Racers back on track

[Deleted]

Probably only of interest to Genghis, Matt J, Rosepip and myself but Swindon are to host an open meeting, probably in August featuring teams from Reading, Oxford, Cradley and I guess Swindon.

Gary Patchett has received official approval to stage the meeting at the Abbey Stadium. Hope they do the 3 homeless (i refuse to call them defunct) clubs proud and put out a decent & relative line up for the clubs concerned.

[Deleted]

Thanks for posting this, I have been meaning to get back to Swindon, which was one of my favourite away trips as a kid, before it closes. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan

[Deleted]

Woohoo ;D

At least we'll get to see the Racers once in 2009 then!

Pip

[Deleted]

First riders announced for 4TT

Phil Morris returns to the Racers fold for the evening, Adam Shields heads up the Cradley team and Troy Batchelor will line up for the Robins.

[Deleted]

Taken from the BSPA.....is this cause for real hope, or another false dawn?

READING Speedway fans will have to wait a little longer before witnessing the start of building work on their new stadium.

When the old Smallmead stadium closed down in October 2008, plans were prepared for a new venue in Island Road. The deadline for Gaming International, who have the controlling rights, to confirm these plans will be effected, has now passed, but has been extended until next March.

This is in order to allow Gaming International to meet a number of conditions which are necessary before construction starts.

A council statement read: "Reading Borough Council’s position has always been that we remain fully committed to the delivery of a new stadium to host top-class speedway and greyhound racing in Reading, and that remains the case."

[Genghis]

Jul 15, 2010 17:38:30 GMT @kevh said:

Taken from the BSPA.....is this cause for real hope, or another false dawn?

READING Speedway fans will have to wait a little longer before witnessing the start of building work on their new stadium.

When the old Smallmead stadium closed down in October 2008, plans were prepared for a new venue in Island Road. The deadline for Gaming International, who have the controlling rights, to confirm these plans will be effected, has now passed, but has been extended until next March.

This is in order to allow Gaming International to meet a number of conditions which are necessary before construction starts.

A council statement read: "Reading Borough Council’s position has always been that we remain fully committed to the delivery of a new stadium to host top-class speedway and greyhound racing in Reading, and that remains the case."

It'll be interesting to see what Wacks make of this.

In my opinion, this is bad news for the Racers. Whilst those bastards Gaming International are pissing around, no-one else can move forward and get the stadium built. It's not good news that Gaming International can hold things up for a further period - the sooner they piss out of the picture, the better for Reading.

[Deleted]

I'm sure I'd love to have a track back if it was a real possibility, but I'm a bit past caring tbh Found plenty of other ways to spend £200 a month the past couple of years.

From attending weekly meetings for 34 seasons at Smallmead, I've been to 3 meetings since it closed, and even only really watch the GP's on Sky now as the EL is so dull.

Think the lack of news from the Club, coupled with the lack of enthusiasm from the fans to initiate any form of save our speedway type group indicates most people in the Reading area feel the same way.

[Deleted]

Jul 15, 2010 23:40:07 GMT @wacks said:

as the EL is so dull.

Very true Wackster. Shame it takes the losing of one's club, for supporters to see the truth.

British speedway needs a massive shake up before it's too late..

[Genghis]

Jul 16, 2010 7:43:45 GMT @hatcham said:

Jul 15, 2010 23:40:07 GMT @wacks said:

as the EL is so dull.

Very true Wackster. Shame it takes the losing of one's club, for supporters to see the truth.

British speedway needs a massive shake up before it's too late..

Yep, a big change really is needed - I haven't been to much speedway this year, but when I have, the attendances are not good.

But the problem is that mistrust that exists between most promoters, so don't expect any big changes any time soon.

And although there is still quite a few tracks within easy reach, the loss of Oxford & Reading means most of the surrounding tracks are at EL level, and that's just not my bag, especially in its current sorry state.

If Reading were running at PL level, I think there's a lot of people from the Oxford area who would make the odd journey there. It helps that Reading weren't the arch enemy - that was Swindon.

Shame that Gaming International seem intent on killing Reading Speedway, with a lot of bluff over building a stadium that they were supposed to build three years ago.

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2010 13:55:54 GMT Genghis said:

Shame that Gaming International seem intent on killing Reading Speedway, with a lot of bluff over building a stadium that they were supposed to build three years ago.

It always smelt like BS to be honest, just the same as that bunch promising to resurrect Long Eaton as few years back. Sometimes you just have a hunch it's not going to turn out well.

In addition, whilst not in quite the same category, I suspected that Exeter's efforts would come to nothing as soon as Allen Trump went off to Coventry, and so it's proved.