Long Eye Posted July 29, 2017 Report Share Posted July 29, 2017 UPDATED: Tracks primarily built and designed for speedway: Belle Vue, Redcar, Coventry, Sheffield Leicester, Somerset, Plymouth, Isle of Wight, Buxton, Scunthorpe, Ipswich, Mildenhall. The one with the biggest capacity of these is probably Ipswich. What was the capacity at New Cross? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete cc Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 Our sadly missed Dudley wood stadium was purpose built.( I think)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 (edited) On another thread there is a debate on could any other stadium in UK stage another GP. How big is the capacity of the different stadiums. I would think Ipswich would be one of the biggest UPDATED: Tracks primarily built and designed for speedway: Belle Vue, Redcar, Coventry, Sheffield Leicester, Somerset, Plymouth, Isle of Wight, Buxton, Scunthorpe, Ipswich, Mildenhall. The one with the biggest capacity of these is probably Ipswich. It's nice to see items about possible purpose-built tracks of the past, but my understanding is this thread is about current purpose-built modern speedways which are purpose built and suitable for staging a GP. Most of them are not and capacity wise Ipswich would appear to be the best. But what an embarssmnt for speedway should Foxhall Heath ever be considered. With all the criticisms made about small oval car/stock car racing having to make a possible deal with possibly that sport's biggest promoter Spedeworth Motorsports - although they are not anti-speedway. Edited July 30, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longlivefrankie Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 (edited) If we mentioning defunct tracks, Newport's Hayley stadium was purpose built as Caermarthen's show ground home. Both much missed by me It's worrying that so many purpose built venues over the years have been closed Says something about the sport Edited July 30, 2017 by Ken Morgan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 If we mentioning defunct tracks, Newport's Hayley stadium was purpose built as Caermarthen's show ground home. Both much missed by me It's worrying that so many purpose built venues over the years have been closed Says something about the sport Possibly what you mention is that because of the overheads needed in maintaining a large stadium basically they need to be multi-use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyderd Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 Horsens in Denmark has a capacity of 10,400. At the recent GP there the attendance looked short of it's capacity, a second GP in GB wouldn't look out of place at the NSS which has the potential capacity of 10,000. Granted Ippo may or may not hold more fans, but for a GP, what better track than the NSS. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 Horsens in Denmark has a capacity of 10,400. At the recent GP there the attendance looked short of it's capacity, a second GP in GB wouldn't look out of place at the NSS which has the potential capacity of 10,000. Granted Ippo may or may not hold more fans, but for a GP, what better track than the NSS. Ipswich would hold more fans but there is no doubt the NSS would be the best track to hold it on. As a Witches fan though it would very interesting to see how the top boys handled a smallish, tight but grippy track... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 Still gping slightly sideways away from modern venues, think Ipswich was also purpose built. When the track initially closed and the late John Berry & the late Joe Thurley looked at re-opening speedway and climbed over the Foxhall fence late one nite for a look see, they found the original speedway track had been tarmacced over. Hence the newer speedway track being inside the stock car circuit ever since.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 UPDATED: Tracks primarily built and designed for speedway: Belle Vue, Redcar, Coventry, Sheffield Leicester, Somerset, Plymouth, Isle of Wight, Buxton, Scunthorpe, Ipswich, Mildenhall. The one with the biggest capacity of these is probably Ipswich. Still gping slightly sideways away from modern venues, think Ipswich was also purpose built. When the track initially closed and the late John Berry & the late Joe Thurley looked at re-opening speedway and climbed over the Foxhall fence late one nite for a look see, they found the original speedway track had been tarmacced over. Hence the newer speedway track being inside the stock car circuit ever since.... Ipswich was already included in my list - but many thanks for the reminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 There has been a few of us recently discussing how great it would be if Foxhall could be altered to incorporate what is now the stock car track and wishing we were old enough to have witnessed racing when the original set up was in place. A total pipe dream but if only.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 (edited) Our sadly missed Dudley wood stadium was purpose built.( I think)? That's interesting re Cradley Heath. Can anyone confirm - or otherwise - please? However, the thread is actually in regard to tracks that are still operational - or considered to be at the moment i.e Coventry. There has been a few of us recently discussing how great it would be if Foxhall could be altered to incorporate what is now the stock car track and wishing we were old enough to have witnessed racing when the original set up was in place. A total pipe dream but if only.... Very much a pipe dream! The speedway are only the tenants of the long-term leaseholders Spedeworth Motorsports who are small oval car racing promoters. Edited July 30, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 Simple fact is,no other stadium will host an extra GP.Either Cardiff hosts it,and that is never near full or the attendance drops so low, it is not possible to host it there so it will be moved to Manchester Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 IoW was not purpose built for speedway, it was formerly a cricket ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Ore Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 How many stadiums in the UK were purpose built for speedway? Many stadiums where speedway takes place were built and dished for multi-sport? I know that I will miss somewhere out but the only purpose built venues originally primarily built and designed for speedway IMO are Belle Vue, Somerset, Plymouth, Isle of Wight, Buxton, Scunthorpe, Ipswich, Mildenhall. The one with the biggest capacity of these is probably Ipswich. Not totally accurate. Isle of Wight was the home of Ryde Sports Football Club, who folded during the season just before the speedway moved in. The previous season they finished 4th in the Wessex league, above both Eastleigh and Gosport, who were both in National League divisions last season; albeit Gosport were relegated in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinmauger Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 Ipswich was already included in my list - but many thanks for the reminder. Yea not read properly. Guess most new tracks, or stadia, are purpose built as there are not many existing dog tracks, stock car tracks or ball game grounds left than can incorporate or even want a speedway track. More's the pity.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 That's interesting re Cradley Heath. Can anyone confirm - or otherwise - please? However, the thread is actually in regard to tracks that are still operational - or considered to be at the moment i.e Coventry. Dudley Wood Stadium was indeed purpose built for Speedway - on the site of an old fairground. Opened in June 1947 with an estimated crowd of 12,000. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecoombdog Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 Beat me to it. Was only discussing capacity with stadium manager recently. Starman cant be wrong?! 7k?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 30, 2017 Report Share Posted July 30, 2017 UPDATED: Tracks primarily built and designed for speedway: Belle Vue, Redcar, Coventry, Sheffield Leicester, Somerset, Plymouth, Buxton, Scunthorpe, Ipswich, Mildenhall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.D Posted July 31, 2017 Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) UPDATED: Tracks primarily built and designed for speedway: Belle Vue, Redcar, Coventry, Sheffield Leicester, Somerset, Plymouth, Isle of Wight, Buxton, Scunthorpe, Ipswich, Mildenhall. The one with the biggest capacity of these is probably Ipswich. Eastbourne was purposely built for speedway with the stock car track added later, started the speedway track in 1929 with Charlie Dugard taking full control in 1935. Edited July 31, 2017 by M.D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest compost Posted July 31, 2017 Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 (edited) I thought Swindon (Blunsdon) was purpose built for Speedway with dogs coming later. On defunct tracks - I also thought Reading (Smallmead) was purpose built and based on Wembley's track and Aldershot (Tongham) & Hull (Heddon) built for Speedway. Would not Rye House's original track and California (Wokingham) have been purpose built for Speedway ? Edit : Apologies for going off topic - I was responding to another posting on this thread and forget the protocols. Edited August 1, 2017 by compost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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