Lakeside v Workington frid 19th oct 8pm

[BobC]

14 hours ago, marko said:

Seems as bit odd as Adam Ellis used to ride for you and Nick Morris helped you win the league but if you would rather cheer the Comets that's your right.

As others have said, theres the Klindt link, plus I do help Kyle Bickley. Smashing family too.

Other side is of course Adam Ellis and I used to help Kyle Newman! Stood chatting to Keith most of the night.

Proctor got his left arm caught between the back wheel and the spoiler.Nasty crash and full credit to Lawson, who also fell. He tried untangling Proctor from his bike.

Depending on dates, I hope to be there for at least one of the Play Off Final meetings.

Deserved their win on the night as well. I sincerely hope they finish the job on Saturday.

So good to see one of the so called 'unfashionable' clubs coming to the fore. Up the Comets!!

Edited October 20, 2018 by BobC

[Bryce]

That was a horrible looking crash last night. I feared the worst when Richard starting frantically yelling for help for Ty. Such a relief to see Ty walk back to the pits eventually. 

As a Hammers fan of course I'm unhappy with the result, but full credit has to go to the Comets for a great performance even after they were down to 5 men. Still, it's not over yet so hopefully we can bounce back today and pinch the trophy from the Comets grasp. I can't help but feel that losing our home track advantage has been very costly to Lakeside. If we end up not winning anything I certainly wouldn't begrudge the Comets some silverware. Like us, their fans have had a long long wait for some glory.

[Speedwaycrazy]

19 minutes ago, Bryce said:

That was a horrible looking crash last night. I feared the worst when Richard starting frantically yelling for help for Ty. Such a relief to see Ty walk back to the pits eventually. 

As a Hammers fan of course I'm unhappy with the result, but full credit has to go to the Comets for a great performance even after they were down to 5 men. Still, it's not over yet so hopefully we can bounce back today and pinch the trophy from the Comets grasp. I can't help but feel that losing our home track advantage has been very costly to Lakeside. If we end up not winning anything I certainly wouldn't begrudge the Comets some silverware. Like us, their fans have had a long long wait for some glory.

I think you are right about losing the home track advantage.

However, I have a funny feeling it will be very tight up there in Cumbria.

We must gate a bit better than last night though..

[Cliv Clav]

On 18 October 2018 at 5:11 PM, cityrebel said:

If tomorrows match can't attract a decent crowd, nothing will.

Atrocious racing at Rye will always put people off going there.  Only 2 passes after the first lap last night, no passing until heat 8 in the first Peterborough match last time!  The track has one line and the Hammers riders are not fans of the place at all, it's like riding every meeting at an away track, which 9 times out of 10 favours the outside gates.  

Every meeting I try to count the number of people wearing Rockets gear at the track.  The last two matches I counted 3 and 4.  Obviously I didn't see everyone, but the few Rye fans attending show that they don't enjoy the product on that track.  Viewing at the circuit is far from ideal too.

[marko]

Have not been to Rye yet with Lakeside there, was thinking about going Sunday but the fact that a change of location has not helped the clubs inability in getting meetings done in a timely fashion plus the fact I have heard nothing good about the racing means I will more than likely leave it for this season and see what happens during the winter, if we stay at Rye then some things will need to change.

I was keeping an eye on twitter last night and even allowing for the crash to Ty, most heats were taking almost ten minutes to complete so it was no shock that the meeting took well over two hours to complete, all in all your not going to get fans going when its like that and the racing is crap.

[ruckerroo]

the place is a one line motorway of a track, a mini Swindon.

[bigcatdiary]

9 hours ago, cityrebel said:

Yet another Rye House marathon tonight. It got very cold towards the end, and i don't blame the fans that left early.

Starting at 8.00 doesn’t help but certain clubs do seem to have regular late finishes.

[scaramanga]

10 hours ago, Pinny said:

Workington class this year, hope they win the lot

thank you very much 

it means a lot to the fans 

[waco]

Another long drawn out meeting on a cold night;..;Not a good race track, races all over by the second bend..,, Wth little lighting on the bends . it.detracts further from the poor atmosphere at Rye with what looked a low attendence.. i think the place has been ruined by those who took it over from Len Silver ....Workington came with a determination to do well ,and were sharp from the gate most of the time,,They also have a trump card in Mason Campton at reserve ....While you can never say its over ,,but the Hammers have a mountain to climb to win this on saturday.....You have to say Hammers do not look the same team that rode Lakeside so well ,,And the move could well have cost us some trophies this season.....

[Cliv Clav]

26 minutes ago, waco said:

..You have to say Hammers do not look the same team that rode Lakeside so well ,,And the move could well have cost us some trophies this season.....

At Arena with a full strength Workington team, the result was 56-32 to the Hammers!  At Dry House against an under strength Workington team, it was 44-46 to the Comets...... enough said!

You can thank the BSPA for losing us trophies though, as we were told we were NOT allowed to hold the finals at Arena if we made it through.  The BSPA said 'you move or you stay', and as we couldn't get enough dates at Arena for all the fixtures, we had to hold everything at Rye.  Had we been allowed to hold the final(s) at Arena we would have won at least one and would have been a great send off to the track.

Still, I am glad we are losing to Workington rather than some other teams, as they were screwed over regarding fixtures this year too.  The club needs a shot in the arm and let's hope this helps increase their support at home.

[jenga]

thats a nice post from cliv clav  . .. as you say , the result would have been very different had you been able to use the arena . 

hope it all works out for you and the comets as a speedway team carry on for at least another season .

[cityrebel]

I think lakeside need a shot in the arm as well. With no home track and no real future. Racing a full season at Rye next year could financially cripple the club. Poor racing and poor facilities has seen the fans vote with their feet. Last nights attendance for a national final on a lovely sunny day, was awful. 

[liam]

I am yet to hear anyone say a single positive thing regarding the Rye House track and the standard of racing, is it really that bad? Every meeting I think I’ll make the journey then when it comes to the day I just can’t be bothered and reading all the negative comments Iam not sure I’ll bother next season either.

Edited October 20, 2018 by liam

[Bryce]

It's ironic that the Arena Essex track got a lot of criticism regarding the quality of racing. Those of us that were regulars know that it was usually far better than it was ever given credit for. Alas, Rye House is a long way from being anywhere near as good as Arena was. It's a real gate and go affair. It's fast, yes, but passing moves are few and far between. 

[Cliv Clav]

2 hours ago, jenga said:

thats a nice post from cliv clav  . .. as you say , the result would have been very different had you been able to use the arena . 

hope it all works out for you and the comets as a speedway team carry on for at least another season .

Well said, we are both clubs that need some good fortune at this time.  The hardcore fans and promoters of our teams deserve some smooth sailing for a change, especially when they are true fans of the sport themselves

2 hours ago, cityrebel said:

I think lakeside need a shot in the arm as well. With no home track and no real future. Racing a full season at Rye next year could financially cripple the club. Poor racing and poor facilities has seen the fans vote with their feet. Last nights attendance for a national final on a lovely sunny day, was awful. 

Only Thurrock Council or Essex Council can give us the news we really need...... a new home for the Essex Hammers!

37 minutes ago, liam said:

I am yet to hear anyone say a single positive thing regarding the Rye House track and the standard of racing, is it really that bad? Every meeting I think I’ll make the journey then when it comes to the day I just can’t be bothered and reading all the negative comments Iam not sure I’ll bother next season either.

Always find out for yourself Liam, never go by others opinions.  Go along on Sunday and decide what you think.  After all, you never know when it will be your last opportunity to see a Hammers team in action.  Even if we aren't at home!

[New era Panthers]

42 minutes ago, liam said:

I am yet to hear anyone say a single positive thing regarding the Rye House track and the standard of racing, is it really that bad? Every meeting I think I’ll make the journey then when it comes to the day I just can’t be bothered and reading all the negative comments Iam not sure I’ll bother next season either.

With the attendances at Rye House being so  low I  would be surprised if there is any speedway there next season under the Lakeside promotional banner.

[cityrebel]

15 minutes ago, New era Panthers said:

With the attendances at Rye House being so  low I  would be surprised if there is any speedway there next season under the Lakeside promotional banner.

Or any other banner. Rye would be better off running NL racing on a sunday afternoon. Local derbies against kent, Eastbourne and Mildenhall would pull a few fans in.

[Rayleigh]

One other point about last night. I was really really cold and there were some pretty bad accidents which will naturally slow the meeting down, but in one heat the Workington management replaced Bickley with Campton (correct decision) but because Campton now had "2 on the trot" he was allowed about 15 minutes to get ready WHY? if he needs a break then don't choose to put him in the race. So what happens, it  is the mugs (supporters) who have to hang around getting colder. Tail wagging the dog, what in speedway I hear you ask.

As a neutral it looked like Workington wanted it more than Lakeside who for large parts of the meeting seems second best.

Oh and thanks to Lakeside fans for slagging off our stadium, out track, our lighting, our food, whilst it may not be great The Arena Essex Raceway was never confused with London Palladium. Get real guys I don't think you get it , sadly you are on the cusp of extinction as a club, so suck it up and rally around before its too late.

[comet49]

I don’t think the Comets have a good record at the Rye House track in the recent years. We did win the much derided Young Shield in it’s last 3 years, 2008-10, all against Rye House if my memory is right, one year in particular Comets Andre Compton rode well down there when we looked like getting hammered. Much derided or not the Young Shield was a National trophy to be won and there were great nights when we did win it. Hopefully we beat Lakeside tonight and no injuries to either side.

Edited October 20, 2018 by comet49

[marko]

Arena Essex was a dump but it was our dump, how do you think we feel about having to ride at a dump that isn't even ours? life is too short to even consider that watching crap speedway rather than no speedway at all, is worth consideration, I would rather watch no speedway than be forced to only watch crap speedway.