Peter Oakes heads back to Peterborough

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OAKES HEADS BACK TO SHOWGROUND

Monday November 02, 2009
PETER Oakes is on his way back to Peterborough as the club’s new Director of Speedway.

Oakes will leave his position as Coventry’s team manager to work alongside Panthers chiefs Rick Frost and Trevor Swales.

He said: “It’s an exciting challenge for me and one I am really looking forward to, we spent hours talking over ideas and we want to improve things for the benefit of Peterborough and its supporters.”


(From BSPA)

(Apologies if this has already been posted - have been away for a couple of days)


Edit....and full story on Panther site....

www.peterboroughspeedway.net/news.php?extend.718

[zonkers]

05 November 2009
By Mark Plummer

TIME might have changed and the Showground track might have been tweaked in the years Oakes has been away. But he is adamant the same formula for success will still serve the club well.
Oakes is a champion of young talent (just what you would expected from a man who has run British Under 15 and Under 18 championships and managed the national Under 21 set-up) and always works with one eye on tomorrow as well as today.

He oversaw a conveyer belt of fine young talent from the city track during the 1990s and is keen to set the wheels in motion in that respect again.

David Howe, Simon Stead, Oliver Allen, Ross Brady were all British lads that zoomed off the Panthers production line during Oakes' previous Panthers stint.

He was also the man that drafted in a 16 year-old Aussie by the name of Jason Crump and brought another teenager from Down Under to this part of the world - the one and only Ryan Sullivan.

Others to grace the junior set-up back then were Scott Nicholls and a 14 year-old Nicki Pedersen.

Oakes added: "Yes, time changes but the basics do not and I have very clear ideas about what will hopefully bring success.

"We won't just be about building a team and trying to achieve success in the present. There will also be a big emphasis on finding and developing young riders for the future which is something I believe in doing massively.

"I think it is something that has been neglected somewhat in recent years and the first thing we will be doing is restoring second-half racing. I was a regular watcher at the Showground last season and it was a sorry sight not seeing the youngsters going round after the meeting.

"I certainly want to sign young riders for the future so as when we get to 2013 and 2014 we know where our team is going to be coming from.

"It can be hard to plan for tomorrow in speedway due to the way the rules and regulations can change, but it is something you have to do.

"We developed a decent formula in the 1990s and we again want to start what in essence will be a speedway academy so as we can provide youngsters with the backing they need - and that doesn't just mean on the financial side.

"I have brought young riders through at every club I've ever been at. I am a man that wants to see British boys riding in the top British league."

Oakes departed at the end of 1998 but his legacy lived on with incredible success.

All seven members of the Panthers side that stormed to Elite League glory the following season had come through the ranks during Oakes' tenure.

"One of my last memories of my first spell with Panthers was attending the Evening Telegraph Sports Awards early in 1999," recalled Oakes. "Panthers were lucky enough to win the team of the year prize for what they achieved in '98.

"I was not part of their party at the event but was a guest with someone else. Jan Andersen, the captain of the '98 team went up onto stage to collect the award and brought it to me at my table.

"He said it was for me and I still have it on display in my office today."


(From www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/speedway/Young-speedway-talent-will-blossom.5800206.jp)

[zonkers]

Speedway: New lease of life for Peter the pensioner

05 November 2009
By Mark Plummer

PETER Oakes has just received his bus pass, but he is no ordinary senior citizen.
The hugely-respected 65 year-old journalist and speedway guru has kissed goodbye to any thoughts of a quiet, relaxing life. Instead, at a time when most are winding down and settling into the reclining chair, Oakes has taken on an almighty challenge in the Panthers hotseat.

Oakes was unveiled as the club's new director of speedway over the weekend. That's a big title for what he already appreciates will be a big job. Basically he will be responsible for running the club on behalf of owner Rick Frost.

But it is not one that will daunt a man who enjoyed great success in his first spell as Peterborough chief between 1992 and 1998.

He was the first man to deliver a league title to Alwalton and also added plenty more honours to his collection in the final year of his reign before selling.

Oakes said: "It's good to be back and I'm looking forward to having a big input in a club - and being so local is also a big help. I can almost jump on my pushbike and be there in five minutes.

"I certainly still think I have something to offer otherwise I wouldn't be taking on a challenge of this magnitude.

"There were only two jobs I would have considered leaving Coventry to take on - one was relaunching the club at Exeter which Allen Trump has tried so hard to make happen and the other was returning to Peterborough.

"I've been lucky to enough have a few highs in speedway over the years and I certainly fancy a few more. I'm as enthusiatic about the sport as I've ever been, the club has a lot to offer me and it might just turn into a new lease of life.

"This would have been an almost impossible job 18 months ago but the work Rick has already put in since his takeover in August, 2008 means the club now has total credibility once again.

"Myself and James Easter had to do that when we took over in 1992 after the previous promotion had gone bust in 1991 - and I know from personal experience that it is not easy.

"But Rick has already done that so I have a much better foundation to build on than this time than I did back in '92.

"I was very impressed with what Rick had to say when we spoke about the position.

"I would not want to work for a cowboy or a fly-by-night bloke and I know I am not. Rick is a very genuine man and a very successful businessman."

Oakes was the first Panthers owner to deliver league title success to this city - ending a 22-year wait in his first season at the club. He is still hungry for more and hopes his initial three-year appointment will go on further.

Oakes continued: "I won more trophies than any other Peterborough owner which is obviously something I'm very proud about. The club had not won a league title until we arrived in 1992 and had a great year.

"Then in 1998 we literally won everything - the league, the KO Cup, the fours, the pairs and the Premier League riders' championship thanks to Glenn Cunningham.

"I was told I wasn't welcome after I sold out initially and things did become a bit acrimonious, but that is all water under the bridge.

"I've not looked at this as unfinished business - I just see it as a continuation. I signed off on the back of one of the club's two greatest seasons the club has ever enjoyed and I am returning ahead of their 40th anniversary season.

"I've committed for a minimum of three years but I'd like to think my position will continue beyond that.

"These things take time. You can't turn a club around in a few weeks, six months or even a season. Knowing I'm going to be here for a long period of time means I can look well ahead into the future as well."


(From www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/speedway/Speedway-New-lease-of-life.5798125.jp?articlepage=1)

[zonkers]

Speedway: Swales and Oakes go back a long way
New Peterborough Panthers director of speedway


05 November 2009


THEY go back 17 years and Peter Oakes is confident he and team manager Trevor Swales will enjoy an excellent working relationship.
Both men will do their utmost to ensure there is a happy atmosphere at Alwalton next season.

Oakes believes that is vital if the city side are to stand a chance of challenging for honours in their milestone year.

Oakes said: "Trevor was the first new person I got to know through speedway when I took over here back in 1992. He and his family were an enormous help to both myself and my family when we moved to the area.

"We were struggling crowd-rise quite early on in our time and both Richard Greer and Trevor had to come to my house and persuade me not to throw in the towel. I'm very grateful for that because everything worked out very well in the end.

"Myself and Trevor have already chatted at length since I've been back on board and it is good to have someone to bounce ideas off.

"One of the main jobs will be to ensure there is a good spirit within the camp. Riders to have a habit of keeping things to themselves, but if there is a problem we need to know about it and help to put it right.

"They have to have confidence in people like Trevor and myself to feel able to talk to us.

"We also want to get fans more involved in the club. There needs to be a happy atmosphere at the Showground.

"The only way you win things and challenge for honours is by having a happy bunch. If they don't have a smile on their faces then they have to have on in their hearts."

Oakes admits the big poser facing Panthers bosses is whether to attempt to attract a top-line number one rider to spearhead their team to set-up a side where the emphasis is on strength in depth.

He continued: "The big decision we have to make is which route we go in our team-building.

"We can go one of two ways - either look to bring in a recognised number one rider or build with more strength throughout the team in mind.

"But we are looking at riders that we believe would come in on bargain averages. Were that to happen we might have scope to add riders of higher averages in other areas.

"I think too many teams become obsessed with building a team to as close to the total as possible and lose sight of the fact that it is all about putting together the best one to seven you possibly can.

"Hopefully we will be able to do that. No-one puts together a team with the intention of struggling after all, do they?"


(From www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/speedway/Speedway-Swales-and-Oakes-go.5798124.jp )


So......looks like Mark Plummer has been rather busy today !!

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NEW TEAM AT THE TOP

CO-OWNER Julie Mahoney and Director of Speedway Peter Oakes have become promoters at Peterborough.

They join co-owner Rick Frost who has been the sole promoter since the end of last season to form a new-look leadership team.

Julie, who is also the Readypower Panthers’ Finance Director, has been a major influence since she and Rick saved the club from closure in August, 2008.

Oakes, a former Panthers’ owner, returned to the East of England Showground in December after a successful five-and-a-half years as joint team manager at Coventry, where he guided the Bees to six major trophies, including two Elite League titles.

The pair were interviewed by the British Speedway Promoters’ Association Management Committee on Wednesday afternoon before being formally accepted as new co-promoters of the Elite League outfit.

Rick Frost said: “The intention always was for Julie and Peter to join me as promoters but they had first to apply and be formally accepted bythe BSPA.

“We have a united management team in place at Peterborough with everyone working successfully and happily together and this will continue under the new arrangement.

“I’m delighted to have Julie and Peter on board as co-promoters.”

*RELEASE DATE: Thursday 28 January 2010 *


www.peterboroughspeedway.co.uk/news.php?extend.802

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And about time too! The BSPA needs more women on board!

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Jan 28, 2010 17:01:50 GMT @munners said:

And about time too! The BSPA needs more women on board!

Really....?? My dream job !

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Jan 28, 2010 17:01:50 GMT @munners said:

And about time too! The BSPA needs more women on board!

Don't know about that, regardless of sex, colour or creed i'd just like to see a board that put the sport first and not their own personal interests.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2010 17:01:50 GMT @munners said:

And about time too! The BSPA needs more women on board!

I hope you're not refering to 'the pansy voiced Peter Oakes'?

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2009 16:05:54 GMT @zonkers said:

"I think it is something that has been neglected somewhat in recent years and the first thing we will be doing is restoring second-half racing. I was a regular watcher at the Showground last season and it was a sorry sight not seeing the youngsters going round after the meeting."

Didn't last long did it