25yearfan

Great website, helps to inform people that their is still after 19 years much interest in Birmingham Brummies speedway. Its criminal that a city the size of Brum and with its past history in the sport that speedway isnt staged there at present - but who knows, lets hope that some of the rumours come true? - Will Perry Bar become available one day? Speedway needs Birmimngham Brummies and the likes of Bristol Buldogs, Halifax Dukes, Norwich City Stars, Cradley Heath Heathens, Southampton Saints, Hackney Hawks, Leicester Lions, a Kent higher League team and many more back in the sport!

Its so frustrating having to talk about well supported spedway teams that are now defunct. In an ideal world Bristol, Trelawny, Birmingham, Cradley, Leicester, Norwich and many others would have operating speedway tracks. But just remember, who'd of thought that the likes of Workington, Wimbledon, Newport, Hull, Rye House, Weymouth etc would of returned to the world of speedway racing. While this world is still turning and their is speedway their is always a chance!

Given the fierce rivalry between Coventry and Leicester, I don't think many ex Lions fans go regularly to Brandon. Same also, Birmingham and Cradley fans don't go regularly to Wolves, although quite a few midland based fans used to go infrequently to all the various tracks that existed in this area in the late 70's and early 80's. So I don't think that these tracks reopening would decimate the crowds of Coventry and Wolves, but I know that present day promotors don't think like that. Though I know that people involved at Wolves have been helping those actively seeking a return for Birmingham. For instance Exeter have always attracted quite a few fans from Cornwall. When St Austell/Trelawny ran from 1997 - 2003, far from taking away some of Exeters support the Cornish track attracted new and former spectators back into speedway which benefited Exeter, particularly on the derby days. Someret would probably get interest from former speedway fans whose interest had been aroused by a Bristol Bulldogs revival. Overall though as I've previously stated on this subject I think that Somerset would go the way of Newport in the late 70's after a Bristol revival - Such was the enormous interest in Bristol speedway at Eastville, Newport at Somerton Park stuggled to attract the crowds and closed down. But in this day and age Somerset would have the saftey net of the Conference League to fall back onto. Indeed the Rebels would be an ideal nusery track for a sucessfull higher league Bristol Bulldogs outfit. A fact over the history of speedway in that in the majority of cases when a track closes down a large % of the tracks support stop going to speedway altogether. Most of the other % only go very sparingly to speedway, Cradley fans for instance. In my area East Anglia, ask anyone over the age of 55 and most will tell you of the great nights they had following Norwich Stars speedway team at the old Firs Stadium. I bet 80% if not more of these haven't been to speedway for donkeys years!

Yes Stansolo I'm sure all your points were factors in the failure of the Wheels track to attract the crowds. I've always thought that moving to another part of the city, indeed the blue and white half wheras Perry Bar was in the Aston Villa heartland was a big factor. I know football areas shouldn't come into it but I'm sure that a lot of ex Perry Bar regulars felt the Wheels Brummies were a different creature to the pre 84 Perry Bar Brummies. Thats why I think if the Brummies are to return in the future then Perry Bar dog track would be the most suitable venue. Anyway my old team Norwich Stars never got a 2nd chance like the Brummies did! - We would of loved 2nd Division National League racing in the City in the 70's or 80's! - Nowadays it would be great to see Conference League speedway in Norwich!

I thought it was a 30 mile radius though I'm not sure? Would the Somerset promotion protest about a Bristol revival? Though I think if Bristol speedway was to ever return then Somerset would have to revert back to the less financially demanding Conference League in order to survive as the Bulldogs would take a lot of their support. Somerset would be a good feeder track for any Bristol set up. Same as I think a successful Norwich return would probably lose K lynn, Ipswich and Mildenhall a few supporters, though many new fans from Norwich would be enticed to go to Speedway benefiting the sport overall..

The very fact that Bristol hasn't staged speedway since 1978 is criminal. How can the Council in the late 70's and after justify shutting down the speedway which was hugely supported, so much that it was the best supported track in England? I thought a councils job was to encourage activities that its constituents wanted and supported. Me personally, if I was a councillor then I would do exactly that. For instance golf has never done much for me and probably never will but it is a very popular pastime in this Country and the courses are environment and nature friendly. For these reasons I would want golf courses built in the area I covered. Bristol is a very similar situation to my old team the Norwich Stars. Former popular centres for speedway with very unhelpful local council and nearby tracks (Somerset and King's Lynn) that although are established and do OK will never be proper replacements for the old Stars and Bulldogs teams in the fans eyes. in the future who knows? - We can only hope!

Yes I'm sure Romford greyhound stadiums close location to housing would be detrimwental to any efforts to include speedway but the stadium is also right next to the main Norwich - Liverpool st, London main line which runs god knows how many tims a day! I'm sure Arena Essex wouldn't be happy knowing how speedway promotors think these days but with the huge local population surely both tracks could each pull in over a thousannd a week?

On the subject of Romford Bombers speedway, I believe that crowds were very good at the old Brooklands stadium. I've always wondered what with the overwhelming success of the speedway at Romford for the 3 years in which they ran and the masses of populaton nearby if any attempt has been made to start speedway up at the plush Romford Greyhound stadium. Their is room inside the dog track for a Wolves/Oxford style speedway circuit. Speedway at Romford dog track could be sustainable as nearby London only has Wimbledon, and just out of the city Arena Essex. If it did ever happen crowds would only have to be a third of what they were at Brooklands to be considered viable in todays British spedway scene. It would be great to see the Romford Bombers speedway team return to league racing, promotors check out the dog track at Romford!

Yes Bordesly green or the wheels complex whatever you want to call it ran about 3 chalenge matches, one a match against Oxford with ex brummies Andy Grahame, Neil Evitts and Hans Nielsen amongst others in action. I know they also had a junior challenge match against near neighbours Cradley Heath. The Brummies then had 2 unconvincing National League seasons at the Wheels before the promotion gave up trying to make a success of the underdeveloped venue. Attempts were made to return to the Alexandra stadium, by now the greyhound stadium in 1987 but to no avail. The wheels track then was tarmaced over for stock car racing and the car promotors wouldn't entertain reshaling for a speedway return. Though in the late 90s a planning application was made to build a speedway track elsewhere on the wheels site, but as we know nothing fruitful came of it. The wheels complex is the location for the proposed 60,000 all seater city of Birmingham stadium where the Birminham City football club would play amongst other attractions. When the old Alexandra Stadium held some open meetings in 1960 one of the promotors was a certain Doug Ellis now the infamous dictator sorry chairman of up the road from Perry Bar Prem footy team Aston Villa! Nowadays Perry Bar dog track (original Alewxadra stadium) is a very plush venue. It certainly represents the best potential venue for a Brummies speedway return. As is pointed out in a message on the Brummies website, the GRA (owners of Perry Bar) are currently up for sale. One of the bidders for the GRA is none other than Coventry speedway owner and Birmingham based businessman Mr Sandhu. Now if hes successful in his bid for the GRA would the converted speedway fan Mr Sandhu be interested in resserecting the Brummies speedway team at Perry Bar? - Personally if I was a businessman who had just bought Perry Bar dog track then I would want to fully utilise its earning potential, this would include Birmingham Brummies speedway racing!! We live in hope!

Yes, a multi purpose stadium in Norwich featuring speedway on a Saturday night, greyhounds on two other nights possibly Tuesday and Fridays football/Rugby on the infield and function facilities could be a very good thing for the area. If only someone could convince the council. TREES, I only hear rumours and talk amongst locals and speedway fans, but I do hope one day before my end that I'll witness speedway racing on a track in Norwich! I known that many persons have tried over the years and indeed people are on the case at the present time but until it actually happens don't get your hopes up, but thanks to this forum ideas and interest can be maintained and who knows if someone with the capabilities reads some information on here such as the land at Hevingham and realises that interest is still high then things could happen!

The Hevingham site is about 2-3 miles up the road from the airport which in turn is almoost opposite the housing estate where the famous Firs Stadium home of the equally famous Norwich Stars was situated. A supporters organisation would be a help. If everyones energys and ideas can be centralised then maybe things could be done. I would definately join any supporters organisation.

I hope you are proved wrong Spiegal. I'd have to agree though that after years of rumours and nothing coming to fruition I'll believe any Norwich or Great Yarmouth reopening when I'm actually standing on the terraces watching the completion of heat 15 on opening night! Your right about Cyril Crane. Cyril who was a great promoter for the best part of 20 years upset the apple cart at Norwich council and the BSPA when he ran an unlicensed meeting at Hevingham in early 1976 which was won by a 14 year old Andy Buck as I can recall. A while back one of the Franklin family who runs Yarmouth greyhound Stadium (which is coincidentally currently in the process of replacing the old grandstand with a newer version, not that the old one wasn't plush enough!) posted a message on the internet regarding speedway. He said that they would welcome speedway back to the stadium if a suitable way of laying and taking up a temporary shale track for every speedway meeting on the current concrete stock car circuit could be found. No way are they going to upset the stock car promoters because attendances are very good for the cars, like they could be for speedway racing. On the subject of Hevingham if you care to venture behind the Marsham Arms pub to the land where the 1976 meeting took place on, you will find that the site has not been developed. I'm sure that if any prospective promoter went through the correct channels then this site could still yet make a suitable venue for a Norwich speedway track. It is 5 minutes out of the City on a main road and apart from the pub their is not many houses to close by. I'm like many others in the Norwich area still hoping that one day I'll see speedway return to Norwich and Great Yarmouth would be nice as well! - Stranger things have happened!

From what I've heard, the guys trying to find a site for Norwich are just stabbing in the dark and one of the prospective promotors in particular does not have the necessary funds to run speedway. Yarmouth sounds more promising with current Peterborough promotor Mick Horton applying for planning permission for a track on land at Yarmouth racecourse. - I'm sure Yarmouth if ran from middle of May to start of September the venture would get viable attendances. Must be called the GREAT YARMOUTH BLOATERS!

The theory of a National trophey between all 3 leagues in British speedway sounds good in theory. I remember some great National trophey matches at Norwich in the early 50s when the Stars then did manage to beat somme 1st Division teams as I can just about recall! I also remember Workington knocking out both higher League Kings Lynn and then British League champions Ipswich in 1976 if I'm correct. The biggest problem you would get is that standards differ quite a lot, even between good Premier League guys and Elite League heat leaders let alone Conference League riders. Therefore I feel the only way such a National cup would work is if handicaping was introduced. Elite League riders over 8 handicapped 10 yards on EL riders under 8 and Premier League riders 8 or over. EL riders under 8 and Premier League riders 8 or over handicapped 10 yards on Premier League riders under 8. Premier League riders under 8 handicapped 10 yards on all Conference League riders. This would mean the top EL riders being handicapped 20 yards against lesser Premier riders and 30 yards against Conference League riders! This would ensure close racing and undoubtedly lots of overtaking, though I'm not sure if some of the superstars would relish having to attempt to overtake some Conference League unsteady thottle merchant! Other rules of a National Trophey: (Hopefully someone would come in to sponsor such a competition like the Daily Mail used to in the 50s. Riders only allowed to ride for one team in the competition. (doubling up Riders would have to ride for their lower Division track, this will hopefully encourage riders to make permanant moves up. All teams in random draw (wouldn't it be great to have draws made on Sky during speedway coverage). One legged tie. If the tie is a draw then a replay would take place on away team track. Final on neutral track and some plush non League track would be even better!. (Maybe Cardiff the day after a British GP!) - Such an event could be made very attractive with a special occasion feel to it. All cup matches to take place on the same week with the pick of matches to be televised. Imagine Buxton Versus Poole from Hi Edge on the TV!- With the handicapping the enevitable overtaking would make for great TV! If ties are still level after the replay then sudden death to take place: Top 2 scoring riders (including bonus points and tactical points) from each team to race of against each other. Who gets the heat advantage wins the meeting. If this race is level then the next two highest scoring riders from each team to race each other. If this race is level then: 5th and 6th highest riders from each team to race against each other. If this race is shared: One chosen rider from each team to race of with the winner, winning the tie for their team. I think this format should be used in all League speedway cause after all League speedway is about team racing so run offs should be about team racing rather the current two man runoffs (As can be seen in my new system if after 3 level race offs a two man run off will decide the match anyway). All the above suggestions would make the sport more exciting and give it more credibility with the media, local Councils and al other outsiders.

I know prmotion and relegation was unsucessfully tried in the ealy 90's when clubs who had previously agreed didn't want to go through with it. Eg: Swindon in 1991 wouldn't go down into the 2nd Division but eventually in 1993 dropped down anyway! Peterborough wouldn't go up after winning the 2nd Division in 1992 but since 1995 have only had 1 year outside the top flight! Regardless of what happened above, promotion and relegation in speedways Elite and Premier Leagues would give the sport more credibility with the media and non speedway followers might give the sport a look in. Also the extra excitment generated by teams battling against relegation and those trying for promotion would add an extra dimension to affairs. I think the only way we will see such rulings brought back into British speedway is if big sponsorship was found that would make it more desirable for clubs to compete in the Elite League rather than the Prmier League. Look back at the sports high level glory years of the late 40s and early 50s when speedway seriously rivaled football and enjoyed huge attendances and you'll see promotion and relegation operated sucessfully, due mainly to the high levels of profits being made. The introduction of entertainment tax and decline of the sport from the mid 50's onwards signaled the end of promo and releg. Big sponsorship would also see more tracks opening up around the country.

The British Final should be ran on a Sunday afternoon at its traditional home at Coventry. The meeting organisers should do their upmost to ensure the meeting is turned into a carnival giving it that carnival special occasion feel, something that has been missing from recent stagings of the British final. Qualifying rounds should also be ran. Every British rider riding in a team from the Conference upwards should be given an opportunity to race for the British chamionships The format would go as follows: About 8 preliiminary rounds on Conference League tracks. Top 4 qualify for the Quarter finals. 3 Quarter finals on Premier League tracks: 16 non qualifying British semi finalists from previous year split into the 3 rounds. Top 5 plus the highest scoring 6th place rider out of the 3 rounds to go through. 2 British semi finals on Elite League tracks. top 8 from each round qualifys through to final. 16 British finalists from last year split into the 2 semi finals. British final: Top whatever riders to go through in world and European championships. Top 2 non GP finishers to get wildcards at the British Grand Prix.

Jimmy Squibb RIP. Great servant and enthusiast of speedway. Never a world beater but the sort of bread and butter, good team man of which speedway in this country relys on. Amazing to think he was still racing in the 2nd Division in the early seventies when he was in his 50's!

I can remember Briggo riding for Souhampton Saints who were a very well supported team until the dreaded sell out to propperty developers. Dave # Name Removed # revived the Saints in junior events and Conference challenges about 4 - 5 years ago. Southampton remains like my old team Norwich such an untapped hotbed of speedway. I'm sure a multi purpose stadium featuring Speedway, greyhounds, casino, function rooms etc would be a more than viable propersition for investors. - I'd imagine that local derbies between Southampton and Poole would create great local interest. How many people from the Southampton area and indeed ex Saints fans still follow Speedway, either live or on TV or results. More importantly how many many would go and watch Speedway at a new Southampton track?

Quite a large number of Countries in the list, speedway has certainly made its mark worldwide. Only 2 Countries I can think of that are not in the list: 1, Spain, I believe 250cc machines were raced around tracks in the early 1970's, and Barry Briggs ran an exhibition indoor dirt meeting in Spain around 1996 with Paul Hurry, Scott Nicholls, Brian Anderson and Tony Briggs I think the 4 riders involved. 2, Alaska, (Not a Country I know but a far flung part of the USA). The USA based World Indoor Ice Speedway Championships have held meetings in Alaska with I recall an Alaskan native taking part. Be interested to know exactly how many spedway tracks their have been in this Country. I doubt if anyone would know the exact amount. 3 very obscure ones I know of are Holbeach in Lincolnshire who ran non League just after the 2nd World War and I think were called the Poppies! Bradwell near Great Yarmouth (bring back the Bloaters in the Conference League at Caister Rd Stadium - I'm sure the venture would do well) ran open meetings in the early 1930's and Pakefield near Lowestoft ran as Lowestoft in the 1930's. The Norwich promotion I believe relocated to Pakefield, but I can't be sure on thst one as even I don't go back that far, though I'm old enough to recall how well supported Norwich Stars speedway was at the old Firs Stadium. How suitable would the Firs Satdium of been today if it had been kept away from developers being virtually next door to the now rapidly expanding Airport, no noise arguements there surely? - Something we'll never know. - Again Norwich Speedway reopening could be sucessfull if it ever happens.

Great news about the Birmingham Brummies Speedway website. The new address makes it more obvious that the site is dedicated to Birmingham Brummies Speedway past and hopefully future! One of my wishes for 2005: Birmingham Brummies Speedway team competing in the British Premier League racing their home meetings at the plush Perry Bar Greyhound Stadium in front of bumper crowds!

Speedway in Argentina is ticking over with a National Championships being contested at about 5-6 tracks by about 20 riders. Results for this championships are regularly in the speedway star. Italian rider Armando Castagna has been out to Argentina many times including this winter I believe. Last year an Englishman - East Anglian Conference League rider Dean Garrod raced in the Argentinian Champs. Another Latin American Country that has staged speedway which most people would be unaware of is Venezula. My old friend the late great Geoff Pymar (ex Norwich Stars amongst many others in 30 year career) another East Anglian along with a few other British League riders went out there in the 1950's, built temporary tracks and raced a series of meetings.

Just looked at the new Brummies website. - It look's great, definately a big help in the push for the return of speedway to Birmingham. Only one criticism, the website address doesn't make it very obvious that it's dedicated to Birmingham Speedway. Be much better with Birmingham Brummies speedway in the address to help identify the site's interest. You should try to spread the word around and get the Brummies site added to other relevent site's link's such as any speedway website, Birmingham City, Aston Villa football sites, Birmingham Council and any other Birmingham related site's. I e mailed Perry Bar dogs website the other night, saying how speedway could be sucessfull if introduced to the stadium. I stated about the benefit's for the stadium owner's like rent, bar taking's and basically utilising the stadium facilitis when otherwise they would be closed, the boost for the local economy in terms of extra revenue and employment prospect's and explained how Birmingham Brummise Speedway was well supported in the past and that much potential support still exist's in the area. If more people do the same then it will help interested parties to convince the stadium owner's that introducing speedway could be a positive move. The address is carol@perrybardogs.co.uk

Let's hope your piece of hot gossip bears fruition Phil. Birmingham has enormouss potential for speedway and should attract bumper crowds in a reopening year. You wouldn't be the harem scarem (but very sucessfull) Aussie who first rode in this country for the Brummies in the early 1970's. Cradley Heath Heathen's, Leicester Lion's as well as the Brummies are 3 defunct midland's team's that were well supported and would be sucessfull again if new track's can be found.

I believe the Shay stadium was squared of with new stands a few years ago so it would be very difficult to accommodate a speedway track there now. I was watching Rugby League from Odsal on the Tv the other week. The old track is still there just the shale's been taken of and the Rugby corners just overlaping which they used to before anyway (they would be lifted up for speedway and car meetings). The old pit's area (which were probably the best speedway pit's anywhere) have been built over by a plush looking multi story executive suite. Interesting to note that the suite follows the contours of the old speedway track so the tantilising possibility remains of speedway one day returning to a stadium and track that ranked up there with the best in the world, though a new pit's area would be needed to be built. The problem with Odsal now is the Rugby club have got the lease to it now and do not feel the work involved in preparing for speedway and stock car events are not worth the financial rewards they would get. Such a shame when the perimeter track which the shale track was once on is now doing nothing. Surely rent fron speedway and stock cars events (both of which were staged smoothly alongside Rugby and even football for a short period in the mid 80's at Odsal up to 1997) is better than the present situation of no income arising from the perimeter track? A couple of years back the company that owns Sheffield stadium announced plans to build a similar facility with a spedway track the same size as that at Owlerton in Leed's. I've heard nothing for quite a while now, does anyone know what is happening on this one at present?