25yearfan

A far too young age to die. Gavin Hedge was an entertaining full throttle merchant in his League appearances mainly in the 3rd tier for Mildenhall and Wimbledon. A late starter in the sport I suspect had he started earlier he may have gone further than he did?

Interesting article, I remember watching the Russian tourists at Ipswich back in 1990 but my excitement of potential news of a possible Exeter revival was shotlived! Anybody know if anything is happening regarding the future of speedway in Exeter?

Bamforth was certainly a shrewd operator thats for sure! I remember rumours about a move to Kirky Lane dog track in about 1985, 3 years before they did it so it was always in the background as an alternative!

Yes I guess Iam! - And I'm sure you agree the sport would be better off!

Thats an amazing innings! Well done!

Like has been said before Eastbourne speedway probably hasn't been financially viable since the halcyon Division 2/NL years of the 1970's bar maybe a couple of seasons after dropping into the 2nd tier in the mid 80's and the 3rd Division seasons a few years ago. Only Bob Dugard bankrolling it for years kept things going. Even then he nearly nearly pulled the plug during the early 1980's when the first move into the top flight was proving a big struggle and this in a time when crowds were bigger than those seen in modern times. One wonders how keen Bob Dugard would have been to keep speedway going at Arlington in the 80's had his son Marin Dugard not developed into the brilliant speedway rider he was? I think British speedways is soon coming to a point where only two Leagues will be viable - a top flight for the clubs who can afford to stay professional and pay overseas riders, tracks running on nights best suited to them, ETC and a 2nd Division a little bit stronger than the current National League featuring only British riders and Commonwealth riders and run mainly on weekends and riders part time. - When this scenario arrives which I predict will happen in the next couple of years then the likes of Eastbourne and other defunct tracks will stand a better chance of reopening?

As we saw yesterday at Belle Vue Scottys no longer on the pace on the big pacey tracks but is still decent on little technical tracks where his natural ability can still get him good scores. I'd like to see him finish his career of with a couple of seasons back at his home Town track Ipswich. As for the Peterborough track, I so wish this new development on the land would include retaining the speedway track seeing as the indoor Arena is being retained so the carpark will be staying surely. Peterborough speedways one of the best facilities in British speedway and despite being in operation for 52 years still seems modern and clean. Lets face it if Peterborough speedway has to build a new track and Stadium the chances of that happening is slim at best.

I very much doubt Louis will do anything that saves fans money and means less income into the pension fund cause he knows that the play off meeting(s, hopefully!) will be well attended anyway!

Both Boocock and Bamforth were feisty, in your face characters who both said what they thought regardless of whether the opinion was rude or not and liked to have their own way so the chances of them two not clashing were minimal at best!

The current Crystal Palace Athletics stadium is on the site where the old speedway was. A few years ago Crystal Palace unveiled plans to move to the site and build a new stadium there cause it was where they originally played in their early years. These plans fell through and now the Eagles have plans to increase the capacity of their current Selhurst Park Stadium.

The only options I can see for the Edinburgh Monarchs are - Buy Armadale Stadium? Trackshare with Glasgow or Berwick? - The latters extremely unlikely because of strict planning restrictions and the stadium being also used for football. Moving to Workingtons too far, remember Glasgows disastrous spell in the Cumbrian Town in 1987? Would the Cowdenbeath stock car promotion allow their track to be covered in shale and the Monarchs move in? - Its only 22 miles from Edinburgh so a similar distance that Armadale is from the Scottish capital. The long serving Edinburgh promotion has proved to operate one of the best run speedways in Great Britain (not my opinion but fact when you look at what they've achieved since the mid 1980's!) so I have more faith in them coming up with a positive solution than I would with most other promotions. - Good luck!

If only Milton Keynes speedway and Elfield Park could have hung on another couple of years when the 3rd Division began in 1994. It may have proved viable at that level? Berrington Lough was not basic, it had undercover viewing and a clubroom and bar!

John Perrin had an unfortunate, abrupt rude personality which made him extremely hardwork to get on with but he did keep Belle Vue going during a very difficult time after the move to Kirky Lane. Its quite likely that without his dogged determination to keep Belle Vue speedway going in the 1990's they would have closed and the present standing of the club would of been less likely to have happened.

Stuart Bamforth was astute Businessman with an eye for a bargain and longer term profit. This was the case when he purchased Belle Vue speedway and the Hyde Road stadium in 1982 relatively cheaply. He knew the land would be valuable but in fairness he also knew that the speedway could move to the greyhound Stadium down the road. That said he put his money where his mouth was in buying the stadium when it looked on a downward spiral, ran one of the best promotions at the time and was a solid Chairman of the BSPA.

The West Row track was in great condition today thanks no doubt to no stock cars this weekend and more favourable weather conditions! Unfortunately nearly all the crashes today and in most meetings were down to inexperience rather than track conditions. With the current sparcity of riders in current times the standard of the National League at the bottom end has dropped especially when a number of riders are out with injuries. Jason Edwards got an 18 point maximum riding round like he was sitting in an armchair and got one of the fastest times of the season.

Needs to go to 2 Leagues - A professional League of all the clubs that can afford it at a level similar to the current Championship and call it the British League. 6 man teams will help as regards the rider shortage. A second tier at a level a bit higher than the present NL retaining the NL name. Only Commonwealth and British riders can ride in this League.

100%! Leisure facilities should be listed and protected from redevelopment! How many more speedway tracks would we have today if this was the case?

The drainage shown in the pictures aren't for houses cause the normal procedure with house building is that the oversite (the lower part of the house from the foundations to damp course/ finished floor level) is built before any internal drainage (the pipework for the outlets coming from in the house like toliets, baths, showers sinks) is constructed. From what I can see there are no oversites for houses in the pictures. To me its looks the pipework has been built in readiness for prefabricated structures to be delivered and fixed onto them. - I've seen in reports that the new stands at the Stadium will be prefabricated structures! Lets hope we see Swindon along with other defunct tracks back next season!

Nothing against Kingston who in the past looked a good prospect but I'm underwhelmed the Fen Tigers have signed a guy who seemed to lose interest a few years back and will find it tough coming back after a number of years away from League racing? What about Jody Scott from Norfolk, very impressive lad whose 15 years old, presumably hungry and local?

Heeps has always had an issue with professionalism, desire and commitment since he started with Mildenhall. Typical case of a really naturally talented rider who doesn't apreciate the talents he has and his issues mentioned above have now caught up with him and hes gone as far as he can I fear? Batchelor has been up and down form wise for years so was a big gamble. Rowe is still living off his good start to last season, needs to improve soon. King needs to ride on the inside if its slick. Doyle will find it harder than most thinks I suggest, having to readjust to different surfaces. Riss and Starke are 100% triers who are what they are but will be inconsistant. Hawkins is only there as a freebie puppet for Louis and doesn't seem the brightest spark in the box, although I can't knock his enthusisam and commitment. I respect Chris Louis cause he was a top rider and he runs a tight, well organised ship at Foxhall but his team building decisions are baffling at times. Yes he is in it to make a half decent living out of Ipswich speedway but that shouldn't be knocked as this will ensure he will try to do the right thing all the time. Like another poster alluded to he doesn't deliberately build a team that will struggle but maybe he is over influenced by the desire to be sustainable rather than gamble on a winning team which would be well supported. I think already at this early stage it looks obvious that changes will have to be made or another poor season looks likely for the Witches.

It had everything going for it thats for sure and was a major part of the fabric of the Town! The subsequent fortunes of speedway in West Yorkshire and Shay owners Halifax Town football club after the 1985 finish of speedway there gives a firm indication of how successful Halifax Dukes speedway was!

Yes there is certainly a shortage of riders but hopefully Polish rules maybe relaxed and more Scandinavians can be found? Losing the Shay was a massive blow not only to speedway but in the long run landlords Halifax FC also suffered. I'm convinced that had ways been worked out to keep speedway going at the Shay in the mid 80's then it would likely still be running there now cause that place was always well supported!

Halifax was the real hotbed of the sport in that area so any new team at Odsal should be called Halifax "Odsal" Dukes and in the old red blue and white colours the Dukes used! Saturday nights in the 2nd Division would be the best option I reckon for anyone brave enough to do it!

Good luck to the Brummies but it looks like they'll need lots of it. If a team featuring Harris and Riss last season couldn't attract viable crowds what chance has a patchwork team of riders no other team wants? Laurence Rogers can't be knocked for enthusiasm but it seems like hes fighting a massive uphill battle. I well remember Mildenhall in 2008 under Rogers when they lost every League fixture, 32, I think. Mildenhall had to drop down after that with new owners after having 2 different owners in that ridiculously poor season. Now the Brummies can't afford a similar season cause it will cost the promotion a fortune.

Stamford Bridge, been there for football but the speedway shut not long before I was born! I've always thought that High Beech would make an ideal National League track in modern times. Something basic like Buxton and small like Plymouth would do little damage to the forest I reckon?