g13webb

My honest opinion is that the general perception from the supporters who go, offer such a bad census of the sport, Joe Public is never going to be enticed to go.. Back in the time of Michael Lee, there was so much talk at work about how good the racing was and how enjoyable the nights were, every week somebody new went along to see for themselves.. If, and that's a big if, fans were to share their thoughts today they would in fact put people off going... I don't think there is an easy answer to the appeal problem, we can continue in the same vane for another year watching the figure dwindle again , or take a big step and make drastic changes... Bearing in mind the Play-off renders the league program unimportant , implementing the SUPERHEAT idea ( last weeks S/S) would offer a new start and hopefully recapture the excitement the league matches used to provide... Anything is better than the same mundane existence...

That pretty much sums everything up. , Forgetting about the last line of the list, but the rest could be set in stone as the direction that this sport intends to go... Nobody expects miracles and Rome wasn't built in a day, but we need to start somewhere and there no time like the present...…… I have often asked the question about tyres, and who is the main benefactor of the contract of supplying every match with 14 tyres . Howe touch on it in his column and spoke of the added costs to promoters, like he said if riders were responsible they would more often than not use them for 2 meetings. Why not have harder compound that last longer. It appears to me the tyre supplier is holding all the aces, making a pretty penny out of a sport that can ill afford such elaborate ideas... Cant believe a sport, so desperate to make ends meet , would agree to such an expensive operation …. The mine boggles......

I would have thought the emphasis would have always been on the sport in general and the fans. Running a sport for the sole benefit of the riders was always a recipe for disaster. I feel we only have ourselves to blame, cause anybody with any sense could see the figures don't add up , yet we continued making petty changes believing the product is right and the public will come back. At last, it seems the penny has dropped, now everyone is talking of change,. Lets hope the people in charge have the strength to make anew beginning, and come up with a workable idea, that can take the sport forward for years to come. NB I must say, I was well impressed with that SUPERHEAT SPEEDWAY. What a brilliant idea. We need to do something drastic because the tired and trusted league formula has lost its appeal. Why should we expect the public to come and watch league meetings when they mean nothing. Probably if there were more emphasis put on each meeting the fans would find them more appealing..

I would like to congratulate the SS this week for their current issue, sure offers a good read. Have spent much of today reading the various columns, and it so easy to see those different views from assorted positions. It appears that all of them realise the dire situation the sport finds itself in, but they all share different ideas of what is wrong... I personally appreciated the views of DAVID HOWE who tried to explain the costs involved for the rider, He spoke openly about the rising costs that need to be addressed. It is obvious that the sport cant go in this same way.... Would love to be a fly on the wall at the forth coming AGM just to see who speaks out for the sport and what ideas they come up with.

Years ago the rider was of secondary importance to the Club, but now the rider holds all the aces. With their demands, their costings and their distant relation with the clubs, they have to take some responsibility for the way this sport has declined. They appear as mercenaries taking the sport for all they can get, giving little back in return. Like you say the majority of riders want to rush off to their next payday. If the rider cant give 110% to the club then don't sign them, Would much rather have a lesser rider who gives his all, then someone who goes missing because of fixture clashes The phase 'second halves' is old fashioned. what the punter wants is a well organised meeting that flows through the evening. We could start with a 15min practice session , to help riders set their bike up, then a 5min break to regrade the track, before the meeting starts in earnest. After 4 heats another 5min break, again to regrade the track, another 4 heats then another break . We see this every week in the polish league and it works like clockwork.... Midway though the meeting there could be a set of races for youngsters starting out , before the climate at the end of the night. Presentation and a scheduled program is more important than anything, It would enable the fans the opportunity to get drinks or pop to the loo without them long delays...

The biggest indication of the attraction, that this sport has, is that it is incapable of retaining the interest of the current die-hard supporters let alone attract new ones. But the BSPA, ACU don't appear to grasp this dire situation. Governed by Promoters with personal objectives , the sport has always been the second thought. So antiquated in their ideas and the way they address the fans is appalling. They don't seem to grasp the importance of them fans, and it is little wonder they lose interest. They have this secret society that you are not allowed to know the problems or the plans. Its about time they realise we are on the same side and we all want the sport to prosper. While the fans are continued to be treated like mushrooms nothing will ever change. There's not much time left...

As a timed served 'Motor Nut' I can see the merits of all different forms of Motor sports , but try not to makes comparisons. They all have their own individuality. Most of these sports are associated with racing but that's not to say they are the same. You cant expect a F1 cars to do the same as other forms of racing, and likewise the other forms of racing, they all have their own importance. F1, and MotoGP are the pinnacle of their sports and all forms of motor sport can learn a lot from their lead. Yes of cause it sometimes is boring, but that can be labelled against any hobby and pastime. It would be wonderful if all tracks were like NSS , and every rider was like Robert Lambert , but in truth that is just wishful thinking. Like him or loathe him, Lewis Hamilton is an exceptional talent. Yes he may have the best car but he has tremendous talent to compete against the worlds best.. I despise Marquez for the way he rubbished Rossi, depriving him of that 2016 world crown, but that doesn't blind me to his obvious ability. In every sport, there are angles to be appreciated, and that is what has enthralled me throughout my life. I would find it difficult to position them in order of enjoyment, so I'm not even bothering to try. Back in the 50's my first love was scrambling, But I hadn't seen Mike Hailwood or met up with Barry Sheene then A TT nut many years, it was much later when I was introduced to Motor Racing, Speedway was always a local activity, It was only in recent years when the SGP started, did it operate on a worldwide stage. What a pity it is still being run by people with personal agendas. Until that is addressed, it will never change its image of a' Mickey Mouse' sport...

Of those 11 riders we used in 2018, two additional riders were replacements of Kerr ( long term injury) and Rose (Retire from the sport) plus another was used for injury cover for Andersen. So a more realistic number of changes, for changes sake, would be much less. Kings Lynn have never been a side to change riders at will and would usually allow them time to find their feet again. It would be wrong to make comparison against other clubs who regularly change just because riders have a off night.. NB. But in saying that , I don't believe the Stars team would have been so close to honours had it not been for injuries suffered and retired personnel.. We would never have changed those riders had it not been forced on us. It was only the late acquisitions of MPT and Riss that propelled us into a winning team. This is why I found losing hard to take. I cannot see this ever happening again because this went against everything the Stars stand for. We are a team who stick together through thick and thin. We are happy to retain the assembled team for the whole season, we have never had that winning mentality, we accept losing as a matter of course . This is why losing that final created the deepest cut of them all. That once in a lifetime opportunity, had gone forever .

I find it very difficult to be precise about the track make-up as I know very little of making a track good or bad..... . My only opinion relates to what I see when watching home meetings. My reality of a grippy track is that it gives every rider the same conditions where can all find the ample traction. This develops into a follow the leader scenario because all the riders, regardless of their position, are all finding situation conditions... It the shale was more limited and the riders had to go hunting for better grip, my thinking is that the better riders would be more successful finding little bit extra, needed to get by the rider in front.... I may be talking out my arse, but I have seen some truly wonderful meetings on a slick track .

I think this grippy track syndrome is a fallacy of Buster thinking. His believes that it helps the Stars to win, but does more damage to the sport than anything else. It turns meeting into processions and riders lose their ability to race. Niels has openly said he dislikes grippy tracks so if Buster continues making the AFA that way then it pointless signing riders like Niels... Its about time he realised, fans want watch excitement, not this follow the leader rubbish.,,,

That just about sums this sport up in one post. Any belief I may have had accumulated in the 54 years of following the Stars, dispersed over them 2 legs. Everybody has their own agenda making the sport, laughing stock. Never have I witness such ridiculous decisions, shambolic organisation and abusing of the rules, all to suit one's own case. This is not a specific dig at Poole, no more than it is at Lynn, or the BSPA and the Referees. they are all as bad as each other, degrading , what was once a brilliant sporting pastime... The only people of the sport I still have respect for is the fans. They are the one group that have remained faithful and true throughout. What a pity they are the last people to be considered and the first to be treated with contempt . Like I say when you don't believe in it , There's no point in going anymore.....

Strange that !! when my dad was in the Metropolitan Police, back in the early 40's , he said he use to ride a old Rudge with 4 valves I thought he was probably romancing, trying to compare his old steed to todays bikes... He would say they were very heavy and needed someone to help when they fell over, but the engines were still quite quick...…

Going back to that night against Newport, brings back some wonderful memories. Everybody in the pits was buzzing about those two bikes. all gathering around to look at this new idea. Phil's engine was complete, but Niels had the top rocker cover held together with plastic tape... Apparently he hadn't had the time to finish making them but wanted to try them out at Lynn meeting. I one lasting memory of that night was seeing Andy Lee , who had accompanied Michael to those interval practice sessions, talking with Neil Street about the technology involved with the bike. They were going on about , dwell angle, pitch centres, advance timing, They were both so wrapped up in details and ideas, they both looked so happy and, to some, looked as though they were on drugs. they were oblivious of everyone. Wish I had taken a picture of those 2 men so wrapped up in this new idea. Brilliant memories.... I never made that comment . I have never run Woffy down and believe he could be one of the all time greats. What I did say was that the machinery is more important now than it ever was in the past, meaning you need a fast bike just to be competitive. If you want to twist that round to suit your argument then so it.. But don't make out I said it....

Could have been 74, thought he moved from Lynn early 73 , but will check

That was the start of the technology that put more emphasis on the bikes. Back in 1973 when Kings Lynn were riding against Newport, Street and Crumpy came to Saddlebow Road with two new inventions 'the Street 4 valvers'. They were ridiculous quick that gave them almighty advantage. It wasn't so much that Crump scored a maximum but the distance he won by. Neil Street, although getting on in years was still a competent competitor who raced to 11 points.. Sitting in the pits with Terry Betts during the interval, he suggested the bikes should be banned, because if not, every rider would have to get one. and that's going to cost the fans more money... By the time Lee started back in '75, 4 valvers were in full swing. The 2 valves died an instant death... Jawa, Weslakes and GM were all the rage, but they were never tuned to the levels they are today. Back in the mid 70's most riders rode standard bikes it was only the privilege few that had works machinery….

Of all the speedway periods I have watched, I do believe the 70's and 80's were the most enjoyable. but also the most defining time of bike technology Racing then was so different where the emphasis was more on the rider than on the bike. Racing was closer and more exciting, and because the UK was the centre of the speedway world, every decent rider raced here regularly for various teams... There is nowhere in the world that has the variation of tracks like we have here in England, and that has a massive bearing when comparing riders of today against those of yesteryear. Once upon a time a good rider could get on any bike and win, but not now. The machinery now has so much importance .A poor rider can get on a quick bike and make himself look good. Todays bikes are high revving speed machines that require a totally different skill than those of the past. coupled that, to the track design, helps to make speedway today so much faster, and processional. . So when trying to compare Woffy with riders from the past, comparisons can only be based on ones opinions, PC was an exceptional rider, in his time. He was the first British rider to compete with the top boys of the world and bring joy to the home fans. He was the first one to wrestle supremacy away from Sweden, Denmark, and New Zealand, and led the way for the influx of many British riders... PC singled the start of British domination in world speedway. I always felt he deserved more than his solitary crown , and no doubt had it not been for injury he would have won more... Racing on these shores every week made him more of a household name and the big crowds appreciated his cavalier style. non more so than SOLDIER BOY...….. I do believe, now a married man and a father, Woffy has grown into a more responsible person. this has shown in his riding . Determined and calculated, Woffy has all the attributes to be one of the all time greats. Always fast and daring, missing the gate is not normally a problem. If he stays injury free I see no reason why Woffy cant win even more World Championships. Can't blame him for riding on the continent against his fiercest rival , but its hard for home fans to miss out on seeing him every week. No doubt its much easier riding those tailor made tracks instead of the more difficult one here. So to conclude on who was best in my opinion. I'm going to go for PC, He was one of the few riders that worried Michael Lee. and that says a lot in my book...

No not at all, my comments were in reply to the suggestion of a double header against the same team. I too remember going to double headers against different teams and it was a much sort after meeting. When there are 3 teams there were always plenty of riders for guesting should anyone get hurt. I remember last year against Wolves we only had 4 riders for the second match, and what a farce that was... In a situation like that, a one match double points would have been far more sensible..

Becoming very sceptical in my old age, I too have questioned the attraction of running double headers against the same team. When the importance of league racing is used solely as qualification of those end-of-season 4 team tournament , what difference would it make to run one match with double points... No, its not ideal, but the fans wont get bored watching the same teams racing, the fans wont get ripped off paying extra, and the promoters wont have to gamble on making enough not to lose out. With so much wrong with this sport, this is a extra obstacle that nobody wants. If both promoters agree to play for double points then why not....

Yeah, I remember it well. Whether I would rate it as the best would be debatable. If this question was opened up to other sports I am sure Road Racing would have far more candidates then we get from Speedway. Hailwood Vs Agostini (Post TT meeting), and Sheene V Baker ( Anglo America Challenge) would also come into consideration. What about Rossi in the pouring rain at Doddington, all brilliant races that linger in the memories.. Probably if I was asked about the best race I had ever seen, I would pick Dave Bickers in the Trophy De Nations meeting at Shrubland Park in 1962 This was a meeting where all the best riders in the world were representing their country. A packed venue eagerly awaited the start, only to be dismayed to see home favourite Dave Bickers struggle to get his bike going. He was a 100yds last as they disappeared into the woodland circuit. It took 2 laps before he had caught up with the pack, and in the proceeding 45 mins, he waltz his magic through the entire field of 45 riders. to be in contention as they started the last lap. Jeff Smith had been battling with Torsten Hallman for supremacy the whole race, but from no-where, Bickers came and conquered all in that final race to the line. Such was the victory, the 30,000 crowd created a Buzz that everyone could feel. They had witnessed something really special but no one believed it... A truly, awesome performance, that in my eyes placed Bickers on a pedestal few have ever managed to reach..

We will have to disagree there, for the only reason you were successful was the untimely injuries to NKI and MPT. (That forgetting about guest inquisition and bad Referee call) up to that point you were definitely second best (third Position in the league). In the latter part of the season we went 10 matches unbeaten, so I question your statement of Poole being the strongest in the league... Like Poole the Stars were at the bottom of the league early on, a fact conveniently missed by Tatum and Pearson when forever praising their favourite team. but we rose to them dizzy height of topping the league, something we had never done before. The signing of the year was undoubtedly that of Erik Riss. He has been a revelation since stepping up to the Premier class. I have always been a fan of watching Bomber and don't want to rubbish him. He has done well at this stage of his career, but he never won a single race in that final. I have refuse to congratulate Poole on their fortunate success, because I felt we were destined to lose a title we had fought so hard for, by so many strokes of miss-fortune. If you had won by a creditable margin, I would have been the first to say well done, but to scrape home by a mere 4 pts after all the bad luck we had suffered shows how fortunate you really were....

What a statement. But every team strives to be the best team, wanting to win those spoils. With these playoff, now it all boils down to LUCK over those 2 matches This could be the reason why fans are losing interest and disappearing. Play-off may be a financial benefit to the winning team but it does nothing for the integrity of the sport.. If the public cant understand the happenings, what chance is there of them wanting to come and watch... The only reason fans come and watch the final, is because the rest of the season has been rendered unimportant... Probably if there were more importance placed on league racing, the support would be more favourable ...

It was so obvious to anyone with an ounce of common sense, our season finished the instant Jakobsen took MPT out to which resulted in a broken wrist. The effect on the Lynn team was massive. MPT was irreplaceable.... As good as Robert has performed this year, it was not until we signed Erik Riss did the team start to perform. The MAIN reason for this is that in MPT we had a quality rider at reserve, someone who could cover extra rides when his team-mates faltered. Eliminating our strongest link was catastrophic , and finding a replacement has proved impossible.... Because of the monumental effect this instance had on the proceedings I feel it is wrong that a rider can commit an offence of this nature and walk away scot free, regardless of intent or accidental . In football and other sports the offending person can be penalised, and be banned for future matches. Probably, if there was a reprimand of this nature, some riders would be more aware of the consequences of wayward riding... NB this is not a dig at Poole or Jakobsen, but I think riders should shoulder some responsibility when incidents like this happens....

So true, on so may points, I too have those same feelings regard to the guests and that alone could have had made all the difference between winning and losing.... I don't believe the league will allow us to have such a strong team in the future, so in the context of having an opportunity, it will never be better than it was this year...

First may I congratulate Garry May and the Somerset Rebels on their success of winning the KO cup. Without doubt, you were the best team in the final. The fact you achieved this with half a team and 3guests merely highlights how poor the Stars were. What was suppose to be a season finale, turned into a damp squib.. I've experienced more atmosphere in a dentist waiting room. The place was dead. On a night when we had to wait 5 heats before we had a race winner, any thought of a come back were gone by that time. The only pairing to offer any excitement was Lambert and Riss, who showed the others how it is suppose to be done.... Like I have said, I have fallen out of love with this sport and see so many things that disappoints me, for that reason this was probably my last meeting. I'm so fed-up with the consistent gate and go races. the track is that grippy the only rider prepared to fight from the back is usually Lambert. Most races are decided but the back straight.. Why did we have to stand around in the cold for half an hour waiting for the meeting to start?? They said it was about the team formation, but we all know it was to allow the late comers time to get in . Again our guest selection was dire, never in a million years would he come close to the standard of MPT. His inclusion all but sealed our fate. The respect I once had for NKI is fast disappearing, Tonight he was selfish. he obviously had a point to prove, an axe to grind, but to whom. The fans here use to love him when every week he would perform to the highest level. But not any more.. For three races he couldn't care lass, he rode like a novice, 50 yds adrift, shutting off halfway down the straight, his application was nil. Then come heat 13, the toughest race of the night, he makes a lightening start and is gone, leaving the likes of Doyle and Bomber well adrift.. whether he has issues with Dale or Buster I don't know, but one thing for sure he didn't enthral anybody with his performance last night. Its as if the fans don't matter. a 16pt mountain was always to high to climb, but we could have made a fight of it..... Probably, more sceptical than most, I feel this could have been our water shed season. Everything was in place to write our chapter in the history books, but unfortunately we fell way short. I cant imagine there ever being a better chance then we had this year , but as usual, we ended up with nothing. The brilliant fireworks display at the end ensured we finished the season with a bang, just a pity it wasn't reflected on the track....

And that's the problem with our sport. You say, some we win and some we lose.. the only problem with that is all the other matches throughout the season are not important. to lose a league match is of no consequence. According to the design of the whole speedway season its only the play-offs that matter. So my suggestion to our team of riders , is if you want to have an off night do it during the season when it don't matter a bit. If you are going to have an off night in the finals then we have to ask ourselves 'What's the point of it all'