Workington Comets’ re-emergence on the old Northside training track continues to gain momentum.
Although a return to League racing had to be put on hold this year, considerable progress has been made at the site.
Carlisle businessman Andrew Bain is the speedway enthusiast behind the venture, with ex-Comets and Glasgow star Steve Lawson his main man at the track.
Steve said: “It really is taking shape and once we get the final green light from the council I’m looking forward to seeing a difference.
“At the end of the day we are looking for the wow factor so that people coming for the first time will think it is different, and a great place to watch the sport.
“Andrew has bought 1,200 tip-up seats and we will half each side of the track. There will be picnic tables, nice grassy areas to sit and with the trees already there it’s going to be a really pleasant place to watch the speedway.”
Steve also revealed that some of the original shale put down at Derwent Park in 1970 when the sport came back to the town after nearly 40 years, is now laid at Northside.
When the track was dug up at Derwent Park following the Comets closure in 2018, Andrew Bain had it collected and stored at Northside.
“That shale has been put down with some new top dressing and we have been working on the safety fence, so that it has been taking shape for some time now.
“There isn’t any covered areas at the moment but you have to walk before you can run and that will come.
“It would be nice to get in some practice session and training schools before the season is over but we are really looking towards 2023,” said Steve.
The original plan was to join the National Development League but with one or two Championship clubs in trouble there has even been a suggestion that the re-born Comets could go straight into that competition.
For the moment, though, the object is to have the track and surrounding area ship-shape and ready for some form of competitive speedway next year.
That’s the circle complete,now for the safety fence. pic.twitter.com/uJnjFyx6lV
— Steve Lawson (@stevelaws1uk) April 23, 2022
“We have made a lot of progress and I know Andrew has a lot of exciting plans for the continued development of the site – not just for one day of the week.
“We are encouraged by the amount of interest being shown in the new-look Comets,” said Steve.
