OldBulldog

Thank you

Hi, not been to the Abbey for some while but intending to take this meet in first one for about 4 years. I read that parking at the stadium is limited? If so what time should I aim to get there is order to get a space? Travelling from Bristol Thanks for any advice anyone

GI used to be called Bristol Stadium Ltd many years ago, and owned Eastville stadium. They evicted my beloved Rovers in 1986. (thats for a different forum) They then became the BS Group, then they became GI. Before that of course, Bristol Stadium ltd housed the Bulldogs in 77 & 78, and we had crowds of 10,000 regularly. What days those were. The Council kicked up a fuss (planning permission) and that was the end of the Bulldogs at Eastville. The outcry in Bristol was massive, Bristol Stadium ltd (GI) pledged to fight it with the fans etc etc. The campaign to keep the Bulldogs had a petition with 100,000 names (yes you read that right, one hundred thousend) Bristol stadium pledged to fight the council more, blah blah blah. Eventually, the fans group actually got planning permission for Speedway at Eastville a year or so later, with masses of planning requirements finally being met. What a job that was. The work to do it was massive. Only to find out that Bristol stadium ltd (GI) had secretly signed a documemt with the Council undertaking to never allow speedway at Eastville again. Will never be forgiven. This will all end in tears. As regards Torquay, they were either badly advised or desperate. Or Both, as that will end in tears too.

Hi, hope this is the right place, and apologies if not. I'm having a clear out: I have about 120 Speedway Stars, from 2005 until present. Most are issues immediately following the GP's. Are they worth putting on E bay or something and if so is there much of a demand? Any advice welcomed thanks

The last time I went to a meeting 2 years ago there was not a single pass the whole meeting. There was huge 'gaps' during the meeting when nothing was happening, so it was a matter of listening to the music over the PA. It took a couple of hours to see 15 processional 'races' and not much else happened. Fair to say there is a bit of room for improvement.

Would that be in issue 71 or is there a later edition out? many thanks

Well I for one, (and I know some others are the same) religously buy it for the reports and reviews of the GPs. I dont usually buy it on non GP weeks.

Fantastic memories. Crowds of 10,000 each week, tremendous promotion - wheelie contests, interviews, visits to the pits. Great memories. Hard believe it was nearly 40 years ago. All ended due to politics and the petition to keep the sport at Eastville totalled 100,000. Yes, you read that right One hundred thousend. Still find it hard to believe how it was allowed to happen, it was an utter disgrace.

Would be interested to know if Phillip is aware if there were other bids on the table.. Last time it kind of fell onto the lap of Eurosport, who one would assume would have been interested in keeping the rights. Will be interesting to know what plans BT have (any idea Phillip?)

Many thanks for the clarification - I assumed it was probably due to cost. Response is much appreciated however.

Disappointed to find that this season the additional pages following each SGP are no longer there. Seems much more low key coverage of the SGP this year. No trackside gossip or additional features, just a few comments from the riders. Really hope its not like that all season. Don't buy the Star every week but always do have following each SGP due to the previous excellent analysis. Any comments from Phillip ?

Maybe you should be asking why i only go once a year perhaps?

People should remember a few things when hoping Sky come back to the table: 1)You have an Elite league that does not have the elite riders in the sport 2) You have a Premier league that is not the top level of the sport. 3) You have a fixture list where you take on some clubs more times than others. 4) All of a sudden you can have a situation where in a race you score a different number of points, (a bit like a goal couting double just because you are losing heavily) 5) You have random 'guests' who although they ride for other teams, they suddenly show up and ride for you (a bit like Stephen Gerrard suddenly playing a match for Man U). Then they go back to their real team. 6) The people making the rules are the same people running the clubs. (A bit like Jose Mourinho, Arsen Wenger and David Moyes making up the rules, and deciding what happens to each others clubs) Do people honestly think Sky are interested in paying money to cover this shambles?? You just squirm when thinking what people would make of the Belle Vue Poole farce, the use of guests, teams calling off a match earlier in the season just because they wanted to, or multiple cases where the tracks are so poor there is simply no overtaking. I took someone in my annual match this summer and there was not a single ocassion where a rider overtook. The only good thing that night was the smell. Anyway, you probably get the drift

Yes the initial meetings were on a 'dual' surface but that didnt work out so they then started laying the sand down. I cant remember how long they persisted with the initial idea. Both didnt really work very well. I can remember several riders walking out in protest at difefrent times, Dave Jessup, John Davis and Malcolm Simmoms I recall.

Yep the stadium was owend by the Greyhound company and they experimented by putting a load of sand onto the track for the dogs then taking it up again for the speedway. Didn't really work. The reason it was banned was because the stadium owners always maintained that Eastville was a sports stadium, in which sport was played (football, greyhounds) and so planning permission was not needed for speedway. But the Council disagreed and maintained planning permsission was needed..and promptly said No, despite its overwhellming popularity.