steve roberts

I viewed his grave a couple of years ago.

...I recall that there was talk that he may have have joined Halifax prior to Cradley stepping in. Can you imagine a team tracking Penhall & Carter together in the same team!

Rosco was always a bit of a scatterbrain as a rider!

Another very good read...especially enjoyed the article on Dag Lovaas and his recent visit to Oxford (photos supplied by my uncle, one time Oxford track photographer, Keith Lawson).

Very touching story.

I saw Christer on a few occasions...last time riding for Hackney against 'The Rebels' in 1975 when he registered 13 points. He was one ride away from being World Champion in 1972 at Wembley when he ran a last in one of his rides.

The whole situation at Swindon has been a farce and a badly handled Public Relations exercise...but what do you expect when Clark Osborne is involved.

I'm certainly glad that I enjoyed three years watching 'The Rebels' at Wood Lane and visits to Hackney and Wimbledon.

Thanks for that Rob! You would have met my uncle, Keith Lawson, at Dag's recent reunion.

It was rumoured that Harrfeldt was to sign for 'The Rebels' in 1974 but it never materialised. Would have enjoyed watching him but it was not to be.

Not sure if Reg ever rode for 'The Cheetahs'? I recall that they both rode at New Cross some years earlier?

That quite surprises me...didn't know that. Can you recall who was riding for Denmark? I remember Kurt Bogh and Bent Norgaard(?) but am struggling with names. Norway, on the other hand, had many useful riders during that era.

Sadly I think that you are correct despite all the good intentions and that pains me having been a regular at Cowley for 30 plus years and my father from 1949.

However I do remember Preben Rosenkilde who rode for a short while at Oxford in 1972 (as a replacement for the ill-fated Svein Kaasa) on the recommendation of Garry Middleton. He had also ridden for Halifax and West Ham and later turned up at Newport in 1976 but didn't remain long. Was more accomplished on longtracks I seem to recall.

There's an article about Dag Lovaas' recent visit to Cowley in the latest 'Backtrack' magazine and the pictures show Cowley to be in quite a desperate state. I last callled in last year and the stadium was in a bad way...it will require someone with no little money to turn the place around and in the current climate I just can't see that as a possibilty sad to say.

However he did post a couple of strong averages (10+) during his last years spent riding in England.

Remember Neil well. Looked useful at Wimbledon and then allocated to Poole in 1975 and was never the same rider. Rode at Newport briefly in 1976 before signing foe White City and lasted one match and promptly retired.

Yes I well remember the combined Norway/Denmark team of 1972 & 73...formulated to include Denmark's one classy rider at the time Ole Olsen.

...and three plus years when I raised this particular thread!

Excellent article!

Yes the late John Berry was always less than complimentary regarding Stewkesbury and his self driven agenda.

When the Second Division was formed back in 1968 the idea was to produce a constant flow of British talent who many would progress and compete in the higher tier. It was a very successful formula in its formative years and I can only think how many riders who competed at Eastbourne and later turned their talents to Division One, Dave Jessup, Gordon and David Kennett, Malcolm Ballard, Trevor Geer, Bobby McNeil, Paul Gachet, Neil Middleditch, Roger Johns, Steve Weatherley, Eric Dugard and much later the likes of Martin Dugard, Dean Barker and David Norris when the leagues had drifted very much apart. I do wonder if any other team produced so much talent...Belle Vue and Ipswich probably the obvious choices. As a supporter of Oxford I got to see many of these riders at Cowley due to our promotional tie up taking part in the old second halves and think myself very lucky that I was able to enjoy watching so much talent. Of course we also got to see many Peterborough riders (Richard Greer and John Davis instantly come to mind amongst others) who went on to ride in Division One. I do wonder if the demise of the ethic of the old Second Division and later New National League and much later the effect of 'Stewkesbury Plan' began to create the problems British Speedway now faces with the lack of British talent that was once abundant and Britain ruled the world in speedway terms?

...Because it's a question that raises an issue that some on here constantly smack down! Yoo'll have to await for the relevant edition to find out what my question to Martin is?

Hi Tony, I've just sent Martin my question via your editorial email address. Regards

Yes I would agree. I once went to an Olle Nygren Training School and he would start the three day course with a basic introduction to the bike and its controls...nothing fancy but at least some initial guidelines and then you took it on from there and he would advise accordingly throughout the remainder of the course.