Sums Up State Of Speedway Today

[TonyMac 720]

IF you're a fan of modern speedway in Britain and like to read a new book on your favourite sport at Christmas, tough luck!

 

As far as we can tell, only three new speedway books have been produced for the 2016 Xmas market. There's a very niche one on the Wembley Lions which (obviously) only covers the history of that famous old club.

 

And then there are our two new books, BACKTRACKING Volume 1 & 2 - a collection of some of the best interviews and features we've printed in our retro Backtrack magazine over the past 12 years, plus many new pictures that didn't appear with the original editorial.

 

At £16, we believe they are good value. www.retro-speedway.com

 

None of the current GP stars, or any of the clubs operating in the three tiers of Britain, have got anything out there in print. Is there a lack of interest among supporters, or are publishers now too reluctant to take a punt on a sport that is losing support?

 

So what does this say about the current state of speedway?

 

Are supporters more interested in reading about past favourites than the current lot? Our books on Kenny Carter, Michael Lee, Malcolm Simmons and those written by the late John Berry all sold relatively well - in excess of 2,500 copies each.

 

But we don't see books in the name of Greg Hancock, Tai Woffinden, Nicki Pedersen, Chris Holder, etc.

 

It's a far cry from the days when, as a kid, I badgered my mum to write off to Eddie Toogood and order the latest books from Peter Collins, Ivan Mauger, Barry Briggs and John Louis.

 

A sign of the times.

 

[The White Knight 9,039]

And then there are our two new books, BACKTRACKING Volume 1 & 2 - a collection of some of the best interviews and features we've printed in our retro Backtrack magazine over the past 12 years, plus many new pictures that didn't appear with the original editorial.

 

Are supporters more interested in reading about past favourites than the current lot? Our books on Kenny Carter, Michael Lee, Malcolm Simmons and those written by the late John Berry all sold relatively well - in excess of 2,500 copies each.

 

But we don't see books in the name of Greg Hancock, Tai Woffinden, Nicki Pedersen, Chris Holder, etc.

 

It's a far cry from the days when, as a kid, I badgered my mum to write off to Eddie Toogood and order the latest books from Peter Collins, Ivan Mauger, Barry Briggs and John Louis.

 

A sign of the times.

 

I'm afraid I won't be buying these two Books as I have saved every copy of 'BackTrack since Issue One. Had I not done so - I would have bought them like a shot.

 

Simple answer to your question is - Yes. I have a fair number of your Books now and they are a very good read. I am not that interested in today's lot (as you put it).

 

'BackTrack' and 'Classic Speedway' does it for me.

 

I always look forward to my copies with relish.

[steve roberts 9,247]

I'm afraid I won't be buying these two Books as I have saved every copy of 'BackTrack since Issue One. Had I not done so - I would have bought them like a shot.

 

Simple answer to your question is - Yes. I have a fair number of your Books now and they are a very good read. I am not that interested in today's lot (as you put it).

 

'BackTrack' and 'Classic Speedway' does it for me.

 

I always look forward to my copies with relish.

I've bought both books and they are excellent! Although I also have all the Backtrack numbers they have become rather dog eared as I tend to read them whilst in the bath!

[The White Knight 9,039]

I've bought both books and they are excellent! Although I also have all the Backtrack numbers they have become rather dog eared as I tend to read them whilst in the bath!

I like that - but I haven't had a Bath for years.

 

I'm a Shower man myself - for some reason I find it even harder reading my BackTrack in the Shower. :D

[ch958 2,398]

I like that - but I haven't had a Bath for years.

 

I'm a Shower man myself - for some reason I find it even harder reading my BackTrack in the Shower. :D

i was going to message you and ask if you'd seen them - i have recently just bought 5/6 back issues and it is fantastic = chances are i will buy them unless someone close takes the hint and asks santa.

Its both a great read and a slightly sad one as GB speedway slips down the pecking order.

Personally i think the closing of the gap between the top 2 divs will be a good thing but oh that 6 point idiocy!!

[Gresham 928]

I think there is an interest in the sport from the past. People reminiscing about the old days. You've only got to see what comes up on modern social media...all the old stuff.

 

I'm really surprised you say the books on past riders were seen as a relative success, when only 2500+ were sold.

 

My good friend has recently written a book on the rise of Forest Green Rovers...a non league football club, from a small village in the south Cotswolds. His first book has sold more than that since it's release last month. Hardly any publicity and no history to speak of.

 

Speedway is in a terrible state...only kept alive by those who found love of it in bygone years.

 

Of the sides starting in the Premiership this season, I can realistically see only 5 of them racing next season or possibly finishing this coming season.

 

So many people living in the past and not wanting to change for the good of the sport.

[TonyMac 720]

So many people living in the past and not wanting to change for the good of the sport.

 

We're very glad they do!

[Gresham 928]

 

We're very glad they do!

My mistake in explaining better...we all miss the good Ol' days and like to reminisce. What I meant, was those in power, have allowed the sport to deteriorate to what it is now.

 

That's why people prefer to reminisce...as Speedway as a whole today, just doesn't cut the mustard. Even when you take the rose tinted glasses off ;-)

[Daniel Smith 5,692]

Sums Up State Of Speedway Today:

 

Closed for the winter, starts again in March

[NOBODY 538]

Tut tut. The state of speedway today eh. No book to read! Oh no. My heart is bleeding.

[StevePark 2,801]

 

 

I always look forward to my copies with relish.

 

So, you're looking forward to looking back!

[keepturningleft 589]

Must admit having a 'best of' in book form kind of appeals to me rather than storing 'thousands' of mags on the shelf, so I will probably dip my toe in and buy the first volume.

 

Tony, amongst my favourite features in backtrack are the 'opening times' articles - do these feature in the books?

 

It seems obvious to me why there are many books on speedway's past and few on the present.

Tens of thousands watched the sport back then - many still alive - so there are simply more fans and potential nostalgic customers than now!

 

PS Don't forget Jeff Scott's collection of books on modern speedway.

[TonyMac 720]

Must admit having a 'best of' in book form kind of appeals to me rather than storing 'thousands' of mags on the shelf, so I will probably dip my toe in and buy the first volume.

 

Tony, amongst my favourite features in backtrack are the 'opening times' articles - do these feature in the books?

 

It seems obvious to me why there are many books on speedway's past and few on the present.

Tens of thousands watched the sport back then - many still alive - so there are simply more fans and potential nostalgic customers than now!

 

PS Don't forget Jeff Scott's collection of books on modern speedway.

 

Thank you for trying volume one - hopefully you will enjoy it. As you say, better than storing all the mags and thumbing through 77 back issues.

 

As well as appealing to existing readers of the mag who like the book's handy format (who remembers an interview that was published some 8-10-12 years ago?), we're hoping non-Backtrack readers will try the books and be interested in subscribing to our bi-monthly magazine.

 

None of our Opening Times pieces feature in the books, as they are a fairly recent addition to the magazine and we deliberately wanted to avoid reproducing relatively 'fresh' content in the books. For that reason, everything in them would be at least a couple of years old (bearing in mind Backtrack was launched 12+ years ago, so there is a lot of editorial to choose from).

 

Yes, of course, Jeff Scott deserves credit for his books on modern speedway.

 

It's obviously true that meetings in the 70s and 80s were watched by more fans than the numbers attending league speedway today but finding them is not easy. We do a lot of PR work on here and also on Facebook and Twitter (and occasionally via regional press) but what about the tens of thousands who have turned their back on the sport and cannot be reached?

 

Most of the GPs attract big crowds and yet no books have been produced on GP riders since Crumpie's came out some years back.

Edited November 30, 2016 by tmc

[The White Knight 9,039]

Most of the GPs attract big crowds and yet no books have been produced on GP riders since Crumpie's came out some years back.

Had it been Phil - I might have bought it.

[Humphrey Appleby 13,978]

Most of the GPs attract big crowds and yet no books have been produced on GP riders since Crumpie's came out some years back.

I'm not convinced that younger people are particularly great readers nowadays, and if they do it would be electronically.

 

Having said this, how many books are there on the likes of Hans Nielsen?

 

I was a bit surprised to hear the John Berry and other books 'only' sold around 2.5K copies though. No criticism intended of the publisher as I think your books are generally excellent, but I think it does show where the sport is nowadays.