Reviresco Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 I hope a special last meeting is planned for us to celebrate riders gone by and for fans to say a final farewell. A special book with the history of Brandon with its top 50 meetings Ole's farewell, Title deciders, testimonials... Just an idea Surely there will be something similar to Swindon's Farewell to the Abbey meeting (and we know how that has turned out) and not leave it with the ELRC as the last speedway event held at Brandon. Certainly a shame to lose Coventry. With the demise (?) of Blunsdon and, some years back, Cowley as speedway venues I'm left wondering what is the oldest original stadium to host speedway? Steve, there is evidence that the Romans held chariot speedway racing at Foxhall Heath up until it was closed down circa AD 405, due to bigger prize money being offered on Continental Europe, with the stadium not being used again for racing until 1950. This led to the Roman withdrawal from Britain a few years later. The stadium was a lot more luxurious in Roman times, with large crowds attending and, despite global warming, the average race-day temperature on the Heath was slightly higher then than now at 7c. Records indicate that the racing was held under the stewardship of a local noble family by the name of Louis. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 Certainly a shame to lose Coventry. With the demise (?) of Blunsdon and, some years back, Cowley as speedway venues I'm left wondering what is the oldest original stadium to host speedway? Newcastle 1928 ? At that time we also had Whitley Bay and Gosforth, but they both dropped out probably in the 30's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.N.T. Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 From what I have heard the site of the new stadium is just behind the TGI Fridays. Don't know how long this will take to get going but if this is the end of Brandon at the end of the season, they have the back up of possibly sharing the Leicester track in 2017 which hopefully will be better now changes have been made to the track. The fact that Swindon, Coventry and Belle Vue are all looking at brand new stadiums gives the sport a lift in the middle of so much doom and gloom and with a few others possibly moving, it is good to see clubs fighting it. Now all we need is find Cradley Heath a new venue so Wolves can have Monmore Green back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Newcastle 1928 ? At that time we also had Whitley Bay and Gosforth, but they both dropped out probably in the 30's. First speedway meeting at Brough Park 17th May 1929. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 From what I have heard the site of the new stadium is just behind the TGI Fridays. Doubt it! It's bounded by roads on two sides, and Morrisons and Warwickshire Shopping Centre on the other two. Nearest would be the opposite side of the A46, which is Broad Street RFC ground 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverrocket Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Doubt it! It's bounded by roads on two sides, and Morrisons and Warwickshire Shopping Centre on the other two. Nearest would be the opposite side of the A46, which is Broad Street RFC ground Broadstreet RFC is where Wasps are going to build their state of the art training ground.The land along the A46 is where JLR are proposing to build their new factory.The possible site for Bees new stadium is the old tip site along Brandon Lane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 First speedway meeting at Brough Park 17th May 1929. First meeting at Monmore Green, August 1928. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 First meeting at Monmore Green, August 1928. 2 June 1928...... https://www.monmoredogs.co.uk/about/Speedway/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miro Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Eastbourne Arlington 5 August 1929 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reviresco Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 (edited) 2 June 1928...... https://www.monmoredogs.co.uk/about/Speedway/ Interestingly, the Speedway Researcher web-site records the opening meeting at Monmore to be a few days earlier on 30 May 1928: 'We 30.5.28 Monmore Green, Wolverhampton S-TPWY ; SR 3/1 p18; HWS p1; Opening meeting. 5,000. Wolverhampton Dirt-track Motorcycle Club. Jack Parker was excluded for looking behind in the 350cc Final. M.R Sprouts Elder v Ivor Creek - cancelled when Elder's bike failed. 350cc Final: Bert Perrigo 500cc Final: P Sturridge' One of the sources is quoted as Mark Sawbridge's 'A History of Wolverhampton Speedway'. (Earlier meetings are shown as having taken place at stadia that still exist, but not at current speedway circuits.) The web-site also suggests that racing took place at Arlington in 1928 too. Edited February 27, 2016 by macca56 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 2 June 1928...... https://www.monmoredogs.co.uk/about/Speedway/ Apologies, the site I used as a source obviously is in error. Still, it was before Brough Park and would indeed appear to be the oldest..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Interestingly, the Speedway Researcher web-site records the opening meeting at Monmore to be a few days earlier on 30 May 1928: 'We 30.5.28 Monmore Green, Wolverhampton S-TPWY ; SR 3/1 p18; HWS p1; Opening meeting. 5,000. Wolverhampton Dirt-track Motorcycle Club. Jack Parker was excluded for looking behind in the 350cc Final. M.R Sprouts Elder v Ivor Creek - cancelled when Elder's bike failed. 350cc Final: Bert Perrigo 500cc Final: P Sturridge' One of the sources is quoted as Mark Sawbridge's 'A History of Wolverhampton Speedway'. (Earlier meetings are shown as having taken place at stadia that still exist, but not at current speedway circuits.) The web-site also suggests that racing took place at Arlington in 1928 too. Excluded for looking behind??? That's a bit harsh!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_Jones Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Excluded for looking behind??? That's a bit harsh!!! A rule that still existed in the early 70s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 (edited) Interestingly, the Speedway Researcher web-site records the opening meeting at Monmore to be a few days earlier on 30 May 1928: The web-site also suggests that racing took place at Arlington in 1928 too. I knew I should have looked there since it's such an excellent site. I'm not surprised about Arlington but I wonder if more closely resembled grasstrack back then? The dividing lines were so much more blurred back then. We're lucky to still have these stadia that have served our sport so well for so long. I miss those that have fallen by the way though, even Crayford ;-) I'm hating the idea that I'll now have to say goodbye to Brandon and Blunsdon this year since these places have been part of my life for decades and I'm only an occasional visitor. The instability of our sport can carry a very heavy price, as I found when my own beloved Rayleigh closed just as I had fallen in love with it and the great sport it hosted. We need to cherish what we have, while we have it. Edited February 28, 2016 by rmc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 A rule that still existed in the early 70s. Blimey!!!! When was the last rider excluded for looking behind, and who was it and where? Also, how the hell did riders team ride? The rose tinted brigade never ever mention any of this?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 Blimey!!!! When was the last rider excluded for looking behind, and who was it and where? Also, how the hell did riders team ride? The rose tinted brigade never ever mention any of this?? There was one rider last year that should have been excluded for looking behind him, cannot remember who it was but he was even looking behind him when he was last . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 There was one rider last year that should have been excluded for looking behind him, cannot remember who it was but he was even looking behind him when he was last .perhaps he was worried about being lapped! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 perhaps he was worried about being lapped! No, was never that far back which made it stupid to keep looking behind, must have been habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reviresco Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I remember John Earrhy making an announcement after a Heat at Foxhall, probably mid-70's, that John Louis had been warned by the referee for looking behind him too frequently (in JL's efforts to team ride). Thought it was meant as a joke at the time, but maybe it was for real. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan_Jones Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 I remember John Earrhy making an announcement after a Heat at Foxhall, probably mid-70's, that John Louis had been warned by the referee for looking behind him too frequently (in JL's efforts to team ride). Thought it was meant as a joke at the time, but maybe it was for real. In the 1971 regs, the Foul or Dangerous Riding rule (210) includes the following; "A rider turning his head to look backwards may be warned and for a repetition of the offence may be excluded." 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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