speedyguy Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 (edited) THE SPOKESMAN ON LINE, APRIL 4, 2012: Filton Cycle speedway track is based in South Gloucestershire. TOP TRACK COULD BE BULLDOZED - posted 4 April 2012 One of the best cycle speedway tracks in the country could be bulldozed to make way for football pitches. The shock news follows reports that Filton town council is considering plans to demolish the track, transform it into five-a-side football 'hub' and develop a multi-use games area. Despite its small membership, the local club, the Filton Flyers, is due to host the most important event in the cycle speedway annual calendar, the national championships which take place over the August bank holiday weekend. The track has been the focus of considerable debate since it was built and has attracted criticism due to its charging policy and lack of use. Proposals to establish a local club in the area have been slow to take off. However there is a small nucleus of enthusiasts who are still keen to see a local club established. Last week, the town council imposed a charge for use of the track which had previously been free. The cash-starved authority agreed by a large majority to charge Filton Cycle Speedway £15.40 per hour, with all day bookings costing £123.20. Cycle speedway's governing body, British Cycling, is keen to retain the facility which is currently provided at a peppercorn rent. BC's regional development officer, Mark Adams, has written to the town council asked for an urgent meeting in the hope that the hire costs could be significantly reduced or even waived for a short period. Edited April 6, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 THE SPOKESMAN ON LINE, APRIL 4, 2012: Filton Cycle speedway track is based in South Gloucestershire. TOP TRACK COULD BE BULLDOZED - posted 4 April 2012 One of the best cycle speedway tracks in the country could be bulldozed to make way for football pitches. The shock news follows reports that Filton town council is considering plans to demolish the track, transform it into five-a-side football 'hub' and develop a multi-use games area. Despite its small membership, the local club, the Filton Flyers, is due to host the most important event in the cycle speedway annual calendar, the national championships which take place over the August bank holiday weekend. The track has been the focus of considerable debate since it was built and has attracted criticism due to its charging policy and lack of use. Proposals to establish a local club in the area have been slow to take off. However there is a small nucleus of enthusiasts who are still keen to see a local club established. Last week, the town council imposed a charge for use of the track which had previously been free. The cash-starved authority agreed by a large majority to charge Filton Cycle Speedway £15.40 per hour, with all day bookings costing £123.20. Cycle speedway's governing body, British Cycling, is keen to retain the facility which is currently provided at a peppercorn rent. BC's regional development officer, Mark Adams, has written to the town council asked for an urgent meeting in the hope that the hire costs could be significantly reduced or even waived for a short period. Bloody hell - that's awful news... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 (edited) The draw for the European Cup can be found here: http://www.britishcy...ionships-Draw-0 British clubs taking part are Horspath, Leicester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Wednesfield, Edited April 6, 2012 by speedyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richspeedway Posted April 6, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Wednesfield have got a memorial meeting on Bank Holiday Monday (weather permitting) It will be 40 heats with a Ladies Open in the middle of the meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbird Posted April 6, 2012 Report Share Posted April 6, 2012 Wednesfield have got a memorial meeting on Bank Holiday Monday (weather permitting) It will be 40 heats with a Ladies Open in the middle of the meeting. gracious me - theres nothing better than some Ladies Open in the middle of a meeting.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 That makes a lot more sense! Couldn't see any way a club called Beckton would be based in Poplar! I take it there was a track on Elleseme St., E14 as well though .? You're right about what they call the Beckton Alp (though sadly the one time dry ski slope there has long since now closed down). Incidentally the 'alp, was created to bury underneath it a second world war Gunnery site..: one very similar to the one used now as a Speedway track in Iwade! Here's an update on the track at Ellesmere Street, E14. http://londonspeedways.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=sniffy6&action=display&thread=1407&page=1 Here's more on the Poplar Penguins but there's no mention of where the track was. http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/472.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richspeedway Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 I have been looking at that site of defunct cycle speedway teams and I am surprised how many teams were about through the years up and down the country. It is a shame that there is still not more nowadays as compared to motor speedway you do not have any noise issues and also from a planning issue it is not as much ground etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 Here's an update on the track at Ellesmere Street, E14. http://londonspeedwa...ead=1407&page=1 Here's more on the Poplar Penguins but there's no mention of where the track was. http://www.cyclespee...rg.uk/472.shtml Cheers mate - great stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raceleader Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 I have been looking at that site of defunct cycle speedway teams and I am surprised how many teams were about through the years up and down the country. It is a shame that there is still not more nowadays as compared to motor speedway you do not have any noise issues and also from a planning issue it is not as much ground etc. I think the estimate is that since its boom days of 1946 onwards there have been more than 2,500 cycle speedway teams. I am not sure how many there are these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 I think the estimate is that since its boom days of 1946 onwards there have been more than 2,500 cycle speedway teams. I am not sure how many there are these days. The site giving details of all known cycle speedway teams makes the total 2,722. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richspeedway Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 There is not that many now, I have got a handbook that has affliated teams, there might be some outside this possibly that do just training: Astley & Tyldesley Birmingham Bretford Bury Colchester Coventry East London East Newport East Park Edinburgh Exeter Filton Great Blakenham Heckmondwike Hellingly Hethersett Horspath Hull Ipswich Kesgrave Leicester Newcastle Newport North Park Racing Norwich Poole Sandwell Sheffield Somersham Southampton Spixworth Stockport Stoke Whiterock Swindon Wednesfield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernie Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 Hi all Bretford cycle speedway is just half a mile from Coventry speedway. We race in division three and have a meeting Saturday at 13.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raceleader Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 (edited) This shows cycle speedway action in Poland in the 2010 season. The initial battle for the lead is excellent racing. Or what about the sport indoors? Edited April 7, 2012 by raceleader 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richspeedway Posted April 7, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 It is a pretty cheap sport to start up in as most teams have spare bikes, bike helmets so as long as you turn up in a long sleeved top, bottoms and gloves you can give it ago. I bought some gloves and some goalkeeper bottoms myself as they have some padding on the knees and hip area incase fall off. Got a helmet today but did not cost alot from Halfords, dearest thing is buying the bike but you can get them from the website link below. I will prob get one after a few more goes and I am sure I want to take it up. http://www.archie-wilkinson.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 I'm pretty sure Leicester had loads of teams in the late 50's/60's - around twelve or thirteen? When I was 13 my first boyfriend rode for the Syston Foxes. Blimey! So long ago. Nowadays there is just one left - the Leicester Monarchs - previous club of the speedway promoter David Hemsley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 7, 2012 Report Share Posted April 7, 2012 (edited) I'm pretty sure Leicester had loads of teams in the late 50's/60's - around twelve or thirteen? When I was 13 my first boyfriend rode for the Syston Foxes. Blimey! So long ago. Nowadays there is just one left - the Leicester Monarchs - previous club of the speedway promoter David Hemsley. LEICESTER MONARCHS http://www.cyclespee...g.uk/1403.shtml SYSTON FOXES http://www.cyclespeedwayhistory.org.uk/1417.shtml Edited April 7, 2012 by speedyguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrs Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 LEICESTER MONARCHS http://www.cyclespee...g.uk/1403.shtml SYSTON FOXES http://www.cyclespee...g.uk/1417.shtml Thanks speedyguy for the links, brings back good memories of my time with Leicester and Coventry and a few other teams, and some good pics from Leicester in the 60's, it's easy to forget just how many teams there were in local leagues as well as the national leagues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedyguy Posted April 9, 2012 Report Share Posted April 9, 2012 The old days of cycle speedway have some incredible memories. I remember how teams used to meet at a central point, then cycle on in convoy causing traffic mayhem as they went to visit the away track. But that was all part of the fun in those days, and of coure many of the leagues were centralised so there wasn't really a long way to go to away matches. What I do remember especially in London was the problems some riders had in regard to the lines when the trams were still running. One area in particular that I remember is the junction at the 'Marquis of Granby' at New Cross in south London. This was a main junction point for crossover of trams and they even had an official to handle the switchover of lines for trams to continue on their correct routes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olddon Posted April 10, 2012 Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 Here is another chance to glimpse memories of cycle speedway in its golden days. http://www.cyclespeedwayvets.org.uk/arch_html/vcsra_arc_cont.html JACK KEEN, ERITH, KENT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted April 10, 2012 Report Share Posted April 10, 2012 The old days of cycle speedway have some incredible memories. I remember how teams used to meet at a central point, then cycle on in convoy causing traffic mayhem as they went to visit the away track. With no brakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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