This weekend sees the inaugural Dirt Track Show taking place at the Norfolk Arena in King's Lynn - with plenty of interest for Kent Speedway fans.
Confirmed as taking part in the Solo Speedway part of the gala event which launches the 2020 season with be Kent TouchTec Kings; rider Rob Ledwith - alongside team mate from the NL team riding out of Central Park this coming season, the Kent Iwade Garage Royals: Alex Spooner.
Flying the flag for the Royals in the 500cc class of the Young Lions Speedway part of the Show will be reigning 250cc GB champion, Sam Hagon; whilst another Royals' youngster, Jake Mulford is on his Grasstrack machine in the 250cc class showcasing Speedway's sister sport. With regular Central Park interval riding mascot Jamie Etherington also now added to the list of juniors riding in the Young Lions event.
They'll even be Kent representation in the 'box', with long time announcer Derek Barclay doing the commentary on the day and his colleague in Kent's presentation team Glenn Collins out with the roving mic in the pits! And they'll be plenty of stars for Glenn to ask questions of, with other riders in the field including King's Lynn's Dane, Thomas Jorgensen,; former Kings’ man and twice National League Riders Champion, Ben Morley; and the ever-popular Jon Armstrong all in the Speedway event.
Another former King’ rider James Shanes is in the 500cc Grasstrack class (James is of course a European Champion on the Grass and riders in the World Longtrack GP series) plus GB Speedway international Edward Kennett. They’ll be interest too in how Aussie Aaron Jackson gets on in the Speedway class – Aaron rode in last year’s Iwade Summer Championship for Crayford Kestrels.
As well as the Speedway and solo Grasstrack, they’ll be Sidecar Speedway at both 1000cc and 500cc – with the legendary Kentish family, the Penfolds represented. And then there’s other sister sports, Flatrack and Quad Speedway.
The action on Saturday is for a mouthwatering 12 hours: from 10am to 10pm with the event reprising with more action and family entertainment on the Sunday - full details to be found at https://motorshowevents.com/dirt-track-show
The Show is the brainchild of very good friend of Kent Speedway, Karl Rushen who sees this as a way of introducing these sports to a bigger audience, “Every five minutes there is something happening on the track! And there’s also the Two Bros Stunt Team; four-wheeled action from the British Drift Car Championship; and the Red Dragon Monster Truck giving passenger rides!”
“It’s not just about the racing – it’s about the whole experience of the great dirt track events we all enjoy and are now showcasing for a bigger audience. We know Speedway is a massive family. We just have to tell everyone else that and make the family even bigger!”
They’ll also be a tribute to the late Danny Ayres during the event. On Saturday Danny’s former Kent Kings’ team mates Luke Bowen and Jack Thomas will lead (alongside other riders and fans) a group cycling the 40 miles from Mildenhall Stadium to the Show in a sponsored event to raise money for Danny’s dependants – ending with what will be an emotional lap around the track where Danny won his greatest honour, the NL Pairs when a Kings’ rider.
Karl explains also, “I knew Danny a good few years and the guy was a legend. We will have all 140 riders in the event wearing the famous Danny Ayres pink gloves all weekend. Danny’s family will be in attendance and both of his bikes will be on display for people to pay their tributes”.