Coventry 2017

[MattK]

2 hours ago, Woz01 said:

Rugby has a local plan for housing they require and Brandon isn't on it.

Is the council actually delivering the houses which are in the local plan? This is the main area that developers use to get their plans approved on appeal.

[double_O]

6 hours ago, Steve Shovlar said:

No it wasn’t. It devastated me. Haven’t seen the race since that fateful night but it’s etched in my brain. Left the stadium in tears. A young lad absolutely gutted.

is there any footage of the race online?

The last lap is on you tube "British Speedway Finals DVD Trailer" about 1:30secs in.

Excellent DVD from Retro Speedway of British Finals from 1961 - 1999

[Steve Shovlar]

32 minutes ago, double_O said:

The last lap is on you tube "British Speedway Finals DVD Trailer" about 1:30secs in.

Excellent DVD from Retro Speedway of British Finals from 1961 - 1999

Thanks. Its exactly as it’s etched in my brain.

[charlie17]

Thanks double o...... Great memories.

[Blackadder]

Looking at the aerial view of the proposed site in last week's SS, I am surprised that planners are still proposing an estate, be it business or residential, that only has 1 access road. H&S is supposed to be a top priority these days.

[g13webb]

10 hours ago, adonis said:

Imagine what would have happened if you had turned up with Barry Sheene ,  

 Remind me to tell you about the day us same four went to the Motor Show at Earls Court, or the day we went to Cadwell Park,  better still how about Mallory and Scarborough.     Barrie Sheene lived in our village for a few years  and liked nothing better than mixing with us mere yokels....  Sheene's farmhouse joined on to George's Smallholding.   he  was herald a hero by the people  never having a celebrity in their midst before or since.....  so please don't doubt the reality of it all. 

 

[dj350z]

Could be referring to this guy!    Photo I took when i was racing at Mallory and Bazza was riding in the Transatlantic Trophy races in the 70's!

 

[Midland Red]

Surely that's Barry Sheene!

[Dave Jones]

Isn't it  around now that BE & the council go to court to resolve the dispute over the security of the stadium. ?

Or the lack of it!!!

 

Edited February 8, 2018 by Dave Jones

[Woz01]

6 minutes ago, Dave Jones said:

Isn't it  around now that BE & the council go to court to resolve the dispute over the security of the stadium. ?

Or the lack of it!!!

 

Should've been on 6th February but not heard anything.

[Steve Shovlar]

Whilst the Loram v Louis was a good race, no doubt about it, in the scheme of things it is insignificant compared to the 1975 British Final runoff.

What we had in 1975, and really have never had since, was British dominance the same way as the Poles are dominating the sport today. The race meant so much. Speedway had big crowds, Brandon was packed, and I mean packed, not busy, and the winner of this race went straight through to the World Final at Wembley in front of 92,000 fans. 

Ashby had started well but had dropped points to Collins and Simmo, won his next before heat 19 needing a second, but beaten by max man Louis but cruscially by Wilson, tying both on 11 points. The runoff was extremely tense. Wilson gating but Ashby sticking to the inside and getting closer with every lap. Lap four and Ashby gets by up the inside but allows Wilson racing room to come around the outside to win by a wheel. 

Ashby at the time was at his peak. Ten plus average. He was reserve at Wemble but didn’t get to ride. Wilson scored a disappointing 5 points. I was there and it was a breeze on the night for Olsen who was virtually untroubled. A poor track that night as well. (Wembley)

[False dawn]

 

Coventry may look to add to City of Culture title

Just a couple of months after being named UK City of Culture for 2021, Coventry is lining up another title - European City of Sport in 2019.

The City Council's cabinet votes on whether to submit a bid when it meets next week next week and the recommendation in a report from council officers is that they enter the race.

 

They are going to look good should Brandon continue to be closed and subsequent demolished aren't they?

[Woz01]

53 minutes ago, False dawn said:

 

Coventry may look to add to City of Culture title

Just a couple of months after being named UK City of Culture for 2021, Coventry is lining up another title - European City of Sport in 2019.

The City Council's cabinet votes on whether to submit a bid when it meets next week next week and the recommendation in a report from council officers is that they enter the race.

 

They are going to look good should Brandon continue to be closed and subsequent demolished aren't they?

They've got an easy way out, theyll say it's not in Coventry Councils jurisdiction. However if this happens it's something we can push Coventry Council on.

[False dawn]

18 minutes ago, Woz01 said:

They've got an easy way out, theyll say it's not in Coventry Councils jurisdiction. However if this happens it's something we can push Coventry Council on.

The council meeting to discuss this bid is Tuesday, 13th Feb. I have written to the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport, Rois Ali (rois.ali@coventry.gov.uk) asking him to lend his support to our desire to keep Brandon open. I acknowledged the fact that the stadium is in the Rugby Borough Council area but set against this the fact that "We don't look good applying to be the City of Sport and at the same time allowing a 90 year old sporting tradition to die [for the sake of 130 houses]."

[Big Al]

8 hours ago, Steve Shovlar said:

Whilst the Loram v Louis was a good race, no doubt about it, in the scheme of things it is insignificant compared to the 1975 British Final runoff.

What we had in 1975, and really have never had since, was British dominance the same way as the Poles are dominating the sport today. The race meant so much. Speedway had big crowds, Brandon was packed, and I mean packed, not busy, and the winner of this race went straight through to the World Final at Wembley in front of 92,000 fans. 

Ashby had started well but had dropped points to Collins and Simmo, won his next before heat 19 needing a second, but beaten by max man Louis but cruscially by Wilson, tying both on 11 points. The runoff was extremely tense. Wilson gating but Ashby sticking to the inside and getting closer with every lap. Lap four and Ashby gets by up the inside but allows Wilson racing room to come around the outside to win by a wheel. 

Ashby at the time was at his peak. Ten plus average. He was reserve at Wemble but didn’t get to ride. Wilson scored a disappointing 5 points. I was there and it was a breeze on the night for Olsen who was virtually untroubled. A poor track that night as well. (Wembley)

The other key ingredient was Willy's harsh exclusion in his first ride after tangling with Simmons on the first bend. Knew that he more or less had to win his other 4 (3 out of 4 was enough in the end), so every heat he took part in was nerve jangling stuff. The run off just shredded the nerves. Jessup's surprise failure heaped even more onto it all for us. Unforgettable.

 

 

 

 

[coventry1963]

Reading the SS article on the Stadium planning application, wouldn’t it be interesting to see the level of drawings taken out each year by the various parties that left such a small operating profit? The level of those drawings could make a huge difference to the conclusions being drawn about how profitable the bees were under Horton. If Horton (and any connected parties) took nothing in drawings, that is one thing but if they took a large amount out for themselves each year, the whole picture changes. If I read the article correctly,  theSS says that the drawings figure was not provided for the calculations! One would have to wonder why!

[Woz01]

10 hours ago, coventry1963 said:

Reading the SS article on the Stadium planning application, wouldn’t it be interesting to see the level of drawings taken out each year by the various parties that left such a small operating profit? The level of those drawings could make a huge difference to the conclusions being drawn about how profitable the bees were under Horton. If Horton (and any connected parties) took nothing in drawings, that is one thing but if they took a large amount out for themselves each year, the whole picture changes. If I read the article correctly,  theSS says that the drawings figure was not provided for the calculations! One would have to wonder why!

I'm surprised we made a profit at all considering what was said during those times about Horton and what other clubs were reporting. One year we were 40,000 pounds in profit, I find it difficult to see how Horton or anyone else took anything substantial out with those profits. 

 

As i understand it the first two years under Horton we made losses mainly due to him buying the club and paying for the licence. Every year after that a profit was made, although without working it out I think overall since Horton took charge I think it was a loss. Having said that a few years of profits it shows that Coventry Bees was a viable club. I assume CoventryStox was viable so. BE won't like this coming out as they've gone heavy on the unviable route.

Edited February 9, 2018 by Woz01

[cityrebel]

20 hours ago, Steve Shovlar said:

Whilst the Loram v Louis was a good race, no doubt about it, in the scheme of things it is insignificant compared to the 1975 British Final runoff.

What we had in 1975, and really have never had since, was British dominance the same way as the Poles are dominating the sport today. The race meant so much. Speedway had big crowds, Brandon was packed, and I mean packed, not busy, and the winner of this race went straight through to the World Final at Wembley in front of 92,000 fans. 

Ashby had started well but had dropped points to Collins and Simmo, won his next before heat 19 needing a second, but beaten by max man Louis but cruscially by Wilson, tying both on 11 points. The runoff was extremely tense. Wilson gating but Ashby sticking to the inside and getting closer with every lap. Lap four and Ashby gets by up the inside but allows Wilson racing room to come around the outside to win by a wheel. 

Ashby at the time was at his peak. Ten plus average. He was reserve at Wemble but didn’t get to ride. Wilson scored a disappointing 5 points. I was there and it was a breeze on the night for Olsen who was virtually untroubled. A poor track that night as well. (Wembley)

Steve was you one of those fans with the hose pipe at Wembley in 1975!. The British finals I went to at West ham and Coventry in the 70's were really tough meetings with top class line ups and massive crowds.

[Steve Shovlar]

14 minutes ago, cityrebel said:

Steve was you one of those fans with the hose pipe at Wembley in 1975!. The British finals I went to at West ham and Coventry in the 70's were really tough meetings with top class line ups and massive crowds.

No I saw it all though. I was on the apex of the third and 4th bends. The track was underwatered and dusty and some fans took it on themselves to water the track, on the first bend if I recall.  I was only a 16 year old young lad and it would have been beyond my comprehension at the time to consider doing such a thing.

[False dawn]

41 minutes ago, Steve Shovlar said:

No I saw it all though. I was on the apex of the third and 4th bends. The track was underwatered and dusty and some fans took it on themselves to water the track, on the first bend if I recall.  I was only a 16 year old young lad and it would have been beyond my comprehension at the time to consider doing such a thing.

You waited till later in life. You joined the forum and started p!ssing over us all.

 

No offence Steve, the thought occurred and I couldn't resist it! (he'll get me back)