Lakeside 2017

[E I Addio]

Not a mention of Stuart Douglas. Has he pulled out of the club? Living in the usa what is the point if the club are losing money and he isnt around to at least enjoy the racing.

 

Never miss the chance to have a dig at another club or stir up a bit of trouble if you can do you ?

 

Why should it mention Stuart if he is not leaving ? Where does it say the club is up for sale ? Where does it say he is losing money?

 

The explanation given by Jon Cook on Essex Radio is that they want to run more Saturday meetings for ease of travelling for the Kent fans, because the Dartford Tunnel is so badly congested on week nights (which it is) . In fact Jon Cook said over the mic two months ago that they were looking for more Saturdays next year. The problem is that until the stock car season finishes in two weeks time they cant make any commitments because the stocks get choice of dates but the BSPA need a commitment today, AGM day

 

Ten pages into the thread and only Steve Shovlar comes up with speculation about Stuart leaving. Just because he lives in the USA it doesn't mean he never comes over here on business.

[NJC71]

I don't know why any club would be looking to move to the EL. Such a fragmented fixture list, the total lack of heat leaders and general difficulty of putting a competitive team together plus the increased costs. Why would any club take that risk for the paltry sky money? What good has it done for Leicester?

 

Every year we have the same issues. Surely it's time to stop hanging on to these riders, mechanics et al that the vast majority of clubs in this country just can't afford and move to one PL standard league with a north/south devide with national play offs and a national cup competition.

 

There are very few genuine true EL standard riders still competing. Take out Holder, Zagar, Lindgren, Jonsson, Kasprzak & Iversen, the rest are no better than PL heat leaders (many still ride PL). So why not just admit we can't afford those riders and go to one league with a 42.5 points limit and those that can't afford it revert to a much stronger NL.

Edited November 1, 2016 by NJC71

[TB1]

I don't know why any club would be looking to move to the EL. Such a fragmented fixture list, the total lack of heat leaders and general difficulty of putting a competitive team together plus the increased costs. Why would any club take that risk for the paltry sky money? What good has it done for Leicester?

 

Every year we have the same issues. Surely it's time to stop hanging on to these riders, mechanics et al that the vast majority of clubs in this country just can't afford and move to one PL standard league with a north/south devide with national play offs and a national cup competition.

 

There are very few genuine true EL standard riders still competing. Take out Holder, Zagar, Lindgren, Jonsson, Kasprzak & Iversen, the rest are no better than PL heat leaders (many still ride PL). So why not just admit we can't afford those riders and go to one league with a 42.5 points limit and those that can't afford it revert to a much stronger NL.

Hear hear! Spot on

[Guest]

​There are suggestions that Lakeside Hammers should consider racing on either a Saturday or Sunday. But I would reiterate what I have said elsewhere on the BSF in regard to what is a sound suggestion but does not appear practical. I said: "There are already other events at Arena Essex at weekends which complicate possible Saturday or Sunday speedway for Lakeside Hammers. On alternate Sundays the stadium owners stage their car racing meetings. On quite a few Saturdays long-term tenants The Rolling Thunder Show stage their car race meetings."

[Broadsider]

I don't know why any club would be looking to move to the EL. Such a fragmented fixture list, the total lack of heat leaders and general difficulty of putting a competitive team together plus the increased costs. Why would any club take that risk for the paltry sky money? What good has it done for Leicester?

 

Every year we have the same issues. Surely it's time to stop hanging on to these riders, mechanics et al that the vast majority of clubs in this country just can't afford and move to one PL standard league with a north/south devide with national play offs and a national cup competition.

 

There are very few genuine true EL standard riders still competing. Take out Holder, Zagar, Lindgren, Jonsson, Kasprzak & Iversen, the rest are no better than PL heat leaders (many still ride PL). So why not just admit we can't afford those riders and go to one league with a 42.5 points limit and those that can't afford it revert to a much stronger NL.

Hallelujah!!

[Halifaxtiger]

Wow, never saw that coming from Lakeside, been to Lakeside twice this year, that for me is a 450 mile round trip for each meeting from my home in Yorkshire, I was at that meeting against Poole when so few turned up, now I know why, I found the trip down the A1,onto the M11, down to the M25 quite easy for me, just over and around four hours travelling time infact, but clearly coming the other way from the Kent side is quite horrendous by the sound of it, really hope if there are any people from Lakeside on here I'm sending my best wishes to you all and your supporters and really hope you find the right answer to the problem, just a thought, maybe Saturday racing in either the Elite or Premier league with a 3pm start time might be the answer, no football during the summer, easy for supporters from other tracks to get there as well, just my thoughts.

 

Must admit I have never had a problem getting there (I, too, come from the North and have the benefit of a shortcut (thanks again E I Addio)).

 

The problem has always been those coming through the tunnel.

 

Every year we have the same issues. Surely it's time to stop hanging on to these riders, mechanics et al that the vast majority of clubs in this country just can't afford and move to one PL standard league with a north/south devide with national play offs and a national cup competition.

 

I think its the way forward but for one thing : we would need about 40 new riders of PL/upper NL standard.

[Steve0]

Sorry to see That Lakeside won't be in the EL next season and I hope they have a good season in the NL and hopefully solve their issues - which are mainly down to the location. Sorry to see again that there are no top flight teams from our capital.

[Shale Searcher]

Hallelujah!!

 

 

Well, that would make the Premier League the top league, in effect the new Elite League!!!!

 

We need the UK to have an Elite League, it's needed to develop premier league riders for GP rides/places, is a natural step on the route to the top, take it away, and speedway as a professional sport dies....

[mikebv]

More from Jon Cook on Essex Radio just now.

 

The problem Lakeside need to run more meetings on Saturdays because the ongoing road works cause too many fans no to come because of delays and congestion, especially those coming up from Kent but they won't know what Saturday's they can have until the stock car club finish their programme in two weeks time and that will be too late for the AGM.

 

Jon cited the Poole meeting as an example. They would ordinarily expect a crowd of at least 16-1800 for Poole but in the event Iy plummeted to 700 due to traffic congestion. The highest attendances are always Good Friday and the two Saturday's that Coventry come down.

 

I have to add that I came through Dartford Tunnel last Friday and it took me 90 minutes to get through, and that's without the additional traffic of a Speedwáy night. Everyday we hear on the radio delays coming from Kent to Essx through the tunnel. Pretty disgusting when you consider the Bridge/tunnel is £2-50 each way.

Maybe also the farce of running a supposed professional sport on nights when you have six or seven guests on show is also quite a sizeable contributory factor in reducing crowds..?

 

Wouldn't personally wait 90 mins near a tunnel to watch that...

 

At least in the NL that hopefully won't be the case...

[Mike.Butler]

When Arena opened in 1984 they ran on Thursday nights..

[NickRushbrook]

Having had 24 hours to digest this news, I can see the POTENTIAL positives of this move.

 

IF we can run PL, we could still maybe track the likes of Lewis Bridger, Richard Lawson and Adam Ellis so we can retain a bit of identity. We still have the academy going as well so perhaps we could see a graduate or two in the next three years.

 

We could create something very special if we play this right.

 

I'm just a little concerned that this news is the first step of a gentle let down as we see the fold completely.

 

For me, PL = new start and NL = beginning of the end.

[foamfence]

Having had 24 hours to digest this news, I can see the POTENTIAL positives of this move.

 

IF we can run PL, we could still maybe track the likes of Lewis Bridger, Richard Lawson and Adam Ellis so we can retain a bit of identity. We still have the academy going as well so perhaps we could see a graduate or two in the next three years.

 

We could create something very special if we play this right.

 

I'm just a little concerned that this news is the first step of a gentle let down as we see the fold completely.

 

For me, PL = new start and NL = beginning of the end.

A lot of wishful there. Lawson is very well paid by another PL club, Bridger and Ellis don't currently ride PL and it's more likely that Lakeside will go NL.

[NickRushbrook]

A lot of wishful there. Lawson is very well paid by another PL club, Bridger and Ellis don't currently ride PL and it's more likely that Lakeside will go NL.

From your earlier posts, I would suggest that it is you that is 'wishful' in regards to wanting to see Lakeside slide into oblivion.

 

Of course, I'm going to wishful/hopeful. It's all we have right now.

 

Imbeciles like yourself just seem to enjoy sticking the boot in. Easy on a keyboard though eh?

[HAMMER180]

Was worried that there would be to many meetings to run in PL

but it looks like its only a few extra with the cups so should be ok

if things work out as planned I agree could be something special

at the end. 3 years PL or NL bringing through young british riders

then hopefully our own track back in top flight and with a team of brits

as john has said many times that's their ultimate goal.

fingers crossed. COME ON YOU HAMMERS.

[MattK]

Wouldn't Lakeside need to declare their intention to run PL at the start of the AGM?

[Steve Irving]

Wouldn't Lakeside need to declare their intention to run PL at the start of the AGM?

That confused me also. This AGM is for the EL and PL, the NL have their own AGM at a later date.

 

So if Lakeside can't declare to run EL by the start of this AGM, then surely they can't declare to run PL yet either?

[foamfence]

From your earlier posts, I would suggest that it is you that is 'wishful' in regards to wanting to see Lakeside slide into oblivion.

 

Of course, I'm going to wishful/hopeful. It's all we have right now.

 

Imbeciles like yourself just seem to enjoy sticking the boot in. Easy on a keyboard though eh?

I don't resort to rudeness! I make no secret of my dislike for the track, I do however wish the club well.

[NickRushbrook]

I don't resort to rudeness! I make no secret of my dislike for the track, I do however wish the club well.

Yes, take the moral high ground now if it gives you comfort.

 

If you truly wish the club well, perhaps you could refrain from any and all derogatory comments during our darkest hour.

[foamfence]

Yes, take the moral high ground now if it gives you comfort.

 

If you truly wish the club well, perhaps you could refrain from any and all derogatory comments during our darkest hour.

I'll post how I see fit.

[NickRushbrook]

I'll post how I see fit.

Good for you. I shall respond how I see fit as well.