Bagpuss Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago If they have a motorway blade then stocks and speedway on the same circuit is not an issue. I can't believe its something they won't have thought about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapewrecker Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago 1 hour ago, Hamish McRaker said: More like Drip, drip, drip Jesus. Is it raining🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapewrecker Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago 5 hours ago, gjcone44 said: they need to be handing out free tickets for 1st meeting round the town centre, get a bit of atmosphere. I will nominate you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 14 hours ago Report Share Posted 14 hours ago 1 hour ago, Eagle77 said: Speedway really is incredible... You'd think they'd want to get as much information out there as soon as possible to try to generate a bit of local interest... Instead it's... We have a brand new exciting venture for you to follow... We won't tell you whose in charge... We won't tell you whose running the team... We won't tell you whose riding for the team... Roll Up... Roll Up... Well meaning amateurs.... They will happily lay out a good seven figures to riders each season, as a collective, who no one outside the UK Speedway bubble will know who they are .. Yet "Jack S**t" to a modern day marketing team who may stimulate interest.... Ridiculously daft..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoundTheBoards Posted 12 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 12 hours ago 2 hours ago, 1 valve said: They have their reasons for the delay in releasing full details of the “new” club. And, as they are the folk making it happen it is their prerogative to decide when that will be. Meanwhile let’s be grateful for this positive step in the current tough times for British speedway and wish the promoters and all concerned all the best of luck in their endeavours to make Northampton a long term success. Obviously, there have been problems to overcome, and it's taken longer than hoped for to bring Northampton online. But yesterday we got the news that Northampton are running. Today we got their fixture list. And in the coming days we'll know the promoter, team manager and the riders. We have positive news coming out, and still people are moaning? Unbelievable. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris116 Posted 11 hours ago Report Share Posted 11 hours ago All those who are worried about the track surface may want to know some of the history. Spedeworth changed it from tarmac to shale to ensure the Dutch F1 drivers continued to support major events at the track. The shale was laid on top of the tarmac (I don't know how deep it is) and Spedeworth have worked hard to make it a good surface which does not rut up with the F1's on full power. I am sure they have the equipment to make the track suitable for Speedway a few days after a Stock Car meeting as Deane Wood, the boss of Spedeworth, would not want to have his stadium criticised for a poor track surface. He was a very accomplished Stock Car driver and understands how the track surface is critical in making for good racing. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamish McRaker Posted 9 hours ago Report Share Posted 9 hours ago 4 hours ago, Tapewrecker said: Jesus. Is it raining🤣 Slow and gradual reveal always builds the interest level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teromaafan Posted 9 hours ago Report Share Posted 9 hours ago 2 hours ago, Chris116 said: All those who are worried about the track surface may want to know some of the history. Spedeworth changed it from tarmac to shale to ensure the Dutch F1 drivers continued to support major events at the track. The shale was laid on top of the tarmac (I don't know how deep it is) and Spedeworth have worked hard to make it a good surface which does not rut up with the F1's on full power. I am sure they have the equipment to make the track suitable for Speedway a few days after a Stock Car meeting as Deane Wood, the boss of Spedeworth, would not want to have his stadium criticised for a poor track surface. He was a very accomplished Stock Car driver and understands how the track surface is critical in making for good racing. So the track surface is shale, great start then! How about the track’s shape, banking etc when it comes to speedway racing? The Leicester track continues to be slaughtered to this day because of its shape. Northampton have a track (to be applauded) but with all the work that has supposedly been carried out, how much attention has been paid to providing a racing spectacle? We’ll soon find out I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted 8 hours ago Report Share Posted 8 hours ago 9 minutes ago, Teromaafan said: So the track surface is shale, great start then! How about the track’s shape, banking etc when it comes to speedway racing? The Leicester track continues to be slaughtered to this day because of its shape. Northampton have a track (to be applauded) but with all the work that has supposedly been carried out, how much attention has been paid to providing a racing spectacle? We’ll soon find out I suppose. Plenty of pictures online Just about 400 metres with long straights and tight turns to my eye Reasonable although not significant banking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teromaafan Posted 8 hours ago Report Share Posted 8 hours ago 16 minutes ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said: Plenty of pictures online Just about 400 metres with long straights and tight turns to my eye Reasonable although not significant banking So we’re going by photos on the track’s suitability then? Perhaps best to let some riders do a few laps and let them make the call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebrum Posted 7 hours ago Report Share Posted 7 hours ago 7 hours ago, M.D said: Loves his speedway too.. But a dreadful speedway presenter. fantastic news that the club is coming to the tapes this season. i wish them all the best. I hope I can make a visit sometime this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoundTheBoards Posted 7 hours ago Author Report Share Posted 7 hours ago 49 minutes ago, Teromaafan said: So we’re going by photos on the track’s suitability then? Perhaps best to let some riders do a few laps and let them make the call. Who says they haven't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted 5 hours ago Report Share Posted 5 hours ago TBH Northampton have saved the Prem League. Last season the top 4 competed for best placing, King's Lynn were trying to get into the play offs, Birmingham & Oxford were battling each other to avoid the wooden spoon. With just 5 teams, the play off teams will likely soon be obvious, the 5th would've soon been dropped off & have nothing to ride for..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted 1 hour ago Report Share Posted 1 hour ago 7 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said: Plenty of pictures online Just about 400 metres with long straights and tight turns to my eye Reasonable although not significant banking It's a terrible shape for quality speedway racing. Belle Vue Hyde Road was about same lap length but completely different shape and gave top class racing "out of the top drawer". I suppose Northampton fulfills a need.....6 teams in the Premiership. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted 58 minutes ago Report Share Posted 58 minutes ago 4 hours ago, martinmauger said: TBH Northampton have saved the Prem League. Last season the top 4 competed for best placing, King's Lynn were trying to get into the play offs, Birmingham & Oxford were battling each other to avoid the wooden spoon. With just 5 teams, the play off teams will likely soon be obvious, the 5th would've soon been dropped off & have nothing to ride for..... Saved the second tier too... Those five or six riders which Northampton will use, who DU, will now get the other part of their two part salary covered.. The only reason for two tiers of racing existing is so the majority of riders can DU, and clubs can therefore share the costs of this majority of riders... There simply isn't any other reason for two tiers of Speedway in the UK.... There is no promotion or relegation due to no aspirational, organic growth being possible due to crowd numbers at the majority of UK tracks, and there are no higher rewards for winning either league.. Northampton have been "parachuted" in to the top tier, just to ensure the operating model and business plan keeps going.. No one knows if crowds will be on average (like they are at most tracks (with the odd outlier), "tier one level" (1200/1400), or "tier two level", (600/800) however, it is just vital they go into tier one as some riders would have missed out on a DU place.... It surely must be one league of fifteen teams next year? Five rider teams if needed... That would actually then look like a "Championship" worth winning and give a good geographical spread across the nation to promote the sport as a "National" one... And look more secure, and relevant, from the view of any potential track developers, with safety in numbers, and collective resistance, being possible... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 valve Posted 11 minutes ago Report Share Posted 11 minutes ago 20 minutes ago, mikebv said: Saved the second tier too... Those five or six riders which Northampton will use, who DU, will now get the other part of their two part salary covered.. The only reason for two tiers of racing existing is so the majority of riders can DU, and clubs can therefore share the costs of this majority of riders... There simply isn't any other reason for two tiers of Speedway in the UK.... There is no promotion or relegation due to no aspirational, organic growth being possible due to crowd numbers at the majority of UK tracks, and there are no higher rewards for winning either league.. Northampton have been "parachuted" in to the top tier, just to ensure the operating model and business plan keeps going.. No one knows if crowds will be on average (like they are at most tracks (with the odd outlier), "tier one level" (1200/1400), or "tier two level", (600/800) however, it is just vital they go into tier one as some riders would have missed out on a DU place.... It surely must be one league of fifteen teams next year? Five rider teams if needed... That would actually then look like a "Championship" worth winning and give a good geographical spread across the nation to promote the sport as a "National" one... And look more secure, and relevant, from the view of any potential track developers, with safety in numbers, and collective resistance, being possible... The purpose of having to tolerate doubling up is far from solely providing income stream for riders. It also enables the current number of clubs to function which is in fact the main reason promoters continue to endorse it. The concept of dumbing down the sport by having one league comprising the same or similar number of existing teams to include NDL level & similar limited rider ability or by fielding five man teams is not the answer. The way forward should be towards establishing top flight elite speedway of professional teams of eight and a second tier of semi-pro/ amateur teams. This concept should also enable the existing promoters to be split into two groups of a)professional & b)hobbyists. The professional group investing and promoting Elite speedway would amongst other things be responsible for the face of growing awareness of the sport to media and sponsorship. Whilst the second group providing growth and development opportunities alongside lower related running costs. There are now more than a few promoters who are well established businesses folk capable of developing the sport. Those same folk whilst prepared to run a team in the existing environment are not prepared to dig deep financially to create change whist the hobbyist’s continue to be blockers to any form of change which would cause their current influence to be significantly diluted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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