Guest Posted March 16, 2017 Report Share Posted March 16, 2017 (edited) I wonder if there is a chance of a speedway reincarnation for Brafield? I don't think Spedeworth Motorsport, who are the controlling party at the Northamptonshire venue, now known as Northampton International Raeway, would be adverse to the suggestion. They are the main leaseholders at Foxhall Heath where Ipswich are their speedway tenants. And Spedeworth were also extremely co-operative in regard to speedway's farewell show at Wimbledon Stadium last Sunday, March12, 2017. I recall seeing the mid-1950s Brafield Southern Area League speedway team several times and riders who spring to mind are Hank Bird, Vic Hall, Brian Meredith. Tony and Eric Eadon, Fran Greasley. Edited March 16, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted March 18, 2017 Report Share Posted March 18, 2017 (edited) Brafield was looked at by wily multi track promoter and saviour Tony Mole a decade or so ago. For some reason(s) things never developed which I suspect would be good reasons as Tony Moles a shrewd operator! I've always said that National League (3rd tier) racing at Brafield under the Northampton banner could be viable, even as an alternative to the attempts to get a track in Milton Keynes again. Northampton Knights? Spedeworth have been landlords to Ipswich speedway for many years. In the past they have been against running stock cars on shale tracks (in my opinion the best stock car racing is on shale tracks!) but last year purchased West Row Stadium home of the Fen Tigers and want the speedway to continue there! I think there is room inside the big stock car track at Brafield for a smallish Lakeside like track which at 3rd tier level would be a good track to enhance raw skills! Edited March 19, 2017 by 25yearfan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teaboy279 Posted March 19, 2017 Report Share Posted March 19, 2017 I think last time Mole looked into the place was before Deane Wood bought incarace so it may be worth a potential promoter contacting him. Tbf with an inner armco there, it's a bit more work then just digging up the tarmac and laying shale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ovalfan Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 The Northampton track has had a layer of shale applied this week as an 'experiment' for stock cars. It is planned to be shale for a couple of months, looking at possibly being more permanent in future. Any team looking for a track for 2019?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisperer Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 The Mole looked at it 21 years ago as a potential home for Long Eaton's licence/displacement. The track would have been smaller and tighter than the then Arena Essex,as such it was considered not to be a suitable league venue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 1 hour ago, ovalfan said: The Northampton track has had a layer of shale applied this week as an 'experiment' for stock cars. It is planned to be shale for a couple of months, looking at possibly being more permanent in future. Any team looking for a track for 2019?? Cradley, Coventry??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevH Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 1 hour ago, Whisperer said: The Mole looked at it 21 years ago as a potential home for Long Eaton's licence/displacement. The track would have been smaller and tighter than the then Arena Essex,as such it was considered not to be a suitable league venue. Many things have changed over 21 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
25yearfan Posted May 23, 2018 Report Share Posted May 23, 2018 A shale track would surely increase the chances of speedway returning to Brafield? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedcarRacer Posted June 1, 2018 Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 (edited) Looks like it has real potential.... Look at May 21st on Speedway Friends on Facebook - pictures of the shale, track looks a good size. https://www.facebook.com/groups/198832456794185/?hc_ref=ARSsVtDR9pvSWjkX9hpApTYc8XfaqGiXAhvDt9WrG7mYQ3L2ItsTczUw9ibbhX35R3M Edited June 1, 2018 by RedcarRacer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted June 1, 2018 Report Share Posted June 1, 2018 I commentated on stock cars many times there in the eighties. They call it Northampton. It would make a great speedway track and I'm very surprised they're laying shale because they really do prefer tarmac in that sport. Of course it was a speedway track, on and off until the late 60s. I think the final year of the Brafield Badgers was 1967. It was only ever a junior track, never in a pro league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HertsRacer Posted June 15, 2018 Report Share Posted June 15, 2018 Notice in this weeks Speedway Star that a couple of enquiries have already been make re the possibility of speedway returning to Brafield. Answer seems to be no in the short term, but maybe in a couple of years time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted June 25, 2018 Report Share Posted June 25, 2018 (edited) It could easily be used for a revival speedway team or even a completely new attempt ( ignoring the Badger's years ). There are two problems 1) Very substantial funds would be needed to convince the stock car promoters that the return of speedway would not be a flop ( who wants the quick failure of a sporting launch at your otherwise successful venue ) 2 ) there is no evidence historically that speedway is of much interest to the local public. I lived there for 20 years and went to Coventry regularly ( only 30 miles away ). By the way, Brafield really is Northampton - the town centre is only five miles away but thankfully reasonably far from the local village population. Northampton Knights, take the fancy of a wealthy sponsor? Edited June 25, 2018 by waytogo28 adding a question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted June 25, 2018 Report Share Posted June 25, 2018 Cobblers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedcarRacer Posted June 28, 2018 Report Share Posted June 28, 2018 Everyone said similar things about Somerset before they opened and Scunthorpe, who previously had poor crowds before relaunch - with no Coventry and Nottingham/Long Eaton not an option perhaps it is ideal time... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted June 29, 2018 Report Share Posted June 29, 2018 And not far from Milton Keynes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odds On Posted June 29, 2018 Report Share Posted June 29, 2018 3 minutes ago, Ray Stadia said: And not far from Milton Keynes! speedway in Milton Keynes was never sustainable, why should it be any different nowadays? MK Dons, lovely stadium, virtually empty for home games. Basketball, all but died a death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted June 29, 2018 Report Share Posted June 29, 2018 5 minutes ago, Odds On said: speedway in Milton Keynes was never sustainable, why should it be any different nowadays? MK Dons, lovely stadium, virtually empty for home games. Basketball, all but died a death. Point taken, but as the post above mine points out, Coventry not too far away and Long Eaton not too far away, so perhaps fans from those areas too could help with attendance and interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HertsRacer Posted June 29, 2018 Report Share Posted June 29, 2018 1 hour ago, Odds On said: speedway in Milton Keynes was never sustainable, why should it be any different nowadays? MK Dons, lovely stadium, virtually empty for home games. Basketball, all but died a death. Can't agree with you there. The last speedway at MK was over 25 years ago. The town has changed greatly since then. As for the Basketball team, The Lions only moved to London after they lost use of their home venue due to proposed redevelopment and no other suitable venue could be found within the town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocket007 Posted June 29, 2018 Report Share Posted June 29, 2018 1 hour ago, HertsRacer said: Can't agree with you there. The last speedway at MK was over 25 years ago. The town has changed greatly since then. As for the Basketball team, The Lions only moved to London after they lost use of their home venue due to proposed redevelopment and no other suitable venue could be found within the town. I agree. When MK closed, the Town was only starting to be built up. Regards the Football, average crowds of between 8-12000 are actually quite healthy. If the Stadium was only a 15000 capacity one, then it would look almost full, but it was built much bigger at the time with progress in mind, because it was cheaper rather than keep extending it over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waytogo28 Posted June 30, 2018 Report Share Posted June 30, 2018 (edited) It is not how many people there are in a 25-mile radius but how many of them can you entice to speedway on a regular basis. In places with a huge population eg Manchester and Glasgow, it is not working out. Sadly speedway seems to be a faded washed up sport in the UK, unable to attract new fans to it. If things do happen in phases then there should be a revival boom in 2050. With green electric bikes. Edited June 30, 2018 by waytogo28 Additional point made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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