2021 News

There will be many, many well deserved plaudits and articles written about Jon’s enormous contribution to British Speedway but, in my opinion, his finest hour(s) came while he was at Lakeside in the aftermath of Lee Richardson’s tragic passing in May 2012.

Even if Jon hadn’t achieved anything else in his long career, the promotion of this meeting alone would be contribution enough.

Jon’s grief was understandable and palpable but he quickly concluded that, in Lee’s honour, the Hammers next scheduled meeting versus Swindon would, indeed must, go ahead.

In the intervening 5 days, Jon demonstrated enormous leadership, courage and empathy.

He delegated certain responsibilities but what happened on that Friday was almost exclusively a result of Jon’s planning and foresight.

In his programme notes for the meeting, Jon wrote that he had concluded that ”all at the club – riders, mechanics, management, backroom staff and most of all, you, the fans would want to be together to share our grief and remember together and to pay that respect in two or three weeks’ time would not have been right.”

As he often was, Jon made the right decision and I’ve not heard a single word of dissent or disagreement to the club’s response since that day.

Before the meeting, Jon led the tributes to Lee, giving a simply magnificent, emotional speech to the huge crowd at the Raceway. Alun Rossiter, his rival team manager, was quoted after the meeting as saying “…the words he said were absolutely spot on”

Jon’s passing is another tragic reminder of the fragility of life and I’m certain that he’d want us to support each other in the same way he helped us through those dark days nearly 9 years ago. 

Mark Sexton

Former Lakeside Hammers Co-Promoter Jon Cook has passed away suddenly, at the age of 55.

All at the Hammers send our thoughts and deepest condolences to Jon’s family and friends.

Cook joined Arena Essex from The Eastbourne Eagles in 2007, when Stuart Douglas took over at the Raceway. The pair oversaw the re-branding of the team as The Lakeside Hammers before reaching the Elite League Play-offs in 2008 and winning the Knockout Cup in 2009.

On the closure of the club with the re-development of the Raceway in 2018, Cook return to The Eastbourne Eagles, initially as director of Speedway before taking over the tenancy at Arlington with Martin Dugard.

Hammers Director Ian Smalley commented

All at the Hammers, and indeed all those in speedway will be shocked and saddened at the loss of Jon.  He was a unique character who wore both his passion for speedway and his beliefs on his sleeve.  The ten years or so I worked with Jon gave me a real insight into every single aspect of speedway, and during which time there was hardly ever a dull moment, such was his passion for the club and the sport.  He was a unique person. RIP Cookie.

Mark Sexton commented:

One day someone will write a book about Jon’s immense contribution to speedway racing in the UK. I worked for, with and alongside Jon for over a decade and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunities he gave me, for the faith he showed in many of my ideas and for all the enjoyment & fun he allowed me to have from inside my favourite sport… RIP Jon.

Russell Keetch commented:

I have no other words that will make sense at this time other than to share one incredibly personal moment I had with Jon

On the very last meeting at Arena Jon completed his own 4 laps of the track with Adams Shields race bib on.  Afterwards he got changed called me over and said

“Your love for this club is unconditional and I want to give you this bib as I know it will be well looked after”

I, as I am now typing this up this memory to you, welled up and the one tear rolled down my cheek

“See that’s why I’ve given it to you Russ” he said

Once the meeting over I was standing with the riders in front of the main stand, amazed I was keeping it together if honest and Jon walked towards me knowing how I was feeling inside and as I looked at him and in front of all those people in the stadium that night, I balled my eyes out and he hugged me so tightly and starting crying himself and said it’s ok mate

A moment I will never forget for the rest of my life and for a few seconds it was deadly silent in that stadium which made it an even more poignant memory for me.

Thanks Jon ⚒⚒

Former Hammers Presenter Andy Young added:

Absolutely shocked and deeply deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Cookie.

When Stuart first introduced me to Jon on a press and practice day many years ago, Cookie gave me that look, like he gave many people over the years of ‘sorry, why am I meeting this guy?’

From that moment we became friends and although we hadn’t spoken for a couple of years, due to my non-involvement with speedway, I know now and as ever he would have been pleased to hear from me just as much as I would have been to hear from him.

He had an amazing way to empower those within his close quarters, watching him work with riders was something that a lot of us could learn from, charismatic, cheeky, deeply driven, a man that has had much success in speedway throughout his life. Speedway needed a Jon Cook, just as much as Jon Cook needed speedway!

Hated by away fans but always well respected. My immediate thoughts are with Jon’s family and the love he had for his boys. I will deeply miss you mate. surf on, surf on the place where you truly loved.

The 2021 Midlands and Southern Development League will consist of three clubs meeting each other home and away twice. Coming to the tapes are the reigning champions Birmingham, who won the title in 2019. Joining them in 2021 will be the Eastbourne Seagulls Powered by Save Thurrock Hammers Speedway and Wolverhampton.

Each track will also be staging their own second halves as well with Wolverhampton also having a side in the new Premiership Junior League. They are organizing their MSDL side in conjunction with Birmingham.

League co-ordinator Laurence Rogers is pleased that the league will be back in a shortened 2021 campaign, “ I was determined that the league would continue . It is a vital part of British Speedway along with the Northern Junior League giving young riders their first taste of league racing and being in a team as a stepping -stone like so many before them into the higher leagues.”

“We have unfortunately lost the nomadic teams under new rules which is a great pity but once the pandemic is over and those clubs can continue their search for land for their tracks we can then hopefully welcome them back.”

“A big thank you to Ian Jordan at Eastbourne and Chris Van Straaten at Wolverhampton for ensuring this league can continue by agreeing to enter sides. With an excess of riders wanting to ride for Birmingham we are assisting our West Midlands neighbours with their team building.”

“At Birmingham we plan to run a 2nd half every meeting and in addition to the MSDL we have agreed a three club experimental NJL Shield with Redcar and Berwick involving all three cc classes (125, 250 and 500).

We are also involving the Birmingham and Wolverhampton squad members split into 3 groups of 4 riders who will contest 2 Grand Prix type rounds each with the top 8 contesting a Final.

We will also have demo races involving 125 and 250cc youngsters“

“Eastbourne also plan other events as do Wolverhampton so there should be plenty of track action for the up and coming riders.”

Fixtures:

JUNE

Weds 9 Birmingham v Wolverhampton A FIXTURE

Sat 19 Eastbourne v Birmingham A FIXTURE

Mon 21 Wolverhampton v Eastbourne A FIXTURE

JULY

Sun 4 Eastbourne v Wolverhampton A FIXTURE

Weds 21 Birmingham v Wolverhampton B FIXTURE

Weds 28 Birmingham v Eastbourne A FIXTURE

AUGUST

Mon 2 Wolverhampton v Birmingham A FIXTURE

Sat 7 Eastbourne v Birmingham B FIXTURE

Mon 9 Wolverhampton v Eastbourne B FIXTURE

Mon 30 Wolverhampton v Birmingham B FIXTURE

SEPT

Weds 1 Birmingham v Eastbourne B FIXTURE

Sat 4 Eastbourne v Wolverhampton B FIXTURE

Dependent on fixture dates Birmingham will stage a MSDL Riders’ Final with 8 riders over 8 heats with top 2 averaged riders from the 3 clubs and 2 wild cards.

The Hammers are delighted to confirm that the club has extended its sponsorship with Eastbourne Speedway, to include their recently launched National Development League team, which will run with the same Seagulls name as the more junior MSDL level team.

With both teams partnered by the “Save Thurrock Hammers Speedway” campaign, Eastbourne director, Ian Jordan, said:

“The Seagulls branding of the NDL team will both further support and publicise the Thurrock Hammers campaign and also act as a clear indication of our determination and plan to be at the forefront of the development of young British riders, from youth to junior, to development and then hopefully to the Club’s flagship Eastbourne HG Aerospace Eagles professional Championship-level team.

Eastbourne have begun revealing the names of the NDL team which has begun today with Jake Knight being named No 1.

Hammers Director Ian Smalley commented,

“We are delighted to extend our relationship with the Seagulls. The NDL provides another platform to spread the message of our campaign to return speedway to Thurrock.

Along with providing new opportunities to engage with additional clubs and riders across the NDL, it also maintains our ethos of helping to provide track time and support for younger riders.

There are plans also to reintroduce NDL / Junior level “second-half racing” with four or five additional individual races planned after Championship League meetings at Arlington; with a season-long competition featuring some of the Club and sport’s brightest young prospects, in “Junior Dash” races.