Mildenhall Fen Tigers’ return hanging in the balance with Mildenhall Speedway Supporters Trust needing £40,000 for new air fence
Prospects of the Mildenhall Fen Tigers returning to the track this season have been described as ‘50/50’ following an announcement that the club needs to find £40,000 to fund a new safety fence.
Plans to bring the Suffolk side back to the tapes in 2025 – after a year out – appeared to be gathering pace after almost all of the £10,000 needed in order to get the club up and running was raised by members of the newly-formed Mildenhall Speedway Supporters Trust.
However, following a recent track inspection carried out by Mick Bates, on behalf of the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB), it was deemed that the club’s existing air fence was no longer adequate and would need to be replaced by a foam block safety barrier.
But despite the setback, which has arisen following the installation of a concrete wall around the outside perimeter of the track by Spedeworth Motorsports, owners of Mildenhall Stadium, trust member Steve Ribbons has insisted that work is being done behind the scenes to solve the issue.
Ribbons said: “We thought we had all the equipment we needed, but this new wall around the circuit is more solid than the previous one.
“Following the recent track inspection the SCB were worried about if a rider went through the air fence and into the wall.
“The fact remains we can’t alter what is physically there and we have got to do what they have said we need to do otherwise we won’t get a license.
“This is a blow as we have almost got the £10,000 we needed, which I thought would be enough to get us up and running.
“I’ve put in an application to Sport England for a grant and I’ve been in touch with the Speedway Riders’ Benevolent Fund to see if they can help while we are looking at options of getting it manufactured in Poland at a lesser cost.
“It is all hanging in the balance and I would say it is 50/50 if we run this season at the moment and it all depends on what finances we can raise.
“I would say the worst case scenario is that we scrub this season and carry on fundraising.
“Once I know more answers we can call a public meeting and then put it to the members as to what they want to do."
Although this latest news comes as a blow to the West Row-based outfit's aspirations of a return to the track, Ribbons believes that the club could play catch-up and accommodate a later than anticipated start to the season.
He added: “Knowing what we know it wouldn’t be a disaster if we started later on in the year to run a few meetings.
“We came to the table pretty late as I only met with the stadium owner in January and we have come a long way in a short space of time.
“People want Mildenhall back as it is the club’s 50th anniversary this year. Speedway can be a dangerous sport and we don’t need to add to that.
“We don’t want riders suffering life-changing effects as I don’t want that on my conscience. Above everything else the safety of the riders has to come first.”
With the speedway fraternity being particularly close-knit, Ribbons is hopeful those who have no direct links to the Fen Tigers – but that are passionate about the sport – will also help the club financially in their latest battle.
Ribbons said: “Hopefully the wider speedway family will come together as most people that love sport want to see clubs back up and running as we have had a bit of a tsunami with clubs closing recently.
“We’ve already had Fen Tigers legend Rob Henry put his £100 in as he loves the club and it has been a massive part of his life.
“We are desperate to get it running with it being the club’s 50th anniversary.
“It is not like we are under threat from developers or anything like that as all the facilities are in place.
“Berwick have had their foam fence in for 10 years and they don’t wear out, but it is just paying it all up front.
“It is like trying to work through spaghetti as there are lots of strands to it, but we are not done yet.”
Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by visiting www.mildenhall-speedway.com
