old bob at herne bay

Reading on the speedway updates site suggests that Kent have 2 hours track time per week from the start of heat one on a Monday regardless of the start time. Unless Kent can manage to race 15 heats in under hours the sport surely has a limited future at the venue? Delays in completing meetings in a timely manner threatens the continuing existence of the sport at Kent IMO. At National League level seems 2 hours isn’t enough time for 15 heats at Kent. Whilst I would share Richard Weston’s thoughts about the track being to blame.....seems most of the fallers were home riders who should know how to ride their own track ? With the charges for admission rivalling those of the PL maybe Kent should invest in greater depth of medical cover to reduce the frequent delays for rider medical treatment?

M.D you have a good memory. In the past several seasons I used to be a regular attendee at Arena Essex / Lakeside up until 2 seasons ago, when my attendance become less frequent due to the (a) erratic fixture list (b) lax presentation and never ending delays providing poor entertainment I have yet to have my interest rekindled at either Kent or Eastbourne, the only surviving clubs in the SE region.

Seems that speedway 2019 is no different from speedway 2018 in respect of timekeeping. Even the home riders cannot get to the track on time, let alone the spectators! There are enough reasons (excuses) for delaying hte meeting once it has strated without delaying the start because of late arriving spectators and riders. I always thought the referee was in charge of the meeting , not he home promoter. Shouldn't the 2 minute warning have been sounded at 15:00 hours for all 4 riders for heat 1 ? Still a mickey mouse sport ... although the promotion at Eastbourne do seem to be trying. Maybe the Speedway Star should publish the ACTUAL start and finish times of each meeting and run a " league table " of tracks who manage to complete their 15 minutes of racing in 90 minutes (thats 5 minutes per heat and a 15 minute interval after heat 10 to buy a cuppa. )

woofers, A supporter for many years, I hate these afternoon meetings. Many a dustbowl I have experienced over recent years... usually as the season opening meeting on a bank holiday. Attracts a one off large holiday crowd , but how many of the dusty new attendees come back for more ? I expect a similar problem at Kent on Bank Hoilday Monday given the forecast. Never seen any English track cope with the dust problem. Speedway in the UK is a sport to be run under floodlights. As for the tardy start of the meeting and lax presentation , this is something that is endemic in British Speedway. The " promoters" obviously know best, as is reflected in the healthy state of the sport in England.

greyhounds, a couple of facts. Kent applied for planning permission to race on a Saturday ( that would allow them to enter the CL) This was rejected by the local council. Kent appealed the planning decision, this was again rejected . that is the fact of the matter of Kent remaining in the NL. It angers me that Football clubs are allowed to build a monstrous football stadia in London with no parking facilities, a bunch of football hooligans who rampage around the streets every Saturday - and yet Speedway with its modest crowd levels of well behaved supporters and family atmosphere are refused planning at every opportunity by a very small minority of “NIMBY” neighbours. Sadly I witnessed similar Issues at my local track Canterbury, where the local residents seemed happier listening to barking Greyhounds 24/7 in their kennels than the noise of a speedway meeting for 2 hours per week. Strange country we live in nowadays ?

Mikebv, does your list of charges INCLUDE car parking ? I note Belle Vue for example charge £3 for parking.

You can add the team manager Will Pottinger to the 2018 Lakeside staff following J Cook to Eastbourne.

Wish the Lakeside Eagles (or should that be the Eastbourne Hammers) the very best of luck on their newly adopted track at Arlington. One can only wonder if Jon cook has accepted the offer of riding the Hammers remaining league fuxtures at Arlington last season whether Cook's Hammers would have been CL champions last season. Anyhow with the majority of riders and personnel from Lakeside, with a sprinkling of up and coming youngsters from Eastboune's NL outfit - they are keeping the torch of professional speedway in Southern England alive. Maybe Cook's continuing efforts to resurrect Lakeside will bring about some local derbies in 2020.

”mrss” must be on the management committee of the BSPA Amateur presentation of the sport appears to now be the norm and is now considered acceptable ....... delay after delay ...... they rival our train services for excuses for delaying the entertainment. Nothing has been or is being done to address the issues. Nobody appears to be in charge of the entertainment schedule ......... grader breaks water cart breaks inaudible pit interviews with riders team “managers” fence repairs start gate failures flood light failures bike repairs rest periods for riders track inspections “unsatisfactory” starts people feeling unwell in the stadium.....it just muddles along . 2hours for 15 minutes racing appears the norm, with 2 1/2 or 3 hours not unusual. Kent Kings regularly miss their curfew deadline of 2 hours such is the inability to race 15 heats in a reasonable time. One of the main reasons I took your advice mrss and now keep my money in my pocket. Thanks for your advice. If every fan took your advice the problem would be resolved and we could all go home and watch the SGP s on TV.

Regular fixtures ?? Meetings completed in UNDEr 2 hours ? Less gardening and faffing around at the starts ? Seems all suporters and the BSPA have short term memory loss and hae conveniently forgotten about the problesm of 2018 ??????

Good 2nd div. side 5 years ago. Such is the standard of the UK premiership in 2019. Only have to finish in the top 4 (out of 7 clubs) to be in the p.offs . Then injuries permitting Poole take the p off cup

Cool. That’s sweet .

Can I get a copy of a specimen riders "contract" ?

Gusting, that’s great - you have a few years on me in your speedway supporting , saw my first meeting at plough lane back about 1961 , and visited New Cross in their part season in the provincial league in 1963. I still feel privileged to have seen all the greats of the National league in the early 60s ......

If what we are being told is true "gustix" then we allegedly have the support of Thurrock Council and the developer who are "sympathetic" to a sporting venue on the Thurrock area. HOWEVER what is clear is that the developer does not support paying for a new sporting venue as part of thier development plans (surprise surprise) I doubt a petition will do any more than show that a few thousand folks are interested in a speedway track in the Thurrock area, and generate som much needed publicity for the cause. For my part I have signed the petition. I also supported Kent Kings planning applications. I have previously posted my opinion on the Lakeside Hammers fans forum that unless a wealthy potential owner can be found to lead this campaign then Hammers RIP. Money talks. PS You are a New Cross Supporter ?

He would put bums on seats, and probably a few riders bums on the track at Arlington.

What would Nicki Pedersens average be in the Championship

No real surprises other than Kerr. Maybe promoter Cook will rename the side the Eastbourne Hammers to try and lure some of the ex Hammers fans down to support the opposisiton They shoudl be nigh on invincible on their tricky little track at Arlington.

Only Scunthorpe can race on Fridays. That was the rule imposed last season.

Promoter elect Cook can dust off his old Blue and Yellow scarf

........being dropped after a handful of meetings ?

From what I remember Morris not a great lover of the Swindon Track preparation ........mind you Poole isnt much better ......

Whilst the AGM allowed BSPA Ltd to cover their backsides when speedway fails in the UK, I haven’t seen one shred of information regarding improving the ENTERTAINMENT value of the sport. We still have endless delays due to start procedures- gardening , anticipating starts, tractor racing. Sloppy presentation is driving fans away from the sport. Meanwhile Buster is buying up speedway clubs. He must be mad.

If Cook is confirmed as your new promoter, Bowtell will be in your team.....he’s one of Cook’s favourites. Not sure about Alf on the smaller tracks - he’s done well at IOW in the National , but only time will tell how he copes with Arlington at Championship level. Adam Ellis would be useful....but people tell me he’s riding in Poland in 2019?? Not useful for a Saturday track ?

Certain that Buster can come to a mutually acceptable loan deal with Matt. ;-)