Deano

I agree that Speedway has heaps of potential, every first timer I have taken has really enjoyed it. I wonder how much a run of fifteen second prime time TV adverts would cost if each track pooled some funds. But unfortunately unless you know of specific websites, an obscure teletex page, and have access to special maps that show you exactly where you can go to watch the sport. New comers haven't got a cat in hells chance of going again.

I'd love someone to say I was wrong, but wasn't the main sticking point with speedway returning to Perry Barr due to the stadium already running the greyhounds on the night speedway was given permission by the council (think it was a Friday)? This mean't the stadium having to take a gamble and not run the dogs in lew of the speedway, remember the greyhounds is the GRA's core business, so I can understand that.

I didn't realise the wheels covered that much of an area. The reason it hasn't been developed up until now is because it is a former land fill site

It can't be his set up......Marks performance in the WTC was formidable. He beat several highly placed GP riders. I can only assume that maybe his heart might not be in it he has after all achieved that "Best Rider in the World" accolade. He hasn't won a WTC gold medal so psychologically his performance improves.

You will always get boring meetings, and last nights was no exception. But, you'd think with the wealth of talent available in preparing a good track at least one of these guys would be available for every GP meeting. When our sport is on tele, please Ole give the riders a track they can race on and let these guys show the channel flickers we have a fantastic product on offer.

May be the idea should be taken seriously. Slightly off topic I know but, I wonder if anybody at the BSPA have done a feasibility study on the decline of usable stadiums over the past twenty years. This number is only going to get smaller as time goes on, in order to protect speedway long term they need to start looking at owning their own stadia somehow. OK they don’t need to be glamorous but security is more important.

Nice article............never mind the top, look who's at the bottom!

Yes I read it myself, made interesting reading. Felt rather proud to see such an article in one of the more respected (if there is such a thing) tabloids.

Didn't realise this was the issue, maybe the FIM need to understand that Great Britain is made up of different nations, nations that have very strong patriotic views. I think it would be good for our sport if the Scots or Welsh can try and get one over the English or vise-versa, they get the opportunity in just about any other sport. I think the more the subject is brought up, the more promotions may listen.

I agree there should be some kind of Welsh side, I also think the same for Scotland. OK they may not be world beaters, but I think it would do the world of good for the domestic scene. Incidently do any Scottish or Welsh speedway folk support team GB which is basically a team England? My guess is not many.

That's nothing compared to what we used to get at the Wheels!!!!!!! ......................... (joke) Sorry double it and knock three noughts off, that's more like the wheels attendance. Sorry to say it but the Somerset Rebels are where they are because the promotion could not get anywhere inside Bristol. Although I wish anyone the best of luck in getting the Bulldogs back on track.

Well done the Brits and a special well done to Greg.

Sorry if this has been mentioned before but why only Poole and Eastbourne as the venu's? Why not central and give everyone a chance to see, if Cardiff is too far then Eastbourne and Poole certainly are.

Scraping the bowels of my brain here, but didn't Arthur knock off the "Great Ole Olsen" at Perry Barr once. Didn't go down very well with the Cov. fans in the "Big" (as it was in those days) Birmingham - Coventry derby. Arthur had to start 10 yards back in the re-run.

Didn't Southampton have a conferance side a few years ago? Where did that dwindle to........I thought there was a genuine attempt to try and bring the sport back.

Wonder how many of you can remember any of these meetings taking place! Before my time I'm affraid, but a great action shot of the Alexandra Stadium (which is now the new dog stadium). The stand in the background incidently is still used. Press Here Not sure who put these photo's on the web, but I am very grateful to him/her who ever they are.

I seem to remember Wimbledons new track cost in the region of £60K. A doubt if that included the starting gate as they would already have had that from the previous consortium. There is also the safety fence unsure if these costs were included as well. I also believe a bond has to be paid to the BSPA, this could be in the region of 30-40K, so you are talking considersble sums before a team is sort. Try emailing # Name Removed # of the Wimbledon consortium, he is a member of the forum. He seems an approachable person.

Birmingham Wheels is famous if you're a stock car or banger racing fan! There is talk of the Perry Barr track (the one opposite One Stop Shopping) reopening for speedway, but it's only talk at the moment. Speedway will never go to Hall Green, too many houses now surround the stadium. When speedway was there I can only guess as being many decades ago the council estate probably wasn't. There is also a hotel on the premises which might bring some more complaints. Sorry about the comment on the wheels Donut, I was thinking more when the speedway was there. I have to say it was a damn good race track with great banked bends, but the rest of the set-up looked very cheap.

Not famous in any way, but, The Birmingham Wheels is still there.

Well its either that or the pitter patter of tiny feet Nice posting though Lioness

ooooo....I hear the sound of wedding bells.....Keep it up guys, makes great reading.

Yes speedway was at the Old Alexander Stadium, (not to be confused with the New Alexander Athletics Stadium in Perry Barr Park further up the Walsall road). It was here at the Old Alexander Stadium, where they raced in the fifties on the old running track ( I know this because my mom used to run round on the old cinders when she ran for Birchfield Harriers) it was on this sight that they built the current dog track. The old Ladbrooks dog track was across the road, directly opposite the current dog track but is now the On Stop shopping precinct. When going to the speedway at Perry Barr in the seventies you could see the old derelict stadium across the road, which still had a bar and was used for private functions, but no athletics as this had moved up the road. So in effect if the Speedway if did go back to Perry barr, it would literally be going home. The grandstand I think is still the original but completely renovated and moderised.

I think Speedway should be made compulsory and drummed into kids from a very early age. Then the council would have to 'compulsory purchase' land and property in order to build new tracks to fuel the huge demand from the masses.

The stock car circuit is the one Dan McCormick had built for the speedway when they moved from Perry Barr. They only raced for two years in the National League and closed down. Incarace bought the track from the wheels consortium in the early nineties and refuse point blank to share it with speedway. So another plot was sort within the complex and this has dragged on for a couple of years now. Ever since the speedway closed down like many other towns and cities there has always been a small amount of people drumming at the council to find land. Surprise surprise (sounding familiar) nothing happens, you find land, you can't get permission, you find land its not big enough, you find land its too expensive. We will come back one day, just like Cradley and Leicester will (clutching straws I know but I have faith).

I understand planning permission still exists to operate speedway at Perry Barr dog track, but and its a big but, its only for Friday nights. Apparently a promoter came forward and a deal just needed a signature when the guy running the place decided (at the last minute) he wanted the greyhounds to run that day. So, until he is convinced (which he isn't, and he allegedly is not an amicable man) there is more money in speedway it just isn't going to happen I'm affraid. The only other opportunity is speedway going back to the wheels, not on the old circuit but a new one but, I think that has fallen through as well.