teaboy279

What makes this more annoying is the clubs insistence on supporters being negative about this, well they have had near perfect weather since they started and still not managed it. So looks like my trip down on the 18th will now be the test event. Makes the comments by Lee Kilby who was criticising supporters for being negative and that it would be done easily a complete nonsense.

PRESS & PRACTICE - GET IN THE PICTURE WITH THE KINGS: With the curtain set to rise on the much-anticipated 2019 Speedway season for the Kent TouchTec Kings, there's an opportunity for fans to get up close and personal with the new-look side as final preparations are made at next Sunday's (14/4) Press & Practice Day. As has become traditional, in order to give the maximum opportunities for the riders to get invaluable track time the P&P event is held not at the Kings' Central Park Stadium home but at the nearby Speedway training track facility in Iwade. Thanks go out to the Sittingbourne Speedway club for again allowing Kent to welcome the media, sponsors and supporters to this event which will begin at 11.30am on Sunday 14th. April - with the Kings Men out on track from mid-day. And this year there's a unique opportunity for fans to put themselves fully in the picture - literally, as supporters can have their photos taken with the team and/or individual riders from 11.30am. Team boss Chris Hunt said, "We really appreciate the fantastic supporters we have, many of whom double up as sponsors too, and the backing they give us and the P&P event being held at Iwade gives an excellent opportunity to allow the fans to meet the riders (in some cases for a first time as we have a number of new recruits) and grab a memento of what we hope will be a memorable campaign, in the form of photos with the team". All the new side will be present - with the exception of Drew Kemp who, as well as being the TouchTec-sponsored Kings' number one in the National League, is also 'doubling up' this term with the Sheffield Tigers in the next division up, the SGB Championship - and the South Yorkshire outfit having now moved to a Sunday afternoon racing slot young Drew will up up there in competitive action. The GB U21 Finalist (having secured seeded into the big meeting in Berwick on the 27th. of this month) has made a sensational start for the Steel City side, roaring to a top-scoring tally of paid 14 on his Tigers' debut and so the Kent management can rest assured their no. 1 will be gainfully employed in racing action though missing the P&P event alongside his new team mates. Of that side, Anders Rowe and Alex Spooner are retained from 2018 - both Anders & Alex are in action at the Isle of Wight two days after P&P hoping to qualify to join Drew in that GB U21 Final, competing in the semi-final of that national championship. They'll be joined at Iwade and on the Isle of Wight by new signings, former Mildenhall starlet Jordan Jenkins and double GB Youth Champion, the reigning title holder at the 250cc class, Nathan Ablitt. A new signing familiar to Kent fans and for many the rider who was top of their proverbial 'shopping list' when last season came to a close, is the highly rated youngster, Dan Gilkes. This sextet of teens (all aged 18 years are below) are captained by the fifth new face in the team, Rob Ledwith. Hunt is optimistic that the blend put together for an assault on the National League honours after a number of previous near-misses will see further significant progress made. "We've made improvements each year and now in this our seventh Speedway campaign at Central Park, we do think we can make that final breakthrough - with a side which can mount a strong challenge for honours." And it's the famed Kent team-spirit which can make all the difference, "The most important thing is that the team, although they haven't yet been together as a unit, do all know each other fairly well, so we're hoping that will be an advantage right from the off. "We've already done a series of get-togethers and we've also had team practices - so it's very much been about getting people to gel together. Sunday's P&P is a very important part of that, bringing the fans, media and sponsors into that equation too". The Press & Practice event is free entry and held on Sunday 14th. April with an 11.30am start time at Iwade Speedway, The Old Gun Site, Raspberry Hill Lane, off Old Ferry Rd., Iwade, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8SP.

Photo ops with the riders from 11am, on track from 12.

Krosno Krakow live on you tube as well. I typed in live Zuzel and it appeared.

If there is time can we have a bit a discussion and predictions on the NL this year please. The return of the pairs and fours for the NL is exciting news, as is the proper old school 4 leg 4 team tournament later in the year between the Fen Tigers, The Gladiators, The Kings, and The Warriors.

Let's be honest some of the gardening in the good ol days was worse then today when you look back at some videos.

And this at Kent is what we do, we have speedway more or less every week and even for damp and cold challenge matches we still turn out in big enough numbers to turn a profit. I believe in 2017 the quoted average attendance was circa 800. And last season I remember Len saying the crowds were up significantly during the school holidays in 2018. I think you trawl the pages of the forums and most clubs fans biggest gripe is the big gaps between meetings. I dont think it's a coincidence that we are one of a handful of clubs that has turned a profit each season we have run and we are one of only a handful of teams with weekly fixtures. Infact there were a few grumbles last year that we didn't chuck another meeting or 2 on deep into October.

I still think the thing I am looking forward to most is a proper 4 team tournament. And with IOW and Plymouth legs back to back nights, and a week later the Mildenhall and Kent legs are on consecutive nights. It makes going to all 4 legs a lot more viable to go to. Seeing the skipper back is a massive moment even if just for 2 matches. Rob Ledwith should be a joy to watch and should attract plenty of press attention if his return goes as well as hoped. And then we have 6 potential superstars, I think all of them have the ability to get to the top leagues. So the potential to see a future GP star in Kings colours is much improved with this crop of exciting kids.

My mistake, the events are actually on the 31st may and 1 st June. Every single penny goes to a Menagitis charity btw. Tickets available here. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/arena-essex-1-last-time-tickets-59560023634

I ve missed less then half a dozen (including amateur and SDL etc) meetings in 6 seasons so far. For someone who lives like me, very much hand to mouth finding a lump some for a luxury item for myself no matter how good value it is, when that money could go on the kids. Think I ll suggest next seson we announce prices earlier and allow us Fan's to pay in installments, I would get a season ticket for certain then. 15 quid is in my opinion too steep for NL Speedway (ar least to the casual follower), but then again you could barely buy a packet of fags and a pint of lager with that theses days. The first 2 fixtures are for certain 1000 plus crowds if the weather is nice, the acid test will be the first normal Monday night to see whether the crowds still hold up. And despite the planning permission failing to change race night, I see no reason why we cant race up in the higher leagues even with a 6.30 start. For riders in higher leagues many wont have a day job to have to have a day off work. And in all honesty if your travelling a few hundred miles to support your team the start time plays little consideration as most of us need to take the day off regardless of start time. The added bonus for away fans is getting on the road by 8.30 means even north of brum is doable by midnight. So hopefully the club pursues this Avenue rather then poke the council with another application and risk further alienating ourselves to them to much. Obviously if we top flight we could retain Mondays ( we have planning for 1 day a week Monday to friday I believe) and I doubt very much whether BT Sports would be overly troubled by the earlier start time either, infact with little live action at half 6 ( cricket finished, footy not started) it could actually boost viewing figures and start a trend. It's highly noticable the sheer numbers of children who attend Kent weekly and this as much as Lens free kids supporters club helps is probably more to do with the start time. Iow the best promoted club in the land with bags of mini warriors every week starts at 7 and normally done by nine. I think there is a lot to be said for early evening midweek racing.

Having just checked our lowest number of home fixtures in a season is 19. That was 2013 and an 8 team league, and we got knocked out of everything first round.

Dont think we have not used a reserved date that we have set, in 6 seasons.

We have 22 home fixtures/reserved dates as it stands.

It's hardly Donald Trumps wall. If they was upto anything untoward then they would certainly have a big wooden fence to hide behind

They are holding a charity event on the infield tomorrow and Sunday night on the infield, where they will be showing old banger footage on a cinema screen. Strictly limited to 300 each night. Tickets went on sale 7pm and are available via the Arena Essex Raceway Facebook page.

I ve not had one before, but that usually because I ve not had the money in one go rather then any other reason. But as we run every week and I attend each one, I really should try and get one this year.

Season ticket is 280 quid which if it includes programme needs 16/17 meetings to pay for itself. Normally get at least 20 plus home fixtures so looks good value.

What I saw was Pawlicki go tight under nicki on the home straight, then Pawlicki take Nicki to the boards on back straight. Nicki then just eases him wide, hard to tell whether there was any contact there.

Has anyone seen the incident as there must be footage for Darcy to have seen. Have any other riders commented on it? I cant see ad he blocked me years ago.

Didn't nearly the whole of the Polish top flight go on strike prior to last season due to restrictions on imaging rights. Pretty sure that's why Hancock signed for a third tier club. Very much a story of two sides, both on the face of it with some merit. Buster has to make the club financially viable, Cook likewise will feel he needs the sponsorship to fund the equipment he has to purchase and maintain himself. Think for clubs to have total control of sponsors, logos and imaging rights then riders would need to be given a salary and all bikes and mechanics owned and supplied by the clubs to the riders. But that would take a massive swift in ethos. But would make the sport less of a financial gamble to riders, and allow clubs to far better budget having overall control of the major outgoings.

Sounds like the new people in the chip shop had a disaster at bangers on Saturday. I ve read as much about the poor food as I have about the racing that went on.

No Dan Bewley

A brave but imo, true assessment of many of the sports problems in a nutshell. Need to look forward not backwards. And in modern society a team of different colours schemes but matching bibs looks a mess and a bit amateurish to everyone except the purists.

Clegg 8.63 (Heathens) Stoneman 7.61 (Gladiators) Rowe 7.26 (Kings) Priest 4.99 (Potters) Ledwith 3.5 (Kings) D Thompsen 2.0 (Cubs) J Thompsen 2.0 (Cubs) 35.99

They ve started with the British final the last two years, then started league fixtures there after. I fully expect it to be the same this year.