Oxford Speedway visit BMW’s Family Day – with a little help from Cheetahs star Jenkins!
Thousands of employees at BMW learnt about the thrills and spills of Oxford Speedway at the company’s Family Day on Sunday.
The club was represented by Monarch Cheetahs and WSRA Chargers rider Jordan Jenkins, BBC commentator Leon Foster-Hill, supporter Cath Poonwasie plus Chloe Davis and her father Matt.
Club mascot Nobbie also made a star guest appearance at the event which was attended by over 5,000 of BMW’s employees plus their friends and family.
It was an opportunity for visitors to get up close and personal to the 500cc single-cylinder machines which operate on methanol, have no brakes and can out-accelerate a Formula 1 car.
Graham Darling of Oxford Speedway thanked Leon, Jordan, Cath, Chloe and Matt for showcasing the club and sport to new audiences as part of Oxford Speedway’s commitment to engaging with the local community.
“We were more than pleased to accept BMW’s invitation to attend their popular family day,” said Graham. “The damp weather didn’t take the shine away from the event, and the team on the ground was really pleased to introduce plenty of newbies to our great sport and hand out plenty of flyers.
“There’s a terrific buzz around Oxford Stadium right now with the Monarch Cheetahs topping the Cab Direct Championship table and the WSRA Chargers performing strongly in the National League.
“We’re exploring every avenue possible to attract more people to be part of the good times on the terraces and hopefully help both teams on their way to the play-offs. A special thanks to Nobbie for attending too who was a real hit among the youngsters and Graham Carey at BMW for his very kind invitation.”
Rider Jordan Jenkins added: “People are always amazed when they see a speedway bike close up having heard the speeds we reach on track and their acceleration.
“They expect a huge motorcycle where in reality the machines we ride are no bigger than your typical MTB bike. It’s the power to weight ratio that makes speedway bikes so unique.
“This sport has been a huge part of my childhood and I’m now fortunate to earn a living from it. Being part of Oxford Speedway has been great for my development, so any opportunity to shout about the club and bring new people through the doors is something I’m keen to be involved with.
“It was great to meet lots of new faces and hopefully we’ll see them trackside again soon!”
Oxford Speedway return to action on Wednesday, August 2, when Scunthorpe Scorpions visit in the Cab Direct Championship. Tickets will be available to purchase via the club’s website soon – all U16s accompanied by a paying adult go FREE!