Mildenhall 2023

[arnieg]

20 minutes ago, Mimmo said:

Something good is happening at Mildenhall with it regaining it's happy family feeling once again, thanks to all the hard wok everybody is putting in.
Customers are made to feel welcome, and the only other place that I've experienced that is the Isle of Wight, who have a wonderful set-up, that speedway in general could and should be learning from.

People moan about Mildenhall being a dangerous track, but then all tracks are dangerous, and I don't mean that literally, but wherever you race on a machine that are so highly tuned these days, with no brakes, then they're all dangerous from that point of view.

I agree that they do get a lot of riders falling/crashing etc; at Mildenhall, but nine times out of ten, it's the younger riders learning their trade that are falling/crashing, which is inevitable as this is a Development League club, not somewhere like Doyle, Bewley, Masters and so on race. 

Yesterday, I attended the meeting against Berwick, raced in front of a very health Bank Holiday crowd, and was equal in racing quality that I've seen at any level (I'm not talking GP's), and possibly the best meeting I've been lucky enough to witness at ANY level, for a couple of years now. 

So well done Mildenhall for all the hard work you are obviously putting, and well done Berwick, for coming and attacking the track, rather than being wary of it. Superb Meeting. 

 

Glad to hear it. There are a lot of people who've worked hard to keep Mildenhall alive and they deserve some praise and reward for their efforts.

[25yearfan]

Yes Mimmos very correct in his assessments on the current state of play at Mildenhall speedway.

 

Nice atmosphere and I get the impression the management are trying to be more professional than they have been in the past which makes the meeting experience better for the fans.

 

The Mildenhall track is only an issue when its grippy and some of the inexperienced riders can't handle it.

[bloom89]

So no Mildenhall in the ndl or whatever it is next season… although they are under new ownership now I think and are hoping to run some open/challenge meetings during the year.

[Sings4Speedway]

4 hours ago, bloom89 said:

So no Mildenhall in the ndl or whatever it is next season… although they are under new ownership now I think and are hoping to run some open/challenge meetings during the year.

Given the losses/extra funding to get a team to the tapes in 2023 and uncertainty about the quality of product for 2024 a year out is a wise move. Gain funding from hosting a few open meetings,  maybe gauge interest in a CL side for 2025? Things have needed to change at Mildenhall so no bad thing. 

[False dawn]

Come back soon, Mildenhall. As a neutral, yours is one my most favourite venues to visit.
Yours is a solid promotion that would be a great loss to our sport if you don't return to league racing.

[TMW]

2 hours ago, Sings4Speedway said:

Given the losses/extra funding to get a team to the tapes in 2023 and uncertainty about the quality of product for 2024 a year out is a wise move. Gain funding from hosting a few open meetings,  maybe gauge interest in a CL side for 2025? Things have needed to change at Mildenhall so no bad thing. 

I didn’t think you could be any more condescending but here you are  

Edited November 18, 2023 by TMW

[Sings4Speedway]

2 hours ago, TMW said:

I didn’t think you could be any more condescending but here you are  

The irony that you decide to pop up and pick holes in probably the most positive post i have made about Mildenhall in years 

[Ray Stadia]

Very often, when a speedway promotion say 'we are taking a year out', it's the end. I can't see how speedway in the next 12 months, as a whole, is going to turn things around, for a promoter to say 'now is the time to run a team'. All very sad. Unfortunately, I said many years ago that speedway had to change and the costs were too high for those involved, but time after time (on here), I was told I was being negative. No, I was being realistic. The riders and the tuners have killed a sport, which at best, should have been, for many years, a semi-professional sport or even better, an amateur sport. Speedway will survive, but team/league racing will disappear in Britain, in my opinion.   

[Hawk127]

On 11/27/2023 at 8:47 AM, Ray Stadia said:

Very often, when a speedway promotion say 'we are taking a year out', it's the end. I can't see how speedway in the next 12 months, as a whole, is going to turn things around, for a promoter to say 'now is the time to run a team'. All very sad. Unfortunately, I said many years ago that speedway had to change and the costs were too high for those involved, but time after time (on here), I was told I was being negative. No, I was being realistic. The riders and the tuners have killed a sport, which at best, should have been, for many years, a semi-professional sport or even better, an amateur sport. Speedway will survive, but team/league racing will disappear in Britain, in my opinion.   

I agree with most of your comments except that some blame must rest with the BSPL who have effectively said no to Mildenhall running a few open meetings. Why anyone would want to work with a regime that tries to prevent you operating a business at any stadium and earning some income from the assets that they hold. It is largely the attitude that caused Kent so much grief and it was the last sort of pressure that Si Kellow needed given his poor state of health. You would hope that the governing body would have worked with Kent, but no not this bunch. You have to wonder who is really behind all this and then wonder whether they are proud of their actions. Two more tracks probably lost to the sport who join a long list and no one on the top table really cares as in each case they are sitting thinking i’m alright, why bother about anyone else. No wonder the IOW got out, it will not get any better. Still one positive for the BSPL, four less tracks to have to administer in 2024. 

[szkocjasid]

On 11/30/2023 at 1:33 PM, Hawk127 said:

I agree with most of your comments except that some blame must rest with the BSPL who have effectively said no to Mildenhall running a few open meetings. Why anyone would want to work with a regime that tries to prevent you operating a business at any stadium and earning some income from the assets that they hold. It is largely the attitude that caused Kent so much grief and it was the last sort of pressure that Si Kellow needed given his poor state of health. You would hope that the governing body would have worked with Kent, but no not this bunch. You have to wonder who is really behind all this and then wonder whether they are proud of their actions. Two more tracks probably lost to the sport who join a long list and no one on the top table really cares as in each case they are sitting thinking i’m alright, why bother about anyone else. No wonder the IOW got out, it will not get any better. Still one positive for the BSPL, four less tracks to have to administer in 2024. 

I don't understand the BSPL's attitude towards the NL / Nora / Mildenhall / Kent either. I can only assume they are absolutely positive they know what's best for Speedway & if clubs don't toe the line, they are happy for them to disappear.

Certainly makes no sense to me, it's as if they are oblivious to the problems with Speedway in the UK & think everything is all peachy (that they won't miss Mildenhall & Kent)?

[Come on the Skipper]

2 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

I don't understand the BSPL's attitude towards the NL / Nora / Mildenhall / Kent either. I can only assume they are absolutely positive they know what's best for Speedway & if clubs don't toe the line, they are happy for them to disappear.

Certainly makes no sense to me, it's as if they are oblivious to the problems with Speedway in the UK & think everything is all peachy (that they won't miss Mildenhall & Kent)?

I only got back into live speedway when Kent moved to Iwade in 2022, prior to that I couldn't get to Sittingbourne due to the early start time. I am now faced with a shortest distance of 82 miles to get to the nearest track to me, Ipswich. I'm sure the M25 and A12 are lovely on a Monday/Thursday evening rush hour.

So having been able to go to live speedway after quite a long break I find myself without any to watch in person. I do subscribe to BSN, and will do so again, but I'm sure that there are plenty of other people who find themselves in the same boat as me.

Apologies to Mildenhall fans for hijacking your topic.

 

[heathen52]

So Rob Godfrey and Co, say it's MY way (Sunday) or NO way to any other raceday for Mildenhall in 2025, personally I would stick 2 fingers up to that and go NORA.

[szkocjasid]

5 hours ago, heathen52 said:

So Rob Godfrey and Co, say it's MY way (Sunday) or NO way to any other raceday for Mildenhall in 2025, personally I would stick 2 fingers up to that and go NORA.

100% agree. The Championship needs Mildenhall a hell of a lot more than Mildenhall need the Championship imo.

Racing on a Sunday is a disaster due to Poland, just ask Newcastle!

[Islander15]

What day do Mildenhall want?

[Chris116]

Mildenhall, Isle of Wight, Iwade and Buxton would make for a good start to a proper NORA League and Iwade could be used by both Kent Kings and Crayford making five teams. Maybe all four tracks could run two teams. I think BSPL would perhaps start to take notice, pull their socks up and start to actually promote lower division racing.

[StevePark]

2 hours ago, Islander15 said:

What day do Mildenhall want?

Copied and Pasted off Facebook..... 

Quick message from club promoter Greg Palmer;

Good morning everyone, I hope I find you well. It's been a few weeks since my last message to you all. I'm hoping all being well this time next year we will be providing regular updates, while you are smelling the sweet smell of methanol and hearing tiger feet over the sound system

I would just like to update you on how things have been progressing in the background;

After talks with Rob Godfrey and the BSPA if all plans fall into place, we should be racing on a Sunday. It's not a day I wanted if I'm honest, however for the future of the club to race it is a Sunday or nothing.

My dream was to take Mildenhall to a week night racing slot but with the other established clubs taking the other nights, its a decision from the BSPA which I respect, accept and move on from. Their help along side that of Rob Godfrey, in trying to get Mildenhall back to tapes has been pricless.

With that in mind, it is possible we could be hosting up to 15 home meetings for the 2025 season.

I've been in constant talks with the Mildenhall stadium owners, working along side each other so no schedules are disrupted and the stadium is used to it's full potential.

I have to thank them for their continued support in my quest to get the Fen Tigers back to the tapes.

With more meetings comes the need for more track staff.

We would like a meeting days to run as smoothly as possible - everyone working in tandem to carrying out tasks, so we can all enjoy a race meeting.

To achieve this I'd like 2 fence crews; 1 to put the fence up on the morning of a meeting and 1 to take it down after the meeting is finished.

This needs to be a 100% committed team. Too many times in the past it's been left up to a few track staff, which has a knock on effect in every aspect of a race meeting

Put simply, if I don't get the numbers for the fence crews and track staff and I don't think it's viable, I will pull the plug. As this is the case, I would like to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. I will be taking names and numbers of people interested from next week. Please contact me through our socials Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter) or alternatively email neilsoutham082@gmail.com

Finally, I want to deliver a brilliant product in 2025 but I can't do that unless I have 100% committed team of people behind me who I can trust to be the stadium race ready. I'm a honest hardworking reliable man and I'd like a group of people similar around me to make the dream of a Championship team come true.

[Sings4Speedway]

Whilst Sundays and Poland is a nightmare i still think its a more positive race day for Mildenhall than a mid week race night, that would a sizeable shift in routine of regular spectators. As a surprising optimist it would be lovely to see all NDL & CL level meetings taking place on Fri/Sat/Sundays and then the Prem can continue with the midweek set days. Yes short term it is likely to cause a rider availability problem but a considered longer approach might actually attract a few more riders into the sport. 

Either way its great to see positive news coming out of Mildenhall.  

[Diamonds85]

This sounds very positive for Mildenhall. I wasn't aware that there were plans in place for them to come back, I thought theyw ere another club lost to history. Will definitely try to get down if they come back. 

Sundays are possible, just need to find a couple of 7.5-8.5 heat leaders who don't race in Poland (Ben Barker types) as the 1 and 5 and get two solid reserves to make up for the lack of top end power. Sunday isn't the end of a successful championship club imo

[Ray Stadia]

I hope it does happen for 2025, but the guy is already talking about 'pulling the plug'! 

[phillipsr]

On 5/1/2024 at 2:37 PM, szkocjasid said:

100% agree. The Championship needs Mildenhall a hell of a lot more than Mildenhall need the Championship imo.

Racing on a Sunday is a disaster due to Poland, just ask Newcastle!

No it doesnt…. The league carries on fine… Mildy don't race a meaningful fixture all season.. id say they need the Championship far more