steve roberts

Also in 1972 & !973 Sid. A heat leader trio of Wilson, Boulger & Jessup.

Reidar was a tough nut (tragically died with swine fever (?) when he became a pig farmer) and recall Dag Lovass saying that Eide had no hesitation in taking him out ruthlessly on one occasion. Bert Harkins talks of a similar incident with Eide threatening to "kill him" but Bert was blameless and apparently Ronnie Moore sorted him out.

I forgot about West Ham and Wembley...two very iconic race jackets. Escaped my mind as they had both ceased to run by the time I attended speedway.

Good call.

Difficult one this...and not allowed to nominate my own personal favourite which would be either Oxford (1972) or White City (1976) therefore... Belle Vue (1972), Wimbledon (1976), Poole (1972), Exeter (1973), Wolves (1972)

Wasn't Billy McNeil captain of one of the great Celtic teams?

...and, too think, I gave mine all away!

Bobby had been around a bit and was of course a product of Eastbourne. He rode in second halves at Cowley in 1972 and featured as Reading's Number Eight during their championship winning season in 1973. Bobby felt hat he should have moved up in 1974 but remained at Arlington (as their number one) and rode as Oxford's Number Eight on occasions. It was a bit of a surprise that he decided to move to Swindon for his first full season in the British League (1975) and he generally struggled but came on well in 1976 and 1977. He scored one full maximum for Swindon and credits that to Bob Kilby who let his thru' for the win during his last race. As I said the death of Vic Harding affected him badly and he bowed out after a couple of injuries in 1979 riding for Hackney.

Blimey! That was hard work! I saw a couple of these eight rider races at Swindon (Ipswich via the eccentric Paul Johnson introduced the idea to this country).

Bobby McNeil was one rider who escaped the clutches of Oxford! He found the transiton difficult riding full-time in the British League but was developing well after his first full season. He moved to Hackney because I believe his business was being compromised by riding at a Saturday night track. Unfortunately he suffered a couple of injuries and he was badly affected by the death of Vic Harding and retired soon after.

I think that Gordon joining Swindon would have been the ideal move for him personally. It's a track he relished and I think that he would have develpoed even further at Swindon.

Absolutely agree with Dag Lovaas. A great Number One at Oxford in 1975 but sadly went wrong for him at Wood Lane. I always thought that Peter Ravn was somewhat erratic and remember an incident with Neil Evitts (another candidate?) during an important World Championship meeting.

I saw quite a bit of Ron at Arlington in 1982 and he was superb round there and made a formidable heat leader trio with Gordon Kennett and Kelly Moran.

I'd also go with Martin Ashby plus Gordon Kennett, Bob Kilby (certainly at Exeter), Trevor Hedge and Terry Betts.

I first saw Joe (or Joseph as I think he was programmed?) ride at Coventry's Golden Greats in 1988 (Can't remember who he was paired against? Paul Dugard?) and he looked impressive. Personally I felt that Martin made a mistake going back to Eastbourne (bit like Gordon Kennett in 1979)...he should have moved to a bigger track and a trip "Down Under" would have done wonders for him.

Smith and Screen were amongst that rare breed who forsook the route of competing in the lower league...Carl Stonehewer another...although the latter two did compete in the Junior league and later in their careers dropped down a league.

Boyce obviously asleep not reading how the track was riding.

That was a bit tight!

The Belle Vue/Rochdale tally is on the up! I think that it's very much between the aforementioned and Eastbourne...with Eastbourne just taking the edge.

...and a jubilee clip apparently.

I think that Tom Leadbitter was laying people out...handy with his fists apparently!

I'm not sure...was it Shorespeed Spares or some such name? Used to have a van at some southern tracks.

...and Paul Thorp and Peter Carr.

Used to happen too often to Jessup in important meetings. Malcolm Simmons once suggested that Dave used to cut corners in his machinery preparation!

Remember when he lost his temper at Cowley in 1973 and Alan Wilkinson ripped the tapes from the sockets after an exclusion when "The Rebels" sneaked a narrow win in the KOC...we got stuffed in the return leg however!