old bob at herne bay

The vast majority of the losses of speedway venues in London and the South East have been due to loss of land and the huge profits to be made selling land for housing. £1000 a week rent for speedway 5 months of the year - bah why bother ? When the carrot of millions of pounds for housing developments is dangled , not much will get in the way..... eventually. There is also a change in the demographic of the supporters - who used to live close to city centre stadia. Local support was strong - local shops and businesses would advertise the speedway with some pride and receive complimentary tickets for doing so. Now these places house a different crowd, with no interest in outdoor sports, cocooned in the million pouind apartments and watching the latest online film offerings on their 60 inch TV's. Speedway tracks in the South East it seems have to attract crowds from far afield ..... with the associated costs of travel and in some cases even car parking charges. However, Grass Track racing in the South East continues to attract large crowds to one off events scattered around the countryside. Folks seen happy to travel a distance for an afternoon's entertainment, with a beer tent , and an option for overnight camping on the field. Getting up close and personal with the riders who are often more relaxed and seem to be enjoying themselves .... taking the family out for a jaunt into the countryside having a picnic and maybe even getting splattered with mud watching... all adds to the atmosphere seems to be the "product" (to use the latest buzz word) that people like.

Why? The people in charge of the NDL haven’t changed …..they still have to approve these NDL membership applications…. who knows whether they will support stand alone NDL clubs who wish to sign riders that the BSPL big boys don’t like ? If IoW had a successful season - good luck to them ….. maybe the route to profitable speedway is for new clubs to adopt the IoW model instead of accepting the constraints of racing in an NDL with the big boys of the BSPL calling the shots ?

Sounds like Central Park has truly gone to the dogs.

Only "person of colour" in speedway (I think that is the preferred term now) I remember, was the late Paul Muchene who rode at Arena Essex.

It’s a matter of public record that Roger Cearns gave up his interests at Kent . It’s also a matter of public record that Kent speedway operated under very restrictive planning approval , despite appeals to Swale Council ( supported by me ) to relax the planning restrictions. Ergo, a new landlord who might be looking to develop their core business ( dog racing) would be keen to curry favour with Swale council local residents and Swale councillors by dropping the speedway racing tenants. Sittingbourne Stadium is in need of investment to maintain it’s facilities. The backstraight stand is in need of either refurbishment or demolition. The main stand requires floor panel anti corrosion treatment or replacement . Maybe the landlord is looking for a realistic rent to cover future maintenance costs from its tenants.

Well we can only see if Iwade do lodge an application to join the NDL in 2022. One hopes that the attitude of the BSPL will be supportive to allowing another stand alone club to run in the NDL in 2022. Good old Rob McCaffery ploughs onward with resurrecting Rye House and I wished him success with his venture. Despite his personal abuse, I still wish him well, although this “fool”, “self appointed windbag” and keyboard warrior is mindful that Len Silver severed his interests in Rye some years ago ….. I wonder why?

Due diligence from the Mason’s figures should show attendances, and income from sponsors. wonder what the business plan is to attract greater numbers to Perry Barr …. Or is this another promotion “winging it” One things certain, they can rely on the BSPL to provide advice ……..NOT

IF there is a suitable CL race night available at Monmore, suggest that it’s a business decision between the stadium landlord and the new promoters of Birmingham.

“Belong in the top flight “ LMAO. That ship has sailed for Poole along with your promoter and all the top riders on the pirate ship off to plunder riches across the seas.

Mr N Pedersen Sean Wilson Andre Compton Mr F Lindgren Chris Pusey Ivor Brown Chris Julian

Still think Oxford, if successful in the CL in 2022, will be de facto replacements for Swindon in PL 2023 ( if the PL still exists)

No more confused than the Poole supporters who still believe Matt Ford will return his club to the Premiership - or is it Dan nowadays?

1.No local derbies vs Poole on a Wednesday .... Oxford will have to ride on their alternative night . 2. No chance of Poole supporters visiting Oxford. Oh yes Poole didn’t last long riding on a Thursday in the Prem ... Seems another self interest decision from Rob Godfrey and his beloved Scunthorpe.

Thanks - sharing with neighbours Poole ;-)

What race night are they planning to use ?

Could he double up in both PL and CL ? What’s his current CMA?

If ARC don’t/can’t guarantee use of the stadium for speedway … it’s a dead duck. IMO, don’t think Len would have retired if he thought there was a realistic chance of an amicable agreement with ARC. This must have been going on for a while now behind the scenes.

Expect Mullford to concentrate on Grastrack … seems to be where his interests lie ….. Everyone mentions Eastbourne as an option but not racing in league until 2023 according to Trev Gear. ….and Oxford still haven’t achieved membership of the secret society .

If Oxford are refused admission to the Championship on a Friday night, and cannot join the PL on Friday … Would the NDL admit them as a Friday night racetrack ? Might be the only option ….

Thought that no Wednesday night racing was the main reason Poole stepped across the the Championship? Poole as long as I remember gas ALWAYS been a Wednesday night track . Anyone on here remember when the first rode on a Wednesday night ?

Anyone know the collective noun for speedway promoters ? A "shower" maybe ?

Keep this thread on topic ........ its Oxford on here. Birmingham have their own thread.

East End Fan, don’t take it personally, every club I have ever supported has now closed down. Even more galling is that many of the away tracks I have travelled to have also disappeared . The closure of Lakeside was the final straw …..so many good Speedway friends there I used to see every week … many back from days at Waterden Road. Different crowd at Kent ….never really the same for me. Definitely a speedway star magazine and armchair TV supporter nowadays.

Typical Poole fans... they win the league p offs and all they do is moan about the ref deciding Craig Cook beat Worrall ! Surprised old Middleditch hasn’t lodged a protest. ;-) As I predicted first few heats were telling... Poole 6 points up after 2 and Glasgow crumbled. Well done Poole you won the league and the p offs. Riders can collect their bonus payments free holidays etc etc and lets see what the BSPL can concoct for team building in 2022.

Would there be enough riders? So many double uppers/downers ……even with 2 rising stars per club Even lower team building averages required to level up teams Would milden hall compete in the new league - as the NDL surely is dead. Probably the only way forwards but too much self interest and big egos to allow it to happen