On the National Speedway Museum website John Chaplin, the renowned Speedway historian, has this to say about Gardening at the Gate : " ...the
irritating and time-consuming habit of riders digging grooves in the track surface at the starting line with the object of creating a launch pad to
project themselves into the first turn ahead of their rivals. Getting groovy at the gate may bring a feel-good factor to the competitive agenda of
many big-time throttle jockeys, who also use it as a psychological tactic to unsettle opponents alongside.
But it infuriates fans, frustrates starting marshals and television directors and also fearfully annoys referees."