cityrebel

A decent well run meeting last night. The crowd was dissapointing but understandable due to the change of start time. It's been an awful weekend with the shoreham air disaster and the terrible news about darcy ward, life can be so cruel sometimes.

Major problems at the launch pad. The dust off at the start of the season seems to have been the catalyst for the whole year. Internal fighting, lack of stadium improvements and a new owner that is conspicuous by his absence and his silence!

Before the internet era, it was a trick of the trade for promoters to keep the line ups under wrap, especially when there were riders missing. These days there are very few secrets in speedway, with all of the different communication methods available to fans.

As I left lakeside last night, I thought any first timer in attendance would find it hard to believe that speedway could be finished at purfleet. Good weather, decent racing and a big crowd, the three most important ingredients to any speedway promoter. The sport can be a success when these things come together, unfortunately they rarely do.

thanks for correcting me, Ivan 8 from 5 rides I seem to remember. I knew ronnie team rode someone to victory over Mauger, it was only a lifetime ago!

I first went there in May 1970. The stadium then was a shadow of its former self, with the first and second bends and back straight enclosures replaced by a concrete wall.

I remember it well phil. The first leg of the 1970 cup final, even though I was just a nipper at the time. Tebby's achievement was mainly due to mirac's brilliant team riding skills! Or Preben Rosenkilde beating Ole Olsen at custom house in 1971, the cheers took the roof off the main grandstand!

Andrew silver said in last Saturdays raiders programme, that trainings schools have been restricted at rye recently. Sad news in yet another depressing season at hoddesdon.

You also have to cater for fans like me that don't like intervals and unnecessary delays. I like the whole show done and dusted within two hours. Football runs like clockwork to big crowds without the need for added attractions. In this age of hectic lifestyles, the majority of people haven't got time to hang around.

to be honest I thought is was a pretty average match with very little passing in the early heats, although Tatum and Pearson continued to big it up. It did liven up after the Harris crash, added to the bit of controversy towards the end. Some riders were saying that the track was slick, but that was understandable considering the weather forecast.

I wonder if uncle Len will splash the cash to get him in at the launch pad. I could sense a bit of a 'love in' between the two of them when he guested for rye recently.

make the most of it!!!

Ward rides lakeside better than any other rider I've seen there, and I went to first ever meeting at purfleet in 1984. What also makes ward so good are his exceptional team riding abilities.

An excellent meeting tonight, some great racing and well run. The track was a bit on the dry side at the start of the match, but apart from that, a great time was had by all!

if the cap fits phil!

i must try it one Saturday before rye. I didn't go tonight I was at palace watching the gooners.

is it any good shads, how does it compare to my local pie shop, Harrington's in tooting.

I have to agree with you there phil, although I did enjoy the league racing of the 1970's far more than the big meetings staged at the empire stadium.

Ward is such a box office rider he should get a wildcard. The GP circus is turning into a retirement home!

I think silver should give him a team spot at rye, instead of splashing the cash on air fares for the duff swedes in the current rockets side.

I think ward will win a world title, the lack of world class riders competing in the current GP circus will no doubt help him.

fair point!

What happens if the abbey closes at the end of the year and the new stadium is not ready in time for the 2016 season. Maybe tel boy has some contingency plans!

I enjoyed watching Wednesdays poole v belle vue meeting, just as much as I did as a child standing on the terraces at west ham or Wimbledon over 40 years ago. The silly rules I can accept, but the unnecessary delays I cannot. Wether this is an age thing or not I don't know. Speedway is a professional sport run by a bunch of amateurs. Until it drags itself into the 21st century it has no chance of survival. The public will pay the money for a good well run product, at this moment in time the promoters in this country cannot provide this.

ive been thinking the same thing about reading for years!