JC!

I have flights booked for this year, I wondered if anyone had any ideas on the best way to pick up tickets or if they will be available on the day. I am planning on staying in Prague - could anyone help with ideas for travelling between Prague and Pardubice? many thanks in advance for any help.

Hi Derek Totally agree with what you say - seemed a mystery to me not to have any souvenirs for the Hawks, would think that there would be demand for programme boards, or maybe scarves, hats etc? Totally looked like a shabby marketing ploy to bring a few old fans in - hopefully Jon Cook will do a bit better. Didn't see any old faces there yesterday (other than in the mirror!!), can see the crowds falling to be honest. I think there were around 500-550 there, but no concessions seems like a strange move too. Cheers John

Surprised to see the Hawks yesterday, went over on the off chance didnt know who was on, must have been fate! Took 3 Kids who all got in free, so £24 for the lot of us not bad at all. Positives Team seems to have good youngsters. Crowd seemed not too bad. Areas to Improve Terrible opposition, they need a guest american from a higher league to be remotely competitive if they are to tour again, albeit they gave their best. Dust clouds and no water going down. Mostly - no Hawks merchandise,bar a badge. Even the programme was branded Rye House (would have liked Len to go to the expence of a staple to hold it together for 2 quid? ). None of this differentiated Hackney as a different team than the 3rd division team from last year. On the whole much more likely to go and see the Rockets to be honest, I think there was nothing done to create an identity for the Hawks, making it appear to be a gimmick to pull in a few more punters .

Len seems to miss every trick like this, kids meals liked to adults at the chippy or go see the rockets get the Hawks at half price, but especially the disabled/students who often have the decision to go taken out of their hands by these prices. I mean, the NL team should be a low cost alternative for those who cannot afford PL but it will end up costing the same!!

Totally agree for 3rd division racing. If you have kids £34 is steep, especially compared to other activities: - Greyhounds at romford would be £20 (free on a Sat morning) - Cinema £25 for family (£10 on weekend mornings) - Transport Museum - £27 for annual passes for all 4 Surely Len would get more from the concessions via higher admissions if he reduced the prices even a bit?

Is the right answer! Any old fans would have found a new track to go to, or have drifted away by now - its 20 years since Hackney shut down (not including the 'fish tank' year).

I was at this one, a fantastic match won by the 4 man Hawks, Plech was unstoppable. The match was most memorable, however, for the amazing team riding display by Bo Petersen, the Hawks suddenly started gating like lightening half way through then Bo made sure no-one was passing.

I think that one idea that could be taken from the various series of the 70's would be to have a Rest of the World side. You could then bring in the likes of Zagar and Hancock to lead what would be a much more attractive team than some of the also rans that currently participate.

RIP Bernie

There was one a few years ago, about Workington.

Yes, I understand it, and thats why I said that I can see the point technically, and dont dispute it (lover not fighter!!). I can see my example was presented as fact as opposed to the mainstream view which is what I had intended. The point I was making (badly) was that the most popular (not mine - I frankly couldn't care less!) modern understanding of the start of a decade is the year beginning with '0' - which, I think, is why everyone in the media is classifying lists of this, that, and the other for the last 'decade'. I just think that the actual point raised by the thread should not get caught up by someones pedantic view of something that the vast majority have accepted to be a milestone decade point. If someone wants to challenge the accepted norm, perhaps a seperate thread is the place to do it. Also I have now used my full 2010 post allowance, what with this and Braintree, so can't now come back until 2011, just in time to see in the new decade, what joy!!!

What would the January leading up to AD1 be called then January 0 AD, I assume? Can see your point technically, but it is most popularly agreed that a decade starts with a year ending with a 0 - ie 12 months leading up to AD 1 would be the first of a 120 month decade ending at the end of AD9.

Negative feedback which, to be fair, you requested.

TMC Sure, but please note that this is just my opinion, and I am sure that there will be many who will charge in to tell me I have it all wrong!! Not cancelling as a result of cost, to be fair £17 seems ok for a publication like Backtrack. There are several areas where I feel that the interest to me of the magazine has sharply declined recently, these include: 1) Lack of a Main Man feature, the analysis of USA and England just seem to be re-hash of old magazines and dont really cover any new ground. Dont feel that Preben Eriksen etc really have any stand out value to be main article. 2) The time frame has reduced the subject matter available, Backtrack must have been going about 5 years and is only covering a 20 year period. It occurs to me that this means that the readership has aged by 5 years, and counting. I think a move to 1970-1995 would open up some new avenues for discussion, the decline of the sport pre Sky TV days, new riders for features etc etc. 3) Loss of articles that had interested me - the quizzes, what was in the news x years ago, amongst others. Whilst replacements do not grab my attention including Rod Haynes, who I had never heard of, and whose column feels to me to have lost impact, after initially being of interest. As I say, just my opinion, I am certain that you (and, no doubt, the vast majority) will disagree, and I totally understand that. You will probably see that I have given positive comment in the past on various issues of Backtrack on this forum so I dont consider myself to be a type to whinge about everything and anything, and had not even realised that I had put that I was not going to renew, and certainly did not mean to discourage or criticise. Regards John

I agree, my renewal has come through but I will not be renewing, I expect. I think it is £3-50 a mag these days.

...was the question originally As mentioned Gordon Kennett would appear to be the best candidate - any others, I hear Larry Ross still rides occasionally?

QUOTE (Robbie B @ Mar 16 2009, 10:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thanks JC, I have all the Backtrack mags, I have a look through them too see. Your right JC from issue 23 there's been 'Taking The Mic' about announcers, I really must get some new glasses. Thats alright, just dont tell anyone I tried to help a Dons supporter, it will ruin my credibility!

QUOTE (Robbie B @ Mar 14 2009, 08:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> And maybe something on the Track Announcers as well. May be worth picking up some back copies as there has been a 'Man on the Mic' series at some time, I am sure.

Each track having its own big individual meeting that would have most of the major stars there - Superama, Golden Hammer, Pride of The East, etc etc. Race Jackets. Brittains Model Riders.

Wow, I knew Darren as a kid, this really surprises me. Thanks for the info.

For my money, the finest team rider with a really slow partner that I have ever seen.

I think the surname is 'Cayre'

Thats what I thought when I saw it.

Groombridge Eagles was Eastbourne, surely? Hackney appeared under the name 'Hawks' in 1991 for a half season, similar to Wimbledon Dons.

Thanks, and done.