Lakeside Hammers
Encyclopedia
The Lakeside Hammers are a speedway
team who race in the British Elite League
. They were founded (as the Arena-Essex Hammers) by promoter Wally Mawdsley and stock car promoter Chick Woodroffe. The team were nicknamed the Hammers after the West Ham Hammers
, a speedway team that closed twelve years earlier.
was built in 1978 to stage banger racing.
The speedway
track was unusual because it did not have a safety fence as the stock car circuit acted as a run-off area. It was not until 1991 that a safety fence was installed, but the lack of fence encouraged the riders to ride wider lines than they would otherwise have done.
The Hammers competed in the National League
(the second league tier) from 1984 until 1990. In 1991 Arena Essex won the British League Division Two
Championship and were promoted to the British League
. They remained in the top flight until the end of the 1995 season, when a promotion change meant the Hammers had to drop to the Conference League
for 1996. From 1997 to 2003, Arena Essex competed in the Premier League
, before moving up into the Elite League
, the top league of British speedway.
The team manager is Jon Cook (previously of the Eastbourne Eagles
). The Promoter Stuart Douglas, known affectionately to Hammers fans as 'Stan', took control of the club in 2006.
In 2008, the club had one of its most successful years to date. The Hammers finished joint top of the Elite League table, but due to race points, were in second place. The Hammers lost three of their top four riders with serious injuries towards the end of the season, but still reached the Craven Shield
and Elite League play-off
finals.
In 2009, the club won their first piece of silverware since 1991. They defeated the Coventry Bees
108-77 on aggregate in the KO Cup Final.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team who race in the British Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
. They were founded (as the Arena-Essex Hammers) by promoter Wally Mawdsley and stock car promoter Chick Woodroffe. The team were nicknamed the Hammers after the West Ham Hammers
West Ham Hammers
The West Ham Hammers were a speedway team, first promoted by Jimmy Baxter in 1929.. They operated from the West Ham Stadium until the outbreak of World War II under several different promotions, most successfully under the control of Johnnie Hoskins....
, a speedway team that closed twelve years earlier.
Brief history
From foundation in 1984 until January 2007, the club was known as the Arena-Essex Hammers but new promotor Stuart Douglas renamed them the 'Lakeside' Hammers at the Arena-Essex Raceway. The Arena Essex RacewayArena Essex Raceway
Arena Essex Raceway is a stock car and speedway racing track located near Purfleet, Essex. The Lakeside Shopping Centre was built alongside the venue.-The stadium:...
was built in 1978 to stage banger racing.
The speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
track was unusual because it did not have a safety fence as the stock car circuit acted as a run-off area. It was not until 1991 that a safety fence was installed, but the lack of fence encouraged the riders to ride wider lines than they would otherwise have done.
The Hammers competed in the National League
Speedway National League
The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...
(the second league tier) from 1984 until 1990. In 1991 Arena Essex won the British League Division Two
Speedway British League Division Two
The British League Division Two was created in 1968 and was the second tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom up until 1975, and then from 1991 to 1995. After the formation of the British League in 1965, riders wanting to break into teams found it more difficult to do so...
Championship and were promoted to the British League
Speedway British League
The British League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1995 when it became known as the Premier League. Prior to 1965 the division had been known as the National League....
. They remained in the top flight until the end of the 1995 season, when a promotion change meant the Hammers had to drop to the Conference League
Speedway Conference League
The Conference League was the third and lowest division of motorcycle speedway racing in the United Kingdom governed by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The other leagues being the Elite League and Premier League. The League consisted of...
for 1996. From 1997 to 2003, Arena Essex competed in the Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
, before moving up into the Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
, the top league of British speedway.
The team manager is Jon Cook (previously of the Eastbourne Eagles
Eastbourne Eagles
The Eastbourne Eagles are a British speedway team based near Eastbourne, England who compete in the British Elite League. They became Elite League Champions in 2000. They were also Elite League Knockout Cup winners in 2002 and again in 2008. Speedway was initially introduced to Eastbourne in...
). The Promoter Stuart Douglas, known affectionately to Hammers fans as 'Stan', took control of the club in 2006.
In 2008, the club had one of its most successful years to date. The Hammers finished joint top of the Elite League table, but due to race points, were in second place. The Hammers lost three of their top four riders with serious injuries towards the end of the season, but still reached the Craven Shield
Craven Shield
The Craven Shield is a Speedway cup competition in the United Kingdom governed by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association...
and Elite League play-off
2008 Speedway Elite League
The 2008 Elite League is the 12th since its establishment in 1997. The first fixtures of the season took place on 29 March and the season ended on 27 October...
finals.
In 2009, the club won their first piece of silverware since 1991. They defeated the Coventry Bees
Coventry Bees
The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane...
108-77 on aggregate in the KO Cup Final.