bellevueace

Im not arguing the fact but it was taken seriously by the mainstream media during the golden eras, becoming the number two spectator sport, nowadays it has become a big issue with the fanbase, i agree its not ideal, perhaps your suggestion would be better. Wasnt it last season when a play off meeting was getting pelters in Poland for a woefully understrength side being put out do to injuries? I dont really follow the sport over there but im sure there was some mention of it.

The guest rider rule has always been part of speedway, yes its not an ideal system when riders turn up in in opposing colours and its a difficult one to explain to newbies, but really without it how would a club be able to replace their number one rider especially through injury? Theres really only R/R would that really be an adequate cover scoring the points of the top man? Sometimes it does work out. I think the only realistic way is to have a squad system which the sport cant afford, years ago we would see say Ivan Mauger missing a meeting to be replaced by Ronnie Moore, it does seem to be more an issue with fans today, if Jack Holder for whatever reason misses the play off matches and didnt bring a guest in tigers fans surely wouldnt be happy? I think its just a necessary evil in the sport.

Zmarslik has always looked a lot faster than most, and today the weight is the main issue.

No substitute for class eh?

I respect your opinion but he isnt competing against riders with the same ability as those above especially the earlier eras where dropping a couple of points meant title dreams were gone, no second chances to gain the title after a couple of bad rides. You cant compare Fundin, Briggs, Craven, Moore, for example for the level of competition they were against to the level of competition today, the field is far weaker in comparison. Yes he has a great talent but so many variables come into play, machinery, tracks etc.

Doyle and Lindgen have been past their best, the new guard Holder, Bewley, etc havent as yet stepped up to the level of consitency required, Lambert looks way off too, there are wild cards that really shouldnt be at the level getting qualification due to their nationalitly not ability, far from the days of world finals when several riders in the field could be seen as realistic winners. Only for Brady there is nobody stepping up. Then you have the scoring system where you can afford to score say 8 points win the final and collect 20 yes its the same for everyone but my point about eras is riders couldnt afford to drop so many points and have a hope of being crowned champion, Loram for example became champion without actually winning a round. No one is doubting Zmarsliks talent on a bike but to say hes the best that has ever sat on a bike i dont agree with. The best of his era definately.

Have to disagree mate in past eras especially before the GP,s where every rider had to qualify through difficult rounds and there was far more hard riding opponents wouldnt just open the door, take out Brady theres been no competition apart from Laguta for one season. Its about opinions but the sport today is far removed from what it has been, in any sport you cant compare different times. Usyk has acheived more than Ali was he greater, could each have adapted to different eras? I think when talking about sporting greats we have to look at their particular era.

You certainly cant compare the eras.

Goat possibly in the grand prix era but today its a far cry from the days of Crump, Rikardsson, Gollob, Adams, Pederson etc, and certainly cant compare the GP,s with the one offs with the stupid scoring and now the sprint race. Different eras yes but i turned this off GP,s just dont do it for me im afraid, the novelty wore off a while back, suppose its just personal preference.

I remember going down to Wimbledon in horrible weather and seeing a good meeting, modern day machinery wouldnt be able to handle the conditions, though according to reports there were riders willing to give it a go at Sheffield.

Its the reason fans dont travel away if there is the slightest doubt about the weather, years ago down went the sawdust on went the overalls and away they went. Nowadays with the modern bikes not a chance of that happening, i cant comment here as i didnt see the track but as some wanted to ride and others didnt i would imagine the referee would go with the majority?

This does seem to happen far more than back in the day when riders were loyal to their teams it was their club, and there was a real rivalry riders we,rnt seen stood in the opposite side of the pits chinwagging with rivals, there was far more altercations between them that created real atmospheres but they were not rivals one night and team mates the next. No wonder we dont see the characters of yesteryear.

We should have brought in Jack Smith to replace Max fricke 🤣

Obsessed with us mate.

He was never going to make it.

Living rent free in his head 🤣

Another thing i always remember is travelling to away matches by coach, i can remember 6 coaches leaving the Belle Vue complex going down to Swindon covered in scarves pictures of the riders/team in the windows. What was great going down to Wembley when we got down to the Midlands we would be travelling along with coaches from Wolves, Cradley, Coventry all decked out had some great banter at the services.

The BLRC at Hyde Road was always an incredible meeting, all the top riders a line up that was better than the world final, 20,000 crowds, and the fun fair as previously mentioned. I also loved it when each track had their own individual meeting The Golden Hammer at Cradley, The Brandonapolis at Coventry, the Internationale at Wimbledon, and The Pride of the East at Kings lynn imagine individual meetings and challenge matches drawing crowds today?

I remember Brandon always being criticised for a lack of dirt.

I used to go to meetings with soldier boy met him when i was staying in the union jack club in london as i was going to Kings lynn v Belle Vue by train, he was going along too we missed the last train back and had to thumb it remember him eating all the drivers sandwiches. 🤣

It doesnt take me that long cycling, you can take the tram too

As regards the gate and go track some people dont understand the impact conditions like yesterday bring for the track staff, no matter what the track these type of conditions make track prep really challenging. You only have to look at it to see this is no way a gate and go track, it was created purely for racing and is one of the best in the country in my opinion.As for the proper bar well who is to say in time there wont be something similar to what Somerset had on the first bend?

I enjoyed my first visit to Northside very impressed by the overall set up, one look at the track you can see its designed to give riders the opportunity to race so without a doubt that will provide some great racing, the conditions being hot, dry, and with that stiff breeze that was blowing made it very difficult for the track staff. Its does also seem to have the capacity to be developed further as the club progresses, reminded me a bit of Somerset and how that developed. I will certainly be back, at first it looked like the Monarchs were going to win at a canter but Comets made a great fight back to take the last heat decider. A great day out except for the 45 mins delay on the M6 for an accident and a 1 hour delay on the A66 where i believe the air ambulance was called out, but it didnt spoil the day, congratulations to all that brought the Comets back with this facility.

Even fans in the stadium dont know the attendance only an estimation and fans do tend to over estimate their own clubs. Sad really when nowadays people boast about crowds of 2 to 3 thousand, i can remember when every club ran with five figure crowds as the norm, including individual and challenge meetings, imagine them being supported today? Fact is speedway has fallen massively out of the general publics conscience for a number of reasons.