Bryn

Given your response to my original posting which was intended to be a little lighthearted Mr Jones hence the smillies, perhaps you'd be kind enough to define your understanding as to what would constitute a rider turning up to race 'under the influence' As to car racing personally it is of no interest to me as, rightly or wrongly, my own perception of it is that it's down to who has the best car in any race rather than the driver's capabilities.

Given the fact that nowadays it's regarded as a real 'no-no' for riders to let alcoholic beverages pass their lips, I do indeed wonder why the top three in any Individual meeting are handed bottles of Champagne as they stand on the podium!

11.45am FINAL WEATHER UPDATE NO rain this morning and NONE forecast. Kids races 12.30, Main event first race 1pm

FURTHER WEATHER UPDATE - 10.15am I'm at the track, it's NOT raining and meeting ON.

SECOND RACEDAY UPDATE Meeting ON as at 9.15am. Will be leaving for Lakeside at 9.30 and there, from where next update will come, circa 9.45-10am. Still looking for lift to Eastbourne folks - pretty, PRETTY please! My mobile 07774 935468

RACEDAY WEATHER CHECK: Here at Erith ( M25 Jnctn 1A Just on the south side of the Dartford Tunnel from track Jnctn 31) it's 8am and, poking my head out of the front door it's a little damp akin to light rain/drizzle having fallen although it's NOT raining at all right now. Awaiting to hear news from track and will post further update when I do.

Little point in speculating on tomorrow's weather at this stage but I'll be up and about early tomorrow (and it's dubbed GOOD Friday???) posting raceday weather updates here and on the BSF here, Twitter & Facebook for the EL match against King's Lynn Stars that starts at 1pm at the Purfleet raceway. Will be going to the track earlyish to man the office phone and field all the "Is it on?" queries of course and then, if the match goes ahead as planned, the next question will be can the Lakeside Vortex Hammers avenge Tuesday's away defeat? At the end of that match I'm hoping to get to Eastbourne for the Eagles evening National League opener against the Kent Kings so I'm on the lookout for a lift there from Lakeside and back to Dartford from some kind soul with a spare seat in their wagon!

Anyone driving up from South of the Dartford crossing with a spare seat in their vehicle would love to keep you company (and chip in petrol money of course). Please PM me with your phone no so I can get in touch. Cheers

Gonna do that in public now? Really hope that Olly's injuries turn out not to be serious once the full details of same are known. Meanwhile my best wishes go out to him.

Final Raceday Weather Update - 5pm At Track. Blue skies above. NO weather problems expected and warmer than King's lynn last night! See you later!

Third Raceday Weather Update - 2.45pm Just leaving for track - next update from there circa 4 to 4.30pm. No further change in the weather as it's sill fine, bright and sunny with blue sky here just across the south side of the Dartford crossing with Blue skies above. NO weather problems expected though. Further update from track circa 4 to 4.30pm Read more: http://thelakesidehammers.proboards.com/thread/521/raceday-weather-27-3#ixzz3Vb4drAF9

Raceday Weather Update - 1pm Still fine, bright and sunny with blue sky here just across the south side of the Dartford crossing with above and today's forecast from the Met Office still states it's going to be dry all day with NO hint of rain whatsoever and temperatures around 10C all day. Further update at before I leave for track circa 3pm and further update later from there but NO weather problems anticipated as the Vortex Lakeside Hammers go flat out to tame those Lions from Leicester. Read more: thelakesidehammers.proboards.com/thread/521/raceday-weather-27-3#ixzz3VagoCZ7C

First Raceday Weather Check 10am: It's fine, bright and sunny here just across the south side of the Dartford crossing and today's forecast from the Met Office states it's going to be dry all day with NO hint of rain whatsoever and temperatures around 10C all day. Further update at lunchtime but NO weather problems anticipated as the Vortex Lakeside Hammers go flat out to tame those Lions from Leicester.

He's the son of ex-ref Robbie Perks and also related to former rider Dave Perks. I saw him in action out in Oz as a junior a few years back and he looked very good at that early stage of his career. Prior to the family emigrating to Oz roughly eight years ago I believe he rode junior grasstrack in the UK.

The Vortex Lakeside Hammers have no home BH Monday meetings planned.

Indeed I almost certainly was at the meeting and would have retained my completed programme. Alas though, my daughter/future son-in-law are in the process of decorating my home and all my old programmes are packed away with other gear in large boxes stacked five high in the back garden shed so no chance of laying my mangled mitts on it!

As I said in my last post Dave S, "Fair enough comment given what you've stated above. Given that, if we don't meet up during our respective travels this year, please do let me know in advance of any of your visits to Lakeside primarily or, as an alternative Kent, that might prove suitable for both of us to meet up to have a chat - okay?" BTW I visited Linlithgow too - jeez it was cold!

Great stuff Doyley and you've certainly come a very, very long way in the ten years (well nine as you missed one season through injury I seem to remember) you have been racing over here and debuted for the Isle of Wight back in 2005.

Fair enough comment given what you've stated above. Given that, if we don't meet up during our respective travels this year, please do let me know in advance of any of your visits to Lakeside primarily or, as an alternative Kent, that might prove suitable for both of us to meet up to have a chat - okay?

As far as I'm concerned DaveS, I've nothing to make excuses for! I'll be interested to reading your response to TonyE's post and perhaps you'd also care to say how many of the current operating tracks in the UK you've attended so we can compare notes as it were as I've been to all bar Northside and Redcar and I'm very much hoping to get to them both this year if it proves possible.

In terms of track conditions I think it only fair to point out that the Vortex Lakeside Hammers staged their press and practice session starting circa 11.30am and, after the photos, press interviews etc, there were many laps put in by all the team members during the course of that. The meeting itself saw seven races in the NL Pairs starting at 7pm followed by a quick track grade. We then had the fifteen heat main event match plus four Junior demonstration races all over four laps too and the raptuous applause the five youngsters received on their double lap of honour shows how much their efforts were appreciated I would say. Given all that on track action I don't think it was surprising that the track was slick by the end of it all and it held up well in terms of not cutting up at all despite us having a pretty wet winter. As to the crowd size, Arena Essex is a big stadium with spectators spread far and wide as they were last night. Everyone I spoke to afterwards said they thoroughly enjoyed what was a great night to pay tribute to a great bloke, one who'll never be forgotten! And finally I know of 12 ex-riders who were there at the meeting to remember Rico which was great to see and I could put together a really good side from those!

4.45 FINAL WEATHER UPDATE. Sun's shining, meeting ON, Come on down! NL Pairs starts at 7pm then main event 8pm making a total of 25 races. NORMAL admission prices, prog £3. See you later!

2.30pm WEATHER UPDATE Fine. bright and sunny - yippee! NO rain and none forecast 8-)Come on down! Further update 4.30ish Off for a healthy (?) Macca's!

Although I'm here in the office at Lakeside manning the phone etc, I've just heard the sound tht comes second only to my daughter's first words! That sound? You've got it, speedway engines roaring at the Vortex Lakeside Press and Practice session!

WEATHER UPDATE - 11.50am Briefly at the moment as I get used to using the office puter here at the track, it's dry and sun appears to be trying it's best to break through. Further updates follow throughout the day.Remember gates open 5.30pm NL Pairs first race 7pm