Statement from Lesley Wootten from Arena Essex
Please read this sad news
Our 40th celebration year has been challenging to say the least and with deep sadness we regret to announce it will be our last.
Contending with our great British weather with the first two months of the season seeing both opening events for the Rolling Thunder Show and King of the Ring events being cancelled due to freezing weather conditions and our own season opener being held in minus 11 degrees followed by a cold and miserable Easter weekend didn't make for a great start to the year.
The Lakeside Hammers on a continuing downward spiral in terms of spectator support as well as having meetings cancelled not just due to weather conditions but ongoing issues with the BSPA to contend with also heavily impacted the Raceway's income.
The above along with the amount of investment needed to just maintain the stadium plus the continued increasing costs for compliance, insurance and health and safety has led to the Raceway no longer being financially sustainable and therefore with great sadness and a heavy heart we have to advise 2018 will be the last racing season for the Woodroffe family.
The final event to be run bringing Arena Essex Raceway's gates to a close will be on Sunday 4th November with the 27th Firecracker.
The family would like to thank all those who have supported us over the last 41 years, drivers, spectators, site hirers, sponsors, suppliers, concession holders and not least our hardworking an dedicated Arena Essex Team.
Join us in our final three months in celebration of the last 40 years
Lesley Wootten
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I will continue to post snaps on here as they get sent in or I find them from the past at Arena for all to enjoy and reminisce over so please keep them coming .
Sorry to see this sign standing here with no dates hanging on it.
1978 TO 2018
STARS LIKE THESE TURNING UP
PEEWEE FROM ACROSS THE SEA'S
PEEWEE WAS A REGULAR IN THE UK. ALTHOUGH NOW RETIRED HE STILL CAME OVER TO SAY HIS FINAL FAREWELL TO ARENA.
BOXER JACK WAS A REGULAR
ONCE CROWED WORLD CHAMPION AND ALWAYS PUTS ON A SHOW.
THE SUICIDE SQUAD
HARD HITTING TEAM THAT ALWAYS PUT ON A SHOW. ROY RAWLING'S RACE WITH THEM
THE CONDOMS
ALWAYS PINK AND LOTS OF THEM STRANGELY.
THE MESSERS
BIG CARS BIG MEETINGS BIG ENTERTAINMENT.
Jenson The Apprentice wants to be a grid girl
Really not to sure about this,He wants to be apart of the team and fit in but i'm sure being Dave's grid girl is not the one.
Me getting ready for first heat. Might of mentioned this before but I came 2nd. The focus was on form very quick. Track today nice and dry,running Goodyears on front lots of grip far ahead of the Toyo's which delaminated after 6 laps !!!. Did I mention that I finished 2ND at Arena. It's not a big thing for me to be honest so I don't mention it a lot you know finishing 2ND . Didn't manage to finish the final heat as during the race I finished 2nd in I cornered so hard and with great farosity all the electric fell out!!!
Dave Lear lining up for his first heat and first time out at Arena. Came in 4th so that's a great result considering he was out with 3ltr Omegas and the other lessor Lexus that plays with us. We were both pulling lap times of 19.5 seconds this meeting but havent got any prevous time to compare with
LOOK WHAT JAN CLARK DID!!!
FORD FOCUS STARTING TO GET UNDRESSED
We don't do single file racing in the wet. Win it or bin it any gap go for it.Unfortunately I did bin it into the armco, That's Dirt rod racing unpredictable edge of your seat stuff, That's why people love to watch us race, that's why more and more people are building their own dirt rod.
PLEASED WITH YOURSELF MRS. C
Up the home straight we battled side by side, I just got the edge then met the armco. I'm feeling it now while I'm updating this website.
IVE BENT THEM TWISTED THEM, BUT NEVER SNAPPED ONE BEFORE !!!
Opsey !!! Better fix this before Lily sees it as it's her car. Bit of T cut should be fine. ISH