This is a discussion forum is it not?

If as you say you have valid questions, you should ask them directly and not on a public forum like this.

If Steve Ribbons was doing this as a personal venture then yes whatever his previous experience/ventures were would be irrelevant as everyone would just be hoping he succeeds in reopening.  The reason it is relevant, just in my opinion, is because you are asking us to put our money in to fund it. I think it’s valid to know who’s going to be using the money and whether it’s going to be used correctly rather than just chucking money over the fence to a stranger.  I was initially interested in making a pledge but to be honest the track issues have made me nervous, now you are raising money just to pay the league bond but then having to get a loan to pay for the air fence, does that make all pledgers liable for the loan if they are shareholders, and surely it’s a lost cause for entering any national league competitions this season as it was reported that the deadline to have everything signed off to enter the national trophy was 15th March, however it’s stated that the foam fence would take 2 months to deliver once ordered ….. and they don’t yet have the funds to order it. I’m not trying to be negative and I think it’s really important that we try to get as many tracks running as possible and wish nothing but best wishes and support to this project, but I think it’s only fair that people have valid questions and concerns given the fact this is going to be a fan funded project.

and why would our opinions scupper a reopening? 

The closest place to the stadium is probably Freebridge Farm which is a Brewers Fayre pub. Not been there for years though so can't vouch for the quality. I'm guessing by your profile picture that you'll be coming up from Suffolk direction so The Farmhouse at Fincham might not be to far off your path. I've not been myself yet but from those that have been, they say it's very good. As @StarBoyhas mentioned, Marriott's Warehouse or Bank House are good options in town (on the quayside) and plenty of parking options nearby. I think the Lattice House has closed it's doors again (or at least that is what I was told). If you don't mind venturing further out from the stadium, The Crown (one in Gayton and one in East Rudham), Three Horseshoes (Roydon), Ffolkes Arms (Hillington) and The Dabbling Duck (Great Massingham) are all very good.

15 minutes... spread over the course of 2 hours with regular breaks for tractor racing 😂