Dave Stummings

Home Fixtures Saturday, March 17th@ 7pm, vs Ipswich (League Cup) Saturday, March 24th@ 7pm, vs Sheffield (Premier League) Saturday, March 31st@ 7pm, vs Peterboro (Inter League Challenge – provisional) Friday, April 6thRaiders vs TBC (National League) Saturday, April 7thNo Meeting at Rye House Monday, April 9th@ 2pm, Rockets vs Leicester (LC) and Raiders vs TBC (NL) Saturday, April 14th@ 7pm, Raiders vs US Future (International Challenge) Saturday, April 21st@ 7pm, vs Plymouth (League Cup) Saturday, April 28th@ 7pm, vs Newport (League Cup) Saturday, May 5th@ 7pm, Raiders vs TBC (National League) Monday, May 7th @ 2pm, Rockets vs Somerset (LC), Raiders vs TBC (NL) Saturday, May 12th@ 7pm, vs Newcastle (Premier League) Saturday, May 19th@ 7pm, Raiders vs TBC (National League) Saturday, May 26th@ 7pm, vs Edinburgh (Knock-Out Cup) Saturday, June 2nd@ 7pm, Raiders vs TBC (National League) Monday, June 4th@ 2pm, Rockets vs Ipswich (PL), Raiders vs TBC (NL) Saturday, June 9th@ 7pm, vs Berwick (Premier League) Saturday, June 16th@ 7pm, vs Somerset (Premier League) Saturday, June 23rd@ 7pm, vs Edinburgh (Premier League) Saturday, June 30th@ 7pm, vs Glasgow/Plymouth (reserved- KOC) Saturday, July 7th@ 7pm, vs Newport (Premier League) Saturday, July 14th@ 7pm, Rockets vs Scunthorpe (PL) and Raiders vs Saints (NL) Saturday, July 21st@ 7pm, vs Glasgow (Premier League) Saturday, July 28thNo Meeting at Rye House Saturday, August 4thNo Meeting at Rye House Saturday, August 11thNo Meeting at Rye House Monday, August 13thvs Workington (Premier League) Saturday, August 18th@ 7pm, vs Plymouth (Premier League) Saturday, August 25thNo Meeting at Rye House (British Grand Prix) Monday, August 27th@ 2pm, Rockets vs Leicester (PL), Raiders vs TBC (2pm) Saturday, September 1st@ 7pm, Raiders vs TBC (National League) Saturday, September 8th@ 7pm, vs Redcar (Premier League) Saturday, September 15th@ 7pm, National League Riders Championship Sunday, September 16th, Short Track Final Saturday, September 22nd@ 7pm, Reserved (Play-Offs) Saturday, September 29th@ 7pm, Reserved (Play-Offs) Saturday, October 6th@ 7pm, Reserved (Play-Offs) Saturday, October 13th@ 7pm, Reserved (Play-Offs) Saturday, October 20th@ 7pm Reserved (Play-Offs) Saturday, October 27th@ 7pm, Ace of Herts Championship Away Fixtures Thursday, March 15th, at Ipswich (League Cup) Friday, March 23rd, at Plymouth (League Cup) Saturday, April 7th, at Leicester (League Cup) Friday, April 13th, at Newport (League Cup) Friday, April 20th, at Somerset (League Cup) Friday, May 18th, at Somerset (Premier League) Thursday, May 24th, at Sheffield (Premier League) Friday, May 25th, at Edinburgh (Knock-Out Cup) Thursday, May 31st, at Ipswich (Premier League) Thursday, June 7th, at Redcar (Premier League) Friday, June 29th, at Plymouth (provisional – KOC) Sunday, July 1st, at Glasgow (provisional – KOC) Friday, July 6th, at Newport (Premier League) Friday, July 20th, at Plymouth (Premier League) Saturday, July 28th, at Workington (Premier League) Sunday, July 29th, at Glasgow (Premier League) Friday, August 3rd, at Edinburgh (Premier League) Saturday, August 4th, at Berwick (Premier League) Sunday, August 5th, at Newcastle (Premier League) Saturday, August 11th, at Leicester (Premier League) Friday, September 7th, at Scunthorpe (Premier League) Please note: all fixtures are subject to change.

Agree with most of the posts but here are what I consider. The Ace of Herts has always attracted big crowds in recent seasons. Perhaps something to do with the fireworks. I wonder how many more would have turned up on Saturday night instead of yesterday? With the school holidays over I reckon quite a few more. Had intended to take the grand kids but mum said it was to later night with school in the morning. Incidentally I’m lead to believe the Sunday meetings have been a financial disaster-apart from last night- and Sundays are off the agenda for next season. As for the poor turnout rider wise, it’s quite simple. Len will only pay the going rate, he will NEVER pay riders anymore. The crazy thing is when he held Superama at Waterden Road he had a world class field, probably better than the then one off world speedway finals. If the rumours of changes next season are to be believed then quite frankly I despair. I know it’s the silly season on the rumour front but some are just unbelievable and let’s hope that are just that, rumours. We’ve all said Rye needs a revamp, it’s stale and going down hill fast. Lots of people would help in a Rye House revamp, but Lenny has become a very stubborn old man, far worse than he used to be. It really is time he makes way for fresh young blood at Rye House, but unless his health goes down hill, which I sincerely hope it doesn’t then I’m afraid Rye House will just get worse and worse. Yes Lens speech went down well last night but you must realise he is making more and more mistakes with the team and the track. You had your time Len, move over and let us see an ambitious promoter with new idea’s run the show for the sake of Rye House Speedway.

Lots of ideas I believe where put forward to both the Rye House and the Lakeside promotions on how to spread the word of Hackney Speedway. Regrettably very few ideas if any were taken on board by either track. Who knows in Hackney, East London and North London that speedway even exists at both venues let alone a club called Hackney Speedway were actually back racing. Im led to believe there where people who where prepared to help in this venture, but Im told both clubs didnt want to know. As for Parsleys comments on promoting the club, well I have to say neither have done that at all, apart from all the Hawks races at Arena were sponsored. Someone did there job there, coz they werent at Rye House for a Hackney match, maybe the first race was. You only have to look at the awful website of Hackneys, utter crap. No information on it's past,updated when it's old news etc. This weekend the Hackney Carnival takes place. In years gone by, dear old Snowy Beattie would have the float organised complete with bikes and riders. What great publicity that would be, giving away free tickets for kids and spreading the word. Forget the fact Rye House do free kids or for a quid, yer man in the street of London dont know that! The whole idea of supporters clubs was for loyal fans to promote the club in the community, arrange, discos, end of season dinner dance/ presentation evening, coach travel etc. Len I know had a bad run in with the Supporters at Rye a few years back and not had one since, but they are there to help promote the team away from the track. Plus look at all the Poles in London, they love there speedway, but for some reason none seem to become regular supporters of either clubs. Do they know about these clubs? Have either promotion tapped into these areas, local Polish radio and newspapers? You have the Olympics coming up next year-could that be the reason why the Hawks where unclipped and allowed to fly this year- what another massive boost to speedway to give away free tickets to speedway at either Arena or Rye House at the 2012 Olympics. But times are hard, theres not enough £ notes to do everything we want to do. Look at Arena when it was a free for all against Poole a few years ago. It was packed to the rafters [except they havent any at Arena only in the cow shed] but obviously from a £ note point of view it didnt work. Its not been done again at Arena so it couldnt have worked for the speedway promotion. The only people who would gain at Arena would be the food outlets and bars and that awfully overpriced toyshop they call the trackshop old Uncle Alfi Weedon Est.1928 wouldnt be happy if he saw it now. At Rye that wouldnt quite be the case as we know bar and food outlets go into uncle Lennies pocket and it has far better trackshop run by Andy Pandy. But trackshops should sell Hackney stuff and neither do, do they? There isnt even a track shop when Hackney have a home meeting at Rye, think that says it all really. This whole Hackney thing was done as a last minute.com thing and its fallen flat on its face. We all know Jon Cook was going to be running the Sittingbourne project but for some reason has fallen through. Will it ever happen? Im sure the Parsley feller who is he? - will be able to update us all.

Indeed so am I! John Samford and Len Silver would be there usual negative self, they always so negativ whe they travel to Buxton. Always beaton before they arrive. This year led by Barrie Evans they showed what they can do. Hazeldene hasnt had much luck and perhaps Paul Starke did score more than Shane would have, but we will never know will we the answer to that one. As for Mason's non arrival, he's ridden really well this year. He has surprised me big time this season, scoring well both at home and away and long may it continue. Maybe we did score more with R/R but again we will never know had David rode. Hawks need a bit of luck and we should have got at least a point at Dudley, even won! Top of the NL, riding well, play-off's? Well I certainly hop so

The situation on merchandise I’m afraid is a shambles, in fact the whole Hackney name is! No track shop on Hackney home meetings at Rye House and as for the track shop at Lakeside they seem to cater far more for stock cars than speedway let alone Hackney! However I did see a Hackney Hawks sun visor in a car on the way back from Mildenhall the other Sunday. The whole situation on a stand alone team should be run as Dudley does. I’m not saying for one minute it will improve the crowd. It should be, in my opinion, totally stand alone. Rye House and to a certain extend Lakeside don’t do that. It would be nice for both tracks to run the same programme which Lakeside has done for example. Rye House fans, the majority who used to go when Hackney ran, never liked Hackney that much. It would be different the other way around. Hackney fans would support Rye House. I a mere mortal, a Hackney fan would love to run a Hackney team at Rye and Lakeside. But could I afford the rent that both Lakeside and uncle Lennie would charge? On the current crowds at Rye House a big no! At Lakeside, well the crowd for there match against Dudley did look quite good, so that would be a possible yes. Hackney need to be run as Hackney, not a Lakeside and Rye second team. Hackney needs a leader to steer them, regrettably that’s just not happening. It a case of just assuming and speedway so called promoters should never assume, but I’m afraid messieurs’ Cook and Silver have just done that!

Not sure I think the right call was made to call this meeting off quite so early, where is the rain? Only had a shower here in Basildon, tut, tut tut or will the Lakeside shower have made the right call?

The negativity coming from Rye House for Hackney matches I am finding unbelievable. Everyone has complained about the cost, but it’s the same cost if you see Hackney at Lakeside, with the cost of a programme is a £1 more! They seem to be getting much bigger crowds, certainly where against Dudley and I’m just wondering why? Next season if the crowds carry on like this at both tracks, there wont be a NL team at Rye House, perhaps only at Arena. That would be a crying shame should that happen and would love to know why Arena [and in my oppion at a inferior stadium and track!] seem to attract the crowd but Rye doesn’t, it obviously isn’t the cost!

Could not agree more with that statement. Speedway is a dangerous enough sport, but with a armcove barrier it's a hell of a dangerous track, when will the authorities do something about it? When it' to late I guess.....

Any news on this meeting for Sunday? Is it still on?

Been with my mate tonight and we where looking at the many speedway sites on facebook, which I’m not on. Some of the sites are brilliant, riders who where my idols, will have to start living in 2011. I feel though a few things where a bit out of order on facebook. Firstly pictures of people-other promoters-on a Save Mildenhall site, which it is claimed voted against Mildenhall coming back into the NL. Is this information 100% correct? Didn’t read all the posts if I’m honest. John Sampford had his picture supporting Mildenhall, taken last year and claiming he didn’t help Mildenhall at the recent NL AGM. But was he at the AGM? To my knowledge he‘s just a team manager? If I was John I would be extremely upset at this, same goes for Len Silver and BSPA press officer Nigel Pearson-was he at the AGM?- also both pictured, who they allegedly claim voted against Mildenhall acceptance in this years NL We all know Len Silver and Steve Ribbons have a bit of history, perhaps it was a personal thing in which case Len should have at least not voted, assuming he voted against. But maybe, just maybe other fellow promoters feel that perhaps the lack of air fence could have been a issue? There have been some very nasty injuries at West Row in recent years and perhaps with Nigel Pearson-if he was at the AGM- always keeping on about the importance of air fences on Monday night speedway, that may as well been an issue with him / Dudley. It’s certainly by the look of things become a major political issue, no different to what’s gone at Coventry and Peterborough. We’re all entitled to free speech, Steve Ribbons is obviously extremely peed of with the whole thing and wanted on this forum to put his side of events. Will we see any response from the BSPA? I think we all know the answer to that, at the most it will be a token response. I wish Mildenhall well, if I’m honest, the track does need a air fence but firstly the obstacle of the court case threatens the whole site, that’s now the one they have to win. Loose that at its curtains for the everyone and everything at Mildenhall Stadium and the motor cross as well. Good Luck Mildenahll

Free speech, 100% behind it. Steve Ribbons is a guy who has speedway at his heart and without him would either Rye House or Wimbledon re-opened? I think not. Of course Mr Ribbons isn’t very popular with the BSPA and without doubt, if your face don’t fit………… Mr Morrish, well what can one say about him? Don’t know the man personally, [thinks he’s how Terry Russell will be look in 20 years time] but he certainly hasn’t in my opinion done the NL any favours at all over the years. The way things are going I can see a breakaway league forming, How about the 2011 Provincial League Mildenhall, Sittingbourne-Iwade- [another BSPA favourite] Coventry [another BSPA favourite] Peterborough [another BSPA favourite] Weymouth Lydd [another BSPA favourite] That’s only two less than the Elite League! Okay a bit tong in cheek but seriously I really can see a ‘black’ league forming just as it did in 1964 unless something is done pretty dam soon.

So Rye House are to hold both the NLRC and the ill fated NL 4TT final on Saturday and Sunday 2nd / 3rd October. I suppose with some of the riders already at Rye House it kind of makes sense. But will it attract decent crowds both days, I fear not!

So its now Saturday 30th October, but whats happened to the NL 4TT, has it gone the same way as Mildenhall, not to be run in 2010?

I really think it’s the BSPA who dictated to Rye House they HAD to run the Newport match before the NLRC and the ill fated NL Fours, now being run on Sunday 31st October. So surely it's the BSPA you should be attacking! As for your comments on Rye House not being allowed to run any future NL shared events, would love to know a reason why not?

So Rye House travel down to the south coast to Bournemouth on Sunday [as part of a double header against Kings Lynn] and hopefully will try to make a match of it. Will be my first match at Wimbourne Road for many a year. Can only see a big win for the home side. Would have thought Rye would bring in Danny Halsey, unless he's already signed for someone else? Rye season in the NL is just to show some form of respectability and if they try on Sunday then I'll be happy!

Saw on the Hackney facebook site [www.facebook/hackneyspeedway] that it’s 31 years ago since that that faithful night that Vic Harding lost his life at Hackney. We must not forget Steve Weatherley who received awful injuries as well in the same crash. So hard to believe it was over 30 years ago, the memories are still crystal clear. They’re a brave lot the speedway riders who entertain us and some have had to pay the ultimate price. RIP Vic

A horrible, horrible mess. I don't think Mr Coventry wants speedway at Mildenhall anyway. With his track at Dover closing they can have stock cars every week at Mildenhall then, even on a Sunday! The riders not having been paid is nothing short of robbery in my view. Mildenhall have had so many promoters who haven’t been able to make a go of it. The only one who seems to have broken even was Dingle Brown, yet he was told he had to get an air fence [which they should have anyway] to carry on and he passed on to Mr Mole to run, yet he didn’t have to have an air fence! Mildenhall is hanging on by the skin of its teeth, with extremely poor crowds. If it’s taken over again then I’m sure within a short space of time we will see Mildenhall up for sale again. Unless major changes are made to encourage loads more people to come through the turnstiles I really can’t see Mildenhall having a future.

We never used to have Germans, Danes, Swedes, Poles etc in Division Two, todays PL.Look at it now. Very few Brits and I fear the rebranded CL now the NL could well go the same way. Is the a development league at all now?

For those of us who like to reminisce, like me, there’s a real nostalgia moments from Hackney 1976 on facebook. www.facebook/hackneyspeedway. Hackney Speedway is reliving week by week, day by day and in some cases hour by hour meetings from the 1976 season. It would appear that dates are identical to this year and there are updates from all the Hawks 1976 meetings and I’m just loving it! It’s just like speedway updates from 1976, how cool is that! Really is worth looking at, even if you’re not a supporter of the Hawks! If your team was in the 1976 Gulf Oil British League [First Division] it’s worth joining facebook if you’re not already! The teams in the 1976 GOBL are:- Belle Vue Birmingham Cradley Exeter Halifax Hull Ipswich Kings Lynn Leicester Newport Poole Reading Sheffield Swindon White City Wimbledon Wolverhampton

QUOTE (Robbie B @ Mar 26 2010, 08:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I've joined waiting for the friend request to be accepted. Message from Hackney, he's deleted your request, purely by accident can you resend friend request, thanks

Thats not hard now is it!

Several problems occur I am afraid with individual meetings at Rye House. Firstly a lot of riders don’t want to ride unless they get mega £’s. Len has always said he pays the going rate. Last night a grand for the winner, £800 for second and £600 for third I recon isn’t bad. But lots of pre-madonna’s want guarantee’s as well so I guess that’s why we only have twelve riders. However in saying that I’m sure the likes of Ben Morley and co would have been quite happy to have been a reserve or make up the field to a sixteen rider twenty heats but with the fireworks I assume the time factor comes into it as well. Yes it was an extra quid to get in but that pays for the fireworks and I believe kids where free last night so its swings and rounder bouts really. I have to say most end of season Ace of Herts at Rye have good racing, last night was no exception and for those for whatever reason stayed away, off course it’s their choice, missed in my view a good meeting. I have to mention young Kyle Hughes. His style is cool calm and relaxed. Reminds me a lot of Malcolm Simmons. I hope he rides for Rye next year. As for Mr Rocket 2009, well I guess the local lad deserves to have won, I mean of course Luke Bowen. He had his best season by far and maybe now I would include him in next year’s team. He’s very popular with the fans but stagnation at Rye is something that I fear for this young man. If he wants to progress I believe he should move away to a bigger track, similar to what Josh Auty did his season and I guess the other way round for Joe Haines. Incidentally where was Mr Haines last night, round Shadders place? Roll on 2010 and hope for an injury free season and some silverware!

I enjoyed the meeting,congrats to the top 4. However that referee. This ref is by far the worst i have ever seen. Have to say Dave Watters is a close 2nd. The starts where awful all night,red lights where put on in panic mode and excluding riders wrongly! Just a normal meeting then for Ms Vardey!

In 2005 like so many speedway fans, put a few quid into the Speedway Museum fund being organised by George & Linda Barclay. Their goal to raise £50k or there abouts to build a permanent Speedway Museum, within the grounds of Paradise Wildlife Park. With a great deal of hard work, which I don’t think has ever been appreciated, they succeeded and the Speedway Museum opened and a massive amount of speedway memorabilia was donated on loan to the museum. I believe they became a charity, tried unsuccessfully to get a Lottery grant and without knowing all the politics the Barclays left and a committee –unelected, just the glory hunters- were left to run the museum. I have to say when George & Linda stepped aside the museum just didn’t seem the same and it still doesn’t, but I believe it was always there intention only to raise the capital. Now I am hearing the whole Speedway Museum is being run by Paradise Wildlife Park, which may I say is not a bad thing, I have a lot of respect for Pete Sampson but I do have a few issues. I was on the understanding this would always be run separate from PWP, which I still believe it should be. I donated some hard earned £’s in 2005 because I thought it was going to be separate concern. What happens to all the speedway memorabilia does it become part of PWP and not the people who loaned it? If they want to raise money to extend the museum, which I understand they do, surely this should come from within PWP or do they want donations again? I personally feel a little disappointed that the Speedway Museum has had to go down this road, maybe it is for the best, maybe my facts are incorrect. I would ask the moderators to leave this on the general board until such times you think it should go onto the Speedway Museum board

Sence has pro-valed and the thread is still here, well done! I assume with the extreley heavy frost here in the capital it's as bad in sunny Iwade? I also assume this means the track will have stood up to the rather cold night and is not frozen as no posts to say otherwise? Will be wrapping up and will put the shorts in the automobile just in case the sun comes out!