It’s been an odd week. Today came the news that seems to herald the final nail in the coffin for Oxford Speedway. After a reprieve when a saviour came forward to save us from the brink of closure last season when the previous promoter decided to close us down it was looking so positive for 2008. We finished 2007 on a high, we’d done exceptionally well in the Conference League despite our torubles, we had a great team, a great atmosphere and the smiles had returned to the supporters faces. Even the official website is still heralding the bright future for 2008 (http://www.oxford-speedway.com/). But the stadium owners have decided for whatever reason to throw a spanner in the works with unrealistic rent demands. Seems odd when they take money from the carpark, bars and restuarant during the speedway meetings. Instead of some income they will have none, does that make business sense?
It’s fair to say that with no speedway the sport will be lost to the city, the stadium is in a residential area (although when it was built 60 years ago it was in the middle of nowhere) and planning permission for motor sports is unlikely to be granted again.
So I’ve been thinking about my Dad a lot this week. We used to go to speedway together every week without fail, it was our special time, just me and him from when I was a boy. This news coming on top of the anniversary of his death on Tuesday (when I also had a table tennis match to contend with, a sport my father started me in) has really just about done me in.
I’m so glad it’s not my 40th birthday next week (that’s next year), I don’t think I could have coped with that as well!! I’m looking forward to some time off next week over Christmas, I need a break from stuff.
