{{Short description|Motorsport venue in Hampshire, England}} {{Use British English|date=March 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox motorsport venue | name = Ringwood Raceway | image = Ringwood rovers 1.jpg | caption = Banger racing at the Raceway | location = St Leonards, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2BT | coordinates = {{coord|50|48|27|N|1|49|12|W|}} | opened = 1946 | operator = | capacity = | record_time = | record_driver = | record_car = | record_year = | length_km = }} The '''Ringwood Raceway''' (formerly known as '''Matchams Park Stadium''') is a motorsport venue in Ringwood, Hampshire, England. The site is located in St Leonards, Dorset off the Hurn Road and Matchams Lane.
== History == After World War II, a motorcycle speedway circuit was constructed on the site.<ref name=DS>{{cite web |url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Ringwood.htm|title=Ringwood Speedway|website=Defunct Speedway|access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref> During the 1946 and 1947 seasons the site known as Matchams Park Stadium and operated on an open speedway licence.<ref name=SR>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/ringwood.html |title=Ringwood |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref> The track was referred to as a training school in 1950<ref>{{cite news |title=Motor Cycling |work=Daily Mirror |date=27 July 1950 |access-date=2 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19500727/074/0008 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref> and the stadium was also used for cars in 1950.<ref>{{cite news |title=Matchams Park Stadium |work=Western Gazette |date=25 August 1950 |access-date=2 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000407/19500825/091/0006 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="Truly saddened": raceway to host final events this summer amid plans for site |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20188101.ringwood-raceway-matchams-close-motorsport/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref>
Open speedway licence meetings were once again held at the venue from 1951 to 1953 but on a different circuit within the site.<ref name=SR/><ref name=DS/> A team called the Ringwood Turfs entered league competition for the first time in 1954.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html|title=Year by Year|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=27 August 2021}}</ref> The following season in 1955, the team withdrew in late June and had their results expunged.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|page=129|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}</ref>
Further open meetings and training took place sporadically with a last recorded training and long track meetings in 1993.<ref name=DS/> The site continued banger racing, until its planned closure in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cars shown chequered flag for the last time as Ringwood Raceway closes its doors |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20608801.ringwood-raceway-closes-final-time/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref> Racing continued after 2022 as plans for the retirement village that were going to replace the raceway did not go ahead.
== Future == thumb|Matcham's Park at the northern edge of the raceway. Future development of the site is pending council approval.<ref>{{Cite web |title='They'll have nowhere to go': Raceway director saddened by expected closure |url=https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/20193532.reaction-ringwood-raceway-announces-closure/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Salisbury Journal |language=en}}</ref> A retirement community is planned to be built.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Future of Ringwood raceway hangs in the balance as officers review plans |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23295314.future-ringwood-raceway-remains-uncertain-council-set-decide/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref> Consultation for redevelopment began in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Public consultation draws polarising response on major retirement village plans |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/19683037.consultation-retirement-development-ringwood-raceway/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Bournemouth Echo |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Ringwood, Hampshire Category:Sports venues in Hampshire Category:Motorsport venues in the United Kingdom