old bob at herne bay Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 Unless the “exciting plans” from the BSPA include a new vice chairman, I don’t see speedway at Lakeside in 2019 being viable - whatever the outcome of discussions with the owners of the Lakeside sports site. Under the tenure of the 2018 BSPA management committee 2 clubs appear to have been assisted towards closure. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 Just now, old bob at herne bay said: Unless the “exciting plans” from the BSPA include a new vice chairman, I don’t see speedway at Lakeside in 2019 being viable - whatever the outcome of discussions with the owners of the Lakeside sports site. Under the tenure of the 2018 BSPA management committee 2 clubs appear to have been assisted towards closure. Hard to argue with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldyman Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 Would be great if some rich dude comes along and turns it into a speedway only stadium, and the track is as big as the concrete one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWC Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 51 minutes ago, Baldyman said: Would be great if some rich dude comes along and turns it into a speedway only stadium, and the track is as big as the concrete one. Not sure if you are being serious or not! Speedway only would lose a fortune whereas the real estate is worth millions to developers. Its another warning to all stadiums of this type be it greyhounds or motor sports stadia the pressure of land value and residential requirement is now too great for some to ignore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 27 minutes ago, GWC said: Not sure if you are being serious or not! Speedway only would lose a fortune whereas the real estate is worth millions to developers. Its another warning to all stadiums of this type be it greyhounds or motor sports stadia the pressure of land value and residential requirement is now too great for some to ignore. It's nothing new though is it. I'm still mourning the loss of West Ham in 1972! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daytripper Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 25 minutes ago, cityrebel said: It's nothing new though is it. I'm still mourning the loss of West Ham in 1972! Me too. Still haven't got over it. They won't be satisfied until the whole country is one mass of shops, offices and houses, and life is totally dull with no excitement . 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 8 hours ago, marko said: That article mentions north and east, the raceway is actually west of the retail park and south west of the main shopping complex, so this is probably another area, maybe just maybe someone will buy the land who wants to improve what is already there, long shot? the complex needs serious investment though and more uses, its clear the family who currently own it were asset rich but actually in terms of cash were very poor, so the raceway was just left to get more and more run down. There are not many places you can visit having not been there for 30 years and say, ow this place hasn't changed one bit, Arena Essex is the exception. Arena-Essex is due north of the Lakeside shopping centre Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickRushbrook Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 It's a tough one this. The statement is Ill-timed but unavoidable for the promotion. Expect to see attendances drop off for the remainder of what was a most promising season. I fear this will in-turn, be unconvincing for the promotion to pull out all the stops for another season. I've already mentioned to the club numerous times that there is land available in the south Ockendon area which I believe is ideal but I have had a lack of response but perhaps I'll try again as i know the land owner very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris116 Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 3 hours ago, Daytripper said: They won't be satisfied until the whole country is one mass of shops, offices and houses, and life is totally dull with no excitement . Excitement does not pass the Risk Assessment these days so they can't allow any of that! So glad that I am 64 and have seen some wonderful Speedway and Stock Car meetings at Arena Essex, Wimbledon, West Ham, New Cross, Crayford, Wembley and a host of other tracks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scaramanga Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 5 hours ago, old bob at herne bay said: Unless the “exciting plans” from the BSPA include a new vice chairman, I don’t see speedway at Lakeside in 2019 being viable - whatever the outcome of discussions with the owners of the Lakeside sports site. Under the tenure of the 2018 BSPA management committee 2 clubs appear to have been assisted towards closure. if the rumours are to be believed the ones in power need 3 teams from the top 2 leagues to go under for there master plan to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liam Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 3 hours ago, NickRushbrook said: It's a tough one this. The statement is Ill-timed but unavoidable for the promotion. Expect to see attendances drop off for the remainder of what was a most promising season. I fear this will in-turn, be unconvincing for the promotion to pull out all the stops for another season. I've already mentioned to the club numerous times that there is land available in the south Ockendon area which I believe is ideal but I have had a lack of response but perhaps I'll try again as i know the land owner very well. Who would build a speedway track right now? The sport is on its knees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daytripper Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 34 minutes ago, scaramanga said: if the rumours are to be believed the ones in power need 3 teams from the top 2 leagues to go under for there master plan to work Maybe more than three. Seems to be pretty much an open secret they want to reduce it to maybe a maximum of 12 PL/CL clubs so it's a manageable size for one big league. Of course idiots like Chapman and Godfrey are too thick to realise that less clubs mean les fans overall and the contraction continues. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 9 minutes ago, Daytripper said: Maybe more than three. Seems to be pretty much an open secret they want to reduce it to maybe a maximum of 12 PL/CL clubs so it's a manageable size for one big league. Of course idiots like Chapman and Godfrey are too thick to realise that less clubs mean les fans overall and the contraction continues. I have heard 16. 12 means that no less than 6 will be forced to close and that's hard to imagine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whisperer Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 18 minutes ago, Halifaxtiger said: I have heard 16. 12 means that no less than 6 will be forced to close and that's hard to imagine. Or race at a lower level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 15 minutes ago, Whisperer said: Or race at a lower level I don't think they can do that. There simply aren't enough riders at NL level and even if they change the rules and allow more current Championship riders I still don't think there will be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickRushbrook Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 2 hours ago, liam said: Who would build a speedway track right now? The sport is on its knees. Well....I would.....if I had the capital. I really don't know how viable the location would be but it's got to be worth a look if the owners really are searching for a new home? I could literally arrange a meeting/visit tomorrow. Don't suppose you fancy going halfs with me and setting up a new home oursleves do you mate?! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liam Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 4 minutes ago, NickRushbrook said: Well....I would.....if I had the capital. I really don't know how viable the location would be but it's got to be worth a look if the owners really are searching for a new home? I could literally arrange a meeting/visit tomorrow. Don't suppose you fancy going halfs with me and setting up a new home oursleves do you mate?! Lol, I wish I could mate I really do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammer1969 Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 Article on BBC news about Arena Essex so now it seems I and many others will no longer be able to watch on a regular basis the sport we love, I usually went to Rye House now today's depressing news. Perhaps Lakeside could rent the track from Rye House at least we could get to watch some speedway in the Essex/Herts area. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-45044933 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 I will still go to Eastbourne and Kent, plus a few trips to the island. Losing Rye and Lakeside would be the biggest loss to me geographicly since Oxford and Reading shut in 2007/8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammer1969 Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 The less tracks there are the less new supporters can be encouraged to watch the sport, people in Essex who have never watched Speedway are hardly likely to venture across the Dartford crossing at rush hour to give watching Speedway at Kent a try. Even if tracks run at National League level what is needed are more local tracks and local derbys. My nearest tracks will now be Kent which will probably be out of the question due to the Dartford crossing and Ipswich which will be a 90 minute drive each way which will also mean leaving home early to negotiate the rush hour on the A12 and A14. Luckily I'm retired so will make occasional trips to Ipswich but regular speedway watching is now out of the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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