The Voice Of Reason

There's also the bar area and there are usually seats on the balcony. However, you need to get there early as these are quickly taken. It's also not the best viewing area in my opinion; being high up on the first bend. As suggested, the covered grandstand is probably best. It certainly gets the best atmosphere for banter - particularly during Eastbourne meetings.

Decent idea to be honest. However, some further points need to be put into the mix. First and foremost, at many tracks that share facilities with stock cars and/or other motor sports, any retaining devices/covers/other items on the centre green MUST be removed at the end of the meeting. Often, that is at the jurisdiction of the landlord, and also to meet safety criteria set down by other sports. Moreover, if these devices, coupled with the covers, were even allowed to be left on the centre green, then they would be destroyed within a few weeks. You only have to see the damage that Speedway Tracks sustain now where facilities are shared. When Sky were in town at Lakeside for Monday night coverage, we'd often set up as much as we could on a Sunday evening. To watch bangers is a bloody nightmare. When they are smashed to the point of utter destruction and have to be towed off, where do you think they are taken? Yep, the centre green - and they are more often than not dragged across the speedway track to get there. Diffs, gearboxes, exhausts, tyre-less wheels, etc. cause deep ruts in the surface that are a nightmare to grade out. The point I'm getting at is that if anything was left on the centre green, basically it would be destroyed. Forgive me, but the average stock car driver is not usually the sharpest pencil in the box, and basically doesn't give a damn about anything in his way; or so it often appeared at our track. So this brings us to the next problem. If covers were required for a track, it would need at least two flatbed trucks/lorries to transport them/store them on after a meeting. That is major additional expense for the promoter; and probably overlooked by many that simply see the only investment being the actual covers themselves. And now, the human element comes into play. At Lakeside, and other tracks whereby the track has to basically be dismantled, it needs a team of at least 15-20 guys to take down, load and store the fencing, airbags, advertising, spectator barriers, etc. With a full crew, it can usually be accomplished within 90 minutes - 2 hours. Very often, they'd be around a dozen of us (max). Now, if there are additional heavy covers, fixings and two additional flat beds to load, then you can add another hour on (at least). Now let's be honest about this. Just how many volunteers do you think come forward, that are physically very fit, willing & able to work until around 1am voluntarily, in the peeing rain, ending up caked in wet shale and all for the love of their club? Well yes, there are some; but believe me, many that join with every best intention last a fortnight at most. Now admittedly, I am looking at the worst case scenario BUT the purpose of this post is just to outline some of the logistical, financial and manpower constraints that also need to be considered. Again, I truly hope that some long-term solution can be found. That said, I don't think that one size will ever fit all; simply because speedway tracks have vastly different criteria and restrictions to work within.

Jim, I'm not trying to make you believe anything. Believe whatever your want old chap. However, just ask yourself this simple question - IF it was possible, then why don't promoters do it, rather than endure substantial losses through rain-offs? And the point that your response DOESN'T address is WHO EXACTLY is going to pull the covers on and off as you suggest? Don't just say the track curator, as a task such as this needs more than just one guy! I'm not going to get into an argument with you; suffice to say that before I worked as a member of track staff, I would possibly have asked similar questions.

Maybe - but remember that the vast majority of track staff work voluntarily; often getting to the track late evening after they've finished work. To get the track fully covered, and subsequently uncovered, in such a short space of time, on either non-race or race day, requires significant manpower and resource that the average Speedway Promoter could just not afford to shell out for; particularly given other financial constraints. In an ideal world, all tracks would have 10-20 blokes on standby to get the track (which are MUCH bigger than they often look from the terraces) covered quickly when rain is due and, as outlined above, IF it actually comes. In the real world, that's simply a pipe dream. I'm not trying to find reasons why it shouldn't be done, or indeed trialled. Believe me, I sincerely hope that a solution can be found. Clearly, nobody likes to have rain-offs. For us supporters/track staff, it's a let down/inconvenience. For promoters, who often have to pay rent on the stadium to a landlord, and wages to riders, etc. irrespective of whether the meeting goes ahead or not, it's an utter financial nightmare.

It's a valid question about covering the track. However, let's consider the following. The track is covered throughout the day and, for example, uncovered at 5pm when the rain stops. In this instance, there is just insufficient time to prepare it properly. If racing goes ahead, it will just be a dust bowl, racing will be at a premium and spectators will go home dissatisfied. Having worked at Lakeside, I learnt a few things. Firstly, a track isn't just prepared a few hours before a meeting; nor even just on the day. In Lakeside's case, their track curator starts work on a Tuesday; grading and watering the track in readiness for Friday night. He's continually grading and watering from 6am until evening each and every day. Track covers would clearly make this task impossible. Secondly, the amount of water that you put onto a track IS an exact science. Having worked all afternoon (until 7pm) sweeping the porridge off the track after morning/afternoon rain, just a 5 minute cloudburst has previously waterlogged the track and took it into a point of no return. It's bloody heartbreaking at times (especially at Lakeside where the entire track's fence panels and airbags have been put up and then taken down again for absolutely nothing - this alone takes at least 2 hours at a time). Some tracks are more susceptible to water than others - depending on the base NOT how much shale is on the surface. Some are clay based and others are chalk. It's an art form knowing just how much water to apply; and having to gauge this with ongoing, changeable weather forecasts. A lot of track curators have access to the most reliable updated weather forecasts via the net; a service (forget it's name) that costs money to use BUT gives updates every 15 minutes. I think it was last year (or maybe the year before) when we saw a huge bank of rain clouds heading our way from the Oxford area around 4pm. It was due to hit us at Purfleet around 7pm. However, in the interim, the wind gathered momentum and it was then due to arrive just after 6pm. So, a track curator has to make a decision of how much water to apply, and more importantly, precisely when to apply it. In this particular instance, the rain blew off course about a mile before it was due to start. So we got let off the hook but due to his experience, Lakeside's track curator (Gerald Richter) made exactly the right call. And that is the next point - the natural elements such as wind and sun. Wind can dry the surface of a track phenomenally quickly, and this again has to be taken into careful consideration. Hopefully, this gives some insight into track prep and the next time we look at our track curators, remember that their job doesn't start and end with them arriving on race day, and simply driving around in a tractor and grading between heats. Without these guys, we wouldn't have Speedway meetings - it's as simple as that. Sometimes, a few may make a wrong call - but let's not shoot them for it. So having flown off at a tangent (apologies), it just isn't possible to cover a track. The material (not just the top layer of shale) needs to breath in order for us to watch good racing on a well-prepared, consistent surface. And if you ask most riders (who generally fully appreciate that all tracks are different) it's a consistent track that they are looking for mostly - in order to perform their job safely and to their best of their ability.

NO outdoor speedway track can absorb 9 hours of (more or less) constant, heavy rain. Drainage doesn't even come into it. However, just bear in mind the phenomenal amount of meetings staged by Leicester in 2012; despite it being the wettest year in our history.

Oh yes, I remember that too. The night when Poole's 'golden boy' was unbelievably let back into the re-run, and then undeservedly won it. Not to mention his previous race of course when he decided to side-swipe AJ - which could have resulted in an awful injury. Unfortunately, Darcy Ward only cares about one thing........himself.

I believe that his plan is to be back on a bike and practising within the following week.

On hindsight, possibly the best stance to have taken from the outset?

So are you suggesting that he's not telling the truth then? Based upon what evidence exactly? What would YOU have done to improve the track; I'm asking that particular question based upon the assumption that you have the experience of being a Speedway RIDER and not simply a Speedway SUPPORTER?

Apparently, Bomber has had a practice session on it - and given it a thumbs up. No disrespect, but I'd personally take the advice of Chris Harris re: overtaking lines and track shape rather than words of wisdom from supporters - particularly when their only experience of a speedway track is being in the grandstand looking at one.

BluePanther, Thanks for cherry picking the points made in my previous post. I am not biased but if you truly believe that there have not been tremendous inroads to improve Lakeside, particularly over the past 3 seasons, then I give up. As for your comments around our visits to the EOES last season. All I can say on that point is that you clearly weren't at our place watching your team's return performances; or you'd have kept schtum.

Well I didn't hear Stuart Douglas or Jon Cook moaning about our attendance last season. But Rick Frost? Oh, what a different story. Didn't qualify for the play-offs, then immediately threw his toys out the pram; blaming poor attendances as a potential reason for pulling out of Peterborough Speedway. He wasn't prepared to look closer to home and blame it on his rider selection; nor how many times a certain Dane was absent through other engagements or 'sickness'(?). Let's blame it on Peterborough's fans. What a joke. You don't have a case to rest fella. A bag to keep your make-up in (and Trevor Swales's gallon drums of 'fake bake') maybe.

I agree with so much of what's been said. However, the single most important issue in my eyes, is the price of admission. Particularly in these austere times, it's one hell of a lot of money to pay; particularly for a family. Despite an argument to the contrary, at the end of the day we are actually getting around 15 minutes of sport to watch for our £16+. Now I'm a Speedway die-hard, but even I can appreciate that's a lot of dosh to pay out - particularly in The Elite League whereby the increasing number of 6 man teams consist of, what appears to be, a never-ending stream of guests and lower league riders (no offence intended to these blokes).

Great news for Berwick Speedway Club - genuinely delighted for you. Best wishes guys and good luck for 2013, from a Hammers fan.

Don't waste your time on him guys. I don't think that it was the Brit issue that actually inspired him/her/it to respond. I think I actually hit a nerve with the 'Johnny Foreigner' quote - given that Peterborough Speedway fit that particular bill admirably.

Without wanting to appear selfish, I think moving to The Hammers will do Lewis the world of good. He's still a Young Brit; with masses of untapped potential. I genuinely expect that this fresh start will be good for Lakeside Hammers Speedway, and hope that it will be financially beneficial to Lewis. I really wish him every success. It's a great opportunity for the lad; and endorses Lakeside's ongoing commitment to BRITISH riders, rather than employing 'unknown Johnny Foreigner' - which seems to be the preferred choice for a number of other clubs.

Never mind Lion's fans.......as they say, "there's always a prick in a bunch of roses". We have our little mob on the Lakeside forum that forever whinge and moan about everything to do with our club. They are ignored, and soon either vanish into the ether, or take up knitting.

Well I guess it's horses for courses then, as I personally prefer to see riders competing on smaller, technical tracks. I know it's not called slowway - but it is known as Speedway RACING. If I wanted to watch blokes on a bike opening the throttle full pelt whilst hanging on to their handlebars for dear life, then I'd go and watch motorbike road racing at Donnington. Anyway, I don't want to hijack a Lions thread arguing with a supporter - particularly when it was his team's promotion that was the most vocal in blocking Leicester's progression into the upper tier in the first place.

It takes a lot of time and effort to change a Speedway Track. The initial track when first built, is often not fit for purpose, and overtaking is at a premium. I know this having been a Lakeside (Arena Essex) supporter for most of my life. The original, flat as a pancake track with sticks, not safety fences, was woeful. Over the years it improved and with our current track curator, we witness a great deal of overtaking - as the bends now have more banking and the shape in/out of them has been significantly changed. Just to add, don't go by comments made by other people on here that still knock Lakeside, and do not go by our camera-shy performances whenever Sky are in town! We do witness a great deal of overtaking - much more so than many away tracks that I've visited. Just to add, in the case of Leicester, why is there so much distrust from some quarters? You have possibly the most forward-looking promotion within the Premier League, and you should get behind them 100%. Everything I read about Leicester suggests that you are a success story in the making - so why the negativity from some 'fans'? Rome may not have been built in a day, and Speedway Tracks conducive to good racing, aren't built in a couple of seasons!

Yep, that's the exact effect that Kennett has on Lakeside supporters. I couldn't have said it better myself. Just to add that apparently, his old man makes a complete dikhead of himself as well every time he comes to Lakeside. Clearly, it runs in the family.

Darn sight better signing than that cheating little mug in your avatar!

Correct. That way, every thread doesn't become rail-roaded into discussing Coventry and Poole.

I thought he said he'd left school and was now working in Tesco's? Maybe he couldn't get his head around the '2 for 1' offers and they've sent him back for more lessons.

Confused individual? Goes to school and has a Missis? Add a few 'inherited sprogs' into the mix, and that description just about sums up most chavs around Dagenham and Basildon.