Lawrence discovered
Speedway at the comparatively late age of twenty, through 
his good friend Chris Louis. At
the time, Lawrence was quite an accomplished Motocross rider, but
soon found himself hooked on speedway. He joined his local
Ipswich and in 1992 was a member of their League and Cup winning
side.
In the summer of 1993, after impressing with a spectacularguest appearance, Lawrence signed for Rye House. Again, he impressed and was very proud to be awarded their Rider of the Year trophy at the end of that season.
In 1994, it was all change again, as Lawrence was snapped up by the Edinburgh promotion. He was a big favourite with the fans, and was an ever present in the team in 94 and 95, although he did also make a handful of appearances for parent club, Ipswich at the beginning of 1995, before being allowed to rejoin Edinburgh. He has proudly carried that 'ever present' tradition at Oxford, for whom he signed in 1996.
He soon endeared himself to the Sandy Lane faithful, despite the presence in the team of more so-called top line stars, like Marvyn Cox, Bo Brhel and Tomas Topinka. Lawrence stepped in to be a vital member of the Oxford Four that won the Four Team Tournament when Mark Lemon was injured. He never fails to give 100% in every meeting, and always gives the paying public plenty of entertainment.
1997 saw Lawrence return to Oxford in the Premier League. There was a danger in 1997 of Lawrence returning to ride for his parent club, Ipswich but this fear was allayed when Mark Loram chose Bradford ahead of his former club. Lawrence joined the Cheetahs full time and enjoyed a successful second season with the Cheetahs. The year culminated with Lawrence topping the Cheetahs averages and being voted Supporters Rider of the Year and Sponsors Rider of the Season. One of Lawrence's highlights of the season would undoubtedly be the Premier League Pairs meeting at Cowley where Lol scored 20 of Oxford's 26 points. On another night this would have led Oxford taking the title but unfortunately his partner Neville Tatum never really got going on the night. The latter part of the season saw Lawrence in a rich ein of form thanks in part to the loan of an engine from Mark Loram (who shares a workshop with Lol). The final few matches of the season saw Lol almost unbeatable around Cowley and he was riding with immense confidence. Thankfully that engine now belongs to Lawrence along with another brand new Jawa ready for the 1998 season.
Lawrence was fully expecting to carry on with Oxford in the Premier League in 1998 and was as suprised at anyone at the club's elevation to the Elite League. Lol loved PL racing but on the other hand wanted to stay at Cowley. In the end it appears a fans forum convinced Lawrence that he should stay at Cowley, the warm welcome he received from the 400 or so fans in attendance helped Lawrence to make up his mind and Elite League racing it is. Lawrence has been promised help from all of his 1997 sponsors and has a couple of new sponsors for 1998, but with the demands and costs of being competitive in the 1998 Elite League would value any help that supporters can give. The season has proved difficult for Lawrence and despite doing the job that was expected of him he has been released from the Cheetahs line up and joined the Newport Wasps on loan. Unfortunately this move has been short lived as Lol crashed in his first race for Newport breaking his ankle and suffering his first serious speedway injury.
This injury sidelined Lol until Jan 1 1999 when he returned to Newport, the scene of his accident to ride in their New Years Day meeting. His comeback was steady but was the first step towards recovery.
1999 saw Lol back with the Cheetahs despite a chance that he would not return he did and started the season off in fine form culminating with a first ever EL maximum, done in atrocious conditions at Coventry in the Craven Shield. The Craven Shield was very fruitful for Lol and the Cheetahs with the team topping the league and Lol averaging over 7 points per meeting and spending much of the campaign in the main body of the team. The second half of the season was not so successful with engine problems dogging Lol throughout. It did not detract from the fact that Lawrence was the most improved rider in terms of average increase in the entire league. and finished the season with a 5.52 average. During the winter Lol rode again in the Newport New Years Day meeting and in appalling weather conditions suffered a crushed verterbrae in his back, an injury that was to hamper his start to the 2000 season.
With the entire Oxford team being made available for transfer at the end of the 2000 season Lol moved on to ride for his home town Ipswich Witches. Astonishly this was the first full season that Lol had ridden for his home town club. Lol was unable to follow up the form of the previous season and the change of track and return from a serious injury contributed to his average falling to 3.47 when he was involved in a freak accident at Poole. Lol managed to lay his bike down to avoid a falling rider but unfortunately the following Poole rider didn't see Lol go down and ploughed into the back of him, breaking his wrist and finishing Lol's season there and then. The injury was operated on and plated but he then had to start planning for the 2001 season.
2001
proved to be a good season with Lol being really among the points at his new
home. That new home was Exeter, a track disliked by many riders but always rated
as one of his favourites. Lol forged a very good partnership at No 1 and 2 with
his great friend Seemond Stephens and I am sure this led to the 2001 season
being one of Lol's most enjoyable. He gainde the nickname Last Lap Lol with his
heroic dashes to the line on the last lap of many a race. Teh season culminated
with the Falcons making the KO Cup Final, unfortunately Lol picked up an injury
which made him ineffective in the home leg and caused him to miss the 2nd leg,
something which will have had a big bearing on Exeter losing that final. The
final bit of fun in an enjoyable season was when Lol and Seemond went out in
Heat 1 dressed in dinner suits. This idea stemmed from some criticism from a
supporter that they were not as well turned out as they should be. They must be
the first riders to wear suits to race in ! Lol finished the season as a Falcons
Heat Leader with a 7.79 average in a season where his wrist injury from the
previous year still continued to give him trouble.
2002 eventually saw Lol back with the
Falcons but not after a misunderstanding which saw the Trelawny Tigers announce
Lol as having signed for them. He never did and in fact some pretty derogatory
thinsg were said by the Tigers camp at the time. As it was Lol re-signed for the
Falcons and had made his usual good start to the season when on 14 April 2002 he
crashed in Heat 10 at Newport while riding for the Falcons and suffered a broken
verterbrae in his neck. The injury has put paid to Lol's career as a speedway
rider and he will be forced to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Lol
spent 8 weeks in hospital in Newport before moving to the National Spinal
Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire. 
Clearly Lol will need a lot of support during his stay in hospital and indeed when he leaves. His life will be very different although he feels no bitterness towards speedway, a sport that was such a large part of his life for 12 years. To use his words in describing what has happened to him "shit happens".
The Lawrence Hare Support Fund has been set up to help Lol financially and details of the fund can be found on the SUPPORT FUND page or by clicking here.
During his 12 years as a speedway rider Lawrence made very few enemies, in fact it is fair to say that he was universally popular both with riders and fans. He always has time for fans and this will I am sure hold him in good stead as he develops a different life for himself. You can follow the updates on Lol's progress on the News page by clicking here.
