steve roberts

...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!

Apparently Bob was quoted as disliking Ivan (I think that there was a crash involving the two at some time?) and when Ivan moved to Exeter Bob saw his position as number one challenged and the emphasis was then put on Ivan as regards team matters etc.

I agree Sid...a great read!

Fair comments and there are many examples of riders who were looked upon as a potential favourite in lifting the crown during a one-off World Final but one bad ride/crash/exclusion/engine failure eluded them...Briggs, Collins, Olsen, Mauger, Michanek, Penhall, Gundersen, Jessup, Carter, Nielsen, Knudsen etc. (off the top of my head!) The two systems require different approaches and personally I find it difficult comparing one with the other. Like any GP system it involves a steady level of performance over a period of time (which occasionally involves highs as well as lows) whereas one-off events require a sudden input which can occasionally catch out the unwary thru' all manner or reasons and requires a strong mental approach which is perhaps why so many good riders failed in becoming World Champion down the years? Put very simply one's a marathon the other a sprint! There was a very interesting comparison made in an edition of "Backtrack" many years ago now where Tony MacDonald and John Berry shared views...and not always agreeing with their analysis. I'm convinced that if the GP's had run during the eighties Nielsen would have won at least six but one-off finals obviously produced a different scenario whereby he had to contend with Gundersen, in particular, requiring him to win at all costs whereas a GP he would have been able to have paced himself better. Just my opinion.

Yes Cradley had by far the strongest heat leader trio based on averages but only Eastbourne challenged them with three heat leaders averaging nine plus. Belle Vue had Collins as a third heat leader on a strong eight plus average whereas both Ipswich and Coventry had third heat leaders on seven plus. But all these sides had better back up as you say whereas Eastbourne carried a very long tail with three riders averaging three plus hence "The Eagles" final disappointing league position. As I said a missed opportunity in gaining some sort of success that year. When Ron Preston was interviewed in later years he stated how Eastbourne should have gained more that season.

A crying shame that Eastbourne didn't achieve any success with such an outstanding heat leader trio. Paul Woods gave good support but beyond that a very weak tail. Of course by the following season all three had left Arlington!

Agree 100%.

Briggo admitted that he had left a gap and strayed from the white line but Persson's move was ruthless but speedway is littered with such incidents...Nielsen and Penhall for example.