Edward Barrett Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Well that's that. An association gong back to 1971 ended. Who to blame? Sky and the GPs, though in a way you can't blame the riders in their quest for glory. But with SKY, why pay an entrance fee when you can watch for free? Once they got underway the exodus of "star" names began. Followed by bare terraces on TV whenever SKY turned up. Add to that the BSPA tinkering with the rules, the FIM with their GP challenges that deprive clubs of riders, and we are now at a situation this season where the so called 'ELITE' League resembles a collection of left-overs; Team A select V Team B select. Any semblance to the top tier of British Speedway prior to the advent of SKY/the GPS, their is none. No wonder supporters are deserting it and are disenchanted. No wonder Bob Dugard, a man who's family have had decades of involvement with the sort, has called it a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LagutaRacingFan Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) Sad news. I thought Eastbourne didn't have to any rent? How are they making losses? I think Dugard just wants to sell the land and retire in spain or somewhere tropical. What a bunch of nonsense from Dugard, http://companycheck.co.uk/company/00334522 At the end of 2013 £14,000 in cash Net worth of £735,000 Assets of £713,000 Liabilities of £113,000 Edited September 19, 2014 by Morrissey Fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Couldn't Eastbourne Speedway, whether under Dugard or someone else, look at racing in the PL or NL for a season or two. There is life after the EL. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophies Mate Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Sad news. I thought Eastbourne didn't have to any rent? How are they making losses? I think Dugard just wants to sell the land and retire in spain or somewhere tropical. What a bunch of nonsense from Dugard, http://companycheck.co.uk/company/00334522 At the end of 2013 £14,000 in cash Net worth of £735,000 Assets of £713,000 Liabilities of £113,000 There are still riders wages to pay flights upkeep of the stadium electricity cost of medical services insurance plus loads of fuel for his infamous tractor! Seriously he lost over £100k this year stock cars to a degree propped the speedway up but if you can't get the spectators to attend in large enough numbers youre going to make a loss needed 1200 to attend each week just to break even. Who in their right mind is going to keep something like this running when you make a loss each year? There will be a few tracks that will have made a profit but expect a fair few didn't. Speedway is not a cheap sport to follow and many fans have to pick and choose which matches to go to not everyone can afford to go to each meeting and to go and watch one thats got loads of guests or the dreaded r/r is not going to encourage people to attend. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LagutaRacingFan Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 There are still riders wages to pay flights upkeep of the stadium electricity cost of medical services insurance plus loads of fuel for his infamous tractor! Seriously he lost over £100k this year stock cars to a degree propped the speedway up but if you can't get the spectators to attend in large enough numbers youre going to make a loss needed 1200 to attend each week just to break even. Who in their right mind is going to keep something like this running when you make a loss each year? There will be a few tracks that will have made a profit but expect a fair few didn't. Speedway is not a cheap sport to follow and many fans have to pick and choose which matches to go to not everyone can afford to go to each meeting and to go and watch one thats got loads of guests or the dreaded r/r is not going to encourage people to attend. Speedway needs to cut back on fixtures and bring in the Top riders. A Saturday race night for the Elite League would be perfect and It's time we told Paul Bellamy, Phillip Rising and his fellow BSI stooges to stop taking so many dates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Speedway needs to cut back on fixtures and bring in the Top riders. A Saturday race night for the Elite League would be perfect and It's time we told Paul Bellamy, Phillip Rising and his fellow BSI stooges to stop taking so many dates. How I would like to be a fly on the wall of that conversation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packerman Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 According to today's Eastbourne Herald the Eagles have finished, no one new has come forward to take over and Bob is unable to substain the losses any longer, not that anyone can blame him for that what's so ever, yes there could have had some changes that may have stopped it coming to this. Very sad to read this, like many others I will be reduced to watching speedway on TV as all of the other 'local' tracks are just that bit too far away for me to travel to on a regular basis so after watching live speedway for over 42 years any trackside matches will be few and far between for me. Not sure if the stock cars will continue there next year that remains to be seen depending on if he does get his planning permission for building a load of new houses there. Is this in the hard copy of the local rag? as unable to see anything online. Although not one of my favourite venues I have had some fond memories of visiting Arlington in the past. I hope something happens to save the club even at this late stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LagutaRacingFan Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) Is this in the hard copy of the local rag? as unable to see anything online. Although not one of my favourite venues I have had some fond memories of visiting Arlington in the past. I hope something happens to save the club even at this late stage. It was on the backpage. My girlfriend lives in Eastbourne and I'll tell her to buy the paper and sent it to me so I can scan it. Edited September 19, 2014 by Morrissey Fan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 It was on the backpage. My girlfriend lives in Eastbourne and I'll tell her to buy the paper and sent it to me so I can scan it. That'll be drier for her, compared with Leicester 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdmc82 Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Really sad to hear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 What sad news. I first went there in 1954. And before that joined the Eastbourne supporters club when they entered the NL Division Three in 1947. Sad news indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 At the moment - Saturday morning - there is nothing relative to this closure on the Eastbourne website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 (edited) This is the last newspaper reference I can find in regard to Eastbourne's future. http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/11486081.Eagles_still_under_threat_but_Dugard_ready_to_fight_on/?ref=var_0 Edited September 20, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Eastbourne can trace their origins back to speedway's early days. http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/eastbourne.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agrotron Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Is this a Dugard publicity stunt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sussex bulldog Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I do not think so it is a last ditch attempt to try and promote speedway that people will support without making an annual loss of £200,000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 (edited) I do see the signs of mega-problems ahead. I worked in speedway through from late 1952 for the next 10 years. The years between 1955 and 1958 were especially critical but the sport had visionaries like Ronnie Greene, Charles Ochiltree, Charlie Knott and Johnnie Hoskins to guide it through. Who are the men of that calibre these days? Edited September 20, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 I remember Bob Dugard at Eastbourne in 1954 when he was just a schoolboy helping his dad Charlie with the meeting organisation. But after meetings Bob often rode an old speedway bike in great style - probably faster than some of the riders who then competed in the meetings at Arlington Stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Is this a Dugard publicity stunt? I do not think so it is a last ditch attempt to try and promote speedway that people will support without making an annual loss of £200,000 I do not think this is "a Dugard publicity stunt" in anyway. From what I have been given to understand there will be a statement on the Eastbourne Speedway website shortly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 21, 2014 Report Share Posted September 21, 2014 Eastbourne Speedway presentation night arrangements: http://www.eastbourneeagles.co/news.php?extend.655 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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