cityrebel

You can't get blood out of a stone.

No different to the Wimbledon v Hackney, Wembley, West Ham & White City derby's in my lifetime Steve. So long ago, it seems like it never happened.

They won't be the last.

No mention of 2022 in the press realease. Parts of it read like a farewell to me.

If successful, will the new owner be forced to reinstate the speedway track.

And on Friday nights!

All done

Spot on. Speedway and dog racing are both cloth cap sports that are in terminal decline. That is reality, not negativity!

I have to agree. Would you build a new stadium in the current financial climate?

And so it begins.

We are in a totally different world now than when those contracts were agreed. Fair play to those clubs that can afford to honour those deals. Attendances could be halved by the time speedway gets going again. This country is going to be in the grip of a major recession.

Rye were open licence at the time. Their team was made up from guests and youngsters.

My first was in 1972 against the Rayleigh Rockets. Gordon Kennett rode for Rye House that day.

For the promoters, it is a jump into the unknown. How can they offer riders contracts without knowing the crowd levels post covid. Things will never be the same, for anyone connected with the sport. I fear it will be survival of the fittest.

A repeat performance of the Gym that was built without permission.

I posted an update to the Rye House situation in the general speedway section.

Just an update on the Rye House situation. A mate of mine that lives in nearby Broxbourne popped in to the 'stadium' yeaterday. The speedway circuit has disappeared and the foundations for the new astroturf pitches are being laid. Not good news for those trying to save the track.

Eveyone used to play at being team manager during the meeting. The sport seemed fun in those days, Prehaps it's just an age thing.

The promoters must be hoping that all the oldies are fit enough to return, when speedway gets going again.

It could be a repeat of last year, but with a few more tracks taking the plunge to run some meetings.

To be honest with you, I've never heard of him. I'm totally out of touch with current speedway affairs. Since the first lockdown, my interest has dwindled away.

The Rye House track is in its original location. Speedway was kicked out of there in the late 1950's when the dogs moved in from the defunct Hoddesdon greyhound stadium. The Broadbank track was built on the current kart site. When the land was sold off to the karts, the bikes moved back into the stadium. The current smaller circuit was built inside the dog track. I was told all of this by a long time Rye regular, that went to both Rye tracks. I have no reason to doubt his story.

Talking about it and doing it are two different things. The way this second wave is spreading, easter could be very optimistic.

There is no guarantee that some tracks haven't already spent the money. I'm not optimistic that my 10 meeting ticket will be honoured. The sport will be in a very different place than it was pre Covid and brexit. When speedway starts again, Some clubs will not survive this worldwide crisis, it's inevitable.

The Lakeside meetings staged at Rye were a disaster for both clubs. Those six matches could have easily put me off of speedway for life. The stadium was a dump by then with awful facilities. Power cuts, rain offs, curfews and no variety in the opposition. These events virtually finished the track off. I'm glad i attended the amateur meeting last December, for old times sake.