Andy Downes

I seem to remember several demonstration races at Hackney in the late 1980's but the racing was poor compared to the local grasstrack scene - I think the track was too small and probably too narrow for any decent racing. I believe there was some talk of a sidecar league around that time but that could be my memory playing tricks as I was falling out of love with the sport at that time

It will never work - in didn't when I supported Crayford in the 70's/80's and it wouldn't work now. The odd (let's face it) freak result every few years has clouded memories and the regular thumping's have been forgotten - the gap was too big then and it still is today

I Knew Michael Warren died of cancer but I didn't know Dave Hamnett had died - assume was it an illness as I don't recall him losing his life in a track crash

Couldn't agree more about 1991 - it didn't help that we had a new promoter who seemed patently out of his depth and having the worst team since the Kestrels moved from Crayford. I couldn't get the enthusiasm to support Arena/Lakeside, and have never gone on a regular basis since