Agree. Rye on a Sunday afternoon was a a good place to watch racing and I use to do the music at the track and did the same at Hackney on  Friday night. Rayleigh on a Saturday night was always well attended and whilst the racing may not be up to today’s standards it was riders who raced from the heart and soul and you were always entertained and it just seemed to be less of a gap between the heat leaders and the second strings. You also had your characters and Brian Foote for example was was the arch enemy from Romford until he joined Rayleigh. Terry Stone was a real stalwart and Tiger Beech and Trevor Barnwell were great to watch as was Ivan Miller. I look and today’s racers and wonder how many will still be fondly remembered in fifty two years time.  Dingle Brown was another character and Geoff Maloney was also up with the likes of Hughie Saunders where incidentally most doubled up with Hackney so doubling up is not new but because Len promoted both it was like lending a member of the family and a good opportunity to watch a riders progression. I am still young enough to remember Johnnie Hoskins at Rayleigh with his Canterbury team and Dave Lanning with Eastbourne. Great days and fond memories. I doubt many of today’s young supporters will have such memories fifty years from now unfortunately. I must stop reminiscing because some on here will come down on a contributor like a ton of bricks because you look back on what it was like back in the day. 

Many riders owed money apparently.

Was never the same rider after his crash at Oxford for Wolves in 1995. I have to take my hat off to the guy for coming back from serious injury and giving it a go,

The annual loss was inclusive of the TV receipts. In other words, gate money, sponsorship, sales of shirts, match day food & drink and all of TV income did not cover the cost of playing in the Premier league. 

Batch

The fan I spoke to at the weekend said Bomber and Scott would be the dream duo and a great way to end their careers .