Arena Essex Closing

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Discussion

bad company

Original Poster:

19,485 posts

273 months

chunder27

2,309 posts

215 months

Friday 3rd August 2018
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No shock really, was mainly a banger track and with Spedeworth pushing Ipswich so hard now and Mildenhall, the old London banger teams have kind of moved on.

Nothing else really worked there, is in a plot that must be worth millions, though most of it seems to be tunnel and Lakeside spoil, so likely to only be yet another logistics centre likely.

Great track, but for cars suffered form the speedway on the middle, meaning tar was always dirty.

but back in the day one the best banger tracks if you like that sort of thing, and fed some huge rivalries.


bad company

Original Poster:

19,485 posts

273 months

Saturday 4th August 2018
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I hope the speedway team survive but I really can’t see how they can.

chunder27

2,309 posts

215 months

Sunday 5th August 2018
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They will possibly go to Ipswich, probably the closer track, but Rye House has gone too. Tracks closing everywhere right now, all because of th epressure made by mass immigration putting on housing

Apparently Arena is going to be housing.

On tunnel spoil!!! What a pathetic cou ntry we live in where you can build on crap like that.

bad company

Original Poster:

19,485 posts

273 months

Monday 6th August 2018
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Shame. I used to watch a lot of speedway some years ago. We had tracks at West Ham, Hackney, Romford, Crayford, Wimbledon and Wembley. Now none left in London as far as I know.

vjay48

194 posts

166 months

Monday 6th August 2018
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chunder27 said:
They will possibly go to Ipswich, probably the closer track, but Rye House has gone too. Tracks closing everywhere right now, all because of th epressure made by mass immigration putting on housing

Apparently Arena is going to be housing.

On tunnel spoil!!! What a pathetic cou ntry we live in where you can build on crap like that.
The reason that speedway is closing is not rubbish about immigration and housing,its a poor product,£18 for 15 minutes racing,riders who earn more in one race in Poland tha one meeting in the UK etc.

chunder27

2,309 posts

215 months

Tuesday 7th August 2018
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Err how do you think teams attract riders of the GP scene to ride for them? Might you not think you the fan has to pay some of that?

vjay48

194 posts

166 months

Tuesday 7th August 2018
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chunder27 said:
Err how do you think teams attract riders of the GP scene to ride for them? Might you not think you the fan has to pay some of that?
Attendances of a few hundred prove than fans have lost interest in the sport,that is why there are only 7 teams in Premier league,promoters/fans cannot pay for GP riders.

Mr Tidy

24,348 posts

134 months

Monday 13th August 2018
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Such a shame, but given where it is it was only a matter of time sadly.

A mate of mine was in the salvage business back in the 80s, and his 1st foray onto any track was a banger race at Arena Essex in a 2 door MK3 Cortina GT with high-back seats (maybe he should have kept it)!

Anyway thanks to him my 1st drive on any circuit was at Arena in the late 80s in a MK1 Ford Consul - handling was great, but the V4 was so gutless I ended up in the fence - twice! laugh

He went on to race with Spedeworth in stock-rods, Stock-cars and Hot Rods (against Rob Collard, among others) at places like Wisbech, Aldershot and Wimbledon - but they've all closed too! banghead



chunder27

2,309 posts

215 months

Monday 13th August 2018
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Yes, short oval racing is facing an uncertain future really. Shame, as although it has a bad image, the racing there is far better than you will see in most other series. It's cheaper, you can see everything, and often dont have to travel far.