have to carry yer own in. With a decent view. If its based on Cardiff great, 70,000-plus seats and a roof!

One of the problems with British Speedway is that the modern bikes have outgrown the majority of the tracks, because they are relatively small and narrow.

If your new stadium does appear then great but if the track is based on Cardiff then it's going to be a small, narrow hug-the-kerb borefest.

If you were getting a "Torun" then it would be amazing but I very much doubt you are.

The penny still hasn't dropped with the British promotors that the number 1 consideration is to produce a track that is conducive passing/good racing.

[DunRobin 465]

One of the problems with British Speedway is that the modern bikes have outgrown the majority of the tracks, because they are relatively small and narrow.

If your new stadium does appear then great but if the track is based on Cardiff then it's going to be a small, narrow hug-the-kerb borefest.

If you were getting a "Torun" then it would be amazing but I very much doubt you are.

The penny still hasn't dropped with the British promotors that the number 1 consideration is to produce a track that is conducive passing/good racing.

Ironically, rather like the one that we have now!

[Aces51 2,778]

The size and shape of a track is obviously governed by the size of the stadium. Most speedway promoters are tenants,as Swindon will be in their new home, so they have to work within the confines and restrictions provided by their landlords. It is unrealistic to criticise them when they are not in a position to do anything about it.

 

Belle Vue have been fortunate to design a track and build a stadium around it. Their only confines are the size of the building plot.

Edited August 15, 2015 by Aces51

[OveFundinFan 4,143]

and am I correect in saying BV compromised stands on at least one of the corners to be able to get the track shape they desired?

[Aces51 2,778]

and am I correect in saying BV compromised stands on at least one of the corners to be able to get the track shape they desired?

Yes, they did. Chris Morton has always said the track was the most important part of the project. Unfortunately, Swindon will have to take whatever their landlord provides but having said that smaller tracks can produce good racing, look at Wolverhampton and even Kirky Lane since Colin Meredith took over.

[BritPete 625]

There is the small matter of actually having a stadium first!

[Stoke Potter 242]

The size and shape of a track is obviously governed by the size of the stadium. Most speedway promoters are tenants,as Swindon will be in their new home, so they have to work within the confines and restrictions provided by their landlords. It is unrealistic to criticise them when they are not in a position to do anything about it.

 

Belle Vue have been fortunate to design a track and build a stadium around it. Their only confines are the size of the building plot.

It's perfectly reasonable to criticise because basically they are trying to shove tracks where they don't fit and the racing is compromised as a consequence.

The best racing is always produced on the bigger, wider tracks.

You have to ask the question why the greyhounds are (apparently) building a stadium and the speedway are usually renting, rather than the other way round.

[ch958 2,395]

It's perfectly reasonable to criticise because basically they are trying to shove tracks where they don't fit and the racing is compromised as a consequence.

The best racing is always produced on the bigger, wider tracks.

You have to ask the question why the greyhounds are (apparently) building a stadium and the speedway are usually renting, rather than the other way round.

ooh, don't know about that like

watched at Cleveland Park for donkeys years and i saw great racing - and the better, more intelligent riders fared best

[Aces51 2,778]

It's perfectly reasonable to criticise because basically they are trying to shove tracks where they don't fit and the racing is compromised as a consequence.

The best racing is always produced on the bigger, wider tracks.

You have to ask the question why the greyhounds are (apparently) building a stadium and the speedway are usually renting, rather than the other way round.

Simple really. There's more money in greyhounds than speedway and not many, if any, promoters with the skills required to achieve what Gordon and Morton have at Belle Vue. Generally, I prefer racing on the bigger tracks but not all produce decent racing. Wasn't the recent televised match at Lakeside one of the better matches on TV this year.

[mikebv 10,293]

It's perfectly reasonable to criticise because basically they are trying to shove tracks where they don't fit and the racing is compromised as a consequence.

The best racing is always produced on the bigger, wider tracks.

You have to ask the question why the greyhounds are (apparently) building a stadium and the speedway are usually renting, rather than the other way round.

Sometimes, but not always...

 

Agree with the wider the better but for me it's more the shape of the track that delivers the racing...

 

You can have an almost circular 'small track' like Gustrow that can deliver great racing as straight line speed isnt the 'be all and end all'...

 

Sometimes the longer the riders are sliding the more the rider with real talent can use it to get the drive he needs

 

Could Swindon fit that type of 'footprint' inside the confines of the greyhound track?

Edited August 15, 2015 by mikebv

[Stoke Potter 242]

and not many, if any, promoters with the skills required to achieve what Gordon and Morton have at Belle Vue. Generally, I prefer racing on the bigger tracks but not all produce decent racing. Wasn't the recent televised match at Lakeside one of the better matches on TV this year.

Yes I agree totally with that, very few promoters do have those skills, that's a large part of the problem.

And yes you get passing on small circuits but the fold the bike in half, scrub the speed off, and creep up the inside type passing does not compare with the multiple lines you get on the best big tracks.

And yes, not all the big tracks are the best, but all the best tracks are big!

[Skidder1 7,637]

It's perfectly reasonable to criticise because basically they are trying to shove tracks where they don't fit and the racing is compromised as a consequence.

The best racing is always produced on the bigger, wider tracks.

You have to ask the question why the greyhounds are (apparently) building a stadium and the speedway are usually renting, rather than the other way round.

Just as a bit of a side issue - but nevertheless relevant to those tracks in a greyhound stadium - there have been a number of big articles in the national press recently about the 'demise' of greyhound racing!!

 

If not a demise then certainly a downward spiral in terms of attendance. This was also reflected in one of the BBC 1 programmes a couple of weeks ago about gambling and how many of the on-track bookmakers are only forecasting the sport continuing for maybe 5 years at best!!?

 

Not quite sure whether that presents a threat or an opportunity to Speedway promoters?!

[MattK 3,447]

Not quite sure whether that presents a threat or an opportunity to Speedway promoters?!

 

You'd think it would be an opportunity if they got their acts together and started planning now.

[Stoke Potter 242]

Isn't the GRA now owned by venture capitalists who basically want to realise the value of all their land assets (i.e. stadia) ?

It should be made into an opportunity but, as ever, British Speedway will miss it.

If the BSPA had any foresight or intellect, they would develop a REAL plan and that involves getting the money men involved and being able to invest some real millions in it.

No it wouldn't be easy and would need business acumen and charisma, amongst other things, but it could be done.

First thing, change the rules on tracks sizes. The rules on minimum track length and width should be increased. A track the size/width of Poole should be considered the minimum.

Brace yourself for the howls of derision on that one! ;-)

[MattK 3,447]

The BSPA should be putting a plan together to buy Belle Vue's stadium when it inevitably comes on to the open market.