THE FUTURE OF BRITISH SPEEDWAY
In 2016 Coventry stadium closed it's doors to all forms of motorsport. It's now true that we live in an age where it's acceptable to close a venue rich in sporting history, leaving it descending into disrepair. This was a place where the world best riders came to do battle, league titles were won, British championships were contested in front of bumper crowds. A place that held Grand Prix's, British riders lifted trophies on the world stage and a steppingstone to crowning a British World Champion. This City was declared the European City of Sport just months after allowing a motorsports venue with a speedway history dating back to 1928 close it's doors and lay dormant.
Just 2 year's later, the speedway world was rocked once again when Lakeside's home at Purfleet, closed it's doors, the Arena Essex Hammers consigned to the history books. A sporting body put together by the government to protect sports facilities and their rich heritage and history later recommended to councils the destruction of the motorsport's venue to develop houses and a swimming pool.
High Beech in Epping Forest, a place of significant importance to the history of motorsport in the UK doesn't even carry a plaque to show where it started. People can pass through the very birthplace of our sport without ever knowing it existed.
The green age is open us; motorsports are on the front lines facing daily battles to survive, some flourishing, others are in retreat, the digital era is showing them the door, and it must adapt to survive.
Could a sport once featured on premium channels on a Saturday night descend into a semi-professional pastime? Could the sport cease to exist as we know it? Has any other sport succumbed to its wounds and died off entirely?
Speedway's loyal followers are ageing. People within the sport whose passion knows no limits acknowledge that change needs to come. Every winter, we wait and hope for the magic wand, the answer to all our problems, every spring, we stand and watch, knowing that it's not enough.People often describe Speedway as a terminal cancer patient, battling hard to survive the many challenges it faces, but knowing the end is inevitable. Negative thought breeds adverse action; it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I think it would be more accurate to describe Speedway's plight differently; it's the green grass on the lawn. Once well cut and a beautiful green, the weeds started to grow and take hold, the grass making way for moss with yellows and browns dominating the landscape.
But, with love and care, the weeds can be treated, the debris removed. New seeds sewn in rich new soil full of minerals. The lawn will look brown for a while, maybe more mud than grass, but patience, in our plan to rebuild. Patience that one day, the grass can be green again and flourish.
In 1964 the sport had just 7 teams in the topflight and 12 in the second division, it came back from that with strength and resilience, it can do it again. Together, we can save British Speedway.
Current Issues with the Speedway
Improving the Sport