East End Fan

Understand your concern. Some good vibrations at present about a vaccine, so we must hope that we find a successful one before March. In the meantime it seems that some racing will be permitted, subject to some test events proving successful, in October. So no likelihood of any official competition, but maybe a few challenge matches. Keep our fingers crossed.

Saw on telly today that sports stadiums are to re-open in the Autumn. Does that mean September ? October ? Will it happen for Speedway ? Dodgy weather at that time of year and I guess a lot of clubs will decide to call it a day now as Glasgow did. Does anyone know any better ?

I do not think that the election to run on Tuesdays is just for 2020 so will be in force next season too.

That will not matter because, as I understand it, Mondays ( Bank Holidays only) will be used for National League events. Tuesdays for Championship and with no Swedish riders and no other Tuesday tracks in UK, Kent will have an uninterrupted race day. Good move, I think. Surprised at the lack of comment about it.

Cannot disagree with that. Most Speedway venues are basically outdoors. But we will be counted like soccer and rugby and no allowance made for our comparatively modest numbers.

But I think the "R" number has risen just recently as a direct result of the marches and crowded beaches. We will only see success in ridding ourselves of this Covid 19 if ALL the public observe the rules...and that is a pipe dream.

If the government was to decide to allow fans into stadiums to watch such sports as football, Speedway and Rugby and it resulted in a huge number of extra infections and deaths, is that being stupid ?

Very interesting to note that on this forum at both Championship and National League level, there has been no comment on the Tuesday race day for Kent. I would have thought that a major change like a different race day would have produced a response. Or don't people care ?

You overlook the simple fact that if we do not get rid of the virus, our economy will shrink still further so to suggest the government are pissing about is stupidity in the extreme. Social distancing is a necessary evil at present....get used to it.

I have not seen any public comments from the club about plans to open although the story goes that work is taking place at the track. From my own point of view as a "shielded" person, I am nervous about attending any Speedway this year even though I have to admit that social distancing would be very easy at Sittingbourne. Would be interesting to hear from the management about actual plans and how they would deal with the virus problems.

Rumours reaching me are that work is going on at the stadium in the expectation of racing returning later this year. Don't know how factual that is. Have not seen any official announcements from the club, so just rumours.

During the 70's, England had a particularly successful international team, winning the World Team Cup several times as I remember. We also used to have test match series against Australia and Sweden for example which I seem to recall we always won ( or at least mostly). What I don't remember is any huge rise in interest from newspapers or TV. In fact our Speedway success was largely ignored. This might just be my memory not being too good, but there must be others out there who were fans at the time. What do they remember ? The point is that international success for Brits does not necessarily translate into more fans on the terraces...sadly.

Don't follow football...Do they run on Tuesdays ?

Juat picked up on the Championship column that Kent are to race on Tuesdays and also using Bank Holiday Mondays for National League matches

Thanks for that. Fully understand the reasons and cannot argue against it. Fortunately, it makes no difference to me and I can do Tuesdays very easily. In fact I was brought up on Tuesday Speedway at West ham just after the war, so in a away it will be nostalgic for me and others too Imagine. Lots of East Enders now live in Kent. Good for the club to be the only team racing on Tuesdays. Lets now hope that we can actually see some racing this year..

Where did you get that from ? I have not seen or heard anything about it. If its true, why the change ?

As I'm not savvy enough to be on facebook, twitter or any other communication outlets, I do rely on some of my info from this column which is easy to use for an old fashioned old git like me.

You sound like one of the many CleverDicks who know exactly how to promote Speedway but have never had to guts to do it.

When was that news released ? I have seen nothing about it.

With Covid infections still in the daily thousands, I cannot see the government allowing any form of mass gatherings in stadiums for a long time yet.

Blimey..the rantings of a prima donna. Nobody so far as I can see has actually commented on your ideas to try to save Rye House. A fan from Birmingham simply pointed out that there are other tracks in the area, one operated by the man who introduced professional league racing to Rye House. Maybe Mr Mc Caffery should try to persuade him to join the campaign to get the Rockets back on track ?.

A guy I speak to from timer to time on the phone told me that he had his season ticket money refunded by Kent Speedway weeks ago.

Is it true that some tracks are re-opening for practice sessions ? If so, does anyone have any info. about it ? When..where ?

Does that mean we should not be curious ? Personally, as a life long fan, I am very curious about what is going to happen. Today I had a phone call from a Speedway friend who lives in Ashford and he said that he had heard that Central Park was re-starting dogs and also getting ready for Speedway. Is that just a rumour or are there facts to support it ? Or do I have to read it in the Speedway Star as RobMcCaffery suggests ?