Report - Smallmead Stadium (Reading Racers speedway/greyhound track), Reading - 31/01/2009

[Hanx!]

Explored with Garfunkel.

Not a lot to say about this place really. Smallmead Stadium was always a bit out of the way, but many people made the journey to the Stadium to watch the racing going on every week until it closed on 19th October last year. Smallmead was the home to Reading Racers speedway, and had been since 1975. However, economic trouble meant that the site had to be closed. There are plans for a new speedway and greyhound track to be built in its place, including a casino, but nothing much is going on at the moment. BBC article link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/b...re/7675362.stm

It's a rather depressing explore, to say the least. Lots of original speedway and greyhound-related items left, including some mint copies 1990 copies of Speedway Mail International... they'll be worth something one day! As expected, the chavs have been there before us, but it's not too bad. The broken windows are pretty much guaranteed, but there's plenty of stuff still left.

By the way, the plumbing's all still working - we have the videos to prove it.
















I know Garfunkel got some pretty good shots but I'll leave them for him to upload and whatever when this gets approved.

It was a fairly good explore. There was some interesting stuff in there, not to mention fun you can have with greyhound cages...




Anyway, some more photos:



First Aid...





Microphone used by the announcer, above the stands.


Paranoia inducing tarpaulins, which were pretty creepy...


For some reason there was an umbrella.



That's all I have, the rest of the photos were of nothing very interesting or badly taken/blurry.

[**Mudlark**]

Nice pics, every time i see this, it seems to be a little more trashed.
Reading racers moved out of Smallmead because the ground the staduim is on is supposedly up for development. They are taking a yera out before moving into a new stadium for the 2010/2011 season.
A little linky here if anyone is interested.......

http://www.readingspeedway.com/news.php?extend.1591.2

Its a shame its so far away, i'd quite like to see this!!

[vmlopes]

Well after my first recent report, a rather large fence has gone up and the builders are in... so be quick as it will be soon gone

[Hanx!]

Just found an old photo of the stadium in 1975 (before building was complete)...

I am a big speedway fan (Edinburgh Monarchs). Was reading today that their current stadium at Armadale, West Lothian, is in the process of being sold to Sainsbury's for a new store.
The stadium is known more for greyhound racing and goes way back as a dog track. I think it's sad that town and cities are losing such venue's to Tesco's or another mundane block of flats.
These places have a hardcore crowd that come out in all weather to watch the speedway / dog's. The youngster's now are too busy drinking and smashing thing's up, rather than watch a sport that is less in the public eye.