steve roberts

Yes I remember Peter patrolling the terracing at Cowley selling the magazine.

Looking forward in receiving my copy. Together with "Backtrack" the best reads regarding speedway in my opinion.

Yes I remember when the Golden Helmet was a match race between the holder and the highest scoring opposition rider...infact the very first meeting I attended Garry Middleton relieved holder Nigel Boocock of the tifter! Then, of course, it was decided to run a monthly challenge which caught the imagination at the time. I witnessed many memorable challenges over the years before it reverted back to the on-off and finally disappearing (together with the helmet!) altogether.

I would imagine that the clear winner would be Chris Julian - Cornwall to Glasgow. However other worthy entries would include:- Mike Sampson & Bob Coles - Devon to Barrow Michael Coles - Devon to Edinburgh Bert Harkins - Herts to Edinburgh Robert Hollingworth - Lincs to Edinburgh Graham Jones - Suffolk to Berwick George Hunter - Midlands to Edinburgh

Peter Collins averaged a massive 10-98 (which included 19 maximums) from the more difficult No.3 position (if I recall Soren Sjosten and/or Chris Pusey rode at No.1?). Although probably the most challenging heat leader was those programmed to ride at No.5. I remember reading that Malcolm Simmons envied fellow "Star" Howard Cole riding at No.3 in the same team as he was programmed to ride with a reserve for three of his rides although like the No.5 was programmed to meet the oppostion No.1 twice during the meeting. However it still didn't stop Malcolm heading the team's averages in 1973 with a figure of 10.26.

Got me thinking about past, present and future World Champions who rode for Oxford over the years? The aforementioned Ivan Mauger and, of course, Hans Nielsen. Plus Jason Crump, Nicki Pedersen, Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill and Tony Rickardsson. I have a sneaking feeling that Briggo put in some second half rides as a novice as I recall my dad talking about it and Briggo falling off more often than not?

That's awful!

...also, Sid, I guess that we all base greatness on the number of individual world titles won (never mind the number of silver medals) which is understandable but one has to remember the appearances that Hans made for Denmark at Pairs and Team level when he was often the dominating rider plus his other achievements at club level where his influence, on and off the track, brought much success to Oxford. If I recall Hans began to believe in himself after the 1983 World Final when a dropped chain denied him a place on the rostrum and it was from then onwards his standing began to bare results individually although his efforts riding for Denmark prior to that can not be overlooked especially during the 1978 World Team Cup Final whilst still only a teenager. Also in only his third season in Britain (1979) he averaged over ten points when the league still had the likes of World Class competitors Mauger, Olsen, Collins, Penhall, Lee, Jessup etc in competition so his career really spanned two eras before new antagonists began to emerge during the early middle/eighties and beyond as his own career reached new bounds and achievements.

Neil did make appearances with the same clubs often over staggered years.

What was particularly galling was the occasion when both Hans and Erik were due to ride as a pair representing Denmark and Olsen had booked Erik into a seperate hotel together with himself. Now if that's not deemed undermining team spirit I don't know what is? When Erik retired he admitted that Olsen's influence was a conflict of interest and caused unease to say the least, not only with Nielsen, but within the Danish contingent. Trouble with Olsen is that he was/is a control freak as often highlighted by various sources.

...I'm spitting at the mere mention of his name Sid!

Always one of my favourites and vastly underrated in my opinion.

Thanks for this...much appreciated!

Last I heard he was mechanic to Lewis Bridger?

Best wishes to Chris as I remember him at Cowley. As a matter of Interest is Malcolm Ballard a member?

Apologies...the name Nielsen only conjours up Hans in my mind!

Not sure that's true...he was tough competitor for sure but no tougher than a host of others over a long period. To quote John Berry from an article in 'Backtrack' :- "I found it most interesting to hear how, towards the end of his career, when the grand prix systen came along, a number of fellow riders - mostly much younger - resented his self contained approach to his racing. It seems he was ostracised for not wanting to be 'one of the boys'. There was even, so I heard, a whisper among some of his rivals to make the possibility of another success even more difficult by a few of his opponents 'ganging up' against him. As I say, it was only a whisper but sad to hear nonetheless, when it appears to me the only things they had against him were his outstanding record and ability and a higher degree of dedication and determination than other riders". I can only guess who those riders may well have been but I have suspicions.

Yes I called in on him a few years back as I was passing thru' Sandford. Hadn't realised that he had branched out however? Rick married the daughter of Oxford's Starting Marshall Tom Prickett if I remember.

One of my favourire "Kiwis" was Rick Timmo for obvious reasons!

Yes I'm sure that he rode for Bradford Juniors and made the first team on occasions under the compulsory junior scheme?

Some goods name there Sid! I remember Cliff Andersen (RIP) doing some second halves at Cowley and, of course, at Swindon before ending up at Milton Keynes in 1978. Ole Olsen's mechanic for a while also. Whatever happened to Garry Flood?

Some fair comments there. Interesting to think that he could so easily have won another four or so titles but it says something of the man that he was at the very top of his game but missed out on occasions which goes back to my earlier observation that one-off finals weren't necessarily easier to win than a GP series....in my opinion! As riders go I list Nielsen as the second best rider of all time (behind Mauger) based on an incredible domestic & international record over twenty years...but I would say that!

Apparently rode three season for "The Kings" but never managed to average over eight points during that time. I can only guess that he was a bit of a track specialist around Crewe?

Would have enjoyed watching those three riders in their prime...alas I was far too young! At least I got to see Ronnie Moore who was still a very classy act and, of course, the last few years of Briggo.

Barry Meeks was once credited having set the fastest time round Crewe!