25yearfan

Strange one! While Arlington Stadium remains in its current guise why wouldn't the Stadium owners want speedway staged there because they would earn a tidy sum and all the financial risk would be with the speedway promotion. Afterall what else is the shale track inside the stock car going to be used for and apart from stock cars what else takes place there? Understandable the Dugard family don't want to get involved in running the speedway themselves because running the Eagles in League racing over the years cost Bob Dugard a lot of money and rarely made money. Does the junior track which produced a lot of riders in past still exist?

Buxton still has practise sessions/ training schools and it was mentioned in the speedway start a few weeks back that Buxton could be a possibility for the Nora League in the future?

Well it looks like E bikes will be the thing in the future which will likely open up the possibilities of speedway being staged in venues that currently would stand no chance with combustion engines? Nottingham Greyhound stadium as well?

Without the uncertainty in 1975 of the Cowley stadiums future existence I'm sure top flight speedway would have probably continued at Oxford. I think Bob Dugard wanted to stage National League racing at Brighton in the late 70's after he'd reopened White City. Only the planners stopped those plans which was a shame cause that was and is still a decent stadium and would surely have attracted viable crowds. Indeed I still think speedway could be a goer at Hove Stadium and would stand more chance of getting bigger crowds than nearby Eastbourne would?

QPR had a couple of spells at White City in the early 30's and one season in the early 60's and I think crowds of under 20,000 in an arena that held over 60,000+ didn't create an atmosphere and no doubt the rent was very steep. Nowadays their Loftus Road home is ageing, only holds just over 18,000 and is hemmed in all four sides so any possible expansion would be limited. QPR are actively seeking to move to a new stadium that could hold 30,000+ which in modern times if they get back into the Premier League they could probably fill. Had White City just down the road still been about then that could have been the solution and no doubt in modern times it would of been renovated and reduced in size so it would likely have been a solution to QPR's relocation plans. Interestingly Messrs Dugard and Dunton the promotors of White City Rebels speedway had originally looked at reopening speedway at Harringay but for some reason decided that White City was the better bet. Looking back now one must wonder if speedway at Harringay may have indeed been the better bet especially since League racing had been staged there successfully a little over 20 years before so many of their regulars would still have been about? Anyway back to Long Eaton, used to enjoy my visits there as the track was fast, there was always a nice atmosphere, the stadium was harp back to bygone times and the track had a loyal hardcore support. When they closed in 1997 part of the planning consent for the redevelopment of the site with houses was that they provided space for a new smaller speedway stadium. The major drawback was the construction cost of the new stadium was £6M I think I saw quoted and the venue was only allowed to stage speedway with no stock cars or greyhound racing allowed. Of course building a stadium costing £6M that only staged speedway maybe up to 30 times a years in front of crowds that would rarely creep over the 1000 mark wasn't ever going to be a viable proposition for a private investor. - A Somerset/ new Workington like set up near Nottingham or Derby could be viable?

White City didn't get viable crowds when they ran in the British League from 1976-1978 even though they won the League in 1977! - And that was when crowds in the UK were mostly double if not treble what they are now. The grand old stadium got knocked down in 1985 which was a big opportunity missed in my opinion cause it could have been redeveloped as a multi sports venue and nearby Queens Park Rangers FC could have moved in their especially as now they are trying to get out of there current Loftus Road home. I still think a track in the Nottingham/Derby/ Long Eaton area could be viable but finding a new site is extremely difficult and expensive. Nottingham Greyhound track would be ideal but same again difficult and expensive!

Bordesley Green in my opinion could have been a National training centre for speedway especially if another track elsewhere on the site could have been built. This combined with the Brummies racing there would have brought in a tidy income to the owners of the Wheels complex. Strange that site owners are so against additional streams of income. I believe Tony Mole would have moved into Perry Bar in the late 80's if the then owner would have let him but for some odd reason didn't! Buxton speedway is still there running practice/training sessions but unfortunately are absent from League racing. In the Speedway Star a few weeks back when discussing the proposed new Nora League it was suggested that Buxton may eventually enter a team in that?

Another sorry example of where democracy doesn't always work and how many prejudices speedway has to overcome. I believe Salford Stadium was investigated as a potential new home for Birmingham speedway in the late 80's after the Brummies left the Bordesley Green, am I correct Brian? Had Birmingham speedway been allowed to move into Salford Stadium in the late 80's, I'm sure with Tony Moles financial backing and professionalism I think it would have probably been a sustainable venture, the Brummies would be more financially viable than they are currently at Perry Bar and Birmingham would still have a multi use velodrome! Whats happening with the Wheels complex? Other than Nottingham Greyhound stadium is there anywhere else in the Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby areas where a speedway track and stadium could be built. Something like the new Workington set up and build it up in time seems like a good idea.

Nottingham greyhound stadium remains the best chance of resurrecting speedway in that part of the East Midlands though I'd suspect the stadium owners wouldn't be interested? Long Eaton speedway I think would of likely still been in existence now if their Station Road home hadn't been redeveloped as they seemed to have a viable hardcore support. Wasn't Salford stadium that one that you could see under spaghetti junction as you passed through on the M 6? - It seemed a venue that would of been less expensive than Perry Bar, could of been bought by the speedway promotion, was near enough to the traditional speedway Perry bar heartland and surely where it was situated couldn't have been considered a noise problem?

Yes I did read that but like I said on an Eastbourne thread would the Arlington landlords be tempted by the Nora League organisers renting the stadium a few times during the summer so an Eastbourne team could compete in that League?

I wonder if currently dormant tracks like Eastbourne and Buxton could enter the Nora League?

Yes Kemp has got one of them averages between 5 and 6.99 which makes it difficult to fit in especially if a team wants to sign high average heatleaders! That said his lack of progress when he has talked of doing so much more is also a factor!

I wonder what with the news in this weeks speedway star about the new Nora League starting this year whether the prospective Eastbourne promotion and the stadium owners might be interested in an Eastbourne Eagles team running in that League when it gets going in the summer? - The rent would be handy, the novelty of a few speedway meetings in the summer after being closed since the middle of 2021 would surely entice healthy crowds and would be a great way to learn the ropes before a full time return in 2024!

Agree totally! Undoubtedly talented especially when he makes a decent gate and gets clear of the pack. If he gets caught in the pack and is in close contact with elbows, legs and bikes hes always the first one to back off. - Unless he gets more aggressive he won't go much if any further. Add in all the talk, publicity and book writing which makes him seem like he has a massively over inflated opinion of how good he actually is then its no surprise that hes run out of teams who want to use him.

I thought the reason Stoke were called "Chesterton Potters" when Loomer Road first opened for League racing in 1973 was because the nearby Crewe speedway objected to the the name Stoke being used cause they thought it would have an adverse effect on their crowd levels? I hope speedway in Somerset can get going again but it looks like being a long process? I also think a Somerset/ Workington like set up could also work in the Stoke area.

One of Englands best ever riders, very exciting and box office material in the 1970's! I mean to get round to reading his book at some point cause it sounds good! But the man has got some serious issues and is surely pushing everyone away from him. I remember seeing him in the pits with his son Chris when the boy had a go at speedway and recall being taken aback by how grumpy he sounded when talking to him. I assumed this to be frustration at his sons limitations from a former World Champion who found speedway easy, but now I'm not so sure.

A great enthusiastic server of speedway was Steve Casey! Peter Collins has issues I'd suggest.

Brian Anderson only rode for Coventry and Oxford in the UK. Hope Newcastle speedway reopens at some point, unlikely but not impossible!

When Rye House closed in 2018 they were in the top tier. Like I said they enjoyed a good 1st season in the top tier in 2017 when Saturday night racing proved popular but in the winter the set racenight was brought into the top flight which meant that Saturday night racing was out of bounds for top flight teams. Rye House had to move to Wednesday night racing which decimated crowd levels which lead to the Rockets pulling out of the League mid season. Lets hope Rye House Rockets return cause I think that Saturday night racing would be popular at Hoddesdon! Likewise, for Workingtons reopening to be successful Saturday racing has to be a must!

I hope your right Rob! Didn't Rye House close mainly because a successful, well supported Saturday night operation was forced to move to midweek racing because of the dreaded set racenights for the top flight? - Same reason why Poole now reside in the 2nd tier when they are one of the biggest clubs in the Country and should really be in the top flight! I'm convinced that Rye House speedway running on a Saturday night would again be a viable well supported operation if it can be re opened! Good luck to the new Workington speedway set up at Northside. In this day and age of diminishing crowds, less greyhound stadiums around and excessive rental demands from existing stadium landlords, the Northside blueprint of owning your land and building it up into a bonafide stadium as and when funds allow seems the only way to open new speedway tracks. - Although obviously I hope Rye House speedway will be an exception to the rule as well as Eastbourne, Kent and Coventry!

100000000000 miles of the mark! It would be financial suicide for Mildenhall and Kent to move up especially Kent at Iwade. Workington closed down in 2018 cause they couldn't make the 2nd tier pay on low crowds and they won the League! Getting rid of the 3rd tier would wipe Mildenhall and Kent out of League racing and Workington wouldn't consider League racing without a cheaper Division to test the water. The 3rd tier in its many guises had been one of the best things to happen in British speedway since its formation in 1994. In fact a 3rd tier was needed from the 1970's as the great Ian Thomas observed at the time. The likes of Workington, Barrow, Ellesmere Port, Milton Keynes, Birmingham Wheels, Hackney, Scunthorpe and Mildenhall who all closed in the 1978-1992 era would of stood a better chance of continuing and maybe other venues like Norton Canes, Felton, Iwade, Castleford, Matchams Park and others would of seen League racing which would of changed the landscape of British speedway. Tracks like Rye House, Mildenhall, Somerset, Buxton, Stoke, Wimbledon, Arena Essex, Plymouth, Weymouth, IoW, Linlithgow, Carmarthen, Eastbourne, Birmingham and Rob Godfreys Scunthorpe would have not opened/reopened/kept going without a 3rd Division. - The 3rd tier has been a nursery ground/feeder for the higher leagues in both riders and tracks. Young riders would have seen development limited without the 3rd tier cause the old junior Leagues had run its course by 1992. On the subject of Junior Leagues - The Soutern Junior League, Midland development League and Northern Deveopment League were going well, ran at a lower level than the 3rd tier, until in their wisdom the BSPL decided they didn't like these Leagues so imposed sanctions that made running them in the previously successful format virtually impossible. The intended replacement The Premiership Junior league has been a farce so far with hardly any meetings taking place! All in all looking at the facts, the continued failure of the Premiership Junior League, current 3rd tier standalone tracks Mildenhall and Kent (in their current Iwade venue)) being unable to run at a higher Level and many young riders getting proper organised League racing experience then it becomes very obvious the 3rd tier has to continue!

Lest hope for positive news on Peterborough speedways long term future! The proposed new owner of the Panthers surely hasn't bought the promotion with only the guarantee of one more year?

Remember him being a decent long serving rider! Sounds like he had a fantastic life!

Crazy start time for a mid week double header in late October on a track and level of racing thats notorious for delays! Given that an average Mildenhall meeting takes 2hours on a good incident free day, this adds up to an 11.45pm finish on Thursday, which is not taking into account time to refresh the track inbetween! - Or I and I guess many others suspect, the 2nd meeting won't get started and the result for both finals will be counted on the one meeting!? Understandable its the end of the season and the stadium has other events on this weekend but a midweek 7.45pm start time for a double header at NL will likely put quite a few off. I'd suggest a large % of Mildenhalls regulars are retired persons who don't have to get up for work the next morning/don't have to rush back from work and its currently half term which may entice regulars with youngsters to attend so surely a 6.30pm start time could of been a more sensible start time. An earlier start time would also of been more favourable with the working age supporter I suspect? I wondered the other week why the 2nd leg of Mildenhalls play off semi final against Berwick wasn't run the day after the 1st leg up in Berwick cause this would of put the club a week ahead with fixtures which could of avoided the need for a midweek meeting? The latest meeting I've ever attended in the UK was the World U 21 final at King's Lynn a number of years back when crash after crash meant a meeting that started at 7.30pm finally ended at about 11.45pm-11.50pm by which time alot of the crowd had gone home! - And this was on a Saturday! Don't like to be the perveyor of doom and gloom and I hope it works out well for the Mildenhall promotion and I'm proved wrong but I can't see where a 7.45pm start time on Thursday is going to end well in terms of attracting a viable crowd?

Yes us oldies all remember Boston Barracudas! - A great vibrant Sunday evening out especially in the first 5-6 years after New Hammond Beck Road opened in 1970! But why put it on this Odsal thread?!