Once Your Team Has Closed Down

[Van der Elst]

Coventry Bees my team - they are not gone yet - but the candle is burning very low. So Sad. I doubt I could give wholehearted allegience to another team as we go back a looooong way. 50 years.

[dantodan]

Hi to all fans of defunct tracks. My website may just help you with your speedway withdrawal symptoms have a look at www.defunctspeedway.co.uk I think you will like the website your team will be covered in my A-Z

Edited September 18, 2014 by dantodan

[P T Preece]

I must admit to being a speedway nut, started in 1973 at coventry went a couple of times and then went to Ladbrookes stadium to watch birmingham in 1974 and that was it hooked. Very depressed in 1983 when they closed down, but at least we had the Wheels to go to and a team to watch, not the great stadium we had at Perry barr but we had a team and then the news came that we wouldent run in 1986.

This was the days of saturday night speedway and used to alternate between Coventry and Cradley and saw some great meetings, Cradley was a dump with one of the best tracks and saw some fantastic meeting there. Slowly started to lose a bit of interest, lots of rumours of the Brummies coming back but it didnt happen.

Had a couple of seasons where I just went to all the big meeting and the world final, no matter where it was, but slowly started to get interested again, not supporting anybody but always gave a former Brummies rider a wave and cheer if they were riding where we went, couldent support anybody esle it just didnt seem right some how, Shaun Mcconnell was the last Brummie rider and we used to go to Brighton just to cheer him on, good days.

I do feel losing your team gives you a better idea of the riders and some of the decisons in the meeting as you look at it from a different view, while the supporters around are shouting its not fair you stand there thinking that was the right call from the ref.

Then we had the great news it was it was coming back in 2007, never thought it would happen but it did had some good seasons until the middle of 2014 and we closed again, but hopefully it will come back if the rumors are true(come on Tony).

Watched the closing of too many tracks over the years some great stadiums with good tracks but never give up hope, one day you might walk through a gate and realise the track in front of you is yours and your back supporting the team you love.

[The White Knight]

I must admit to being a speedway nut, started in 1973 at coventry went a couple of times and then went to Ladbrookes stadium to watch birmingham in 1974 and that was it hooked. Very depressed in 1983 when they closed down, but at least we had the Wheels to go to and a team to watch, not the great stadium we had at Perry barr but we had a team and then the news came that we wouldent run in 1986.

This was the days of saturday night speedway and used to alternate between Coventry and Cradley and saw some great meetings, Cradley was a dump with one of the best tracks and saw some fantastic meeting there. Slowly started to lose a bit of interest, lots of rumours of the Brummies coming back but it didnt happen.

Had a couple of seasons where I just went to all the big meeting and the world final, no matter where it was, but slowly started to get interested again, not supporting anybody but always gave a former Brummies rider a wave and cheer if they were riding where we went, couldent support anybody esle it just didnt seem right some how, Shaun Mcconnell was the last Brummie rider and we used to go to Brighton just to cheer him on, good days.

I do feel losing your team gives you a better idea of the riders and some of the decisons in the meeting as you look at it from a different view, while the supporters around are shouting its not fair you stand there thinking that was the right call from the ref.

Then we had the great news it was it was coming back in 2007, never thought it would happen but it did had some good seasons until the middle of 2014 and we closed again, but hopefully it will come back if the rumors are true(come on Tony).

Watched the closing of too many tracks over the years some great stadiums with good tracks but never give up hope, one day you might walk through a gate and realise the track in front of you is yours and your back supporting the team you love.

Well said.

 

I'm still waiting for Sunderland FORTY years on. :sad:

[Wiseguy]

Have never supported another team since my beloved Exeter closed

 

I only watched speedway on tv and the odd visit to Cardiff, until last season, I went to Lakeside and Kent

 

Obviously a better standard of rider at Lakeside, but Kent does have a family feel to it, and my kids like to cheer for a side, so why not the home side

 

Not many former Exeter riders still riding, Mark Lemon's still about maybe one or two others

 

I do however love the sport of speedway,i really hope Kent don't go the same way Exeter did

[2ndBender]

I can't be bothered any more. No weekend tracks within an easy drive and I won't spend hours on the motorway to watch mediocre racing on rubbish tracks diluted even further by no-show prima donnas and strangulated by stupid inexplicable rules. I've loved the sport to bits all my life but my days of watching it live at pretty much over.

[cityrebel]

I can't be bothered any more. No weekend tracks within an easy drive and I won't spend hours on the motorway to watch mediocre racing on rubbish tracks diluted even further by no-show prima donnas and strangulated by stupid inexplicable rules. I've loved the sport to bits all my life but my days of watching it live at pretty much over.

you and many others.

[The White Knight]

I can't be bothered any more. No weekend tracks within an easy drive and I won't spend hours on the motorway to watch mediocre racing on rubbish tracks diluted even further by no-show prima donnas and strangulated by stupid inexplicable rules. I've loved the sport to bits all my life but my days of watching it live at pretty much over.

 

 

you and many others.

I totally endorse these Posts.

 

WELL SAID!!!

[stratton]

I can't be bothered any more. No weekend tracks within an easy drive and I won't spend hours on the motorway to watch mediocre racing on rubbish tracks diluted even further by no-show prima donnas and strangulated by stupid inexplicable rules. I've loved the sport to bits all my life but my days of watching it live at pretty much over.

Such a shame 2nd Bender i feel like this alot,and then see a decent race and get the bug again.El racing i barely enjoy the PL i have seen some decent stuff more because they have regular team line ups and the GP series is decent but i understand how you feel you like me have loved the sport.

[norbold]

Hi to all fans of defunct tracks. My website may just help you with your speedway withdrawal symptoms have a look at www.defunctspeedway.co.uk I think you will like the website your team will be covered in my A-Z

Just to add this is a fantastic site and you deserve a lot of credit and our undying thanks for putting it all together. If it wasn't for people like you a lot of the sport's history would be lost forever.

[dantodan]

Thanks Norbold, I am retired now and spend some of my daily leisure time working on my speedway websites.

 

Yes I feel honoured to be able to "save" some items to my websites that otherwise would be lost. Many items that I have added to the website have come from relatives of ex-riders etc whom were about to throw them away if I wasn't interested in what they have left from a relatives riding career.

 

I will continue the websites for as long as I am able, I have a good few years left I hope!!

 

So if anyone has photos or memories of any of our now defunct tracks please visit the website(s) and email me John

[Guest]

I endorse the comments by Norbold and dantodan.

Isn't there a saying about "...ignore the past and then there's no future"? Every effort must be made to ensure that history websites survive - but sadly I have found that some history sites have 'vanished' while others appear to be abandoned!

[dantodan]

I endorse the comments by Norbold and dantodan.

Isn't there a saying about "...ignore the past and then there's no future"? Every effort must be made to ensure that history websites survive - but sadly I have found that some history sites have 'vanished' while others appear to be abandoned!

Hi Gustix

 

My 3 websites: -

 

Newcastle History Website

Defunct Tracks

Newcastle Cycle Speedway

 

Will not vanish or be abandoned I can assure you of that. They all receive info and photo items etc on a very regular basis. I am constantly updating them, in particular the Defunct Tracks website, heavy traffic on that website.

 

So if anyone has any photos, memories etc of a defunct track please email me via the contact me link on the www.defunctspeedway.co.uk website and we can make an already large website into a colossal one

[customhouseregular]

Just to add this is a fantastic site and you deserve a lot of credit and our undying thanks for putting it all together. If it wasn't for people like you a lot of the sport's history would be lost forever.

I could not agree more. Thank you Norbold.