New Wimbledon Speedway Book

[speedyguy]

I can understand and fully sympathise with Millwall and local boxers getting space.We all want to hear how the guys at Lynn,Fisher and Fitzroy Lodge are doing.Fail to see why those other teams and rugby get any though

 

 

 

South London Press is a four borough newspaper - Lambeth, Wandsworth, Southwark and Lewisham - plus extensions into those boroughs surrounding these. In hindsight, and the fact there has been no speedway at Plough Lane since 2005, I think it's lucky the book got any coverage at all. It did, in fact, get far more space than the preview for this Sunday's V8 Stock Car World Championship at Plough Lane, and nearly as much as this Saturday's greyhound racing.

[iris123]

South London Press is a four borough newspaper - Lambeth, Wandsworth, Southwark and Lewisham - plus extensions into those boroughs surrounding these.

You don't say

 

 

Whooooosh

 

[speedyguy]

You don't say

 

 

Whooooosh

 

 

Well I did!

[salty]

did the sport REALLY die at Plough Lane in 1986?

Could you explain the significance of 1986? Surely if it died it was in 2005 or even 1991.

[iris123]

Could you explain the significance of 1986? Surely if it died it was in 2005 or even 1991.

Presumably the drop in league

[speedyguy]

Could you explain the significance of 1986? Surely if it died it was in 2005 or even 1991.

 

 

 

Because, IMO, that was the year the heart went out of Wimbledon, followed by a switch of leagues and a further loss of interest locally in speedway.

[salty]

Think you will find the drop from the British League to the National League took place prior to the 1985 season, with the 1984 campaign being the last in the top flight until the ill fated venture in 1991.

[KevH]

Think you will find the drop from the British League to the National League took place prior to the 1985 season, with the 1984 campaign being the last in the top flight until the ill fated venture in 1991.

That's correct - let's hope the book doesn't have too many of these errors.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

That's correct - let's hope the book doesn't have too many of these errors.

 

The book doesn't have that error at all!!!

 

That's because speedyguy had nothing to do with the book!! The significance (sic) of 1986 seems to be something in his mind and his only...!!!

[speedyguy]

The book, with which P1928 had so much contact, has this to say in regard to 1986: Page 84, starts bottom of third column: an item dealing with the programme for the May 29 1991 meeting:

 

DON Scarff said in his programme notes for Belle Vue's visit on May 29: "When the closure was announced at the end of 1986, I was one of a group of people who got together to keep things going, but now it is my sad task to close the doors for the last time."

 

That happening in 1986 was IMO the begining of the end of speedway at Plough Lane. The sport did carry on for nearly five seasons, but there was none of the magic I remember - especially in the years of the late 1940s through until the end of the 1970s.

Edited September 21, 2008 by speedyguy

[salty]

The book, with which P1928 had so much contact, has this to say in regard to 1986: Page 84, starts bottom of third column: an item dealing with the programme for the May 29 1991 meeting:

 

DON Scarff said in his programme notes for Belle Vue's visit on May 29: "When the closure was announced at the end of 1986, I was one of a group of people who got together to keep things going, but now it is my sad task to close the doors for the last time."

 

That happening in 1986 was IMO the begining of the end of speedway at Plough Lane. The sport did carry on for nearly five seasons, but there was none of the magic I remember - especially in the years of the late 1940s through until the end of the 1970s.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with that statement. Firstly I would dispute there was much magic at the end of the seventies. Secondly the move to the National League gave the Dons an extra few years, because it was clear at the end of 1984 they could not exist in the British League. Thirdly the National League years at the end of the 80's were well worth experiencing, with decent crowds a good team and a progressive promotion.

[iris123]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with that statement. Firstly I would dispute there was much magic at the end of the seventies. Secondly the move to the National League gave the Dons an extra few years, because it was clear at the end of 1984 they could not exist in the British League. Thirdly the National League years at the end of the 80's were well worth experiencing, with decent crowds a good team and a progressive promotion.

Spot on imo

 

If anything the sport died,or the decline started with the death of Tommy Jansson a decade before 86.It tottered along for the rest of the 70s and early 80s.But like you say i thought it got (even if only for a short period)a new lease of life when the Dons dropped down and the likes of Russel Lanning came along

Edited September 21, 2008 by iris123

[speedyguy]

Could you explain the significance of 1986? Surely if it died it was in 2005 or even 1991.

 

Because that was the year a closure was announced, saved only by the intervention of Don Scarff and his consortium.

 

The book doesn't have that error at all!!!

 

That's because speedyguy had nothing to do with the book!! The significance (sic) of 1986 seems to be something in his mind and his only...!!!

 

But there was a closure in 1986... Only the intervention of a Don Scarff led consortium kept the club going then - but the rot had set in for the sport at Plough Lane.

 

Spot on imo

If anything the sport died,or the decline started with the death of Tommy Jansson a decade before 86.It tottered along for the rest of the 70s and early 80s.But like you say i thought it got (even if only for a short period)a new lease of life when the Dons dropped down and the likes of Russel Lanning came along

 

Yes, the loss of Tommy Jansson was a key factor for the decline that followed in the latter part of the 1970s onwards. The heart went out of that once great club. Jansson's role at Wimbledon until his untimely death justifies my view that there was still good speedway and promotion at Plough Lane until that happened.

[norbold]

In a letter to the Speedway Star on 29 December 1984, A.R. James, the manager of Wimbledon Stadium said that Wimbledon Speedway had lost a five figure sum during the 1984 season. It was because of this that they decided to drop down in to the National League.

 

At the end of the 1985 season, Cyril Maidment said that had Wimbledon stayed in the British League they would have gone broke and that it was the drop down that had saved them.

 

At the end of the 1986 season, there was again uncertainty over the future of Wimbledon who said they needed a £25,000 sponsorship to continue. After a winter of uncertainty, a consortium headed by David Pickles stepped in and saved the day.

 

Throughout all of this the GRA were not very happy with the idea of speedway continuing at Plough Lane. It was only the fight put up by John Cearns on the board that saved them.

[speedyguy]

In a letter to the Speedway Star on 29 December 1984, A.R. James, the manager of Wimbledon Stadium said that Wimbledon Speedway had lost a five figure sum during the 1984 season. It was because of this that they decided to drop down in to the National League.

 

At the end of the 1985 season, Cyril Maidment said that had Wimbledon stayed in the British League they would have gone broke and that it was the drop down that had saved them.

 

At the end of the 1986 season, there was again uncertainty over the future of Wimbledon who said they needed a £25,000 sponsorship to continue. After a winter of uncertainty, a consortium headed by David Pickles stepped in and saved the day.

 

Throughout all of this the GRA were not very happy with the idea of speedway continuing at Plough Lane. It was only the fight put up by John Cearns on the board that saved them.

 

 

A nice clarification of the situation. And even then it would seem the GRA were not in favour of spedway at Plough Lane - even less so in this era. Thanks very much for the reply Norbold.

[salty]

But there was a closure in 1986...

We will have to disagree about the definition of a "closure".

They competed in the 1986 league and also in the 1987 one - doesn't make it a closure in my mind.

Different promoters I agree, but if anything the 1987 season was like a breath of fresh air and we had 4 good seasons until the move back up in 1991.

[speedyguy]

We will have to disagree about the definition of a "closure".

They competed in the 1986 league and also in the 1987 one - doesn't make it a closure in my mind.

Different promoters I agree, but if anything the 1987 season was like a breath of fresh air and we had 4 good seasons until the move back up in 1991.

 

 

Fair enough - but not my definition that it was a "closure." I was just quoting from the new 'Wimbledon Dons' book. Please don't shoot the messenger!

[cityrebel]

in my opinion the sport did die at wimbledon when tommy was killed in may 1976. it might of been a very slow death but it was never the same afterwards. it was like a big black cloud hung over the stadium and never went away. you have to admire the way belle vue recovered after cravens death in 1963. although having success as a team does help the healing process.

[speedyguy]

in my opinion the sport did die at wimbledon when tommy was killed in may 1976. it might of been a very slow death but it was never the same afterwards. it was like a big black cloud hung over the stadium and never went away. you have to admire the way belle vue recovered after cravens death in 1963. although having success as a team does help the healing process.

 

 

Yes, Tommy Jansson's death was the grass roots of "the end" leading to the debateable "1986 closure" and the end for top class speedway in 1991.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Fair enough - but not my definition that it was a "closure." I was just quoting from the new 'Wimbledon Dons' book. Please don't shoot the messenger!

 

This is sheer idiotic even by your standards!!!!

 

Here's what you said:

 

The book, with which P1928 had so much contact, has this to say in regard to 1986: Page 84, starts bottom of third column: an item dealing with the programme for the May 29 1991 meeting:

 

DON Scarff said in his programme notes for Belle Vue's visit on May 29: "When the closure was announced at the end of 1986, I was one of a group of people who got together to keep things going, but now it is my sad task to close the doors for the last time."

That happening in 1986 was IMO the begining of the end of speedway at Plough Lane.

 

The book is quoting Mr. Scarff's programme notes from 1991...: and relates to the rescue deal put together in 1986. Those are facts..! And by definition (ie he was writing in the programme of a Speedway meeting happening five years later) closure had been averted in '86.

 

It's you who've unilaterally declared that in some way 1986 was the year Wimbledon Speedway in some way died..

 

Most other informed opinion would go with 1991 when it actually, er, closed; some may say 1985 when the club moved down to the second division; personally I'd say 2005 when it closed for what may be the last time.

 

1986 as a significant year..?? Well, fair enuff if you think so...: funny that no-one else shares your opinion. And you'd do better to take criticism of your viewpoint on the chin rather than try and make out that Howard's book in any way states this weird view about 1986, coz it doesn't!!!!

 

And BTW, IF every time a new promoter comes in to save or keep going a track is termed a closure then every track in the UK has closed numerous times!!