And the stark truth is that the club cannot afford to mark 80 unbroken years of racing with a repeat campaign in 2008.
It's a proud boast that not even Hitler could close down the Aces who ran throughout the Second World War.
But another season like this would stretch the patience of a loyal fan base which, by and large, has stood up well to the onerous job of supporting a losing team.
Ignoring the fact that Oxford closed during the season, Belle Vue have finished bottom of the ten-team table with 22 points which left them a ridiculous 51 adrift of top club Coventry, who went on to win the Championship play-offs.
Everyone knew Belle Vue's problem at the turn of the year. It was that they needed a replacement for world champion, Jason Crump, when he decided to move to Poole.
The other problem was there wasn't an answer to the Crump predicament which faced the new promotion of Manchester businessman, David Gordon, and racing legend, Chris Morton, when they took over last January.
Gordon and Morton, plus Gordon Pairman who joined the promotion a little later, cannot be blamed for the disastrous season.
Dilemma
For the Aces weren't the only club with the dilemma of not having a cutting-edge rider to take on opposing stars.
In football an inferior side can set out their stall to nullify their opposition but speedway isn't like that.
Yes, it's a team sport but it involves ruthless, head-to-head competition and if you cannot counter the rival big-hitters then you are history.
Belle Vue have been history this season, along with other clubs, because there haven't been enough world stars to go round.
When Gordon and Co arrived, it was very much a case of first up, best dressed when it came to team-building.
There were barely rags left for the Aces as the points cap system, which was designed to keep team strengths competitive, went disastrously haywire and Crump could not be replaced adequately. The result was an uncompetitive league.
It meant the top clubs with big names earning up to £175 a point, or well over £2,000 a match, were facing massive wage bills as they paid a price for success they could hardly afford.
It emphasises my point that while Belle Vue have been the worst team in the league, they are far from being the only one with serious problems.
Promoters met last week to discuss how to solve the problem. Nothing has been revealed so the assumption is that not much was achieved and they will meet again on November 1 - but they must find an answer.
A reduction in the salary cap should force the top clubs to free up riders, just as Belle Vue had to two years ago. Then they finished top of the table and had to release three riders to meet a dramatically reduced points limit.
What do you think? Have your say.
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manchesterpaul, Manchester (18/10/2007 at 21:27)
There is no exaggeration to be had in comparing the Belle Vue Aces to the Red Devils - Manchester United.
Within their own spheres the historical achievements and advances run side by side.
In the same way that people in far flung countries only points of reference and words of english were Bobby Charlton and Georgie Best, once upon a time (the 1930's) the term Red Devil was originally applied to a Belle Vue rider Frank Varey.
Everyone longs for the relatively recent days of the Hyde Road stadium and five figure crowds. By rights there should be not be any reason for those halcyon days not be able to make a comeback. The Manchester Evening News is playing it's part in full with it's rightful superb coverage of the Aces.
Therefore what is the missing link keeping us from nirvana?
I think it lies in the glaring omission from 'comment' that fails to acknowledge, let alone address, the appalling lack of speedway RACING on offer at Belle vue this year.
Excellent, hard and innovative, promotional work was undertaken only to be undermined by the boring processional 'racing' frequently on offer this year.
Even the most die hard supporters are pleading for a raceable surface.
Holme Valley Knowledge. (21/10/2007 at 18:28)
I ask because I know that Peterborough have had some shocking crowds, a similar level to Oxford and they hads to close. I believe Swindon have lost loads and loads and Eastbourne's promotor reckons he has subsidised to the tune of two pounds per head at Arlington.
I sometimes think that the riders are going just too damned fast for the circuits but then the WTC produced some majestic racing.
What's the answer?
Richard Whiteley (03/11/2007 at 09:06)
I am fortunate enough to remember riders like Peter Craven, Dick Fisher, Ove Fundin, Ivan Mauger and, of course, the unforgettable Peter Collins and Chris Morton. I was a huge fan, took in up to 40 meetings a season and went to Katowice in Poland to see Peter Collins win the championship in 1976. Morty was also there and I sat next to his Mum & Dad on the coach who kept me topped up with food!
I still watch the GPs on TV, but I haven't attended a meeting in years, even though I follow the Aces' fortunes through the media. Why? I went once to Kirmanshulme Lane. I heartily applaud the efforts of everyone to keep Belle Vue Speedway in existence, but this just wasn't speedway as I knew it. The Hyde Road track was a classic; big, fast and wide and riders could pass on the inside and outside and as PC used to do rather too often, miss the gate and still win!
My dream for Belle Vue Speedway (and I hope that it could become a reality) is that the Aces could find a new home in the Manchester area with a track worthy of Belle Vue's wonderful past, as similar to the old Hyde Road track as possible. Then I am sure that I and many other fans would become regulars again. It would be wonderful if this could happen some day. Just a dream? I hope not.