Dave Stummings

Would love to take the credit for the site, but regrettably it's not me but very interesting reading as a former Hawks fans as well. Of course we didn't know it at the time, but I believe this was the beginning of the post war golden era of speedway. The second division had been formed in 1968 and speedway was on the up in the UK BIG time, but I guess it started to diminish in the early eighties and has never domestically really recovered. Sky's involvement should have seen speedway go back up in the popularity stakes, but apart from the play off finals and the GP at Cardiff-not that that gets the 80,000 Wembley used to get for the one off World Finals- the crowds have never returned. If Sky pull the plug on speedway as rumored next season I really to fear for Elite League speedway in future in the UK. Poland seems to have taken the mantle as the place to ride and indeed maybe we should go back to the drawing board as Len did back during the winter of 1967/68.

What a great shame speedway doesn't even have an Elite League KOC competition anymore! This once oh so prestigious competition was such an important cup to take part in and it wooooed the crowds. So lets go back to 1968! Yes what on earths Hackney 1968 doing in the general speedway board! Why? I think its worth spreading to a wider audience that Hackney Speedway is reliving the whole of 1968 through the eyes of the club, its just like speedway updates but in 1968. It's a great idea, I'm loving it and sure others will to. Well worth looking at http://www.hackneyspeedway.com and on http://facebook.com/hackneyspeedway, tonight its West Ham v Hackney KOC. I think I'm correct in saying in those days they were on offs and not over two legs. Please mods, keep this post here, so others can enjoy the real good old days of speedway!

Positive Bunyan News Rye House team manager John Sampford visited injured captain Jason Bunyan in Harlow Hospital this evening and was very pleasantly surprised, to put it mildly, at the positive news he received. “The latest indication is that the damage is not as bad as it first sounded on paper. Yes, he’s got broken ribs, but the breaks are not as severe as they could have been. And the lung puncture is closer to a nick, which is also very lucky. The vertebrae must obviously heal naturally. “Jason is already sitting up in bed, which is something in itself. The doctors want to get him active as soon as possible to help the blood flow and aid the healing process. The initial indications yesterday were that he could easily miss half the season, but Jason himself is determined to be back in action sooner than later, maybe as early as a month’s time, which would be remarkable. He is one tough cookie. “I have also spoken to (broken ankle victim) Simon (Lambert), who is going to his local hospital tomorrow. What they say will determine what he is able to do to aid his own recovery, but we are probably talking six-to-eight weeks out.”

The tack was utter crap today, trouble is Len is spending all his time do the track in Sittingbourne!

Great start to 1968, well worth a look and cant wait for the rest of the season!

Would like to have seen Nick Morris and Josh Grajczonek in the Rockets team but both signed for Somerset. Grajczonek would in my opinion made a better number one than Allen. Can't remember Allen setting the PL alight when he rode for Kings Lynn a couple of years ago. Nick Morris I also recon has a big part to play in the PL and EL in 2013, both will increase there averages, but i guess time will tell if Lens dropped another one [which i recon he has with the 2013 team] or been blindingly brilliant!

Shane Hazeldene’s move to Kings Lynn’s National League team has to be a good move for them and the young man himself. Remember when he rode for the Hackney team in 2011 he was in outstanding form, he was riding at number 1. I’m sure he just needed more meetings in 2012 to carry on that mantle, but so were many other riders with the awful summer of 2012. Ben Morley, James Sarjeant and Connor Coles I’d like to see them all back, that leaves four places to fill. Although all for young riders, wouldn’t want to see 4 training school tearaways in the remaining four places. I honestly can’t see Len having a Raiders team in 2013. The crowds have been awful, as has just about everything at Rye in 2013, apart from the racing and the announcer. I’ve said my views on Rye House in the main Rockets PL 2013 thread. Without doubt the Raiders meetings have cost Len many £ notes when ever they’ve had stand alone meetings, probably when as a double header as well. I hope I’m wrong, but to run a reasonable NL team will cost money and I jut cant see how Rye would be able to afford it, unless a mega sponsor comes along, which considering they cant even get a race sponsored is extremely unlikely.

After an injury plagued 2012 season, retirements, extremely poor crowds and general stale out of date presentation, the will Nelson be back or obviously not, where do Rye House go to in 2013? First thing to go has to be the ridiculous most stupid parade! Who’s ever heard of the track staff being presented to the crowd! Bring the riders bikes on to the centre green and introduce them there bikes, that’s worked for years and years! Craig Saul, an excellent announcer, but it needs someone in the pits and on the centre green as well as Craig. Getting fans to text, facebook or twitter requests. Needs someone with style and prepared to have some fun with the crowd. Get a website that is kept up to date. Live in the digital age and internet age. The World Wide Web is such a fantastic advert for the club, not a Rye House though. Let’s have a new style 2013 programme. Since 2001, the programme has hardly changed. Get draught beer back in the pumps what on earth are they doing selling tin beer this year! As for the team, well where do we start. Will Chris Neath return? By all accounts he’s still far from fit, I think personally he’s ridden his last speedway race. Nothing has really been mentioned at Rye about Chris, it just looks like to me he’s been forgotten about. Luke Bowen, well he’s likely to be out of action until the middle of next season, and quite honestly he needs a change of track, said it for years he like a lot of people are stale at Rye. Jason Garrity, has to be included. From what I’ve seen of Kasper Lykke, has to be considered for a team spot. Simon Lambert, we’ll have to wait and see. Not sure he’ll be the answer should he be considered for 2013. Charlie Gjedde, would prefer a different number one, Jason Doyle would be my choice instead of Gjedde. Anders Mellgren could be a big 2013 for him. He has to be included. Jason Bunyan, good reserve still, gotta feeling it may be his last year in the UK. But of course on the riding front I assume Rye House will be in the second tier of British speedway. Will Len continue Saturday night speedway or will Friday nights become there regular race night if Arena go Saturday? I guess we’ll know soon enough!

With Dave Mason being ruled out of action after last Monday's horrific accident at Rye House-full credit to the Rye safety fence doing its job- it seems the Raiders are going asking the BSPA if they can use Rocket Jason Garrity. Is this good for the NL? If Adam Roynon can why not Jason Garrity?

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.

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 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!

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?

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

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

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