Wessex Wanderer

Owners are a property company who bought the footy club which included all the site then hived off the club (minus the surrounding land). Footy club is now pretty much landlocked by the car parks and track etc which it previously owned! None too clever of the footy club over the years as it continuously "mortgaged" itself for short term cash investments in efforts to "push on" to better things. Now they are a couple of levels below where they used to be and are in yet another financial crisis. I feel sorry for their fans and workers who are still dedicated to them despite having their future jeopordised by unbelievable mismanagement (sound familiar?). So as far as the Wildcats are concerned we are an object lesson in how one or two people can destroy a community of about 400 for their own ends (whatever those "ends" might turnout to be). Its does not look good GreyhoundP. Such a shame after Brian White's initiative in bringing Speedway back to Weymouth and the consortium's fight to get permanent planning permission.

Congratulations Mildenhall. Delighted for you. Now if only somehting similar could happen to the Wildcats.

Despite the circumstances this was a positive meeting/rally. Really good attendance despite the weather, timing and unavoidable short notice ( I could name at least 20 regulars who couldn't make it due to work and other commitments.) At the very least it dispels claims that Weymouth Speedway is not viable. Properly run there is no reason why it should not flourish. These are very hard and frustrating times for Weymouth Speedway but hopefully we can eventually emerge stronger than ever.

Yes I was a regular spectator at Weymouth at that time. Did not get involved with the Supporters club and other "off track" work (mainly at Lew Coffins training schools) until 1968. I do remember yourself riding at the Wessex then as well as others like John McGill, Bill Billman, Ray Cousins etc etc.. Ray Wickett was a cut above most of the others at that time so when he rode he was regarded by us locals as a bit of a super star, so was Pat Flanagan. Great memories of a time when the track ran because of John Pilblads sheer love of the sport and the tireless work of local fans like the Palmers and Lou Symons. I know that they were always appreciated as I got to know most of them very well later on and they always spoke very highly of the way they were treated and respected by John.

The guy you are thinking of is Lew Philp. Rode for Plymouth and possibly Bristol before that. Spectacular fence scraping style. I don't think he ever rode again after the Sheffield crash (could be wrong there). I am fairly sure it was in 1963 as he was a regular in the Weymouth (non league) team at the time until injury part way through the season (99% sure it was due to the Sheffield crash). Not sure who he was riding for at Sheffield as Plymouth had closed after the 1962 season. Could have been Exeter as I think he was a west country guy. Hope this helps.

So was Dave Younghusband plus (I think) Clive Hitch and Alan Butterfield. At one time there was a switcharound involving Eric Boothroyd and Bluey Scott. I still remember one terrific meeting at Poole where, despite Poole having their usual comfortable win, messrs Boocock, Scott and Younghusband were involved in some great race racing with passing and close finishes throughout the meeting. Having Slant Payling there as well (a second string but nevertheless one of the all time spectacular riders) meant the crowd got far more than value for money that night. Ah, the Provincial League. Never been matched for entertainment and characters.

Kev - can't be more precise but I am pretty sure he was British/English as I seem to remember him at the training schools in the late 60's. Not much but I hope it helps anyway.

If its anything like the last couple of seasons that is EXACTLY what you will get (well, maybe not the strong bit so much but that will soon change). A young entertaining and always improving team who never knew when they were beaten. Really enjoyed watching them whenever I got the chance.

Thanks for running this Ballinger. Have really enjoyed taking part even if that waste of space know it all called Wessexboy did manage to somehow finish higher than me. Looking forward to next year.

Billy Pinder definitely English.

Delighted to hear they will be returning next year. Always a treat to watch one of their matches.

Well the last Weymouth team sponsor went to Newport. Could this be a hint at a revival at Plough Lane? Only joking - sorry, just couldn't resist it.

This post is totally out of order. I was banned by Mr Bartlett for the 2009 season. The only reason he would give was "I am the promoter. Promoters rights. I don't want you here." This was said at the track and with a bloody great grin on his face. I have always paid to watch Weymouth Speedway and have put in countless hours of work, both at training schools and when we were a league track. In the 70's and 80's I always paid to get in despite doing a programme column, match reports for a local newspaper and a column for a national speedway magazine. Each entitled me to free admission but I have always been aware of the shoe string circumstances of Weymouth Speedway finances so did not take advantage of such. Since the 2003 revival, Weymouth Speedway has cost me personally about £15,000, not including admission. £10,000 of this was in cheques handed to Mr Bartlett in person. Good god, when the consortium was running in 2006/7 I still paid for my 2 programmes, paid for any beer or burgers I had and even bought the can of beer (at the full bar price) for the winner of a weekly programme competition we ran! Banned I may have been (would still like to know the reason by the way) but NOBODY has the right to say I have EVER even TRIED to avoid paying my way. Ray Collins

Good idea Vicar. The only problem is that if they knew they could do that we would still be waiting for some matches to be completed after Xmas. With a 12 team league all league fixtures should be scheduled before the end of August with rain offs also being pencilled in before then whenever possible. That would leave early September for the genuine difficult to rearrange and late rain offs and the 6 week period from mid September for the six matches it takes for the play offs. Similarly the Cup Semis should be held in August with no excuses (that does after all leave 4 months+ for each team to run a maximun of two rounds before) with the Final in September. Easy to say but no chance Speedway could get itself that organised. For years we have had fill in meetings early on and an almighty scramble to fit everything in at the end. Foresight and forward thinking are not exactly Speedway's strong points. A pity that such a great season of NL racing should degenerate into such an embarassing ending. That should not detract one iota from Buxton's achievements this year though.

Congratulations Buxton. A very deserved League title. Despite the usual shambles to get all fixtures before the end of the season, this has also been a very enjoyable season in the NL. Plenty of young riders coming through and providing huge entertainment in the process. The play off system also helped maintained interest for later matches at most tracks. I saw Buxton about 6 times during the season and every time they gave much more than value for money. Just wish I had been able to see them more often. Thanks Hitmen.

Very much a low key affair. Nothing new said. Crowd maybe reached 200. Atmosphere pretty much zero. Mostly people seemed almost relieved the season was over and in a "lets wait and see now" mood. James Cockle was best rider on view and very unlucky. A pity that Tom Brown did not make the Final but even so he seemed to echo the mood of the meeting which was a pity but he will far more likely to be remembered by the Weymouth fans for the numerous times he has been was Mr Entertainment in the past. All the best for the future Tom. Bit of a shame that the general atmosphere (or more acurately the complete lack of it) overshadowed a competent display by Gary Cottham to win the meeting. Well done Gary. Also well done to Richard Andrews on his runners up spot. Not bad going for one who is more or less a first year rider. BobC hits the nail on the head when he says the meeting sent the season out more with a whimper than a bang. All in all the meeting (and the season come to that) gets a rating from me of

Americans have always been great entertainers in Speedway as they proved yet again despite another ultra slick track at the Wessex. A pity that there was the smallest crowd I have seen for a team meeting at Weymouth peering through the dust storm to watch them. Actual passing was at a premium but there was plenty of close racing with riders from both teams pushing each other for 4 laps around the blue grooves which developed in the first 2-3 heats on both bends. Inevitably Shawn McConnel led the way in the entertainment stakes but it was number 7 Bryce Starks who got the crowd talking. Along with Tyson Burmeister he looks a good prospect for any PL team willing to be patient with him for a season or two. For Weymouth James Cockle led the way as he has so often this season and he had good support from Karl Mason. It was also great to see Tom Brown getting the chance of some deserved doughnuts on his last home appearance for the Wildcats. All in all not a bad meeting but so sad to see such a pitifully small crowd.

Sorry to hear this. One of the real genuine personalities of the NL. Entertaining on track and one of the best communicators in Speedway with fans of all ages. Top bloke too. Each of his teams should count themselves lucky that he graced their colours during his career. Best wishes to Tom and his family whether the future includes a return to Speedway or not.

Sad that that seems to be the last ever home meeting for the Buccs. Hope Jay and James will be OK. Very disconcerting to hear James in so much pain from the back of the 1/2 bend bank. It reminds people that riders are flesh and bone and can hurt just the same as the rest of us. Cant understand all the bitching about rules (not just in this instance either) by fans and forum members. Leave the arguments about rules to the officals and just enjoy the matches is my philosophy. Anyone who thinks such bitching will have any effect whatsoever on any interpretation of any rule at any time is just kidding themselves so why waste time and energy doing it. Good to see Ashley Birks getting in some more track time. Along with a few other first year riders they has been the best thing about the NL this season - and they didnt need all the Aussies to be thrown out to make it into team racing. Talent will always come through and they will have benefited more from riding against the likes of Branford, Morris, Dyer etc than they ever would have by having teams made up by riders who were not really ready for team racing.

Thanks Dickiemint.

Any news yet on when this one will be restaged?

Most improved this year I reckon are Jake Knight, Adam Lowe and Kyle Newman (all from different starting points) but a lot of others have also improved a lot. I did not consider the Worralls, Lewis Kerr, Ashley Birks and others as (amazingly) they are all first year riders so cannot be "improved" this season. Should be great fun watching them progress over the next few seasons though. I pity all those EL and PL followers who miss this part of a riders career.

Hi Jules No doubt there will be many reasons trotted out but I always reckon the most simple one is usually right. It is that you are sensible but this is Speedway so "sensible" has no place whatsoever in planning and decisions.

Patched up they may have been but Newport completely dominated this match from start to finish as Weymouth took one of their all time home hammerings. Lee Smart cancelled out Todd Kurtz' absence but it was the young trio of Kyle Newman, Ashley Birks and Richie Worrall who provided the entertainment. Undaunted by a super slick track they all managed to put in some lively racing and passing. Hard to believe that Birks is a first year rider and Worrall has only ridden in about a dozen matches. Maybe some other tracks should ask Scunny for lessons on how they find and develop riders. Mood of the loyalists in another low crowd seemed generally resigned to a big loss after the opening 2-3 heats. Bit depressing all round for Weymouth fans but at least the racing served up by those 3 youngsters cheered things up a bit.

I seem to remember something like this Jules but these days I don't even try to understand speedway rules so I probably just blotted it out and got on with watching the KL youngsters. I find that is a much more enjoyable part of Speedway than endlessly debating the rules even though Sittingbourne were probably done out of points in 1913 and Wimbledon were cheated out of the 1922 National League title. See you at the next (and maybe last) Bournemouth meeting.