NeilWatson Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 15 hours ago, M.D said: Maybe because he's not in a clubs official declared 1-7.. He’s in TWO 1-7s!! Belle Vue and Eastbourne. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.D Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 (edited) 4 minutes ago, NeilWatson said: He’s in TWO 1-7s!! Belle Vue and Eastbourne. It was just a thought!!! And I wasnt sure if you had to be in a 1-7 for the league your guesting in Edited August 25, 2021 by M.D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HackneyHawk Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 (edited) Having been in love with Speedway for 50yrs but falling out of love for the last 10 or so I decided to try my nearest track (Kent) last night. Start was hugely delayed, something to do with the track conditions despite it being good weather for days here in Kent No rider parade/introductions. Multiple attempts to run heat one. Then inconsistency in applying the rules of rider exclusions. Programme poorly designed No signposts or advertising of stadium Merchandise poorly designed with poor clarity of brand, no car stickers (unforgiveable) Scruffy staff Scruffy stadium (could do with some cheap smartening up) Announcer was too quiet to hear, made a few mistakes and was very 'low energy' - no presentation etc Barely audible music played randomly with mainly silence around the track Main stand had almost no lighting 4 portions of chips and 2 sausage rolls took 30mins from ordering to eating No card payments in the Cafe Interminable gardening before starts Utterly pointless '2 minute warnings' No team riding by the 'heat leaders' Barely any overtaking past bend 1 (this is a perennial speedway problem not just Kent obviously) And please.....in 2021, no more undignified victory parade with riders looking bored being driven round on the back of a lorry/trailer/car! Get the riders without helmets to ride round in formation on their bikes carrying Kent flags! Positives: The mascot was fun and looked interested! The riders looked smart Parking Nice stadium with lots of potential Huge local catchment area if anyone knew about the Kings It was nice to see Martin Goodwin in the restaurant (fantastic rider) and nice to be back at a speedway track but not many reasons for a newcomer to return. I really fear for UK league Speedway Edited August 25, 2021 by HackneyHawk 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronScorpion Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 3 hours ago, M.D said: It was just a thought!!! And I wasnt sure if you had to be in a 1-7 for the league your guesting in Dan Thompson is on the Rising Star list, who, according to the rules, are allowed to race in 2 leagues only( he is declared in Leicester's Championship & NL teams) yet he can ride in the Premiership as a guest Rising Star. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normski Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 2 minutes ago, IronScorpion said: Dan Thompson is on the Rising Star list, who, according to the rules, are allowed to race in 2 leagues only( he is declared in Leicester's Championship & NL teams) yet he can ride in the Premiership as a guest Rising Star. Think that happened with Leon at Berwick. He guested for Wolves then once he signed for them officially could not ride for Berwick's NDL team 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KEITH M Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 2 hours ago, HackneyHawk said: Having been in love with Speedway for 50yrs but falling out of love for the last 10 or so I decided to try my nearest track (Kent) last night Scruffy stadium (could do with some cheap smartening up) Main stand had almost no lighting Positives: Nice stadium with lots of potential Make your mind up !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IronScorpion Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 19 hours ago, westhamboy66 said: 37 mins after the start time one race a very dusty one at that. Track prep anyone Track Curators advisers are available http://www.scbgb.co.uk/news.php?extend.91 but it seems like most of the tracks & curators do not want to use their experience because (excuses); this is how I always do it this is how the riders want it the weather will be fine so I will prepare it later we can not get access to the track with sufficient time to prepare (on the day or within 48 hours) there isn't a bump or bald patch prior to the meeting, it just evolves (week after week after week) we expected a little rain so we prepared it accordingly. Unfortunately, it did not appear at the track Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 The track last last night was by far the worst it's been this season. On a perfect summers day, there must be a reason for this. I've seen no comments on the conditions by riders or management. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IainB Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 1 hour ago, IronScorpion said: Dan Thompson is on the Rising Star list, who, according to the rules, are allowed to race in 2 leagues only( he is declared in Leicester's Championship & NL teams) yet he can ride in the Premiership as a guest Rising Star. I thought they'd done away with the NDL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 3 hours ago, HackneyHawk said: Having been in love with Speedway for 50yrs but falling out of love for the last 10 or so I decided to try my nearest track (Kent) last night. Start was hugely delayed, something to do with the track conditions despite it being good weather for days here in Kent No rider parade/introductions. Multiple attempts to run heat one. Then inconsistency in applying the rules of rider exclusions. Programme poorly designed No signposts or advertising of stadium Merchandise poorly designed with poor clarity of brand, no car stickers (unforgiveable) Scruffy staff Scruffy stadium (could do with some cheap smartening up) Announcer was too quiet to hear, made a few mistakes and was very 'low energy' - no presentation etc Barely audible music played randomly with mainly silence around the track Main stand had almost no lighting 4 portions of chips and 2 sausage rolls took 30mins from ordering to eating No card payments in the Cafe Interminable gardening before starts Utterly pointless '2 minute warnings' No team riding by the 'heat leaders' Barely any overtaking past bend 1 (this is a perennial speedway problem not just Kent obviously) And please.....in 2021, no more undignified victory parade with riders looking bored being driven round on the back of a lorry/trailer/car! Get the riders without helmets to ride round in formation on their bikes carrying Kent flags! Positives: The mascot was fun and looked interested! The riders looked smart Parking Nice stadium with lots of potential Huge local catchment area if anyone knew about the Kings It was nice to see Martin Goodwin in the restaurant (fantastic rider) and nice to be back at a speedway track but not many reasons for a newcomer to return. I really fear for UK league Speedway I love the fact that Hackney Hawk brought a tick list with him to Central Park in order to give marks out of 10. He clearly didn't notice, bur Central Park is actually signposted form various points including at the roundabout outside the stadium. True that this particular meeting was not the best Speedway I have ever seen. Still a few good races, though. I cannot understand why no water went onto the track at any time when normally it is a regular feature. I watched tractors whizzing round the track for no apparent reason for at least half an hour before the start, causing the 1st race over 30 minutes late. Can anyone tell me what the tractors were doing ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 12 minutes ago, East End Fan said: I love the fact that Hackney Hawk brought a tick list with him to Central Park in order to give marks out of 10. He clearly didn't notice, bur Central Park is actually signposted form various points including at the roundabout outside the stadium. True that this particular meeting was not the best Speedway I have ever seen. Still a few good races, though. I cannot understand why no water went onto the track at any time when normally it is a regular feature. I watched tractors whizzing round the track for no apparent reason for at least half an hour before the start, causing the 1st race over 30 minutes late. Can anyone tell me what the tractors were doing ? The outside of the bends had been roughed up, creating too much loose material. The tractors were removing the excess shale, levelling and tyre packing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 4 hours ago, HackneyHawk said: Start was hugely delayed, something to do with the track conditions despite it being good weather for days here in Kent No rider parade/introductions. Think you have answered that one on your own. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bob at herne bay Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 Tractor Racing……. always what I enjoyed at Lakeside…… good to see Kent have continued this sport. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedwaycrazy Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, cityrebel said: The track last last night was by far the worst it's been this season. On a perfect summers day, there must be a reason for this. I've seen no comments on the conditions by riders or management. Yes , it would be good to know why the track was so poor. There was only really one racing line (the inside)...when you see Scott going backwards whilst trying the outside run when he missed the gate, you know the track is not great. In fairness that is the only time this year I have noticed that. There was a discussion/kerfuffle before riders took to the track just before the meeting and when Roynon & Batchelor collided on turn 3 of heat one , I feared the worst about the meeting continuing!! Due to the discussion, the meeting was running late and prevented the tractors getting on and doing their regrading half way through the meeting. One annoyance is that the start marshall seems to watch the riders digging for potatoes EVERY week before bringing them into line! ( to the shouts of 'get on with it') I hope the A2 is not closed for roadworks again over the next few weeks as it took 2 hours to get home to Wanstead ( That's what you get for being an old Hackney / Lakeside supporter living in the east end of London). And finally I know that presenting is an art form but surely there are better one's out there who are more comfortable behind the microphone. PS ..Rory the Lion is a winner!!! Edited August 25, 2021 by Speedwaycrazy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSL84 Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 1 hour ago, cityrebel said: The outside of the bends had been roughed up, creating too much loose material. The tractors were removing the excess shale, levelling and tyre packing. So really it was just down to bad track preparation. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawks 1975 Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 Bad track prep or a visiting team that didn't like what they saw and got the ref to agree?? It had been a warm sunny day and there was a strong breeze. My guess is that Len and his crew prepared a track with a decent amount of material on it, and well watered. Len has often, even going back to his Waterden Road days, tended to have a wet opening heat or two knowing that it would then produces an excellent track later on. The track this season in all the meetings I have seen has been in my opinion the best there since it opened - and the racing has been the best as well. Could it be that having been told to change the track - ie tyre pack it and possibly remove some of the top surface, we were left with a slick track which then you could not water properly? All season Scott has enjoyed riding the inner line or the outer. Last night there was only one line. I'm no track expert, but clearly something was amiss. It would be great if Len or somebody at Kent could explain what went wrong. It looked a really healthy sized crowd - how many went home thinking that's what it's usually like at Kent? NB Full credit to Newcastle, with Max Clegg, Adam Roynan, Connor Mountain, James Wright and Ben Barker all having their moments and never giving up - on paper it looked like the home team would easily top sixty points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East End Fan Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 35 minutes ago, hawks 1975 said: Bad track prep or a visiting team that didn't like what they saw and got the ref to agree?? It had been a warm sunny day and there was a strong breeze. My guess is that Len and his crew prepared a track with a decent amount of material on it, and well watered. Len has often, even going back to his Waterden Road days, tended to have a wet opening heat or two knowing that it would then produces an excellent track later on. The track this season in all the meetings I have seen has been in my opinion the best there since it opened - and the racing has been the best as well. Could it be that having been told to change the track - ie tyre pack it and possibly remove some of the top surface, we were left with a slick track which then you could not water properly? All season Scott has enjoyed riding the inner line or the outer. Last night there was only one line. I'm no track expert, but clearly something was amiss. It would be great if Len or somebody at Kent could explain what went wrong. It looked a really healthy sized crowd - how many went home thinking that's what it's usually like at Kent? NB Full credit to Newcastle, with Max Clegg, Adam Roynan, Connor Mountain, James Wright and Ben Barker all having their moments and never giving up - on paper it looked like the home team would easily top sixty points. There was something screwy about this meeting and the track prep. From my seat in the grandstand the track looked fine and not unusual. Then all of a sudden there were groups of riders standing on the track, then two tractors whizzing round on the banked part of the track and one of them had a grader on the back. From my seat it was far from obvious what was being done as it looked the same when they finished as it had before they started. And why didn't the water cart go round ? On every other meeting, and I have been to them all, the water cart goes round at about 6.15-sh and does 2/3 laps. I said in an earlier post that maybe Len was not there, but another poster says he was....like I said. Something screwy here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityrebel Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 35 minutes ago, East End Fan said: There was something screwy about this meeting and the track prep. From my seat in the grandstand the track looked fine and not unusual. Then all of a sudden there were groups of riders standing on the track, then two tractors whizzing round on the banked part of the track and one of them had a grader on the back. From my seat it was far from obvious what was being done as it looked the same when they finished as it had before they started. And why didn't the water cart go round ? On every other meeting, and I have been to them all, the water cart goes round at about 6.15-sh and does 2/3 laps. I said in an earlier post that maybe Len was not there, but another poster says he was....like I said. Something screwy here. Len has issued a statement on his news feed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipper11 Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 52 minutes ago, cityrebel said: Len has issued a statement on his news feed. Yes & so it seems Hawks 1975 was spot on in his assessment of what happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawks 1975 Posted August 25, 2021 Report Share Posted August 25, 2021 His 'news feed'? What is that and how do you access it?!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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