Vince Posted October 5 Report Share Posted October 5 On 10/3/2025 at 3:25 PM, 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. Bit difficult when they're all self employed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 valve Posted October 6 Report Share Posted October 6 18 hours ago, Vince said: Bit difficult when they're all self employed. Being self employed doesn’t prevent riders being on or off a list of those who agree to a statutory & all inclusive “guest pay rate” - The challenge would be to get all promotions to abide by the associated rules & not to try work arounds. Which of course some will, especially those with little business acumen, and or their own vested interests over that of the sport. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAST GATER Posted October 6 Report Share Posted October 6 (edited) Problem is it's a team sport using sub contractors metaphorically speaking . I've been in rider negotiations where they were demanding a certain place in the pits ! It was rediculous what goes on with these so called "star riders"but it's hard to resist if you have someone who can knock in double figures week in week out . I've seen so many that would ride at a training school with ice on the puddles end up refusing to ride after a light shower of rain a few years later . I don't see anyway of reining the riders in unless there is a true concensus of agreement between the promoters and the govt body , I won't be holding my breath on that one ! Edited Tuesday at 10:39 AM by FAST GATER 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R87 Posted 18 hours ago Report Share Posted 18 hours ago On 10/5/2025 at 11:53 AM, Sir Sidney said: 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. You've proved my point. Speedway (and the others you mentioned) were not viable, hence they chose to redevelop the site. Wimbledon previously closed in 1991 for exactly the same reason. And both 1991 and 2005 were periods when Speedway was in better shape than it is now! There is absolutely NO chance of Wimbledon, Coventry, Swindon, or any other closed tracks being revived and the sooner these campaigners open their eyes and get on with their lives, tbe better. Everyone is getting excited about Buxton - that won't last the season for exactly the same reason. Speedway. Is. Not. Viable. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sidney Posted 17 hours ago Report Share Posted 17 hours ago 1 hour ago, R87 said: You've proved my point. Speedway (and the others you mentioned) were not viable, hence they chose to redevelop the site. Wimbledon previously closed in 1991 for exactly the same reason. And both 1991 and 2005 were periods when Speedway was in better shape than it is now! There is absolutely NO chance of Wimbledon, Coventry, Swindon, or any other closed tracks being revived and the sooner these campaigners open their eyes and get on with their lives, tbe better. Everyone is getting excited about Buxton - that won't last the season for exactly the same reason. Speedway. Is. Not. Viable. And that just proves the point that there is no point in responding to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MajorMauger Posted 3 hours ago Report Share Posted 3 hours ago (edited) Speedways in 90% of cases (tracks) is loss making but the same can be said for all football clubs in the UK. I think a report the other year stated that the average losses for Championship (2nd Division) football clubs was a 6 figure fee a WEEK! Norwich City who average 26,000 crowds lost £25M last season while Ipswich Town who average just under 30,000 crowds lost £38M! Rebuilding Coventry speedway stadium will happen if the owners sell up or decide to lease it out. Investors are in place but I suspect it will take a compulsory purchase order from authorities to make this happen. The plans for a new Wimbledon speedway track are I believe on an existing motorsports facility and persons with the available finances are involved. Can it happen? - Long shot but got a chance for sure with the before mentioned necessary finances and the aim to build it bit by bit starting at grassroots level which I believe is the best way for new tracks to reopen. Buxton speedway site still exists in situ, is only grass roots so doesn't need the usual huge cash influx to reopen and anyhow persons with finance are behind Laurence Rogers reopening plans. - Decent chance of coming back although I'd prefer they are called their traditional Hitmen nickname! Northampton has interested parties I believe and this is going to be a hard sell I suspect at a venue that hasn't ever staged senior level speedway, last had junior League/ training level speedway in the late 60's and is a few miles out of Northampton. - Maybe would be better suited to 3rd Division, training track level? As for Swindon speedways future, I'm sceptical give Clark Osbornes history and get the impression the new track plans are just a staged farce to enable the old Blunsdon stadium which currently has protection gets demolished for housing. I assume the local Council are aware of all this and won't allow Blunsdon top be demolished until the proposed new site has been running League speedway for at least a season. - While Blunsdons car park has been built on and houses surround it, alternative parking for fans if it reopened is available at Businesses nearby so I still feel that this venue is the best place to reopen Swindon speedway AND greyhounds which both have been well supported in the Town. - I get the impression negative poster R87 knows more about Clark Osbourne that most I suspect?! I agree that speedway in the UK is on the wane and has been since the mid 70's but it is certainly not down and out. The sport like the allegedly mass money making football has always required rich enthusiasts/ investors to prop it up and will do so for as long as it continues. Edited 3 hours ago by MajorMauger 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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