Back in Time

Interesting isn’t it but we always talk about the good old days and things not being the same. Well I suppose that one day these will be the good old days and some one will be writing about them in a nostalgic magazine but what will be the state of speedway then ?

Speedway for me started in the 1978 season. That year there were 20 teams in the National League. Meetings were run over 13 heats and with a second half of 7 races including 2 for reserves/juniors you had a programme of 20 races that were usually completed in under two and a half hours. With 19 home league meetings, a knockout cup round, an individual meeting, a round of the 4 team tournament, and a couple of challenge matches including an international side there was a good mix of fixtures.

This was the base-line from where I suppose I compare all that has happened since. Others who have been following the sport for longer than me may rue the day silencers were introduced or when the 4 valve engine became de rigueur. Me, I don’t really think you can pin it down to any one thing. The success and popularity of the sport has been on a downward trend ever since 1978 and maybe even before that time. This to me is underlined by the fact that I have been to Wembley on two occasions for one-off world finals when there were around 95,000 spectators, now the combined total over 10 grand prix hardly matches that. As has been said before your average bloke in the street in the late seventies knew the names of at least one rider (Ivan Mauger) and he had quite possibly also heard of a certain Mr Collins. Now I sometimes have to explain what speedway is - so the name Tony Rickardsson would be meaningless. The fact that speedway is on Sky has not brought it to a new audience.

This close season some big decisions clearly have to be made for the good of the sport and not just for certain promoters. How many times have we said this ! It’s clear that a good number of tracks are struggling financially and the pressure is again on to cut costs. This however must not detract from the sport and one thing that cannot be compromised is the product. Going back to 1978 we had 20/22 races now we get 15 but we are still at the track for around the same length of time – why ? What was wrong with the old second half anyway ? It gave the reserves and juniors chance to mix it with the senior riders and there was a chance that a local company may sponsor the second half final.

As a long time supporter I feel short-changed at some meetings – what must new supporters feel.

And why can some tracks run 21 races in two hours (Wolverhampton’s Olympique) while others – one just 30 miles up the M6 - take two and a half hours to run just 15 !

Presentation is key. Getting rid of daft rules like the tactical ride would also be good. Guests are a problem too. Outsiders have never understood this one and despite past efforts to reduce the number they still seem to proliferate. When guests are used by competing teams in competitions like the Young Shield the credibility factor is stretched beyond the limit.

One thing that must not happen is that leagues are reduced in size. I don’t know anyone who wants to watch matches against the same teams week after week variety is needed to keep the interest going.

Yeah so basically I suppose I’m saying things were better 30years ago - well they did seem better at the time from the point of view of the sports status and popularity. Well nowadays there are a lot more other distractions to attract people. Speedway has to re-invent itself if it is to thrive - it has to be more attractive to new fans.

There are no quick-fixes unfortunately – but there has to be a fundamental change in the thinking, direction and most of all the presentation.

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