Bye bye Coventry

[MC388]

http://brisca.com/News/2017/02/Coventry ... ruary-2017

[Peter van Oijen]

Echt een lachertje, nu afwachten met hun plan B wat ze hadden. Maar als die Sandu zo'n stockcar liefhebber was dan was dit nooit gebeurd dan had hij ook alleen de lichtmasten kunnen weghalen.

[arli]

BriSCA / BMB Statement
By Coventry Stox, Mar 7 2017 02:45PM
BriSCA, BSCDA and BMB met on Monday 6th March.
After a lengthy several hour meeting the BMB have resolved some of the difficulties that have arisen following the disappointing recent outcome on the future of Coventry Stadium.

First and foremost in these discussions was that BriSCA and the BSCDA acknowledged the concerns of our valued fans and drivers/race teams and, of prime consideration was the protection of Formula One Stock Car Racing, ensuring its stability and future growth. We have to evolve a critical path moving forward in future years. All fully understand and acknowledge the uncertainties and disappointment this has created.

The meeting focused on ‘where do we go’ as dwelling on how did we get to where we are, whilst we can and have learnt, does not resolve the future. The whole situation at Coventry, whilst frustrating in terms of communication, remains complex and delicate and may at some point have legal ramifications between parties involved which BriSCA and BSCDA can neither influence nor become embroiled in.

We appreciate the patience of all parties, BriSCA and the BSCDA have tried throughout the Winter to offer as much support as they could to the Coventry team to try and engineer a solution, we would certainly have been criticized similarly had we taken decisive action in December in terms of reallocating fixtures etc and then possibly Brandon became a reality in the Spring / Early summer.

All should also understand that whilst we have lost stadiums in the past including iconic ones the situation at Brandon has been somewhat ‘unique’ in its process and the difficulties.

The Coventry promotion, we are encouraged to acknowledge, remain 100% committed to finding a new and replacement venue. The timescale at this point is unknown and we believe that for the future, plans should only be revealed once there is some certainty to progression.

Against that backdrop of ‘where we are’ BriSCA and the BSCDA along with the full co-operation of the Coventry promotion, have to manage for 2017 an unprecedented situation along with planning and consultation for 2018. To this end it is impossible to satisfy every ones ‘ideal’ vision of what that may be, in part due to the complexity of 5 months work in concluding National fixture lists and Championships. It is not quite so simple as relocating Coventry’s events to other venues the first weekend of the month which may appear vacant, other formulae, championships and for example speedway are now committed.

In a co-operative spirit between all parties the BMB can announce the transfer of some of the planned Coventry fixtures, to be hosted in co-operation with venues concerned. Every effort has been made to try and remain on ‘shale’ to maintain a balance where possible and of course, availability.

The following amendments to the 2017 calendar are proposed as follows subject to final confirmation.

Sunday 4th June – Sheffield BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP 12.30.pm

Sunday 6th August – SHEFFIELD 12.30.pm

Saturday 2nd September – KINGS’ LYNN 5.30.pm

Sunday 8th October – BELLE VUE 4.00.pm

Saturday 4th November - STOKE 5.00.pm

The Coventry promotion have been allowed some additional time over the next several days to see if any further dates may be accommodated.

To prevent a recurrence of this unusual situation in the future, mechanisms with BMB are now in place with protocols to ensure ‘deadlines’ with regards fixture planning. In this process, BriSCA and BSCDA discussed at length initiatives for restoring medium to long term confidence in the sport which will develop as the year unfolds looking forward to the 2018 season ongoing.

Plans for the 2017 BriSCA Formula One World Championship Final at Ipswich have also been confirmed as follows.

1. This is a one day event at Ipswich on Saturday 16th September at 5.pm. Breaking with tradition, there is no pre event Friday evening in 2017

2. Following exhaustive negation between Spedeworth and Suffolk County Council, the start time is 5.pm

3. During the afternoon, final timings to be announced ‘ practice’ will take place and Overseas Time trials prior to the 5.pm start.

4. This event will be a 7 race programme and, exclusively BriSCA F1 with an aim of attracting 90 BriSCA F1 Stock Cars

5. Final format for the event will be announced closer to the event.

6. Advance tickets are already on sale via the Spedeworth office/website

We are ‘truly’ in this together, however unfortunate those circumstances may be and there cannot at this juncture be ‘overnight’ solutions whilst many variables are examined and defined to resolve that important step forward.
Issued: BriSCA / BSCDA / BMB Tuesday 7th March 2017

[arli]

Coventry – Save Our Stadium
Following the news that the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA) had put the Coventry Bees speedway team licence “on ice” for 2017, the Coventry Observer has started a “Save our Bees” campaign.
Speedway and stock car fans, along with local residents were asked to support a photo call at Coventry Stadium on Friday 10th March. The timing (3:30 pm) was not ideal and probably prevented a lot of fans from showing their support but nevertheless a good-sized crowd of stock car and speedway fans turned out and were, surprisingly, allowed into the stadium by owners Brandon Estates to view the wanton damage caused towards the end of last year.
Even though it was a depressing sight a number of fans were of the opinion that, given the will and the money, there was nothing that could not be put right if action was taken sooner rather than later. The BSPA decision leaves the door open for the speedway team to return next season provided they have financial backing and, of course, somewhere to race. As a stock car fan who keeps an eye on our two-wheeled sister sport I cannot help but think Coventry is maybe a victim of the current malaise affecting British Speedway and that, just maybe, the people involved in the demise of Brandon Stadium saw this as a way of getting out. A lawyer representing Brandon Estates was at the gathering and spoke to fans after the photo call. I recommend you look at Donna Tully’s emotive video of the event on Stoxnet but be warned – there is no good news and it might just bring a tear to the eye.

As well as some familiar faces in the crowd I spotted Gary Tressler (ex-154), Steve Young, Mark Harrhy (44) and Ian Skinner (former Spedeworth V8, now Heritage driver) and had a chat with Barry Gregory (F1 Heritage) and Nigel Harrhy ( 45). To bring the rich history of stock car racing at Coventry into poignant focus I also had a brief chat with Les Mitchell (ex-238), son of the late, legendary Fred Mitchell (ex-38), former world champion and multiple race winner on the Brandon shale. Pause while eyes mist over at the thoughts of the 38 car with twinkling lights blasting around the Coventry raceway all those years ago.
Perhaps one day the truth about the closure of Coventry Stadium will come out but it will be too late by then and despite what some say I believe the loss of Brandon to the sport will have a far-reaching effect on both the stock car driver and fan base.
Words and photos: Mick Jenkins