Swindon Stadium

[TRM]

On 2/1/2019 at 4:25 PM, The Doctor... said:

Yeh, Sabre was/is him, Kent Sweepers was just the sponsors i think.

Anyway, according to companies house, he's based in Gravesend.  Certainly a fair trek, but not 200 miles by any  means.

Lived in Shorne (not a million miles from Gravesend) but moved from there late 90’s to a place about a 15 minute drive away 

Could have moved again obviously 

Edited February 6, 2019 by TRM

[Paul]

On 1/27/2019 at 11:30 AM, steve roberts said:

I seem to recall that Romford's track was laid within a week (?) however the Swindon debacle seems to go and on!

Romford Speedway......track cut out and laid in nine days. Maurice Morley with the help of Alan Cowland, Colin Clark and Johnny Guilfoyle did an amazing job. Just a shame one man who lived in Willow Street shut it down. But with a brick wall as a safety fence, perhaps had a mesh or wooden fence needed to be erected it may have taken longer.

Shameless plug, Romford Speedway Reunion 31^st May 2019, more details at https://www.facebook.com/romford.speedway

[cityrebel]

On 2/8/2019 at 6:18 PM, Paul said:

Romford Speedway......track cut out and laid in nine days. Maurice Morley with the help of Alan Cowland, Colin Clark and Johnny Guilfoyle did an amazing job. Just a shame one man who lived in Willow Street shut it down. But with a brick wall as a safety fence, perhaps had a mesh or wooden fence needed to be erected it may have taken longer.

 

Shameless plug, Romford Speedway Reunion 31^st May 2019, more details at https://www.facebook.com/romford.speedway

 

From my ever fading memory paul, Romford did have a mesh fence on the home straight. 

[HertsRacer]

9 minutes ago, cityrebel said:

From my ever fading memory paul, Romford did have a mesh fence on the home straight. 

Nothing wrong with your memory, Romford did have a mesh fence on the home straight.

[Paul]

13 hours ago, cityrebel said:

From my ever fading memory paul, Romford did have a mesh fence on the home straight. 

There indeed was a mesh fence along the home straight. If my memory serves me correctly Tony the mesh fence was attached to a much smaller wall than ran along the home straight. The reason for the smaller wall was the football dugouts were along the home straight in front of the main grandstand. Before the new grandstand was constructed the higher concrete wall did go all the way around, but was demolished on the home straight when the new stand was constructed. The other area that had a bit of meshing of course was the pit gate on the first bend.

[cityrebel]

1 hour ago, Paul said:

 

 

There indeed was a mesh fence along the home straight. If my memory serves me correctly Tony the mesh fence was attached to a much smaller wall than ran along the home straight. The reason for the smaller wall was the football dugouts were along the home straight in front of the main grandstand. Before the new grandstand was constructed the higher concrete wall did go all the way around, but was demolished on the home straight when the new stand was constructed. The other area that had a bit of meshing of course was the pit gate on the first bend.

 

Thanks for the info paul. You can't beat a good history lesson. I might see you next sunday, i haven't decided yet.

[IainB]

Lovely weather for getting them track alterations done

[Mafiarule]

43 minutes ago, iainb said:

Lovely weather for getting them track alterations done

Too hot.... funnily enough I noticed on swindon greyhound fb. Bookings being taken  for restaurant in March... last years press day.. new track dimensions marked in blue.. this year its progressed too pegs so it's getting there. What a complete  joke. Stadium progress nil.track alterations s nil...only positive is Lee kilby being made co promoter but that doesent change sad facts ...speedway  can hardly be taken seriously any more. 

[Piccolo]

All this is not the fault of Speedway, Swindon Speedway and Terry Russell in particular.

They have been continuing their business of running the club according to information given them by the stadium. Terry had another meeting with the stadium 10 days ago.

He ran a farewell meeting to the Abbey in accordance with the information provided by the stadium.

The final meeting on the current track last season was described so in accordance with the information provided by the stadium.

Swindon have a track (new or old!), they have the 2017 World Champion returning and a damn good team with young and enthusiastic input from a new co-promoter, the son of a true club legend.

[Mafiarule]

38 minutes ago, Piccolo said:

All this is not the fault of Speedway, Swindon Speedway and Terry Russell in particular.

They have been continuing their business of running the club according to information given them by the stadium. Terry had another meeting with the stadium 10 days ago.

He ran a farewell meeting to the Abbey in accordance with the information provided by the stadium.

The final meeting on the current track last season was described so in accordance with the information provided by the stadium.

Swindon have a track (new or old!), they have the 2017 World Champion returning and a damn good team with young and enthusiastic input from a new co-promoter, the son of a true club legend.

 

[Mafiarule]

Stadium may not be swindon speedway fault. The track though was quoted in the SWINDON ADVERTISER be started in February. 3days left I know but I don't envisage it started and will predict now the track will remain as it is . . AT NO TIME DID I mention swindon speedway  who I believe have a good side but need to deliver away from home. There are quite a few teams who  have a strong 1_7. . 

[BuxtonTiger]

When nothing happens with the track, is what remains of the stadium fit for the public to be admitted. I assume there must be some sort of licence from the council required.

[cityrebel]

H & S would need to sign it off annually. 

[waytogo28]

let's hope that the next check is scheduled for September and not March this year.

[GWC]

Presumably there is no council order for the stadium owners to put up a sound barrier where track alterations are to be made?

If not then they can start the season as things are and avoid costly alterations.

[teaboy279]

I ve not seen it personally so can only judge by what I read and see on TV. But the condition of the track has not been great in recent times, so surely they'd move heaven and earth to at least crack on with that bit. Get the track right and no matter how run down the stadia the die hards at least will turn up.

I think what frustrates many people is the announcements of dates when certain things will start by, and then that date comes and goes and no new announcement explaining the delay comes. Then a few months later we get another announcement saying something will happen and the cycle starts again. It's very much a speedway thing to keep the customers in the dark. I cant believe the club doesn't care enough to keep its fans fully upto date, so it makes me wonder if there is some legal matter happening which restricts their ability to comment too much until the matter is settled?

[Tsunami]

18 hours ago, teaboy279 said:

I ve not seen it personally so can only judge by what I read and see on TV. But the condition of the track has not been great in recent times, so surely they'd move heaven and earth to at least crack on with that bit. Get the track right and no matter how run down the stadia the die hards at least will turn up.

I think what frustrates many people is the announcements of dates when certain things will start by, and then that date comes and goes and no new announcement explaining the delay comes. Then a few months later we get another announcement saying something will happen and the cycle starts again. It's very much a speedway thing to keep the customers in the dark. I cant believe the club doesn't care enough to keep its fans fully upto date, so it makes me wonder if there is some legal matter happening which restricts their ability to comment too much until the matter is settled?

I would have thought they are very much dependant on the actions of the developer, in conjunction with the council. The developer I think will hand over the area to be altered as and when it suits him , so I wouldn't blame the Speedway bosses. They probably don't want to rock the boat at the moment.

[Reliant Robin]

19 hours ago, teaboy279 said:

I ve not seen it personally so can only judge by what I read and see on TV. But the condition of the track has not been great in recent times, so surely they'd move heaven and earth to at least crack on with that bit. Get the track right and no matter how run down the stadia the die hards at least will turn up.

I think what frustrates many people is the announcements of dates when certain things will start by, and then that date comes and goes and no new announcement explaining the delay comes. Then a few months later we get another announcement saying something will happen and the cycle starts again. It's very much a speedway thing to keep the customers in the dark. I cant believe the club doesn't care enough to keep its fans fully upto date, so it makes me wonder if there is some legal matter happening which restricts their ability to comment too much until the matter is settled?

I don't feel it's a case of not caring about their fans, I think the point has been answered by the earlier part of your post. As a Club they have been given information by the owners/developers and have passed that information on. When that information proves to be incorrect then it has reflected on the Club. They find themselves in a position where any information put out is either disbelieved off the bat, or criticised further down the line for proving false.

In turn, they have not given any recent updates other than they intend for the track work to be done ready for 2019. Assuming this is still needs to be agreed within the development, we'll see if that happens or not.

Having seen a little movement on site (by little I do mean little) and heard a couple of whispers I am hopeful that at least the track work will commence and be ready for the opening of this season. There isn't much breathing space left for further delay and worst case, we'll turn up in April ready to watch on the existing track.

I'm betting there are some Rockets, Hammers & Comets fans (along with others) who would like to be in a similar position

Edited February 28, 2019 by Reliant Robin

[teaboy279]

3 hours ago, Reliant Robin said:

 

I'm betting there are some Rockets, Hammers & Comets fans (along with others) who would like to be in a similar position

Your whole post is spot on, but the final bit so sadly the truest.

[orion]

23 hours ago, Reliant Robin said:

I don't feel it's a case of not caring about their fans, I think the point has been answered by the earlier part of your post. As a Club they have been given information by the owners/developers and have passed that information on. When that information proves to be incorrect then it has reflected on the Club. They find themselves in a position where any information put out is either disbelieved off the bat, or criticised further down the line for proving false.

In turn, they have not given any recent updates other than they intend for the track work to be done ready for 2019. Assuming this is still needs to be agreed within the development, we'll see if that happens or not.

Having seen a little movement on site (by little I do mean little) and heard a couple of whispers I am hopeful that at least the track work will commence and be ready for the opening of this season. There isn't much breathing space left for further delay and worst case, we'll turn up in April ready to watch on the existing track.

I'm betting there are some Rockets, Hammers & Comets fans (along with others) who would like to be in a similar position

The problem with the club has been the attitude to anyone who the  dare question the stadium not being built ...Most Speedway fans not just Swindon fans have given little chance of the stadium being built given that Osbourne Clark has failed to build one about five times before and thou's fans have been meet  with your and  no fan of Swindon or why do question it as we are better off than teams that have closed down etc etc 

In the end  there comes a time when the club has distance itself from statements like there is a metal stadium ready being  built and ready to move down to Swindon asap even if  they have been told that . The club should just  wait to something happens rather than keep passing on info that the  public no longer believes anymore .

Edited March 1, 2019 by orion