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Post by Pail Merk on Feb 26, 2024 17:01:12 GMT 1
It’s widely acknowledged that the Ashfield circuit provides cracking racing, particularly in recent years following track improvements. But where does it come in relation to Tigers’ other homes? Many will say top of the pile. If you had to grade our track history according to quality of racing and entertainment value, what would be your one to seven? Here’s mine:
1. Ashfield 2. Shawfield 3. Blantyre Greyhound Stadium (Blantyre 1) 4. White City 5. Cliftonhill, Coatbridge 6. Craighead Park, Blantyre (Blantyre 2) 7. Hampden Park
I have to come clean and admit that I never saw speedway at White City, Cliftonhill or Blantyre 1 - my wilderness years - so I’m basing their positions on what I’ve learned from Tigers fans and Easy, Tiger! posts. Blantyre 2 could have been a little higher had Blantyre Celtic’s pitch requirements not ruined the first two bends in 1986. I haven’t included Derwent Park, Workington, because our 1987 stay was curtailed, but I’d place it behind Cliftonhill on my list.
I should also point out that I witnessed good racing at the four venues I attended. There’s no such thing as bad speedway, right?
There are plenty of old-timers out there who have watched the shale shift at the seven tracks. Where do your preferences lie?
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Post by dirtywhensecond on Feb 26, 2024 18:33:16 GMT 1
I've only ever seen us with Ashfield as our home!
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Post by coombes on Feb 26, 2024 19:22:25 GMT 1
It’s widely acknowledged that the Ashfield circuit provides cracking racing, particularly in recent years following track improvements. But where does it come in relation to Tigers’ other homes? Many will say top of the pile. If you had to grade our track history according to quality of racing and entertainment value, what would be your one to seven? Here’s mine: 1. Ashfield 2. Shawfieldt 3. Blantyre Greyhound Stadium (Blantyre 1) 4. White City 5. Cliftonhill, Coatbridge 6. Craighead Park, Blantyre (Blantyre 2) 7. Hampden Park I have to come clean and admit that I never saw speedway at White City, Cliftonhill or Blantyre 1 - my wilderness years - so I’m basing their positions on what I’ve learned from Tigers fans and Easy, Tiger! posts. Blantyre 2 could have been a little higher had Blantyre Celtic’s pitch requirements not ruined the first two bends in 1986. I haven’t included Derwent Park, Workington, in the mix because our 1987 stay was curtailed, but I’d place it behind Coatbridge on my list. I should also point out that I witnessed good racing at the four venues I attended. There’s no such thing as bad speedway, right? There are plenty of old-timers out there who have watched the shale shift at the seven tracks. Where do your preferences lie? Wouldn't disagree with your assessment, though not sure how to rank Ashfield and Shawfield as they both changed fairly radically. At their best its Ashfield, averaged out its Shawfield. Pre 2011 Ashfield was pretty poor - remember Woffinden being unable to get past Leverington and it's only been the last few years that Ashfield has been great. With further changes this year it should be really good but will it now be possible for two riders to go side by side into the third bend? Until then Belle Vue is still the top track in Britain. Riders tended to queue up to get into bend three at Shawfield until it was widened. Prior to this work it could be a bit like cycle speedway with the riders going into the first bend in gate order 1,2,3,4 You couldn't go round the boards at Cliftonhill as the fence was straight across bends one and two rather than curved. Strangely the racing seemed far better during the Monarchs time... or was I just younger and more easily impressed. Craighead was another where the track shape changed a few times. It was may be better than Cliftonhill depending on which version you pick Hampden was a bit narrow. Did Hoskins not realise how desperate Queens Park were and could he have persuaded them to let us have the first 5 or 6 rows of the terracing at the bends to give far wider bends. Not sure how much the building work would have cost though but it would have made it a better track. And finally - where would you slot in Paisley, or even Armadale!
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Post by Pail Merk on Feb 27, 2024 13:20:51 GMT 1
And finally - where would you slot in Paisley, or even Armadale! I wouldn't slot in either of them because they weren't tracks for the Tigers. Got you on a technicality. I never saw speedway at Love Street, so I can't give an opinion. Similar to Hampden, I imagine. At the risk of being burnt at the stake, I've seen good racing at Armadale, but I think the Monarchs' top home would be Old Meadowbank.
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Post by Pail Merk on Feb 27, 2024 17:26:19 GMT 1
I've only ever seen us with Ashfield as our home! You lucky person, witnessing a golden era.
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Post by dirtywhensecond on Feb 27, 2024 18:42:55 GMT 1
I've only ever seen us with Ashfield as our home! You lucky person, witnessing a golden era. I've been to a few other tracks, with or without the Tigers. I really enjoyed the World Cups at both Poole and Peterborough. I used to enjoy a very regular trip to Berwick but I think that was more the day out and train journey than the actual racing. My two trips to Workington were both rubbish, I'm certainly looking forward to a trip there this season, it looks a really good race track. I've been to Armadale, Brough Park, Wolves, last Belle Vue, Stoke, Hull and Arena Essex. Thinking about it maybe I'm a bit of a jinx, all of them are deid!
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highroad
Neck and Neck with Charlie McKinna
Posts: 205
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Post by highroad on Feb 27, 2024 20:11:53 GMT 1
Whilst Ashfield is by far the best racing at any home tracks I have witnessed I do think Shawfield had an amazing atmosphere in the main stand. Something we could currently improve on perhaps?
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Post by tyretrax on Feb 27, 2024 21:08:48 GMT 1
I would agree with you on the atmosphere, highroad, no matter how hard he tries Derek Smith isn't a centregreen presenter, knock knock jokes don't work with mainly adult supporters. And before anyone says volunteer for the job, I couldn't do it either, I'll just pay my admission.
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Post by coombes on Feb 28, 2024 9:35:57 GMT 1
Whilst Ashfield is by far the best racing at any home tracks I have witnessed I do think Shawfield had an amazing atmosphere in the main stand. Something we could currently improve on perhaps? The crowd was concentrated in the Main Stand/ home straight latterly at Shawfield , while it is split between the stand, the fourth bend enckosure and back straight at Ashfield. Crowds were probably larger at Shawfield for most of the time.
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Post by ragdoll64 on Mar 3, 2024 0:41:20 GMT 1
Whilst Ashfield is by far the best racing at any home tracks I have witnessed I do think Shawfield had an amazing atmosphere in the main stand. Something we could currently improve on perhaps? Totally agree. Ashfield is providing the best racing I’ve seen at any Glasgow home track but I also think that lately it has had atmosphere as good as, if not better than, that at Shawfield.
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Post by drosser on Mar 3, 2024 1:37:38 GMT 1
Whilst Ashfield is by far the best racing at any home tracks I have witnessed I do think Shawfield had an amazing atmosphere in the main stand. Something we could currently improve on perhaps? Totally agree. Ashfield is providing the best racing I’ve seen at any Glasgow home track but I also think that lately it has had atmosphere as good as, if not better than, that at Shawfield. A few seasons ago, the Ashfield track was generally one racing line due partly to the influence of the football pitch and partly due to the inexperience of the track staff (in my opinion). However, following alterations to the track and a vast improvement in track preparation (now amongst the best in GB), the racing is, generally, superb. British weather, as we know, is unpredictable so it will never be possible to have the surface perfect all of the time but all tracks have that problem. Coatbridge was a great track when it was prepared properly but a combination of lack of investment and track 'doctoring' did not always help. However, when it was properly prepared, there were some excellent meetings. White City and Shawfield both had straights too long for the bends resulting in more tactical racing (both served their purpose well). Hampden could have been really good if it was wider (not much chance of atmosphere unless another 10,000+ fans could be found). Blantyre 1 was like Armadale - it had to do as there was no other option. One to forget, in my opinion. I did not see much of Blantyre 2 as I had other commitments around that time.
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