The White Knight

Oh - I think I know as much about the situation as you. Mmmmm - why am I not surprised?

I believe that the Easington Stadium was looked at some years ago now as regards Speedway. Nothing transpired - I don't know why?

Interesting - can you prove that?

Precisely. A lot of the 'Mystic Megs' on here can't se that though. "There none so blind............................. etc".).

Everything is easy with hindsight Humphrey. I can understand their enthusiasm for getting the Meeting on.

Thanks for that Andy (Capp). Florrie would love you for that.

Sadly no Speedway - but a fantastic Stadium none the less. One can always dream - but I have been dreaming since 1974 with no result. I don't think it will happen in my lifetime now. 'Crazy' Jack, Graeme Smith, Russ Dent, George Barclay and in an earlier incarnation (1964) Jim Airey, Gordon Guasco and Ken Sharples - yes - happy days and happy memories.

I do not believe that the Stadium/Track has been officially handed over to the Promoters yet. I thought it could not be handed over until everything (including the Track) was signed off by the Council and the Promoters. If anyone knows more about this I would appreciate the true facts on this matter. As I said in my previous Post - I could be wrong.

...................... and the 'Daily Mail'.

To the best of my knowledge the Stadium has not yet been handed over. (I could, of course, be wrong).

OUT!!!!!

Whilst I agree that the start of the National Stadium has been less than ideal - I am disgusted at some of the comments on here. It is almost as if some so called Speedway Supporters are actuallly revelling in Belle Vue's misfortune, rejoicing in it indeed. Mr. Gordon and Mr. Morton are trying to produce a Speedway asset that will last both Belle Vue and our Country for many years to come. They should be praised for this - not vilified. Various explanations are given on here regarding the problems, the Contractors and the Council seem to be, in the main, responsible for the debacle. Mr. Gordon and Mr. Morton have arranged the financial backing for this Project - they did not actually build the Stadium or the Track. Specifications were provided, yes but after that they were in the hands of the Council and the Contractors. The only criticism that I have in the Promotion is that their obvious enthusiasm to open as soon as possible was, with hindsight (always easy to view things after the event) overly optimistic. I have great sympathy for those who turned up for the Opening Meeting only for it to be called off. Belle Vue are apparently, and quite rightly, issuing Ticket Refunds to Supporters. As for travelling expenses, Days off taken etc. this is all part of supporting Speedway. I have attended a lot of rained off Meetings over the years and I have never, ever received any travelling expenses for my pains - that, as I say, is how supporting Speedway works and probably has done since time immemoriam. After all of these early problems, Belle Vue and our Nations young Riders will have a Stadium and Track which will provide great racing in an Arena which will be among the very best in the World. The Promotion should be praised for their foresight. Without it the new Speedway Stadium would not exist. Without the new Stadium we would not have a place where the very best of our young Riders can be trained and will, hopefully, go on to be World Champions. Finally, instead of all the carping and nastiness, which drove me off this Forum in the first place, could we please have a little understanding for the feelings of those people who have moved heaven and earth to bring this new Stadium and Track to fruition. THEY WILL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB!! I, for one, THANK them. UP THE 'ACES'!!!!

I will break my self imposed exile from this Forum (for one Post only) to say how very sad I am to see and hear about the events at Belle Vue's new Stadium. I have very great sympathy for all of those good folk who travelled to the Stadium for the 'First Night'. They must be extremely angry and upset at losing, in some cases, considerable amounts of money. Sadly it is now apparent that the Stadium was not ready to use. This should elicit some sort of apology, and perhaps some compensation, to those Supporters from Belle Vue Speedway Ltd. itself. That said, in the best regulated Schemes problems arise - it is how they are dealt with that counts. Belle Vue will, hopefully, learn from this dreadful experience and ensure that everything is totally sorted out regarding the Track for the next Meeting. As regards Mr. Morton and Mr. Gordon - they have put their heart and souls in to this Developement over a number of years - they must be totally devastated. Perhaps in their desire to see all of their dreams come to fruition they were too keen to 'get the Meeting on'. Who can blame them for that, surely we have all been over enthusiastic about things in our lives. Without them - there would be no National Speedway Stadium - that needs to be remembered too. They did not set out to have this happen on purpose. I am saddened to by the 'Statement' issued by the BSPA - Belle Vue, as a Promotion, need some support at this time - being abandoned by your Professional Body must be hard to take. Finally - I would like to wish the Belle Vue Promotion, Staff and Riders the very best for the future - you are my Team after all. 'UP THE ACES'!!!

There wouldn't be anything wrong with Twenty Heats though would there? Second Half for example.

Dolgin used to Post them on this Forum at one time. I don't know why he stopped? I always found them interesting anyway.

Or a JAP. :approve:

All the very best to you and yours Dave and everyone else at Newcastle. Here's to a successful Year 2016.

Great Post speedibee. :approve:

Once again Vince a very, very good Post with lots of good ideas. I really do hope that some Promoters read your Post - it should give them plenty of food for thought. WELL DONE!!!

Is your Grammar perfect? :nono:

Naughty RD - naughty. :nono: :rofl:

Your not wrong there sidney. :rofl: As for what would I do. About the only thing I can think of that could help Speedway is an Independent Overseer of the whole Sport with a Brief to completely reorganize Speedway. For all sorts of reasons that will not happen, and Speedway will continue to bumble along in it's own haphazard way until there are none of us 'oldies' left. Then it will probably become an Amateur Sport in this Country. Obviously there may be somebody else out there who has an answer - if there is - I wish they could come forward soon, whilst there is still a Sport around to be brought up to date.

I can remember Jason Crump and Niki Pedersen fighting to get last place (Both slowing down) regarding who did/didn't get the 'Joker' in the World Cup a few years ago. That was pretty demeaning for Speedway.

The 15 to 30 Group will last longer. It may surprise you but I generally get on very well with teenagers.

In my case - too long in the tooth Dave.