Kent Kings Speedway will welcome the Wimbledon Dons, White City Rebels and Hackney Hawks at their Old Gun Site track in Iwade for the London Tournament this Sunday
Published: 05:00, 31 July 2024
Kent Kings are expecting a bumper crowd on Sunday for their four-team London Tournament.
The Kings play host at the Old Gun Site track in Iwade for what’s expected to be their biggest meeting of 2024.
Teams of four riders - 16 heats of action - will see the hosts pitched against three famous club names from London’s past - the Wimbledon Dons, White City Rebels and Hackney Hawks.
There’s particular poignancy for supporters of the Hawks as the Vic Harding Memorial Trophy is to be awarded to the winner of the individual top scorers race - remembering the hugely popular and much-missed Hackney rider killed in a crash at the Wick in 1979.
All of the Kings squad will be in action, including the two popular and flamboyant Australians, Dayle Wood - who has now recovered from injury - and Patrick Hamilton. The latter scored a paid maximum on his Old Gun Site debut the weekend before last.
White City are able to track a rider who appeared for the west Londoners back in their debut season of 1976, with the evergreen Robert Hollingworth skippering the Rebels side. Hackney are led by Jack Kingston, who made his racing debut as a Hawk in the National League back in 2011.
Current riders, including hugely promising local teen Jamie Etherington and former GB Youth champion Luke Harris, will be in action plus those representing the heritage of the sport including an ex-Plough Lane-based Dons rider, Graham Knowler.
A souvenir programme, limited edition merchandise and additional catering facilities, including pizzas and ice cream, are available.
Numbers will be bolstered by a special chartered vintage Routemaster bus, bring fans from the site of the old Wimbledon Stadium at Plough Lane SW17.
The action gets under way at 2pm - after a grand parade at 1.45pm. Admission is £14, concessions £12 and children aged 15 and under go free.
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Luke Cawdell