Chris116

In my younger years I could travel by public transport to Wimbledon, West Ham, Hackney, Romford, Wembley, Rye House, New Cross, Crayford and White City for Speedway while Wimbledon, West Ham, Walthamstow, Crayford, White City, Rye House, New Cross, Harringay and for two meetings Wembley ran Stock Cars, Hot Rods and Bangers. That means oval racing happened at eleven different stadiums in London and everyone of them now lies under a housing estate or a shopping centre except for Rye House that is just derelict. To see Speedway I have to go to either Poole or Smallbrook but the last train to get back to London now leaves around 9pm while before COVID there were connections from services that left around 10.15pm. Result is I have not been to a speedway meeting since COVID. In the case of four wheel action the only tracks I can get to by public are Aldershot and Yarmouth. Aldershot requires a 30 minute walk from the station to the stadium which I do around six times a season. Yarmouth is just about possible but only in the case of afternoon meetings which are rare. The result of the loss of stadiums and transport options is that I have gone from seeing racing once or twice a week to once a month during the summer for Stock Cars and none at all for Speedway which make me very sad indeed.

It should also be remembered that stock cars and bangers have also featured at Abbey Stadium for many years but the asset strippers sold the pit area for redevelopment meaning that another income source for the stadium was lost.

My parents used to take me to Rayleigh on Bank Holiday Mondays for the morning speedway meeting. We would then stay for the Bangers and Mini Rods in the afternoon before rushing back to the station to get to Wimbledon for the evening Speedway. A great days entertainment when you love oval racing on two and four wheels.

Over the last week I have received a message telling me the site is unsafe, a message saying the address does not exist and got into the site normally. Each alternative seems to appear about a third of the time. When I do get in the number of adverts has increased dramatically and is making the site almost unreadable. I know and accept that advertising is needed to keep the site financed but they are at a level that means I almost regret when I actually get into the site. Another thing that is totally out of hand is the abuse some people throw at anyone who has a different point of view. People need to understand that different points of view exist on most things. Because someone has a different point of view it does not make them a lesser form of life and those who suggest it does should be moderated until they learn some manners.

The meeting on Saturday features BriSCA F1 and F2 Stock Cars plus the V8 HotStox which are followed by supporters who travel the length and breath of the country following them. They are also the type of people who might be interested in Speedway as well as Stock Cars so it would be a very good time to show them what is happening.

All those who are worried about the track surface may want to know some of the history. Spedeworth changed it from tarmac to shale to ensure the Dutch F1 drivers continued to support major events at the track. The shale was laid on top of the tarmac (I don't know how deep it is) and Spedeworth have worked hard to make it a good surface which does not rut up with the F1's on full power. I am sure they have the equipment to make the track suitable for Speedway a few days after a Stock Car meeting as Deane Wood, the boss of Spedeworth, would not want to have his stadium criticised for a poor track surface. He was a very accomplished Stock Car driver and understands how the track surface is critical in making for good racing.

My worry is that, potentially, we have a motor sport firm taking over at Ipswich and I remember all too clearly what happened to Rye House in a similar situation.

As Len Silver said at every Hackney meeting "Make it a date, Friday at eight".

He will tell the FIM to move their date like he did when wrecking Arena Essex's fixture list.

Brafield Badgers.

The big reveal was what she became famous for!

Nothing Len ever did was an accident, he knew exactly how to get the best out of every situation.

I have reported your request to the mods and hope they act on our requests.

That was apparently not a defence according to our wonderful court system. It was such a shame the house burnt down during the legal proceedings!

They will find that Deane Wood, the owner of Spedeworth, does not take kindly to an organisation acting like a big bully. Since Deane owns the stadium his word is the one that matters.