25yearfan

The bottom line is whether your a super speedway fan owner of a stadium or just a Business person earning money out of such a facility, if the moneys right you'll sell out! Lets say that you own a stadium which earns you £250,000 PA from the various activities taking place there after costs have been deducted. - Then you get offered £5 million from a housing developer to sell the land to them. - That amounts to 20 years (5 million divided by 250,000) income, working to keep the stadium running given to you in one hit which you can then invest and be financially secure for life without the hassle of running a stadium or having to do any sort of work. When you look it at like that it would be tempting for anyone I suspect. This scenario is probably close (different figures probably) to what happened when Cradley was sold in the 1990's and when the Ochiltrees sold Coventry to Sandhu who obviously had longer term plans to sell to developers. Indeed the GRA (alleged greyhound racing association!) made it their primary Business plan selling of their Stadiums to developers. Stuart Balmforth selling Belle Vue stadium in 1987 is another example like the previous poster states. No doubt his family are still very wealthy through this? This also happened in the 1960's to two of the biggest speedway clubs in the Country, Southampton and my beloved Norwich Stars. Combine this with Councils bending planning rules which are meant to protect sports facilities from being built on and thats where we are at now. - Apparently the Custom House home of West Ham speedway was meant to have such protection but it was gotten round by stating that people living in houses built on the land would have TV's which counted as leisure! I suppose that Odsal being in a bowl, an ex quarry which then became a landfill tip site wouldn't be good land for housing which could ensure its future as a stadium? - Just need a very brave person(s) to reopen speedway there! - Though in reality if it was viable speedway would be reopening there this season?

Like I alluded to in an earlier post, the 1985 exit from the Shay Grounds was the beginning of the end for speedway in West Yorkshire though I do appreciate that financial issues (expense of moving floodlights to comply with new regulations and the Shay landlords hiking up the rent while Odsal was offered rent free) at the time were why the Halifax to Bradford move was made. I wonder had speedway continued at the Shay after 1985 whether the 1990's stadium redevelopments would have taken place or maybe stadium redevelopments would have included keeping the speedway track? I still maintain that had Halifax kept going at the Shay and stadium developments would of included speedway then Halifax speedway would still be running up to present times and more than likely would still be one of the best attended tracks in the Country. - I also say the same about Bristol (closed 1977), Cradley (lost Stadium in 1995) and Coventry which closed in 2016. - Now how much healthier would speedway look today if the sport was still staged in Bristol, Coventry, Cradley and Halifax?

A guy who was a decent promotor/general Manager in British speedway.

I never knew this! Another massive error of judgement in the history of British speedway. Like I said before Halifax was well supported a hotbed on a par with the likes of Cradley and Coventry. - The 1986 - 1997 Bradford Dukes era was largely a story of bankrolling by the local Council and the Ham brothers to compensate for unviable crowd levels. - I'm sure that had speedway been reintroduced to a redeveloped Shay grounds in Halifax in the early 90's it would still be operating today and probably in the top flight. I wonder why the Ham brothers didn't take the opportunity to move back to a stadium in an area that undoubtedly would have supported speedway in greater numbers?

Bradford Dukes won the first Elite League in 1997 with an awesome team featuring Havelock, Loram and Screen yet most of the crowds were below 1000 even some I believe were below 500. British speedway crowds in 1997 were bigger than crowd figures from 2019. Probably the biggest game changer in West Yorkshire speedway was when League speedway finished at the Shay Grounds, Halifax at the end of 1985. I know there was circumstances there with having to move floodlight pylons in order to comply with new regulations and then being offered Odsal rent free, but Halifax Dukes speedway were an institution in the Town and had a decent hardcore support, indeed the speedway was the Towns best supported sport. Apparently Halifax averaged 3000 in 85 at the Shay while Bradford averaged 1000 in 86 at Odsal. I'm sure if speedway could have stayed at the Shay after 1985 then maybe the ground changes that took place there in the 1990's wouldn't have happened and the sport would still be staged there up to present times. I'm sure that speedway in Halifax would likely still be attracting some of the best crowds in Britsh speedway. If only Odsal could be transported over to Halifax. To summarise staging League speedway at Odsal would almost certainly not attract viable crowds but certainly with the shale track in place it could be viable for one off events, while a track in Halifax is the best hope for League racing in that part of the World.

Ernie Baker was an exciting team member in the first year of the new era track inside the stock car track Ipswich Witches back in 1969!

Hope so, good night out at Mildenhall and will make the venue more viable!

Track looks very narrow and squarish more like the 1970 - 75, Bradford Northern era than the 1985 - 97 version?

Watering down and restricting the best League in the Country which has caused a club to close, will severely affect another standalone club and will cause fans to walk away isn't a good move! Add in the factor of the unbalanced nature of rider standards with more spread out races which will dilute the entertainment value and the potential of producing World class riders then things don't look very good.

Well thank you those in power at the BSPL for ruining what is the most interesting League in British speedway! This smells very similar to the BSPA's attempts to water down the 1997 3rd tier and try and force standalone clubs to move up by restricting the amount of fixtures which wasn't overly productive. Having top up and coming riders beating novices by half a lap isn't going make them World class riders and will also cause fans to lose interest! Wobblers already had the Junior Leagues to start in and any rider with some potential would soon get a NL spot! Standalone tracks that don't want the expense of higher League racing were content in the 3rd tier including the IoW who've been one of the most go ahead clubs in recent years, now sadly lost to League racing. The BSPL have short memories cause a few years ago the NL was the saviour of current Championship sides Birmingham and Eastbourne. If a similar scenario occurred now would the likes of Eastbourne and Birmingham have dropped into the new watered down limited NL? - After all the IoW have opted out! As a Mildenhall regular I fear for the club in this new set up and the lovely Sunday afternoon racing at West Row which more often than not was better value for money than its higher League neighbours! I respect Rob Godfrey for what hes achieved at Scunthorpe but as chairman of the BSPL hes made dreadful decisions like the set race days, forcing other Friday night clubs to postpone home meeting at late notice a few years back and now this all of which have resulted in club closures.

There was a big article in the speedway star at the back end of last year where the owner of Northside revealed his plans to build a big track on spare land on the site and eventually build up the facilities and stage League racing there. - This indicates that the current track wouldn't be the track used for a League team there! This takes us back to the ludicrous poster who suggests scrapping the 3rd tier of British speedway, one of the best innovations in speedway ever, something that should have been done 15- 20 years earlier, a League that enabled clubs to reopen/ open in a cheaper viable set up and has provided the stepping stone for many young riders including Britains most successful rider Tai Woffinden! - In the the case of Northside, I presume that a League side there would be called the Workington Comets beings its in the Town and that was the name of the long running speedway team that used to race at Derwent Park in the town until it closed a couple of years ago due to low crowds making it unprofitable. - Now do you think that anyone would be willing to restart a previously unprofitable speedway team if the 3rd Division didn't exist meaning they would only have two options being the Championship, the very League Workington were unprofitable in or the Premiership which is probably even more expensive to run in?

Ludicrous ideas! Without the 3rd tier, you probably wouldn't have Birmingham, Scunthorpe, Plymouth, Berwick and Eastbourne in the 2nd tier. These are clubs who either dropped down to the NL to keep going or reopened in it! Mildenhall and the IoW probably would close if the NL folded! The step from junior racing to Championship level is huge so the NL is a more than useful stepping stone!

Exactly and it could be a long time before we ever see speedway in the capital again.

A truly great life has come to an end! I think Olle Nygren started riding in the late 40's and was still riding in the mid to late 70's. Also did road racing and scrambling and in the 50's especially if he'd of concentrated solely on speedway he wouldn't of been far of a World individual title. He was a top rider for Norwich in the 1960's then I saw the now veteran Nygren signed by Ipswich to help with their move into the top flight in 1972. He was past his best and not very quick but could gate and would use his track craft to block faster riders from overtaking. He was well known for sticking out his leg to stop riders coming through. A fracas with Coventrys Rick France one night then Olle getting on the mike to offer to meet a lout who I think chucked something at the parade truck are memories that come to mind in them early Division 1 days at Foxhall in the early 70's!

Those support posts for the hospitality suite look awfully close to the track, even for the stock cars.

Belle Vue speedways an impressive facility but to me it wouldn't have the same appeal as Cardiff, Bradford or Wembley would in terms of staging a GP!

Yes Ivan Mauger certainly knew his value and quite rightfully fully exploited it! I went to a Peterborough V Sheffield fixture in 1993 when I recall Mort beating Mick Poole around there in the days when Poole could of almost won a GP round on the Showground track where he was nigh on unbeatable, so he had a few moments away from home! - Like you say though it was for the best that Mort didn't extend his comeback to the following season!

Yes Jordan Frampton was a talented rider who seemed to progress very quickly in a short space of time which indicates he could of gone further had he kept going?

When you say helping out I think Ivan Maugers desire was more about helping out his pension pot more than it was about helping out his old mate Peter Oakes but then again Mauger was in a position to manipulate the situation to his advantage! Chris Morton was still very competitive when he cameback with Sheffield in 1993 and thats the key element cause if your not competitive its no good especially at a professional level!

Another interesting footnote to Ivan Maugers famous British League "home meetings" only swansong at Exeter in 1984 was in that same season Coventry wanted to use the recently retired (in 1983) Ole Olsen in a similar way for home meetings only, when I think Tommy Knudsen got injured but they were turned down!

I think your right and I did say might although if he gets out of the gate at Kent I'm sure he will be difficult to pass on a track thats not condusive to overtaking.

Mauger while past his best still attained an 8+ average in 1984 and remember he only did it for mainly financial gain and everything was done on his terms, so it was mission achieved from his point of view. The big reason given for not riding in the away games was cause he had business commitments and racing commitments on the continent but I'm sure a big untold reason was that Ivan knew if he rode away meetings as well his average would of probably struggled to reach 6. - He'd only partially retired anyway so he could do it without disgracing himself, especially on his old stomping ground the notoriously home advantaged County Ground! The likes of Chris Pusey and Eric Boocock cameback after lengthy spells out, in Boococks case 9 seasons so they were always going to find it difficult. Puseys was especially sad cause he couldn't adjust to life after speedway so thought he could make a comeback in a poor physical shape with an alcohol problem in what he thought would be a less competitive 2nd Division. One must remember that nearly all riders start racing cause they love the thrill of it so its to be expected that some like to continue racing some sort of motorcycle sport just cause they love it. I've watched ex Rayleigh rider terry Stone have races on his vintage bikes!.

Intriguing and an exciting prospect for British speedway! So its not a track that has staged League speedway before? - Workington Northside?

Oh yes I forgot about them! It'd be great to see the Buxton Hitmen back in the League!

I've also read in some Ivan Mauger publication that originally Peter Oakes called on Ivan to help him find a number 1 for Exeters return to the British League in 84. Mauger talked to Larry Ross, then Scott Autrey without success after Oakes failed to persuade Bobby Schwartz to sign. Exeter purchased the British League license of the recently defunct Leicester which gave them Neil and Les Collins as assets both of whom refused to join the Falcons. Andy Grahame was another rider to turn down the Falcons. After all these dead ends Oakes turned to his old mate Mauger who initially wasn't interested but lucrative sponsorship packages, Exeter changing racenights to Fridays to suit Maugers continental schedule and persuading the BSPA to allow Ivan to ride in home meetings only twisted his arm. In fairness to Mauger he still topped Exeters averages with an 8+ average from 20 something meetings for Exeter in 1984 in the British League when nearly all the Worlds top riders were still riding over here although he was obviously was past his best. I'd reckon Ivan did very well out of the deal. Peter Oakes was the loser cause the move up was a financial disaster no doubt assisted by having a weak team and moving away from the traditional Monday racenight. Oakes not surprisingly left Exeter at the end of the disasterous campaign. Nielsen always said he'd pack up before reaching 40, although I'm sure he could have gone on for another 3-4 years at the top level. He was still good enough to come 3rd in the World in his 1999 farewell season. Ermolenko still has a go on odd occasions even now no doubt loving riding his bike and he was still decent when he finished with Peterborough in the mid 00's when he was in his mid 40's even if he was past his best!