25yearfan

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?

Your comments Rod King, make a lot of sense but you are looking at it from a different angle to myself. Yes Berrington Lough is very close to Berwicks current home as is Shawfield to Glasgow. But Berrington Lough would make a good training facility, which Berwick don't have the luxury of at their town centre track, Shielfield Park. Conference League racing on a Saturday afternoon at Berrington Lough (team could be called the Border Raiders like Berwicks old reserve team) before the evenings Premier action at Shielfield Park could work so fans could watch both. Obviously sponsorship would have to be found to cover any possible shortfalls and for the fans to get some discount for watching 2 meetings. Likewise a similar deal could happen at Glasgow on a Sunday with fans watching lunchtime speedway at Shawfield then moving onto Ashfield. I've always thought that stand alone Conference tracks are more viable longer term than reserve teams who double up at meetings with their senior team. Riders develop better, through having a properly run meeting of their own, rather than having to be squeezed in at the end of a Senior league meeting, with a worn track to boot. Riders who ride for stand alone tracks would stand a better chance of sponsorship rather than having senior riders taking every available sponsorship at a doubling up set up. As for Hampden Park being used as a possible Grand prix venue, I'd like in the future for the British Grand prix to be shared around Great Britain/United Kingdom. On a 4 year rota the meeting could go to Cardiff, Hampden Park, The new Wembley? and somewhere in Ireland - Dublin maybe? Hampden Park could draw a respectable crowd once every 4 years surely? I think the Swaffham refusal decision has more to it than just its close proximity to King's Lynn - Perhaps Steve Ribbons lack of suitable funds and promotional staying power judging by his short term ventures at Rye House and Wimbledon (Thanks anyway Steve for reopening these 2 even if you needed bailing out) figures very strongly in the BSPA's refusal decision. For the record Swaffham is a clean, spacious, well equipped venue. With plenty of room inside the stock car track for a speedway track and masses of parking space it would make a very good speedway venue - quite similar to Arena Essex. It certainly puts 2 of the nearest speedway stadiums to it, King's Lynn and Ipswich to shame. It's just a crying shame it wasn't situated further dowm the A47 just outside Norwich cause speedway would of been introduced their many years ago.

Their is quite a few former venues of speedway that still exist and could be suitable places for reopening the sport. Heres a few that would be ideal: Perry Bar greyhound stadium, Birmingham - could stage Elite league. Odsal Stadium Bradford - Though I think the Bulls Rugby club would need a lot of persuading. Ellesmere Port Stadium - Tony Mole had his proposed reopening plans turned down 2 years ago. Great Yarmouh Stadium - Potential for Confernce Laegue, especially coinciding with busy tourist period. Berrington Lough Berwick - Just sitting there decaying but could make great training/ Conference venue. Sunderland Stadium - Rebuilt but could still accomodate speedway as old track space is unused inside dog track. Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium - Old track still inside dog track 50 odd years after speedways demise there though it is tarmaced over. Could be great Elite League venue. Scunthorpe Quibell Park - Stills looks the same as it did 35 years ago, but is clean and more than adequate though prospective promotors I believe are constructing new speedway set up elsewhere in the town. Hampden Park Glasgow - Could be used as a grand prix venue though cost would be prohibitive. Shawfield dog track Glasgow - I believe speedway track still exists - would make a great Conference venue - Paisley Lions maybe? Milton Keynes Groveway - Viable for Conference League? Birmingham wheels project Bordesly Green - Training/ Confernce set up? Brightoon and Hove Greyhound Stadium - 1930's open venue, very plush and would make good feeder track for Eastbourne. Catford Greyhound Stadium - Another 1930's open venue recently closed but could speedway racing save it from redevelopment? I'm sure their is more but these are the most obvious ones that spring to mind!

Cheers "Stansolo" We've already disscussed the huge potential that a Birmingham Brummies revival at the Perry Bar greyhound Stadium has if it ever does come to fruition in the General discussions section in this forum. Speedway racing on a Friday night at Perry Bar (or any other night if the favoured Friday night is unavailable) in what is a busy inner city area would cause no more noise irritation than what is already experienced in the area. Indeed from personal experience would anyone actually be able to hear the speedway bikes over the traffic anyway, especially with the Perry Bar stands keeping in most of the noise? Birmingham remains such an untaped sleeping giant/ speedway hotbed. I'm sure even the ultra expensive Elite League could be viable at Perry Bar just as Britsh League racing was at the old Perry Bar in the early 80's. It seems so criminal to be talking about Birmingham Brummies Speedway in a "years gone by" forum. Just like near rivals Cradley Heath the support and potential is very much alive in readiness for their reawakening.