Round 1 World Speedway, 31 March Western Springs

[Duke girl]

I am so looking forward to attending the 1st Rd of the World Speedway this Saturday. When l found out that they were doing the 1st round here in NZ l just want to be there as, besides Road Racing being my 1st passion Speedway is my 2nd, so Bring it on. :)
And Thanks to my Wonderful Husband who is taking me there for my Birthday.
Who else is going?.

[Grumpy]

Definately coming up for this one. Looking forward to it.

[Warr]

Yes its on my To-do-List !!
NZ$50.00
http://speedwaygp.com/event/2012-newzealand-speedwaygp

[Badjelly]

Bugger! I would have made a trip back to the home city if I'd known about it earlier.

[boman]

Yup .

[pete376403]

I'll be there, with bro-in-law and a couple of friends. Hows the weather looking for the weekend?

[slowpoke]

Those speedway solo's are awesome. The fact that it's gonna be the best in the world? Priceless.

It's a rare opportunity in our neck of the woods, grab it if ya can.

[Dutchee]

Those speedway solo's are awesome. The fact that it's gonna be the best in the world? Priceless.

It's a rare opportunity in our neck of the woods, grab it if ya can.

For some of you foreigners coming up/down, on Sunday, from 10am is an endurocross on the waterfront (harbour bridge way). Will be worth going to if you're stuck in our lovely city anyway and obviously into motorsports.

Both events are going to be awesome and it'll mean it's finally worth staying in Auckland for a weekend (can't believe I'm saying that, born & bred & hate the place).

[Duke girl]

The weather is suppose to be Good and the Racing will be Awesome so it's going to be 1 Fantastic amd Memorable day.

[nathanwhite]

Who else is going?.

Yep. Just got asked by some family who had a spare ticket :woohoo:

[Maha]

Yep. Just got asked by some family who had a spare ticket :woohoo:

Go, it will the best night...I would love to go but, didn't realise it was tonight until last night (if that makes sense)

[blue rider]

yes....should be fun :yes:

[nathanwhite]

Does anyone know the security guards attitude towards cameras?

I know the website says no professional cameras but doesn't actually stipulate what a professional camera is

I have a 1000d (http://www.letsgodigital.org/html/review/canon/eos1000d/camera/canon-eos-1000d.jpg) that i'm going to try get in. Its a SLR yes, but it's a baby. With the default lens (pictured) there's no way I could get decent photos of the racers but do you think there will be issues?

[craignzcd]

went to todays practice.....track looks awesome and looking forward to the racing tomorrow

[Henk]

Went to the practice yesterday, looks like tonight is going to very entertaining, and well fast. As far as cameras go, from what I saw your 1000d should be fine.

[vinducati]

Practise was cool, this track is the biggest, widest and fastest they will race on all yeah. get down there people. It's going to be hot.

[nathanwhite]

Hoo that was fun!

First time at speedway and definitely have to go back

No problems with the camera at all, Security didn't even bother opening my backpack..
Have to bring the big lens next time

[PirateJafa]

Never been to a speedway before, but that was good fun if a little short.

Was a little surprised at the disqualification though, looked to me like he'd come off the bumps badly. Felt it was a little rough. But having never raced speedway, I guess I'll leave it to the experts.

Hopefully it's back next year! :headbang:

[Madness]

I was thinking of going but saw in the Harold it was $50 a ticket. I stayed home & had a domestic instead :facepalm:

Was it $50?

[Dutchee]

Missed the crash and replays as was waiting for some food. The restart of that one race was odd, as no idea what they'd spotted.

Was it worth $50? Hmmm, have to think about that, hell yes. It's not often we get to see top riders/drivers and to see them in action is pretty priceless. When you consider the NZ champ was stoked to get 1 point (as was the crowd), you get to see how good the riders really are.
It was a short evening, but it was pretty full on, and seeing how much the bikes moved around, you could see how hard the riders were working.

Congratulations to BSL for a great event and a huge thank you for letting us get that opportunity. Spectators were pretty good, and the Aussies? trying to evade security at the end was a hoot.

The smell, damn, I love that smell. The bikes were pretty quiet, so I hope the neighbours don't bitch too much, but it was a great event. Way better than "staying home and having a domestic".

Plenty of people travelled from Aus and around the country for the event, so hope they had a great time. I'd loved it to have gone on longer, but apart from the food stalls taking too long, the queues too long, the food stalls running out of change, it was a great event.

Sorry about the mess we'd left behind, but honestly, I didn't even see any bins around the place, so figured we'd do the same as others, and leave the crap behind.

[malcy25]

outsatnding , if somewhat early night. Worth the 100 bucks for the two of us - wife came along and thought it was great too after she was not too keen initially.

Saw a stack of regular race and ride day crowd there which I thought was good.

23 races, one accident, could teach some road racers a few things! :laugh:

Outstanding to see the the crowd on their feet cheering the kiwi boy getting a point. He was stoked too, on both counts!

Slick, well presented, good first up effort. Didn't buy food, but saw long queues.

Seeing the guys at times perpendicular to the direction of travel, hard into it on the throttle and their foot just skimming the track was great.

Didn't agree with the DQ, don;t know speedway rules on accidents, fault, result but thought it was a racing incident.

The smell - yep, forgotten how good it can smell!

[blue rider]

First time at speedway, money well spend, excellent entertainment.

[boman]

Myself, and a few others decided to splash out and get "good" tickets for the event. $120 bucks each for seated tickets. Right on the new start line, shit hot I thought. On to a winner here.


Wrong.

We were very lucky, not to have anyone behind us. As we spent the event standing on our seats, trying to see. Speaking to many others around us, and I think the organiser will be getting a few e-mails on how NOt to organise the stands.

Other wise a fantastic event. Superb racing, awesome international crowd, and I feel sorry for those who couldnt get there or see, as it was a bloody great day.

[Tink]

Bought back some teenage memories from when my dad raced sidecar back in the early 80's... I definitely had a ball, supporting the Polish rider Tomasz Gollob (5) and the Danish rider Nicki Pedersen (10)... but totally was stoked for our rider Bunyan (16) to get a point, lap of honour he should have had. Some serious dueling out there with some strength keeping those bikes going... definitely will be following it on SKY and fb from now on. Good Luck Tomasz and Nikki!!!!!!:niceone:

But same as Boman...

Dear Bill

Sort that grandstand out for next year, as they were crap, so many people complained it was not funny!!!! :facepalm:

Tink

[Badjelly]

Sort that grandstand out for next year...

Will there be a next year, or was it a once-off?

[Kickaha]

Myself, and a few others decided to splash out and get "good" tickets for the event. $120 bucks each for seated tickets. Right on the new start line, shit hot I thought. On to a winner here.


Wrong.

We were very lucky, not to have anyone behind us. As we spent the event standing on our seats, trying to see. Speaking to many others around us, and I think the organiser will be getting a few e-mails on how NOt to organise the stands.

Other wise a fantastic event. Superb racing, awesome international crowd, and I feel sorry for those who couldnt get there or see, as it was a bloody great day.

The grandstand seats were a fucking crap waste of money, grandstand needed to be on a steeper angle of further back, you couldn't even see the front straight or start/finish line even if you were standing


Will there be a next year, or was it a once-off?

They have it for two more years


Personaly while I liked the event and it was well run and a good venue the racing was pretty average and I've watched better racing at club days

[pete376403]

Rule has always been that the cause of a race stoppage is excluded from the restart. From where I was sitting (centre of back straight) waht I saw of the incident , and confirmed by the replays on the big screen, was that the inside rider failed to maintain his line (thrown off line by the holes) and he collided with the rider on his right, knocking him off.

Those holes were the only fault with what was otherwise a (to me) perfect track. Perhaps a compacter could have been included in the track equipment - shovelling dirt into the holes was a complete waste of time, it was blown out by the first bike through.

Brilliant night though - probably the most professionally run motorsport event I've ever attended.

Mexican wave went arount the stadium six times!

[haydes55]

Great to hear all the positive comments about the racing and the organisation.

I've been racing speedway for 8 years and yesterday was the dream of those 8 years. Unfortunately I got roped into refuelling the bikes so ended up watching 5 races the entire night :doh:

Anyway for those of you still in auckland, next sunday 8th april is Auckland solo champs at Rosebank (http://www.rosebankspeedway.co.nz/) park domain in Avondale, West Auckland. $15 for an adult (U15 free!) for an equally well organised day, racing starts at 1pm and you will get to see around 50 races over 3 to 4 hours. Sidecars, Solos, Junior Solos and the Pee Wees (not too sure but 1/4 midgets might be there aswell).

Very biker friendly with a kitchen and bar (that doesn't cost the earth to drink at) open till very late!.

Can't guarantee you a mexican wave but I can guarantee you a good day! Get through the gate early to stake your claim on the hill or on the seating on the main straight (there's always a good spot to see the entire track).

See you all there :Punk:

[rustys]

Great night, but will never get a "Grandstand Seat" again absolute waste of money unless you were in the front row, agree fully with you "Kickaha". Rows around us were empty, and i found out later that people had complained, as you could only see half the Track, they got a $70.00 refund and went and sat opposite with probably a far better view.

Wake up Western Springs sort those stands out.

[Duke girl]

Great Racing, Great weather but very disappointed in paying $100 for a Grandstand Seat on the start line only to find out once seated that l couldn't see the riders on their bikes starting and had to watch all 0f the starts on the Big Screen.
What l can't understand is that once they erected those stands up by sitting down on them and having a look at the view from them told them that the people who had tickets for these seats wouldn't be happy with what they could & couldn't see and that they needed to be elevated on an angle.
I guess it comes down to once they have their money they don't give a shit on how happy or unhappy the spectators are.
At least if l intend going back there next year l will just purchase the cheap tickets then l know l will have a better chance l seeing the whole race without having to look at part of it on the Big Screen.
Western Springs.......this is something that needs serious looking at for next year as the last thing you need is unhappy spectators refusing to attend such an Awesome event.

[pete376403]

might be worth raising your concerns with the Springs - E-Mail: info@springsspeedway.com

[jellywrestler]

I guess it comes down to once they have their money they don't give a shit on how happy or unhappy the spectators are.


That couldn't be further from the truth, while this seems to be a silly mistake to make, especially if the seats were proffesionally erected, the enjoyment of the sport for one and all will be high on the minds of the Western Springs people.
Bill Buckley owns the Springs, despite all the noise shit etc over the years he's persevered, as he did when he brought the BSL500 Grand Prix bike to reality.
He owns Buckley Systems LTD google it and see how succesful this business is, no need to own a muddy controversial track in the middle of town to turn a few bucks, he's doing it so we can all enjoy the sport.
Shame though that this happened.

["D" FZ1]

I was thinking of going but saw in the Harold it was $50 a ticket. I stayed home & had a domestic instead :facepalm:

Was it $50?

Yip, $50.00 and WELL worth it. Fkn AWESOME to see World Class Speedway at the Springs. I grew up watching the Solos and Sidecars in amongst the Midgets and Sprint cars every Saturday night for many years :yes:

[Tink]

We got a partial refund from the springs, so they are trying... :)

[Duke girl]

Well l am very pleased that the organisers of the Western Springs World Speedway have come to the Party and offered both my Husband & l 50% of next years tickets as well as Pit passes. Thank You, and here's hoping that the stands along the main straight will be better situated so that those who have allocated seats in them can see the bikes on the startline and don't have to watch it on the Big Screen.

[Kickaha]

I didn't even get a reply to the email I sent them

[jellywrestler]

The grandstand seats were a fucking crap waste of money, grandstand needed to be on a steeper angle of further back, you couldn't even see the front straight or start/finish line even if you were standing

Personaly while I liked the event and it was well run and a good venue the racing was pretty average and I've watched better racing at club days

if you worded it like this I'm not surprised they haven't replied.


As for the racing being pretty average that's what you get when everyones at the top of their game, they're so precise that there's very little swapping around etc

[Kickaha]

if you worded it like this I'm not surprised they haven't replied.
I didn't word it like that I was nice and polite :finger:

As for the racing being pretty average that's what you get when everyones at the top of their game, they're so precise that there's very little swapping around etc
I've been to enough racing to work that out myself, it was still a good night out, just not as good as it could have been

[Duke girl]

We emailed them during the week after the event and have only just heard back from them so hopefully you should get a reply before the end of this week if not resend them your email until you do. :)

[haydes55]

I didn't word it like that I was nice and polite :finger:

I've been to enough racing to work that out myself, it was still a good night out, just not as good as it could have been

Well over 100km/h sideways on dirt literally touching each other and you aren't that impressed by the racing? They got closer on an inconsistent dirt surface than I have seen any moto GP rider get to each other on a definite surface.

Yes I'm biased because I love speedway haha. But I watched the V8s in hamilton, tickets well over the $50 at springs, saw one little section of the track, saw about 3 or 4 overtakes the entire weekend and one crash. At speedway the majority of people saw the entire track, the entire race, every over take, all the rubbing togethers.

BTW any KBer want a ride on one of these bikes just give me a message. :niceone: seriously. No more practices this season but later this year I could help someone who wants to give it a try.

[Kickaha]

Well over 100km/h sideways on dirt literally touching each other and you aren't that impressed by the racing? .

You must have gone to a different meeting than I did, there were maybe 4-5 close races where something interesting happened,most times whoever got the holeshot had the race without being seriously challenged past turn 1

[pete376403]

What would you have done to make it different? Also, have you every ridden speedway solos competitively? It's not as easy as those guys make it look.

[pete376403]

BTW any KBer want a ride on one of these bikes just give me a message. :niceone: seriously. No more practices this season but later this year I could help someone who wants to give it a try.

I'd love to have just one more ride on the merry-go-round. Still got my leathers and boots.

[haydes55]

I'd love to have just one more ride on the merry-go-round. Still got my leathers and boots.

You have the lop sided boots? haha

[jellywrestler]

What would you have done to make it different? Also, have you every ridden speedway solos competitively? It's not as easy as those guys make it look.

Don't worry he's the sort of guy who'd moan if he was on fire and you pissed on him to put it out.

[Kickaha]

What would you have done to make it different? Also, have you every ridden speedway solos competitively? It's not as easy as those guys make it look.

I doubt there's any much that could be done, how close and exciting the racing will be on the night is anyones guess, I did compliment them on the running of the event and have already said I will most likely come back for it next year, not sure I'll bother with grandstand seat again as GA looks a better bet


Don't worry he's the sort of guy who'd moan if he was on fire and you pissed on him to put it out.

You're still pissed you missed on on my beer shout aren't you, it's time to let it go :baby:

[haydes55]

http://speedwaygp.com/news/article/1278/euro-sgp-final-thriller

[Duke girl]

Awesome Racing with Fantastic end result. Chris Holder......You Legend. :)

[Kickaha]

Their response to the email I sent them


Thank you for your email with regards to the recent Speedway Grand Prix, we appreciate your feedback.

IMG are aware there were issues with a number of Grandstand seats and this will be taken into account for the 2013 event and will be working very closely with a Grandstand supplier on a different configuration for next year.

As a gesture of goodwill, we would like to offer you 50% off 2013 NZSGP ticket + guest passes to the event that will give you access to the pits at certain times on practice and race day – please note the tickets will be equal to the number of tickets bought in 2012 and does not include VIP / hospitality tickets.

I reckon it's a pretty good effort on their part

[Duke girl]

Thats the exact email we recieved from them also and good to see that they have comphensated spectators back who weren't happy with their seating in some of the Grandstands. Here's hoping that next years Grandstands will be erected correctly so they don't have to go through this again.
Positive outcome. :)