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Post by Murray Guy (Grandad) on Jul 12, 2014 21:28:57 GMT 12
Dear ol' Baypark Speedway, arguably the best looking woman in town that seems to get used and abused, taken advantage of and left high and dry waiting for the next vulture to feed their ego with (not in reference to Roger Bailey).
12 weeks or so out from another season and Baypark is on the search for a 'new speedway management / promotion'.
Much to my dismay I understand Baypark is to seek expressions of interest to 'manage the speedway activities' with NO parameters provided. In other words, if you are interested, come up with a proposal, and present it! Beggars belief.
This outfit needs to take time out to enable the 'speedway fraternity, the community' to have a long hard look at where it has been, where it is heading, and where folk want it to go. Personally, the place needs a strong and experienced speedway promoter (perhaps retired) to accept a 'one season contract' to keep the place from digging itself an even deeper hole. Someone who can resist the urge to stroke the foreheads of the control freaks and noters and the expense of the sport and the loyal participants and spectators without even further turning folk off!
What's needed is an old hand, a Bruce Robertson type, that is passionate about the sport with their ego in check. Someone that isn't going to tolerate the users and losers!
Know someone that likes a challenge, perhaps a 'team'? Give Ervin McSweeny a call at Baypark, FIRST thing Monday!
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Post by midway on Jul 12, 2014 22:53:39 GMT 12
How the tide turns ,yes it was the Rena that struck bad luck and hit the reef now the sports arena has a little grief ,,with of course someone full of praise ,nothing could go wrong ,till the birdie on voting day sang a song ,.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2014 23:26:28 GMT 12
Fairly sad situation is BayPark .. The best facility I the country and beyond but does not seem to thrive ..
The question is WHO could make the speedway side of the facility work and HOW .
Another question is . Has this place ever been successfully run , if so by who...
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jj
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Post by jj on Jul 13, 2014 8:58:28 GMT 12
Or a Willie Kaye.
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Post by Murray Guy (Grandad) on Jul 13, 2014 9:58:59 GMT 12
Fairly sad situation is BayPark .. The best facility in the country and beyond but does not seem to thrive .. The question is WHO could make the speedway side of the facility work and HOW . Another question is . Has this place ever been successfully run , if so by who...
An early question has to be, what constitutes a 'successful speedway'?
In the beginning we had the Peter Harford / Bob Clarkson show.
During his (Peter's) tenure the club and facility appeared to thrive. I understand he promoted the place, organised the events, then come speedway race night sat back with a beer and enjoyed the result of his efforts.
I was a new entry to speedway as a competitor and loving it.
Competitors felt they owned the place, willingly got in behind it and supported it in their hundreds.
Contracted classes were high in number (or does my memory play tricks) with streetstocks, stockcars, saloons, super saloon, sprintcars, super stocks and squarebush the clown.
As soon as the last car left the track after a nights racing Ross was out the pit gate on the grader ripping it up to begin prep for the next meeting.
I recall turn three damp patch issues for a while.
I recall most saloon fields were in excess of 25 and on accession well over 30, with grids of 32, 38 etc. Amazing.
The majority had a chance of a top 10 finish, with many a podium chance. Now days, podium, next to no chance, top 10, every time as that is all on the track!
Races were often handicapped to facilitate a better spectacle and Skinny Colsen scrapped the mud off the wall on every outing!
Every event had the clowns and many had a 'novelty' element, roll cars, big wheel trucks, trick cyclists etc. It was a family entertainment variety package.
.... Then the slippery slide as competitor numbers fell, classes contracted reduced, and spectator numbers followed suit. The track prep became almost non-existent and other than a favoured view, you were a tool to be used an abused, my way or the highway. Many chose the highway. The saloons became a national class and coupled with a no handicapping and a 'no visitor' policy the numbers dwindled to a handful, mirroring the spectators.
The City Council takes control and is totally out of control as the ownership / management structure is devoured by wolves, intent of satisfying their own needs. The numbers continue to reduce, the track continues to deteriorate, competitors.
So here we are again, weeks out from a new speedway season. Frankly, speedway at Baypark is at risk!
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Post by beachboy on Jul 13, 2014 13:16:31 GMT 12
I don’t get why people keep saying Bay park is one of the best facilities for speedway in the country, It is hopeless for contact classes and teams racing as the track is too big, it has a time curfew which means meetings constantly end short of the advertised programme, meetings are cancelled more often than not with wet weather due to the fear of the infield getting damaged and it is one of the most expensive places for spectators to get in to. You are talking about the new current Bay Park?
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Post by spdwayorthehway on Jul 13, 2014 13:31:38 GMT 12
How far back are you talking Murray?
Sounds like quite some time. I think today there is a lot more competition for the competitor and spectator.
I don't see Bay Park as an isolated case, its a country wide issue.
Its all about the show for spectators, put on a show and they will come.
5 or 6 years ago I believe the number of cars really thrived.
From there they seem to have thinned out a bit in a few grades. Does anyone agree and have an answer as to why?
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Post by BarryB on Jul 13, 2014 13:49:37 GMT 12
I don’t get why people keep saying Bay park is one of the best facilities for speedway in the country, It is hopeless for contact classes and teams racing as the track is too big, it has a time curfew which means meetings constantly end short of the advertised programme, meetings are cancelled more often than not with wet weather due to the fear of the infield getting damaged and it is one of the most expensive places for spectators to get in to. You are talking about the new current Bay Park? Because the size of the track, and its suitability for a certain class or two, has nothing to do with the definition of "facility". The "facility" is superb, and while it's better than most, if not all, for most of the classes it runs, it is hard work for the contact classes. Just the same as Sprintcars and Super Saloons struggle around Rotorua, Stockcars and Superstocks struggle around Baypark. The BoP is lucky to have one of the best tracks for all of those classes within 45 minutes of each other, so whatever your fancy you can see the best with just a short drive. There is also more to speedway than just the contact classes beachboy......... The time curfew I like. Occasionally it bites one on the rump, but overall it makes the promotion get its act together rather than dawdle and procrastinate all night like some tracks do. Baypark does NOT "constantly end short of the advertised programme", nor is "meetings are cancelled more often than not with wet weather due to the fear of the infield getting damaged" remotely close to the truth. As for your comment; "it is one of the most expensive places for spectators to get in to", that is also total fabrication. In 2001, when it opened, $20 per head was about the most expensive around. In 2014 the gate prices, with a magnificent free floodlit car park, are cheaper than most as the price has not altered in 13 years. It's one thing to make comment beachboy, but please at least attempt to be factual...... Barry B |
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Post by gregobro on Jul 13, 2014 14:43:56 GMT 12
Stockcars at Baypark can be awesome, I've been to a number of their Gold Cup meetings over the years when they get 30+ cars and its great. Less than that though can be a hard watch. Back in the day they seemed to have masses of cars for this class, not sure where they all went but a number of times last season I looked at the numbers and if it was worth going and sometimes it was as low as 12 or 13 cars which meant I wasn't going to make the trip. The actual facilities are fantastic. Just noticed... 1 more post and I reach 1,000 - gees thats taken a while!!  |
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Post by beachboy on Jul 13, 2014 20:54:09 GMT 12
I don’t get why people keep saying Bay park is one of the best facilities for speedway in the country, It is hopeless for contact classes and teams racing as the track is too big, it has a time curfew which means meetings constantly end short of the advertised programme, meetings are cancelled more often than not with wet weather due to the fear of the infield getting damaged and it is one of the most expensive places for spectators to get in to. You are talking about the new current Bay Park? Because the size of the track, and its suitability for a certain class or two, has nothing to do with the definition of "facility". The "facility" is superb, and while it's better than most, if not all, for most of the classes it runs, it is hard work for the contact classes. Just the same as Sprintcars and Super Saloons struggle around Rotorua, Stockcars and Superstocks struggle around Baypark. The BoP is lucky to have one of the best tracks for all of those classes within 45 minutes of each other, so whatever your fancy you can see the best with just a short drive. There is also more to speedway than just the contact classes beachboy......... The time curfew I like. Occasionally it bites one on the rump, but overall it makes the promotion get its act together rather than dawdle and procrastinate all night like some tracks do. Baypark does NOT "constantly end short of the advertised programme", nor is "meetings are cancelled more often than not with wet weather due to the fear of the infield getting damaged" remotely close to the truth. As for your comment; "it is one of the most expensive places for spectators to get in to", that is also total fabrication. In 2001, when it opened, $20 per head was about the most expensive around. In 2014 the gate prices, with a magnificent free floodlit car park, are cheaper than most as the price has not altered in 13 years. It's one thing to make comment beachboy, but please at least attempt to be factual...... Barry B Wow! Nice to see you are flying the BP flag. Fact is if it is such a great place for speedway like you say then this thread would not exist. I’m Interested to know which are the tracks that you refer to that BP had cheaper gate prices than this season, you did say “cheaper than most” so I am hoping you will come up with more than 50% of the tracks in NZ. Perhaps BP has been over priced since 2001 and that’s why it is in this position?? Big is not always best. I would far prefer to watch Rugby at a stadium like Waikato stadium than a big stadium like Eden Park, and most people go to events for the entertainment value not the luxury car parking on offer! |
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Post by Pirate Racing NZ on Jul 13, 2014 21:23:10 GMT 12
Not that I am a baypark fan, but, how many tracks have produced a calendar so far this year? I count four. Perhaps we need to work togeather for calendars and promotion nationally, as mentioned earlier, the are tracks within 45 mins. How about planing a large meet at each track in turn, combined track series? If you want to run in between then have a club night that doesn't clash with the main event. I fail to see how this is rocket science. Keep prices low to get bums on seats, work between tracks to get cars, start earlier than seven so as to get it completed before the useless shut off time ( personally like it running late, but then I think it's not really a family sport when kids just run around and not watch). In NZ we have so much choice for activities. Even the national sprint cars in Aussie has half the attendance than the fortnightly series does in Brisbane. Perhaps clone the hickey family.
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Post by superstock on Jul 13, 2014 21:55:15 GMT 12
falling competitor numbers aren't just related to speedway, circuit racing is the same if not worse
and rallying seems the same around 13 cars doing the champs but local cars making up the numbers
there must be heaps of cars lying around doing nothing ,my 2c worth is the guy with the cheap car sees no point in racing with the guy in the mega car across all classes ..caTCH 22
just comes down purely to economics,
another thing to ponder is the season to long , how about clone some bruce robertsons, id hate to be a promoter
but one thing for sure we will be hanging out come oct and for me its over 40 years
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Post by Admin on Jul 13, 2014 21:55:56 GMT 12
Because the size of the track, and its suitability for a certain class or two, has nothing to do with the definition of "facility". The "facility" is superb, and while it's better than most, if not all, for most of the classes it runs, it is hard work for the contact classes. Just the same as Sprintcars and Super Saloons struggle around Rotorua, Stockcars and Superstocks struggle around Baypark. The BoP is lucky to have one of the best tracks for all of those classes within 45 minutes of each other, so whatever your fancy you can see the best with just a short drive. There is also more to speedway than just the contact classes beachboy......... The time curfew I like. Occasionally it bites one on the rump, but overall it makes the promotion get its act together rather than dawdle and procrastinate all night like some tracks do. Baypark does NOT "constantly end short of the advertised programme", nor is "meetings are cancelled more often than not with wet weather due to the fear of the infield getting damaged" remotely close to the truth. As for your comment; "it is one of the most expensive places for spectators to get in to", that is also total fabrication. In 2001, when it opened, $20 per head was about the most expensive around. In 2014 the gate prices, with a magnificent free floodlit car park, are cheaper than most as the price has not altered in 13 years. It's one thing to make comment beachboy, but please at least attempt to be factual...... Barry B Wow! Nice to see you are flying the BP flag. Fact is if it is such a great place for speedway like you say then this thread would not exist. I’m Interested to know which are the tracks that you refer to that BP had cheaper gate prices than this season, you did say “cheaper than most” so I am hoping you will come up with more than 50% of the tracks in NZ. Perhaps BP has been over priced since 2001 and that’s why it is in this position?? Big is not always best. I would far prefer to watch Rugby at a stadium like Waikato stadium than a big stadium like Eden Park, and most people go to events for the entertainment value not the luxury car parking on offer! Jeez you annoy me sometimes beachboy . The pricing at Baypark is ok , it matters not one jot about a dollar here or there. The biggest problem at Baypark is the track size and the fact that the classes that suit the track most are not in great supply and I believe that's mostly due to recent developments that mean a Super Saloon can be almost anything these days and Saloons are far from being a budget class now. Unless you run the latest and greatest on the big track the odds are you are just wasting your money and effort. Some cars relocated to other tracks , some retired. |
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Post by Murray Guy (Grandad) on Jul 13, 2014 22:34:17 GMT 12
The Baypark size is in reference to it's width only. 18 meters on the straight, 20 in the corners!
Towards the end of last season I recall they narrowed the track up (forgotten how) and for the stocks it certainly improved the spectacle. 
The biggest issue is competitor numbers.
So many visitors have been turned away, shat on, abused on site, failed to meet expectations over the years from competitors and spectators that it will take a concerted effort to regain the confidence of all parties.
The season final just past had us watching stationery midgets and fence repairs rather than super saloons, coupled with the appearance of 'no rush'!
The pricing in 2014 is certainly fair and comparable to most.
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Post by Admin on Jul 13, 2014 22:53:11 GMT 12
The Baypark size is in reference to it's width only. 18 meters on the straight, 20 in the corners!
Yes Murray , I've asserted many time the pole line should be pushed out. Get some door to door happening (not literally) and also take some pressure off the track in the turns. Also reduces the likelihood of acute angles with regards wall collisions. |
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Post by scooterman on Jul 13, 2014 23:51:31 GMT 12
whats with this NO PROMOTION TEAM at BAYPARK yet,most clubs have or will have had there AGMs by this month and they just carry on from last promotion of the club,so i ask what has BAYPARK been doing since the end of march about this problem.
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Post by beachboy on Jul 13, 2014 23:52:25 GMT 12
the pricing may be ok for now 2014 but it certainly wasn't 10-12 years ago for a normal club night, a lot of supporters/spectators were lost from the track because of it, promoters didn't listen and it will be a hard road to get people back as Murray has said. Interesting that Macgor doesn’t think a dollar here or there is anything to worry about, but it soon add’s up when it comes to racing a Saloon car nowadays doesn’t it!
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Post by BarryB on Jul 14, 2014 5:58:19 GMT 12
the pricing may be ok for now 2014 but it certainly wasn't 10-12 years ago for a normal club night, a lot of supporters/spectators were lost from the track because of it, promoters didn't listen and it will be a hard road to get people back as Murray has said. Interesting that Macgor doesn’t think a dollar here or there is anything to worry about, but it soon add’s up when it comes to racing a Saloon car nowadays doesn’t it! And it's really the "for now" we're talking about, not back in history. Agreed, it was a little expensive at the time of creation, but as other costs have risen BP's gate has stayed the same. Can't do an accurate comparison with other tracks beachboy, as most (if not all) other tracks have different gate prices for different meetings, i.e; they put the price up for the bigger shows, BP doesn't. It's $20 for a club night, $20 for a New Zealand title. You certainly don't have to look far to find $25-$30 gate prices for some of the major shows around the land over the last couple of summers. Barry B |
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Post by BarryB on Jul 14, 2014 5:59:13 GMT 12
whats with this NO PROMOTION TEAM at BAYPARK yet,most clubs have or will have had there AGMs by this month and they just carry on from last promotion of the club,so i ask what has BAYPARK been doing since the end of march about this problem. Different set-up at Baypark to what you're talking about, and as their season ended the last weekend in April they certainly can't have started working on this issue in March (and didn't know until recently that their promoter was leaving - it happens). Like any business, when an employee signals their intention to leave, then the work starts on finding a suitable replacement. NZ Speedway clubs aren't like Microsoft or Apple with succession plans in place. Certainly not all clubs have had their AGM's yet, Rotorua's for example is this weekend I believe, but as I said this situation is different due to an employee of Bay Leisure (who run the speedway) leaving last Friday. Barry B |
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Post by BarryB on Jul 14, 2014 6:09:30 GMT 12
Jeez you annoy me sometimes beachboy . At least he's saying something for a change, outside of just being a troll!! Keep up the good work beachboy Let's do it on the terracotta, Barry B |
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