steve roberts

Yes...a proper speedway bike!

I had my issue delivered some weeks ago now? Main feature was on Jeremy Doncaster's career who also featured on the front cover.

I have the Bert Harkins book and the one on Bob Kilby written by son Lee...both good reads.

I have a couple of his "History of London" & "East Anglia" as well as "South - East" & "Thames Valley" from other authers as well as the Daily Mirror Year Books etc.

Apparently Barry Briggs took issue with John Chaplin over this book...I don't quite know why? I have a copy of Ivan's "Triple Crown Plus" which I enjoy reading.

I'm not questioning the standard of racing (I went to Ullevi in 1984 and it was pretty dire racing wise) but the build up to the Final was often my personal highlight during the twilight of each season.

Great occasions and I'm sure people get great pleasure from the Grand Prix's but there was nothing quite like attending a World Final in my opinion.

...tell me about it!

Remember travelling to the 1986 World Final (Katowice) and what could go wrong went wrong...starting with the coach breaking down in London!

Got those as well as well as "Wiggy's" book, John Louis and Dave Morton.

Sean Wilson to blame in my view!

Yes and it always made me wonder why Lance King after riding a wide line then adopted a different approach allowing Erik a clear run around the outside...something, incidently, Sam Ermolenko referred to in his autobiography.

"The History of Oxford Speedway"...evokes all sorts of memories when I pick it up for a read.

Yes I go looking for solitude personally...went on a ramble some years ago with about 15 people. Can't say I enjoyed it very much. Prefer just me, the other half and the dog!

I visited my local nature reserve on Sunday and was the only one in the hide but when I went along to the next one there was an elderly man there which I didn't have a problem with as we were well apart. However it turned out that he was deaf and had forgotten his hearing aid and came across to me to talk and show me photos he had taken on his camera...just my luck!

I enjoyed reading Johnnie Hoskins' "Walkabout".

The RSPB have closed their sites...I would normally be thinking of visiting Bempton Cliiffs some time soon when the seas birds congregate in great numbers for the new breeding season. I wonder if "Springwatch" will be transmitted this year?

The question of whether fishing would be acceptable as an isolating activity was a question raised on the main BBC news yesterday and the answer was a bit ambiguous. I've checked with my local lakes (1 mile down the road) and they were still open for business and although I would have no contact with anyone I guess that my conscience is telling me to avoid such an activity observing the spirit of recent developments. Shame as it would have given me peace of mind but it would come across as hypocritical if I was to follow such a route.

Great race...not impressed by the commentary!

Trouble is I don't know how to post links etc!

Got it on DVD...and the track for that meeting was shocking! Ivan has since said that he was totally exhausted by then thru' a rigid diet regime he followed that year. John, however, had got himself super fit thru' a trainer and his scrambling expertise helped in adjusting to the dodgy track something he talks at length in his autobiography.

I visited Wembley (81), Norden (83), Ullevi (84), Bradford (85), Katowice (86), Amsterdam (87) and Vojens (88) The best in my view was the Wembley one but personally the most satisfying were Katowice and Amsterdam that saw Hans Nielsen as victor.

Remember Jim. RIP

I've only seen Wembley (81) & Bradford (85) on that list although I have Bradford (90) & Vojens (94) to watch at some time. If I can hark back to the seventies (outside your remit) I think that the Wembley Final (72) and Katowice Final (73) were full of drama and of course Katowice (76) took some beating due to Peter Collins superaltive efforts. I intend getting round to my hundreds of hours of speedway DVDs over the coming months.

Great video!