heathen79 Posted November 12, 2011 Report Share Posted November 12, 2011 Just wondered if anyone had any interesting information about Rotherham Speedway. Purely because I knew it was relatively close to where I currently live and, after doing a bit of searching, I found on the defunct speedway track site that it is actually only about 400m away as the crow flies! Having had a wander down there, it seems that the rough shape of the track might even still be able to traced. There is some development on one corner however. I've seen reported crowd figures ranging anywhere from 3,000 to 20,000 people from the era they ran in 1929/30 and I know that only individual meetings were run, never a league team. I think the track was sometimes referred to as Hellaby and sometimes Bramley. http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Rotherham.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squall Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 You're a few years late Rumour went round it was starting up, then another rumour went round that Neil Machin blocked it due to being so close to Owlerton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heathen79 Posted November 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 You're a few years late Rumour went round it was starting up, then another rumour went round that Neil Machin blocked it due to being so close to Owlerton Yes I do vaguely remember that. I'm not for a minute suggesting that it is a location for a new venture. Just interested in the history, for example how big the crowds were, how many meetings, who rode, any other stories. Although if it were to reopen, I'd be there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 There isn't a lot on record about Rotherham (Bramley) speedway as far as I know. It only operated from 1929 - 1930. A crowd of 3,000 was said to have seen the first meeting on 18 May 1929. 35 meetings were held in 1929 and 5 in 1930. The last meeting was on 9 June 1930. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 (edited) Amazing that a venue that last staged speedway in the early 1930's still has evidence of the track today! There was plans to stage CL racing at an existing facility in the Rotherham area a few years ago but Sheffields Neil Machin blocked it caused he thought it would effect Sheffields crowds. Ridiculous really cause Sheffield diehards wouldn't stop going to Owlerton and start going to a CL venue cause it wouldn't be Sheffield and probably wouldn't be as professional as Sheffield. Also many others who go to Sheffield would see CL racing as a drop down so wouldn't be interested. Although I'm sure many Sheffield fans would be enticed to try out CL speedway at Rotherham but not instead of going ot Owlerton! Silly thinking by a guy (Machin) who claims to be an out and out speedway man. CL speedway at Rotherham would act as a nursery track for Sheffield and make it uneccessary to run CL racing at Owlerton which isn't profitable. Also it may even help to increase Sheffields crowds cause Rotherham locals may catch the speedway bug and decide to take in higher League racing at the nearest higher League venue - Sheffield! My area has King's Lynn, Mildenhall and Ipswich not far from each other in a much less populated area than the Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster Yorkshire conurbation and all 3 are well supported! British speedway would be better with more tracks. It amazes me the lengths that promotors supposedly with the sports best interests at heart go to prevent tracks from opening! Edited November 13, 2011 by 25yearfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 Amazing that a venue that last staged speedway in the early 1930's still has evidence of the track today! There was plans to stage CL racing at an existing facility in the Rotherham area a few years ago but Sheffields Neil Machin blocked it caused he thought it would effect Sheffields crowds. Ridiculous really cause Sheffield diehards wouldn't stop going to Owlerton and start going to a CL venue cause it wouldn't be Sheffield and probably wouldn't be as professional as Sheffield. Also many others who go to Sheffield would see CL racing as a drop down so wouldn't be interested. Although I'm sure many Sheffield fans would be enticed to try out CL speedway at Rotherham but not instead of going ot Owlerton! Silly thinking by a guy (Machin) who claims to be an out and out speedway man. CL speedway at Rotherham would act as a nursery track for Sheffield and make it uneccessary to run CL racing at Owlerton which isn't profitable. Also it may even help to increase Sheffields crowds cause Rotherham locals may catch the speedway bug and decide to take in higher League racing at the nearest higher League venue - Sheffield! My area has King's Lynn, Mildenhall and Ipswich not far from each other in a much less populated area than the Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster Yorkshire conurbation and all 3 are well supported! British speedway would be better with more tracks. It amazes me the lengths that promotors supposedly with the sports best interests at heart go to prevent tracks from opening! Yes it would be great if Rotherham opened even at the lowest level,would help Sheffield i think.Im hoping Halifax get the go ahead,i presume a new site it is.Is the Shay a thing of the past?See the track could be redone is that a no hoper has that question ever been asked.Loved Halifax love them to be back soon one of the best days speedway ever at the shay but a new track would be great also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 Iam now watching on live TV the FA cup 1st round tie between FC Halifax Town and Charlton Athletic from the former home of the Halifax Dukes speedway team, the Shay Grounds. Unfortunately the new stands have been squared off and built over the former wonderful speedway track, so no chance of speedway coming back there! By all accounts there are persons actively looking for a new site for a speedway track in Halifax, so fingers crosssed cause I think a Leicester/Somerset like set up in Halifax would be well supported! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 Iam now watching on live TV the FA cup 1st round tie between FC Halifax Town and Charlton Athletic from the former home of the Halifax Dukes speedway team, the Shay Grounds. Unfortunately the new stands have been squared off and built over the former wonderful speedway track, so no chance of speedway coming back there! By all accounts there are persons actively looking for a new site for a speedway track in Halifax, so fingers crosssed cause I think a Leicester/Somerset like set up in Halifax would be well supported! Just watched the end of the game at the shay, shame long as Halifax get back thats all that matters.Be great if the size of the track, was like Somerset thats a terrific track.I went to Buxton the other year and in a funny way reminded me of the shay think the shale was grey.The track surprised me didnt no what to exspect but it was good James Wright was awesome that day.Anyway good luck Halifax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted November 13, 2011 Report Share Posted November 13, 2011 Amazing that a venue that last staged speedway in the early 1930's still has evidence of the track today! There was plans to stage CL racing at an existing facility in the Rotherham area a few years ago but Sheffields Neil Machin blocked it caused he thought it would effect Sheffields crowds. Ridiculous really cause Sheffield diehards wouldn't stop going to Owlerton and start going to a CL venue cause it wouldn't be Sheffield and probably wouldn't be as professional as Sheffield. Also many others who go to Sheffield would see CL racing as a drop down so wouldn't be interested. Although I'm sure many Sheffield fans would be enticed to try out CL speedway at Rotherham but not instead of going ot Owlerton! Silly thinking by a guy (Machin) who claims to be an out and out speedway man. CL speedway at Rotherham would act as a nursery track for Sheffield and make it uneccessary to run CL racing at Owlerton which isn't profitable. Also it may even help to increase Sheffields crowds cause Rotherham locals may catch the speedway bug and decide to take in higher League racing at the nearest higher League venue - Sheffield! My area has King's Lynn, Mildenhall and Ipswich not far from each other in a much less populated area than the Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster Yorkshire conurbation and all 3 are well supported! British speedway would be better with more tracks. It amazes me the lengths that promotors supposedly with the sports best interests at heart go to prevent tracks from opening! Where do you get your information from, did you ask Neil Machin personally why he objected to the opening of the track. I asked him personally at the time and I can tell you that none of the reasons that you have given were given by him at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted November 14, 2011 Report Share Posted November 14, 2011 Thats normally the assumption when an existing promotor trys to block a new track appearing nearby to his/her track! Sorry if I got it wrong, will you please give us more details of your Rohterham speedway conversation with Neil Machin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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