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Look forward to seeing you but wrap up warm and bring chairs. The Arena-Essex Raceway is the most spectator-unfriendly stadium in the country (Jon Cook's words not mine) with a nice cold wind blowing off the Thames but good value at £17.50 for a full-priced ticket to see both meetings.

I used to go to Arena regularly back in the late 80's, mainly when the Rockets were there, but also to a few Hammers home meetings when they used to have the little white plastic pegs instead of a safety fence. Banger racing too in the late 90's when the kids were very young. My abiding memory was how cold it was with a biting wind and the rabbit droppings that littered the banking. Also the complete lack of atmosphere ... When we were at the London Chmapionships back in October it was wet and horrible ... You're right about the pricing. £17.50 is a bargain for 30 heats of speedway with the added bonus of a trip to the shopping centre beforehand to keep the missus happy :D

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I doubt that there is any site in the UK with more current potential for new sporting endeavours to be launched than the lower Lea Valley: ie effectively the Olympic Park and immediately surrounding area. There's even the actual prospect of sports arenas being avaiable for reuse in less than two years' time.

 

The former Hackney track occupied this very same section of land. So though clearly the revived Hawks of 2011 are going to be riding a 'nomadic' existence at Rye House and Lakeside (both with close links BTW, to the 'Hackney heritage'), there is IMHO just as much chance of this initiative leading to a new track as there is for Dudley to find a new home for the Heathens.

And by that I mean I'm optimistic about both...

 

So I do NOT see this as merely a marketing exercise with no ambitions to see a track actually return to east London. I see it - and I know Jon Cook does too and I'd assume 'Uncle' Len - as a definite first step in making that a reality...

i agree with most of what you say here, except me and you have worked in speedway long enough to know a good idea for the benifit of speedway will only happen as long as the boys club is on to an earner,imo the hackney idea wouldnt have happened if it wasnt for the dudley success, but the dudley success isnt down to just useing a famous speedway name and riding somewhere else , in the 14 years it was without a track it never went away ,speedway in dudley is big and has always been big always in the local papers ,it is almost a political issue round here and that hasnt happened to hackney,i think hackney will be a success at hackney but not this venture , for the good of speedway i hope im wrong

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i agree with most of what you say here, except me and you have worked in speedway long enough to know a good idea for the benifit of speedway will only happen as long as the boys club is on to an earner,imo the hackney idea wouldnt have happened if it wasnt for the dudley success, but the dudley success isnt down to just useing a famous speedway name and riding somewhere else , in the 14 years it was without a track it never went away ,speedway in dudley is big and has always been big always in the local papers ,it is almost a political issue round here and that hasnt happened to hackney,i think hackney will be a success at hackney but not this venture , for the good of speedway i hope im wrong

 

I do agree with you Deano - going to the Dudley matches at Wolves last year (even seeing YOU on the terraces!! :approve: ) was the most positive of experiences and it is extraordinary indeed how the flame in the Black Country for the Heathens has kept burning. As an East Londoner I can confirm that though West Ham Speedway is often mentioned fondly (less so Hackney - but depends who you know/meet, I guess...) you're right, that in no way is there the zeal that there is for long lost Cradley...

 

I still believe though, that there IS a chance of a London club emerging out of the chances present on the Olympics site. But I'm sure of one thing (as a London 'neutral' who was involved at Wimbledon 2002-'05) for that to work, EVERY Speedway fan in and around the capital needs to get behind this project and that campaign... Every indications on here are NOT therefore too encouraging... :neutral:

Edited by Parsloes 1928 nearly
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I do agree with you Deano - going to the Dudley matches at Wolves last year (even seeing YOU on the terraces!! :approve: ) was the most positive of experiences and it is extraordinary indeed how the flame in the Black Country for the Heathens has kept burning. As an East Londoner I can confirm that though West Ham Speedway is often mentioned fondly (less so Hackney - but depends who you know/meet, I guess...) you're right, that in no way is there the zeal that there is for long lost Cradley...

 

I still believe though, that there IS a chance of a London club emerging out of the chances present on the Olympics site. But I'm sure of one thing (as a London 'neutral' who was involved at Wimbledon 2002-'05) for that to work, EVERY Speedway fan in and around the capital needs to get behind this project and that campaign... Every indications on here are NOT therefore too encouraging... :neutral:

 

This thread is going right off topic, how the fact that the prices for the Hawks meetings at both Rye and Lakeside are ott can be changed into a discussion about a track on the Olympics site I don't know but it's not the place to discuss this. :rolleyes:

 

The Hawks name has been revived because it is a defunct club relatively close to Rye and Lakeside in the speedway world. It is a fixture filler for both clubs, whilst also developing both Rye and Lakeside assets who have a structure to climb through all three tiers of British speedway now. It is a disappointment prices are so high, not so people can have a moan but because it means they will not be able to attend these meetings and see the future of their teams and British speedway because if they do they won't be able to watch their senior side.

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The Hawks name has been revived because it is a defunct club relatively close to Rye and Lakeside in the speedway world. It is a fixture filler for both clubs, whilst also developing both Rye and Lakeside assets who have a structure to climb through all three tiers of British speedway now.

Whilst I commend all of the above, and I guess it's because it's the first place I took a real interest in the sport, and the memories associated with it, I simply can't get on board with the idea of a "Hackney team" being anywhere other than Waterden Road. :(

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There is one real shame about this discussion on prices however valid it may be, and that is it overshadows what looks like being a great season for the Hawks.

This is a really exciting line up with some great and exciting young talent.

The progress these kids make from raw novice to hopefully PL or EL rider has always been one of the greatest pleasures I get from speedway.So for me I will be there whenever I can.

The only shame is losing Joe Jacobs who I think might be in for a great season.

And despite what ever is said when two NL teams are evenly matched the racing can be second to none.

So come on lets try to get behind these kids. The Hawks of today are hopefully the Rockets of tomorrow.

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There is one real shame about this discussion on prices however valid it may be, and that is it overshadows what looks like being a great season for the Hawks.

This is a really exciting line up with some great and exciting young talent.

The progress these kids make from raw novice to hopefully PL or EL rider has always been one of the greatest pleasures I get from speedway.So for me I will be there whenever I can.

The only shame is losing Joe Jacobs who I think might be in for a great season.

And despite what ever is said when two NL teams are evenly matched the racing can be second to none.

So come on lets try to get behind these kids. The Hawks of today are hopefully the Rockets of tomorrow.

Nice to see a positive post Rockets amongst all the doom and gloom of this thread..Sure Rye is not the cheapest place to watch speedway but it is one of the better equiped stadiums.Absolutly every thing is going up , its the way this country is at the moment ,no one likes it, but we all have to live with it..Len will no doubt live with his decisions ,and ive no doubt Rye will not be one of the speedways closing down at the end of the season ..As you say what can be more exciting than watching the youngsters progress..

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This thread is going right off topic, how the fact that the prices for the Hawks meetings at both Rye and Lakeside are ott can be changed into a discussion about a track on the Olympics site I don't know but it's not the place to discuss this. :rolleyes:

 

I can't agree with you that this was 'off-topic' in the slightest. I can assure you that the Hackney project is very much to do with boosting the prospect of a track in the Olympics area...: which in case you've forgotten is not some random place, but exactly where, er, Hackney's home track was... :neutral:

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All of the Hawks were present at Rye House press & practice today, although In only saw Owen, Freemantle and Hopwood take to the track in the 90 minutes I was there.

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Morley as usual looked nice and tidy. Nice to see him supported in such numbers.

Owen and Hopwood both looked impressive. Did nt see Evans Mason or Freemantle ride. I think this could be a big season for some of these boys if they stay injury free.

First cheeseburger of the season. Yippeeeeee.

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nice shot....looks like he,s fallin off :P:lol:

He did at one stage ... I think he shed a chain

 

My first taste of Hawks action will porbably be at Lakeside in the Good Friday double header

Edited by Shadders
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Just seen how the Hawks home meetings will be split next season and i'm quite disappointed tbh. Seems that the stand alone sides will be visiting Lakeside, whilst the second clubs of other tracks will be coming to Rye, Belle Vue aside, all the better looking meetings in the league will be at Lakeside... :rolleyes:

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