steve roberts

Very sad news indeed. A great servant and respected rider and someone I shall always remember with affection and fond memories. Sad to think that my first year of following speedway at Cowley (1972) five of the original starting line-up are sadly no longer with us. Garry Middleton, Oyvind S. Berg, Ken McKinlay, Svein Kaasa and now 'Joe' Gooddy. May he R.I.P.

I'm sure it is as I painted a picture of him in very similar, if not the same, leathers for a friend at the time.

Having read Lee Kilby's superb book on father Bob it became apparent that Bob was more of a team player (like many others during that and subsequent periods) and found it difficult to motivate himself on the World stage.

Visited his grave a couple of years ago at Farnley.

Never saw him ride but aware of his off-off track history.

Yes during the 1977 World Final he was a leading a vital race but 'aquaplaned' and the following Ole Olsen did the same. Ivan Mauger was trailing but in the delayed re-reun (Boulger was excluded) he won thereby picking up his fifth title.

I seem to remember that he scored five points...I was there for that final.

He certainly livened up Oxford when he rode as a 'Rebel' in 1972!

Apparently a David Aldana who was a flat track expert put in some exhibition laps at Cowley back in 2011 after speedway had ceased there. Perhaps someone could confirm?

As like a similar thread the unfortunate Arne Pander would have graced any World Final if injuries hadn't slowed him down.

So many to choose from but Arne Pander may well have scaled the heights if injuries hadn't continually knocked him back.

I obviously have a biased opinion but with Cowley's longevity as a speedway venue I would hope that there maybe some interest?

That's a shame.

Any chance, Tony, releasing a DVD on White City and Oxford?

Also recall attending a double header at Wolves in 1984 when Oxford were on second to Halifax and travelling back at the dead of night one cold and misty late October night...but that's the memories I carry when remembering my times travelling about the country and what made it so special.

I've just sent Martin another question. I'll await with keen interest regarding his views in the next edition...great column and I hope that others feel inclined putting questions to him.

Never a fan of Pedersen even before he turned out during an ill-fated move to Cowley where on his very first meeting for Oxford deliberately rode thru' Lee Richardson at Coventry. Only lasted half a season at Oxford after an infamous row in the pits at Peterborough with then promoter Nigel Wagstaff. Personally I was glad to see the back of him as I grew tired watching his 'niggling' style of riding.

Super DVD...have it in my collection!

Remember it well...at least it gave me a free run thru' Western Avenue and the M40 back home to Oxford.

He was a poor rider when he signed for 'The Cheetahs' and even with the help and assistance of Hans Nielsen never adapted to Cowley and didn't last very long.

Typical Pedersen manoeuvre. Never known him to be anything different.

I attended two 'Live' American Football games at Wembley back during the eighties and talk about drawn out. All the 'off pitch' shenanigans I found distracting and prefered watching edited highlights when I used to follow the sport but no longer do.

My ideal scenario would be a meeting that consisted of 20 heats. Now whether that would be a match consisting of 13, 14, 15 or 16 heats and a second half so be it. Value for money is my main criteria and that may make me a 'dinosuar' but dinosaurs were pretty succesful within the grand scheme of things.

At the risk of repeating my personal scenario I was a regular at Cowley for over thirty years and the track was within walking distance of my various homes at the time. However since I moved to York (2004) that criteria seriously altered. The reality would now require driving to either Sheffield, Scunthorpe and/or Redcar which would result in having to fork out serious petrol money (plus wear & tear) to attend a meeting that consists of 15 (?) races with admission prices at £15 (?). The sums just don't add up as far as I'm concerned. I've given up talking about speedway to locals as York being a non-speedway town nobody has ever heard of it so even sharing expensives is out of the question. I'm sure that now the depressing regularity of track closures around the country has also influenced whether 'fans' choose to travel distances to follow their once favoured sport?

Remember the late Rob Woffenden placing Castrol 'R' in his petrol driven lawn mower so that he could enjoy the whiff when cutting the lawn!