MajorMauger

The only options I can see for the Edinburgh Monarchs are - Buy Armadale Stadium? Trackshare with Glasgow or Berwick? - The latters extremely unlikely because of strict planning restrictions and the stadium being also used for football. Moving to Workingtons too far, remember Glasgows disastrous spell in the Cumbrian Town in 1987? Would the Cowdenbeath stock car promotion allow their track to be covered in shale and the Monarchs move in? - Its only 22 miles from Edinburgh so a similar distance that Armadale is from the Scottish capital. The long serving Edinburgh promotion has proved to operate one of the best run speedways in Great Britain (not my opinion but fact when you look at what they've achieved since the mid 1980's!) so I have more faith in them coming up with a positive solution than I would with most other promotions. - Good luck!

If only Milton Keynes speedway and Elfield Park could have hung on another couple of years when the 3rd Division began in 1994. It may have proved viable at that level? Berrington Lough was not basic, it had undercover viewing and a clubroom and bar!

John Perrin had an unfortunate, abrupt rude personality which made him extremely hardwork to get on with but he did keep Belle Vue going during a very difficult time after the move to Kirky Lane. Its quite likely that without his dogged determination to keep Belle Vue speedway going in the 1990's they would have closed and the present standing of the club would of been less likely to have happened.

Stuart Bamforth was astute Businessman with an eye for a bargain and longer term profit. This was the case when he purchased Belle Vue speedway and the Hyde Road stadium in 1982 relatively cheaply. He knew the land would be valuable but in fairness he also knew that the speedway could move to the greyhound Stadium down the road. That said he put his money where his mouth was in buying the stadium when it looked on a downward spiral, ran one of the best promotions at the time and was a solid Chairman of the BSPA.

The West Row track was in great condition today thanks no doubt to no stock cars this weekend and more favourable weather conditions! Unfortunately nearly all the crashes today and in most meetings were down to inexperience rather than track conditions. With the current sparcity of riders in current times the standard of the National League at the bottom end has dropped especially when a number of riders are out with injuries. Jason Edwards got an 18 point maximum riding round like he was sitting in an armchair and got one of the fastest times of the season.

Needs to go to 2 Leagues - A professional League of all the clubs that can afford it at a level similar to the current Championship and call it the British League. 6 man teams will help as regards the rider shortage. A second tier at a level a bit higher than the present NL retaining the NL name. Only Commonwealth and British riders can ride in this League.

100%! Leisure facilities should be listed and protected from redevelopment! How many more speedway tracks would we have today if this was the case?

The drainage shown in the pictures aren't for houses cause the normal procedure with house building is that the oversite (the lower part of the house from the foundations to damp course/ finished floor level) is built before any internal drainage (the pipework for the outlets coming from in the house like toliets, baths, showers sinks) is constructed. From what I can see there are no oversites for houses in the pictures. To me its looks the pipework has been built in readiness for prefabricated structures to be delivered and fixed onto them. - I've seen in reports that the new stands at the Stadium will be prefabricated structures! Lets hope we see Swindon along with other defunct tracks back next season!

Nothing against Kingston who in the past looked a good prospect but I'm underwhelmed the Fen Tigers have signed a guy who seemed to lose interest a few years back and will find it tough coming back after a number of years away from League racing? What about Jody Scott from Norfolk, very impressive lad whose 15 years old, presumably hungry and local?

Heeps has always had an issue with professionalism, desire and commitment since he started with Mildenhall. Typical case of a really naturally talented rider who doesn't apreciate the talents he has and his issues mentioned above have now caught up with him and hes gone as far as he can I fear? Batchelor has been up and down form wise for years so was a big gamble. Rowe is still living off his good start to last season, needs to improve soon. King needs to ride on the inside if its slick. Doyle will find it harder than most thinks I suggest, having to readjust to different surfaces. Riss and Starke are 100% triers who are what they are but will be inconsistant. Hawkins is only there as a freebie puppet for Louis and doesn't seem the brightest spark in the box, although I can't knock his enthusisam and commitment. I respect Chris Louis cause he was a top rider and he runs a tight, well organised ship at Foxhall but his team building decisions are baffling at times. Yes he is in it to make a half decent living out of Ipswich speedway but that shouldn't be knocked as this will ensure he will try to do the right thing all the time. Like another poster alluded to he doesn't deliberately build a team that will struggle but maybe he is over influenced by the desire to be sustainable rather than gamble on a winning team which would be well supported. I think already at this early stage it looks obvious that changes will have to be made or another poor season looks likely for the Witches.

It had everything going for it thats for sure and was a major part of the fabric of the Town! The subsequent fortunes of speedway in West Yorkshire and Shay owners Halifax Town football club after the 1985 finish of speedway there gives a firm indication of how successful Halifax Dukes speedway was!

Yes there is certainly a shortage of riders but hopefully Polish rules maybe relaxed and more Scandinavians can be found? Losing the Shay was a massive blow not only to speedway but in the long run landlords Halifax FC also suffered. I'm convinced that had ways been worked out to keep speedway going at the Shay in the mid 80's then it would likely still be running there now cause that place was always well supported!

Halifax was the real hotbed of the sport in that area so any new team at Odsal should be called Halifax "Odsal" Dukes and in the old red blue and white colours the Dukes used! Saturday nights in the 2nd Division would be the best option I reckon for anyone brave enough to do it!

Good luck to the Brummies but it looks like they'll need lots of it. If a team featuring Harris and Riss last season couldn't attract viable crowds what chance has a patchwork team of riders no other team wants? Laurence Rogers can't be knocked for enthusiasm but it seems like hes fighting a massive uphill battle. I well remember Mildenhall in 2008 under Rogers when they lost every League fixture, 32, I think. Mildenhall had to drop down after that with new owners after having 2 different owners in that ridiculously poor season. Now the Brummies can't afford a similar season cause it will cost the promotion a fortune.

Stamford Bridge, been there for football but the speedway shut not long before I was born! I've always thought that High Beech would make an ideal National League track in modern times. Something basic like Buxton and small like Plymouth would do little damage to the forest I reckon?

Build it and they will come, fans and riders! - Its always surprising who comes out of the woodwork!

Don't get involved in any petty nonsense Rob cause its a waste of energy and hasn't done you or Steve Ribbons any favours in the past! Good luck in your efforts to resurrect Rye House speedway, like I've said in the past, something that the BSPL should have done cause that place has the potential to be the Scunthorpe of the South! I hope you succeed and then you can let your actions do the talking!

Yes King's Lynn combined with Ipswich and Mildenhall would try to hinder any attempts to reopen speedway in Norwich cause they think their crowds would be affected but I think even in todays lean times all four tracks could survive running at the same time.

What about the Oxford Cheetahs Academy, wern't they called something like that before?

Over 850,000 people live in Norfolk, 213,000 of them in Norwich then 63,000 to the East in Great Yarmouth! I still think theirs enough people in the Norwich and East Norfolk area that currently don't go to speedway who'd be interested in spectating at a new track in Norwich without impacting on the nearby Ipswich, King's Lynn and Mildenhall tracks. I doubt anyone from the Norwich area goes regularly to Peterborough speedway which is the best part of 2 hours drive away! As for riders well as is the same with fans the more tracks the more people come out of the woodwork to spectate and ride. Indeed one of East Anglia's greatest riders ever John Louis only took up speedway once speedway returned to Foxhall in 1969. - If Messrs John Berry and Joe Thurley wouldn't have reopened in 1969 its highly unlikely Louis would of even thought about speedway!

Lets hope Rye House speedway return cause I'm sure a properly ran operation on a Saturday night in the NL or the Championship would draw viable crowds!

Dave Gooderham and Ted Howgego as well! Going back to my days watching at the Firs, John Debbage and Reg Trott! Years ago keeping a regular line up mattered more than chopping and changing to try and win the League! - All four of the above steady middle order/reserve stalwarts of Ipswich Witches and Norwich Stars would be dropped nowadays! Yes the achilles heel for the Witches will be either Heeps or Starke in the main body. I don't think either of them will get any better and has Heeps the motivation needed after a poor season and a number of years before that of treading water? Also Batchelor and Riss need to up their games from last season. I'm also not totally convinced that Doyle, who I think is on the wane will be the out and out heatleader hes expected to be?

Yes thats why there's more than a few Norwich City football fans who often attend Ipswich speedway rather than fellow Norfolk outfit King's Lynn speedway!

I wish they were still attending Stoke speedway, another sadly defunct speedway club.

Mildenhall speedway is virtually the same distance from Norwich as what King's Lynn is and Ipswich is only a few miles further. I know in the past Ipswich speedway have got quite a few supporters from the South Norfolk area cause its closer than King's Lynn. People underestimate how big a County Norfolk is. For many in South Norfolk, Colchester in Essex is closer than King's Lynn and places in North Norfolk. I've heard from reliable sources that a certain Norfolk speedway promotion in the past would have liked Mildenhall speedway not running cause their theory is some of Mildenhalls regular support would switch over to them, something which in reality doesn't occur in any substantial numbers. In fact when a track closes most of its crowd stop going to speedway altogether. I wonder what effect on crowd levels, two of Britains Midlands speedway hotbeds Coventry and Cradley reopening in current times would have on existing West Midlands outfits Birmingham and Wolves and even East Midlands outfit Leicester? Do many Coventry and Cradley fans still go to speedway at other venues?