robolots

Bored, cold, lakeside condemned air fence has had enough.

I'm interested if there is a 20 hour guarantee? 20 hours is a lot of races!! I'm also confused why it being supplied complete is such a great selling point-gm in kit form with CNC head is approx £2700 Inc vat and then £150 approx to put it together if you paying someone else. You can choose pretty much what cam,rod,piston etc you want within reason. The extra money riders spending on engines is when they paying for the tuners expertise which I know can make an engine £5000 I prefer to get engines in kit form and then you know they put together how you want them. Speedway needs more engines to create genuine competition, so good luck to GTR, Goddens, Jawa and anyone else making engines.

Totally 100% agree Waco, we also going to tie a couple of bricks round his head to keep it lower to the first turn lower lol

I can't really disagree with a lot said about this match. Well done to Birmingham on a well deserved victory, even though there couldn't of been much more bad luck for Kent on the night! Zach is certainly a talented rider, but the National League needs to make it's mind up if it is a league for bringing riders on or a 3rd tier professional league. The mysterious Banks injury makes a mockery of the rules and obviously allowed Zach to have 7 rides. I don't blame Birmingham for doing it and to be honest it happens all the time. Kirby, all I am going to say is no comment!!!! I'm not sure why riding at number 2 is that much harder than riding at 6. If you look at the program, there isn't really that much difference in who you ride against. It is only at 7 you get a much easier ride. As someone who knows Jamie personally, all I can say is he is doing his best. It is his first season riding in a proper team and he has gone up to number 2 as he has improved his starting average. He needs to improve his gating and if he does this he should score more points and find it a bit easier. I know he has changed some things for Saturday in this respect. If anyone ever wants to know anything in respect of Jamie and what did or didn't happen in a race/meeting or just something in general, feel free to ask and I will get you a response from either his team or Jamie personally. All I ask is please don't post anything without knowing the full facts. He knows when he could of done better and it doesn't help a lads confidence if there is some ill judged comment made. P.s. that meeting has got to be one of the worst performances by a referee I have ever seen!!!!

Not sure where you getting prices from but a relining of barrel is no more than 200, big end and roller bearing 75, strip down and rebuild should be around 175 although can be more or less depending on who or where you go. Speedway is still a relatively cheap form of Motorsport. Engines don't need constant new parts, a reputable tuner will strip, check and only replace parts if they need replacing. Unfortunately unscrupulous tuners milk riders and feed them cack so that they can line their pockets.

We need more competition, Gm, Gerhard,Goddens,Jrm etc For engine longevity all that needs to happen is a rev limit on the engines. It's the riders choice of how much money he wants to spend, Some spend wisely and within their means and then there is those that listen to bull and waste their money.

To be honest I hope it is not a "budget" engine but a serious competitor for GM. The only rider I know at anywhere near International standard on Jawa at the moment is Smolinski. Although I applaud the thinking behind an engine that can last longer between servicing, if it isn't fast enough then no one will want it whether National League, Premier League or Tiddlywinks League. If more engines come on board that are direct competition for GM then it will create a better and competitive market place. Having an essentially one series engine is no good for any motorsport in the long run, unless you are basing that motorsport on already production based vehicles.

"Couzins had a nights to forget, poor to miss the 2 minutes in his first race and from my angle could have done better to avoid the fallen Sheppard." How was it "poor to miss the 2 minutes in his first race"? Typical comment of a keyboard warrior who doesn't know any facts about what happened. Yes, we were all sitting in the pits refusing to race until we had finished our McDonalds. There was no way Jamie was going to make the two minutes as he had spilt ketchup over the what we thought was the winning ticket in the McDonalds monopoly game. We were all so exictied that I then filled up the tank with Vanilla milkshake and the bike wouldn't run!! Is that poor enough for you? And as for your second comment, said by a true person who has probably never ridden a speedway bike before and it looks oh so easy from the stands doesn't it?

Not really, although it has been difficult for Jamie to attract sponsors with not really knowing whether he was in the team, out of the team, in a run off etc etc. We decided to take a break over the winter and then had a small delay in getting the engines back and then on any day that Jamie could get out, the weather beat us and the local tracks with their not being able to run speedway machines (Iwade) and having a new booking in system (Lydd) which meant Monday was the first time Jamie had been out since last October. The last thing we needed was an expensive unnecessary engine repair bill just for the sake of a few (probable wet) laps somewhere! I know Jamie and his parents also wanted to make sure that the equipment was up to scratch and that they had the required spares if they needed them throughout the season. Regards Rob C And also, I hope that the management actually give whoever is at 6 and 7 a decent run and not discard them after a few meetings-this is National League speedway after all and the 3rd tier should be about bringing riders on. If the riders are not showing any improvement, then yes someone else should be given a chance. Having looked at all the teams 3 pointers I know that if the reserves ride to their ability then there is no reason that they shouldn't become established team members in their own right.

Teaboy, That's probably a fair reflection of my nephew (Jamie Couzins) at the moment. To be fair to him, circumstances have meant he hasn't been on a bike since Sunday 12th October and he knows he needs to toughen up-although he refused to let someone lean over him and turn into him as you saw tonight. You are 100% right that he needs to improve his gating, a combination of being rusty and the clutch not quite set up right in the first race did hinder him a bit, but at the end of the day he knows his gating needs improvement which is why time and weather permitting a certain Mr Boxall will be helping him out as well. He also needs to get race fit as there is no substitute for riding and with a bit of time I know he will be on it. The track was mmmm, I will be diplomatic and say holey in places, but it was the same for everyone and the weather Sunday was awful for track prep. What Kent desperately needs is some banking and it will be a super track. Good luck to all the riders for the coming season. Thanks Rob C

If it's as grim there as it is here, then agree could be in danger. Weather forecast bad until early afternoon, not sure if with the amount of rain forecast give enough time to get a race track. Might be enough time for a track, not a race track? Just hope promotion make a decision sooner rather than later as nothing worse than watching speedway on a soggy track!

You are right that the SCB advised riders not to ride at Lydd a few years ago, but the only issue if you ride there would be that your "not worth the paper it's written on" SCB insurance is not valid. You can't be banned for riding at Lydd, you are just not SCB insured when you do.

It's Couzins, not Cousins or Couzens. Jamie has ridden in the MDL last year, he turned out for Rye House on a few occasions. He has also ridden at Eastbourne. He would of rode for Lakeside in their Anglian League team a few years ago, but unfortunately broke his collar bone playing football which essentially ended that season, so he then decided to concentrate on getting a trade and is currently in his last year of his mechanics apprenticeship. At round the time he was regularly riding at Lakeside he was riding with Jack Kingston a lot and I would say they were on par with each other. Jack obviously carried on riding and has improved year on year, so I see no reason why with a little bit of luck (we all need that sometimes) and determination that he wont progress. Along with his mum and dad they are making sure Jamie has the best equipment that he / they can possibly afford so that he will be competitive. He is under no illusions that it's going to be easy or cheap, but only wanted to ride when he knew that he could give it a good shot both in regards of time and finances. He has a good team around him and will be calling on the help and advice of professionals on both side of air fence throughout the year. All he is asking for is a fair crack of the whip! no more, no less.

There are currently no dates scheduled for practice at Lakeside. 8th August CANCELLED For all bookings or enquiries please call Linda on 020 8592 3361. For a weather check on the day or last minute booking on the day please call 07950694383. Posted on behalf of George & Linda Barclay

I can appreciate that Steve in the past has probably deserved some of the reputation he may have had. All I can reiterate is that he has invested in some top top machinery and wants to do well. There was some (quite frankly stupid) clutch issues which were certainly avoidable, but they happened, hopefully they have taken the advice on board and will move on. As for other things, I really can't say on here (at the moment), but like I said before, it's being sorted. If he doesn't proceed/put things right, he will only have himself to blame, but I do believe he will be ok. There is never a more true saying than "fail to prepare, prepare to fail" and "bullsh*t baffles brains" or in my case bullsh*t baffles me lol

I was originally going to have a go at you Shadders, but alas I concede you are some what right (but not totally) with the above comment. Steve's equipment is near to the best that money can buy. It's been some of the decisions made recently (which I wont elaborate on here as it not my place to do so) and some maintenance issues that hopefully have now been put right and Steve should be back to scoring the points he should be scoring and is certainly capable of scoring. As Steve gets paid per point, believe me it is not in his interests to be scoring so low as he has done so in recent weeks. Again, hopefully some of the "issues" have now been put to bed and he can move on. Up the Rockets!! p.s. Some of the exhausts sound different due to a number of factors including different front pipes (lengths/curves) and makes of silencers (i.e King/DEP/Prodrive) The DEP's sound really different to the King and Prodrive.

Thanks, will give him a ring

I'm just looking over an old GM SR and it has THR stamped on it, plus some numbers. I believe THR is Michael Lee, but can anyone confirm who it is and pm me or send me a number for them if possible as I want to trace some history on the engine. info@robracing.co.uk Thanks Rob C

The Barclays are back training at the Home of the Lakeside Hammers in 2014. All the following dates are Friday and will run 11am-3pm 20th June 25th July 8th August 29th August (provisional) New silencers are not required for training at Lakeside Numbers are limited so all riders have maximum track time. Booking is essential and George is on hand for any tuition or advice. Training can be "Back to Basics", "Improving Skills" or just practice. ALL ARE WELCOME. For all bookings or enquiries please call Linda on 020 8592 3361. For a weather check on the day or last minute booking on the day please call 07950694383. Posted on behalf of George & Linda Barclay

Training tomorrow is cancelled due to the lovely British summer weather

The Barclays are back training at the Home of the Lakeside Hammers in 2014. All the following dates are Friday and will run 11am-3pm 9th May (few spaces left) 20th June 25th July 8th August 29th August (provisional) New silencers are not required for training at Lakeside Numbers are limited so all riders have maximum track time. Booking is essential and George is on hand for any tuition or advice. Training can be "Back to Basics", "Improving Skills" or just practice. ALL ARE WELCOME. For all bookings or enquiries please call Linda on 020 8592 3361. For a weather check on the day or last minute booking on the day please call 07950694383. Posted on behalf of George & Linda Barclay Like This Quote MultiQuote Edit

The Barclays are back training at the Home of the Lakeside Hammers in 2014. All the following dates are Friday and will run 11am-3pm 11th April (a few places left) 9th May 30th May 20th June 25th July 8th August 29th August (provisional) New silencers are not required for training at Lakeside Numbers are limited so all riders have maximum track time. Booking is essential and George is on hand for any tuition or advice. Training can be "Back to Basics", "Improving Skills" or just practice. ALL ARE WELCOME. For all bookings or enquiries please call Linda on 020 8592 3361. For a weather check on the day or last minute booking on the day please call 07950694383. Posted on behalf of George & Linda Barclay

The Barclays are back training at the Home of the Lakeside Hammers in 2014. The first date for 2014 is Wednesday 26th March 11am - 4pm. Cost £45 (Only a few places left) All the following dates are Friday and will run 11am-3pm 11th April 9th May 30th May 20th June 25th July 8th August 29th August (provisional) New silencers are not required for training at Lakeside Numbers are limited so all riders have maximum track time. Booking is essential and George is on hand for any tuition or advice. Training can be "Back to Basics", "Improving Skills" or just practice. ALL ARE WELCOME. For all bookings or enquiries please call Linda on 020 8592 3361. For a weather check on the day or last minute booking on the day please call 07950694383. Posted on behalf of George & Linda Barclay

For the record I am not expecting the speedway star to be the gutter press, but just have a more in depth coverage of some of the issues good and bad with speedway rather than what some one has already alluded to here and not just be a match report and basic news mag. I'm definitely on the outside of the clique, but from my involvement with speedway I could tell things that would make much more interesting reading both positive and negative.

Can someone who has links to the speedway star please tell me why they never actually report on anything worthwhile? It seems to me it's not what you know but who you know and they never seem to want to disagree with anyone or anything that might upset certain members of the Scb, Bspa or others within a very tight speedway circle!! It's the same in general with the letters page as I know various people myself included that have written in over various subjects and issues but they never get published or contacted etc etc. They will always publish letters though along the lines of "we had nice fish and chips at Rye House in 1987" but never if anyone disagreeing with the partly line!!!