steve roberts

...and, of course, Elvis appeared in a film entitled "Speedway".

Yes I remember attending Oxford on the Friday, Swindon or Coventry on Saturday and Mondays a visit to Reading (Bank Holidays Home & Away)...great days!

This thread got me thinking about strange lines some riders used to take on their way to the chequered flag. There was no better sight than watching Dag Lovaas ride the notorious adverse camber on the pits bend at Cowley as he swept round the opposition. He was one of few who were able to negotiate that move successfully before it was removed some years later.

I think Vaclav Verner may well have used the same ploy around the County Ground? He certainly got thru' gaps others feared to tread!

Wasn't the manourvre that was questioned but that Rickardsson claimed that he had meant to carry it out...nine point nine times out of ten it would have ended in a crash. Doesn't matter who made the comment really (only that it was Simmo who went into print) but most speedway fans/observers would have come up with the same opinion. Spectacular move, but not calculated as Rickardsson afterwards claimed, that paid off... on that occasion. He was mighty lucky!

He's both a journalist and one-time Promoter/ General Manager of several teams. He passed an observation based upon my question I put to him regarding whether it was where fundimentally speedway started to decline in this country. He felt that there were more pressing issues...far more detail than I am able to list on here only to say that he was able to out-score said journalist at the subsequent hearing which he attended to which he was congratulated. Well worth subscribing to the magazine to which I highly recommend.

...read Martin Rogers' most interesting comments on that very subject in the latest edition of the "Backtrack' magazine.

...which of course was a fluke despite Rickardsson's claims to the contrary. Malcolm Simmons lost a lot of respect for him when Rickardsson later claimed that it was a calculated risk rather than admit it was pure chance and a manourvre a rider wouldn't normally expect to take or get away with.

Exciting race on a track that was prepared for racing and allowing four riders to go full steam over the entire four laps. Reminded me of the Tony Rickardsson ride when he rode up the fence and then claimed that it was the best corner that he had ever made. A pure chance execution that nine times out of ten wouldn't have come off something that "Simmo" also stated at the time.

That's right, Sid, in 1973 when he didn't get any further than the first bend and on falling remained trapped under the kickboard!

I saw Ronnie ride at Poole during his last season in the UK and he was superlative. Never saw Peter Craven ride but I do know that his track record at Cowley (63 secs) stood for over a decade and was only lowered when the track was shortened! Another rider I wished I could have seen was Igor Plechanov who had, if I recall, two outstanding World Final performances against his name.

Remember when I attended an Olle Nygren Training School at Lynn many moons ago now his advice was always "Give it plenty of trottle"...like most Swedes was unable to pronounce "th". Trouble is I was unable to do so but that's another story!

I'm just reading Jackie Stewart's autobiography "Winning Is Not Enough" and having read Ivan's book "Will To Win" there were great similarities as regards their approach to their given sport/life and therefore achievements. Personally I think Ivan would have been succesful whatever the era as he was deep thinking and was always looking at ways of bettering himself whether it was mechanically or state of mind and Jackie had the same mentality.

Just received my edition of 'Backtrack' and Martin admirally, and in great detail, answered my question as regards the "Sunday People" sensationalisms that attempted to undermine the sport back in 1984. Like me he generally didn't really think that it had any short/long term effect and apparently when he appeared at the subsequent hearing scored some points against the 'journalist' who wrote the article and was congratulated by the SCB's Michael Limb.

I recall that he went on a crash diet that year and his league form was superlative.

I remember an altercation with Ivan and Malcolm Ballard at Cowley (1973) over a starting offence?

Personally I sit uncomfortably with the memory Gary Guglielmi and the subsequent suicide of Billy Sanders. I can't seperate one from the other. However I wish the event well.

Remember seeing some real old 'ding dongs' during some second half finals...great days and memories!

Remember it well as I was there whilst on holiday in the area.

The greatest rider there is no doubt Sid. I wish that I had seen more of him but in those days when teams generally only visited once a year you took what opportunities you could and I remember we travelled to Reading's final meeting of 1972 just to watch the great man. I got to see him perhaps three or four times a year thereafter and it was always a pleasure...even to boo him!

Last I heard he was mechanic for Lewis Bridger?

Was very close in qualifying for the 1975 World Final (he competed in the 1968 Final) but a ruthless ride by that man Louis again forced Martin into a run-off with Leicester's Ray Wilson for the final qualifying spot, A superb race and one could argue that Martin should have been more ruthless allowing Ray to pip him on the line.

Martin Ashby often cites his victory at the 1975 Final at Norden as his proudest moment in speedway passing both Malcolm Simmons and Peter Collins during the qualifier after John Louis (whom Martin was never particulary enamoured with) had left him 'high and' dry' up on the fence at the first bend. Martin soon passed him before giving chase. Very under rated rider.

Would make for an interesting interview in the 'Backtrack' magazine. Remember his first season at Swindon and subsequent appearances for 'The Cheetahs' on two seperate occasions. Should have achieved more on the international stage in my opinion but seemed happy and dependable at club level.

If I recall it was known as the 'Victor Ludorum' (?) and each team member faced each other in a heat and the winners then appeared in a grand final.