What about Northampton?

[InTheDeepStuff]

Today’s going to be a Fabrizio Romano sort of day 

[DaveWayne]

1 hour ago, 1 valve said:

There will be a need to put in the appropriate electrics & controls for a starting gate, and lights for starting procedures, green x 2, the four rider “exclusion” colours, and yellows for two minute warning protocols. I’m not sure if the required red “race stop” lights are already in situ for stox. 
 

Yes that's fair comment in terms of the electrics, but people on here are talking as if a new structure would be required. 

Stock cars use traffic lights for signalling to drivers, so there are multiple sets of lights all the way round the track which could be utilised for the 'race stop'. The existing box also has LED lighting built into it externally so that the whole box lights up in green, yellow, or red to signify current race conditions.

[SJA]

16 hours ago, Hamish McRaker said:

Hard to understand why anyone would be anti a new venue being created per se, and i'm not seeing much or indeed any of that being expressed.

However, there is considerable concern and scepticism over the chances of it being ready on time, and successful and sustainable, with time constraints being one of the main concerns over effective local marketing and publicity.

These concerns and doubts can be expressed in humourous or serious ways, and are sometimes wrapped up within more general concerns about speedway in the Uk and the way it is being run. These are mostly perfectly valid concerns, made in good faith and with the underlying well-being of speedway in the UK at their heart.

Whether the above could be justifiably deemed "moaning" is rather irrelevant, especially as the definition of what constitutes "moaning" is likely to vary greatly. I'd liken it to "complaining", and there doesnt seem to anyone complaining that a new venue could be happening. But there are doubts and concerns being expressed, which for the most part seem to be perfectly valid

 

Northampton could race away from home to build up a profile in the local media before starting their home fixtures at say either of the May Bank Holidays. That gives them a minimum of 8 weeks to sort everything out.

[Tapewrecker]

13 minutes ago, InTheDeepStuff said:

Today’s going to be a Fabrizio Romano sort of day 

It’s a sunny day here.

[mikebv]

2 minutes ago, SJA said:

Northampton could race away from home to build up a profile in the local media before starting their home fixtures at say either of the May Bank Holidays. That gives them a minimum of 8 weeks to sort everything out.

They would need very deep pockets to run matches without any income...

And then pray their outgoings will get covered by enough people coming through the doors when the novelty has worn off..

Especially, if say played six, lost six, is their record up to their opening night..

Best of luck though to those trying to make it happen...

Doubling Up is desperately needed so probably four or five riders will be relying on those team places..

[Tapewrecker]

3 minutes ago, mikebv said:

They would need very deep pockets to run matches without any income...

Not if they wore a pair of shorts they wouldn’t 

[SPEEDY69]

2 hours ago, 1 valve said:

There will be a need to put in the appropriate electrics & controls for a starting gate, and lights for starting procedures, green x 2, the four rider “exclusion” colours, and yellows for two minute warning protocols. I’m not sure if the required red “race stop” lights are already in situ for stox. 
 

That could all be done in less than a day so is not much of a barrier.

[1 valve]

29 minutes ago, SPEEDY69 said:

That could all be done in less than a day so is not much of a barrier.

Well it will very much depend on what of the existing electrical system can be utilised but at a speedway stadium, track electrical cables generally need to be installed underground, buried in conduits, or placed within protective trenches to ensure safety and prevent mechanical damage during racing. So it will be almost certain that some groundworks (digging & making good) will be required. So along with the time required to establish connectivity, installation of breakers testing and sign off etc. five days is likely to be a best estimate to get the job done, start to finish. Which of course is far from being a deal breaker. 

Edited 3 hours ago by 1 valve

[1 valve]

1 hour ago, DaveWayne said:

Yes that's fair comment in terms of the electrics, but people on here are talking as if a new structure would be required. 

Stock cars use traffic lights for signalling to drivers, so there are multiple sets of lights all the way round the track which could be utilised for the 'race stop'. The existing box also has LED lighting built into it externally so that the whole box lights up in green, yellow, or red to signify current race conditions.

Would be good to be able to utilise the stox current stop lights, but I'm not sure if their positioning and format would be allowed for speedway (meaning I just don't know).
Maybe somebody from Kings Lynne could shed light (no pun intended) if the utilisation of Stox lights are used for speedway at the AFA or if specific lights are required. 

[SuperStarsFan91]

I’ve heard Lidsey has signed a deal to be number 1 if it ends up being a yes 👍🏻 and they’ve also spoke to Iversen, Klindt, Tungate, Wright, Riss and Kerr… so the top 6 would be made up of Lidsey and 5 of those 6 😊 depending on who says yes and who fits 😂

Edited 3 hours ago by SuperStarsFan91

[Welwyn]

Announced now.

[FishersGate]

Glad they are running, still a few teams short of a proper league but it's a start..

[norbold]

https://britishspeedway.co.uk/rowe-motor-oil-premiership/northampton-enter-2026-premiership/

[MP78]

If Lidsey's in, then looks like it's only 4 out of those 6 that would fit and you'd need someone like Jeppesen to round it off.  

Although if Lidsey's not in, then the 6 riders that SuperStarsFan91 mention come to a total of 36.99 (i think!)

 

[Dave_minall]

[Biffa]

Will be interesting to find out who the promoter/money man is. Whoever it is has done a cracking secrecy job to keep this all under wraps. Well done 👍

[TTT]

Great news.

I wish the Northampton promotion the very best of luck and I hope it's a success.

[Marky_Mark]

There you go!! Well done to all involved and hopefully all those that said it’s never gonna happen will get behind the new team, track looks an awesome shape for racing so will be great to see them racing on it 

[siggysigalos]

Wow major effort made here, and the 6th team does exist.

I'm sure we will get some teams put up during the day, but as previously hinted on here by some, clearly Lidsey,Tungate,Riss,Kerr,Wright,Iversen come into play, maybe Rew,Jenkins,Harrison (RS), but brilliant to see another track in the Prem.

Will be a tough 1st season, but exciting news at a traumatic time for UK Speedway and could quite easily finish above Ipswich in the table come September.

[IainB]

14 minutes ago, Biffa said:

Whoever it is has done a cracking secrecy job to keep this all under wraps. Well done 👍

At least until July last year, when this topic was stated... or the Coventry hearing a couple of years ago 😉😁

Edited 1 hour ago by IainB