Long Lived Speedway

[dantodan]

In a conversation the question came up "Which current track has been going the longest". Not unbroken, no track can claim that. I said Newcastle who started at Brough Park in 1929 and off an on (more on than off!) are still operating 2011. Can any current track equal or beat Newcastles claim to fame

Edited August 15, 2011 by dantodan

[Alan_Jones]

This is a discussion that could get very messy. You emphasise track, but do you mean track or stadium because I doubt that there's any track in current use that hasn't been changed substantially from its original size and or shape.

 

Track                 1st Meeting               Original      Current
-----                 -----------               --------      ------ 
Wolverhampton         30th May 1928             329yds        264m
Birmingham            12th July 1928            380yds        292m
Belle Vue             28th July 1928            400yds        285m
Coventry              29th September 1928       352yds        301m
Sheffield             30th March 1929           442yds        361m
Newcastle             17th May 1929             440yds        300m
Eastbourne            5th August 1929           352yds        301yds

 

Above info taken from the 2nd edition of "Homes of British Speedway".

Edited August 18, 2011 by Alan_Jones

[mickthemuppet]

Belle Vue 1928

[25yearfan]

A very messy debate cause noones had an unbroken spell and the tracks have changed in the long running stadiums!

 

For instance Belle Vue started at Kirky Lane in the late 1920's, probably on a different track to the current Kirky Lane, only rode there for 1-2 seasons then moved to Hyde Road and speedway didn't start there again until 1988!

 

Newcastle must have the record for the number of closures and reopenings it has been through in its long history!

 

I know post war they shut in the early 1950's, reopened in the early 60's, closed after the 1970 season, reopened 1975, closed after the 1984 season, reopened 1986, closed after the 1987 season, reopened again in 1989, closed in 1994 and then have been running continuously since 1997!

Edited August 15, 2011 by 25yearfan

[arnieg]

A very messy debate cause noones had an unbroken spell and the tracks have changed in the long running stadiums!

 

For instance Belle Vue started at Kirky Lane in the late 1920's, probably on a different track to the current Kirky Lane, only rode there for 1-2 seasons then moved to Hyde Road and speedway didn't start there again until 1988!

 

Newcastle must have the record for the number of closures and reopenings it has been through in its long history!

 

I know post war they shut in the early 1950's, reopened in the early 60's, closed after the 1970 season, reopened 1975, closed after the 1984 season, reopened 1986, closed after the 1987 season, reopened again in 1989, closed in 1994 and then have been running continuously since 1997!

Long Eaton - 7 spells beats that

 

1929-30

1950-52

1954

1963-67

1969-74

1979-80 (as Nottingham)

1982-1997

[keef]

So looking at those figures that makes Wolves the oldest existing club in British speedway, followed by Brum, Belle vue and Coventry, all racing in top league. Eastbourne also, at number 7. Would like to see Sheffield and Newcastle back in the top div. When did Poole, Peterboro', Lakeside, Kings Lynn, Ipswich, Reading, Oxford, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Exeter, Leicester, Newport, Norwich, Southampton, Stoke, Middlesboro', Halifax, Cradley, Wimbledon, Wembley, West Ham, New Cross, Hackney, start racing?

I know my local club Swindon have had continual racing since 1949.

Edited August 16, 2011 by keef

[kiwi]

Westren Springs Auckland 1929 to 2012 unbroken except maybe war years

[BobC]

Poole only started in April 1948.

 

Although withdrawing from the League in 1957,(we did run open meetings) we have run every year since we opened.

[25yearfan]

Westren Springs Auckland 1929 to 2012 unbroken except maybe war years

 

They haven't had solos continously in this spell!

[25yearfan]

So looking at those figures that makes Wolves the oldest existing club in British speedway, followed by Brum, Belle vue and Coventry, all racing in top league. Eastbourne also, at number 7. Would like to see Sheffield and Newcastle back in the top div. When did Poole, Peterboro', Lakeside, Kings Lynn, Ipswich, Reading, Oxford, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Exeter, Leicester, Newport, Norwich, Southampton, Stoke, Middlesboro', Halifax, Cradley, Wimbledon, Wembley, West Ham, New Cross, Hackney, start racing?

I know my local club Swindon have had continual racing since 1949.

 

Sheffield could comfortably cope with top flight racing particularly the watered down version of the EL this season, although I think this years EL has been the best EL for a number of years because of the extra variety caused by King's Lynns and Birminghams incluson!

 

Newcastle maybe but they had their hands burnt badly in 1984 when after years of NL domination they felt they had to move up only to last one season and shut down!

 

Poole opened in about 1948.

 

Peterborough opened in 1970 and have ran every season since!

 

Lakeside opened as Arena Essex speedway in 1984 at a stock venue that had been running since the 1970's and have been running every year since although they changed name about 3 years ago!

 

King's Lynn opened as an open licence track in 1965 and entered the BL in 1966 as a Norfolk replacement for Norwich speedway who closed in 1964. They ran top flight speedway every year until 1996 when they closed for one season. They reopened in the newly formed EL in 1997 and stayed EL until the end of the 2002 season. From 2003 till 2010 they ran in the 2nd tier and this season moved up. I believe grsstrack racing was staged at the venue in the early 50's when it was a greyhound track.

 

Ipswich 1st opened as an open licence track in 1951 using the circuit that is now the stock car track at Foxhall. They ran in a number of Leagues in this circuits with a couple of closures until finlly finishing in 1965. In 1969 they reopened by building a new track inside the original one and have ran every season since!

 

Reading opened at the old Tilehurst stadium in 1968 and ran there until 1973 when the stadium was redeveloped. They reopened in 1975 at a brand new stadium at Smallmead and ran continously until 2008 when they vacated the stadium due to a pending redevelopment.

 

Oxford opened in the late 1940's and ran every season until 2007. I'm not sure if they ran pre war?

 

Glasgow have had many stadiums and spells. Since the war they have ran at White City, Hampden Park, Coatbridge*, Blantyre, Craighead Park, Shawfield and finally present stadium Ashfield where a seperate team ran (Ashfield Gaints) ran their in the late 40 and early 50' when Glasgow White City also running. * Edinburgh also ran speedway at Coatbridge and in 1996 a team called the Scottish Monarchs formed after Edinburhg lost their stadium and Glasgow folded ran at Shawfield.

 

Edinburgh - I think speedway ran at a place called Marine Gardens pre war. Meadowbank opened after the war and staged speedway albeit with a few missed years until 1967. They then ran at Coatbridge till 199 when the team moved lok stock and barrell to Wembley London. Open licence meetings were staged at a venue near Edinburgh around 72/73 then Powderhall opened in 1977 and ran until 1995. Since 1997 the club have raced at Armadale!

 

Plymouth - I think they ranspeedwya there pre war. After the war they ran tthe Pennycross stadium on and off until 1970. Amazingly after a 36 year absence they reopened at their present venue in 2006 and have ran there every yaer since.

 

Exeter - The County Ground opened around the late 20's early 30's spell.

 

Leicester had 2 tracks in the early 30's, one at long term venue Blackbird Road and another called Leicester super.

 

Newport 1st opened in 1964 at Somerton Park where they raced until 1977!

 

Norwich speedway opened as a grasstrack in 1930 and was one of the few tracks to use grass, cinders and shale during its spell. The firs ran until 1964. A black licence track down the road at Hevingham was used in 1976 for one meeting and training.

 

Southampton not sure but they must have ran pre war?

 

Stoke ran as Hanley for a lot of years and I think ran pre war?

 

Middlesbrough - Pre war?

 

Halifax - Some meetings were staged at the cricket ground in the early 30's. The Shay 1st ran in 1949 then had a spell from 1965 - 85.

 

Cradley opened in the late 40's as a nursery track for Birmingham

 

Wimbledon - 1928.

 

Wembley, West Ham and New Cross - late 20's.

 

 

Hackney - mid 30's.

[25yearfan]

Long Eaton - 7 spells beats that

 

1929-30

1950-52

1954

1963-67

1969-74

1979-80 (as Nottingham)

1982-1997

 

I only mentioned Newcastles up and down post war history. I think their pre war history was also sketchy with a number of closures and reopenings!

[cityrebel]

this is a very interesting debate. my favourite track of all time west ham only ran 31 seasons of racing. 1928-39, 1946-55 and 1964-72. even more suprising is that the wembley lions only staged league racing for 24 seasons. 1929-39, 1946-56 and 1970- 71. it's amazing that two of this countrys most famous venues had such short histories compared to some of the tracks mentioned in this topic.

[cyclone]

this is a very interesting debate. my favourite track of all time west ham only ran 31 seasons of racing. 1928-39, 1946-55 and 1964-72. even more suprising is that the wembley lions only staged league racing for 24 seasons. 1929-39, 1946-56 and 1970- 71. it's amazing that two of this countrys most famous venues had such short histories compared to some of the tracks mentioned in this topic.

 

West Ham also ran a few meetings in 1940

[cityrebel]

West Ham also ran a few meetings in 1940

thanks for the info.

[dantodan]

So of the tracks that started in 1928/29 who has had the most seasons without changing venues. Newcastles longest periods without speedway were 1931-1937 and 1952- 1960. Does anyone fancy doing a spreadsheet showing each teams claim to fame. I am getting too old to do things like spreadsheets but I know a spreadsheet would show the situation off very well. We could pass it around via email

[keef]

Sheffield could comfortably cope with top flight racing particularly the watered down version of the EL this season, although I think this years EL has been the best EL for a number of years because of the extra variety caused by King's Lynns and Birminghams incluson!

 

Newcastle maybe but they had their hands burnt badly in 1984 when after years of NL domination they felt they had to move up only to last one season and shut down!

 

Poole opened in about 1948.

 

Peterborough opened in 1970 and have ran every season since!

 

Lakeside opened as Arena Essex speedway in 1984 at a stock venue that had been running since the 1970's and have been running every year since although they changed name about 3 years ago!

 

King's Lynn opened as an open licence track in 1965 and entered the BL in 1966 as a Norfolk replacement for Norwich speedway who closed in 1964. They ran top flight speedway every year until 1996 when they closed for one season. They reopened in the newly formed EL in 1997 and stayed EL until the end of the 2002 season. From 2003 till 2010 they ran in the 2nd tier and this season moved up. I believe grsstrack racing was staged at the venue in the early 50's when it was a greyhound track.

 

Ipswich 1st opened as an open licence track in 1951 using the circuit that is now the stock car track at Foxhall. They ran in a number of Leagues in this circuits with a couple of closures until finlly finishing in 1965. In 1969 they reopened by building a new track inside the original one and have ran every season since!

 

Reading opened at the old Tilehurst stadium in 1968 and ran there until 1973 when the stadium was redeveloped. They reopened in 1975 at a brand new stadium at Smallmead and ran continously until 2008 when they vacated the stadium due to a pending redevelopment.

 

Oxford opened in the late 1940's and ran every season until 2007. I'm not sure if they ran pre war?

 

Glasgow have had many stadiums and spells. Since the war they have ran at White City, Hampden Park, Coatbridge*, Blantyre, Craighead Park, Shawfield and finally present stadium Ashfield where a seperate team ran (Ashfield Gaints) ran their in the late 40 and early 50' when Glasgow White City also running. * Edinburgh also ran speedway at Coatbridge and in 1996 a team called the Scottish Monarchs formed after Edinburhg lost their stadium and Glasgow folded ran at Shawfield.

 

Edinburgh - I think speedway ran at a place called Marine Gardens pre war. Meadowbank opened after the war and staged speedway albeit with a few missed years until 1967. They then ran at Coatbridge till 199 when the team moved lok stock and barrell to Wembley London. Open licence meetings were staged at a venue near Edinburgh around 72/73 then Powderhall opened in 1977 and ran until 1995. Since 1997 the club have raced at Armadale!

 

Plymouth - I think they ranspeedwya there pre war. After the war they ran tthe Pennycross stadium on and off until 1970. Amazingly after a 36 year absence they reopened at their present venue in 2006 and have ran there every yaer since.

 

Exeter - The County Ground opened around the late 20's early 30's spell.

 

Leicester had 2 tracks in the early 30's, one at long term venue Blackbird Road and another called Leicester super.

 

Newport 1st opened in 1964 at Somerton Park where they raced until 1977!

 

Norwich speedway opened as a grasstrack in 1930 and was one of the few tracks to use grass, cinders and shale during its spell. The firs ran until 1964. A black licence track down the road at Hevingham was used in 1976 for one meeting and training.

 

Southampton not sure but they must have ran pre war?

 

Stoke ran as Hanley for a lot of years and I think ran pre war?

 

Middlesbrough - Pre war?

 

Halifax - Some meetings were staged at the cricket ground in the early 30's. The Shay 1st ran in 1949 then had a spell from 1965 - 85.

 

Cradley opened in the late 40's as a nursery track for Birmingham

 

Wimbledon - 1928.

 

Wembley, West Ham and New Cross - late 20's.

 

 

Hackney - mid 30's.

 

Cheers chap

 

For league racing I think New Cross started in 1934 with Walthamstow- National League, Wembley West Am Wimbledon White City Arringay Stamford Bridge Lea Bridge Crystal Palace .1929 Southern League, Ackney 1935 National League. I read that Wolves closed between 1930-50.

Middlesboro started in 1928, Southampton 1928.Stoke 1929.Plymouth 1931.Bristol 1936. Liverpool 1928.Leeds 1928.Birmingham 1928.Sunderland 1964.Bradford 1945.Hull 1971.Cardiff 1928.

Edited August 22, 2011 by keef

[Guest compost]

Cheers chap

 

For league racing I think New Cross started in 1934 with Walthamstow- National League, Wembley West Am Wimbledon White City Arringay Stamford Bridge Lea Bridge Crystal Palace .1929 Southern League, Ackney 1935 National League. I read that Wolves closed between 1930-50.

Middlesboro started in 1928, Southampton 1928.Stoke 1929.Plymouth 1931.Bristol 1936. Liverpool 1928.Leeds 1928.Birmingham 1928.Sunderland 1964.Bradford 1945.Hull 1971.Cardiff 1928.

 

Hull was pre-war (at the White City ?). I think I've seen 30-31 stated as years when they rode Open. The Angels rode NL3 in 48 & 49 (fixtures taken over by Swindon mid-season).

[keef]

Hull was pre-war (at the White City ?). I think I've seen 30-31 stated as years when they rode Open. The Angels rode NL3 in 48 & 49 (fixtures taken over by Swindon mid-season).

 

Correct compo I was thinking of The Boulevard.

[norbold]

 

 

For league racing I think New Cross started in 1934

New Cross started in 1934 for ANY sort of racing.

[speedyguy]

This could help the debate:

 

ARENA ESSEX

(See Lakeside Hammers). Opened April 5 1984 as Arena Essex. Address: Arena-Essex Raceway, A1306 Arterial Road, Thurrock, Essex. Became Lakeside Hammers in 2008.

 

BARNET.

Opened July 27 1929. Closed late 1936. Address: Barnet By-pass, near Mill Hill, Herts.

 

CATFORD.

Greyhound Stadium - Opened September 1 1934. Closed 1935.Meetings also took place at nearby Catford CC, in Penerley Road, in 1932. Address: Catford Stadium, Adenmore Road, Catford, London, SE6.

 

CHISWICK NOMADS

Training track, 160 yards, in Mortlake Road, Chiswick. Opened 1957, closed late 1958. Only wide enough to allow two riders on track. Previously a cycle speedway late 1940s to circa 1954. As a team for away matches, first known as Champions and later Nomads. Competed at Southern Area League tracks. Address: Mortlake Road, Chiswick, London, SW.

 

CRAYFORD.

Opened April 21 1930. Closed 1931. Reopened 1935. Closed 1937. Reopened June 12 1968. Closed October 28 1970. Reopened April 8 1975. Closed October 26 1983. Address: Crayford Stadium, Stadium Road, Crayford, Kent.

 

CLAPTON.

[Please refer to Lea Bridge). Clapton was an alternate name used by the team for some seasons in the early 1930s. There was also a Clapton Stadium but this only staged greyhound racing.

 

CRYSTAL PALACE.

Opened May 19 1928. End of 1933 the team moved to New Cross. Open meetings staged until 1938. Entered Division Two April 1939. Closed June 1939. Open meetings 1940. Track closed late 1940. Address: Crystal Palace Exhibition Grounds, Sydenham, London, SE26.

 

DAGENHAM.

Opened 1932. Closed November 5 1939. A few open licence meetings took place in 1946 but were grass-speedway. Address: Ripple Road, Dagenham, Essex.

 

ELSTREE.

Opened August 10 1947. Closed October 1947. Address: Elstree, Herts.

 

GREENFORD.

Opened April 7 1928. Closed late 1929. Reopened August 22 1931. Closed October 10 1931. Address: Birkbeck Avenue, Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex.

 

HACKNEY.

Opened April 26 1935. Closed (war) September 1939. Reopened April 10 1963. Closed July 5 1991. Reopened March 28 1996. Closed October 3 1996. In 1996 the team raced as London Lions. Address: Hackney Wick Stadium, Waterden Road, Hackney, London, E15.

In 2011, Hackney were revived as a National League team in a joint Lakeside Hammers-Rye House promotion with home matches at both venues.

 

HARRINGAY.

Opened May 29 1928. Closed June 2 1931. Reopened March 31 1934. Closed following outbreak of World War Two in September 1939, returning to National League Division One in 1947. Closed Augst 18 1954. Address: Harringay Stadium, Green Lane, Harringay, London, N8.

 

HIGH BEECH.

Opened February 19 1928. Closed August 6 1932. Reopened May 2 1937. Closed August 27 1939. Reopened 1948. Closed 1950. Address: King's Oak Hotel, High Beech, Loughton, Essex.

 

LAKESIDE HAMMERS

Opened April 5 1984 as Arena Essex. Address: Arena-Essex Raceway, A1306 Arterial Road, Thurrock, Essex. Became Lakeside Hammers in 2008.

 

LEA BRIDGE.

Opened July 14 1928. Closed July 27 1934. Reopened August 1 1938. Closed September 26 1938. At some times in the early 1930s, the team was also known as Clapton. Address: Lea Bridge Stadium, Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, London.

 

LONDON LIONS/HACKNEY.

Hackney reopened March 28 1996 as the London Lions. Closed October 3 1996. See the Hackney thread.

 

 

LONDON WHITE CITY.

Opened May 19 1928. Closed October 4 1929. Reopened March 24 1976. Closed September 13 1978. Address: White City Stadium, Wood Lane, London, W12.

 

NEW CROSS.

Opened April 18 1934. Closed June 10 1953. Reopened August 9 1959. Closed September 21 1961. Reopened April 12 1963. Closed August 2 1963. Address: New Cross Stadium, Hornshay Street, Old Kent Road, Peckham, London, SE15.

 

ROMFORD.

Opened May 29 1969. Closed September 30 1971. Address: Brooklands Stadium, Romford, Essex.

 

RYE HOUSE.

Opened May 27 1934. Address: Rye House Stadium, Rye Road, Hoddesdon, Herts. In 1999 Rye House entered a team in the Conference League - most home matches took place at Mildenhall.

 

STAINES.

Mid-1938. Closed 1939. Address: Staines Stadium, Wraysbury Road, Staines, Middlesex.

 

STAMFORD BRIDGE.

Opened May 5 1928. Closed October 1 1932. Address: Chelsea FC, Stamford Bridge, Fulham, London, SW6.

 

WALTHAMSTOW.

Opened August 16 1934. Closed end season 1934. Reopened April 4 1949. Closed October 8 1951. Address: Walthamstow Stadium, Chingford Road, London, E4.

 

WEMBLEY.

Opened May 16 1929. Closed September 13 1956 (domestic racing). Reopened May 30 1970. Closed October 2 1971. Address: Empire Stadium, Wembley, Middlesex.

 

WEST HAM.

Opened July 28 1928. Closed 1955. Reopened 1964. Closed 1971. Address: Custom House Stadium, Prince Regent's Lane, Beckton, London. NOTE: After West Ham's closure in 1971, Romford staged a few meetings at Custom House in early 1972.

 

WIMBLEDON

Opened May 28 1928. Closed 1991. Reopened 2002. Closed 2005. Address: Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane, London, SW17.

 

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