steve roberts

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.

I remember watching the highlights later that evening on ITV (main stream TV...imagine that now?) and thought that the meeting had everything and couldn't have been more dramatic in its content and conclusion. Strange that Briggo's ride against Ivan was not featured however?

I certainly hope so...just hope TPT can remain solvent during these troubled times without obviously knowing their business infrastructure.

Are they still taking bookings for Speedway Tours? Yes they've been good servants but the lack of speedway must raise concerns?

Who no doubt will be going the same way as Shearings?

Remember he took umbrage over a tapes infringement during the Midland Cup tie and the Swindon pair refused to come to the tapes thereby gifting the tie to Oxford. However Swindon won an appeal but Oxford counter-appealed but the season was coming to a close and there wasn't an opportunity for Oxford to complete the fixture against Leicester in the next round I recall. Garry Middleton often had the beating of Briggo but Martin Ashby proved a thorn and more often than not had the beating of "Cassius".

Great records indeed. I saw a fair bit of Briggo (once when he lost his temper at Cowley in 1972) but Fundin I only saw in demonstration races at Coventry during "The Golden Greats" meeting in 1988 but he could still throw the bike about!

...and was favourite to win the World Championship that season after dominating both the domestic and international scene. However a pointless first ride proved costly but if GPs had been in place during that period he may well have been given a second chance which is why winning a one-off World Final was not as straight forward, or indeed easier, as some would have us believe. However both disciplines require different approaches and therefore very difficult comparing one with the other in my view.

Never a fan of him as a rider but he always talked a good talk!

Phil Crump recorded a phenomenal 1975 average of 11.17 and 23 maximums despite riding at number five therefore programmed to meet the opposiition number one at least twice during a 13 heat fixture.

Did he have anything of interest to say?

Remember when he rode for Oxford...very best wishes Chris!

Yes I've also read the book...well worth it.

I think that may be Tommy Jansson's Brother, Bo, on the right?

Forgotten about "Five Flavours!"

Ivan also rode at number four on occasions away from home so that he and Scott Autrey would ride in the last heat...often claiming a 5-1. It's one of those urban myths that the 'star' man would ride at number one (although some did insist) as it was often the contrary in many instances (as per examples given earlier) which often resulted in some meeting opposing number ones more than once during a meeting and yst still managing to achieve very healthy averages.

I have to admit before I used to attend speedway I remember watching on, I guess, "World of Sport" a televised meeting that featured Barry Briggs and being impressed with his full face helmet. Never saw many of those then not even on the roads in the UK. The name Barry Briggs just trips off the tongue. However the two names that I found iconic were Roy Trigg and Eddie Reeves who always evoked memories of speedway before I became a regular as my brother would constantly refer to them...John Bishop was another bizarely!

I would generally agree...and those who used a Double Tactical in heat eight. Exeter occasionally named Ivan Mauger at Number Two at the County Ground to repel such a move!

...or Leicester who had a heat leader trio of Wilson, Boulger and Jessup or Reading with Andersen, Davis and Schwartz or Eastbourne with Kennett, Moran and Preston.