Speedway Controversy

[AndyT]

http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/08/31/speedway-lakeside-hammers-move-rye-house/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2009/04/09/rayleigh_rockets_feature.shtml

I saw the Rayleigh Rockets in action. Couldn't have been more than 10 years old, but remember it now.

Also, a couple of times while on holiday, we saw the Ipswich Witches.

Good times, they were.

 

[Amwell Blue]

Rye House has both a speedway track and a karting track. Some guy called Lewis Hamilton raced there.

 

[Shrimpers are Magic]

The Rayleigh Rockets? I did not know this!

 

[Firestorm]

The Rayleigh Rockets? I did not know this!

The stadium used to be where sainsbury's and that estate by the 127 at the weir (which was a roundabout in those days) is now

 

[Blueronron]

Hackney use to have a decent speedway team in my youth

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Hackney use to have a decent speedway team in my youth

So did Spam. They shared a Stadium owned by the Greyhound association. The stadium was sold for development, and that was the end of greyhound racing and speedway.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

I remember as a kid that the World Stock car championship was held at the Rayleigh Weir Stadium. There were posters for it all over Southend. I think the last few years it was Speedway and Stock car racing.

https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/580869/189551/12/100954

 

[MK Shrimper]

My (now) elderly mum & dad used to go probably long before I was born, but it must of been local to Romford as they never drove. It used to be quite big back in the 50s & 60s I believe.

I shall enquire.

 

[mattitouk]

Apparently there used to be speedway at the Brooklands stadium in Romford (home to the Romford Bombers) but they were only there from 1969 - 1971.

If you believe your parents went before then, i think the closest one to Romford in the 50's and 60's would be the West Ham Stadium in Prince Regent Lane, At a guess probably just over half an hour away on a bus from Romford.

 

[kaymac]

Rayleigh Rockets ceased in 1973 and became Rye House from 1974 used to go with my dad a few times a season. The Easter Bank Holiday stock cars meeting used to attract thousands to the arena. Sad it's all gone.

Denis Law did score all 6 in a cup game against Luton, when replayed City lost 3-1.

 

[AndyT]

The stadium used to be where Sainsbury's and that estate by the 127 at the weir (which was a roundabout in those days) is now

Yep, from memory it was right at the very end of that estate. Basically where Stadium Way is now, instead of bearing left into Phoenix Way (where Argos is) if you head straight on to the end, the stadium used to be right over the back there, although I might have that wrong.

 

[kaymac]

Yep, that's right.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Yep, from memory it was right at the very end of that estate. Basically where Stadium Way is now, instead of bearing left into Phoenix Way (where Argos is) if you head straight on to the end, the stadium used to be right over the back there, although I might have that wrong.

I've already linked the old map of the Stadium in post #27, Andy.

 

[AndyT]

I've already linked the old map of the Stadium in post #27, Andy.

Yep, sorry mate.

That's the only downside of the new forum. The links don't stand out so much.

 

[The Big Dady]

I used to go to Rayleigh Weir Stadium in my youth, had some great nights there under the floodlights, loved the smell of Castrol R40 mixed with burgers and onions.

There was Speedway, Stock Car Racing, Banger Racing, and my favourite Death Destruction Derby's which if I remember correctly was around 20 old bangers racing around the track and the winner was the last one running, it was total carnage.

@Sherif H on here loves his Speedway especially Ice Speedway and runs his on site about it.

http://www.icespeedway.co.uk/