Britain's Tracks - Your Thoughts

[Deleted]

May 26, 2008 16:59:52 GMT @marron said:

May 26, 2008 15:52:17 GMT @bryn said:

Okay Marron, care to give us all your detailed analysis of each of the tracks 'down south' assuming you've been to them all? And what do you define as 'down south' - everything south of Boro???

Rye House - Dust bowl which has way too much home advantage to make any meeting half decent. The only passing is done by the home riders.
Reading - More often processional than exciting.
IOW - Not been before but going by what i have been told and read there is, again, too much home advantage with alot of gate and go races.
Somerset - Great racing track and even though Somerset do get some big home results, there is always good racing from both sets of riders.
Mildenhall - Probably the best racing track in the PL.
Kings Lynn - Not been but, like IOW and Rye House, there is too much home advantage but more so than the other 2.
[glow=red,2,300]4 out of 6 are crap tracks[/glow]
Out of the tracks further north; Stoke, Redcar, Edinburgh, Berwick, Scunthorpe, Workington all produce good racing more often than not with only Newcastle and Sheffield tracks that i find boring.
Glasgow is a bit of both to be honest and the same goes for Birmingham (didn't know where to put this one )
These are of course my opinions of the tracks from when i visited and in some cases the opinions of fellow Bears fans who have been.

Given the above thoughts of marron on another thread, anyone else like to comment on the tracks THEY have visited?

[schumi]

Thank you, thank you, thank you - this should keep genghis busy for HOURS. ;D

As for me, I'd have to go and find my list of tracks visited, but I always thought Hackney was the best. Seem to remember Cradley having one heck of a lot of shale on it, but my over-riding memories, oddly enough, are all of the car-parks.

[Deleted]

May 26, 2008 21:21:26 GMT @schumi said:

Thank you, thank you, thank you - this should keep genghis busy for HOURS. ;D

As for me, I'd have to go and find my list of tracks visited, but I always thought Hackney was the best. Seem to remember Cradley having one heck of a lot of shale on it, but my over-riding memories, oddly enough, are all of the car-parks.

Aww bless were you left in the car whilst they went to speedway

[Deleted]

Wolves, Glasgow, Stoke, Peterborough and Somerset have produced the best meetings for me in recent times.

Hackney was always decent.

The others?

Lakeside - never been
Belle Vue - Woeful viewing and generally poorly prepared
Cov - Some excellent meetings, some dreadful
Eastbourne - A trick track, heavily loaded in the home teams favour
Ipswich - Never been
Poole - Almost always been dusty and processional on my visits
Swindon - One line near the fence - generally pretty poor racing

In the PL - Edinburgh and IOW have been ok on my visits.
Berwick was awful (too big, racing strung out)
Birmingham - Only been once. The opposition was poor hence the meeting wasn't great. Didn't think viewing was too clever
Reading - The odd really good meeting amongst plenty of poor ones. Tends to be dusty.

Haven't been to any of the other PL tracks. Newport was/is simply dangerous!

[Deleted]

Glasgow - poor stadium , not the first time i've nearly twisted my ankle on the uneven stairs on the back straight . Track could be so much better than what it is . Beer adequate.
Edinburgh - poor stadium always dark and bloody freezing . Track horrible with poor viewing ability . Beer not bad though .
Berwick - Adequate stadium , but another freezer . Track has improved this year . Beer ...erm there is none .
Newcastle - Nice stadium . Track horrible with bends usually resembling ploughed fields . Beer adequate .
Workington - Adequate stadium . Track too slick . Beer not bad .
Redcar - Stadium getting better . Track unique , but you see decent racing there . Beer - no bar and i'm not into bottled lager .
Stoke - Adequate stadium . Great track . Beer shite
Birmingham - Lovely stadium . Track pretty good . Beer adequate .
Sheffield - Good stadium . Track a dog's breakfast . Beer good
Kings Lynn - it was 1992 when i was last there so it will be completely different now .
Coventry - Nice stadium . Track was too slick the night i went . Beer ok .
Mildenhall - ditto Kings Lynn
Somerset - Stadium basic , but ok . Track brilliant . Beer - no bar when i went , bloody Budweiser again .
Rye House - Stadium lovely . Track too slick . Beer ok
Swindon - Stadium adequate . Track ok . Beer ok
Newport - Stadium fine . Track a dustbowl . Beer beautiful

Dont think i've missed out any as that's it for the current tracks .

[Deleted]

Well, here goes, my first post 'in the weird world'..

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I have only ever been to two Elite League tracks.

I've been to Poole about 7 times or so I think, not quite sure. Ranging from back in 2002 for the ELRC upto last year watching the Pirates hammer a understrength Reading team when Matej Zagar pulled out after only one ride.. surprise eh? I also remember Jason Doyle dropping only 1 point after Jonas Davidsson passed him in heat 2. Best stadium I have ever been to in speedway (Cardiff apart of course) which creates a very good atmosphere. People often say Poole is a gaters track with no passing, but from my experience I have seen alot of great close racing at Poole.. and whenever I normally go.. they normally lose!Peterborough twice ;d

I've been to Swindon twice. Last season for the PLRC and the year before, the day after Cardiff, for the Elite League Pairs. Both times I have been there has been very few passes and whoever gets out in front at the start, will normally end up at the front by the end. At the PLRC last season I remember one pass, from our very Emil Kramer to score a single point ;d Bit of awkward place to find too.

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I have been to a fair few Premier League tracks and that list will continue as I travel to more tracks this year, for the first time.

Somerset of course is my home track and is only 5 minutes down the road from my house, which makes things very easy for me. Easy to get to for most people as it's just of the motorway. I've been going to Somerset since we started back in 2000 and I don't remember a bad meeting.. other than the terrible crash that Garry Stead had last year. Always get quality close racing, Gary Havelock vs. Magnus Zetterstrom last year was the best race ever IMO at the Oak Tree Arena. Plenty of view points from all around the stadium which all provide great coverage of the racing. Chilli and Chips.. beautful

I have been to Isle of Wight twice so far, and will be going for the 3rd time later in the year for the Somerset league meeting over there. (Typical though.. Somerset ALWAYS ran Isle of Wight close over there until the two times when I went and we got hammered! ) Jason Bunyan once said at Somerset "The Isle of Wight is such a easy track to ride. Just leave the throttle wide open, get as close to the fast as you can and hope for the best!" and from what I've seen on my two visits.. if you do that then there is no chance of passing them. Mighty fast track. Burger and Chips.. terrible

Had 2 visits to Reading (Today, Monday, would of been mine 3rd but for the blasted weather!) and the first time it was slick as anything. Seen one pass all night and that was only because Werner made a mistake and Mills passed him. The 2nd time we went, there was alot more dirt down and the track had water on it which made it very grippy around the outside and we seen some great racing. Ultimately, it made the track more in Somerset's favour as it was more like the Oak Tree and not the usual slick Smallmead Reading are used to.. and we won! Burger and Chips.. not bad, not bad

Sadly I won't get to make another trip to Newport this year, as I thoroughully enjoyed both the New Year Classic and the Somerset Premier Trophy encounter there this season. People told me before I went it was rubbish there and you don't get any passing. Both times I went I seen plenty of overtaking and close racing. Would of gone back again later in the year had they not sadly closed down.. (for this season anyway) Burger.. Average..

I also made my first ever visit to sunny Scunthorpe earlier this year. What a great little set up they have done there, right out of the way of local residents and can do what the hell they like when they want - If only every track could be like that! Was amazed at the width of the straights when I got there. The track was heavily watered as it was so sunny, the racing was superb in the first few heats. For some reason the track wasn't watered again during that meeting (only after before the Conference Meeting started) and it became very dusty, it was like walking through a desert when walking past the track and the racing was still good then.. just not as good as before when it had some water down. It became so slick the blue groove appearred! Well worth a visit to Scunny though! Burger and Chips with Curry Sauce.. Good

I've also been upto Birmingham for the Somerset meeting that never was.. I won't comment any further on that night as I will probably get banned from this site on my first night here! ;d Burger and Chips.. Average..

I'll be of to Mildenhall Sunday (Now I'm told the food there... or on the way ;d is excellent!), amongst other tracks hopefully in the year to come..

May 26, 2008 21:56:31 GMT @paulco said:

Somerset - Stadium basic , but ok . Track brilliant . Beer - no bar when i went , bloody Budweiser again .

That's strange Paulco, as we have always had a bar selling beers etc.. When was the last time you visited can I ask? Because if you come down this year, you will be pleasently surprised by a brand spanking new clubhouse ;d

[admin]

I think paulco was at Somerset for the Premier League Pairs last year, but I could be wrong.

[Deleted]

May 26, 2008 23:07:12 GMT admin said:

I think paulco was at Somerset for the Premier League Pairs last year, but I could be wrong.

In that case there was deffinetly a bar there. Set up 'in a little red box' next to the marquee that would of been set up then as a short term cover for the Clubhouse which is now fully finished and in full operation

[Deleted]

May 26, 2008 23:07:12 GMT admin said:

I think paulco was at Somerset for the Premier League Pairs last year, but I could be wrong.

I was , well once i got there that is ( around heat 6 because of the bloody M5 ) . And my mistake , the lovely Braveheart bought me a pint . The year before ( 2006 ) when i was there for the Tigers league meeting it was bottled beer from a van .
I will be there on June 13th , so i'll sample the new clubhouse then .

[braveheart]

May 27, 2008 0:34:53 GMT @paulco said:

May 26, 2008 23:07:12 GMT admin said:

I think paulco was at Somerset for the Premier League Pairs last year, but I could be wrong.

I was , well once i got there that is ( around heat 6 because of the bloody M5 ) . And my mistake , the lovely Braveheart bought me a pint . The year before ( 2006 ) when i was there for the Tigers league meeting it was bottled beer from a van .
I will be there on June 13th , so i'll sample the new clubhouse then .

And I would buy you a pint on June 13th but my lovely boss has taken my leave away from me

Best tracks:

Scunthorpe
Somerset
Glasgow
Edinburgh
Berwick
Workington
Birmingham

The only one I could mention for Elite is Wolverhampton.

As for food, Eastbourne has the best burger.

Beer, a nil point for Edinburgh and 10 points for Glasgow.

Reading is OK. Not brilliant but I would much rather have Reading as my closest track than Rye House.

Cheapest track, Sheffield.

Dearest track: Isle of Wight.

[Deleted]

May 27, 2008 0:34:53 GMT @paulco said:

May 26, 2008 23:07:12 GMT admin said:

I will be there on June 13th , so i'll sample the new clubhouse then .

Hopefully I'll see you then Paulco

[Deleted]

I'll throw my tuppence in here as well I think......

A lot of the tracks are based on my opinions as a youngster, when I loved nothing more than a view into the pits and a good grass bank to run around and sit on

I'll start with the defunct tracks (for sadly obvious reasons):

CRADLEY - The Theatre of Dreams, Mecca etc. My very favourite place to be on a Saturday night. Superb Racing, Hot Pork/Stuffing Sandwiches and open air toilets - what else could you wish for?
EXETER - Wow. Only managed to get there once but it became one of my favourite away venues. I think the best view I ever had of the sport was just as the riders came off the 4th bend looking into their eyes as they passed a matter of inches in front of me, fantastic.
LONG EATON - One of my favourite away venues back in the mid-90's. The riders came across the viewing area to reach the track which was pretty cool, you could make a "guard of honour" type thing
OXFORD (Sorry Genghis, I hope to move it before long) - Seem to remember watching from a fairly high vantage point on the home straight, apart from that I don't have anything negative to report (only went once so I can't remember the racing so much)
NEWPORT (Not sure where to put this one) - Visited a few times from 2000-2002 and whilst never taken aback by the quality of racing there were some entertaining heats.
CAMARTHEN - A great shame for Nigel and Gordon that they couldn't get the visitors to sustain the Dragons. Really enjoyed my visit there

Elite League next:

BELLE VUE - Been a few times, again fairly non-plussed in the main apart from my very first Cradley away match on my 10th birthday which is a highlight of my speedway watching "career". I wish I could have visited Hyde Road - it must have been a great experience
COVENTRY - Visited many times over the years and saw almost every match in 2001 + 2002. A nice size and if the track is prepared properly can provide some good racing, its a shame it has the reputation (or certainly did have) of being ultra slick all the time - could this be an Ole Olsen throw back
LAKESIDE - Not a big fan of small tracks and on my one and only visit the meeting was average from memory. Nice grass bank though....
PETERBOROUGH - Seen 2 or 3 meetings including a World Cup Final and World Under 21 Final and like the track and the stadium
POOLE - Nice stadium and normally good racing when I have been
SWINDON - Another favourite from my younger days (nice grass bank etc). I want to get down at least once more before it's too late
WOLVES - Used to love going there when we won ;D Loved sitting around the back straight just off the 2nd bend when it was allowed. Seems a great shame that there is a much smaller viewing area now and it still doesnt seem to fill up (although basing my view on crowds for Sky matches mustn't help). Not been for 6 years but sure the track still provides good racing on a regular basis

Premier League:
KINGS LYNN - Visited a few times between 00 and 02 and enjoyed the meetings very much. Also the scene of one of the best individual performances I have seen, from Mark Steel (riding for Club CH to a fantastic 18 point max).
MILDENHALL - Went once to a meeting when it was a conference league venue and the track was tricky in poor conditions. I'm sure the stadium has been improved since though. Wasn't particularly impressed with the Fish and Chips either
READING - Visited once many years ago, unfortunately not much to report
RYE HOUSE - Been 2 or 3 times and enjoyed the atmosphere, including walking the perimiter of the track with a group of others with boxes on our heads in a slightly drunken tribute to the Rocket Man
SOMERSET - Great facility, though its been 5 or 6 years since I visited, nice grass bank and great track (though a little dry on that occasion from memory)
STOKE - "Home" for one season, track is a nice shape and it was a pleasure to watch Les Collins stalk unsuspecting riders before passing them with ease. The air fence is a fantastic addition there as I always thought the wooden fences looked harsh (just ask John Wilson's femur). Terrible chips
WORKINGTON - Like the track, also like the opportunity to stop at the lakes for a drink on the way up.

And the Conference:
BUXTON - Beautiful Setting, the coldest place in the world - even in the summer. I bet Cup a Soup's sell in their thousands. The perfect conference league set-up
PLYMOUTH - The track is a little tricky but it is a good blueprint for anyone opening a new facility(similar to Somerset in that regard I suppose). Have enjoyed my visits there

That's about it I think

[Deleted]

I will wait until Genghis returns from Scotland (IF they let him out that is!) and composes his tome before doing mine! Only current track I haven't been to in all three leagues at present (which I hope to put right this year) is Redcar and attended meetings at many, many now sadly defunct circuits including where it all began for me - West Ham as well as several in Europe and Australia too.
Don't want to sound crass but not sure that this ageing brainbox of mine will stretch to remembering them all but I'll give it a go, AFTER Genghis!

[Deleted]

Arena Essex - bit of a dump TBH. Haven't been this season, but went a few times last season. Food is shit there.
Belle Vue - Haven't been.
Coventry - Haven't been for about 5 years, so can't really comment on the food. Nice stadium though.
Eastbourne - Again, haven't been for a few years now.
Ipswich - Go every week. Stadium's nothing special, food basic and expensive.
Peterborough - Haven't been for a few years. Stadium's not bad, can't comment on the food.
Poole - Last went in 2002. Nice stadium, can't comment on the food.
Swindon - Haven't been.
Wolverhampton - Haven't been.

Berwick - Haven't been.
Birmingham - Went last season to see Mildenhall get hammered. Lovely stadium, one of the best I've been to speedway wise. Didn't bother with food - there's a McDonald's opposite.
Edinburgh - Haven't been for a few years.
Glasgow - Haven't been.
Isle of Wight - Basic stadium, basic food.
Kings Lynn - Not a bad stadium, food gives you a gut ache.
Mildenhall - Basic stadium, nice fish and chips.
Newcastle - Haven't been.
Reading - Haven't been.
Redcar - Nice little set-up. Cold and expensive food.
Rye House - Not a bad stadium, nice fish and chips.
Scunthorpe - Haven't been.
Sheffield - Lovely stadium, nice food.
Somerset - Haven't been.
Stoke - Bit of a dump, it's a bit like a bog actually. I nearly sunk while I was there! Average food.
Workington - Haven't been.

Buxton - Unique little place. Basic food.
Plymouth - Haven't been.
Sittingbourne - Haven't been.
Weymouth - haven't been.

[Deleted]

Arena Essex - haven't been for many years. Didn't have a safety fence when I went and you needed a pair of binoculars just to see the track. Very small. Can't remember how good the racing was, so I guess it was about average.

Belle Vue - went to the Craven Shield last year and it was terrible. Riders weren't even broadsiding on the bends. Went again this year and it was better, but still seemd to cause a lot of errors. Need a stepladder to see the track as it's about 20 feet in the air.

Coventry - good track, good stadium and a lovely yellow glow to the place.

Eastbourne - Egg.

Ipswich - reminds me of Reading.

Peterborough - good fast track, but when I went it was really dusty and a bit of a nightmare. Best pits view in the country.

Poole - it's alright.

Swindon - there are a lot of processions, but I don't know why because every now and then it throws up a great race, and it one race can be great then there's no reason why others can't be too. I guess that's the same everywhere though.

Wolves - you get plenty of passing, but normally because the rider in front gets confused. For me the racing always comes across better on TV as it does when you're actually there.

King's Lynn - big and fast. My kind of track (or it was in about 1983 anyway, which must have been the only time I've been there). A shame it's too dangerous to the world's greatest riders after a spit of rain though.

Reading - reminds me of Ipswich.