Tom Thumb

this was posted on RDC website the other day, more worries Urgent appeal from RDC to all drivers and fans at Mildenhall Stadium (added July 21) The following news piece is one which all at RDC Promotions had sincerely hoped we would never have to write but ultimately the time has come for RDC to call upon the support and backing of all the drivers and fans at Mildenhall Stadium to help in our biggest fight to date. The fight is for the future of Mildenhall Stadium and its continued ability and reputation as one of the leading venues for stockcar and banger racing in the UK. Many of you may be aware, but many more will undoubtedly be unaware, that over the past several months RDC have been fighting a legal battle with one local resident near to the stadium and their complaints over noise. Despite RDC taking every measure possible, including the erection of a noise barrier around half the stadium (which cost in the region of £40,000), to avoid this going any further, the case is now destined to go to the courts in the next couple of months where the future of the stadium is very much in jeopardy. Up until now we have elected to keep these issues relatively quiet. This has been for several reasons, mainly because it has been a private issue for the entire Coventry family and furthermore we didn’t want to create any unneeded worry or concern. However the time has now come for us to reveal more about this very real and dangerous threat to the stadium and to call for the help and support of the many people who use the stadium. Our legal team has advised us that it would be very much in our interest if we could gather as much support as possible from those people who use the stadium so this week we are urging as many of our drivers, their mechanics, friends and family and the hundreds of thousands of short oval motor racing fans who have enjoyed the sport at Mildenhall Stadium during the last 17 and a half seasons to show us your support. It doesn’t take much to help us in this battle. All we need are letters of support from as many of you as possible. Honestly there is no such thing as ‘too many’ in this case. The letters do not have to be pages and pages of writing either, just a few paragraphs will be more than sufficient. And ideally we need to hear from as wide a mix of people as possible. We need to hear from those who first visited Mildenhall in 1993 right the way through to 2010, those who first visited this year, those who come to every meeting, people who come once a year, people who live five miles away to people who live 500 miles away. Young, old, everything in between, we need to hear from as many of you as possible. Letters can either be e mailed to the usual address of wastedmc@btopenworld.com or posted to 15 Glamis House, Cameron Close, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5BT or alternatively they can be passed on to any of our staff at a meeting at either Mildenhall or Dover. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and thanks in advance to those who support us. Kindest regards The Coventry family

Any news on the new owners yet?

picture of John circ1983 here

yep, i was one of them! never did get that 50p tho. I once did the draw on the green with them whilst my brothers had their ride round sat on the frame of Bo and Jens bikes. I had ride on John Titmans bike a few weeks later no silly H & S rules in those days! oh happy days

Team Sano

but be careful, Kaparna dont have a `home` track at the moment and are using different venues, depending who they`re against to stage thier home meetings.

Tobi wouldnt be able to do this cos he rides for Ipswich on a Thursday (main Allsvenskan race night), so its Elitserien or nothing in Sweden for him.

Towards end of last year I heard rumours that the Stadium had been sold for housing but in local paper several weeks back Mr Chandler (think that what his name was) one of the directors of the stadium, said he had heard the rumours and if they were true it had been sold without any of the directors knowing! So probably being sold next week!!

Wouldnt have thought so, dont think BSI own the stadium (yet!)

Nice to see `Victor` getting a good result. Although he only rode couple of matches for us, gave his all in every race & a good laugh over a curry and a pint afterwards as well

You best get on the phone to Graham Arnold and get George down to the Sittingbourne mini-track then Steve, the tracks are about the same size. Cant wait to see the boys attack the track, they`ll probably be more exciting than the main event.

Was a pleasure Sean. Highlight of the day for me was talking to 80year old Ken Vale (rider in the first ever season of Canterbury Speedway) and listening to some of the antics that they got up to! Just one thing, can I have a rest before the next special event? ps Shaz, Mark Loram and Paul Whittaker rode more for Hackney than Canterbury so their ours!!!!!!!

recieved email from Les Rumsey this morning, and he is unable to attend this weekend. But does hope to make a few meetings later this year.

I can confirm it is a 1pm start. Sorry for the confusion

it certainly does interest me Paul. Thanks very much, this is going to be some weekend.

I`m sure we can sort out some free tickets, but travelling expenses, think we`ll have to give that a miss! bet you cant wait Kevin, all these ex-Crusaders and OSM kids as well!

This weekend just seems to get better and better, as I told Paul last night get my childhood hero Dave Morton to attend and it will make it perfect.

I would love to read a book about Len Silver or maybe another of the old Allied Presentations team Reg Fearman. I used to sit next to his Mum at Hackney and he used to bring me lots of the old programmes from various tracks, would be nice to read about how they built Smallmead from stratch.

Housing very close to the stadium, you have to walk along the back of the gardens to get to the main enterance.

cant believe Coventry have nicked our `make it a date, fridays at 8` slogan. was sorting out the loft last weekend and found the 1983 programme (vs Ipswich! ) that had photo of me in it, a young looking me with Jens and Bo taken on the centre green. What happy memories this has all brought back.

i`d certainly try and attend both events.

maybe you should all wear a red carnation next time!!

Couple of photos in Peter Collins Speedway book No2. shows riders Chris Morton, Dave Morton, Barry Briggs, George Hack, Chris Baybutt, Anders Michanek and Peter Collins and big crowd.

i`m sure I saw him ride it at Waterden Road, re-call the amazing angle of lean round the corners, and very fast around them as well!

No. BBC offices now occupy the site.