SouthernComet 12 Posted August 28, 2022 Is there any news on a possible return for the Wildcats? Watching Weymouth FC lose another game yesterday, one couldn't help spend a lot of time looking over at the empty space that is left where the 2003-2010 track was. Still believe it could be a nice little venue, even the track would be very small and narrow with an air fence etc. Thanks in advance Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JamesHarris 392 Posted August 28, 2022 I thought it was a good little race track but I would imagine you have more chance of Boris Johnson telling the truth than speedway returning there. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deano 1,318 Posted August 28, 2022 Is anyone actively trying to do anything? I used to live in Weymouth and it would be great if there was even the tiniest hint of a comeback. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,247 Posted August 28, 2022 Worth it just so one could visit Alf's fish and chips! Spent many a hppy time at Weymouth Speedway when on holiday in the area. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFCB Wildcat 1,362 Posted August 28, 2022 45 minutes ago, Deano said: Is anyone actively trying to do anything? I used to live in Weymouth and it would be great if there was even the tiniest hint of a comeback. I believe they are. There has been a lot of talk about searches for a new venue. I'd love to see it happen as l have many happy childhood memories of going to the old Radipole lane track in the 70's after a day on the beach in the summer holidays. Weymouth on Tuesday's and Poole on Wednesday. I have to say though, that even back then when speedway was in its heyday the crowds were a bit sparse. I got back in to speedway after a long absence during a camping weekend in Weymouth many years later, after they had put flyers on all the car windscreens in the town centre car parks advertising that nights fixture so you can't say they didn't try to promote it. Weekend fixtures suited me due to working nights during the week and I was then a regular until it sadly closed. If it was a bit closer to town I think it would have picked up a lot more trade from holiday makers and prospered. I know that could never happen these days but the trouble with putting sports venues on industrial estates out of town is you're only going to get the die hards and not much passing trade. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*JJ 531 Posted August 29, 2022 Try https://www.facebook.com/weymouthspeedway/ There is also a Twitter page. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Technik 513 Posted August 29, 2022 (edited) If Clarke Osbourne, Gaming International or Stadia UK are not involved then there's always a chance. Just ask at Swindon, Reading or Milton Keynes. If the ground is still vacant there's a chance, Oxford was left sleeping for 14 years but has returned for racing again. I'd say the council would be happy with the crowd figures showing that it is an asset to the area. Lets hope they can maintain that status & continue past their current 10 year lease. Edited August 29, 2022 by Technik add on 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,247 Posted August 29, 2022 (edited) 52 minutes ago, Technik said: If Clarke Osbourne, Gaming International or Stadia UK are not involved then there's always a chance. Just ask at Swindon, Reading or Milton Keynes. If the ground is still vacant there's a chance, Oxford was left sleeping for 14 years but has returned for racing again. I'd say the council would be happy with the crowd figures showing that it is an asset to the area. Lets hope they can maintain that status & continue past their current 10 year lease. ...or indeed Cowley back in the middle seventies when we very nearly lost the stadium! Edited August 29, 2022 by steve roberts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFCB Wildcat 1,362 Posted August 29, 2022 1 hour ago, Technik said: If Clarke Osbourne, Gaming International or Stadia UK are not involved then there's always a chance. Just ask at Swindon, Reading or Milton Keynes. If the ground is still vacant there's a chance, Oxford was left sleeping for 14 years but has returned for racing again. I'd say the council would be happy with the crowd figures showing that it is an asset to the area. Lets hope they can maintain that status & continue past their current 10 year lease. Looking at Google maps satellite view, there appears to be absolutely nothing left of the track or stadium. It just looks like a rubbish tip now. I know there's been various stories in the Dorset Echo over the years about potential new sites but nothing has come of them yet so I'm not holding my breath 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daz9100 276 Posted August 29, 2022 It was totally overgrown when I was over that way in May Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,247 Posted August 29, 2022 2 hours ago, daz9100 said: It was totally overgrown when I was over that way in May Sad indeed! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wessexbobcat 13 Posted August 31, 2022 On 8/28/2022 at 1:30 PM, SouthernComet said: Is there any news on a possible return for the Wildcats? Watching Weymouth FC lose another game yesterday, one couldn't help spend a lot of time looking over at the empty space that is left where the 2003-2010 track was. Still believe it could be a nice little venue, even the track would be very small and narrow with an air fence etc. Thanks in advance The owners sadly don’t want speedway there and are prepared to play the long game eventually building on it.They have to re home the football which has proved a challenge!I so miss Friday nights at the Wessex.Best hope in my opinion would be a field elsewhere along the lines of Somerset.Needs someone with deep pockets mind . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AFCB Wildcat 1,362 Posted September 1, 2022 On 8/31/2022 at 9:18 AM, Wessexbobcat said: The owners sadly don’t want speedway there and are prepared to play the long game eventually building on it.They have to re home the football which has proved a challenge! I so miss Friday nights at the Wessex.Best hope in my opinion would be a field elsewhere along the lines of Somerset.Needs someone with deep pockets mind . The football has already be re homed once after the Recreation Ground site in the town centre was developed in the late 80's. I just think it's sad that sports clubs which represent their towns and should be focal points of the community are shunted out of town to the back of beyond so that someone can make loads of money from their spiritual homes. Where do they want to move it to now?? It's already bad enough. I took my grandson to an evening game last season after a day in Weymouth. It was a 2 mile walk back to town down unlit paths and roads as there was no public transport at that time of night and we only just caught the last train home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wessexbobcat 13 Posted September 1, 2022 On 8/28/2022 at 1:30 PM, SouthernComet said: Is there any news on a possible return for the Wildcats? Watching Weymouth FC lose another game yesterday, one couldn't help spend a lot of time looking over at the empty space that is left where the 2003-2010 track was. Still believe it could be a nice little venue, even the track would be very small and narrow with an air fence etc. Thanks in advance The owners sadly don’t want speedway there and are prepared to play the long game eventually building on it.They have to re home the football which has proved a challenge!I so miss Friday nights at the Wessex.Best hope in my opinion would be a field elsewhere along the lines of Somerset.Needs someone with deep pockets mind . The football club as far as I’m aware are happy at the Wessex ,money needs spending on it though.The owners of all the land around it including the ex track want to build .As to where the football goes that’s the big question?No where suitable has been found so the Wessex lives on ,sadly not the speedway site though. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THE DEAN MACHINE 4,794 Posted September 3, 2022 (edited) On 9/1/2022 at 5:30 PM, Wessexbobcat said: The owners sadly don’t want speedway there Who can blame them after the last promoter and his girlfriend screwed them over and don’t forget the stolen speedway bike of one of their riders Edited September 3, 2022 by THE DEAN MACHINE 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites