New tracks ?

[mikebv]

10 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

This is a little story from the year after I finished, Buxton had a home match and had 2 riders missing as I think 1  was injured and the other rider had a match for his championship team on the same day so Buxton booked a guest,and used RR for the number 1, this guest was no superstar but it was the only rider really available, he wanted £35 per point plus Tavel plus a tyre plus fuel and he wanted a hotel for him and his Mrs as he was riding somewhere else the next day so was not going home, he was booked to ride at number 4 but on the morning of the match the championship match was called off so the number 4 was able to ride,so Buxton told the guest he would ride at number1 to which he said he wanted an extra £5 per point, for what exactly? ,the meeting was rained off anyway but he still wanted his hotel paid as he was still riding the next day,that was the sort of thing which killed off Buxton, well that and some teams paying gaurentees of £500 for their stars, I’m blowing my own trumpet here but when they had the chance the bspl should of put me in charge of the national league the day I retired. 

But! But! But!....

Just think of the massive publicity and financial rewards on offer for winning the NDL!!!!

...

Absolute crackers isn't it?

Someone really needs to save this sport, and whoever it is, needs to start with saving the promoters from themselves...

 

[The Cheese]

10 hours ago, R87 said:

Another fantasy 

Thankfully, not everyone has such a negative view.

[Petecc]

12 hours ago, R87 said:

Another fantasy 

Part of the problem is those who sit a home and do nothing and then moan about it on forums

[The White Knight]

4 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

This is a little story from the year after I finished, Buxton had a home match and had 2 riders missing as I think 1  was injured and the other rider had a match for his championship team on the same day so Buxton booked a guest,and used RR for the number 1, this guest was no superstar but it was the only rider really available, he wanted £35 per point plus Tavel plus a tyre plus fuel and he wanted a hotel for him and his Mrs as he was riding somewhere else the next day so was not going home, he was booked to ride at number 4 but on the morning of the match the championship match was called off so the number 4 was able to ride,so Buxton told the guest he would ride at number1 to which he said he wanted an extra £5 per point, for what exactly? ,the meeting was rained off anyway but he still wanted his hotel paid as he was still riding the next day,that was the sort of thing which killed off Buxton, well that and some teams paying gaurentees of £500 for their stars, I’m blowing my own trumpet here but when they had the chance the bspl should of put me in charge of the national league the day I retired. 

Judging by your insight, experience and knowledge - you are probably right.

Edited Thursday at 02:37 PM by The White Knight
Forgot a couple of points

[WookieboyDon]

12 hours ago, R87 said:

Another fantasy 

🤡

[Gambo]

15 hours ago, R87 said:

Another fantasy 

Says the person who was later found to be contradicting his own posts.🤡

[SteveArena]

Any more news on Wimbledon?  Hadnt they found a site where a go kart track was situated who were happy to have speedway there aswell.

[Ray Stadia]

5 hours ago, Petecc said:

Part of the problem is those who sit a home and do nothing and then moan about it on forums

But what can we do as fans/supporters? I have said for a number of years, speedway is not 'squaring the circle' (cost wise), no pun intended. While you have riders expecting extreme fees/wages for their services, with a mediocre fan base, it's not financially sustainable/viable. The only chance for speedway to survive, is somehow, reduce costs for the riders and the fans. Otherwise speedway will need to 'shut up shop' in it's current format.  

[Ben91]

13 hours ago, Petecc said:

Part of the problem is those who sit a home and do nothing and then moan about it on forums

Mostly voting with their feet. The tangible change the average fan can make is turning up weekly and putting their money in the till. By not doing so they’re showing they aren’t happy with the product. That’s when the supplier needs to step up and win them back. The sport isn’t doing that these days for the most part. 

There’s absolutely a negativity bias in the world but forums and social media can be the only place for fans to vent their frustrations. 

[WookieboyDon]

13 hours ago, SteveArena said:

Any more news on Wimbledon?  Hadnt they found a site where a go kart track was situated who were happy to have speedway there aswell.

Still being worked on...

 

Cue R87 posting 'Another fantasy'...

[SJA]

21 hours ago, mikebv said:

But! But! But!....

Just think of the massive publicity and financial rewards on offer for winning the NDL!!!!

...

Absolute crackers isn't it?

Someone really needs to save this sport, and whoever it is, needs to start with saving the promoters from themselves...

 

I understand that that is still happening today. I was speaking to the Leicester Team Manager who said that getting guests was hard as they paid what the league suggests and riders with a little experience want more than this. 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

14 minutes ago, SJA said:

I understand that that is still happening today. I was speaking to the Leicester Team Manager who said that getting guests was hard as they paid what the league suggests and riders with a little experience want more than this. 

Yes it is because the sport is run by the riders for the riders 

Edited Friday at 09:01 AM by THE DEAN MACHINE

[1 valve]

37 minutes ago, SJA said:

I understand that that is still happening today. I was speaking to the Leicester Team Manager who said that getting guests was hard as they paid what the league suggests and riders with a little experience want more than this. 

If all of the promoters actually agreed to adopt the “suggestion” as an “agreement” it would end the riders demanding more who will continue to do so simply because in the meantime some promoters will continue to pay more than the “suggestion”. 
Of course even if the suggestion was adopted as a rule the challenge would be to prevent the same promoters working around the agreement/rule in search of glory and ignoring the basics of cost control for the betterment of the sport rather than their own interests.  
 

Edited Friday at 09:27 AM by 1 valve

[heathen52]

5 hours ago, SJA said:

I understand that that is still happening today. I was speaking to the Leicester Team Manager who said that getting guests was hard as they paid what the league suggests and riders with a little experience want more than this. 

Maybe an idea would be that before the season starts every rider that wants to guest during the coming season signs an agreement that he will guest for the fee agreed by the league if not he does not go on to the rider guest list, yes I know teams can still pay over the odds but perhaps when the said rider asks for more he should be removed from the list.

[Lord Skid]

5 hours ago, 1 valve said:

If all of the promoters actually agreed to adopt the “suggestion” as an “agreement” it would end the riders demanding more who will continue to do so simply because in the meantime some promoters will continue to pay more than the “suggestion”. 
Of course even if the suggestion was adopted as a rule the challenge would be to prevent the same promoters working around the agreement/rule in search of glory and ignoring the basics of cost control for the betterment of the sport rather than their own interests.  
 

One multiple World Champion said to me that it's up to the Promoter if he wants to pay what i'm asking, nobody makes them, all they have to do is say no, they agreed, and the Club basically went broke.

[Fortythirtyeight]

1 hour ago, heathen52 said:

Maybe an idea would be that before the season starts every rider that wants to guest during the coming season signs an agreement that he will guest for the fee agreed by the league if not he does not go on to the rider guest list, yes I know teams can still pay over the odds but perhaps when the said rider asks for more he should be removed from the list.

As Matt Ford once said …”I’ll agree to any wage cap you want to impose…..I’ll just get a sponsor to pay the rest “.

[R87]

On 10/2/2025 at 8:03 PM, SteveArena said:

Any more news on Wimbledon?  Hadnt they found a site where a go kart track was situated who were happy to have speedway there aswell.

There's no news because it isn't going to happen.  There is no interest and it is not viable.  If it had been, they would not have been booted out of Plough Lane

[WookieboyDon]

13 hours ago, R87 said:

There's no news because it isn't going to happen.  There is no interest and it is not viable.  If it had been, they would not have been booted out of Plough Lane

And the award to the fool speaking the biggest amount of boll*cks this week goes to…

 

You really need to stop now. Wrong on all accounts. Go back under the bridge with the other trolls…

Edited 2 hours ago by WookieboyDon

[Sir Sidney]

15 hours ago, R87 said:

There's no news because it isn't going to happen.  There is no interest and it is not viable.  If it had been, they would not have been booted out of Plough Lane

I appreciate it is pretty pointless responding to you, because you take no account of facts.

Wimbledon speedway did not leave Plough Lane because of either lack of interest or viability. Indeed, Wimbledon were planning to apply to move up from the then 3rd division to the 2nd division at the time the lease was not renewed.

The only reason that speedway ended was because the owners would not give a new lease to the speedway club because they wanted to develop the site (which they did). All leaseholders on the site (speedway, motorbike training school, stock cars etc) were refused new leases. 

The owners applied for and got planning permission for circa 600 flats, and provided land and a multi million pound donation to AFC Wimbledon to assist in building its new stadium, thereby allowing the Council to grant planning permission whilst maintaining sporting use on site. 

This has all been documented many times and is in the public domain. 

In relation to the possible new site, then Wimbledon in Sporting History have made statements about the possibility of a new track in the area, and work continues to explore that option. There is interest and I'm sure that any new stadium will be built to a size that better ensures viability.