Hi all,

Odsal stadium had a return to motorsport last night! Ok, so it was monster trucks and a stunt show but by all accounts it was a great success and nearly a sell out! This is the report and video from the local newspaper: http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/4726380.VIDEO__Monster_trucks_thrill_the_crowds/

Perhaps this is good news in getting our favorite sport back to the 'bowl' as I was led to believe that the Bradford Bulls were not very happy with motorsport events at Odsal because of the potential to damage the pitch.

I know that stock cars haven't raced there for a few years and that the managers dug-outs are on the track and some of it has also been dug up to lay cables to the centre green (and presumably repaired?) but if Monster trucks and a stunt show can nigh-on fill the place how about looking into a showcase event with a stunt show, bangers and F1 Stockcars on the bill? Just looking at the track on the video brings back great memories!

This year is Stokes comeback (hopefully!) how about looking at Bradford for 2011?

Keep up the good work Steve!

Looked like a good crowd, but the key thing is that the show only used the home straight, was outside of the now, superleague summer season and was a 'controlled' event.

If I recall, the Bulls aren't adverse to the idea of stock cars back at Odsal, but the cost of putting the track in decent order was in excess of £70,000 plus the other factors of putting in the fence on the pit bend turn and setting up the infield.

Steve mentioned that the costs, if factored into ticket prices would mean a huge crowd paying top dollar prices to break even. A big gamble in the current financial environment.

Sadly, I can't see it happening anytime soon.

Steve can probably answer your question better than I can but, a few years ago, when they were building the new stand on what we know as the pits bend I went up to take some pictures.
Whilst there I got into conversation with a gentleman who, I later discovered, was the stadium manager, the conversation turned to Stock car racing and the future return to Odsal and his reply to me was along the lines of the following.

We don't really need Stock cars to come and race at Odsal as the money we receive from Super leauge rugby and the television coverage is ample, but thats not to say we wouldn't rule it out in the future should our fortunes change or an interesting financial deal was on the table, this is one of the reasons the pits turn stand was built the way it was - to facilitate a track in the future if the need arises.

The thing about the monster truck show on Friday night is you have to remember, the promotion who put that on are a big National (poss even International) organisation who are willing to spend big and get big gates in return, not a one man band type of organisation (no offence Steve - just a comparison) with a very limited budget like Startrax.
To be honest the bulk of the problems stopping us racing at Odsal are fairly easy to over come, move the dug outs back, build a fence around turns three and four, fit a new pit gate and patch the tarmac up in places - all cost money though but are not really major obsticles to getting back racing.
The biggest hurdle I can see is protecting the pitch, there's no way the Bulls would put up with those big beams on the pitch these days what with all the splintered wood etc and the didn't always stop cars getting on there anyway. The one real option would be a fence on the inside of the track, like Cowdie, but of course this would have to be removable for Rugby and would cost a small fortune.

the thing restricting F1's returning to Odsal is simply the large amount of money the stadium would want to charge for it's use.
Getting the track / fence/ pits up to standard would be expensive enough, but the hire of the stadium would make it a suicidal option for a promoter and so I'm affraid it's gone for ever.
Besides, would there be any chance of filling Odsal for a Stock Car meeting? I think not unfortuneately, those days have long gone.
A better option for anyone with money to invest in Stock Cars would be improvements at exsisting tracks, probably tracks with Speedway teams to make the investment worthwhile. Then again Stock Cars and Speedway always seem to fight each other, stupid, as a letter in this weeks Speedway Star highlights the shortcomings of Speedway stadiums almost word for word as the same comments on Stock Car web sites. Just think if the money to bring Odsal back was spent on Belle Vue / Sheffield and Scunthorpe, how good would Northern Stock Car racing be?

Non starter - subject of far too much previous comment and opinion - forgive me for avoiding this topic

Ahh Well, It sounds as though you have spoken about this many times Steve! Thanks for the replies chaps, I can understand the points made and see what would be required to bring it back given the current climate. I suppose it will be one of those questions that come up every now and again!

As far as the stunt/monster truck event was concerned posters were everywhere even in shops 25 miles away from Odsal, so yes they did go to town with the promotional work and seems to have payed off.