steve roberts

Yes I have that magazine...must check it out again.

Was that at Leicester (Granby Hall?)? I visited that site when I attended an entomological show during the nineties before it was demolished.

Yes I went to the first two Wembley events plus the Birmingham Event and were nothing more than novelty meetings and a chance to meet up with fans during the Winter season. I never went to Telford but what I saw on TV didn't do anything for me.

I believe that Bobby Beaton's brother, Jimmy, had a similar arrangement?

Apparently during the winter of 1975/76 the NL (British League Division Two) applied to be able to use EEC riders but were turned down by the British League Management Committee.

When I had a go at speedway I found it very difficult as It went against all my instincts having ridden road bikes. I tentatively included scrambling as a discipline because John Louis has often been quoted on how it helped him cope on rough tracks and didn't see it as a hindrance altough one couldn't class that form of motorcycling as oval based in the true sense.

Some great titles there...must also mention the Ivan Mauger book and the one written by Bob Kilby's son, Lee, both great reads as well as Johnnie Hoskins book "Walkabout".

I tried to narrow it down, John, to disciplines that most speedway followers would be best familiar with. Of course there are many other motorcycle disciplines and Barry Sheene was a champion at circuit racing (he had a go at speedway I recall) but I attempted to link it with our own particulat sport and off-shoots. ...and, of course, I was forgetting Don Godden.

By that I mean the three main discipines - Speedway, Grasstrack and Longtrack (although one could throw in Motorcross - or scrambling as it was once called) Top of my list would be Simon Wigg (who won World Championships and National titles at all levels) although Kelvin Tatum would run him close. Add the likes of Jeremy Doncaster, Peter Collins and Malcolm Simmons (although I don't think that Malc took part in the Longtrack scene?), Michael Lee (who I'm not sure if he was really into Grasstrack?) and Mark Loram. When one adds scrambling there's the likes of John Louis, Tom Leadbitter and who could forget Arthur Browning? There's a host of others that rode in all or some of those disciplines....too many to list. Sadly the Grasstrack scene appears to be a thing of the past but it produced so many talented riders who moved over to speedway.

Agree with most if not all of that Rob!

Berwick Speedway holds pleasant memories for me when holidaying in the area. Even took the trouble in locating the old track...miles from anywhere I seem to recall.

I used to be a Safety Rep at both my Department and here in York and I found the whole incident and circumstances unacceptable.

That's true but at least it gave one of my favourites 'Razzer' a team slot...someone who I always thought got a rough deal due to the points limit.

Great stylist just unfortunate that he let off track issues influence him. Wasted talent in my view.

Have just received the latest edition of "Backtrack" and the list of riders who averaged over nine points is a real "Who's Who" of riders back then during speedway's last 'Golden Era'. Michanek, Mauger, Olsen, E.Boocock, Simmons, Lovaas, Boulger, C.Pusey, M.Ashby, Louis, Betts, Lofqvist, Eide, Valentine, T.Jansson, Ray Wilson, Jessup, Cole, Persson, S.Sjosten and McMillan. Again interesting reading Martin Rogers' comments regarding the Old Anglia and Central Junior Leagues quoting "...worthwhile proving ground for young riders on the rise" and "...It should also be noted their presence on the back-end of the programme was a popular value-added component of the night." I always find Martin's observations very pertinent having been General Manager/Promoter/Announcer/Journalist during that era and although I have taken issue with him in the past (which he answered honestly) I find his input very refreshing!

I was there...great day! Razzer was one of my favourites!

Thanks for the clarification. Prior to the 2003 season I helped Colin on a couple of occasions getting the Cowley circuit ready for the new season after it was left unattended for most of the winter. The track, I remember, was in a right state with bumps all over the place and this showed in the first few meetings of the season.

I thought that Colin Meredith held a similar position some years ago or am I wrong in assuming that?

I know that there was an article in a back edition of "Backtrack" some years ago now.

I recall that "Speedie" and "Joe" Gooddy were mates whilst at Oxford and if one was 'messed around' by an opposition rider the other would sort them out.

Obviously John Boulger was happier riding in fog rather than snow! Recall the time that the whole Cradley team walked out at Cowley when the snows came...and Boulger was forever christened "Snowflake" by the Cowley faithful after that!

That big hole in the ground as the late John Berry used to refer to it as.

Super race and a credit to the lad!

I obviously never saw him ride but from what I read he was well thought of. RIP

Chris mentions the incident in his book and again in "Backtrack" in that he admitted that the only time he deliberately knocked off an opponent was an early skirmish with Birmingham's Alan Grahame - a pre-meditated act that he very much regretted and never repeated. Apparently Grahame had been particularly robust and Chris saw the "red mist."