Bryn

Given your response to my original posting which was intended to be a little lighthearted Mr Jones hence the smillies, perhaps you'd be kind enough to define your understanding as to what would constitute a rider turning up to race 'under the influence' As to car racing personally it is of no interest to me as, rightly or wrongly, my own perception of it is that it's down to who has the best car in any race rather than the driver's capabilities.

Given the fact that nowadays it's regarded as a real 'no-no' for riders to let alcoholic beverages pass their lips, I do indeed wonder why the top three in any Individual meeting are handed bottles of Champagne as they stand on the podium!

11.45am FINAL WEATHER UPDATE NO rain this morning and NONE forecast. Kids races 12.30, Main event first race 1pm

FURTHER WEATHER UPDATE - 10.15am I'm at the track, it's NOT raining and meeting ON.

SECOND RACEDAY UPDATE Meeting ON as at 9.15am. Will be leaving for Lakeside at 9.30 and there, from where next update will come, circa 9.45-10am. Still looking for lift to Eastbourne folks - pretty, PRETTY please! My mobile 07774 935468

RACEDAY WEATHER CHECK: Here at Erith ( M25 Jnctn 1A Just on the south side of the Dartford Tunnel from track Jnctn 31) it's 8am and, poking my head out of the front door it's a little damp akin to light rain/drizzle having fallen although it's NOT raining at all right now. Awaiting to hear news from track and will post further update when I do.

Little point in speculating on tomorrow's weather at this stage but I'll be up and about early tomorrow (and it's dubbed GOOD Friday???) posting raceday weather updates here and on the BSF here, Twitter & Facebook for the EL match against King's Lynn Stars that starts at 1pm at the Purfleet raceway. Will be going to the track earlyish to man the office phone and field all the "Is it on?" queries of course and then, if the match goes ahead as planned, the next question will be can the Lakeside Vortex Hammers avenge Tuesday's away defeat? At the end of that match I'm hoping to get to Eastbourne for the Eagles evening National League opener against the Kent Kings so I'm on the lookout for a lift there from Lakeside and back to Dartford from some kind soul with a spare seat in their wagon!

Anyone driving up from South of the Dartford crossing with a spare seat in their vehicle would love to keep you company (and chip in petrol money of course). Please PM me with your phone no so I can get in touch. Cheers

Gonna do that in public now? Really hope that Olly's injuries turn out not to be serious once the full details of same are known. Meanwhile my best wishes go out to him.

Final Raceday Weather Update - 5pm At Track. Blue skies above. NO weather problems expected and warmer than King's lynn last night! See you later!

Third Raceday Weather Update - 2.45pm Just leaving for track - next update from there circa 4 to 4.30pm. No further change in the weather as it's sill fine, bright and sunny with blue sky here just across the south side of the Dartford crossing with Blue skies above. NO weather problems expected though. Further update from track circa 4 to 4.30pm Read more: http://thelakesidehammers.proboards.com/thread/521/raceday-weather-27-3#ixzz3Vb4drAF9

Raceday Weather Update - 1pm Still fine, bright and sunny with blue sky here just across the south side of the Dartford crossing with above and today's forecast from the Met Office still states it's going to be dry all day with NO hint of rain whatsoever and temperatures around 10C all day. Further update at before I leave for track circa 3pm and further update later from there but NO weather problems anticipated as the Vortex Lakeside Hammers go flat out to tame those Lions from Leicester. Read more: thelakesidehammers.proboards.com/thread/521/raceday-weather-27-3#ixzz3VagoCZ7C

First Raceday Weather Check 10am: It's fine, bright and sunny here just across the south side of the Dartford crossing and today's forecast from the Met Office states it's going to be dry all day with NO hint of rain whatsoever and temperatures around 10C all day. Further update at lunchtime but NO weather problems anticipated as the Vortex Lakeside Hammers go flat out to tame those Lions from Leicester.

He's the son of ex-ref Robbie Perks and also related to former rider Dave Perks. I saw him in action out in Oz as a junior a few years back and he looked very good at that early stage of his career. Prior to the family emigrating to Oz roughly eight years ago I believe he rode junior grasstrack in the UK.

The Vortex Lakeside Hammers have no home BH Monday meetings planned.

Indeed I almost certainly was at the meeting and would have retained my completed programme. Alas though, my daughter/future son-in-law are in the process of decorating my home and all my old programmes are packed away with other gear in large boxes stacked five high in the back garden shed so no chance of laying my mangled mitts on it!

Although I'm here in the office at Lakeside manning the phone etc, I've just heard the sound tht comes second only to my daughter's first words! That sound? You've got it, speedway engines roaring at the Vortex Lakeside Press and Practice session!

Want me to arrange it?

Thanks for that - very interesting comments.

Fair enough you have your opinion to which you're perfectly entitled - what's your personal view on all British tracks you've been to? I, and perhaps others, would be interested to hear.

I doubt it but the likes of Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill, Brian Karger, Bo Petersen, Leigh Adams, Kelvin Tatum, Lee Richardson (RIP), Tomas Topinka, Tony Rickardsson, Adam Shields, Peter Karlsson, many Polish riders (e.g. Seb Ulamek, Piotr Swiderski) and so very many more had no problem riding it over the years - are they wrong and you right?

It's a track that's there to be ridden as all tracks are and those riders who climb to the top adapt to all shapes and sizes imo.

Speedway whether it be training schools, practice, development league, NL, PL, EL, Individual meetings whatever - just speedway as a whole!

An old saying is 'no news is good news' and that may well be the case here. The official website looks good and has everything you'd expect thereon courtesy of the website manager, I'm not sure what Jayne & Richard farm but if they've got any sheep they might be a tad busy right now eh? And there's the 'school runs' etc., etc to squeeze in too! The club does have a press officer, and a good one but I found out through a branch of the 'social media' this morning that he had been considerably held up en route to a 'day job' appointment by a glorious M6 traffic jam! Believe me I'm not having a dig at you personally but things are not always straightforward especially in a role as a speedway club's press officer having voluntarily undertaken the role (amongst others!) at all manner of clubs through the years - and I wouldn't change a thing! I hope this posting can at least explain some of the problems faced and I haven't even mentioned dreaded print deadlines!

Perhaps all the admin team are currently at work / attending to other matters SS?