KENT 2019

[East End Fan]

Having read so many adverse comments about the track at Kent on this forum, I am proposing to go onto the track after Bank Holiday Monday's meeting if I can

get permission to do it.  I have not observed "ruts" on bend 3 but have seen a lot of grip on bend 2 which many riders use when passing opponents...for me that is a good

thing, not bad...But I will ( hopefully) have a look at close quarters if I am allowed..

[blueherb777]

3 hours ago, Vic Meldrew said:

Sings4Speedway and blueherb777 clearly not Len Silver fans!!

Again respect for what he has achieved in the sport,I just think you can go on too long running things and as far as I am concerned holding the Club back.I have said before there was good people at the Club early days but soon went.

Edited April 25, 2019 by blueherb777

[East End Fan]

On 4/25/2019 at 2:06 PM, blueherb777 said:

Again respect for what he has achieved in the sport,I just think you can go on too long running things and as far as I am concerned holding the Club back.I have said before there was good people at the Club early days but soon went.

During one of my visits last year, the guy sitting next to me told me that Len Silver had built the track and had run it from the very beginning.  Is that true ?

Why did the good people that blueherb777 mention leave ?  What did they do that gets your admiration ? I am changing ( due to Lakeside closure) from an occasional

visitor to a regular and I'd like to know more about the true history of the club. At present I'd say it looks to be in a pretty healthy state, but Id like to know about the past.

[teaboy279]

3 hours ago, East End Fan said:

During one of my visits last year, the guy sitting next to me told me that Len Silver had built the track and had run it from the very beginning.  Is that true ?

Why did the good people that blueherb777 mention leave ?  What did they do that gets your admiration ? I am changing ( due to Lakeside closure) from an occasional

visitor to a regular and I'd like to know more about the true history of the club. At present I'd say it looks to be in a pretty healthy state, but Id like to know about the past.

Fundamentally it's the same people now as it was when we started. Chris Hunt joined in 2014 after IOW folded. 

Len and Roger (stadium lease holder and owner of cearnsport) have promoted since day one.

Cta fire were title sponsors for a couple of years, but now mainly sponsor individuals but are still full time supporters.

Then we had Slyde who sponsored up until last season.

I dont even think much has changed behind the scenes, we now have a new commercial manager who is trying to generate new ideas. 

But by and large it is very similar to the set up as was when set up in 2013.

[blueherb777]

21 hours ago, East End Fan said:

During one of my visits last year, the guy sitting next to me told me that Len Silver had built the track and had run it from the very beginning.  Is that true ?

Why did the good people that blueherb777 mention leave ?  What did they do that gets your admiration ? I am changing ( due to Lakeside closure) from an occasional

visitor to a regular and I'd like to know more about the true history of the club. At present I'd say it looks to be in a pretty healthy state, but Id like to know about the past.

I will mention one Neil`Nikko`Day was early commercial manager.He wanted to take the Club forward with modern ideas but left when this was not possible.Lovely Guy who I spoke to many times as I sponsored a rider in that first season.

[East End Fan]

1 hour ago, blueherb777 said:

I will mention one Neil`Nikko`Day was early commercial manager.He wanted to take the Club forward with modern ideas but left when this was not possible.Lovely Guy who I spoke to many times as I sponsored a rider in that first season.

Thanks for that info. Teaboy says little has changed. I'm curious to know if this is true. Who is/was Neil Nikko Day ?  What were the "modern ideas" that were

not possible and made him leave ?   Surely anyone would encourage any ideas that would improve a club ? Only idiots would not.  Who was team manager

before Chris Hunt. Did Silver do it himself ? He used to share the job years ago at Hackney as I remember. They never won anything, but the racing was great.

[blueherb777]

28 minutes ago, East End Fan said:

Thanks for that info. Teaboy says little has changed. I'm curious to know if this is true. Who is/was Neil Nikko Day ?  What were the "modern ideas" that were

not possible and made him leave ?   Surely anyone would encourage any ideas that would improve a club ? Only idiots would not.  Who was team manager

before Chris Hunt. Did Silver do it himself ? He used to share the job years ago at Hackney as I remember. They never won anything, but the racing was great.

I will not go into what happened the early days.The first Team Manager was John Sampford.But only one person picks the team as far as I am concerned.Funny you should mention not winning anything as this is the seventh season in the third tier of Speedway.....and so far the team has WON nothing!

[HGould]

3 hours ago, blueherb777 said:

I will mention one Neil`Nikko`Day was early commercial manager.He wanted to take the Club forward with modern ideas but left when this was not possible.Lovely Guy who I spoke to many times as I sponsored a rider in that first season.

A good Commercial Manager is worth her/his weight in gold and some very good examples of that at tracks like Belle Vue; Glasgow; Birmingham/Swindon, IOW; Leicester and Eastbourne from what I have seen with my own eyes in the last year or so.

[teaboy279]

4 hours ago, East End Fan said:

Thanks for that info. Teaboy says little has changed. I'm curious to know if this is true. Who is/was Neil Nikko Day ?  What were the "modern ideas" that were

not possible and made him leave ?   Surely anyone would encourage any ideas that would improve a club ? Only idiots would not.  Who was team manager

before Chris Hunt. Did Silver do it himself ? He used to share the job years ago at Hackney as I remember. They never won anything, but the racing was great.

Team manager was John Sampford, then John and Chris shared the role. When the Raiders re entered the NL John went there which left Chris in sole charge. After Len sold rye house John returned and ran the mdl team. 

I wondered if the reference was about Nikko Day, I ve never actually dealt with him face to face but when you hear people describe him he  seems to polarise opinions.

[blueherb777]

22 minutes ago, teaboy279 said:

Team manager was John Sampford, then John and Chris shared the role. When the Raiders re entered the NL John went there which left Chris in sole charge. After Len sold rye house John returned and ran the mdl team. 

I wondered if the reference was about Nikko Day, I ve never actually dealt with him face to face but when you hear people describe him he  seems to polarise opinions.

You obviously do not read previous posts ? 

[East End Fan]

22 hours ago, Richard Weston said:

Anyone know Len’s record in winning things? Eg: league titles, ko cups, shields etc ... as a promoter 

I think he won two Premier League titles with Rye House and while in charge of the England team years ago won the World Team Cup

and lots of other stuff at the time. Don't know the detail, but I remember talking about it with various people when I used to go to Hackney

after West Ham closed. I think he also did the track at Wembley for World Finals, but I may be wrong.

[teaboy279]

I think Len takes as much pride in trying to help young brits make thier way in the sport as he does silverware. Which is great but when you support a team it's nice to have a plastic pot the cheer for every now and again. This year certainly has the potential.

Of course Kent riders have succeeded in the NLRC both Boxall and Morley taking that accolade, and Morley and Ayres are still reigning pairs champions. We would have won the fours in 2013 at stoke, bar a blinding last lap of the last race from Lewis Blackbird if I recall taking the win for the heathens.Then again in 2015 at Coventry when Rob Shuttleworth knocked of James Shane's and injured him when Kent were ahead. We ve also had a National trophy final and 4 play off semis, so it's fair to say Kent has been far from unsuccessful. We just need to add that elusive first team championship medal. Hopefully this year is the year.

[gazzac]

7 hours ago, teaboy279 said:

I think Len takes as much pride in trying to help young brits make thier way in the sport as he does silverware. Which is great but when you support a team it's nice to have a plastic pot the cheer for every now and again. This year certainly has the potential.

Of course Kent riders have succeeded in the NLRC both Boxall and Morley taking that accolade, and Morley and Ayres are still reigning pairs champions. We would have won the fours in 2013 at stoke, bar a blinding last lap of the last race from Lewis Blackbird if I recall taking the win for the heathens.Then again in 2015 at Coventry when Rob Shuttleworth knocked of James Shane's and injured him when Kent were ahead. We ve also had a National trophy final and 4 play off semis, so it's fair to say Kent has been far from unsuccessful. We just need to add that elusive first team championship medal. Hopefully this year is the year.

Far better chance of silverware this year with Eastie going up, been their nemesis over the last 4 seasons, even when Eastie didn't win it, normally put Kent out in the semis, also had Eastie stayed in the NL wouldn't have had Abblit either this season. 

[flipper11]

I have never doubted Kents riders desire to win, but Lens decision to have r/r at No1 in the 1st away match of the season sends out all the wrong vibes to the riders/supporters & other NL teams for the year ahead. 

Hopefully this will change when we visit Stoke & Mildenhall in the next 2 away matches without Drew.

[HGould]

20 minutes ago, flipper11 said:

I have never doubted Kents riders desire to win, but Lens decision to have r/r at No1 in the 1st away match of the season sends out all the wrong vibes to the riders/supporters & other NL teams for the year ahead. 

Hopefully this will change when we visit Stoke & Mildenhall in the next 2 away matches without Drew.

playing devils advocate here "was having drew a vanity move" when he has to miss every Sunday Fixture as Sheffield will be riding and also a number of Friday and Saturday's when Kent ride away as so many Championship matches on a weekend (Friday - Saturday - Sunday)?? 

[flipper11]

4 minutes ago, HGould said:

playing devils advocate here "was having drew a vanity move" when he has to miss every Sunday Fixture as Sheffield will be riding and also a number of Friday and Saturday's when Kent ride away as so many Championship matches on a weekend (Friday - Saturday - Sunday)?? 

He misses Stoke & both trips to Mildenhall but as far as i can see that is all the away matches he misses & he will make all the home matches, so it not to bad.  He also misses the NL pairs & 4s.

Of course the main problem will be in the play offs.

I just hope Ben Morley is available.

[iand]

On 30 April 2019 at 9:35 PM, HGould said:

playing devils advocate here "was having drew a vanity move" when he has to miss every Sunday Fixture as Sheffield will be riding and also a number of Friday and Saturday's when Kent ride away as so many Championship matches on a weekend (Friday - Saturday - Sunday)?? 

Also what would happen if someone like Ipswich came along offered him a chance in the Premier league this season later in the season. Would his loyalty still lie with Kent.

[teaboy279]

12 minutes ago, iand said:

Also what would happen if someone like Ipswich came along offered him a chance in the Premier league this season later in the season. Would his loyalty still lie with Kent.

I have also considered that he will probably get an Ipswich spot at some stage this year. Which will add more clashes inevitably and I believe rules will give Ipswich priority over both Kent and Sheffield. But what you can never question with Drew is commitment. The sort of lad that will thrive off 4 or 5 meetings a week, where some others just would have the equipment or support to do so. As a rule I dont like doubling up and want to see it gone, that being said Drew is the sort of lad the doubling up rule was brought into help. Rather then just throw him to the wolves it allows young brits to continue the winning mentality at the lower level, whilst honing thier skills chasing better riders in the higher league.

[Islander15]

2 hours ago, teaboy279 said:

I have also considered that he will probably get an Ipswich spot at some stage this year. Which will add more clashes inevitably and I believe rules will give Ipswich priority over both Kent and Sheffield. But what you can never question with Drew is commitment. The sort of lad that will thrive off 4 or 5 meetings a week, where some others just would have the equipment or support to do so. As a rule I dont like doubling up and want to see it gone, that being said Drew is the sort of lad the doubling up rule was brought into help. Rather then just throw him to the wolves it allows young brits to continue the winning mentality at the lower level, whilst honing thier skills chasing better riders in the higher league.

I too thought Ipswich would have a preseason plan to bring Kemp in sooner rather than later. But they’re picking up decent scores lately almost solely down to 2 excellent reserves so I don’t think they would want to change that now. 

[HGould]

6 hours ago, teaboy279 said:

I have also considered that he will probably get an Ipswich spot at some stage this year. Which will add more clashes inevitably and I believe rules will give Ipswich priority over both Kent and Sheffield. But what you can never question with Drew is commitment. The sort of lad that will thrive off 4 or 5 meetings a week, where some others just would have the equipment or support to do so. As a rule I dont like doubling up and want to see it gone, that being said Drew is the sort of lad the doubling up rule was brought into help. Rather then just throw him to the wolves it allows young brits to continue the winning mentality at the lower level, whilst honing thier skills chasing better riders in the higher league.

my interpretation of rule changes in winter were that a rider can double up (one level) or down (one level) but can't double up/down (2 levels) and can't ride in all 3 levels. So if Ipswich did come calling he could not ride in NL. Besides every time Ipswich rode on a Monday (most of their away fixtures) he would miss Kent matches. So as an example with my own Club - Zach and James have doubled up, so can't double down.

Edited May 2, 2019 by HGould
added zach/james sentence