steve roberts

Brings back memories and when speedway was shown on mainstream TV albeit on an irregular basis.

...another of his favourite sayings was "chasing, chasing, chasing."

I recall Wally Loak referring to John Louis as "Lewis" on one of his commentaries.

Recall Malcom Simmons disliking the track before he moved to Poole but then re-set his mindset and didn't find it as "frightening" as he once thought however his views on Newport and Bristol were less complimentary! Martin Ashby improved considerably as a rider after his en-forced move to the County Ground which required a different approach and Phil Crump enjoyed his visits there! Certainly not the most popular track for visiting riders and many held it in trepidation when due to visit and many apparent "breakdowns" on route to Devon were often reported.

I recall during one of his commentaries he still referred to Leicester as "Hunters". Would have been the Wills Internationale.

Not sure when the Wills Internationale was first televised? For some odd reason it was the one meeting that the BBC had the rights to.

Hans Nielsen was the best exponent of the art that I ever witnessed although a colleague of mine mentioned that Ronnie Moore was a class above all others plus throw in the likes of Ivan Mauger and, as much as I hate to admit, Ole Olsen! George Hunter when a "Cheetah" was also pretty good and Jan Staechmann covering for Todd Wiltshire in particular.

Interesting where there were a couple of references made to full face helmets (a thread was created on the BSF a while back) and that they may well have been a contributory factor to at least two riders in Aussie suffering with life changing injuries because of the design of them when first introduced.

Great that you're keeping this thread going...much appreciated!

Team Riding is one of the great spectacles in team speedway in my opinion.

I guess part of the thrill was being able to stand right up close to the fence (as was Exeter)?

Yes I gave away many of my speedway books when I re-located but have slowly replaced them purchasing off ebay. As for my programmes...a sad loss.

If I remember Ivan took an impromptu break during the 1977 season at the resort privately owned by Ricard and Exeter used a facility in his absence which was somewhat ironic considering Ivan's stance regarding the facility White City had been granted that season (among others less publicised since)?

I had a quick flick thru' my Yearbooks edited by Peter Oakes.

Formula One seemed to attract cigarette manufacturers...there was, from memory, "Gold Leaf" Lotus and of course Marlboro (also big sponsors of speedway) and probably the most pleasing looking car was the JPS. Even Brooke Bond got into the act I remember.

Wolves had "Beacon Radio" and Crayford "Ladbrokes" both in 1978.

Pleases me to read that the Cowley track still encourages good racing...was always one of the better tracks in my opinion even though the present one is of a different shape and length. I've been sent some footage of action at Cowley and am looking forward in viewing same.

It was always great when a team declared a 'star rider' in heat 8 expecting to get "guaranteed" points only to get beaten much to the delight of usually the home crowd!

I wish that I had witnessed speedway at the Shay. Visited a few years back but there was no trace of the track despite attempting to use my imagination but the ends had been squared off. I have spoken to Ian Cartwright a number of times in Kilburn and he gave a fascinating insight.

Reminds me of the story that Ivan Mauger told that when he wore his Duckhams personalised race jacket during a second half at Coventry promoter Charles Ochiltree attemped to stop him from racing? Ivan being ivan just ignored him...how times have changed as regards sponsors and apparently they would laugh about that episode years later.

I always thought back in the days of T/S placing a "star man" in heat eight a waste (especially a double T/S) although on occasions it was the only option by studying the programme and later options. Looks to be another interesting meeting in prospect at Cowley?

Ah I remember that now...always thought the name "Happy Faces" a strange if unusual name if I'm honest.

That must make the "Rockets" the first team (1976) to incorporate their sponsors name on the jacket then? LADA appeared in 1979 (?) on both Hull's and Newcastle's team jackets.

I think you are right...emblazoned across the chest but I think that they wore team jackets over the top?

I think that was the late eighties?