steve roberts

Speaking of Germans Klaus Lausch could have made it in Britain. Was more than useful riding for Oxford in 1985 (he actually beat Michael Lee at King's Lynn) but I guess that the lucrative longtrack and later engine tuning scene proved more attractive.

Remember Helge Langli riding a blinder of a race at Cowley and beating Leicester's Ray Wilson. Could have gone on to better things but if I recall picked up an off-track injury and never surfaced again in Britain.

I actually gave some presentations back in the noughties at some primary schools and it was all pretty low key stuff and I could have done with some real merchandise ie a bike to grab the attention and/or enthusiasm of the kids. Personally I felt it really didn't achieve much and could have done with some support from the management...something along the lines that you suggset.

Visited High Beech some years ago as I was passing thru' and stopped off at the King's Oak pub and viewed the plaque in the adjacent visitor centre. Glad that I did visiting the site that most historians agree that speedway in this country started.

I guess that one time 'Rebel' Bob Kilby was my all-time favourite 'Budgie'. Having read his son's (Lee) book only re-emphasises that view. A tremendous read giving a great insight into Bob...and a great character to boot!

He had a reasonable introductory season at Eastbourne in 1980(?) and looked useful.

Raymond Arthur (Billy) Bales and Ray Bales...however I realise I should have placed this entry in the other thread! Confused or what!

Eugeniusz Blaszak.

Rob Grant

When Oxford put on an 'Eagles' vs. 'Panthers' meeting Barney was guesting for one of the teams (can't recall who) and he was getting upto all sorts of antics on track with the opposition. Great days at Cowley when we had meaningful second halves due to our promotional attachement with the aforementioned teams.

...Neither did Steve Bastable very much when he rode for 'The Bees' and Coventry Team Manager Vic White felt that Olsen often undermined him. Bo Petersen was another who got the full wrath of Olsen because he didn't 'toe the line'. Trouble with Olsen he was/is a control freak.

Totally agree Rob...and as a Wolves rider he rarely put in an appearance at Cowley (1975 especially) treating the fans with contempt as was highlighted in one of the Oxford programmes's editorial at the time. Thankfully he refused to be allocated to Oxford in 1975 and we got the sublime Dag Lovaas instead after a long complicated rider shuffle.

Am I right in assuming that Howard Cole was Welsh?

The late Kelvin Mullarkey was a hard rider and I remember one such occasion where he and Barney Kennett (another shrinking violet) had a coming together!

If I remember Alan was born a Kiwi but took out Australian citizenship...or was it the other way round?

Yes Sid...used to enjoy the second halves!

Here goes with my choice as regards 'the enemy from down the road'...'The Budgies'! Martin Ashby, Bob Kilby, Mike Broadbank, Mike Keen, David Ashby, Geioff Bouchard, Bobby McNeil, Edgar Stangeland, Norman Hunter, Clive Hitch, Brian Leonard, Mick Handley, Barry Briggs, Jan Andersson.

I believe that both Chris Julian and Blewitt fall into the same category?

Not the same thing however I remember Wiggy taking out a Dutch license and Marvyn Cox a German one purely for convenience due to problems they had experienced with the governing ACU within the UK.

I think that that 'rumours' escalated because, obviously, Vladimir was barred from the World stage during 1972 Valeri suddenly appeared and rode in the 1972 World Final at Wembley and no one in the west was aware of him. As a matter of interest he was involved in the Briggo crash. In 1973 Valeri rode again in the World Final but didn't ride in Britain during the Daily Mirror World League competition whereas brother Vlad did. However Valeri did then ride at Wembley that same year during the World Team Cup whereas Vlad didn't. Of couse they eventually teamed up together in Britain during the test series in 1974 and the rumour makers were made to eat their words. I recall that it was all good fun back then and speculation rife but of course proved pure nonsense.

I think that westerners were suspicious because they hadn't apeared together outside the communist block together which is how the story came about I guess. Good old 'cold war' speculation and mistique which then surrounded the old Eastern block. I do remember reading about it so I'm sure it wasn't just my memory playing tricks. May have been Dave Lanning who was always upto a trick ot two!

I recall that Garry Middleton was instrumental in getting Gerhard a team place at Coventry in 1973.

I believe Alan Mogridge (?) did at one time?

Yes I'm sure he did and if I recall it was Jan Andersson who recommended him to 'The Robins' as they rode for the same Swedish team.

Goes back to when Vladimir received a years ban after using nitro during the 1971 World Final. Valeri then suddenly appeared on the international scene in 1972 and for a couple of years they never appeared together in a meeting in the west and a conspiracy theory began to develop that they were one in the same...hard to believe I know but I do remember the rumours and counter rumours flying around at the time. If I remember they eventually appeared together in Britain during a test series in 1974...unfortunately the Oxford meeting was cancelled and it wasn't until 1976 that I got to see the Russians in action (Swindon) Good story if nothing else and probably fabricated by mischeivious western journalists at the time!