TRM

I don’t watch much live speedway these days but I had to get off my backside to see the last speedway meeting ever at Arena. I went along with my dad and took my son who is 7 and we thoroughly enjoyed the night, although we missed the last heat as it just got too late for my boy. It was a very emotional night and we reminissed about the past for the majority of it, things such as: Leigh Adams turning up to the raceway with Poole when he first arrived in the UK, at reserve on a 2.00 average! Also the day Leigh signed for us and reading of the signing in the Romford recorder. Brian Karger being signed and his rides with Bo , and the moment we opened the speedway star after having it delivered on the eve of the new season (91)and the opening 2 pages ‘ARENA SAVED’ sprawled across them. Moggo blasting around the outside of Roman Matiusek vs Coventry in the Inter league Cup (or whatever it was called) Andreas Jonnson’s many passes from the back and just how good he was around our track. I could go on all night but truly had a tear in my eye as I walked out and had to explain to my son just why I was so upset! I will be going to the last banger meeting of the season to see the place for the final final time

No you can’t blame them, 99% of us would have done the same. Whether it’s right is another matter and it seems to be instilled in the majority of promotions that success will be put above paying speedway fans the majority of the time

Agree with all comments. Enjoyable and close meeting, track was very slick but understandable with how much it would have been baked during the day. Not the usual racing, not any chance of a pass around the outside unfortunately. A dozen Sheffield fans made the trip and were vocal on bends 1/2, fair play to them. Broc Nicol looks good. Charles Wright unlucky with his bike breaking down in one heat and touching the tapes on another, a night to forget. Georgie wood unlucky not to get more than 3 rides, he looked good with 2 second places and a lot better than his 2 point average suggests. Good to have Kyle back. Morris a class above and never troubled, as with Lawson. Night to forget for Adam. Alfie rode better than his zero points suggest, he will come good I’m sure, there is something about the boy. Ben got a good return. Jon Cook sounding very unhappy at the BSPA

My first meeting of the season tonight. Looking forward to this, hope the opposition put up a good fight and there is some good close racing that excites my 7 year old son as much as it did me when I first started going 30 odd years ago! Sun is shining bright 10 miles from the reaceway. Looking forward to seeing how Nick goes around our trick track!

Why?

No comments from him on the racing tonight either, which means not only does he not go to meetings but he hasn't even got BT Sport, poor lad

Why did you completely change your original post from Milik to Woryna?

Watching him round Arena was a treat. Truly think he was in the top three around our racetrack ever alongside Bo Peterson and AJ Happy retirement

I came up to watch Arena-Essex and we got well beaten, must have been about 94/95. From memory I don't think Leigh Adams got near to Henka or Loram they were so quick.

How would you compare Loram to Henka when they were together leading the Stars in that era?

Good second heat leader for us at times when the team was rather woeful. Not nice to hear he took his own life, may he rest in peace Edited for spelling (predictive text)

Is this the David Smart who rode for Arena Essex for a couple of seasons, around 1988/1989?

Now there's a blast from the past. He was at Arena Essex in about 1988. First meeting away at Hackney at number 7, he scored 0,0,0,0. We all thought we were in for a treat, how wrong were we! Rob Ledwith wasn't too bad, machinery let him down. He beat Martin Dugard round Eastie, which prompted Dugard to t-bone him after the race had finished! Sorry to hijack the Wolves thread!

I see Branford a few times at Lakeside, guesting against us, and he was good. The guy has got some serious potential. Let's hope he kicks on this season