cityrebel

Top flight racing on a Saturday night, did pull in very good crowds at Rye. A lot of those were not present when the Rockets were in the middle tier. The crowds had really dropped off during Len's last season at Hoddesdon. 'Big' names can still attract the fans, if the race night is favourable.

I don't. The training school and the Dragons are probably dealing with the owners of the Kart circuit.

The track itself looked fine on sunday, far better than the one line concrete bowl BMR served up every meeting. I was told that the stuff dumped on the centre green is in fact contaminated waste. If this is the case, how much would it cost to clear and make good, any ideas.

Both clubs went bankrupt, and it's left a massive void in the South East. Luckily, I've still got Eastbourne, Kent and the Island within striking distance for me living south of the river.

I did hear a rumour that Lakeside were offered the use of Arlington. If true, surely that would have been a better option than a 'run down' Rye. With a massive home advantage, the Hammers might have picked up a couple of trophies!

Demand is where, Rye's crowds have been falling for years. Len never hangs around when a track starts losing money. The BMR honeymoon was enhanced with Lakeside dropping down to the NL, the same season as the Rockets moved up. The Hammers then moved back up and the Rockets were forced into fixed race nights. The writing was on the wall. The disastrous decision by Lakeside to move into Rye all but finished the track off. I applaud the kart people if they are going to revamp the old place. I hope they succeed where BMR failed.

Sitting there empty. People are creatures of habit. Demolishing the popular long bar was a big mistake by BMR. It was the start of the decline in my eyes.

Someone said there was going to be a gym built in it's place. Seems strange to me.

Fair play to anyone who's prepared to put the money up in this day and age. Personally i can't see a future for either sport, and i worked in the industry for 22 years.

I think the Karting people own it now.

I don't think BMR are responsible for the grandstand being pulled down, but they are to blame for the rest of the mess. Rye used to be such a pleasant place to watch speedway on a summers evening.

To be honest, i was shocked to see the grandstand being demolished. That was there when i first visited Rye back in 1972.

Just an update on the Rye House situation. I attended the Dragons amateur meeting there this afternoon, and the place is looking a mess. Parts of the car park have still got the lakes and the main entrance has been fenced off. The home straight grandstand and fish bar has been partly demolished. The moto cross circuit on the centre green looks very overgrown, but the floodlights still work and were used for the last hour of todays meeting. Spectator facilities at Rye are now at the bare minimum and a lot of work will be needed to improve this, for it to be fit to stage public events again.

The stand alone clubs are in a no win situation. If the third tier is run along MDL lines, then you are probably looking at around £7 admissions tops. Nowhere near enough to cover their overheads, especially as their crowd levels are likely to drop. It's a fine balance between using young riders learning their trade and the oldies who are treading water, with very little chance of moving up. I don't envy the decision makers.

It was, i saw him ride in the 1970 internationale. I seem to remember getting his autograph on the night.

Entertaining team for sure. It's a shame my trips to Perry Barr will be curtailed next season, due to my closest track Kent, switching race nights.

Fordham had a few decent meetings. I only saw Rackett ride a few times when i was a kid.

He was blonde with glasses, not your average looking speedway rider!

Ian Silk, who looked like the ' Milky Bar Kid'.

He will pull a few extra punters in, for sure.

He's definitely retired. He said so at the last home meeting.

Decent team, all done and dusted nice and early. With the additions of Poole and Kent in the league, there should be some good local derbies next season.

I never rated the chip bar at Rye, i always thought it was overrated. Mildenhall have always been the kings of that department.

Wasn't it similar in the Elite league a few years ago. It went down like a lead balloon at the time.

That's a shame. Iwade's return as a licensed track was short lived. I noticed the lack of air fence panels when i attended one of the summer sixes events a few months ago.