Season LEWI KERR - Eastbourne Speedway
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H G A E R O S PA C E E A G L E S S P E E D WAY M A G A Z I N E
No. 4
LEWI KERR
Looking forward
to a ‘miracle’
season
THE BIKE!
Secrets from
the pit lane
EXCLUSIVE
Welcome to Eagles
new appointment
BEN MORLEY KO CUP FINAL 1985 FRANK BETTIS
H G A E R O S P A C E E A G L E S S P E E D W AY M A G A Z I N E
ISSUE 4 | FEBRUARY 2021
WE'VE CERTAINLY ALL had a cold blast from the East since the last The fact that the 2020 season was effectively lost has if anything
Edition of Flying High but the mornings are certainly getting lighter, enforced my passion to ensure that we achieve more both on and
earlier and the afternoons are starting to draw out towards off the track and a lot of work is and will go on behind the scenes to
evenings ...a sure sign that Spring is on its way. ensure that.
We cannot ignore or forget the fact that we are still in lockdown, On the track we have an excellent seven-man team. I would not
but with infection and death rates falling and the vaccination swap any of them for anyone.
programme racing ahead, the prospects for a Speedway season We have the seven we want and they will have our maximum
certainly look a lot brighter than they did a month ago. support. We will set them up to succeed and support them all the
The BSPL requested that all clubs prepare a League Fixture season way, in return, and particularly from these seven guys.
commencing in May. We have done so and it's very important to I think we will see a far greater intensity and will to win than maybe
place on record our thanks to a number of clubs with whom we've we saw on occasions in 2019, especially away from home, yet I
had dialogue with requests either to them, or from them, to amend believe we will have a lot of laughs and humour and great team
the original fixture draft and there has certainly been fantastic spirit along the way. Trevor will get the most out of them as Team
co-operation all round. Manager and Promoter.
I'd particularly like to thank Rob Grant at Newcastle who assisted in Sometimes on a Sunday
helping us to resolve a particularly late issue. We'll do our best to I'm pleased overall with the fixtures and we do have a number of
ensure that the team are fighting fit for their first away match on Sunday home dates, that will always please some and not others. In
May 19 at Birmingham and the first home fixture on May 22 against all the surveys we've done it does seem Sundays are more popular
Newcastle. especially with younger families.
Unfortunately, the announcement that sporting venues WON'T be There is though a very specific reason for some of the Sunday
able to re-open until May 17, whilst great news in terms of the fixtures and that is to fully support the health and welfare of the
bigger picture, has scuppered our initial plans for early May, for riders in particular. There are four teams in the Championship who
now at least. race on a Friday night and three of them are extreme distance trips.
We had decided to try to get the lads some competitive track I think we saw on a few occasions in 2019, that to arrive home at 3
action by arranging a 2021 version of the famous Championship of or 4am on a Saturday morning after a 700-800 mile drive and then
Sussex for our opening Meeting on May 1. No amount of practice have to be back at Arlington at 5pm ready for a big match is far from
an ideal scenario.
can replicate those hard and sometimes brutal first turns at this
level, so better to get the team fully race fit before embarking on a We've tried where possible to avoid that eventuality as we want a fit
season that holds a lot of promise and one we aim to deliver as and fresh team whenever possible on their "A game", and hopefully
much as possible. everyone will appreciate those reasons and be able to come to as
many matches as possible on both Saturdays and Sundays.
We will have to wait and see what any crowd number restrictions
are from May 17 but we will do our best to reorganise The Strong addition
Championship of Sussex meeting for later in the season. It's also very important that we have a team and structure off the
track to match our ambitions on it, and you will see that we have
Clearly "crowd restrictions and Covid-19 compliance" will remain
made what I believe to be an outstanding acquisition for 2021. The
in place until at least the end of June, and in reality probably for the
full details are an EXCLUSIVE, later in this Edition. It is as important,
whole of the 2021 season, so from MONDAY, March 1, we will be
if not more so, than any rider signing and I can't wait to get started
putting ON SALE a new tranche of 5 and 10 match ticket options
off the track as well as on it.
and making match tickets available for ONLINE BOOKING for our
first five fixtures against Newcastle (May 22), Poole (May 29), Kent Bjarne and Jason
(June 6), Edinburgh (June 12) and Leicester (June 27), so keep an Talking of signings, what an impact Plymouth have made within
eye on the cub website and social media for details of ticket days of being approved to join The Championship, the signing of
availability. three-times World Champion and still the guy with the highest
number of GP wins (23) in Jason Crump, still joint track record
A reminder to everyone who purchased 2020 Season + 10 Match
holder at Arlington and also former Eagle Bjarne Pedersen, who
Tickets that you will have GUARANTEED access to matches in 2021
himself was a GP winner and who competed in 71 Grand Prix.
and we will explain fully how things will work for 2021 on Monday,
March 1. We will welcome them to Arlington on July 31. We particularly
wanted to have them when we felt crowds would not be as restricted
The will to win as they may be initially and it's a date for all of your diaries. I'm not as
It seems a long time ago now since we started 2019 with so much directly involved at Plymouth as I was on the Speedway side there
optimism and momentum and by and large we delivered and now, focusing more on stadium events. There are some very exciting
exceeded expectations of many on and off the track, in no small plans down there, but it's great to see and feel a similar buzz to what
measure due to your fantastic loyalty and support. we had at the start of 2019 and judging from the number of riders
2 F LY I N G H I G H
4 10 17 37
I've had ringing me from all parts of the globe to inquire about team Career paths
spaces there, it's a message that's spread far and wide.
It also gives a career path to Nathan Ablitt and in time Vinnie Joe
One thing though, that has convinced me that we are absolutely Foord. What is currently of major concern to me, is that clubs like
right here at Eastbourne is our “all-British" strategy, is the sheer Eastbourne don't develop and nurture riders who can be then
amount and complexity of work permit, visa and other paperwork whisked away by clubs who don't give a jot about development, as
required for overseas riders in the Covid and post Brexit era. part of a proposed draft scheme.
I'm doing my best to avoid it at Plymouth, no matter how hard Mark These issues though are concerns that we can and will raise and I
(Phillips) tries to delegate it. It’s not an issue we have to deal with am confident that they will be noted and listened to as the overall
and worry about in 2021 at Eastbourne and whilst you'd be unwise aims of the scheme are very laudable and positive.
to say "never", I think the way to go is definitely "all British" and a
philosophy of developing young and progressive British talent. As with anything, however, communication is key, if you try to work
out all of the questions that any communication you issue may
National Development League result in, and explain them in the communication before they are
As part of this strategy we have continued in our application to asked, it does help and avoids a lot of confusion.
field a National Development League (NDL) team in 2021,
provided that we have sufficient space and time in the calendar. I think in the case of Rising Stars, more needs to be explained about
the qualifying criteria, who has assessed the riders in terms of their
The league format is being developed, it looks like seven-man Star Rating, and fundamentally, a better definition between an
teams and a 35 point limit. Under 24 / 21 or whatever genuine Rising Star" and those riders
That is quite restrictive and definitely not as strong a league as it who have been around longer and who are fundamental to the
was in 2018, but I am sure that we could put together a strong and third tier, but who by no definition are in the same bracket as a Tom
competitive and very entertaining team. Brennan, Drew Kemp, Jason Edwards, Jordan Palin, Leon Flint etc.
Draft team permutations include some outstanding young It’s not fair on some great entertainers and stalwarts on the NDL to
prospects who will become top class riders I'm sure, an out and not make that definition and hopefully the clarity and explanations
out number 1 who is Championship Class and not currently in a CL will emerge. It is though, I think in terms of concept and
Team and also some guys who I am 100% are, and will ,always be opportunity, a credit to its creators and a quantum leap forward.
very popular at Arlington.
This together with our MSDL Team will give us a proper ladder of Ian Jordan
progression. With pre and post-match pits access being sadly DIRECTOR
prohibited by Covid-19 restrictions for the foreseeable future, we *The Management of Eastbourne HG Aerospace Eagles and
will also seek to introduce a "short old fashioned second half" to The Eastbourne Seagulls powered by The Save Thurrock
incorporate NDL and MSDL level junior races for those that wish to Hammers Campaign.
stay and watch the Stars of The Future, so there will be 3-4 added
races, starting quickly after the main event to look forwards to.
Rising Stars
Finally, another big topic of conversation has been the
announcement of "The Rising Star" Scheme.
A number of people have asked questions about it and how it
works and a lot of people have seemingly made their mind up that
it's either far too complicated and/or utterly confusing.
From my/our perspective at Eastbourne it certainly has some merit
but equally there are a lot of questions still to be answered. It's
definitely helped Tom to secure a fantastic opportunity at Belle Vue
which is richly deserved and a great move for all concerned.
Tom knows that we will always put his interests first and always
CLICK TO JOIN OUR
back him. He also knows that for as long as he wants a place at MAILING LIST
Eastbourne he has one, and that it's as much about us matching his
ambitions as him matching ours. Equally, it allowed us to nominate Contributors: Ken Burnett, Chris Geer, Tiffani Graveling, Keith and Yvonne
Jason as our Rising Star No 7 for 2021 and that removed any doubt Hall, Mike Hinves, Lauren Hinves, Phil Lanning, Taylor Lanning, John Ling,
that we may have had to split our 2020 1-7 up. Kevin Ling, Pete Lulham, Mark Sexton, Jeff Scott, Alan South, Kate
That would frankly have happened over my dead body; and I'm Patterson, Paul Watson, Ian Smalley.
relieved and mightily pleased that sanity has prevailed. Design by Barry Cross Artwork
Tom, Jason and indeed Drew now have a clear career path and IF Thanks to John Somerville - www.skidmarks1928.com
we wish to retain them, there are ways we can do that, as long as
that is their wish too. All content Copyright of Eastbourne Speedway Ltd 2021
F LY I N G H I G H 3
Flying High Feature
Lee Kilby
'delighted'
to be joining
the Eagles
Les Aubrety
I know more about
Speedway than anything
else on the planet!
...I am proud to be working
for a club with such great
history and one that is
forward thinking.
Les Aubrey
Lee Kilby celebrates Swindon Robins becoming Premiership champions in 2019 with his son Max, skipper
Jason Doyle and the rest of the Robins team. Lee will be hoping for similar successes with the HG Aerospace
Eagles in 2021.
4 F LY I N G H I G H
LEE KILBY IS JOINING the Eastbourne Lee was also excited to start work Robins’ fans: “Swindon is my club and
HG Aerospace Eagles management with Eastbourne’s all-British team who, that is where my heart is. I want them
team on a season-long loan from he said, connected well with to come back in 2022, of course I do,
Swindon. supporters. but for this year I am going to be 100
He will take responsibility for “You sense that from the moment per cent Eastbourne.
commercial and community activities you step into Arlington and from a “I am looking to bring some new
as well as having oversight of match commercial and promoting initiatives to the club and doing
day arrangements. perspective that’s all you can ask for. everything I can to help the progress
Eastbourne Speedway director Ian “It builds so many bridges. Once you and have a good year.”
Jordan said Lee would be a great can hook a kid and it’s someone they Ian Jordan commented: “I think it's
addition to the team during the year can look up to, the kid is hooked. You always important to clarify as clearly as
Swindon cannot run while their retain that youngster and he or she possible any questions before they are
stadium is rebuilt. brings mum and dad with them,” Lee asked in any communication and,
Lee is the son of Bob Kilby who was a said. therefore, it's very important for us to
legend for the Swindon Robins and “Eastbourne already have a base and tell everyone not only how delighted
scored more than 4,000 points for the there are great opportunities to bring we are by this appointment, but to
Wiltshire club. people into the club. It’s the best night stress that we sincerely hope that the
Lee told Flying High that speedway is out and we’ve had great success at Swindon Robins are back on track in
in his blood and was hugely looking Swindon in bringing in new 2022 with Lee and Alun back there at
forward to getting started with businesses. I am excited about a club the helm.
Eastbourne. which has as much history as “This move is massively to the
When it became known Swindon Eastbourne has and it is only going to benefit of the Eastbourne HG
would not run in 2021, Lee said in an progress and become a bigger club,” Aerospace Eagles and is seen purely in
article in the Speedway Star that he Lee said. the context of the 2021 season. I
hoped to find a way of staying involved Lee has an outgoing personality with would liken the scenario to that of a
in the sport this year. a way of working which is all about soccer context with Eastbourne as an
His comments attracted interest from meeting and greeting people and ambitious Championship Speedway
a number of clubs but after speaking to finding out what the fans are thinking. Club acquiring the services of Lee "on
Ian Jordan he realised Eastbourne was He said: “The key to the commercial loan for a season" as being the
where he wanted to come. success is listening to people.” equivalent of an EFL soccer Club
“I thought this is fantastic, it will work He promised to give his all to the acquiring the services of Pep
for everybody. The main focus initially Eagles in 2021 but wanted to assure Guardiola on loan for a season.
is to help Ian out with the commercial
work and get out and about and
spread the word on the Eagles. There
are loads of opportunities at
Eastbourne. There are so many
initiatives in place. It’s like having loads
of coaches ready to go but they just
need a driver to take it to the
destination and make it a good thing. I
am super excited about the
opportunity.
“I know more about Speedway than
anything else on the planet and if I
cannot sell Speedway, I can’t sell
anything. I can’t wait to get going. I am
proud to be working for a club with
such great history and one that is
forward thinking.”
Lee became commercial manager of
Swindon at the end of 2016, a position
he still holds. He added to his
involvement with the Robins by
becoming co-promoter at the start of
2019 when Colin Pratt left the role for
Peterborough.
He joined Birmingham as full-time
commercial manager in 2018 and
continued in the role during 2019 on a
part-time consultancy basis.
During this time he has also helped
individual riders including Bradley
Wilson-Dean, who was such a
stand-out star in the Eagles first year in
the National League in 2015, and Zach
Wajtknecht.
Lee at the Celebration of Speedway event at Paradise Wildlife Park in February 2020.
F LY I N G H I G H 5
“Lee brings Premier league Speedway “In business, which is my background,
winning skills and expertise on and off the you very quickly learn that you cannot
track and we can all learn so much from ever have enough top quality people.
him; and it can only be to the benefit of “I passionately believe in our team on
everyone at Arlington. the track, and whilst we have some
“The role that Lee had at Blunsdon outstanding talent off the track, this was
dovetails perfectly for us as in Trevor Geer simply too good an opportunity to miss.
we have an outstanding servant of the “In a number of long conversations with
Eagles as team manager and co-promoter Lee, the synergy between our hopes and
in very much the role Alun Rossiter has at aspirations at Eastbourne to be the very
Swindon, and Lee's skills very much cover best we can be, and Lee's proven track
the business side of the operation and record and keenness to work in the
allow us to bring in a consummate highly environment of gradual progression and
skilled professional, to help us, guide us pushing the boundaries that we see as
and offer a valuable mentor service to part of our evolution, just fit so perfectly.
everyone at Eastbourne; who may be “Lee will have a completely free role,
keen to learn from Lee's skills and Lee gets an early taste of speedway action working in tandem with the outstanding
experience. on the terraces with his late father Bob Kilby. Ian Smalley, our Creative Media and PR
Bob Kilby’s great day at Arlington
FOR MOST OF Bob Kilby’s illustrious career, Swindon and Hackney won the meeting: Hackney 32, Oxford 27,
Eastbourne were in different divisions. As a result, he only Eastbourne 17, ex-Eagles 16. Oxford's ambition was
rode at Arlington a handful of times. hampered somewhat when a certain Gordon Kennett crashed
Records appear to show that his first visit was in the June in his first heat and took no further part in the meeting.
1974, riding for the Oxford Rebels in a four team tournament Bob’s first official fixtures against Eastbourne were at the
against Eastbourne, Hackney and a team comprising end of his career in 1979. The first of which was at the Abbey
ex-Eastbourne riders. and saw Swindon victorious by 48-30 on June 23 when he
Bob scored seven points from four rides including one win. scored an untroubled 12- point maximum.
Interestingly and with a link to Lee’s upcoming relationship One week later, the Robins visited Arlington and again
with the Eagles, Trevor Geer racing for Eastbourne beat Bob in prevailed victorious by 47-31 with Bob scoring nine points
one heat as Trevor too scored seven points. from four rides.
Mike Kilby - The John Somerville Collection
This Mike Kilby photograph, part of the John Somerville Collection, is from the Robins v Eagles KO Cup meeting from at the Abbey stadium in May 1980. Mike was
Bob's brother and Swindon track photographer for many years. It shows heat two which ended: Bob Kilby,. Kai Niemi, Eric Dugard, Malcolm Holloway (ef). Swindon
won 62-46 on the night and 117.5 - 98.5 on aggregate in an 18- heat format. Bob scored 10 points from five rides at the Abbey stadium and a superb 15 points from
six rides at Arlington as he showed his liking for the tight, technical track. The big story of the tie though was the performance of Gordon Kennett and Kai Niemi at
Swindon. Gordon scored a faultless 21 point maximum for the Eagles and Kai backed him up with 19 points. Amazing.! Gordon and Kai scored all but six of
Eastbourne's point - an unreal performance.
6 F LY I N G H I G H
Director, and our excellent Press and
Media Team, to take our off-track
business on to a whole new level.
“During this period we hope to build
and grow our commercial function and
for Lee to work with Ken Burnett on the
outstanding work started by David
Rollison in 2019 on the community side,
where we have some exciting plans in the
post Covid future.
“When I took over the running of the
Speedway side of the operation in 2019
and was subsequently joined by Les
Fineing as Director, we set upon a
five-year plan to firstly stabilise the Club,
secondly to grow and improve it on and
off the track and thirdly to turn it in to a
successful business; capable of winning
silverware on the track and being
profitable and successful and seen as
visionary off the track, in that regard Lee
will be a very important part of the jigsaw.
“We can never forget that everything
we do is in recognition of the great Lee in his role as Commercial manager at Swindon visits Southfields Primary school in 2018 to explain everything
traditions of the Club; it drives my about Speedway to over 200 children.
thinking and passion for the Club, built by
Charlie and Bob Dugard over many how completely focused we are; in our
decades and still fantastically supported custodian role of that proud tradition; to
by The Dugard family. secure and build it for future generations.
“The fact that we now have on board a “I know I can't wait to start working with
growing number of top quality people Lee and learning from him; and I couldn't
only serves to show how great their be more excited about the season ahead,
immense contribution was in the past and both on and off the track.”
Mike Hinves
Lee with one of his speedway heroes Phil Crump in 1984.
One of the talking points of the 2021 season is the return
to track of Phil’s son, three-time world champion Jason
Crump after retiring in 2012. Jason has signed for
Lee is excited to be working with Eastbourne’s all-British team with youngsters including Tom Brennan. Lee is more Championship club Plymouth and his appearance for the
than familiar with Tom’s talent as he made a guest appearance for the Robins in 2018. Gladiators at Arlington will be eagerly anticipated.
F LY I N G H I G H 7THANKS TO THE HG AEROSPACE EAGLES
RACE SUIT SPONSORS 2021
EDWARD KENNETT LEWI KERR RICHARD LAWSON
SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY
TRIANGLE KEVIN & DEAN SOUTH EAST
FIRE SYSTEMS TOOKEY METAL SERVICES LTD
KYLE NEWMAN TOM BRENNAN DREW KEMP JASON EDWARDS
SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY
WAYNE JC THE PARRY M SHUTTLEWOOD
CLARKE REFRIGERATION FAMILY LTD
Mobile Disco
Eastbourne / Sussex
www.elitediscos.net
8 F LY I N G H I G HSAY YOU’RE MY NUMBER ONE!
A THE No 1 SPOT in the team is much
coveted and goes (these days) to
B
the rider with the highest average.
Here’s a poser for you.
Here are some photographs of
some Eastbourne favourites in the
No 1 racejacket.
Do you know who they are?
And, do you know who is the
odd one out?
It’s just for fun.
The answers are on Page 45
C D E
F G H
Pictures by Mike Hinves, Tiffani Graveling, Mike Patrick, Eddie Garvey, The John Somerville Collection
I J K
F LY I N G H I G H 9Flying High Feature
Lewi looks forward
to his ‘miracle’
season
Taylor Lanning
King’s Lynn is very much home LEWI KERR GRADUALLY opens his eyes. From pitch black
darkness, he gradually manages to focus on a blurry object in
from home for Lewi Kerr but he front of him.
soon found a happy ‘second home’ It’s his wife Jessie. They both burst into floods of tears.
After a terrifying handful of days, it’s the first sign that Kerr
when he joined the Eagles for the was going to live after being put in an induced coma having
2019 Championship campaign. sustained a bleed on the brain following a horror crash in the
Fours at Peterborough on August 2, 2015.
He’s on the cusp of a testimonial as Fast forward a shade under three years and it’s disaster deja
vu. Kerr ploughs into the fence at King’s Lynn with a resulting
Phil Lanning discovered in this broken leg and foot.
exclusive story. Yet here we are just over two years later and Kerr’s
10 F LY I N G H I G Hinfectious Stonehenge smile and laugh is “He was just preparing her for the Addenbrooke’s [hospital in Cambridge]
back as he approaches a testimonial year worst, give her the harsh reality that this for ten days and for the last couple of days
which he refers to as a “miracle”. could be a really horrible situation. I was kicking off because I wanted to go
Kerr, 30, looks like a hybrid of David “I vividly remember Jessie saying that home.
Beckham and Bruce Willis. Not much hair, I’d had a crash. When I came round and “I felt completely fine in hospital, other
fit as a butcher’s dog with an a la Becks out of the coma for the first time she burst than a bit slow and I couldn’t read
accent and body art. Not so much Die into tears and I was very emotional too. properly, I felt 100 per cent and was so
Hard, but refuse to die. “The trouble was I was in happy to get out.
As we sit in his house, I ask to see his “But that was the worst thing ever in the
battle scars from speedway. He reveals: end. When I got home I just felt
“That’s the stupid thing, I don’t have any completely lost. Where we were living at
scars from speedway whatsoever. I have a the time we had to move out because I
mark on my knee from a motocross crash, couldn’t remember living there and we’d
that’s all. been there previously for three years.
“I’ve obviously had two biggies in “That’s when the crash hit me really,
speedway and almost died, but not a that’s when it dawned on me just the
thing to show for it. The lucky thing is that extent of what I had been through.
I don’t remember much about the head “In the hospital I then had to have a lot
injury. of physiotherapy. They sent me down to
“I know a little bit more now. Some bits the gents hairdressers and asked how
are coming back to me from the morning much a haircut was. But for me to
of the meeting when I turned up at physically go in and do that was nearly
Peterborough. I actually remember impossible.
parking next to my mechanic big Stevo “I can’t tell you why, whether I
(Steve Norman). But that’s it. couldn’t speak properly or just for
“Usually though from a brain injury my brain to work out any social
you do get some side effects and I skills. I couldn’t walk properly
don’t have a single thing wrong yet I hadn’t broken a single
with me from the after-effects of bone.
the crash. “My brain wasn’t telling
“To be honest, if I could my body what to do so I
remember anything from the was having to learn the
crash it’s debatable whether simple things again like I
I’d still be racing. It sounded was a kid, it was so
hell for Jessie and my family. bizarre.
“I’m not sure exactly the “I was sent into
first time I came round. I another shop in the
was still in the coma so I hospital and told to
don’t have any read the headline on
recollection of actually The Sun and it took
doing this consciously, if me ages just to
that makes sense. But complete a simple
Jessie was pregnant with task like that. Not
our first baby Cooper at many people know
the time and I remember what I’ve been
touching her belly. through and how far
“Because they asked I’ve come.”
me what is his name and I Kerr is then the
actually said Cooper. Jessie miracle man returning to
always says she knew I was the sport with two solid
normal from that moment. seasons before joining
Mainly because nobody knew King’s Lynn and Glasgow
what we were going to call him and raking in massive points
at the time. before another heartbreaking
“At that stage the docs were just crash at the Adrian Flux Arena.
looking for signs of life and that there The x-rays revealed a broken
was no brain damage because I was left tibia, spiral fracture and broke
still in the coma. They kept trying to four metatarsals in his right foot -
bring me round and to see if I could and 16 weeks in a wheelchair to
breathe on my own. come.
“Jessie’s dad had been quite high He adds: “This time I was on the
up in the Met Police so he’d seen lots track screaming at King’s Lynn. I
of similar situations. When he saw me remember everything about this
at the hospital he pulled her aside crash, hitting the airfence legs
and said he wasn’t going to feed her
Mike Hinves
first. At the time I was swearing
bulls***. He told her that people in my head saying ‘not again,
don’t come out of here normal. give me a break’.
F LY I N G H I G H 11“I’ve never had pain like that before. It
happened so fast, I jumped off the bike I’m really lucky that I race for two
because I knew I was going into the
fence. “I was absolutely devastated. My brilliant clubs that I love. I’ve been
best season so far and for that to happen,
I knew instantly both of my legs were confirmed in Eastbourne’s team for this season but
gone and that’s my season over.
“I’ll be honest there were some dark obviously with so much change at King’s Lynn
days because it was sickening to lie there
helpless on my sofa at home having put in I’ve got to wait a bit longer for any team news.
all the effort for the season and how well
it was going to see it end like that again. Kerr laughs when it seems incredible Kerr was one of the lucky ones to get
“It was the second time I’d had a big that he has survived to celebrate 10 years four meetings in the UK’s constricted
crash and both of them hadn’t been my on track at King’s Lynn in 2021. 2020 campaign but was certainly
fault. I was gutted. It was tough when I He said: “I think it probably is a miracle. impressive when he was on track.
got home because we had the heatwave, We’ve certainly had a few scary moments He added: “Strangely enough I had
Jessie was pregnant and Cooper is a along the way but it’s a special thing to a really good 2020 with the four
toddler and you need to watch him 24/7. achieve. meetings I did. I really enjoyed the
“Of course I need to do one meeting in Belle Vue track and put in some of my
2021 for King’s Lynn for me to gain a best performances.
testimonial I believe. I would imagine that “I went into all the meetings with no
we’ll probably for March 2022 for an pressure, just to earn some money and
actual testimonial meeting. enjoy myself. In the end I beat some
“I’m really lucky that I race for two decent guys and had good speed.
brilliant clubs that I love. I’ve been “Now I want to take that sort of
confirmed in Eastbourne’s team for this form into 2021. I remain very positive
season but obviously with so much about the season ahead. I know
change at King’s Lynn, I’ve got to wait a things are tough now but I’m hopeful
beat me in the run off. Fair play he got
bit longer for any team news. that we can get on track in May and
there.
“I’m gutted that Robert Lambert and beyond.
“It didn’t happen.”
Erik Riss won’t be returning. But I “I continue to work for one of my
“I just couldn’t do anything but lie on completely understand why they have sponsors doing decking and all sorts. I
the sofa. It was probably harder to Jessie made those decisions. They are brilliant will continue that job even when
looking after me and herself as I was to race with in a team so obviously it’s speedway returns.
trying to get my head around what had disappointing personally. “My bikes are gleaming and ready
happened.” “There’s no doubt that both of them are to go and I keep my targets that I want
Now admits that he is eager for a new going to be hugely successful in the to have another solid season in both
season to start and is focused on his sport. I hope I get the opportunity to ride leagues and hopefully make my mark
future “miracle” testimonial. with them again.” for Great Britain again.”
IN HIS LAST YEAR as an Under-21, Dean went to Holsted tand
won the qualifying. He and Joe Screen were then sent to Russia
for the next round but the visas didn’t arrive.
After a huge row, a run-off between Dean and Joe was staged
at Coventry to get in the world under-21.
Taylor Lanning
“I think it was all wrong. I won the round before we went to
Russia. We didn’t get to Russia. Screenie had a few years but he
12 F LY I N G H I G HMike Hinves F LY I N G H I G H 13
14 F LY I N G H I G H
TALK ABOUT A TIGHT first corner ...spectacular action from the first
turn at Arlington during an Eastbourne v Ipswich match in the Elite
League. It is certainly a case of no quarter asked and no quarter given.
The visiting rider in yellow certainly has the drop but the other three all
want to same piece of shale.
Thanks to Pete Lulham, we reckon this action is from April 2010 and is
heat one with the riders as follows (from left) Chris Holder (guest),
Scott Nicholls, Simon Gustafsson and Claus Vissing.
THAT MOMENT Nicholls took the chequered flag from Holder with Gustafsson third
with early leader at the back. The match ended 45-45.
Mike Hinves
THERE’S TIGHT, AND THEN THERE’S THIS!
F LY I N G H I G H 1501323 763212
Hailsham Rd, Stone Cross, East Sussex BN24 5BU
16 F LY I N G H I G HBEN MORLEY
You cannot mistake this guy with his cheeky grin who is
always up for a bit of fun.
Ben Morley, formerly of this parish, who in 2021 is down
to ride for Kent in the Championship.
Ben was the first Eastbourne heat winner in The
Championship when he sped from the tapes in heat one
of the Championship Shield match against Birmingham
on April 6, 2019. Ben was shepherded home by skipper
Edward Kennett to give the Eagles a perfect start to the
new era.
We are able to bring you this Then and Now feature
thanks to incident recorder, Pete Lulham.
He has a collection of photographs shot over a number
of years of up-and-coming riders taking their early
speedway rides on the Arlington mini-track.
Mike Hinves was the man with the camera for the
modern-day shots.
F LY I N G H I G H 17Obituaries
Peter Morrish - The John Somerville Collection
FORMER Eagle Dennis Gray died
aged 91 at the end of January.
He was 91 years and living in a rest
home at Swanage, Dorset. Among
the teams Dennis rode for in the
1940s and 50s were Eastbourne
(1946/47), Wimbledon, Oxford and
Rayleigh. After retiring from
speedway, Dennis became a copper
miner in Africa, returned to England
to work for London Transport before
moving to New Zealand.
He eventually moved back to
England and worked at the Wytch
Farm oilfields in Dorset. He lived in
retirement at Swanage.
The Eastbourne Speedway
management send their sincere
condolences to all Dennis' family.
Mike Hinves
RIP Dennis Gray.
Drew and Tom are Rising Stars
Peter Morrish - The John Somerville Collection
BRITISH Speedway has launched a Rising Stars scheme to promote and develop the
nation’s next generation of riders. And there was good news (but not surprising) that
both Tom Brennan and Drew Kemp have Rising Star places with Premiership teams.
Drew, who lives in Suffolk and is an Ipswich asset, will join his local club, the
Witches. Tom has been selected by the legendary Belle Vue Aces.
Congratulations to both.
Lewis is a Star
AT THE beginning of January, Ken LEWIS Bridger has announced his
Middleditch, died. He initially made return to Speedway racing and will
his name when riding for Charlie ride for the King’s Lynn Stars in the
Dugard when the Sussex speedway Premiership.
operation moved to the Pilot Field at And already, the Sussex-based
Hastings in 1948 and 1949. racer is getting help from the captain
When Hastings closed, Ken moved of the Norfolk side, Lewi Kerr, who
to Wimborne Road, Poole. rides for Eastbourne in the
His son Neil rode for the Eagles for Championship.
three seasons (1973-75). Lewis has received a huge financial
Everyone at Eastbourne Speedway boost from his grandfather and has
send condolences to Neil and all bought two bikes from Craig Cook,
Mike Hinves
members of the Middleditch family. the local newsbrand in West Norfolk,
RIP Ken Middleditch. the Lynn News, reported. Lewis spent
much of his career with the Eagles.
18 F LY I N G H I G HBig names
Ian Charles
at Plymouth
PLYMOUTH have been making
waves since they joined the
Championship. First they
signed former Eagle, Bjarne
Pedersen, and if that wasn’t a
big enough shock, the next
name was bigger still - the
Arlington joint track record
holder, Jason Crump.
Jason is pictured chasing HG
Aerospace Eagles’ Drew Kemp
at last season’s British Final at
Belle Vue with Dan Bewley at
the back. The three-time world
champion’s return to Arlington
with the Gladiators in the
coming season is a mouth
watering prospect.
Development League in 2021? Kent clash!
EASTBOURNE Speedway managers are Eagles to the league title and what about IN CASE you missed it, Eastbourne will
thinking about running a team at National the Spiller boys. face Kent in the KO Cup first round. The
Development League level in 2021. Richie Andrews seems to be out of draw was regionalised to prevent
We shall have to wait and see what favour at Plymouth and Charlie Brooks excessive travelling and to set-up some
comes of the idea, which was first floated was a real prospect in 2018 and still local derbies.
in the January edition of this magazine. looked mighty handy when he rode for The full fixture list is out with details
There would surely be no shortage of Mildenhall the following year. on the website. We are due to start with
riders to fill the seven places. Let’s think of There must be some more and the Championship of Sussex, one of the
some from the past who might be possibly an ‘unknown’ who would come oldest individual meetings in the world.
tempted to return. Jake Knight (below) in and really shake things up.
was a huge favourite when he rode at Derby matches against Kent Royals CLICK TO
Arlington, Mark Baseby captained the and the Isle of Wight - what’s not to like? 50/50 winners
LEARN MORE
WINNERS winners in our 50/50 draw
are:
1 C. Robinson £300
2 K. Patterson £125
3 T. Hayward £75.
Congratulations.
The aim is to have at least 100
participants each month. The cost is £10
per month for one number – you can by
as many ‘shares’ as you wish.
Fifty per cent of the total fund each
month, which will be announced before
each draw, will be allocated in prize
money and 50% will go to the Club to
fund a new Air Fence.
The current fence is coming to the end
of its life and the aim is to have a new
fence in place for the 2022 season.
Mike Hinves
So far the 50/50 draw has raised
£1,500 which roughly equate to three
air bags - the progress is shown in the
graphic below.
F LY I N G H I G H 19STAFF CARD
NUMBER 4:
Kate Patterson
We turn the spotlight on
volunteers who play a big part
Tiffani Graveling
behind the scenes in making sure
everything is all right on the night.
Sam Hagon, Tom Brennan, Ben Morley and Kyle Newman with this month’s Staff Card
This month, Kate Patterson. feature subject Kate Patterson, in the background.
What do you do on a Speedway night? We also like to give people a bit of a Pretty much as soon as the track tours are
As a member of the Community Team, review of the Eagles’ season to date and completed, I then need to get ready for
aka The Yellow Hoodie Brigade, I arrive at the form of the visiting teams. my second main duty of the night,
the track at about 5.30pm to be briefed The people who come on our tours are welcoming the Eaglet Mascots.
by Ian Jordan on my duties for the very interested and enjoy asking I meet the children and their families at the
evening. questions which we do our best to pre-arranged assembly point by the pit
My main job is to conduct stadium tours answer. gate. We go over what will happen when
for invited local community groups, such By the end of the 30-minute tour, we feel they join the home riders for the parade
as the Scouts, football teams and other we’ve given our guests enough and give out the Eagles’ vests that they
youth groups. information to whet their appetites for the wear.
The stadium tours start at about 6pm with ensuing meeting. This is fun, as for the most part the children
a group welcome and safety briefing We end our tours by giving out badges to are buzzing with excitement and can’t
outside the track before moving inside the children and inviting them to sign up wait to find out which rider they are
the stadium. for our Eaglets Club. matched with.
We then visit the pits area to watch the Occasionally, we have a few who are a
riders and their mechanics getting ready little overcome with nervous butterflies
for the meeting. but we soon put them at ease when we
Next, we embark on a walk of the stock introduce them to their riders who are
car track stopping to hear our resident always so friendly and gracious of their
bike expert, David Rollison, give the time.
low-down on the uniqueness of Soon after, we hear ‘Sussex by the Sea’,
speedway bikes. the traditional music for the start of the
Then, it’s over to either me, Josh or Paul to parade strike up, and we’re off onto the
give the group some interesting track and lining up with the riders and
anecdotes as well as a nostalgic insight their bikes.
into the history of this wonderful sport. The mascots all enjoy hearing Kevin
We then continue our lap of the track, Coombes announce their names to the
pointing out the importance of the air crowd and very quickly all that is left to do
fences, where the referees sit, how the is to stand back on the centre green and
gates work and the significance of the watch the riders take a lap of the track
flags and lights systems. before the start of the meeting.
Many people who come on our tours It is then that I need to check that everyone
have never seen speedway before, so it’s is returned safely back to the outside of
good to let them know what to expect the track, ready to watch the first heat.
from a meeting. After that I’m free to go and watch the
Quite often though we get people, meeting with my own family,
especially parents and grandparents, remembering that I need to meet up again
telling us that they used come to with the Mascots and their families at the
speedway years ago and it’s really great end of heat 13 to escort them onto the
to hear them reminisce, share stories and centre green to watch heat 14 and
name favourite riders from the past. Kate Patterson sometimes heat 15.
20 F LY I N G H I G HFor me, standing on the centre green is We made the hour and a quarter journey
definitely one of the highlights of the down to the track and it soon became
night. In the middle you get a completely obvious that we’d be back for more. My
different view of the racing. At first, I used parents loved the nostalgia of it and my
to get quite dizzy trying to keep up with kids just loved it full-stop.
the bikes circling around the track, but I’m We went to every match thereafter that
happy to say that I’ve now got more than season and haven’t missed one since.
used to it.
What was speedway’s attraction?
A special memory from the 2019 season
was watching Richard Lawson and Lewis The sound of bikes revving in the pits and
Kerr clinch the match in the thrilling final at the gates, the rhythmic sounds of the
heat when riding against Sheffield. engines as they tackle the straights and
the turns.
After the meeting is over, my final job of
the night is to accompany the Mascots, The smell of methanol, the klaxons, the
their families and our community groups shale flying up, racing under floodlights.
back onto the centre green one last time The bravery and commitment of the
for photographs with our riders and to sit riders racing flat-out for their teams, the
on a bike. In the summer we also helped the riders to team riding, the changing places, the last
collect donations for the Speedway Riders’ split-second steals, the celebratory laps.
Win or lose, our riders are always very
generous with their time, signing Benevolent Fund. That September our The fact that it’s fierce, furious and fast –
autographs and chatting with the team lead, David Rollison, organised the and live.
youngsters way after the meetings have spectacular Sykes Harley Davidson Who is your favourite Eagle?
finished. pre-match parade.
They are all brilliant, it’s so hard to
This is a great way to end the evening as When did you start watching speedway choose. From my first season of
you hear first-hand just how much people and where? supporting the Eagles in 2015, I’d say
have enjoyed the night. You see young My parents started taking me to see the Marc Owen. He had a very smooth, neat
and old going home happy after a great Wimbledon Dons at the Plough Lane style and made a great Team Captain,
night’s entertainment, with many vowing stadium in the 1970s when I was four years always looking out for everyone. From
to come back. old. We used to go every Thursday night. the 2019 campaign, I will say Lewi Kerr
It’s great fun volunteering as part of the I was a bit scared of the noise but I also because of his consistency and
Community Team and I can’t wait for the absolutely loved the thrill of it. We usually commitment, a rider who doesn’t falter
2021 season to start. We are always sat on the terraces at turn three but when under intense pressure. But like I
looking for new members, so if you think sometimes we were lucky enough to say, all the Eagles are great.
you might like to join our Yellow Hoodie watch in style from the grandstand. This
Brigade, do let us know as we are a was because my Auntie Glad worked in the
friendly bunch. finance department at the stadium.
How did you become involved? Sometimes, she would be able to get us
I became involved after responding to a free tickets and she would throw them out
request made by Ian Jordan. He was of her office window just above the
asking for volunteers to join a new turnstiles and we’d have to try to catch
initiative called the Community Team. them!
I put my name forward and after a quick With the meetings running to a second
chat on the phone with Ian, I soon found half, I was always amazed at how I got
myself meeting my new team mates, away with staying up so late on a school
David, Josh and Paul at the beginning of night.
the 2019 season. Straight away, we all got Living in Worcester Park, we were rarely
on like a house on fire and were soon home before 10.30pm. But I guess it was
working out our strategy for running the down to my parents’ enthusiasm for the
guided tours. We played to our strengths, sport.
with me taking on the resident historian My mum knitted me a red and yellow outfit
of speedway and mascot co-chaperone. to wear, complete with bobble hat and
How long have you been involved? scarf. I remember we use to stop for chips
I’ve been involved with the Community on the way home which were wrapped in
Team since its creation in 2019. In our first newspaper – imagine that now!
season, we welcomed some pretty big After a 30-year break from following
groups - one night we had 120 people. speedway, I started going again in 2015
When numbers are this high we split into when we were looking for something do
smaller groups, staggering the tours. The one sunny, Sunday afternoon.
2019 season saw the Community Team My Dad suggested we take the kids to
involved in distributing Easter eggs to Arlington to experience the thrill of
children at our opening meeting and then watching four riders on four bikes doing
helping to run the Eaglet Disco for our four laps at break-neck speed with no
youngest supporters. brakes! Kate with her favourite Eagle of 2019, Lewi Kerr
F LY I N G H I G H 21SUBSCRIBE, SAVE
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www.speedwaystar.netVIEWPOINT by Alan South
Let’s aim for one big league
THE OLD CHESTNUT of ‘one big league’ has again raised its
head this winter. The Premiership dropping to just six teams has
given the idea new impetus.
Six teams in the top league with Play Offs for the top four is a
strange concept and looking at team strengths, you have to say
the gap between the Championship and Premiership is wafer
thin.
The top flight has been badly hit by the change of rules in
Poland, which places restrictions on team members ability to
ride in multiple leagues.
Add to that the on-going effect of the pandemic, and you have
a cupboard that is pretty bare for top-flight UK Speedway.
All those clubs can do is make the most of what they have got
and get on with it.
Fair play to the six-shooters of the Premiership for doing what
they can but anyone can see that 12 clubs in the Championship
looks much more healthy.
But here’s the rub: there’s an awful lot of doubling up/down –
call it what you will – and most teams in the Championship have
riders who turn out in the Premiership.
There are simply not enough riders to go around.
That’s been the case for some years, although people across
the whole spectrum of the sport have been reluctant to openly
discuss the issue and find solutions.
Mike Hinves
From a rider’s point of view, only a handful of matches in the
top flight makes it hardly worthwhile to invest in all the
equipment needed. Doubling up/down probably doubles the
Edward Kennett
opportunities to ride and earn money.
One big league of 18 clubs (20 when Swindon and Somerset
come back) would provide a full calendar of racing for fans and
riders, so that surely has to be the aim.
We have to accept we cannot get to one big league overnight
but clubs need to stoke up the training schools, leagues such as
the MSDL and run second teams, where they can, to bring on a
host of new riders.
An influx of new riders, pushing for places, means Britain will
find new stars.
The other aim should be to cut costs: every effort to reduce a
rider’s expenditure on bikes seems to fall flat.
There are vested interests out there and they need to be
tackled head-on.
Speedway should look at other forms of motor sport.
It costs a fortune to run in F1 but the costs are much, much
lower when you get down to the pecking order.
And, if you have seen the racing, there is usually far more
excitement and overtaking in one race in the ‘lesser’ classes than
you see in half-a-season of F1 GPs.
The Speedway GP is our sport’s F1 – bikes in domestic UK
speedway don’t have to be the same.
It’s time for those at the top table of British Speedway to be
bold.
*Alan South has a home in West Sussex but works all over
the country, taking in Speedway meetings as and when he
can.
Mike Hinves
*The opinions in this article are the writer’s own and should not be
interpreted as representing the position of Eastbourne Speedway,
Tom Brennan its directors or promoter.
F LY I N G H I G H 23SECRETS
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needed to thecomplete
bike. the bike.
It looks so simple
It looksbutsoit simple
messesbut withit messes
your head. with your head.
Companies such
Companies
as Joe Hughes
such asand Joe Hughes
Alan Bellham
and Alanwill Bellham
build a bike
willto
build
youra spec
bike to
or your
to their
spec or to their
Last week, it Last
could week,
haveitbeen
couldlovely
haveandbeen warm
lovely and warm
established one,
established
if you don’t
one,have
if youyour
don’town.
have your own.
and you had and a 195 you and
hadit was
a 195 working
and it was working
Godden, back Godden,
in the 1980s,
back inwere
the 1980s,
selling were
complete
sellingbikes
complete
and theybikes
were and
cheap
they compared
were cheap tocompared to perfectly. Theperfectly.
next week The it next
couldweek be cold,
it could be cold,
nowadays. Jawa
nowadays.
did the Jawa
same.did Since
the the
same.laydowns
Since the came
laydowns
in and came
beyond in and
about
beyond
2005,about
everything
2005, everything damp and miserable
damp and andmiserable
that 195and makesthatthe195 makes the
completely changed.
completely changed. bikes run badly.
bikes It wants
run badly.
more. It wants more.
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