When Did Uk Speedway Decline Start?

[stevehone 3,430]

I felt the decline in British speedway started with Ronnie Russell/Rye House and their battle to bring in Peter Schroek and Jens Rasmussen therefore opening the 2nd division up to everyone.

The influx of European riders after that pushed out a lot of the good, steady, supply of British riders from that league.

[AlanF 295]

I think the main milestones in speedway's decline are:

 

1. Other sports raising the bar in terms of the quality of the stadiums and customer experience. Also lack of ownership and lack of land makes stadiums prime targets for redevelopment.

 

2. Saturating the lower divisions with sub standard foreigners taking away the stream of local talent.

 

3. Grand Prix and the rise of Poland. Great TV theater but has killed weekend racing and fixture continuity in the top division.

 

I think that #2 is beginning to be addressed, but I don't Know the solution to 1 and 3.

[salty 2,202]

I'd agree with Alan's points above and also add in Penhall's retirement and the loss of Wembley, which was coupled with economic troubles in the early 80's. From what I recall the sport went from a period of relative success in the late 70's to one of quick decline by mid 80's.

[auntie doris 2,342]

Speedway started going downhill when the Yanks and Danes started taking over from the Brits in the 80s.

[steve roberts 9,246]

When the BSPA started to mess around with the heat formula (at one time both leagues operated a different system just to add to the confusion) and the number of riders per team. It went from the traditional 7 to 6 to 8 and then back to 7...no wonder the fans were left confused and bewildered by some of the rules that continually undermine the sport in my opinion.

[Little Thumper 528]

I'm just looking at some pictures from today's Rugby Union fixtures and it makes things very clear for me.

Looking at the pictures, it is evident that the fans are passionate in supporting their teams.

The Exeter Chiefs fans are there wearing their Native American headgear and chanting their Tomahawk Chop rallying cry.

And the fans of their opponents, the Leicester Tigers, are there in their droves all proudly sporting their team's colours and making lots of noise.

 

So for me, British speedway started to go into terminal decline when it made the decision that it was such a marvellous a sport that it no longer needed much of a connection to it's fans and that they were merely there to tip up their money each week. The promoters and their trade body knew best.

 

Rugby union has always been built on the strong foundations of a loyal and enthusiastic band of supporters and as it has re-invented itself, it has taken these fans with them and now is reaping the rich rewards.

 

British speedway should have been much better than it now is but as with the British motorcycle industry, abysmal management has made it a shadow of it's former self.

 

Crying shame.

Edited December 24, 2016 by Little Thumper

[THE DEAN MACHINE 4,755]

IMO the biggest decline was the period when penhall walked away from the speedway followed by the death of carter , it all coincided with the race fixing scandal , but also a couple of years later was when the social aspect of the sport dissapered and we haven't recovered since

[Guest]

IMO the biggest decline was the period when penhall walked away from the speedway followed by the death of carter , it all coincided with the race fixing scandal , but also a couple of years later was when the social aspect of the sport dissapered and we haven't recovered since

 

I like the phrase '...the social aspect of the sport disappeared...' Can you enlarge on the definition please - I think we have an important factor here.

I'm just looking at some pictures from today's Rugby Union fixtures and it makes things very clear for me.

Looking at the pictures, it is evident that the fans are passionate in supporting their teams.

The Exeter Chiefs fans are there wearing their Native American headgear and chanting their Tomahawk Chop rallying cry.

And the fans of their opponents, the Leicester Tigers, are there in their droves all proudly sporting their team's colours and making lots of noise.

 

So for me, British speedway started to go into terminal decline when it made the decision that it was such a marvellous a sport that it no longer needed much of a connection to it's fans and that they were merely there to tip up their money each week. The promoters and their trade body knew best.

 

Rugby union has always been built on the strong foundations of a loyal and enthusiastic band of supporters and as it has re-invented itself, it has taken these fans with them and now is reaping the rich rewards.

 

British speedway should have been much better than it now is but as with the British motorcycle industry, abysmal management has made it a shadow of it's former self.

Crying shame.

 

This from LittleThumper is akin to the previous comment by THE DEAN MACHINE. Is it boring down basically to this "...because speedway ignores the views of its paying supporters..."?

Edited December 24, 2016 by Guest

[steve roberts 9,246]

I'm just looking at some pictures from today's Rugby Union fixtures and it makes things very clear for me.

Looking at the pictures, it is evident that the fans are passionate in supporting their teams.

The Exeter Chiefs fans are there wearing their Native American headgear and chanting their Tomahawk Chop rallying cry.

And the fans of their opponents, the Leicester Tigers, are there in their droves all proudly sporting their team's colours and making lots of noise.

 

So for me, British speedway started to go into terminal decline when it made the decision that it was such a marvellous a sport that it no longer needed much of a connection to it's fans and that they were merely there to tip up their money each week. The promoters and their trade body knew best.

 

Rugby union has always been built on the strong foundations of a loyal and enthusiastic band of supporters and as it has re-invented itself, it has taken these fans with them and now is reaping the rich rewards.

 

British speedway should have been much better than it now is but as with the British motorcycle industry, abysmal management has made it a shadow of it's former self.

 

Crying shame.

Good post!

 

In my formative years following the sport youngsters (as well as the oldies) weren't ashamed showing their colours (scarves, hats, coats, badges, rattles, horns...you name it) and cheering on their heroes. I read recently on another thread that youngsters are now embarrassed by such behaviour but it doesn't stop them from showing their allegiance to their football/rugby/cricket teams...as has often been said (John Berry was one) it isn't that the fans have turned their backs on speedway but that speedway has turned its back on the fans.

Edited December 24, 2016 by steve roberts

[Paulco 7,080]

I dare say clubs not owning their stadiums has been the biggest factor . Trying to make the sport pay while fending off developers , greedy landlords etc can be easy , hence why so many clubs no longer exist

Edited December 24, 2016 by Paulco

[steve roberts 9,246]

I dare say not clubs owning their stadiums has been the biggest factor . Trying to make the sport pay while fending off developers , greedy landlords etc can be easy , hence why so many clubs no longer exist

I agree to a certain extent however some promoters did once own their stadiums (Coventry/Leicester/Belle Vue immediately come to mind) but were/are sold off as the sport started to decline and I guess the chance to make some money selling their asset to developers was too good an opportunity to turn down.

[Paulco 7,080]

I agree to a certain extent however some promoters did once own their stadiums (Coventry/Leicester/Belle Vue immediately come to mind) but were/are sold off as the sport started to decline and I guess the chance to make some money selling their asset to developers was too good an opportunity to turn down.

You could be right , but no other sport in this country has had anywhere near the same mortality rate .

[THE DEAN MACHINE 4,755]

What I mean by the social aspect of the sport dissapeared is speedway used the be somewhere you went to socialise with your mates and generally the riders were a big part of that scene but now riders seem to be trying to be this sort of athelete and the bond between the fans and riders has been lost , its hard to put into words but I suppose fans don't feel like riders are everyday blokes anymore ,they can't bond with riders anymore ,sometimes when I see woffinden I feel like he is doing another sport similar to speedway but not the speedway I love , I know this sound wierd and maybe I'm not getting across what I'm trying to say but hopefully someone will get me , maybe I'm just getting old and living in the past and speedway is moving on but from what I can see the new speedway is not flicking the switch like the previous one for many people

Edited December 24, 2016 by THE DEAN MACHINE

[Guest]

What I mean by the social aspect of the sport dissapeared is speedway used the be somewhere you went to socialise with your mates and generally the riders were a big part of that scene but now riders seem to be trying to be this sort of athelete and the bond between the fans and riders has been lost , its hard to put into words but I suppose fans don't feel like riders are everyday blokes anymore ,they can't bond with riders anymore ,sometimes when I see woffinden I feel like he is doing another sport similar to speedway but not the speedway I love , I know this sound wierd and maybe I'm not getting across what I'm trying to say but hopefully someone will get me , maybe I'm just getting old and living in the past and speedway is moving on but from what I can see the new speedway is not flicking the switch like the previous one for many people

 

​That comment tends to ring a bell for me as well. But usually when I start going down this path I run into flak from certain BSF posters who reflect that I live "...too much in speedway's past..."

[SCB 0]

1998. Matt Ford bought Poole.