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Post by petero on Jan 18, 2009 17:55:36 GMT 12
So when the sign on the entrance and in the program states alcohol is prohibited, why then do we have to watch it flow through the gates by the chilly bin and box load.
Then for the fuel to flow into the usual language and behavior that upsets all the family's around you
The drunks blocking the walkways so you have to climb over them - and be abused.
Why should we as paying spectator, with family in tow, have to continue to put up with the foul language and antics around you when alcohol is prohibited in the first place.
Then try and raise your concerns with security and saw none the second night to sort it out.
I certainly would not take my family to a one day cricket game for this exact reason, just not a place for kids anymore, yet it seems that some speedways seem to be happy to go the same way.
We have not been back to the Palmy teams champs for the last few years as our kids (now teenagers) are concerned for their safety from what can happen around drunks.
Speedways need to remember it is the all mighty (in short supply) discretionary spending that we use to go to these events. We want to enjoy the entertainment on the track, not have to worry about the potential trouble around you.
The W240's is a great event at a great track and a must go to meeting - except for the alcohol which put a dampener on both nights for us and many around us. I am also sure this was repeated all around the track based on what was seem on trips to the toilet and food stands.
Just maybe next year we will hook up the laptop to the TV and watch it on speedbox.tv for $10 rather than spend the $500-600 we probably spent traveling to the event.
Peter O'Sullivan
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Post by urmama on Jan 18, 2009 18:22:22 GMT 12
So when the sign on the entrance and in the program states alcohol is prohibited, why then do we have to watch it flow through the gates by the chilly bin and box load. Then for the fuel to flow into the usual language and behavior that upsets all the family's around you The drunks blocking the walkways so you have to climb over them - and be abused. Why should we as paying spectator, with family in tow, have to continue to put up with the foul language and antics around you when alcohol is prohibited in the first place. Then try and raise your concerns with security and saw none the second night to sort it out. I certainly would not take my family to a one day cricket game for this exact reason, just not a place for kids anymore, yet it seems that some speedways seem to be happy to go the same way. We have not been back to the Palmy teams champs for the last few years as our kids (now teenagers) are concerned for their safety from what can happen around drunks. Speedways need to remember it is the all mighty (in short supply) discretionary spending that we use to go to these events. We want to enjoy the entertainment on the track, not have to worry about the potential trouble around you. The W240's is a great event at a great track and a must go to meeting - except for the alcohol which put a dampener on both nights for us and many around us. I am also sure this was repeated all around the track based on what was seem on trips to the toilet and food stands. Just maybe next year we will hook up the laptop to the TV and watch it on speedbox.tv for $10 rather than spend the $500-600 we probably spent traveling to the event. Peter O'Sullivan I totally agree with you on this matter,But I do think crew and drivers refs etc do deserve a couple of brewskies after a night of racing after all the work that has been put in if a driver is caughty misbehaving they can be dealt with in such a way to detour it but spectators cant really be controlled. |
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Post by MadMarty13B on Jan 18, 2009 18:34:23 GMT 12
Agree but Petero was talking about during the meeting not after,to me alcohol has no place at speedway during the meeting
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Post by petero on Jan 18, 2009 18:56:26 GMT 12
correct Marty.
However many a crew (up in spectator area behind corporate box area) were also having "fun" during the meeting sinking rather large quantities as well. Do not want to spoil peoples fun as such, but having to listen to the language as you go past on the way to the new toilet block was not pretty and this is a bye product of the alcohol.
At least up in that general area it was only the language, not like some if the idiots around us and seen in other locations.
Percy has had a bit to say on this subject lately, and rightly so, yet still had negative comments.
Barry Brown and others have commented on lack of TV coverage, but the wise ones all say get your product right first, and that means having people who want to come back and support speedway, not be put off by it.
It all goes hand in hand to clean up your act.
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Post by woodart on Jan 18, 2009 18:56:37 GMT 12
[ but spectators cant really be controlled.,,,  I thought thats what crowd control personal are for,,to stop the importing of alcohol and allow only alcohol sold on course for a huge profit ::)markup! |
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Post by MadMarty13B on Jan 18, 2009 18:59:19 GMT 12
Crew are not supposed to consume either during the racing and drivers are responsible for their crews if caught the driver cops it.
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Post by trackfan on Jan 18, 2009 19:08:10 GMT 12
I wholeheartedly agree as well. Last night at Meeanee there were some yobbos in the stand I was sitting in being a fair pain in the backside with their antics. It was a quite night, and not many people in the stands but these people made up for it plenty. Security was nowhere to be seen, so somebody texted on the speedway competition line to alert the officials and still nothing was done. Was very disappointed and a few of us ended up shifting out of the stands. I am a regular, and while I don't like it, it won't stop me going. Not sure I can say that for some of the others that were there, including one lady with 2 preschool kids. One night with out alcohol for a few hours is no big deal surely?  |
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Post by speedbump on Jan 18, 2009 19:14:44 GMT 12
I also agree, there is no need for alcohol in the public areas during the meetings. Most speedway meetings run for 4-5 hours, so why do a few feel that they can't live without grog for those few hours and they need to bring alcohol into the meeting, get drunk and feel it is their right to abuse and spoil an otherwise great night for those around them? We went to the World 240's at Rotorua and the only complaint that I had was the loud mouthed Waikato supporters who drank themsleves into a stupor in turn 3 on the first night of racing.  I think it is time speedway tracks got tuff on the few who break the rules reguarding alcohol. Do bag checks, remove any alcohol found and don't allow anyone in to the meeting who has already had a skin full. After all speedway is promoted as a 'family event', so why not make it safe for families to attend? ;D |
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Post by BarryB on Jan 18, 2009 19:18:21 GMT 12
Barry Brown and others have commented on lack of TV coverage, but the wise ones all say get your product right first, and that means having people who want to come back and support speedway, not be put off by it. I have commented in some of the more recent TV threads, yes, but I am one of those that has been saying our product, as a whole, is not TV ready yet. Just to clarify that small point..... |
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Post by Tony on Jan 18, 2009 19:20:32 GMT 12
Peter - big ups for you for being prepared to talk about the "elephant in the room". Speedway, like many other sports, has an alcohol problem, and if it is not addressed and treated seriously, the sport will be the loser in the long-term as punters such as yourself vote with their feet.
Now I'm no angel! Anyone who knew me 10-20 years ago will know that. But even when I'd had a skin-full, there was a line I tried not to cross. That line doesn't seem to exist any more, based on the behaviour that you have described from the weekend, and that I have observed at events I've been to. And you're right - the behaviour of a few can spoil the enjoyment of many.
You mentioned ODI cricket. NZ Cricket has been proactive, recognised that there was a problem, and set up the National Bank Neighbourhood - a family-friendly enclosure. And as a result, families such as yours are coming back to the cricket. Perhaps it's time for speedway clubs/promoters, with the support of Speedway NZ to do likewise. First of all though, there needs to be agreement that this a genuine problem. Once the problem has been acknowledged by the powers-that-be, solutions can follow. IMHO though, this is one "elephant" which speedway would ignore at its peril.
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Post by mintie on Jan 18, 2009 19:34:48 GMT 12
Dead right in your thoughts about over doing the drinking. The challenge is many know when "enough is enough" and a some just dont know when to stop and then get unruly.
is a ban the right thing or maybe more control, i dont know the answer, wish i did.
every event in this country that is called sport seems to have a similar problem
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Post by urmama on Jan 18, 2009 19:38:34 GMT 12
its the standard of the minority ruining things for the majority theres nothing better than after a meeting when your loading up the car and you have a couple of beers.
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Post by speedbump on Jan 18, 2009 19:42:55 GMT 12
You mentioned ODI cricket. NZ Cricket has been proactive, recognised that there was a problem, and set up the National Bank Neighbourhood - a family-friendly enclosure. And as a result, families such as yours are coming back to the cricket. Perhaps it's time for speedway clubs/promoters, with the support of Speedway NZ to do likewise. First of all though, there needs to be agreement that this a genuine problem. Once the problem has been acknowledged by the powers-that-be, solutions can follow. IMHO though, this is one "elephant" which speedway would ignore at its peril.[/quote]
Inventory1, if speedway tracks were to set aside a 'family area' at meetings where there was no alcohol in those areas I for one probably not sit there unless it happened to be an area that I felt I got a good view of the track from. We all have our favourite spots to sit (turn 1, turn 2, back straight etc) and we all go to speedway meetings for one thing, to watch the event. I don't feel that it is fair for people to be told that curtain areas are alcohol free and you must sit there if you do not want to be hassled by these drunken yobs. The ones who spoil it for others are in the minority, so if tracks are going to allow these drunken fools to spoil it for everyone else, why can't they be the ones who are told where they are to sit (preferably on the other side of the admittance gate) and allow the rest of us to choose where we sit and enjoy the entertainment.
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Post by mickeymouse on Jan 18, 2009 19:52:15 GMT 12
One thing I love about going to "Max Motors Family Speedway" in Te Marua is the lack of drunken idiots that ruin it for our next generation. All they're doing is jeopardising the future of the sport for everyone.
Every time I go there my bag gets checked and I'm only to willing to let them look thru it, I'm hardly a likely candidate with my 7 year old son in tow, but they still check every time.
When I worked there doing security 20 odd years ago, one of the main things to watch out for and deal with was alcohol, and drunken behaviour.
I'm well aware that alcohol is being consumed in the corporate areas, but as the place has for so long been promoted as a "Family Speedway", those doing the consuming have always kept to themselves and in their designated areas.
Why haven't other clubs adopted this same aproach years ago, there's been a couple of high profile events in the last week that have had the same alcohol issues raised.
Don't get me wrong, I'm no tea totaller, I love a drink, but I can wait till I get home, unlike some people that like to make a nuisance of themselves at events where the majority of patrons are families.
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Post by busterbell on Jan 18, 2009 20:01:00 GMT 12
top of the south speedway has been alcohol free for some time now.
just another little aspect that makes our club so great and would seem streets ahead of many other clubs.
no wonder we are known as nz's "#1 club run track"
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Post by urmama on Jan 18, 2009 20:04:30 GMT 12
One thing I love about going to "Max Motors Family Speedway" in Te Marua is the lack of drunken idiots that ruin it for our next generation. All they're doing is jeopardising the future of the sport for everyone. Every time I go there my bag gets checked and I'm only to willing to let them look thru it, I'm hardly a likely candidate with my 7 year old son in tow, but they still check every time. When I worked there doing security 20 odd years ago, one of the main things to watch out for and deal with was alcohol, and drunken behaviour. I'm well aware that alcohol is being consumed in the corporate areas, but as the place has for so long been promoted as a "Family Speedway", those doing the consuming have always kept to themselves and in their designated areas. Why haven't other clubs adopted this same aproach years ago, there's been a couple of high profile events in the last week that have had the same alcohol issues raised. Don't get me wrong, I'm no tea totaller, I love a drink, but I can wait till I get home, unlike some people that like to make a nuisance of themselves at events where the majority of patrons are families. And people who do manage to get into welly with booze and make fools of themselves usually end up escorted out and i dont mean by the security by the one and only all wellington speedway fans and drivers i remember one such incident with a quite a few drunk people (told were from palmy) pretty much being dragged out of the track by at least 200 welly fans and drivers last season. now thats what i call the true speedway family. |
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Post by PeterB on Jan 18, 2009 20:22:37 GMT 12
The thing is, its all about the $$$ its up to the tracks to decide not to sell alcohol during the racing.
Palmy wont do this because it brings in enough money to repair the panthers cars ;D last bit is just a joke
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Post by nzf2stocks. on Jan 18, 2009 20:23:53 GMT 12
We could start with a lot more random breathtesting of drivers and crews in the pits. The people in front of us in turn two at Rotorua last night were family and supporters of a stockcar. After each of its races the crew would come over and sink a couple of beers, and before the final race for that car the driver appeared and skulled a couple of woodies. If he had crashed and taken a couple of people out, maybee injuring some one, what would the news headlines been the next day?
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Post by steeldog on Jan 18, 2009 20:47:38 GMT 12
How's this for mixed messages?  I mean how serious can this being taken? I did go to a cricket match recently where bags were searched and only unopened non-acholohic drinks were permitted through the gates. No checks were made here. |
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Post by petero on Jan 18, 2009 21:12:31 GMT 12
I would be interested in knowing if there is any official rule or policy from SNZ on this
many tracks clearly handle this issue in many ways, as as we have seen, some already have a zero tolerance.
Part of that is also policing that as well.
bottom line is that week in week out speedways WILL BE losing patrons over this, especially at bigger meetings, which is often where the more causal speedway goer may attend.
bet that would be less that those who would not turn up if zero tolerance applied and they could not drink at the speedway !
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