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Post by thirdturn on Nov 7, 2009 9:38:58 GMT 1
When did midget cars last race at Wimbledon Stadium, what was the event, and who were some of the competitors. I guess midgets hate Plough Lane because of the safety fence.
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Post by rodpashley on Nov 12, 2009 1:15:38 GMT 1
21-3-93, I will post more details later
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Post by ovaltrack on Nov 22, 2009 15:38:07 GMT 1
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Post by ovaltrack on Nov 22, 2009 15:44:34 GMT 1
I think there are two reasons that GP Midgets do not race at Plough Lane at present. One is that it's Sunday night racing which is not ideal for the demographic of the driver base - most of the drivers are east anglian or midlands based these days. Having said that the guys do travel some distances to compete so maybe it's the post and wire fence that adds to the problem as well. The club does of course race at Great Yarmouth which is still post and wire but the distance / journey is not so bad for the core drivers.
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Post by youtubefiend on Feb 28, 2012 23:26:01 GMT 1
I think there are two reasons that GP Midgets do not race at Plough Lane at present. One is that it's Sunday night racing which is not ideal for the demographic of the driver base - most of the drivers are east anglian or midlands based these days. Having said that the guys do travel some distances to compete so maybe it's the post and wire fence that adds to the problem as well. The club does of course race at Great Yarmouth which is still post and wire but the distance / journey is not so bad for the core drivers. Is there any likelihood - while it's still there - that midgets will return to Wimbledon Stadium? The venue now seems yo ignore the main summer months and runs through from I think September until the end of March?
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Post by administrator on Aug 7, 2012 12:46:04 GMT 1
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Post by kiwikid34 on Aug 8, 2012 14:48:53 GMT 1
Interesting generally but Plough Lane at Wimbledon Stadium is hardly a recognised venue for midget cars of any formats over the years. And didn't local people block a similar bid by the old Wimbledon FC then run by Sam 'the man' Hamman about 1992. Now there are even more people living in the area, ironically man of them I am told on an estate that was once the home of the old Wimbledon FC in Plough Lane. My guess is this scheme by the AFC Dons will face a lot of local opposition from residents in the area near to Wimbledon Stadium. I don't think a midget has raced at Plough Lane since about 1993? so the formula isn't going to lose much anyway. It's rather like getting upset about what's happening at the other London stadium at Walthamstow Stadium because the American midget car squad were based there for three weeks in 1948. Not worth getting our knickers in a twist over IMO.
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Post by haflinger121 on Aug 8, 2012 21:19:49 GMT 1
Not worth getting our knickers in a twist over IMO.
Well, to some of us it is. First off, some of us are interested in other forms of oval track motorsport and not just midgets, so the loss of Wimbledon would be very keenly felt. It is the last oval track still operating in London, remember.
As for The Stow, well it had other midget connections than just the '48 USA tour. Quite apart from Spedeworth's efforts there in the early 1970's it was (as far as we know) the last track in London to stage an all-midget car meeting, in the early 1950's.
And consider this: as unlikely as it may be with regard to Walthamstow, while these places still stand there is always a chance - however slim - that they may be returned to a use we approve of. Obviously, once they've been razed that will be impossible.
I mean, I'd love to see what sort of lap time might be achieved around the Olympic Stadium when the athetics track is covered in asphalt, but I can't see it happening! So protecting what we've got while we've still got it is important in my book.
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flyboy1
New Member
No date of birth 1955 you put four years on me
Posts: 10
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Post by flyboy1 on Aug 21, 2012 14:24:53 GMT 1
I remember racing at the stow and Wimbledon,great racing.I was involved in running a two car team with Tony Bostock and Tony Stubbs and getting a Ban because we came first and second in each race running studded rally tyres.It was my job as the youngest member of the team to pull all of the studs out by hand.They were the best midgets days. Who remembers a driver turning up at Wimbledon with a chain driven car ?
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Post by ovaltrack on Aug 21, 2012 16:00:06 GMT 1
I entirely agree with Graham - it would be a shame to lose the place as it currently stands. I don't see any reason why it should not be protected. I've written this many times but it stands as a key piece of social history in London. There is so much space in the building itself that could be given over to lottery funded community projects that would benefit the area and promote the heritage of the place whilst keeping the current usage. I'd like to see the shale back down and it used as perhaps a neutral Speedway venue as well as for Stock Cars.
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Post by haflinger121 on Aug 21, 2012 16:00:21 GMT 1
Given that there have been discussions on this group about the possible use of a re-vamped Skirrow in the late '60's/early '70's, you might want to expand on that "chain driven" remark flyboy...
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Post by haflinger121 on Aug 21, 2012 16:29:55 GMT 1
See we posted at the EXACT same moment, Richard!
I agree that putting shale back down and sharing it with speedway (for another financial income string) would be preferable to demolition and use as a football stadium. And the part shale-part tarmac track used to be a great leveller providing great racing back in the 1970's. With today's more sophisticated cars though, I don't know that it would work. Like I say, I'd still be prepared to give it a go rather than lose it.
My worry is that the odds are just becoming too stacked against the old place. The LEZ has already caused it enough trouble, and Boris's crowd are still foot dragging about exemption for stock car racers, so the track is already effectively out of bounds to things like BriSCA F1 and National Hot Rods, while the Banger World Final has had to move to Ipswich.
Have you been inside the stadium lately? With the main stand closed and the track 'reversed' (back straight is now home straight), there is absolutely zero atmosphere generated and what atmosphere there might be, isn't good. It has an air about it which reminds me of Harringay in its twilight days....its called dereliction.
So you do just wonder how long Spedeworth will keep on with the uphill struggle if it all just becomes too much trouble for the profit it generates.
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Post by thirdturn on Aug 22, 2012 0:37:01 GMT 1
Sadly I tend to back your views that time could now be running out for car racing at Wimbledon Stadium as the odds against it seem to be increasing all the time. That lack of atmosphere was very evident in the couple of meetings I saw there earlier this year. Most of the formulas are the sort used to back classic formulas which are conspicuous by their absence consequently leading to a second class meeting. Just how much more can we take of Rookie Rods? My guess is this coming winter season could be Spedeworth's last at Plough Lane. I trust that I will be proved wrong.
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Post by tobyhalter on Sept 9, 2012 22:18:42 GMT 1
Any more known about the suggested sell off of Wimbledon Stadium with AFC Wimbledon keen on moving there. Footies not one of my sport's but what sort of crowds do they get for their first team matches at I think a place called Kingsmeadow (in Kingston?).
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Post by administrator on Oct 4, 2012 23:23:41 GMT 1
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