cityrebel

I find it hard to see how Reading running stand alone meetings at Arlington are going to pay their way. Apart from friends and family, who is going to turn up. Kent's attempts to run two SDL meetings at Iwade last year, resulted in poor crowds. The public just wont pay to watch this level of racing.

Len was shrewd, he had a stadium that needed big investment and an ever shrinking fan base. Kent was on his doorstep with great facilities, it was a no brainer really.

Len sold BMR a turkey and they ran out of money, it's as simple as that.

That's what happens when you try and take on the establishment. Usually there is only one winner.

If you had experienced Lakeside's end of seasons meetings at Rye, i would say plenty. The car park is a major hazzard with large potholes and no lighting. The stadium itself has insufficient spectator lights, barely enough to fill in your programme in some areas. Add this to the uneven ground you have to walk on. The toilets were disgusting last year and are in need of an upgrade. Some of the temporary stands have steep steps and could be difficult to negotiate for some of the older fans. I know a disabled supporter that won't go to Rye because of access difficulties. Now the track itself, apart from the hill on the centre green, the lighting on the bends are non existant and the temporary lights were removed at the end of the top flight era. The BSPA currently consider Rye as not fit for purpose and i have to agree with them. Lakeside never had a chance of running there this season.

Irrespective of the previous promoters debts, the cost of making Rye House stadium fit for purpose, will be the biggest stumbling block for anyone thinking of taking it on.

I think that's Jack Rackett. He was the clerk of the course.

I also helped Simmo run the short lived winter training school. I operated the starting gate to give the juniors a taste of racing conditions. It's amazing what you volunteer for when you're young and keen!.

Lionel was timekeeper at Wimbledon when i worked in the refs box.

You and me both. I worked in the refs box for a couple of seasons, from memory it was 1982/3. Ken Tozer was still the announcer. I also had the pleasure of updating the old scoreboards at both ends of the stadium, just after turning the lights back on!

I went to Crayford over 80 times between 1975 and 83, including the reopener against Boston and the last ever v Newcastle. It was a small tricky track, but the stadium had great facilities and excellent grub. I started to go more regular in 1979 wnen White City shut. Unfortunately i never got there in the Highwaymen era, but i managed to squeak one in at Romford to make up for it. Thanks Dad!

All five London tracks I've seen league racing at were different in many ways. Wimbledon was ala carte speedway with fine dining and fountains. West Ham had History all over it. Iconic stadium and great track. Wembley famous stadium, venue of legends, but not the best race track. Hackney not the best facilities of the five, but fantastic racing. White City fabulous White elephant of a stadium where the crowd seemed lost at such a vast arena. Produced some decent racing for a 440 yard track. I enjoyed them all and feel fortunate to have visited them on numerous occasions.

Trevor Hedge was another Dons rider that was due a testimonial, but never got one. Like you say, that was the way things were in those days.

The fact that Bushell knows what speedway is, helps. The vast majority of people, have never heard of it. Especially the younger generation.

I remember him losing his rag after being excluded from a race at West Ham, and leaving his bike across the track.

Unfortunately, Barry is a voice in the wilderness.

What an uplifting story.

With track closures increasing mike, we are all going to save some money, wether we like it or not.

As an unlicensed track, there's very little BSPA can do about it. Maybe the riders could sue the promoters for loss of earnings. Probably more chance of getting blood out of a stone.

It was three 5 -1's for Oxford at plough lane to win 37 - 41, followed by a last heat 5 - 1 to the Dons at Cowley to win 38 - 40. I was at both meetings, it seems like yesterday!

We all have selfish views that suit our own lifestyles. I prefer mondays because it's a dead day for me. I have too many other commitments on saturdays that could make things awkward.

You will probably find that the leaseholders Carter & Bailey are a 'different' company to the speedway promoters BMR. If that's the case, then they might not be liable for the latter's debt. Of course, i could be wrong.

Apparently the training school is due to take place this weekend. So the stadium hasn't been repossessed yet.

Harringay was a strange sort of stadium with stands of all shapes and sizes. I worked there a few times in the 1980's, by then it was in a pretty run down state. At one end of the stadium there were big flights of steps that once led to the long gone Arena that was demolished in the late 1950's.

Well done, it looks an excellent stadium. It would have been ideal for speedway.