steve roberts

Blink and you missed it but there was a small bit of action on the local Lincolnshire/Yorkshire BBC News tonight featuring Tai Woffinden!

I've just finished reading my visiting brother's Oxford programme of the recent visit of Poole and have to say it's a class publication. Plenty of interest for present fans and those that enjoy reading some nostalgia and Scott's Nicholl's refeshingly honest account of the well taken win up at Berwick. Nice to see that the "warm toned" Dave Hammond still does the announcing. I always thought that he was/is the best in the business and a terribly nice person as well. Richard Palmer (I used to work with his uncle at the Zoology of Department) is still there and great to see that Leon Foster-Hill is still involved...used to enjoy my banter with him as he had a dry sense of humour. Matt Davis involved on the track curatorial side of things another who I remember (I presented him with my "Skol" Cheetahs jacket!) and of course that super enthusiast Rob Peasley who is the programme editor. I wrote some articles for him for the "Chronicle" some years back. Even my uncle one time Oxford photographer Keith Lawson got a credit! Well done to everyone involved!

I recall at Eastbourne Kelly Moran falling off at the first bend against Wimbledon (1981?) after arriving back from the States that same morning and it was thought that he had "over indulged" with the duty frees on the plane? Malcolm Simmons talked candidly about the incident in his most excellent book.

I second that.

I would agree but just raised it for debate...can't recall when they were used and the initiative lasted only a couple of years (?). Personally I used to rather enjoy all the kidology with riders trying to psych each other out when lining up at the start kicking up the dirt and digging their heels and toes although there were some who took it to an extreme.

Perhaps reverting to a concrete starting area would remove any "manipulation" and all the "digging" and "time wasting" prior to race?

I recall back in 1974 Gordon Kennett phoned ahead from his Kent base to check as to whether the meeting at Cowley against Swindon was to go head and was told by then Oxford Promoter Bob Radford that it had been postponed only for it to go ahead and Oxford used Alan Johns as a replacemant and we lost to those pesky "Budgies"...Radford resigned soon after and always maintained a chip on his shoulder as regards Oxford thereafter.

If I recall he was Team Manager at Oxford back in 1979 (?) after managing the British "Lions" down under. I wonder what happened to him?

Strewth almighty!

Ahem...that observation is open to all sorts of conjecture considering many others on here don't appear to have issues with many of my posts but, hey, that's the end of it as far as I'm concerned much to the delight of others on here I'm sure. Time to move on.

My comment was directed at both of us and to put an end to the constant petty squabbling...accept it graciously.

...time to draw a line under it and proceed in a civilised and respectful manner.

...bizarre analogy but at least you've given an answer which is a move in the right direction and his record speaks for itself however as I've indicated elsewhere he has/had good lieutenants in which to bounce his thoughts off which is always a bonus when planning strategies on and off the track.

...Okay I'll keep it simple but as you implied "usual supects" (which implies more than one) I'm sure the "usual suspects" would like to know your choice. As regards mine, that's easy, the Cheetahs Team Manager (Peter Schroeck) as they top the table at present!

...and your answer to the best current team manager would be? Enlighten us.

...which was half the fun between races and discussing what had just taken place. Personally I don't understand the need to rush thru' a meeting and have it all done and dusted in as little time as possible. Never agreed with the adage that a meeting consists of just fifteen minutes of action (although extra races would be beneficial) because personally what went on between heats only added to the entertainment value in my opinion.

Used to be the same on the old Oxford Cheetahs forum.

The best Team Managers also had good Lieutenants on track who acted as "go-betweens"...Ole Olsen at Coventry, Sam Ermolenko at Wolves, John Louis at Ipswich, Ivan Mauger at Exeter and Hans Nielsen at Oxford to name but a few.

Agree entirely...having a sure ability around you to work with makes things much easier. Ipswich were not the strongest of teams on paper during their double winning years (1975/76) but having the combined force of John Berry and Ron Bagley running the show they excelled bringing out the best in their riders.

...and his longevity is to be congratulated. A true servant to the sport he has graced for nearly thirty years now.

Exactly!

I recall one rider being put under the spotlight for taking "nightnurse."

I'm sure that he was a clean cut wrestler (a "goodie" as in those days they were either "baddies" or "goodies") Didn't realise until relatively recently that Pete Waterman is the nephew of Spllt?

I vaguely recall that a wrestler at that time once dabbled with speedway?

...another pretty awful commentator. I used to like Chris French on "Screensport"...you could telll that he was a speedway fan who knew his stuff!