The Voice Of Reason

So if our promotion are committed to putting out our strongest side, then why haven't we brought back Ben Morley to replace Rob Mear? Meanwhile, you honestly consider Ed Kennett a better rider than Swidders? 'All the personal abuse you heaped on Neil Vatcher'. Examples/references? And was I the only one to have given him criticism or, like the Welsh weather watcher, do you just get a buzz out of singling me out? At the end of the day, we aren't ever going to see eye to eye. I call it as I see it - sorry if it doesn't meet your 'constructive' standards of response. As a way forward, best we just ignore each other's contributions, eh?

http://www.lakesidehammers.co/bjarnejoinshammers/ Jon Cook may not have stated that he had been given a contract - but can you honestly say that this articles suggests anything other than Bjarne was becoming a Lakeside rider? Assuming that you agree with dropping Swiderski then and replacing him with Kennett? And how, despite Mr. Cook's words at the forum has our team been strengthened exactly? Our home performances are to the most part due (to date) to the ability of AJ, the consistency of Richard Lawson and the tremendous improvement of Kim Nilsson. Away from home, despite our new motivational coach, we continue to disappoint anywhere outside of Leicestershire.

Just to clarify that I have to the most part been supportive of Cookie - as my older posts on here, and the defunct Lakeside forum, would substantiate. Moreover, would I have given my time and efforts so freely, and at my own expense, for someone and their club, that I didn't have time for? However, what has disappointed me are his actions more recently. The lack of any fight against the Poole cancellation debacle a couple of years ago. The utter lies around the reasons for the closure of our forum. The signing, then subsequent sacking, of a potentially useful second heat leader in Bjarne Pedersen. Dropping Swidders - possibly the only Pole that I would ever have in my team given his loyalty and commitment. The hollow words around strengthening our team; then the reintroduction of Rob and Lewis. If it's (as I would suspect) a money issue, then fair enough. But why not be honest with supporters at the outset? I don't like liars; and I don't like people that go back on their word. End of.

Complete and utter garbage - with about as much accuracy as some of your weather forecasting. Nobody 'dispensed with my services' - I stayed for the duration of 2012 in respect of Lee; and in the October, picked up an excellent job locally which would have made travel to Essex each week impossible. Nobody 'dispensed' with me as you very well know. You make it seem as if it was a paid job......it was voluntary and NOBODY told/asked me to leave. Quite the opposite in fact - Gerald spent half hour on the phone one Monday morning asking me to come back (the day after the U21 FIM Final). As for 'bitter and twisted'. Let's just say that unlike some of the happy clappies that are only too pleased to turn up at a 'fans forum' once a year and believe everything that they are told by Jon Cook, there are some that believe actions speak louder than words. And, in a democracy, we are surely all entitled to an opinion.

Jon Cook's forte is (unfortunately) addressing the masses with utter rhetoric and hyperbole. He probably told the Leicester fans that they were signing Woffinden, Hancock and Kildemand next week. What's more, they'd have Ole Olsen in the pits as a motivational coach........and would be challenging for the play-offs. Don't believe a word if it......the bloke talks out of his @rse!

Totally uncalled for. I think the term 'understrength' would have been more fitting. By the way, we are hardly a league-winning team ourself, are we.

Because of the same reason Kev that we signed, then subsequently dumped Bjarne; and appointed Kelvin Tatum to be our motivational coach to improve our away form. In other words, Jon Cook appears to often enjoy making press releases that subsequently have the depth of a grain of sand.

Olsen - speedway LEGEND of the 70's AND early 80's. Booey - a bloke who wore blue leathers. I know who I would have wanted in a Hackney jacket.

You must have a lot of spare time and a huge amount of optimism. Either that, or you are related.

I think that would depend upon how big the bucket was to be honest. Mr Bridger inspires me with about as much confidence as the two sides in the Euro debacle. On second thoughts, even less so.

Yeah, course you did mate. Jeezus, that comment should be in 'BackTrack' magazine! Not only a wonderful memory, but the only speedway supporter that's ever cheered AFTER a fallen rider is back on his feet. Think not.

Yeah, but I bet they ain't got a shroud.

Please bear one thing in mind. As far as I'm aware, 'The Fat (useless) Controller' AKA Ronnie Russell, is the track curator and the one who has total responsibility for calling the shots for SKY's televised meetings. And, from having seen it first hand, he really does rule the roost and dictate what HE wants. How he can ever be considered even mildly competent to fulfil this duty is, of course, extremely questionable. No doubt 'a nice little earner' from bro 'Tel Boy'. Yes, the same guy who actually removed 'Big Ron' from having any track responsibility at Swindon - by demoting him to simply being in charge of sorting out the drainage problems on the greyhound track a few years since. Fact remains, having worked at Lakeside for a few years, it would have been utter madness setting up a slick, gaters track given the ability of some Belle Vue riders. From what I witnessed on TV, that track certainly took me back to the days of the aforementioned utter clown; and how he nearly took our club to the point of extinction.

I think that a major part of the problem stopping many of us attending NL meetings for £12, is that there's probably still a sizeable number that can remember the times when speedway at this level was the second half of the meeting. In other words, included within the price of the main meeting. Also, we'd often get 'rider of the night' - not to mention Golden Helmet match races, on occasions, before the main event. What Speedway 'Promoters' (that term being used extremely loosely) these days just do not seem to be able to grasp is that for those of us who are not lifelong speedway diehards, the product on offer today falls woefully short of providing value for money. There is no way that you are going to attract meaningful numbers of potential new fans into this sport at current prices. And this is particularly the case when offering NL racing at a rate of £12 - proven by the apparent poor gates at Brandon; and from my previous experience working at Lakeside.

To be quite honest, barring injuries, it's crystal clear that Poole have already won the 2016 title - and it isn't even May. This really isn't jealousy because, hand on heart, my primary enjoyment has always been watching a good, close meeting. Of course I always want my team to win - but if it meant watching complete and utter walk-overs week in week out; and a continual procession of 5-1's, I'd truly deem it boredom personified. So congratulations Poole on retaining the 2016 title. In this pathetic, pointless Elite League, you are truly welcome to it. In fact, nobody deserves it more.

One of the nicest, friendliest guys in this sport. A real trier who has always given every ounce of effort whilst guesting for the claret & blue. Along with PK, also I'd imagine, one of the most respected riders of recent times across all supporters. As a rider, very fair and an entertainer. Some of the new breed could learn from his persona alone.

Regarding tyres - as mentioned above, the timeframes are quite correct. Unless anything has changed from a couple of years ago when I was a Machine Examiner at Lakeside, the spare (Number 2) bike HAD to have a part-used tyre. A few riders (one of note) tried the old trick of slightly wearing down one edge then covering it in shale dust, then marking it up with initials, to make it look used and checked elsewhere. Maybe it had. But not much got past us. In 2012 (if memory serves correctly) we had the World U21's. The Czech team were in the competition. The poor little sods. Some had what looked like home-made dirt deflectors cut from rubber/plastic. They were passed by the FIM M/E's in attendance as they apparently met their regs. When they saw the pile of used tyres at the rear of the pits, their eyes lit up. They could not believe that these tyres were going to be scrapped - as, if you look at a tyre that's discarded when a new complimentary one is fitted (pre-meeting), it doesn't exactly look worn. Suffice to say the Czech guys asked if they could have them for free - and 5 vans went back across the Channel somewhat heavier than when they came. Clearly, Czech riders do not have the money that their counterparts appear to earn. It's probably why so few riders appear on these shores from The Czech Republic? Maybe, a team with a little forward-thinking, could consider scouting some of these guys, and sponsoring them with some decent equipment? I would imagine it's a cheaper option than employing some latest 'whizz-kid' from Poland or Scandinavia - with potentially more appreciation/loyalty being returned than displayed by some? Tuning-wise costs, to me anyway, seem colossal. A certain ex-GP rider told me, when I was giving him a lift to Stanstead, that a full engine tune/overhaul cost around £1,000. Subsequently, he had a dire meeting (away from home at Brandon) on that very engine which had been serviced; and reverted to his spare after 3 races. And yes, if memory serves correctly, he also said an engine needs re-tuning around every 30 races.

Hackney PJ1 Kestrels, which pretty quickly changed to the HL1 Kestrels (both racing oil companies I do believe). Were Berwick called The Drybrough Bandits at one time - I think this was a local brewer? And were Mildenhall named the FSO Tigers - backed by some car dealership/supplier of cheap, imported cars? LADA, as mentioned, also were the main sponsor of the Wembly Indoor meets I seem to recall - the events generally won by Jan Andersson who (it transpired) sprayed hair laquer on his back wheel for grip. Maybe Cov riders could try similar . Only went twice in the early 80's - and the LADA's used to do a few laps pre-meeting; nice looking paint jobs but at two and a half grand brand new, I guess people knew what they were getting. Ice Speedway - went to the World Final in Eindhoven in 1983 and there was major sponsorship by CAMEL Cigs - it was on the race jackets of all riders. Every few heats, there were promo girls throwing small packs of 3 cigs into the crowd.

So who exactly can replace Watt? Or more to the point, given your current team averages, HOW?

Looking forward to this one. Monmore is my favourite track - best in the league in my opinion; and undoubtedly the best grub. I'll get lost as usual but hopefully have enough time to get there from work. Generally a good presentation as well. Just hoping that as it's Wolves first home meeting, they'll feel a bit of pressure to perform; after a couple of excellent away wins. Pivotal will be the performance of Rob Mear. He looks so off the pace since his comeback that it's embarrassing. Given the two reserve race format, we really need him to deliver tomorrow night - it's extremely difficult to win away from home with a 6 man team. Shame that Richard Lawson is out with flu as he looked pretty majestic at Beaumont Park the other week. But this gives Ed Kennett a chance to shine. He's certainly been pretty impressive in the PL to date (and let's be honest, the Elite League is only a ramped-up version of the PL anyway these days). Not going to make any predictions - particularly not after the other year when we held a 10 or 12 point lead and still managed to bollox it up in the final three heats!

Did they win the league by continually changing the goalposts as well?

States a guy who puts an additional, unnecessary space between words and a question mark; doesn't use a full stop; adds an unnecessary hyphen in Sainsburys and incorrectly uses a capital letter for the word 'now'. Not bad for a twelve word sentence. Pot, kettle old chap?

But you did. Bye then.

Yeah but be fair, 15 of 'em are full stops.

Nor does anyone else - quite simply, because that's actually quite impossible to achieve. When you write, or in this case 'post' something on a forum, the correct term is libellous. Slander is an action that is spoken. If you are going to use long words, then please take every care to ensure that you are actually using them in the correct context. Otherwise, your responses have the depth of a grain of sand.