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Post by davet on Feb 21, 2015 20:45:10 GMT
Saw a news clip of the first ever F1 meeting at Silverstone the other day. The memories of those interviewed were not of the standard of racing, but of the noise and the "smell of castor oil". I have to admit that those are my memories of my introduction to Speedway. The racing was ok - certainly no better than today, but the things that impressed were the crackle of those unsilenced 500s and the gorgeous smell of burning Castrol R, as well as the sight of those skeletal machines with their huge JAP engines and tiny fuel tanks.
Unfortunately these are all things of the past. I know it was necessary to reduce noise, but I can't help thinking that the present day, sanitised product is a mere shadow of the '60s and '70s speedway in terms of the overall experience, even though the racing is arguably as good as ever.
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Post by admin on Feb 22, 2015 16:24:01 GMT
Saw a news clip of the first ever F1 meeting at Silverstone the other day. The memories of those interviewed were not of the standard of racing, but of the noise and the "smell of castor oil". I have to admit that those are my memories of my introduction to Speedway. The racing was ok - certainly no better than today, but the things that impressed were the crackle of those unsilenced 500s and the gorgeous smell of burning Castrol R, as well as the sight of those skeletal machines with their huge JAP engines and tiny fuel tanks. Unfortunately these are all things of the past. I know it was necessary to reduce noise, but I can't help thinking that the present day, sanitised product is a mere shadow of the '60s and '70s speedway in terms of the overall experience, even though the racing is arguably as good as ever. More to do IMO with numerous alternatives for the entertainment pound which means that the number of fans attending is much much less than it was in the good times. Also, apart from the noise and smell of the bikes, the NIMBYs often call the shots in terms of when and how speedway runs, as well as how much noise the fans make. Airhorn bans at track do nothing to help the atmosphere, and even indeed where they can be used (such as the EoES) they aren't. Is it any wonder that some speedway supporters will not visit domestic speedway but will go to the noisy entertainment dished out at Millennium Stadium once a year. |
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Post by davet on Feb 22, 2015 17:21:43 GMT
But are the diminishing crowds cause or effect? I still enjoy speedway, but I have to admit that the noise and the smell were an important part of the overall experience and the sport is diminished by their loss. Unfortunately younger fans have never had the chance to experience this aspect of the sport, but I honestly believe that they would agree with me, if given the chance.
Personally I've never liked air horns, especially when they're right behind me, but they would have been drowned out by the old bikes anyway!
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Post by admin on Feb 22, 2015 19:48:42 GMT
But are the diminishing crowds cause or effect? I still enjoy speedway, but I have to admit that the noise and the smell were an important part of the overall experience and the sport is diminished by their loss. Unfortunately younger fans have never had the chance to experience this aspect of the sport, but I honestly believe that they would agree with me, if given the chance. Personally I've never liked air horns, especially when they're right behind me, but they would have been drowned out by the old bikes anyway! Don't think the noise and smell have too much relevance these days tbh. A quiet, pollution free, safe environment is what we're told people want these days so just think yourself lucky to have been deafened, hit by flying shale without a hazard warning, and enjoyed the aroma of methanol & Castrol R. When I first started it was 13 heats, an interval and then a couple of junior races but mainly the best riders competing once again for the rider of the night title to finish the evening: that was a Friday night. Not 15 heats with loads of track grading and a silly interval at 10 or 12, just when it's getting going. That's more of a problem IMO. Personally I don't like junior racing so extra junior races does nothing for me! That's not my definition of "REGULAR second-half racing will be returning to the East of England Showground in 2015" but it no doubt works for some? |
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Post by davet on Feb 22, 2015 20:19:48 GMT
Noise and smell don't have much relevance these days because they've pretty well gone! There were 13 heats and a second half when I first went (Yarmouth 1960!) And, yes, I liked that format. The interval made sense then, and the second half was more relaxed after the tension of the league match.
As I recall, the grader went round after every heat in those days, but it only went round once and had generally left the track by the time the riders were ready for the next heat. Seems to me the present grading sequence was provided to suit Sky's advert breaks rather than by need.
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Post by admin on Feb 23, 2015 22:15:15 GMT
Noise and smell don't have much relevance these days because they've pretty well gone! There were 13 heats and a second half when I first went (Yarmouth 1960!) And, yes, I liked that format. The interval made sense then, and the second half was more relaxed after the tension of the league match. As I recall, the grader went round after every heat in those days, but it only went round once and had generally left the track by the time the riders were ready for the next heat. Seems to me the present grading sequence was provided to suit Sky's advert breaks rather than by need. Used to put 4 bikes out on track with pushers to get them started. Yet more to watch and fill the time rather than 4 unannounced riders just riding out of the pit gate! |
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Post by admin on Feb 26, 2015 10:48:30 GMT
Personally I've never liked air horns, especially when they're right behind me, but they would have been drowned out by the old bikes anyway! Thinking back to Cardiff then: we could have an airhorn free zone or zones, and something about airhorn etiquette in the programme. Nothing too harsh to put people off but just some to make people think. Difficult to do with kids I know but hopefully it'd police itself apart from with the terminally dim and inconsiderate! |
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Post by davet on Feb 26, 2015 16:45:36 GMT
The thing that annoys me about air horns is that the machines have been silenced to satisfy neighbours, to the detriment of the "speedway experience" only for the crowd to make more noise! Let's silence the air horns and go back to straight through exhausts (in my dreams I know!). Just watch (and listen) to some of the old speedway clips on you tube and see if you don't agree .
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