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Post by ianoxford on Nov 20, 2008 20:43:16 GMT
So the 2009 winter speedway conferences have been done and dusted and the name of oxford speedway nowhere to be seen, we all know the reasons why , the deal by nick Andrews Ian kirrke and Jon cook Pulled at the 11th hour .
So the question is is this the end of oxford speedway for good is it rip ?
I believe its time to move on and sort out a new track with council backing there must be a suitable bit of land to build a new track on
As the currant landlords are not keen on the return of speedway
Or is it oxford cheetahs rip? ?
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Post by browny on Nov 21, 2008 19:32:11 GMT
Does feel a bit like that at the moment doesn't it. Problem is that even if the GRA choose at some point in the future to allow speedway back will the fan base have simply found something better to do with their time and money
One year out could have had the effect of galvanising support, having two years out feels a bit terminal
Hope not though
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Post by The Lord Napier on Nov 22, 2008 14:39:37 GMT
Sorry to say but I don't think we'll see another Speedway track in the city or county, the planning laws and local opinion would be against it, and the cost of even a basic circuit runs into thousands - who would take the risk these days and for a hardcore of a couple of hundred? - and you know I'm not even sure I'd want to go to another circuit apart from Cowley which was a second home for years.
So long as the stadium and track is there at Sandy Lane there's hope, and after the terrible decline we went through a proper re-launch after a decent break of a few years could be an advantage.
I often wondered how it would be if we closed but I've not missed the sport this year though I still think about it, I went to Smallmead once but I've no interest without The Cheetahs - anyone feel the same?
I'd love to be standing on the pits bend again one more time though...
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Post by browny on Nov 22, 2008 17:58:36 GMT
I often wondered how it would be if we closed but I've not missed the sport this year though I still think about it, I went to Smallmead once but I've no interest without The Cheetahs - anyone feel the same? I'd love to be standing on the pits bend again one more time though... I have to say that I did not miss it.............however that was because it wasn't Oxford. I went to Sw****n once to watch Ales Dryml, the meeting was rained off and I did not use my readmission ticket for the restaging. I also went to Reading but while it was a brilliant effort by Nick Andrews to put the team on the track it was not the same and not enjoyable We do have to cling to the hope of a return but if its not an Oxford team then quite honestly I can't say I am interested enough to go anywhere
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Post by robthebuilder on Nov 25, 2008 17:26:35 GMT
After watching oxford since I was four years old and being brought up on it,and then bringing my three kids to see the action,I was gutted when news broke last year of no speedway.This year I went to see the Oxford lads in action at Reading and Swindon,but apart from that saw two other meetings plus Cardiff.So from going from every week to virtually nothing says it all.I obviously didn't miss the sport that much but that's more down to the fact that there was not my team to follow. Chris you are right to say the longer it goes on,people will find other interests and may not return due to other things. Having said that,I would bet my mortgage on seeing all the usual suspects if the miracle did occur,back at Cowley!! On a slightly different note for those of you out there who I only saw at speedway meetings,my youngest,William(7 now) is now training under Oxford United,lets hope there future gets sorted also.You never know with all the money these top footballers earn these days,he could be our future promoter!!Watch this space!Cheers!
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Post by scott on Jan 18, 2009 22:03:21 GMT
Its not good at the moment but certainly not the end!
While the stadiums still standing speedway will always have a chance and if there is a sniff of a chance I'm sure there will be interest cause of Oxfords previous longevity in speedway!
The Council wouldn't let the stadium be redeveloped, so hopefully the firm that controls the GRA will be bought out by an organisation that wants to maximise the stadiums use as a sports venue!
Other clubs have successfully returned after absences far longer than our 2 years!
Reopening old venues isn't easy but it does happen from time to time!
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Post by The Lord Napier on Feb 22, 2009 23:30:01 GMT
I noticed triple h posted on the BSF that part of the track had been dug up. Anymore information on this? is it being removed?
I haven't been there since the last meeting, is everything else like the pits buildings still in place and usable?
We can still dream.
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Post by browny on Feb 24, 2009 0:03:51 GMT
I noticed triple h posted on the BSF that part of the track had been dug up. Anymore information on this? is it being removed? I haven't been there since the last meeting, is everything else like the pits buildings still in place and usable? We can still dream. Geoff Barber was at the track last week and never mentioned the track being dug up in any way. We will follow this one up though I have remained in close contact with the local council and have indirect contact with the Planning Director for Oxford City Council through a local councillor. He has said that there is currently no awareness in the planning department of any application to redevelop the site although he did suggest that when the market was more bouyant prior to Christmas that there may have been something planned. I understand also that Risk Capital Partners HAVE renegotiated the loans and therefore this issue has gone away. Rumours do not however go away that the stadium has been or is in the process of being sold. Sadly for some reason the local press have no interest in persuing any story relating to the stadium and the GRA an it is certainly not for the want of trying on behalf of Rob Peasley As for the pits etc, everything is still there. Indeed at no point have the GRA asked for anything to be removed from ther pits so all the track equipment is still there
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Post by jasperwasp on Apr 1, 2009 11:17:22 GMT
hi browny do you know if there is any promoters out there willing to run speedway ,if the time comes .for speedway can run.back at cowley
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Post by scott on Apr 1, 2009 16:26:34 GMT
Messrs Jon Cook and Tony Mole together with some others wanted to run speedway at Oxford this year so I'd imagine that them as well as possibly ohters would be interested in running speedway at Oxford.
I don't think its a question of is their anyone who wants to run speedway at Oxford, its more about when the owners of the GRA the money firm realise that the stadium will not be allowed to be developed or they sell up to owners that want to fully exploit the stadiums potential as a leisure venue and therefore would immediately look to reinstate the speedway!
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Post by ianoxford on Apr 2, 2009 20:19:03 GMT
i belive that john cook has already said that when oxford speedway is up and running he said he would like to be involved, the biggest problem i belive is untill the stadium changes hands speedway will not return to cowley , have heard that if a promotor wanted a short lease then maybe something could be sorted out but its only hear say
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Post by browny on Apr 4, 2009 8:09:39 GMT
Latest update from the local council (who are still very much with us) is that there is still no contact from the GRA in terms of what they may or may not want to do with the stadium. Its no secret that before Xmas the council were approached to see what options there may be because since the recession hit all approaches from the GRA have stopped
Just the rumours of a new buyer kicking round at the moment.
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Post by browny on Apr 4, 2009 8:11:55 GMT
i belive that john cook has already said that when oxford speedway is up and running he said he would like to be involved, the biggest problem i belive is untill the stadium changes hands speedway will not return to cowley , have heard that if a promotor wanted a short lease then maybe something could be sorted out but its only hear say Problem is Ian that nobody is going to go into Oxford without a decent sized lease due to the restart costs. We have no safety fence and need track equipment. The investment is not huge but you would need somelevel fo certainty about the future before you went in to Oxford to run it.
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Post by jasperwasp on Apr 9, 2009 15:29:11 GMT
who took the safty fence down then chris brown. and where is it.
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Post by The Lord Napier on Apr 10, 2009 10:35:43 GMT
I think the air fence went to storage in Exeter in the ownership of somebody... Chris will know. has the fence behind this gone too?
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