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Post by drew on Jan 13, 2009 9:01:22 GMT 12
Just wondering why most speedway is held in the evening / night and not during they day??
Heat?
Seems a bit odd when almost all big tarmac based racing happens in the daylight? (v8's, Nascar, Indy etc)
Perhaps its a social thing - an extension from the days of old when the youth sneaked off somewhere at night for racing??
From a photographers point of view it would be a great deal easier if all tracks ran in the afternoons! ;D
Thanks
Drew
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Post by totspete on Jan 13, 2009 9:02:45 GMT 12
Because I hate getting clay dust stuck in sunblock ...
I would imagine its much harder to maintain a consistent track surface in the heat of the sun?
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Post by Porky on Jan 13, 2009 9:10:22 GMT 12
what would we do on a saturday night otherwise? have a life?  |
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Post by knownotmuch on Jan 13, 2009 9:12:16 GMT 12
"Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun" We have a few English speedway supporters and the odd driver that may be a bit of a mad dog  . But I know a lot of both drivers and supporters that don't like day racing very much. |
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Post by BarryB on Jan 13, 2009 9:57:35 GMT 12
Many reasons I suspect, but basically day racing is rubbish!
Even the mighty NASCAR is moving more and more into Saturday night racing - despite the cost of lighting tracks many times bigger that our 1/4 mile ovals - while even F1 now has a night race.
I must admit to thinking the same a Drew when I was a photographer, but one example is Huntly that originally had no lights, and now does. There is no comparison in both the racing and atmosphere........and the fans do go home somewhat cleaner (at most venues anyway). I think spectators follow the racing more under the "ribbon of light" also. It's not so easy to get distracted once the sun sets.........
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farmboy
Full Member
STR Southern Tanker Racing
Posts: 175
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Post by farmboy on Jan 13, 2009 10:29:29 GMT 12
also night racing gives us all a great lighting show (sparks) as the cars bounce off and over the wall. generally something you don't see juring the day
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Post by Ngahihi o te ra on Jan 13, 2009 11:40:00 GMT 12
Kia ora Drew,
Great question!
I think it could have something to do with not wanting to compete with the family traditions of Saturday afternoon.
Families tend to hit the beach or lakes or rivers or the parents are out golfing while the kids are doing summer sports such as cricket and softball - and then its speedway time for the whole whanau in the evening.
I attended a meeting at Western Springs that was postponed from the previous evening and started an hour or so earlier. I thought the earlier start time was well advertised but what I noticed was a lot of families still turned up at the later time.
It does make sense for many bigger families to have tea at home before going to speedway too - especially if the meal is a good old BBQ. Doesn't help photographers but it does help the entertainment budget.
Green flags and green lights.
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Post by SWP on Jan 13, 2009 12:41:22 GMT 12
From a photographers point of view it would be a great deal easier if all tracks ran in the afternoons! ;D Thanks Drew Drew, Drew Drew, how many times do I have to suggest to you Quantam Turbo or Digital Camera Battery. You have the 2.8 lens which makes most tracks brighter all you need is the flash boost and you will never worry about night shooting again. |
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Post by Abb0 on Jan 13, 2009 14:52:16 GMT 12
...while even F1 now has a night race... Only because the complaining Euro's can't be bothered getting/staying up to watch the race in the early hours (as we have to!). Nothing to do with the quality of racing. The drivers hate it. Back on the subject, I think Ngahihi o te ra has hit the proverbial nail on the head (as he almost always does!). Traditionally Sat afternoons are for Cricket/Softball/going to the beach etc. Crowd numbers would be way down if the racing was on Saturday afternoons. |
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Post by woodart on Jan 13, 2009 15:43:40 GMT 12
hot dogs taste better at night! ;D
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Post by Bulletfan on Jan 13, 2009 15:52:51 GMT 12
yes good point but in this time of need.....no lights on would save money wouldnt it..........
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Post by pallmall on Jan 13, 2009 16:35:24 GMT 12
Speedway racing can be magic at night, perhaps these days with much better lighting some of the magic has gone, and daylight saving didn't help the atmosphere.
Only the track bathed in the old overhead lights that Palmy and Western Springs used to have, meant that only the racing surface was lit, quite something in the days when meetings started at 8pm when it was dark.
When Ray New started stockcars at Palmy, the infield would be empty apart from the drums lining the track, and then at 8pm out would come Ray in the Jeep followed by the first race field, half a lap later the first race would be underway, it was an atmosphere that sent tingles down your spine.
As for photography, you get much better photos at night speedway from the infield, if you know what you are doing.
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Post by 2jbones on Jan 13, 2009 16:48:45 GMT 12
At night there is a different atmosphere to wat there is during day and it is hotter during day
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Post by Ngahihi o te ra on Jan 13, 2009 18:46:36 GMT 12
...while even F1 now has a night race... Back on the subject, I think Ngahihi o te ra has hit the proverbial nail on the head (as he almost always does!). Traditionally Sat afternoons are for Cricket/Softball/going to the beach etc. Crowd numbers would be way down if the racing was on Saturday afternoons. Kia ora ABBO, Thank you for your kind words. I was speaking from experierience really. I used to play softball in the afternoon go for a swim and then when all my mates went off to the pub I would fill my dads car with all my whanau nephews and nieces and take them up to the Vally of Paradise for the speedway. I also remember walking up there from Grayson Ave - near the Western Heights shops - with my brothers and sister and mother. Hence the reason I offer people rides to people after speedway if I see them walking and have room in my car. Green flags and green lights. |
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3ski
Full Member
Well What Can I Say
Posts: 153
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Post by 3ski on Jan 14, 2009 12:01:33 GMT 12
its way better at night cause you can get stuff done during the day then you head to speedway and relax but i dont know if you can relax that much especially if u got a race car to look after
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2009 12:06:44 GMT 12
Nz is a 6 day economy, the way it going shortly 7 days. Heaps of people working on saturday. sometimes 7 pm start is hard to get to for some.
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Post by lustee on Jan 14, 2009 14:38:06 GMT 12
plus the sun is not so much of an issue at night..I have seen some huge crashes in palmy due to the low sun late afternoon
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Post by DTM1 on Jan 14, 2009 17:10:29 GMT 12
For as long as the world keeps turning saturday night will ALWAYS be speedway night and long may the hallowed figure of 7pm be held as the time for GREEN FLAGS and GREEN LIGHTS.
P.S I hope you dont mind my use of your phrase Ngahihi.
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Post by Stevo on Jan 14, 2009 20:21:24 GMT 12
All you have to do is look at what happens when a race meeting gets rained off from the night before and they have to run it the next afternoon, especially if it is a stinking hot day - clouds of dust. It's just too hard to keep the moisture in the track during the day.
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Post by Ngahihi o te ra on Jan 14, 2009 21:19:34 GMT 12
For as long as the world keeps turning saturday night will ALWAYS be speedway night and long may the hallowed figure of 7pm be held as the time for GREEN FLAGS and GREEN LIGHTS. P.S I hope you dont mind my use of your phrase Ngahihi. Kia ora DTM1 Go for it. I count it an honour that you would choose to use my words. Part of developing Speedway language really. When I used to play golf I would sign off with "Fairways and Greens" Green flags and green lights. |
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. But I know a lot of both drivers and supporters that don't like day racing very much.
