cityrebel

When times were good the promoters just pocketed the money instead of investing in in the infrastructure of the sport.

I can never understand why the promoters don't run the parade while the people are coming in. They usually wain until everyone's in, like at Peterborough a couple of weeks ago.

Fair point, I remember seeing them parked on the centre green at white City whilst the stadium was being pulled down around them!

It should be another decent crowd with good weather forecast for the weekend.

Large concrete blocks have been placed around the perimeter fencing since yesterday.

I went past the stadium today. Security guards are on the gates and builders are inside looking like they are preparing the place for demolition. The last flicker of London speedway about to be blown out.

Poole were Tuesdays when Weymouth moved there in 1985.

the World Cup final was on a Saturday Arnie.

Six to eight hours, sounds like a meeting at King's Lynn!

His company have been getting bad press for years regarding unbuilt stadiums!

Sunny spells and dry at Rye at the moment.

Hoping for some decent weather, big showers brewing up, south of the river.

How's the stadium looking shads, is it all ready to go for Saturday.

Who in their right mind would invest large sums of money in a stadium with a very short shelf life.

A few showers are forecast for hoddesdon on Saturday, I hope watty has got his brolly with him!

Too right mike, some promoters can't grasp the fact that the majority of fans want the meeting to be run as quickly as possible. Most of the people I know that don't go to speedway anymore, cite unnecessary delays as the main reason for packing the sport in.

I can be bothered john. I saw my first speedway at Wimbledon in September 1968, I ended up attending over 700 meetings at plough lane. I worked at the stadium for 22 years on the speedway, stock car and greyhound racing sides of the business. I carried out a multitude of tasks including track preparation, winter training schools and on the odd occasion team manager. I have not attended any of the recent farewell events, I prefer to remember the place as it once was. A magnificent stadium, not the run down eye sore it has now become. I drive past the old place every day on my way to work, when the bulldozers move in that's when it will hit me. RIP Wimbledon stadium, it's been grand to know you.

1980 Steve, good job it was on a Sunday!

Fair point, and that's the reason I don't go to testimonials.

wimbledon did run on Saturdays for a short time in the 1960's.

Even though the stadium remained partly closed for most of the matches, I really enjoyed the lions revival in the early 1970's. I was just a kid at the time, but I can remember the "March of the gladiators" playing at parade time like it was yesterday.

In the early 1970's there were plenty of options in london and the south east. Monday - reading Tuesday - west ham Wednesday - crayford Thursday - Wimbledon, romford Friday - hackney, oxford Saturday - wembley, canterbury, rayleigh Sunday - eastbourne, rye house. Those were the days!

I saw Roy finish on the rostrum at west ham in the 1970 british final, possibly Roy's finest meeting.

I saw Wimbledon get thrashed at Somerton park on good friday 1975. The dons team contained half of the reading team, but were no match for a rampant Newport side.

Are the building works going to be completed in time for the first meeting?