steve19620 Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Yes, Ellesmere Port stadium is still there, although the speedway track has been replaced by a greyhound track which is also used for Afgan dog exercise once a month ! Unfortunately the pits area on the third bend was demolished early last year but the two stands still remain on the home and back straights. There are rumours in the local press that the council are considering selling the land to make a new housing development - looks like Thornton Road Stadium could soon disappear once the economy improves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 I would be interested to know what happened to the Abbey Stadium in Neath- I know they only ran one year- in 1962- and finished 2nd in Prov Lge. to Poole. I'll never know what made Trevor Redmond pick Neath for a track. Any forumlanders out there ever visit it, if so what are your memories. BTW my prediction on this is that no-one reading this ever went there-b/c a) its a long time ago and there were never many spectators. But perhaps someone knew someone who knew someone who went there or even who rode there??(Friends of Charlie Monk, Jon Erskine etc please come forward!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted January 7, 2009 Report Share Posted January 7, 2009 Any forumlanders out there ever visit it, if so what are your memories. Yes, I've been to Neath. Must have been in 1962 then and I would have been 22 but I don't remember a single thing about the place. They do say as you get older you can recall things from years ago but sadly in my case the first has happened but not the second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlipphlopp Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 (edited) So far the following tracks have not appeared in this topic; Ellesmere Port, Bradford(Greenfields ),Tamworth, Cardiff Crewe,Wombwell, Wigan(2),Barrow (2), Exeter ( Alphington), Neath. Can anyone fill us in?During WW2 Exeter briefly rode on what is now Marsh Barton trading estate, as the County Ground was in the hands of the military in some capacity. The actual track was located app where Rawle Gammon and Bakers are situated , so my pops tells me ! Edited January 8, 2009 by phlipphlop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 I just saw your quote about New Cross. Had no idea (still haven't) who the Blue Sox were and what they were playing Castleford at.Thought it might have been some South London team called the Blue Sox. Still the info might be usefull I agree it was confusin'!! I WAS talking about New Cross but HT replied talking about Castleford... The 'Blue Sox', fairly amazingly, is the totally daft American-style moniker bestowed on Halifax RLFC in the modern Super League era of Rugby League..!! My team (well I married into it all! ) Widnes - though disgracefully excluded from the Super League - have the far more suitable nickname of 'Vikings' Though I still say, 'Up the Chemics'!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 I would be interested to know what happened to the Abbey Stadium in Neath- I know they only ran one year- in 1962- and finished 2nd in Prov Lge. to Poole. I'll never know what made Trevor Redmond pick Neath for a track. Any forumlanders out there ever visit it, if so what are your memories. BTW my prediction on this is that no-one reading this ever went there-b/c a) its a long time ago and there were never many spectators. But perhaps someone knew someone who knew someone who went there or even who rode there??(Friends of Charlie Monk, Jon Erskine etc please come forward!!) Where the stadium was is now an industrial estate with a big car sales place (which was Ken Throne). It is right next to the A365. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobC Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 How about Somerton Park,Newport. Houses. http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=newport&a...les,%20NP20%204 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted January 8, 2009 Report Share Posted January 8, 2009 Yes I have been to the former site of Somerton Park-it is so depressing to recall what used to be there and all the excitement the events created-all gone!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) ...and the Carmarthen track at the Showground is still there and used for tractor pullls several times a year ---and no sign of the hotel development that was given as an excuse for not allowing speedway to continue there. I know that Dean Felton went down there last year and drove his car around the track "for old times sake!!". What a waste!! Edited January 9, 2009 by Main Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 And here it is There's a pretty good view of the circuit at Long Eaton on Google maps but perhaps the most surprising one is Hastings. To a degree, you can still see the track and its been closed for 50 years and more !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadders Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 ...and the Carmarthen track at the Showground is still there and used for tractor pullls several times a year ---and no sign of the hotel development that was given as an excuse for not allowing speedway to continue there. I know that Dean Felton went down there last year and drove his car around the track "for old times sake!!". What a waste!! I agree.....what a waste of petrol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobC Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 (edited) Ringwood,Matchams Park. Still there!! There have been 3 different circuits at this venue,all in the same arena. 1) The original race track is middle of the 3 circuits.Over 400 metres in length.Now tarmaced over for Stock Cars. 2) The inner of the 3 circuits is the training track put in place by the Knotts in the early 70's.About the size of Lakeside.Also tarmaced over. Very similar layout etc to Lakeside 3) The outer of the 3 circuits is the 'mini longtrack' as organised by Simon Wigg.A huge 5/600 metre circuit,which has a fence on the inside,as well as the outside! Sadly,the whole area has been the subject of the aborted WinterWonderland recently. http://maps.live.com/#JndoZXJlMT1NYXRjaGFt...jYwNzcyNzA1Mg== Edited January 9, 2009 by BobC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Third Man Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 anybody mentioned doncaster, a retail park is built on the former site, just off york road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willstaxi Posted January 10, 2009 Report Share Posted January 10, 2009 I would be interested to know what happened to the Abbey Stadium in Neath- I know they only ran one year- in 1962- and finished 2nd in Prov Lge. to Poole. I'll never know what made Trevor Redmond pick Neath for a track. Any forumlanders out there ever visit it, if so what are your memories. BTW my prediction on this is that no-one reading this ever went there-b/c a) its a long time ago and there were never many spectators. But perhaps someone knew someone who knew someone who went there or even who rode there??(Friends of Charlie Monk, Jon Erskine etc please come forward!!) Neath Abbey Stadium is now covered by an industrial estate and no sign of the track at all, at the time when it operated in 1962 there was no M4 and the area was hard to get to, I remember Neath beating Poole 38 - 40 their first home defeat for a about 2 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Ringwood,Matchams Park. Still there!! There have been 3 different circuits at this venue,all in the same arena. 1) The original race track is middle of the 3 circuits.Over 400 metres in length.Now tarmaced over for Stock Cars. 2) The inner of the 3 circuits is the training track put in place by the Knotts in the early 70's.About the size of Lakeside.Also tarmaced over. Very similar layout etc to Lakeside 3) The outer of the 3 circuits is the 'mini longtrack' as organised by Simon Wigg.A huge 5/600 metre circuit,which has a fence on the inside,as well as the outside! Sadly,the whole area has been the subject of the aborted WinterWonderland recently. Hi Bob I assume (1) would have been the Southern Area League track used in the mid 50s by the likes of Alby Golden & Ernie Lessiter then. The S A L team only lasted about 1 and a half seasons and Alby Golden and Ernie Lessiter were far & away the top 2 who came out of the riders the "Turfs" produced during their short existence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobC Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Spot on,Star Ghost. The smaller circuit helped the development of Martin Yeates,Steve Lomas,Geoff Swindells,Russell Foot,plus others of course. There is a very real danger that this area could be lost to development.Houses get nearer each year,and more complaints about noise continue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 What happened to Ernie Lessiter-am familiar with Alby but not Ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted January 11, 2009 Report Share Posted January 11, 2009 Some of the best maps are at Live Search Maps, which include birds-eye views in many urban locations Just had a look at what I assume to be the old New Cross site situated at the end of Hornshay Street, off Ilderton Road If I'm correct, on the green area, one can make out the outline of the track - or am I seeing things that aren't there? If someone else has a look, can they find the old stadium steps referred to? Would be very interested Cheers Just wondering - can anyone find "the old stadium steps" on the map? Would be really really interested to know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckford Boy Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 Just wondering - can anyone find "the old stadium steps" on the map? Would be really really interested to know! When I had a look at the site in the mid nineties you could still make out the outline of the track and the remains of the terracing were still evident in places.I seem to remember that an old kiosk type building was still there which may or may not have been the entrance to the pits or the car park.Rarely in that area but would certainly check it out again if so. I would highly recommend the book "Out of the Frying Pan -The story of New Cross Speedway by Norman Jacobs if you havn't already got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted January 12, 2009 Report Share Posted January 12, 2009 I would highly recommend the book "Out of the Frying Pan -The story of New Cross Speedway by Norman Jacobs if you havn't already got it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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