steve roberts

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.

It has to be remembered that many Number One's (those with averages of nine and above several of which headed their particular team's average) didn't actually ride at Number One but either at Number Three or Five and therefore met an opposite Number One twice during a match. Riders who achieved averages in excess of nine plus riding at number three or five include Ashby, Lovaas, Jessup, Boulger, Wilson, Simmons, Autrey, Collins, Gundersen, Tatum, P. Crump, Jansson, Hedge , Sanders, Lee, Sigalos etc etc. Fixed gare postions came into being during 1988 if memory serves.

Thanks Rob!

...or the shop above the pits tunnel?

I lost a lot of respect for Jason after that incident (wasn't even Todd's fault!) but I later re-gained it when he matured both as a rider and a person. A good ambassodor I felt towards the sport.

I acquired issue one...are the mags likely to be monthly and what's the best source to but them from Rob?

Fair comments Rob!

Melvyn Taylor was a favourite of mine...got stick from the Cowley faithfull when unbeknown to them was having a traumatic time with a seriusly ill wife.

I think twice in the match and once in the Golden Helmet...all very surreal!

Couldn't agree more! To me that was the enjoyable experience visiting tracks in all their differing shapes, sizes and quirks!

All his stars were aligned that night! If I remember he beat Hans three (?) times including the Golden Helmet.

...when the centre green (for want of a better term) was dire Sid. It was like a rubbish tip due to a Sunday Market and for a season when Banger Racing took place at Cowley...bits of car bodies all over the place!

I've just seen your post!

Hans when he signed for "The Cheetahs" in 1984 had the bends re-shaped to allow more passing opportunities going in and coming out of the bends...although he fence would come up very quickly on the exits as the track narrowed!

Remind me what the 'big hitting heat 13" was as I've totally forgotten? I'm assuming that number one's were pitted against each other?

All the more remarkable that Hans achieved an average of 11.03 in 1988 and 10.91 in 1989 when both those criterias were in operation. Just demonstates the force he was during the eighties.

I do like these photos of the past...great action studies of a bygone age!

To be honest I lost the plot...

I make Neil 16?

Jimmy Squibb - 10 (?)