Ray Stadia

You mention Poole and Swindon, Wiltshire and Dorset were both 'hot beds' for Grass Track. I too would imagine fields could be found, fairly easily. And then Eastbourne and Lakeside, Kent and Sussex were another 'hot bed'. The ironic thing is, The Hagon family are a Grass Track dynasty. Yes they have done Speedway, but biggest success was on grass. Your idea is great in my opinion. I suspect the majority of fans and promoters have forgotten this 'one time' very important connection. Sounds a funny thing to say, but one reason, I believe, is the amount of foreign riders here. Outside of the UK, Germany, Holland and France, there is not much Grass Track. Therefore, the Poles, Scandinavians etc all come via Speedway. I would say Aussies, but I think they have some Grass Track.

I agree with the above. Grass Track is relatively cheaper than Speedway, in my opinion and is an excellent introduction to a 'sideways' sport.

The sniping has happened the whole time I have been on the forum.There were some great tussles between Speedyguy and Parsloes, regarding Wimbledon and that was a few years ago now. Speedyguy is very quiet these days. I had quite a few spats with Malcolm Vassey a few years ago. The reality, is in life, you have those who will be 'put down' and will roll over and 'die' and then there are those who will have a go back. There are bullies on this forum as, most likely, all forums and sites such as Facebook. Personally, if I am 'attacked', I will retaliate, that is just my nature, rightly or wrongly.

And is unusual, as Mr P is normally telling us about the wonderful sport, called Rugby!

The track (Hagon Academy), appears to be a similar size to a Cycle Speedway track. Thurrock, which is very near Lakeside, used to have a Cycle Speedway track/club. As an introduction to speedway, maybe Cycle Speedway could be reintroduced to the area, using the academy track. All these sports of association help, as does junior Grass Track.

The academy sounds a great idea, although one negative on the academy, not the programme, looking at the Hagon Academy website, the cost, even if you use your own bike is quite steep! Which means you will only get those with dad's that have deep pockets. It's a pity that the academy can't be subsidised somehow.

I made a contribution, one or two....or twenty posts previous! In a nutshell, I thought it was very good!

But then you come from the same mould as Backless, so wouldn't expect anything different!

Perhaps take a leaf from the school playground, 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but the forum will never hurt me'. However, this advice never did help me!

I am not sure if Ipswich would allow me to use my 'flexible friend' Midland Bank switch card, as I approach the turnstile in my bobble hat and Wulfsport nylon jacket. I will try next time, rather than pay in ten bob notes!

I have just seen the speedway part of the show and all the negative comments are completely unfair. It show cased part of a meeting with Lakeside Hammers versus Poole, with some good action and a not shabby crowd, with Pete 'the restorer' and a mate having a go on some 140 cc speedway bikes, around the Hagon Academy track, which I didn't know existed. Great to bring on the youngsters, which must be the intention of the track. Chris Holder was the coach for Pete and his mate, with Martin Hagon doing a bit. Haven't seen Martin for a few years. Excellent part of the programme!

You perhaps would have been better watching Big Brother SCB, it is available on Virgin Media, on demand, if you are lucky enough to have that facility. Would have spared you watching Henry 'promoting' speedway on national TV.

I suppose Backless and the way I see it, I am acting as a 'Policeman' of the forum. Most of your comments and fair play, you may have posted one or possibly two constructive comments. The rest have been out to ridicule and put down the posters comments, including mine in the past, as well as the present. So if I make you feel nervous, I make no apology. Like a Policeman would not apologise for making a criminal feel nervous.

Actually, it's not so easy these days. I have Virgin Media, but no recording facility. I have a DVD player, but no recording facility. I still have a Video recorder hooked up, but rarely used. And Virgin Media does have their version of I-player, but only the main channels, which, yes includes this programme, as it is ITV. So, once again, your 'snipe' doesn't totally fit....but keep trying, you will get there!

All sterling stuff and can understand your passion, but this is a speedway forum!

I was referring to the poster who made the following comment:- On a personal level I would love to see AFC Wimbledon playing again at Plough Lane, which would be a fantastic reward for those loyal Dons fans. But it was supposed to be a joke, but like most of my jokes, has fallen flat! LOL!

Actually, that may help Speedway. One of the stumbling blocks for speedway returning at Plough Lane has been the tarmac stock car track. With stocks gone, tarmac can go and shale put down. Do I detect a spy/traitor within this thread?

Fair play, Mr Taggart is determined, he's like a dog with a bone!

Nice work BacKless my old son!.....just shows you can do it! High 5!

I can understand your pessimism, but AFC Wimbledon are in League 2 (fourth division), not super flush with cash, I wouldn't have thought. London is not exactly short of football stadiums, but is short of speedway and would be totally short if greyhounds and stocks disappear. Therefore, there has to be optimism if greyhounds, speedway and stocks band together and stress the benefit of multi-use, as it is unlikely AFC Wimbledon would want greyhounds. I wonder if the locals would want football back in Plough Lane? Do we know if Boris likes speedway? I reckon he might like greyhounds!

Probably KevH....the forum name Backless is right for this person, no backbone!

Bring back the Rockets! (Rayleigh Rockets).......not rickets! Or one for Backless....the Crickets!

Not sure you are right there. Modern world?....who was the cream of Glastonbury recently? The group has been around since Barry Briggs won one of his many world titles! There is a big lust for nostalgia at the moment....why?, because both old and young are fed up with the modern world!

I think the heat is making people tetchy on the BSF...you just can't seem to post something without sarcasm being returned. John Leslie, get an air conditioning unit and do us all a favour!

It sounds as though the complex is expected to be a multi-motor sport facility for both racing and development, which I imagine will mean practice/testing facilities. At the very least, perhaps a nice practice track could be built for riders/tuners. As for Backless......he never has anything good to say, he just knocks peoples postings. He is one of the forums trolls!