Oxford track record

[Genghis]

This one's for Kev H. He did ask for confirmation of the Oxford track record times recently.

I couldn't find this article (originally written for the Cheetahs Chronicle in 2003) when I looked a few weeks back, but had another look though my files tonight and bingo!!

Kev, the last section will be of particular interest to you.

And proof that the great Dave Perks is a better rider than Tony Rickardsson!!!!!!!


THE 58-SECOND BARRIER
BY ROBERT PEASLEY

Tony Rickardsson's time of 57.33 seconds in Heat 4 of Oxford v Poole match on May 23 was the sixth fastest time ever recorded at Sandy Lane, and the fastest time recorded since Hans Nielsen set the track record of 56.2 seconds on October 13, 1988. The fastest five times at Oxford were all set by the incomparable Nielsen. The 58.00 barrier has only been broken 40 times (including 22 times by Nielsen), since Nielsen became the first man to break this barrier with a time of 57.8 seconds in 1985.

A full list of the sub 58.00 second times is as follows:

1: July 17, 1985 Oxford v Wolves (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.8
2: June 6, 1986 Oxford v Ipswich (L.C.) Ht 1 Jeremy Doncaster 57.9
3: Sept 3, 1986 Oxford v Ipswich (L.C. s/f) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.5
4: Oct 10, 1986 Oxford v Sheffield (K.O.C. s/f) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.5
5: April 17, 1987 Oxford v Swindon v Reading (E.T) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.3
6: May 8, 1987 England v Denmark (2nd Test) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.1
7: May 20, 1987 Oxford v Hackney (L.C.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.1
8: June 26, 1987 Oxford v Swindon (L.C.) Ht 6 Hans Nielsen 57.9
9: Aug 14, 1987 Oxford v Belle Vue (L.C. s/f) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.6
10: Sept 25, 1987 Oxford v Coventry (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.8
11: Oct 14, 1987 Oxford v Hackney (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.5
12: June 15, 1988 OSSC / Jubilee Trophy (Ind) Ht 2 Jeremy Doncaster 57.8
13: June 15, 1988 OSSC / Jubilee Trophy (Ind) Ht 3 Jan O. Pedersen 57.5
(this was the first meeting in which two races were won in times of less than 58.0 seconds)
14: July 14, 1988 Oxford v Swindon (K.O.C.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.2
15: Aug 3, 1988 Oxford v Sheffield (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.7
16: Sept 14, 1988 Oxford v Ipswich (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.8
17: Oct 13, 1988 Oxford v Coventry (K.O.C. s/f) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 56.2
18: Oct 13, 1988 Oxford v Coventry (K.O.C. s/f) Ht 5 Martin Dugard 57.8
19: Oct 20, 1988 Oxford v Belle Vue (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.6
20: Oct 20, 1988 Oxford v Belle Vue (B.L.) Ht 6 Hans Nielsen 57.8
21: Oct 27, 1988 Oxford v Bradford (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.7
22: Oct 30, 1988 England v Denmark (3rd Test) Ht 1 Kelvin Tatum 57.7
(11 times of under 58.0 were recorded at Oxford during the 1988 season)
23: Aug 28, 1989 Oxford v Reading (B.L.) Ht 6 Hans Nielsen 57.6
24: June 14, 1991 Oxford v King's Lynn (G.C.) Ht 6 Hans Nielsen 57.8
25: July 5, 1991 Oxford v Berwick (B.S.P.A Cup) Ht 5 Martin Dugard 57.4
26: Aug 23, 1991 Oxford v Poole (B.L.) Ht 4 Martin Dugard 57.8
27: Aug 23, 1991 Oxford v Poole (B.L.) Ht 5 Martin Dugard 57.8
28: Aug 23, 1991 Oxford v Poole (B.L.) Ht 6 Hans Nielsen 57.4
(this is the only meeting in which three races have been won in times of less than 58.0 seconds)
29: Aug 26, 1991 Oxford v Reading (B.L.) Ht 5 Martin Dugard 57.6
30: Aug 26, 1991 Oxford v Reading (B.L.) Ht 6 Hans Nielsen 57.6
31: April 29, 1992 Oxford v Belle Vue (B.L.) Ht 6 Hans Nielsen 57.8
32: Aug 5, 1992 Oxford v Belle Vue (B.S.P.A Cup) Ht 4 Joe Screen 57.8
33: Aug 16, 1996 Oxford v Wolves (P.L.) Ht 3 Mikael Karlsson 57.8
34: July 3, 1998 Oxford v Swindon (E.L.A) Ht 1 Jason Crump 57.83
(two heats later, came that infamous incident when Crump punched team-mate Todd Wiltshire)
35: July 24, 1998 Oxford v Poole (E.L.B) Ht 1 Jason Crump 57.77
36: Sept 8, 2000 Oxford v King's Lynn (E.L.B) Ht 1 Jason Crump 57.90
37: May 18, 2001 Oxford v Poole (E.L.A) Ht 4 Tony Rickardsson 57.95
38: May 23, 2003 Oxford v Poole (E.L.A) Ht 4 Tony Rickardsson 57.33
39: May 23, 2003 Oxford v Poole (E.L.A) Ht 4 Tony Rickardsson 57.95
40: July 4, 2003 Oxford v Coventry (E.L.B) Ht 1 Todd Wiltshire 57.67

The fastest ten times in Oxford history are:
1 Oct 13, 1988 Oxford v Coventry (K.O.C. s/f) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 56.2 2= May 8, 1987 England v Denmark (2nd Test) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.1
2= May 20, 1987 Oxford v Hackney (L.C.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.1
4 July 14, 1988 Oxford v Swindon (K.O.C.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.2
5 April 17, 1987 Oxford v Swindon v Reading (E.T) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.3
6 May 23, 2003 Oxford v Poole (E.L.A) Ht 4 Tony Rickardsson 57.33
7= July 5, 1991 Oxford v Berwick (B.S.P.A Cup) Ht 5 Martin Dugard 57.4
7= Aug 23, 1991 Oxford v Poole (B.L.) Ht 6 Hans Nielsen 57.4
9= Sept 3, 1986 Oxford v Ipswich (L.C. s/f) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.5
9= Oct 10, 1986 Oxford v Sheffield (K.O.C. s/f) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.5
9= Oct 14, 1987 Oxford v Hackney (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.5
9= June 15, 1988 OSSC / Jubilee Trophy (Ind) Ht 3 Jan O. Pedersen 57.5

THE OXFORD TRACK RECORD SINCE 1984
At the request of Hans Nielsen, the shape of the Oxford track was altered prior to the start of the 1984 season, and the length of the track was reduced from 320 metres to its current length of 297 metres. In the first race of the 1984 season, Nielsen set the time to beat around the altered track. In the following seasons, the Oxford track record was equalled or lowered 17 times, before Nielsen set an amazing time of 56.2 seconds on October 13, 1988, which still stands nearly 15 years later. Here is the history of the Oxford track record since 1984:

1. Friday, March 30, 1984: Oxford v Poole (Challenge)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (60.7), Michael Lee, Nigel Sparshott, Neil Middleditch, Marvyn Cox (excluded, tape touching).
Nielsen's time beat the fastest time around the old track by 0.3 seconds. On June 11, 1981, Dave Perks set a track record time of 61.0 seconds, which stood until the shape and length of the track was changed.

2. Friday, April 13, 1984: Oxford v Wimbledon (League Cup)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (60.0), Kelvin Tatum, Malcolm Simmons, Marvyn Cox

3. Friday, June 15, 1984: Oxford v Ipswich (League Cup)
Heat 1: (Re-run) HANS NIELSEN (60.0), Billy Sanders, Richard Knight, Marvyn Cox (fell, excluded).

4. Friday, August 3, 1984: Oxford v Eastbourne (British League)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (60.0), Paul Woods, Denzil Kent, Martin Yeates.

5. Friday, August 24, 1984: Hartford Motors Supporters' Club Trophy (Individual) preceded by Golden Helmet: Hans Nielsen (holder) v Jan Andersson (challenger)
Golden Helmet Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (60.0) beat Jan Andersson
Hans Nielsen went on to beat Jan Andersson 2-1 to retain his Golden Helmet, having defeated Andersson 2-1 at Reading four days earlier in the first leg. However, Andersson got his revenge, by winning the Supporters' Club Trophy on 14 points, his only defeat coming against Nielsen in Heat 20. Nielsen's chances of winning the meeting disappeared with a tapes exclusion in Heat 5. He finished third on 12 points, behind Andersson and runner-up Gordon Kennett.
6. Friday, September 28, 1984: Oxford v Halifax (British League) preceded by Golden Helmet: Hans Nielsen (holder) v Erik Gundersen (challenger)
Golden Helmet Heat 1: ERIK GUNDERSEN (59.5) beat Hans Nielsen
On the first day of September, Erik Gundersen had become 1984 World Champion in Gothenburg, Sweden, beating Hans Nielsen into second place. Gundersen was nominated as Nielsen's next challenger to the Golden Helmet, and beat Nielsen 2-1 in the first leg at Cradley Heath on September 22. Six days later, the two met in the second leg at Cowley, and Gundersen won 2-0 to relieve Nielsen of the helmet. To rub salt into the wound, Gundersen took 0.5 seconds off Nielsen's track record in the opening heat, setting a new mark of 59.5 seconds, with Nielsen also finishing within the old track record with a time of 59.6, after pushing Gundersen to the flag. Heat 2 saw the old track record time beaten again, with Gundersen winning in a time of 59.7, ahead of Nielsen (60.0).

A week later, Cradley visited Oxford in a British League match, and with Nielsen & Gundersen again in opposition, the track record was expected to fall again. Nielsen got close with a time of 59.8 seconds in Heat 1. But the meeting turned into a nightmare for Gundersen, who touched the tapes in his first ride, fell in his second ride, suffered an engine failure while leading his third ride and was beaten into last place by Mel Taylor & Jens Rasmussen in his fourth ride. Gundersen scored his only points of the night when he finished in second place behind Nielsen in Heat 12.

7. Friday, May 3, 1985: Oxford v Sheffield (League Cup)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (59.4), Shawn Moran, Jens Rasmussen, Martin Hagon.

8. Friday, May 17, 1985: Oxford v Ipswich (League Cup)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (59.2), Jeremy Doncaster, Kai Niemi, Jens Rasmussen.

9. Wednesday, June 26, 1985: Oxford v Halifax (League Cup)
Heat 2: MARVYN COX (59.0), Rod Hunter, Troy Butler, Sean Willmott.
Marvyn Cox became the new Oxford track record holder… while riding at reserve! Cocker set his time, after Hans Nielsen team-rode with Melvyn Taylor to a 5-1 in Heat 1. A night that the Oxford track rode very quickly for the whole night… demonstrated by the fact that Halifax No. 1 Kenny Carter won Heat 13 in a time of 59.5 seconds, just 0.5 seconds outside Cocker's time.

10. Friday, June 28, 1985: Oxford v Belle Vue (British League)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (58.8), Chris Morton, Carl Blackbird, Melvyn Taylor (ret).
Two days later Nielsen regained the track record… meaning that Marvyn Cox never appeared in the Oxford programme as track record holder! And the track record has been Nielsen's property since!

11. Friday, July 12, 1985: Oxford v King's Lynn (British League)
Heat 1: (Re-run) HANS NIELSEN (58.6), Paul Woods, Kevin Jolly, Melvyn Taylor (fell, excluded).

12. Friday, July 17, 1985: Oxford v Wolverhampton (British League)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (57.8), Bobby Schwartz, Melvyn Taylor, Steve Schofield.

13. Wednesday, September 3, 1986: Oxford v Ipswich (League Cup semi-final, first leg)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (57.5), Jeremy Doncaster, Jens Rasmussen, Per Sorensen.
Hans Nielsen was paraded before the Oxford public before this meeting, as the new World Champion, after his memorable triumph in Katowice, Poland the previous weekend. Nielsen used the same bike that had carried him to his first individual World Title to take 0.3 seconds off his own track record in Heat 1, and went on to score a 15-point maximum to help Oxford recover six points down to win the meeting by 40-38.

14. Friday, October 10, 1986: Oxford v Sheffield (Knockout Cup semi-final, first leg)
Heat 1: HANS NILSEN (57.5), Shawn Moran, Martin Hagon, Per Sorensen.

15. Friday, April 17, 1987: Oxford v Reading v Swindon (Easter Triangle)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (57.3), Jens Rasmussen, Alun Rossiter, Richard Hellsen (ret).

16. Friday, May 8, 1987: England v Denmark (Second Test)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (57.1), Simon Wigg, Martin Dugard, Peter Ravn.

17. Wednesday, May 20, 1987: Oxford v Hackney (League Cup)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (57.1), Simon Wigg, Jens Rasmussen, Mark Loram.

18. Thursday, October 13, 1988: Oxford v Coventry (Knockout Cup, semi-final, second leg)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (56.2), Tommy Knudsen, Neville Tatum, Nigel De'ath.
This was the third attempt to stage this fixture (the first attempt on September 22 was rained off shortly before the scheduled start, and the second attempt on October 6 was abandoned after five heats after heavy rain). The meeting took place on a wet and very grippy track, indeed the meeting would have been called off in normal circumstances, but end-of-season fixture congestion meant it went ahead. Hans Nielsen went around in Heat 1 with his bike glued to the super-grippy track, not putting his foot down once around the corners. He pulled a wheelie as he crossed the line, at which point second-placed Tommy Knudsen was entering the third bend! Unfortunately, the rest of the Oxford team struggled in these exceptional track conditions, and the Cheetahs, having won a thrilling first leg at Brandon by two points, lost 38-49 on the night and 84-93 on aggregate, as the Bees progressed to the Cup Final. But Nielsen's track record has stood to this day.

WHO IS THE SPEED KING?
OK, we all know that Hans Nielsen has got around 4 laps of the Oxford track in the shortest time. By how about the average SPEED - who is then the fastest? The answer is still Hans Nielsen - but by less of a margin than perhaps you would expect.

Just to explain, the Oxford track has been altered in shape and length several times over the last 55 seasons. The last two major alterations happened during the 1972-1973 winter and then during the 1983-1984 winter.

We can work out the average speed (in miles per hour) using the following simple calculation:

Length (metres) x 8.948
Time (seconds)

On May 9, 1963, holder Ove Fundin faced challenger Peter Craven in the deciding leg of the Golden Helmet at Oxford. Craven set a new track record time of 63.0 in Heat 1, and then won Heat 2 in 63.8 seconds to take the Golden Helmet from Fundin. The length of the Oxford track at that point was 354 yards (323.7 metres), giving Craven an average speed 46.0 miles per hour. Craven's track record was printed in the Oxford programme up until 1973, at which point the length of the track was shortened by 4 yards. But no-one went around the Oxford track in a faster time, until Dave Perks did a time of 62.2 seconds on June 19, 1980, in a Silver Helmet match-race against Les Rumsey.

It was Perks who set the fastest time around the 320-metre (350-yard) track, with his time of 61.0 seconds, recorded in Heat 1 of the home National League match against Stoke on June 11, 1981. His average speed was 46.9 miles per hour.

Hans Nielsen's time of 56.2 seconds around a 297-metre track works out as an average speed of 47.3 miles per hour - just 0.4 miles per hour faster than Dave Perks. Every other average speed by Nielsen works out as SLOWER than Perks's speed - for instance, Nielsen's two times of 57.1 seconds work out as an average speed of 46.5 miles per hour. Tony Rickardsson's time of 57.33 seconds in May 2003 works out as 46.4 miles per hour. One up for the National League - well done Dave Perks!

[Deleted]

genghis said:

This one's for Kev H. He did ask for confirmation of the Oxford track record times recently.

I couldn't find this article (originally written for the Cheetahs Chronicle in 2003) when I looked a few weeks back, but had another look though my files tonight and bingo!!

Kev, the last section will be of particular interest to you.

And proof that the great Dave Perks is a better rider than Tony Rickardsson!!!!!!!


THE 58-SECOND BARRIER
BY ROBERT PEASLEY

A full list of the sub 58.00 second times is as follows:

1: July 17, 1985 Oxford v Wolves (B.L.) Ht 1 Hans Nielsen 57.8

39: May 23, 2003 Oxford v Poole (E.L.A) Ht 4 Tony Rickardsson 57.95
40: July 4, 2003 Oxford v Coventry (E.L.B) Ht 1 Todd Wiltshire 57.67

The fastest ten times in Oxford history are:

THE OXFORD TRACK RECORD SINCE 1984
Here is the history of the Oxford track record since 1984:

1. Friday, March 30, 1984: Oxford v Poole (Challenge)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (60.7), Michael Lee, Nigel Sparshott, Neil Middleditch, Marvyn Cox (excluded, tape touching).

18. Thursday, October 13, 1988: Oxford v Coventry (Knockout Cup, semi-final, second leg)
Heat 1: HANS NIELSEN (56.2), Tommy Knudsen, Neville Tatum, Nigel De'ath.

WHO IS THE SPEED KING?
OK, we all know that Hans Nielsen has got around 4 laps of the Oxford track in the shortest time. By how about the average SPEED - who is then the fastest? The answer is still Hans Nielsen - but by less of a margin than perhaps you would expect.
We can work out the average speed (in miles per hour) using the following simple calculation:

Length (metres) x 8.948
Time (seconds)

It was Perks who set the fastest time around the 320-metre (350-yard) track, with his time of 61.0 seconds, recorded in Heat 1 on June 11, 1981. His average speed was 46.9 miles per hour.

Hans Nielsen's time of 56.2 seconds around a 297-metre track works out as an average speed of 47.3 miles per hour - just 0.4 miles per hour faster than Dave Perks. Every other average speed by Nielsen works out as SLOWER than Perks's speed -

Strewth Genghis cobber (as my Aussie mates might say - only in more colourful language) you need to get out more!!!! Or am I alone in thinking that?

[Genghis]

bryn said:

Strewth Genghis cobber (as my Aussie mates might say - only in more colourful language) you need to get out more!!!! Or am I alone in thinking that?

Bryn - what's wrong with being comprehensive? ;D ;D

EDIT: Actually, I need to bring my records up-to-date as both Rickardsson and Watt posted sub 58.00 times during 2006.

[Deleted]

Genghis, do you have the info as to which starting gate position the riders who ducked under 58 seconds lined up in?

[Deleted]

genghis said:

bryn said:

Strewth Genghis cobber (as my Aussie mates might say - only in more colourful language) you need to get out more!!!! Or am I alone in thinking that?

Bryn - what's wrong with being comprehensive? ;D ;D
EDIT: Actually, I need to bring my records up-to-date as both Rickardsson and Watt posted sub 58.00 times during 2006.

But why do you only go to two decimal places on race times then Genghis if you want to be fully comprehensive which I always thought was a mode of car insurance cover? Or would that august body that represents those who undertake timing of races at tracks have to recommend that at least the £5.99 special stopwatch available from Argos be used rather than the bog standard £4.99 special? Now that's not to decry those who DO time races because I know, having sat next to quite a few in my time, that they take that duty seriously - VERY seriously in some cases! And let's face it, there's a blank box in the centre spread of the programme which we like filling up with whatever race time the track announcer gives out over the speakers!

No one ever queries if it's wrong though do they? And how do we know that the button (normally it's a button I think) that the timekeeper has to push to start the stopwatch is indeed pushed at the precise right moment? And how do we know that the stopwatch mechanism whatever it is reacts and does as instructed at that precise moment? And what if something goes wrong? Very rarely if ever have I had to announce, no in fact NEVER have I announced, "We'd like to bring you the winning time of that race but sadly can't due to a timekeeper error or stopwatch malfunction! - ooops sorry pardon!" or words to that effect! ;D


I COULD tell some trade secrets I suppose but WON'T as I'm bound by the code of conduct of the HSSOBI - besides which those trade secrets MUST be worth a pint or three? ;D

[Deleted]

genghis said:

This one's for Kev H. He did ask for confirmation of the Oxford track record times recently.

Indeed I did, and thanks very much for that Genghis.

[Deleted]

bryn said:

I'm bound by the code of conduct of the HSSOBI

Someone had to ask, so it may as well be me.............wtf's HSSOBI? (I'm guessing that the 'B' stands for Bundi?

[Deleted]

kevh said:

bryn said:

I'm bound by the code of conduct of the HSSOBI

Someone had to ask, so it may as well be me.............wtf's HSSOBI? (I'm guessing that the 'B' stands for Bundi?

Alas NOT this time Kev! It's the Honorary Society of Speedway Official's Box Individuals - or so I was told when I underwent their (and I really wish you HADN'T reminded me) rather strange initiation ceremony which still gives me nightmares!

[Genghis]

bryn said:

genghis said:

Bryn - what's wrong with being comprehensive? ;D ;D
EDIT: Actually, I need to bring my records up-to-date as both Rickardsson and Watt posted sub 58.00 times during 2006.

But why do you only go to two decimal places on race times then Genghis if you want to be fully comprehensive which I always thought was a mode of car insurance cover? Or would that august body that represents those who undertake timing of races at tracks have to recommend that at least the £5.99 special stopwatch available from Argos be used rather than the bog standard £4.99 special? Now that's not to decry those who DO time races because I know, having sat next to quite a few in my time, that they take that duty seriously - VERY seriously in some cases! And let's face it, there's a blank box in the centre spread of the programme which we like filling up with whatever race time the track announcer gives out over the speakers!

No one ever queries if it's wrong though do they? And how do we know that the button (normally it's a button I think) that the timekeeper has to push to start the stopwatch is indeed pushed at the precise right moment? And how do we know that the stopwatch mechanism whatever it is reacts and does as instructed at that precise moment? And what if something goes wrong? Very rarely if ever have I had to announce, no in fact NEVER have I announced, "We'd like to bring you the winning time of that race but sadly can't due to a timekeeper error or stopwatch malfunction! - ooops sorry pardon!" or words to that effect! ;D


I COULD tell some trade secrets I suppose but WON'T as I'm bound by the code of conduct of the HSSOBI - besides which those trade secrets MUST be worth a pint or three? ;D

Well, Hans Nielsen's 56.2 track record time is correct. Many people doubted its authenticity over the years (although with the master of timekeepers, Roger Nettlefold, on the task, they should have known better).

Anyway, I found the video to this meeting a few years back and timed the race myself. And it came out as 56.2 seconds.

[Genghis]

wacks said:

Genghis, do you have the info as to which starting gate position the riders who ducked under 58 seconds lined up in?

You are naughty.

But, to answer you question anyway, I only started recording gate positions in around 1988 (the same year as the introduction of fixed gate positions), so the answer is no.

[Deleted]

genghis said:

Well, Hans Nielsen's 56.2 track record time is correct. Many people doubted its authenticity over the years (although with the master of timekeepers, Roger Nettlefold, on the task, they should have known better).

Anyway, I found the video to this meeting a few years back and timed the race myself. And it came out as 56.2 seconds.

NOT that I'm doubting the venerable Mr Nettlegold for one millisecond but, as you well know Genghis, races at Sandy Lane are filmed from a position that is not directly in line with the start / finish line.
Given that, surely the "angle of the dangle" or whatever technical term applies appertaining to the angle from the camera position to the start/finish line should come into play?

[Genghis]

bryn said:

genghis said:

Well, Hans Nielsen's 56.2 track record time is correct. Many people doubted its authenticity over the years (although with the master of timekeepers, Roger Nettlefold, on the task, they should have known better).

Anyway, I found the video to this meeting a few years back and timed the race myself. And it came out as 56.2 seconds.

NOT that I'm doubting the venerable Mr Nettlegold for one millisecond but, as you well know Genghis, races at Sandy Lane are filmed from a position that is not directly in line with the start / finish line.
Given that, surely the "angle of the dangle" or whatever technical term applies appertaining to the angle from the camera position to the start/finish line should come into play?

Yes, but at this stage times at Oxford were only recorded to 0.1 seconds. So you can get a pretty accurate time by watching and timing the video. Anyway, I timed it twice, just to make sure, and got 56.2 seconds both times.

[Deleted]

genghis said:

bryn said:

NOT that I'm doubting the venerable Mr Nettlegold for one millisecond but, as you well know Genghis, races at Sandy Lane are filmed from a position that is not directly in line with the start / finish line.
Given that, surely the "angle of the dangle" or whatever technical term applies appertaining to the angle from the camera position to the start/finish line should come into play?

Yes, but at this stage times at Oxford were only recorded to 0.1 seconds. So you can get a pretty accurate time by watching and timing the video. Anyway, I timed it twice, just to make sure, and got 56.2 seconds both times.

Ah but what did YOU use to time it twice? The £4.99 special from Argos or the £5.99 Super-de-luxe version? ;D

[Deleted]

genghis said:

bryn said:

NOT that I'm doubting the venerable Mr Nettlegold for one millisecond but, as you well know Genghis, races at Sandy Lane are filmed from a position that is not directly in line with the start / finish line.
Given that, surely the "angle of the dangle" or whatever technical term applies appertaining to the angle from the camera position to the start/finish line should come into play?

Yes, but at this stage times at Oxford were only recorded to 0.1 seconds. So you can get a pretty accurate time by watching and timing the video. Anyway, I timed it twice, just to make sure, and got 56.2 seconds both times.

Ghengis you really need a hobby or something. ;D

[Deleted]

bryn said:

Or would that august body that represents those who undertake timing of races at tracks have to recommend that at least the £5.99 special stopwatch available from Argos be used rather than the bog standard £4.99 special?

Does this not say everything about how speedway is stuck in a time warp (no pun intended )? Even the corporate kart track on the centre green at Oxford managed to use transponders in conjunction with an timing strip under the start/finish line to get accurate times, so how hard could it be for speedway to do something similar?