Rye House 2020

[Crabba59]

Like I said all I was saying in my first post was that I think it would be good if more promoters took on board that we need better track preparation.  Which I believe will give better racing, and I think that all fans would want?

[RobMcCaffery]

48 minutes ago, Ben91 said:

Any idea if this is all being done with 2021 in mind Rob, or could we see some challenge/individual events later on this year? 

Ben, it's already in the public domain that this season was being strongly considered. In fact, had things gone better last year we would have been running by the end of that season.

You only have to look at Dave Longman's photos on Farcebook to see that a very major reconstruction of the stadium is underway. As for available promoters, well three attempts have been made so far in the form of the Dugard, Mead and Jolly attempts,  so there's plenty of interest and I'm sure that there's plenty of others. It's also been put in the public domain that Rye House Group (a.k.a. The Dog People) are very keen on having speedway back and you don't need to have specialist knowledge to know that the Rockets will be returning eventually. 

The information is out there, providing it is accurate. What was not helping the situation are doom-mongers predicting the end of speedway, that the stadium will go and that the BSPA are putting up huge financial entry barriers. I responded to the OP to reassure them. What an awful thing to do and thoroughly deserving of pitstop84's abuse. What an idea, wanting to help people!!!!

The Mead project wouldf have seen me returning to a very hands on role at Rye House, including presentation. I get enthusiastic, start working on ideas then I run up against the likes of pitstop84 and think "Why bother, let others take the rubbish". (edited ;-) )

 

 

Edited February 17, 2020 by RobMcCaffery

[Crabba59]

Rob let's just put it to bed. And forget it. 

 

Edited February 17, 2020 by pitstop84
Wrong wording

[Ben91]

18 minutes ago, RobMcCaffery said:

Ben, it's already in the public domain that this season was being strongly considered. In fact, had things gone better last year we would have been running by the end of that season.

You only have to look at Dave Longman's photos on Farcebook to see that a very major reconstruction of the stadium is underway. As for available promoters, well three attempts have been made so far in the form of the Dugard, Mead and Jolly attempts,  so there's plenty of interest and I'm sure that there's plenty of others. It's also been put in the public domain that Rye House Group (a.k.a. The Dog People) are very keen on having speedway back and you don't need to have specialist knowledge to know that the Rockets will be returning eventually. 

The information is out there, providing it is accurate. What was not helping the situation are doom-mongers predicting the end of speedway, that the stadium will go and that the BSPA are putting up huge financial entry barriers. I responded to the OP to reassure them. What an awful thing to do and thoroughly deserving of pitstop84's abuse. What an idea, wanting to help people!!!!

The Mead project wouldf have seen me returning to a very hands on role at Rye House, including presentation. I get enthusiastic, start working on ideas then I run up against the likes of pitstop84 and think "Why bother, let others take the rubbish". (edited ;-) )

 

 

Appreciate the reply, I don’t have Facebook these days so haven’t seen any of the information which may be available to see there. 

If there is a passion then there’s always a point. It’s worth noting that not everyone who has a difference of opinion is doing so to put the hard work of others down, we all have our own ideas about things and Speedway in particular is a business/sport that has always been shrouded in mystery as to what is going on to those who don’t have a direct involvement. 

Be it this year or next I hope to see Speedway return to Rye, the sport just isn’t the same for me without having my own team to support.

[Toad]

Thanks Rob for all you post, your words are informative and give heart to those of us who miss speedway at Hoddesdon greatly. It certainly looks positive regarding a return and let's hope we soon can enjoy another chapter in thevery history of our club.

[Crabba59]

I'm sure rye house will return I just hope that no where in the background are BMR. I think that would be the only think to stop it happening. 

[AJ]

On 2/6/2020 at 8:35 AM, Ben91 said:

Hoddesdon is a small town with a population of just over 40,000. To make Rye House a success the floating fan is very much needed. Not perhaps to be attending every week religiously but to put money in the till as often as they can be enticed to travel to Rye.

To do that you need to ensure the race night is one that is easiest for fans from further afield to attend. Undoubtedly Saturday. Let’s not forget away fans also, some teams do still take travelling support. 

I agree completely with pushing the sport to local schools and in the local area as that has never really been done before either under BMR or Len Silver. There’s not that much to do in Hoddesdon, take advantage of that and let the people in the town know that something exciting is going on in the town. Advertising in London won’t come cheap and won’t attract fans either I’d suggest. Start local and build outwards. 

Funnily enough Ben the way I found out the Rockets were back in 2000 was by a couple of big signs stuck on the roundabout at the Tesco A414/A1 interchange in Hatfield and then a few weeks later there was a display outside the Howard Centre in Welwyn Garden City. Can't remember which riders were there but guessing Russell Paine being local at the time, may have been there. After the 2000 season I never saw anything round my area (Welwyn/Hatfield) again. 

[AJ]

Not sure if it's been mentioned on the forum but I came across a 5 part Free Speedway Podcast on Audible by Jennie Gow. An interesting listen about how speedway started her love of motor racing and about the sports heyday in the UK to where we are at now. Interesting hearing what Barry Hearn thinks in contrast to Buster Chapman's all is rosy view. Well worth a listen.

It's interesting that they say about people drift out from the sport often due to starting families and work progression and then coming back to the sport at a later point.

This is where I am. Since 2009 I drifted away from Rye House attending sporadically but back in 2018 with the kids older showing more interest we tried to attend but the midweek meetings put a stop to that with school and their after school commitments. 

Since the Rockets disappeared I've been itching to get back to speedway. Over the past year I have bumped into many old faces from Rye at some very random places none of them at speedway.  In the years I was a regular week in week out I had an amazing time with some great people travelling up and down the country. It's sad how many tracks I had visited are no more in a relatively short space of time.

Fingers crossed the Rockets get back on track and if it's a weekend race night/afternoon then me and my Johnson clan will be there. 

[Ben91]

3 hours ago, AJ said:

Funnily enough Ben the way I found out the Rockets were back in 2000 was by a couple of big signs stuck on the roundabout at the Tesco A414/A1 interchange in Hatfield and then a few weeks later there was a display outside the Howard Centre in Welwyn Garden City. Can't remember which riders were there but guessing Russell Paine being local at the time, may have been there. After the 2000 season I never saw anything round my area (Welwyn/Hatfield) again. 

Goes to show that the best way to promote speedway is to promote! I didn’t start attending until around 2002, but am I right in thinking 2000 would be pre-Silver in terms of Len being sole promoter? My introduction to speedway was my grandad telling me I could either go watch Rye House or go to play golf, I didn’t fancy either much but Rye was closer to home, the lesser of two evils but the bug bit me after a lap. I only ever recall seeing anything remotely like advertising from us in the local newspaper or the speedway star, almost preaching to the converted. 

Glad to hear you’ll be back along should we get on track mate, can’t even remember the last time I saw you, been far too long! 

[Vince]

No idea what is happening at Rye Speedway wise but I can say with certainty as I've seen it done a few times that Saturday evening Speedway could follow a day of Speedway or flat track practice. There is plenty of time to prep a good track in normal weather conditions.

Also it seems certain that since most Speedway teams are said to be making a loss that the practice sessions are more profitable!

[arnieg]

1 hour ago, AJ said:

Not sure if it's been mentioned on the forum but I came across a 5 part Free Speedway Podcast on Audible by Jennie Gow. An interesting listen about how speedway started her love of motor racing and about the sports heyday in the UK to where we are at now. Interesting hearing what Barry Hearn thinks in contrast to Buster Chapman's all is rosy view. Well worth a listen.

Worth checking out - but not sure about that speedway historian guy

[East End Fan]

3 hours ago, Ben91 said:

Goes to show that the best way to promote speedway is to promote! I didn’t start attending until around 2002, but am I right in thinking 2000 would be pre-Silver in terms of Len being sole promoter? My introduction to speedway was my grandad telling me I could either go watch Rye House or go to play golf, I didn’t fancy either much but Rye was closer to home, the lesser of two evils but the bug bit me after a lap. I only ever recall seeing anything remotely like advertising from us in the local newspaper or the speedway star, almost preaching to the converted. 

Glad to hear you’ll be back along should we get on track mate, can’t even remember the last time I saw you, been far too long! 

While I was a Hammers supporter at the time, I am pretty sure that Silver took over Rye House in either 1999 or 2000. I always went there when Arena did and 

later on a bt more often.  I liked it there as I could always get a seat and the racing always exciting.  Funnily enough, when the Hammers moved in there, I did

not like it very much and it aways felt that it was coming to an end.  We COULD have ended on a high  note with the final season at Arena. Sad days.

[AJ]

7 hours ago, Ben91 said:

Goes to show that the best way to promote speedway is to promote! I didn’t start attending until around 2002, but am I right in thinking 2000 would be pre-Silver in terms of Len being sole promoter? My introduction to speedway was my grandad telling me I could either go watch Rye House or go to play golf, I didn’t fancy either much but Rye was closer to home, the lesser of two evils but the bug bit me after a lap. I only ever recall seeing anything remotely like advertising from us in the local newspaper or the speedway star, almost preaching to the converted. 

Glad to hear you’ll be back along should we get on track mate, can’t even remember the last time I saw you, been far too long! 

Your Grandad was a legend Ben.

Len was involved helping the promotion in 2000 when they had the temporary track to lay every week. He took on the stadium lease the same year but didn't take on sole promotion until 2001.....I think. Others would now better than me.

 

[Ben91]

1 hour ago, AJ said:

Your Grandad was a legend Ben.

Len was involved helping the promotion in 2000 when they had the temporary track to lay every week. He took on the stadium lease the same year but didn't take on sole promotion until 2001.....I think. Others would now better than me.

 

He’s still going strong and wants to make a trip to Poland to watch a meeting, don’t think they’re ready for him! 

That makes sense, there’s a highlights VHS from the 99 season knocking around in the loft here somewhere and I recall Len being on it remonstrating with a referee for giving a photo finish against David Mason in a Bronze Helmet race (against Adam Allott maybe?) but I knew he wasn’t promoter at that time. 

[Shadders]

On 2/19/2020 at 10:10 PM, Ben91 said:

He’s still going strong and wants to make a trip to Poland to watch a meeting, don’t think they’re ready for him! 

That makes sense, there’s a highlights VHS from the 99 season knocking around in the loft here somewhere and I recall Len being on it remonstrating with a referee for giving a photo finish against David Mason in a Bronze Helmet race (against Adam Allott maybe?) but I knew he wasn’t promoter at that time. 

Good to hear he’s still going strong. Wish him all the best from Sarah and me. 

I’m a Bandits season pass holder these days, purely a financial decision, but will always be a Rocket at heart. Hopefully I’ll be able to get down s couple of times a season should the Rockets return 

[mac101]

Was at rye house yesterday with my son for a practice  I must say they are doing a lot of great work off track and it’s looking good and a lot has changed since the last time we were there a few years ago ,the track was perfect and a pleasure to ride a near perfect track according to my son 98%(a little more shale on it Would have been 100% lol) considering the way the weather had been the last few weeks and will provide great racing soon so whoever is doing the track there i take my hat off to you , it was worth the very long 820 mile journey and  they are very hopeful that there will be a team coming to the tapes next season 

Edited February 23, 2020 by mac101

[Ben91]

15 hours ago, Shadders said:

Good to hear he’s still going strong. Wish him all the best from Sarah and me. 

I’m a Bandits season pass holder these days, purely a financial decision, but will always be a Rocket at heart. Hopefully I’ll be able to get down s couple of times a season should the Rockets return 

Will do mate, hope all is well for you, Sarah and the family too.

Makes sense as you’ve got the track on your doorstep, would be silly not to go. Maybe one day there’ll even be another northern tour for the Rockets. 

[iand]

15 hours ago, mac101 said:

Was at rye house yesterday with my son for a practice  I must say they are doing a lot of great work off track and it’s looking good and a lot has changed since the last time we were there a few years ago ,the track was perfect and a pleasure to ride a near perfect track according to my son 98%(a little more shale on it Would have been 100% lol) considering the way the weather had been the last few weeks and will provide great racing soon so whoever is doing the track there i take my hat off to you , it was worth the very long 820 mile journey and  they are very hopeful that there will be a team coming to the tapes next season 

Are the Moto X humps and bumps still on the centre green?

Edited February 24, 2020 by iand

[mac101]

1 hour ago, iand said:

Are the Moto X humps and bumps still on the centre green?

Yes some still there but look like they have flattened a few 

[Bandit59]

21 hours ago, mac101 said:

Was at rye house yesterday with my son for a practice  I must say they are doing a lot of great work off track and it’s looking good and a lot has changed since the last time we were there a few years ago ,the track was perfect and a pleasure to ride a near perfect track according to my son 98%(a little more shale on it Would have been 100% lol) considering the way the weather had been the last few weeks and will provide great racing soon so whoever is doing the track there i take my hat off to you , it was worth the very long 820 mile journey and  they are very hopeful that there will be a team coming to the tapes next season 

I take my hat off to you and the other parents that do all those miles for your kids, hope they appreciate it.