Speedy, I've ridden speedway ,grass track and long track and even tho ,yes, you are correct in saying that speedway riders get paid ,quite often it's "appearance money" "start money" and "points pay" so you can if attending as a reserve end up out of pocket. I earnt a lot more in Europe Long tracking, although Grass tracking was tbh my favourite of the 3, Ace of Aces,Western Winner,Lincolnshire Poacher Etc all drew crowds ,again from Europe as well. Jeremy Doncaster, Simon Wigg and Kelvin Tatum amongst many others were all participants in not only Speedway but grass and long Track as well. Doncaster was European Long track champion,82 (?) as was Martin Hagon and Tatum in later years.
Grasstrack was the grass roots of the sport usually and most riders entered via the sport before moving across to the shale,they could ride competitively younger,no promoters would allow 6 year olds to race around a shale track against 3 others ,but the ACU let them fly off a gate against 15-20 others lol.
Your spot on about the reduction in spectators,sign of the times tho i think, the improvements in hand held games has seen a reduction in gates I am sure. Where as at 14 i came home from school and started prepping bikes and leathers the kids now have an hour or 2 of Grand theft auto,San Andreas...........
Plus half the women only turned up to see Penhall ,and the Morans,not that I was jealous or anything.
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