London Riders Championship

[davidba]

Shane was indeed excellent - so great to see him riding so well and so confidentally at this level afer all those early career injury set-backs - well done...

 

Without wishing to sound like a Mod,( ) perhaps though the discussion about the Lions/USA Tourists match (which was cracking entertainment) should be on a different thread, coz this one's entitled the London Riders Championship.

 

And THAT part of the meeting was downright dire - quite posibly the WORST, least-inspired in every way and most utterly pointless Speedway event I've ever hsad the displeasure to endure: albeit in this case thankfully rather briefly...

 

I think we be assured that no further attempt in the future shall be made to stage this.

Mind you let's be honest, what attempt was in truth made with this...

 

None of the historical links we were promised, no old riders introduced or seemingly invited as guests, no effort to put together a field with any pretence at all at (1) being top class; or (2) links with the clubs (where possible).

For example, to me I'd have tried to have Lewis Bridger representing Wimbledon (where he started out riding in second halves albeit never actually wearing a Dons' race-jacket); Eddie Kennett for Hackney - where his father Dave rode for so many years (or alternatively Ed represnting White City where Dave and Uncle Gordon won the League in '77).

I accept beyond this it becomes more tricky but at least try and make links and make it interesting...

The meeting was a turn-off from the start and you could sense literally no-one out there was bothered at all...

If I didn't know better I'd say it had the feel of a last ever meeting at a venue where all interest had been lost... No reason to suppose that's the case but a damp squib of an end to the season for sure..

 

The best bit was the West Ham tractor!!

[Sprog1]

Shane was indeed excellent - so great to see him riding so well and so confidentally at this level afer all those early career injury set-backs - well done...

 

Without wishing to sound like a Mod,( ) perhaps though the discussion about the Lions/USA Tourists match (which was cracking entertainment) should be on a different thread, coz this one's entitled the London Riders Championship.

 

And THAT part of the meeting was downright dire - quite posibly the WORST, least-inspired in every way and most utterly pointless Speedway event I've ever hsad the displeasure to endure: albeit in this case thankfully rather briefly...

 

I think we be assured that no further attempt in the future shall be made to stage this.

Mind you let's be honest, what attempt was in truth made with this...

 

None of the historical links we were promised, no old riders introduced or seemingly invited as guests, no effort to put together a field with any pretence at all at (1) being top class; or (2) links with the clubs (where possible).

For example, to me I'd have tried to have Lewis Bridger representing Wimbledon (where he started out riding in second halves albeit never actually wearing a Dons' race-jacket); Eddie Kennett for Hackney - where his father Dave rode for so many years (or alternatively Ed represnting White City where Dave and Uncle Gordon won the League in '77).

I accept beyond this it becomes more tricky but at least try and make links and make it interesting...

The meeting was a turn-off from the start and you could sense literally no-one out there was bothered at all...

If I didn't know better I'd say it had the feel of a last ever meeting at a venue where all interest had been lost... No reason to suppose that's the case but a damp squib of an end to the season for sure..

 

To be fair Parsloes, it had been raining for 20 minutes before the start causing the start to be delayed, the track was like a skating rink in places and you can't blame the riders for playing it safe in what for most of them was the last or nearly last meeting of the season. Abandoning the meeting after a few heats was the right thing to do for rider safety.

 

As to the quality of the field a number of riders had to pull out because of the unexpected Newport-v-Rye House fixture, thus we lost Sunstrom, Neath, Lanham and a few others and I think Kyle Le Gault was injured.

 

With regard to riders like Kennet, Bridger etc it was made clear on the website some time ago that with 28 heats of racing in total it would be financial suicide to have riders of heatleader standard.

 

For me, I thought it was a brave experiment to try something different.. Jon Cook said afterwards that he was looking re-staging the event next year with some riders of heatleader standard, and I for one will be glad if he does. If there is no touring side match first a higher calibre field should be possible.

 

And it was nice to see old Delilah again, the 1935 Fordson tractor that dutifully towed the grader at West Ham until it closed. The poor old girl has been stuck in someones barn for 37 years, and when she drags herself along, going against doctors orders on account of her cracked engine block you complain. You have no soul man.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Lewis might have found riding in the LRC a tad difficult Parsnips old fruit bearing in mind he was riding for Coventry in their last home meeting of the season last night! And I think you'll find that he was deputising for ... guess who? Yes none other than Eddie Kennett who broke an ankle in a crash at Wolverhampton at the beginning of this month !

 

Yes, very informative (NOT!), Bryn.

I am fully aware that Eddie is out injured and that Coventry had a meeting last night.

I'm talking about arranging a meeting which showed a modicum of imagination and integrity to the concept. What we had last night was a cobbled together, noone could give a to$$ affair, which I think everyone in the arena was delighted was brought to a premature halt: rather like they'd be relief at putting down a sick animal.

 

I couldn't and noone in the Speedway world also wouldn't, expect you to make any criticism of anything any promoter from the 'elite' range of clubs ever did - coz let's be honest, you're the epitome of the school goody-goody; but if anyone thinks that yesterday's individual at Lakeside in any way furthered the good of the sport or any campaign to raise its profile in London and surrounding area, then they must have been inhaling too much Castrol and must also believe that the missing black and white helmet colour really IS in that drawer in your living room!!!

Edited October 16, 2010 by Parsloes 1928 nearly

[Bryn]

Yes, very informative (NOT!), Bryn.

I am fully aware that Eddie is out injured and that Coventry had a meeting last night.

 

Well firstly it was the night before last Parsnips old fruit given the time of your posting but ignoring that technicality, if you were indeed "fully aware that Eddie is out injured and that Coventry had a meeting..." why on earth post, "For example, to me I'd have tried to have Lewis Bridger representing Wimbledon (where he started out riding in second halves albeit never actually wearing a Dons' race-jacket); Eddie Kennett for Hackney - where his father Dave rode for so many years (or alternatively Ed represnting White City where Dave and Uncle Gordon won the League in '77)," which is total nonsense?

 

I'm talking about arranging a meeting which showed a modicum of imagination and integrity to the concept. What we had last night was a cobbled together, noone could give a to$$ affair, which I think everyone in the arena was delighted was brought to a premature halt: rather like they'd be relief at putting down a sick animal.

 

I couldn't and noone in the Speedway world also wouldn't, expect you to make any criticism of anything any promoter from the 'elite' range of clubs ever did - coz let's be honest, you're the epitome of the school goody-goody; but if anyone thinks that yesterday's individual at Lakeside in any way furthered the good of the sport or any campaign to raise its profile in London and surrounding area, then they must have been inhaling too much Castrol and must also believe that the missing black and white helmet colour really IS in that drawer in your living room!!!

 

You obviously have your views on the LRC which you are fully entitled to so why not express same by emailing the club (address in last night's programme) rather than spouting off on here whilst having a personal dig at me? Personally over the years I have always found that when expressing constructive criticism directly to clubs' management it has been listened to and, if accepted, acted upon if necessary.

Edited October 17, 2010 by Bryn

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Well firstly it was the night before last Parsnips old fruit given the time of your posting but ignoring that technicality, if you were indeed "fully aware that Eddie is out injured and that Coventry had a meeting..." why on earth post, "For example, to me I'd have tried to have Lewis Bridger representing Wimbledon (where he started out riding in second halves albeit never actually wearing a Dons' race-jacket); Eddie Kennett for Hackney - where his father Dave rode for so many years (or alternatively Ed represnting White City where Dave and Uncle Gordon won the League in '77)," which is total nonsense?

 

In your pursuit of ALWAYS defending every top level promoter do you never look at the bigger picture!!? I wasn't suggesting that at 4pm on Friday, John Cook got on the blower to Eddie and said never mind your broken ankle come and ride. I was discussing the concept of this meeting.

 

We were promised in the early press releases (actually LAST year..) about this concept that it would be used to showcase the fact that there used to be all these London (and south-east) clubs and try and encourage old London fans and riders to appear to make it both a event to remember those clubs AND support campaigns to get the sport back in the capital.

 

What we got was a pitiful shambles with none of that - if it did anything: setting back any lingering hopes of Speedway returning to London.

IF some effort and imagination had been applied to the event and IF anyone organising it had shown any desire even to stage it on the night once they had the punters in the stadium I don't suppose it would have been too bad. But they didn't - though Bryn you appear to disagree...

Tell us what did YOU (not your masters...) think of this meeting then..?

[Custom House Kid]

Parsloes 1928 nearly, I do think you post with rose tinted specks at times.

 

The USA match was far from cracking entertainment, as good as could be expected perhaps, and as for the London Riders, the weather put paid to that as an event and it was never going to be anything but a hole filler IMHO.

 

I just hope John and Stan give it the respect it deserves next year or do not bother.

 

It is not often I criticize the Lakeside promotion but this was a bit of an own goal.

Edited October 17, 2010 by Custom House Kid

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Parsloes 1928 nearly, I do think you post with rose tinted specks at times.

 

The USA match was far from cracking entertainment, as good as could be expected perhaps, and as for the London Riders, the weather put paid to that as an event and it was never going to be anything but a hole filler IMHO.

 

I just hope John and Stan give it the respect it deserves next year or do not bother.

 

It is not often I criticize the Lakeside promotion but this was a bit of an own goal.

 

Hmm, the Lions vs. USA Tourists was perfectly fine entertainment - I doubt any punters on the night had any problem with it...

Especialy when compared to the shocking fare barely served up by the 'seniors' afterward!!

 

DID the weather really put pay to it...? It COULD have started straight after the USA match - the decision to fanny about for 25 minutes doing nowt and then have a long drawn out parade hardly helped.

Having said that, the rain was only drizzle and it should be noted that the final race of the night (heat six of the LRC) was completed in the FASTEST time of the evening...: hardly suggesting that track conditions were too bad to go on...!!

[obrien48]

I only saw the last two heats of the USA touring team and it seemed 'ok' - I was really looking to forward to the LRC but what a wasted effort. I rushed home from work, stuffed the wife and kids in the car (they were actually excited about going to speedway!) rushed around the M25 to Lakeside and for what? 6 heats of nothing.

 

So I'm £50 (bit of petrol included there) out of pocket and haven't seen anything I could term 'racing'.

 

LRC is a good idea but NOT as an end of season bash and certainly not presented like that - it was amateurish and feeble.

 

Very disappointed, my first visit to Lakeside and I don't think I'll bother again. Either get the Dons into Plough Lane or count me out of regular speedway, too much effort for too little in return imo - I know the wife and kids don't want to bother again...

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

However, I can say without any doubt that the track was not fit for racing - hence the meeting was called off.

 

Fair enuff you were considerably closer to it than any of us... I just think that some people will express surprise that the FASTEST race of the whole night was in the heat immediately before the decison to stop.

I don't think personally I've ever known that be the case before...

[Sprog1]

Fair enuff you were considerably closer to it than any of us... I just think that some people will express surprise that the FASTEST race of the whole night was in the heat immediately before the decison to stop.

I don't think personally I've ever known that be the case before...

 

 

The last three races were 59.3, 59.4 and 59.2, nothing it it really. They were all much slower than would normally be expected. . I think part of the problem was vision. Riders not making the gate were getting totally filled in, and with it raining as well it was very dangerous. Personally I was relieved when it was abandoned because I really thought there was a serious accident waiting to happen coming off turn 2.

I thought it was agreat idea at something different thought and would like to see it again abit earlier in the season, maybe with afew riders of heatleader standard.