Pieman72

Some excellent idea's are being put forward and thanks for the likes and comments. Speedway supporters and a great bunch. Realisticly it has to be pure racing and definitely Speedway only. Having a 250 class would enable young and under financed riders to compete they work perfectly well on the grass and points money must be dependent on the crowd. I want something inexpensive and exciting that I can look forward to every meeting tall order but achievable.

It's very much a legal/political issue and an excellent point with petitions. While they canvass support they conume a lot of time that would be better spent fighting the case from a legal standpoint. The loss of leisure facilities is a polical 'hot potato' and local politicians are sensitive to the situation when they become associated with the loss of a facility that could impact on their apirations. Keep fighting 'Bees' you have a wonderful sports facility.

I love the sport the fans and those who put in a lot of hard work for little reward and everyone has to pull together to turn the Speedway around. I'm not sure having large multi media broadcasters on board is helping particularly in respect of attendances and atmosphere Speedway is a 'Live Spectator Sport. I am canvassing opioins and ideas under the 'Stadium Racing' post to formulate proposals that would bring in the punters. Realisticly you can't fault the quality of racing, riders, or promoters. I like the idea of local riders and a variety of bikes that may bring in a 'new' speedway supporter and critically an admission charge that is affordable for families; £42 for my wife and I at Wolverhampton is unreal. Something has to give and the astronomical cost of the riders and equipment must be on the agenda. Most people want to go to a meeting at a weekend unfortunately that is being dictated by continental and GP commitments. Tuning it round will not be easy but fundamentally we are all passionate about the sport and though posts may get heated but we all need a common purpose.

Critically I'd like some radical ideas that are practicable rather than what has been done and failed in the past. What are we getting for a £17 to £19 admission charge and is watching exactly the same bikes racing round and round going to pull in the punters?

Having experienced the debacle with Cradley Heath I would say it's best to lobby councillors to ring fence it as a 'Site for the Intensification of Sport and Leisure' . There is a good case as historically the stadium goes beck to the 1920's and it is a multi pupose stadium. Unfortunatley if the original owners could have secured a purchaser who could have redeveloped the stadium while retaining the track we wouldn't be here today. Keep fighting as Coventry could become one of the best stadiums in the country if this intensification of 'Brownfield' sites can be discredited. The word 'Brownfield' is too general and had to be tested? Stadiums and Public houses are amenities and not really 'Brownfield' sites.

Thank you all so much for all the brilliant posts on the subject it has certainly stimulated some interest. Fundamentally it has to be a only a Speedway event defininitely not a Circus , I have methanol and nitro running through my veins lol. What we need is new idea's that will attract spectators and riders alike and to be fair the Sidecar events at Coventry have atrracted more than the Elite League Speedway so there is definitely the interest albeit with a £10 admission charge. Can I also say how excellent it was and certainly evocative and spectacular on a warm Summer's Friday ! evening. A downside is the grading required to keep some dirt on the racing line. Dirt Track Bikes and Quads aren't really on the agenda I'm more looking at 250's, 350's and 500's using different engines which would be particularly useful for keeping the costs down thus enabling Grass Boys and new riders to compete giving some variety to the Sport. Speedway is a spectacular sport particularly on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday but race evenings are being dictated by foreign riders who are keen but do not have the affinity to the UK. Having local riders must be a plus though the public would not welcome raw riders on a training track either. There is a formula to draw in new spectators but finding it is difficult. Crucially the eyewatering admission/programme charges ie £42 for my wife and I is totally untenable and is going to leave us with empty Stadiums and no atmosphere. Fundamentally it's no point reminicing though it's does bring back many memories; British Speedway is in decline, hemoraging spectators and something has to be done or we will be left with only a handful of teams.

With the demise in tracks and attendences particulalry in urban areas I would like to propose a different type of racing that could include different classes capacities and also the inclusion of sidecars and grasstrack bikes. There are a lot of lads out there and lasses who I'm sure would relish the opportunity to race on the shale. This very much only a discussion and I'd welcome comments or ideas that could take this proposal a stage further.