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Attention All Speedway Promoters
By Robert J. Rogers
How would you like to bring the sport back to the Capital of Great Britain?
How would you like a Stadium that has wonderful transport links right next to it, including an airport only 2 miles away, with major links to Europe?
How would you like a brand new stadium in an area which has a great Speedway History?
How would you like a stadium that has only houses on one side and between them and the stadium is a railway?
How would you like to be in an area where Billions of Pounds are going to be spent?
Seems too good to be true?
The rumour in the Newham area of east London is that the West Ham Football team are to have a brand new Stadium built on Brown Belt land.
The site is a part of the old chemical factory and royal mail depot in an area often referred to as 'old' Canning Town.
As the football team are well know for going 'up and down' like Tower Bridge in the leagues, and are currently going back down to Div One (unless a major Miracle happens!), the builders of the stadium may like a second attraction.
The stadium site will be less than one mile from the new Stratford City, and two miles from the 2012 Olympic Site.
It will be linked by the Jubilee, District and Metropolitan Underground System, the C2C overground system and the Dockland Light railway's Olympic link, which is going across into South London (any old New Cross Fans still about?)
The site will be as near as it matters half way between the Old Custom House stadium for the old Hammers and the Hackney Stadium for the old Hawks.
Must be worth at least somebody asking?
"As a long time Hammer I applaud
Robert's comments regarding getting speedway back to the capital But....
The idea of a speedway team surviving in a 60000 all seater stadium makes me remember how bad the atmosphere at Wembley was last time round.
As Robert states it is a brownfield site but would still be plagued with the normal noise problems as there are stiil a lot of homes
surrounding the site.
It is going to be very difficult to get the sport back into the metropolis but I do admire anyone trying.
One further point of a negative nature however is why West Ham United FC are looking at this site. Everyone tipped the Irons to move to the
Olympic Stadium when finished but the stumbling block was the running track around the pitch. The football club rightly state that the
atmosphere is spoilt with the fans so far away so this would rule out a speedway track around the pitch.
However real food for thought would be the scaled down Olympic Stadium itself. It will revert to a 25000 all seater for athletics. Could that
ground be shared....It's still in the old Greater London Borough of West Ham and Mayor Liningstone states it must be multi use. But then
again The Mayor seems anti anything with an engine in it!
Its great to see speedway back in the second city will it ever return to the capital?....Like Robert I dream on......"
This article was first published on 29th March 2007
"I saw a programme on cable television last week and it seems that Walthamstow dogs are in trouble and will probably have to close unless they can generate more income. This could be a possible site for a speedway team."
"Sadly I have to agree 100% with what Harry said. The anti-noise, anti motor sport brigade who have now started on Formula 1 for wasting fuel etc would never let permission get through for such an event. It is Speedway's old problem, in town it is to noisy, and out of town it is hard to get to. Still like winning the Lottery, we can always dream!
On a slightly different subject, well done to the Birmingham Management, they seem to have made a succesful return of our sport to a major city (after something like 20 years) with a team that was famous in it days. They also have, as much as possible in these days of Sponsorship, kept their race jacket true to the glory days of the Brummies, a subject that had a lot of airing in the close season, with some team jackets now just a blur of odd shapes. Their website is also developing nicely. So there is still a hope for a London club, and it would be nice if it is one which can link with the History of the Sport."
"Maybe Mr Livingstone could be persuaded by the fact that speedway angines run on methanol, also known as wood alcohol, and are therefore environmentally friendly! (sort of)"
"I think it a great idea to bring speedway back to London. Wimbledon was the last stronghold and the GRA did us no favours at all when they kicked us of Plough Lane. I am Editor of the Voice, the offical journal of Friends of Speedway and offer my magazine as a launchpad to give this a try."
"I would love it!!! We all wish!!!"
"As a long time Hammer I applaud
Robert's comments regarding getting speedway back to the capital But....
The idea of a speedway team surviving in a 60000 all seater stadium makes me remember how bad the atmosphere at Wembley was last time round.
As Robert states it is a brownfield site but would still be plagued with the normal noise problems as there are stiil a lot of homes
surrounding the site.
It is going to be very difficult to get the sport back into the metropolis but I do admire anyone trying.
One further point of a negative nature however is why West Ham United FC are looking at this site. Everyone tipped the Irons to move to the
Olympic Stadium when finished but the stumbling block was the running track around the pitch. The football club rightly state that the
atmosphere is spoilt with the fans so far away so this would rule out a speedway track around the pitch.
However real food for thought would be the scaled down Olympic Stadium itself. It will revert to a 25000 all seater for athletics. Could that
ground be shared....It's still in the old Greater London Borough of West Ham and Mayor Liningstone states it must be multi use. But then
again The Mayor seems anti anything with an engine in it!
Its great to see speedway back in the second city will it ever return to the capital?....Like Robert I dream on......"