Happy New ?? Year

Well a new season under way - yes one rain- off and the New Year classic to get things started and already there is a feeling of deja vu.

It all started with the news from the BSPA conference – well who was expecting any significant changes ? Anybody who was cannot have been following speedway for very long !! I certainly wasn’t, but I was hopeful ! – ever the optimist ! And still the letters about tactical rides find their way into “The Star”. Well there’s obviously no point in labouring the issue but one point I would make is that it is somewhat unfair to keep comparing speedway with “It’s a Knockout”. By comparison “It’s a Knockout” was professionally run and “The Joker” could be played by any team at any time. Obviously it was better to use it in your teams strongest event – tactical eh ! It was not for the sole use of the team who happened to be well............ behind ! – enough said !

Back to the New Year Classic, one of those meetings that for some reason you have to go to and then some 2 hours later standing in the cold and rain you wonder why ? The racing is usually far from classic but it’s good to get a whiff of Castrol R and hear those engines rev again. You hope the meeting will be run without delay particularly after reading the promoters piece in “The Star” but I’d hate to see what happens when they take it easy !! In all fairness there were one or two good races and I think “Bomber” was completely taken by surprise at David Howe’s pass on him on the final bend.

I don’t know what local exposure the meeting gets but you could be forgiven for thinking that it may be a meeting speedway virgins might attend. So you might think that slick presentation could help to attract a few more followers – pity we are the only ones thinking that way !! One race was delayed because a rider was ineligible to ride – he was only on an amateur licence – shouldn’t this have been sorted out before the off and why does the track need grading after every race ?

Apart from Mr Stone’s insight into how to run an outdoor winter meet we have also been treated in recent weeks to the BSPA Chairman’s address – a sort of state of the union speech. Vision and inspiration were two words that didn’t immediately spring to mind. One thing you can say about speedway promoters is that they don’t build your hopes up and then let you down. You know where you are and it’ll probably stay that way. Reading between the lines it looks like Mr Toogood has had the enthusiasm knocked out of him and it sounds like the thrashings will continue until morale improves. It seems like he has realised what the problem is but the rest of them haven’t realised they are part of it !! A good and successful business listens to its customers, I SAID A GOOD AND SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS LISTENS TO ITS CUSTOMERS !!

The fact Birmingham now has a team can only be good for speedway and it will no doubt bring back a lot of supporters who were lost to the sport. Let’s hope people who have never seen the sport before will also go along to the new track and be impressed enough to become supporters.

Well on to speedway’s flagship event the GP. Changes have been made in this season’s scoring system to make sure that no-one runs away with it. Points are now available in the two semis and double points in the final. That should make it closer and should make for a grandstand finish. The total points difference between a GP winner and runner up may end up only being one point, actually winning GP’s will not be as crucial. Well it wasn’t for Mark Loram either!! This year actually introduces an extra GP, and at a new venue too, Gelsenkirchen in what has been described by the mayor of Gelsenkirchen as a six star stadium – well he would wouldn’t he. 52,000 capacity with a retractable roof a la Cardiff. England football fans may remember it as where their dreams were shattered – mind you why should they remember that venue particularly ? I think this will also be the 100^th GP, so could be special then. Only thing is Germany has not hosted a GP for some time and you have to wonder if it will attract enough supporters to make it viable. Crowds for GP’S generally were slightly down last season with the Lonigo event having the poorest attendance. All attendances are quoted on www.speedwayfan.co.uk They have been collected from the official FIM website over the years and its interesting to note that figures from some venues seem to be guesstimates rounded up or down to the nearest 1000 or so whereas others seem to be real numbers. Make of that what you will.

What do supporters want for the new season ? Well it’s clear that we are stuck with the unpopular tac-sub rule for at least another season so lets make some wishes that may be more easily granted.

Meetings that start on time – not too much to ask for surely – it wouldn’t even cost anything.

Well prepared fair tracks

Meetings that are run without delays such as constant grading

Clean facilities with toilet paper !!

I don’t think it’s much to ask and it may help to turn first timers into supporters.

Promoters remember that unlikely as this sounds there may be someone in the crowd who is new to the sport. What impression will they be left with after 15 minutes of speedway, 45 minutes of tractor racing, 60 minutes of 80’s hits being played through a tin can and the fact that you have had to save someone from drowning in the Gents !

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Issue 24 Spring 2007