Bryce

Well I just got home from Poole and I have to say I really enjoyed the trip. The meeting may not have been the best ever, but we were treated to one or two superb rides. Swindon were far superior on the night and thoroughly deserved their win, which everyone acknowledged with good grace. I was particularly struck by the size of the crowd, which was a lot better than the numbers we get at Lakeside. I also cannot imagine Jon Cook and co doing a public post match press conference, which I think is a terrific way to increase fan involvement in the club. I want to say a big thank you for the wonderful warm welcome I received. I spoke to lots of Poole fans, including several forum members, and I can say that every single one was friendly and good company. The recommended Lakeside fish and chips was excellent too.

Thanks guys. Being a Lakeside fan it sounds as though that chip shop is calling to me.

I'll be making my first trip to Poole for this meeting. Any advice on food outlets and viewing positions gratefully received. Looking forward to hopefully meeting a few forum members too. I'll be the overweight bald guy in the Spider-man t-shirt.

Been out all day and just got online to see this news. A terribly sad day for the speedway world. Having watched my own Dad go through the same thing at the end of his life I have to believe this is a release for the great man, but that won't feel like much comfort to his family today. Condolences to them, and RIP Ivan. A genuine legend.

Not an all time classic meeting, but enjoyable enough. I was a bit dissapointed with the Witches, but fair play to King, Schlein and Mountain for giving it a good go. The Hammers are coming along nicely, and what a great confidence booster for Alfie tonight. He seemed a much happier guy after the meeting having fretted all week about not scoring. Ellis continues to impress and with Morris and Lawson will make a very powerful spearhead. This might actually be the year we finally start collecting decent points on the road. All the folks alongside us on the back straight stock car track also thought heat 8 should have been all 4 back. A weird decision.

We still have a sweet stall. It's just one of the many many spectator facilities the Arena boasts, along with the car parking and errr did I mention the sweet stall?.

One thing that is undeniable is the touch of glamour and the showmanship the Americans brought with them; something I feel there is too little of in the sport today. Kelly Moran hanging off the bike was a sight to behold. They were box office and the media and fans loved it. I remember being at Cradley the night Bruce Penhall was saying his farewells. There was a long line of teenage girls in various degrees of tearful distress waiting for their few moments with their idol. They were all heartbroken he was quitting. To be honest, I was too. I'll never forget that amazing night at Wembley when he pipped Olsen and Knudsen on the line from behind. He was on a mission that night and nothing was going to stop him being world champion.

Only having 20 overs means that games usually become a spectacular slog fest towards the end of the innings, with many 4s and 6s being hit; which is very exciting to watch, hence the big crowds the format draws.

A decent crowd and a well run meeting. Our heat leaders are a match for anyone in the division, and our tail end will be very strong at home. Looking forward to a good season for the Hammers.So good to be back at live speedway after the winter.

More difficult? No. More expensive? Yes. It's just another example of how tin pot the sport has become compared to times gone by.

I can remember a young man coming out in a set of Bruce Penhall's leathers for second half rides at Cradley. He turned out to be David Cheshire, and although he never really hit the international heights, he was a full on entertainer on and off the track. John Boulger, John Titman, Phil Herne and Phil Crump all impressed, but the classiest Aussie of the time for me was Billy Sanders. I remember the shock when he passed away in such tragic circumstances.

One thing Jon Cook can always be counted on to deliver is a positive spin on any statement.

The Good 1. Wembley 81. What a night. 2. Cradley's 83 team. Sheer class from top to bottom. 3. Galvin, Schofield, Whittaker et al blasting around Waterden Road. 4. The Grahame brothers coming 1st and 2nd in the British Final. 5. Little Jan O becoming World Champion. The Bad 1. Lee Richardson being killed. (And indeed all other fatal or life changing injuires, but Rico's death hit me hardest.) 2. The truly stupid numbers of guests in the last few years. 3. Cradley losing out on the title after Penhall quit in 82. 4. Cradley and Hackney closing down. 5. The lack of respect for paying supporters routinely shown by the people running the sport at both national and local level.

The same Jim Lynch who messed up the tactical situation costing Leicester an away win last season? He is a nice man, but perhaps not as on the ball as we would need our TM to be.

I'm sure we'll be strong at home as is normal, but with that team we might actually get some points on the road. Looking forward to a good season now.

As others have said, Kelly was a brilliant entertainer, and one of the most natural motorcyclists of all time. His well known lifestyle choices probably held him back in terms of overall achievements, but somehow, I doubt the guy had any regrets. I only spoke to him once, as a teenage fan, but he came across as a delightful man with a heart as big as his undeniable talent.

Ahhh go on.

Congrats to a thoroughly deserving world champion. Well done Doyley.

He meant that 2017 Rye House charged less for top division matches than Lakeside did in 2016.

As a Lakeside fan forum member who does regularly attend meetings I have to defend Kev a little bit. On said forum he has been consistent with his point of view, and all criticism has been constructive with the long term well being of the Hammers and their fans at it's heart. The same is true of most others who post there. We may be few in number in terms of membership but at least we have somewhere to put our points of view across. The debate can be lively but it's nearly always respectful. Personally I quite enjoyed our season in the NL when we had a meeting that is. Far too few fixtures in my opinion. Sadly the crowd numbers were pretty much halved by the change of league and on that basis NL may not be viable for the club going forward. Despite the current promotion's faults, they are the only game in town. I'd rather them than no speedway at all.

waaaay down at Lakeside

Richard Hellsen was one of those riders that every team needs. The guy that always performs to a decent standard week in week out in support of the star names. The guy that never lets you down but rarely grabs the headlines. It was a pleasure to see him grace the Hawks racejacket at the tail end of his career, though I mainly remember him as a Kings Lynn stalwart. Jan Andersson must surely be a club legend for fans of the Reading Racers, and of course indoor speedway where he was nigh on unbeatable. Per Jonsson was a worthy world champion, and may have won it more than once but for his tragic career ending and life changing injuries. However, the most legendary moment involving a Swede in Britain was not a victory. It was that amazing cup final run-off between Michanek and PC.

As I said, I have nothing against Paul Hurry as an individual. Indeed, his team riding (a forgotten art) has been a pleasure to watch at times. Jon Armstrong too seems a really lovely guy from the brief chat I had with him at the last meeting. Having said that, their knowledge and advice can be passed on to the youngsters without them actually being in the team. Isn't that why Kelvin Tatum was the team manager in the first place? Just a personal preference I guess. I'd rather younger riders were given more opportunities. Of course, finding enough of said riders to fill a team could be a whole different story, and may well be an additional reason to keep the elder statesmen in the league. As long as they're not depriving a youngster of a place I'm okay with them riding. If however, youngsters are missing out to fit in the veterans, then I feel that is completely antithetical to the purpose of the league.

I'm not certain whether or not we at Lakeside broke the rules when we brought in Paul Hurry, but we absolutely trampled all over the spirit of what the NL is supposed to be about. I'm not having a go at Paul, who seems a decent enough gentleman, I just feel it wasn't right bringing in someone of that age into what is essentially a league to develop young talent. My highlight of the season was seeing Jason Edwards make his debut. Regarding the play off, Belle Vue do indeed have some terrific kids in their side and I'm very pleased for them that they've done so well. The R/R they used may or may not have been a wangle, but so too was ours with the sudden unavailability of our weakest rider. In the end, the best team deservedly won.

A thoroughly gripping meeting (admitedly because of the scoreline rather than the racing) with Swindon deserved champions on the night and over the season. Unlucky on Wolves losing Freddie and Jacob who I feel would have made the difference. Well done the Robins. Good luck to Doyle on Saturday when he will hopefully clinch that world title. Given a Brit can't win it I'll be cheering for him. I can't begrudge the guy, especially after the way last year's GP campaign ended for him.