hawks 1975

It was Mr Drury and Birmingham I think who denied Kent a last heat and ensured they took home point! Popular he was not....

I really think your promotion has got a winner in Dillon Ruml. I saw him back in 2017 as an 18 year old riding for the American dream team at Kent, and a couple of his races were worth the price of admission alone. He looked a really exciting racer, on a track he had obviously never seen before. Four year on, he's done well Stateside and clearly has ambitions to follow in the footsteps of Becker and Nicol. I would have loved to have seen him at Central Park in 2021 and watched his development, rather than see the comeback of a 45 year old.........

I seem to remember in the early days of the Mail there being two separate sellers at Hackney, and both would be extolling you to buy either the Star or the Mail as you queued to get out at the end of the meeting. "Get your this week's Star" would be followed by "Get your Mail here". Then a wag in the crowd would shout out "Get (or was it Got?!) your Female Here!" Happy days.

In amidst all that is going on, I wondered what the chances were of the new issue having been sent to the printers prior to everything snarling up? Might we be lucky enough to have it pop through our letterboxes whilst the postmen are still delivering? Any chance you can give us some good news Tony?!

Just received this week's edition Philip and full marks to the editorial staff already for producing such a great read. I can only say to anyone not already subscribing, the mag is superbly put together and great value. As to content, perhaps ask the readers for ideas? I actually emailed Andrew earlier this year a suggestion around getting a rider like Scott Nicholls to give us his views on each of the tracks in the top two divisions. My thought was that many fans never get to see a track at the other end of the country and would be interested in hearing a rider comparing tracks. How about transcribing a conference call between 3 or 4 riders getting their opinions on a different subject every few weeks? One thing I think the Star did miss out on was a suitable tribute to Andreas Jonsson when he announced his retirement. Bjarne Pedersen even got a front cover - I am sure a lot of Coventry and Lakeside fans in particular would love to see AJ treated similarly. A true racer and great guy for both tracks. Finally, a shout out to Jeff Davies again for his covers - they are works of art! Crumpie in all his glory this week.

Not long to go to the opening meeting. I was really looking forward to the 50th Anniversary meeting, but am I the only one slightly under-whelmed by the line up so far? Does the promotion really see Emil Grondal and Simon Lambert - great triers as they are - as part of a "mouth watering line-up"?! Now there are only two places to fill. I was hoping to see possibly Nicki P., Jack Holder, Robert Lambert, even Craig Cook. I will still go, but this looks more like a chance for the 2020 Panthers to get in some practice rather than a big special 50th Anniversary meeting I was hoping for. I thought this was going to be special?

Is it confirmed that the team are practicing at Rye House on Friday? If so, can fans get in to watch? What time?

Given recent posts, was going to alter it to KENT £££££ ROYALS 2020

DONE!

I'd rather see Jake Knight back on a bike - he would entertain at Central Park. I'm sure somebody said he had been seen having a spin a while back - does anyone know if he is interested in returning?

Now we know Kent will have a minimum of six home meetings in the National League, we can turn our thoughts toward what sort of team they might build. My initial thoughts were that Dan Gilkes and Rob Ledwith would spearhead the team, giving them confidence gaining rides in this league to assist them when things got tough in the championship . However, if Len’s plan is to ride three of the home fixtures when the Championship side is away at Poole, Birmingham and Somerset - and to continue his admirable record of presenting weekly speedway at Central Park - does this scupper such team building? Would we be allowed a guest, or two?! Does anybody out there know? I would love to see Jake Mulford back, and assume Alex Spooner would be. Somebody who I believe actually deserves a team spot at a higher level, and who would attract a few Lakeside fans to Central Park, would be Alfie Bowtell, whilst Jacob Clouting surely deserves another chance at reserve. Does anyone know if the very promising Nathan Ablitt can be tempted back? The only problem I can see is that the stand alone sides, with potentially ten or more meetings, might be more attractive to riders not doubling up, and that might limit Kent’s options?

I noticed in the Star a recent piece about how much each track had raised toward the Ben Fund in 2019. What I thought was noticeable by its omission was any reference at all to the running of a 2020 Ben Fund Bonanza. I know the staging track makes little or no money from hosting the event, but having supported it several times when it has been held within reasonable travelling distance, I've always thought it an attractive season opener when fans have been starved of action for 5 or 6 months. I know recent years has seen few of the top riders support the event - shame on them - but surely the organisers cannot let such a fund raising event disappear from the calendar? Has anybody heard anything?

Another real racer to join Scotty and a fine gater - two excellent additions. Surely Ben Morley has to be a shoe-in at reserve, so by my maths that leaves over 14 posts for another heat leader and a second string. Alternatively I think Barker and Starke would fit, and give us strength in depth.......

Great start to team building. Would like the team to look something like the following : Scott Nicholls 8.35 NBJ 7.46 Ricky Wells 7.05 Todd Kurtz 5.43 Justin Sedgman 5.20 Ben Morley 3.81 Drew Kemp 3.58 Would have liked to see Dan Gilkes in on a 2.00, but we need Ben at reserve. If Drew does not return, then Dan comes in, allowing an additional 1.70 for elsewhere. Len had NBJ at Rye House, and Wells is a gater who had a poor 2019 and should improve. I've taken the green sheet averages from this weeks Star - do Brits get a reduction still? Should be exciting times ahead at Central Park.

From what I've seen at Kent, Drew doesn't gate consistently, which on a track that in my opinion doesn't lend itself to much passing, has severely limited him. Having said that, seeing Max Clegg and Leon Flint both take him from the back by riding a wider line on his home track suggest that either he's not 'dialled in' at Central Park, or that he's not as good as we expected. He also went through a spell when he seemed unable to get through four races without an error/crash in one. He is only young, and it may just be that Central Park doesn't suit his style. Last night his first two rides were very ordinary, following home JJ and Jake after poor gates, but then he rode an excellent heat 13 to beat the Leicester top two off of gate 3! It did seem last night that if you didn't gate, you struggled to make any headway. Dan G tried all he knew at the back but made no impression on the fast gating Ryan TD in heat 5, and then Hume, so impressive first time out, likewise could not trouble JJ, who rode a good line in heat 6. Did JJ change bikes for heat 13? Why, he barely got out the gate on that one! Also, did Rob not deserve to go out in 15 rather than Dan? Pity we could not win the match, even if the Lions deserved the trophy. Right from the off all the young Kings - plus a very entertaining skipper - were worth watching in 2019, and one or two hopefully will go far.

Am I right in assuming that the averages used here relate just to league meetings, therefore explaining the difference between Rob Ledwith's 5.93 average shown here and his 7.02 in last week's Star?! Thanks for compiling it once again - let's hope we have the opportunity to do it again next season......

Good close meeting, thanks to Drew slipping off in heat 11to present them with a 5-1 which left them only two behind! Then Jake Mulford rode a really brave heat 12 to go round Jordan Palin down the back straight, and then keep it wound on round bends 3/4. They were level going down the home straight before he used the wider line to draw clear. This lad is a real find! He was delayed coming out for heat 11, apparently with bike issues, and came out on another, which was very slow - anyone know whether it was his second bike or borrowed? The fork covers sponsor I've seen on Tobias Musielak's bike. He was then back on his usual bike for his storming heat 12. For Belle Vue, Leon Flint was the pick of the bunch and looked very good, with a fine win from the back over Drew in heat 13. Much improved compared to his showing back in April, the little lads got a real racing style. And we at last got through a home meeting without any bad crashes and with all 6 standing at the finish!

It's such a shame that those superb Jeff Davies covers every week are not face out on the W H Smith shelves anymore. It's also bloody annoying when my postman delivers my copy, and the lovely pristine magazine and the superb cover has been screwed up/damaged en route! Any chance of stronger envelopes Philip - sometimes the edges of the current ones arrive with the mag poking through almost! PS - after his brilliant antics at the British Final last week, surely you have to do an in depth article on Mr Ayres! Congrats to everybody who puts together such an excellent production every week. Long may it continue.

Four favourites appear to be Glasgow, Somerset, Leicester and Eastbourne, but I reckon Redcar could end up in the top four. MPT and Charles Wright love the place, and if Bacon gates on his old track..........

Yes it was slickly run, but why no parade? The parade should be 15 minutes earlier, thereby having everyone ready to start bang on 6.30pm. I always feel a parade is the right way to start proceedings. Let the fans see what the riders look like behind the helmets. Give them a chance to cheer for their favourites. If the announcer is clued up/humorous - so much the better. It can set the scene for the match. It's more professional as well. Back in the days of 'Make It a Date, Friday at Eight' at the Wick - in the days when Len was still leaping - he used to do it really well, and there was always the lucky fifty pence piece for the youngsters after the toss. Come on Kent - don't forget the parade!

That's correct - Sunday 14th at 12 noon is Kent's Press and Practice day at Iwade

1. Ben Morley 9.13 Isle of Wight 2. Rob Ledwith 3.50 Kent 3. Richard Andrews 5.92 Plymouth 4. Luke Priest 4.99 Stoke 5. Tom Perry 8.06 Stoke 6. Dan Gilks 2.00 Kent 7. Jordan Palin 2.00 Belle Vue Total 35.60

Kent have their Press and Practice on Sunday April 14th, at Iwade. 12 noon I believe

Len sold them a stadium that needed upgrading, true. My understanding is that all the electrics for example needed to be replaced. But did they need to replace all the fencing? Rip out all the red seats? Did they HAVE to replace the pits with a super size version? Rip out the long bar? Fine if the 'dealership' was immediately going to increase their revenue, but.... Are we saying that any business plan they had was scuppered by fixed race nights? The 'turkey' had provided speedway for years, to a certain standard. BMR seemingly had the best intentions, but got it horribly wrong.....

Barry Thomas, Mark Loram, Andy Galvin, Bo Petersen, Andrew Silver, Zenon Plech, Andreas Jonsson, Michael Lee, Peter Collins, and Darcy Ward. Can't believe I've not got room for Joe Screen, Tony Rickardsson and Tommy Janssen!