steve roberts

'Wilkie' was an extremely tough competitor but I would like to think fair. I well recall the time at Cowley when he objected to some offence and came striding out of the pits and ripped the tapes from their sockets to the boos of the crowd. However he was well respected by his rider colleagues (John Davis amongst them) and was fiiercely loyal to his team mates. His great buddy, Chris Pusey, never really got over Wilkie's accident apparently.

Ole Olsen

I recall a Middlesbrough fan with a drum once or it may well have been Ellesmere Port!

I can see the pictures now...Alan Cowland and Alan Wilkinson being restrained. I think that Tom Leadbitter was somewhat useful with his fists on that occasion?

Who were the heart and sole of British Speedway and often under-rated and forgotten about.

Recall Wiggy pulling a wheelie when crossing the finishing line during a Test Match at Cowley thinking that he had just completed an unbeeten 18 point maximum...only to be excluded!

There was a ruling that stated if a rider wasn't making a bona fide attempt to race than the referee had the the right to exclude him...or some such wording. One of those curious and somewhat controversial rulings. I seem to remember two riders from the same team were excluded for the offence even though there was no opposition!

Peterborough 'beat' Oxford 40-0 in 1976 when 'The Cheetahs' refused to take to the track deeming it unfit for racing.

Have a feeling that a 0-0 was declared at White City (vs Swindon) back in 1978 but can't recall the details?

There was an interesting interview with him in a recent edition of 'Backtrack'.

I think that he was still wearing one when he turned out for 'The Cheetahs' in 1997?

Just received my copy...excellent as usual. Interesting insight into Peter Craven's tragic crash at Edinburgh by Eric Boocock who was riding during the same meeting.

If I rememeber he was only one of a few riders to beat Ivan that season (1971?)

Always recall reading Malcolm Simmons saying that Clive's footrest was made from an old car starting handle two or three inches wider than anyone else's. It enabled him to drive hard underneath an opponent and just lift their leg off the track as he went past.

Blimey! I remember them! Away coaches were the norm back then...alas no longer I suspect? Recall when Whity City won the league at Wolves and the number of subsidised coaches that hit Monmore Green and the terraces were a sea of red, white and blue! Wolves fans never knew what hit them!

I do recall on one occasion a Coventry fan(s) blowing metal whistles at Cowley on at least one occasion...that got on my nerves I have to say!

Recall my brother using an air horn in the glass stand at Hsckney and getting rebuffed! Got the last laugh though...'The Rebels' were victorious!

They were once very popular at speedway and used to creat a great atmosphere...not sure what the status is today however what with "noise nuisance" legislation and local by laws etc?

Saw his first competitive rides at White City and the return fixture that same day at The Wick and you could tell that he had class.

A rider I would have liked very much to have seen.

Sad news...remember Clive riding for King's Lynn and, of course, his son Craig who was tragically killed at Peterborough. RIP

Never rated Rickardsson.

I certainly don't!

Blimey it dosen't seem that long ago that he burst upon the scene. How time flies and good luck to him!

Me and you same...I've being saying it for years. Who is the target audience? Those who already go or to attract new fans or indeed new sponsors?