HGould

My apologies. I did not realise it was a combined effort!

This is going to be controversial I know. However, with the West Midlands now being overseen by a Mayor, albeit Street seemed to have far more reach than Parker, and with Birmingham, Cradley Heath and Wolverhampton being within that wider West Midlands and Birmingham Area poses the £64,000 question that will undoubtedly be unpalatable for many but pragmatically the future of West Midlands Speedway. Should the 3 very enthusiastic but separate Groups , all of whom deserve massive massive credit, not form togather to go to the Mayor with a far more compelling vision seeking a central location? While at it that bloke who has been Mayor Of Manchester for a while seems to have a fair bit of clout too?

Having read an excellent "History of" book written about 20 years ago by Ken Burnett and with facts and figures from then and since it would seem that when run by the Dugards - Bob would write-off around £30-50k a year on the family hobby. The Book also details 3 or 4 outside promoters prior to the early 2000's that suffered losses of up to £100k a year and similar ultimate outcome to the most recent one that closed in 2021 , none outside the family control and Company business to bale it out each season lasted more than 3 seasons. One of the issues for leasors of the stadium always seems to have been absolutely no income from food and drink etc which keeps some tracks safe from closure Spedeworth are great benefactors of motor sport but I'd be pretty sure that some sort of deal has been done to ensure Spedeworth get the benefits or some benefits of the Bars and Catering, especially if they are paying to fix them. So Speedway would presumably continue not to benefit from that income stream? The average CL attendences seemed to be at best around 1000, NDL about 500-600 and it's always been a track where PL in the week struggled in the main to attract big crowds, because of the quite large area Crowds are drawn from. You'd think Spedeworth would want to run Cars as many weekends as possible, they seem to run Wednesdays too in the summer, so may be an increase in Stocks and Bangers. PL might be the best option if they can attract the Crowds back. Would Spedeworth consider "Shaleing" the whole place ?, that might actually help Speedway to reduce maintenance and fence erection using the sort of foam based fence at KL which also services Northampton. Is 2027 viable with the huge upgrades needed or is 2028 a more realistic option. At the very least the fact it's back in the game - 4 wheels and hopefully 2 - is very positive news.

BREAKING NEWS Poole Pirates have announced that the new "Pirate Creche" will be opening on this evening for the first time. Apparently the younger supporters like to bring great great grandchildren a rider has block booked slots for all future Home Meetings.

Can't help but thinking of Mushrooms every time I read the name Slater Lightcap. Lets hope he's not been kept in the dark and fed bullrubbish about just how bad the Poole track is.

It is very sad news that another Stadium seems to be lost and the Eagles and Brummies had great rivalries in the 70's parts of the 80's and also in NDL around a decade ago, and I always felt both were forced in to the CL in 2018 with little thought as to how they may survive. The speed and nature of this announcement though clearly has nothing at all to do with Speedway recent past or more distant past. Spedeworth would have the funding and knowledge to have continued until at least the end of their season and it's completely illogical link the speed of closure in any way to Housing. I don't buy the contaminated land issue though and Housing might be the ultimate reason as it's clear Housing is needed nationally and locally and if the uber contaminaed old Birmingham Wheels Site can de de contaminated I'm sure a rural bit of East Sussex would be a piece of cake for a significant investor. Dear old Peter Mason who knew the Stadium and area very well told me he and David had been offered a lease several times and he would not touch it with a barge pole. Too many good Promoters had lost fortunes there in the past and Bob always had to go to his dad / brothers and get a 30-50k hand out at the end of every season to cover losses. It was a bit of a family toy for as long as Bob was alive he used to say. Whilst rumours abound and it's certainly a family with a long history of fractures and splits Peter used to tell me, I do wonder if the speed of the decision has anything to do with the fact that parts of the Dugard Machine Tool Business has in the past year been Liquidated and/or Dissolved and a new phoenix Company with Eric Dugard been set up in the past months with no other Dugards involved. I've found an article where he comments that up to a dozen ex family shareholders are no longer part of the new phoenix Company. Was / Is the Stadium held as a "charge" or asset by various Lenders? If that is the case, it may be that not only all is not lost, but that any prospective buyer may wish to re-engage Stock Cars and Speedway at some point in the future? That may be a glimmer of hope for all.

From the supporter of a Club of whom certain supporters scream libel / libellous and all sorts of other threats when pointing out their actual proven and convicted nefarious activities (with cameras) this comment is utterly disgusting and will be passed on to the family of the rider you are attempting to slander for their considered views.

Its gives me no joy to say this but I have believed since it opened that the opening of Northampton is the death knell for any Speedway at Brandon. If Northampton run next season, they will beging to hopefully build a supporter base, not a novelty base and in so doing kill the Brandon rebirth, especially with these new planning conditions. Northampton doesn't just strangle Brandon re Speedway it specifically takes its Stock Car audience too and has since it was shaled and upgraded by Spedworth running on Saturday nights, the old Brandon nights. Commercially that ensures it holds all the aces!

Wonder if he has a Grass Track Meeting on Sunday? Ah Ledbury! Interesting if he's there - throw the book at him if he is!

It's my understanding and from a reliable source that Ingram had committed to Plymouth for CL this season in return for them giving him his chance in NDL last season when Scunthorpe weren't interested. A very late change of mind is Scunthorpes gain. What a team he'd have made Plymouth with as good a 1-6 already as there is. Its a shame too as Danny King and Scott nicholls would be great mentors. Scunthorpe appear to be more a set of individuals with one out and out superstar at the level.

Leicester 8pm, we'll now have a 47 minute break while we watch the Sun set....

Massive credit to Luke Harrison there. He could easily have been leaving that Track in a far far worse state. Air / Foam Safety Fences give these young riders a sense of invincibility that the old Fences never did. Therefore they think its hit the fence get up and get back on the bike. THAT'S GREAT in the sense NO ONE wants anyone to get hurt but someting along the lines of a "Rider Education Programme" needs to be considered. If a Referee or independent ex Rider after video Analysis considers a Rider errant or too hard / risk taker, theyshould be given penalty points on their Racing License and be made to atend a course at their expense and suspended if they reach a certain number of points It's no different to driving a Car on the Road! and happens in other forms of motor sports. Rushen is I believe a good lad, a potentially great talent, but someone seriously needs to sit him down and examine that with him in micro detail and show him the error of his ways. Someone from the GB set up maybe ?

Lads been out best part of 12 months, steps right back in to Premier League with a few practise spins. Show some respect!

It's been a shale track for Cars Very very different prparation for Bikes. It is not the clay surface at KIngs Lynn as an example.

A bit smaller but it reminded me of Dudley Wood in terms of the shape of bends relative to length of straights