steve roberts

I recall Ivan Mauger appearing with his Gold Bike and on another occasion Larry Ross whilst a 'Don'.

Recall Oxford during their last Championship winning season (2001) riding at Ipswich in a 'double' header'...one was a league match in which, if I remember we drew therefore securing the championship (much to the annoyance of SKY whose cameras weren't present!) and a semi-final Knock Out Cup tie which resulted in a two point defeat and because of a poor home leg we weren't able to progress to the final. Talk about two high pressure fixtures back to back!

I remember painting all those sponsors logos on a Britain's Speedway Rider model to resemble Hans.

Remember Hans Nielsen at a pre-season practice session at Cowley wearing black leathers before his sponsor's logos were to be added. He later passed on a set to Oxford junior Phil Roberts who wore them for a couple of years before injury forced him to retire. Halifax's Tom Godel wearing a pair of Dag Lovaas's leathers with the name Dag removed. Ole Olsen's yellow and orange leathers (c1972) with the Wolves emblem incorporated within the design. His Danish leathers worn during the 1972 World Final.

Chris & Geoff Pusey c1973 with their polka dot creations. Chris basically blue and Geoff red. Also Peter Collins in his pastel coloured leathers (1974?) Always thought Ivan's Red, White & Black leathers were rather good representing his Canterbury (NZ) upbringing but also were 'The Aces' colours by chance...he wore them for many years. Robert Pfetzing's 'Five Flavours' variations. Bert Harkins' tarten mustard set of leathers. Reg Luckhurst's Golden Boots...before boots were covered over by leathers.

Yes the Sunday People who desperately tried to make a serial from it's initial 'head-line' hitting editorial!

The very first World Final there was alleged collusion between the eventual winner Lionel Van Pragg and Eric Langton (whose grave I recently visited) You only need to read articles in magazines and books to realise that speedway has been riddled with deals and favours. Nothing new really despite the 'shock and horror' observations! My uncle saw a deal being struck in the pits at Leicester many years ago involving World Class competitors and it was an episode highlighted in one of John Berry's books which I backed up in conservation with John at the time.

Remember those when he was a 'Cheetah'!

Some great memories there!

Without quoting all the exact details (I'm working on my model railway after having just walked the dog!) although I can lift a quote from the said book "I (Ermolenko) let Loram pass me around the outside and I stayed in second, with Billy in third behind me...Nielsen could only make the B Final , while Billy and I, Greg Hancock and Loram, we were all in the A Final..." He goes on to quote "...What I didn't realise was that Loram and Chris Louis, who were both in a similar situation to me, had their one little arrangement going. I got caught up in something that I didn't know about" It's an interesting chapter in his book and well worth a read...far too complicated to explain the whole scenaio but enlightening nevertheless as Sam explains that it went back were he felt that the Yanks had been screwed up during a World Pairs semi-final back in 1991.

There was 'collusion' during the 1996 GP Final round when Hans was 'ganged up upon' allowing Billy Hamill to become champion. Can't recall the exact scenario without checking the facts but Sam Ermolenko was involved as he explained in great detail in his book "Breaking The Limits"

Remember the occasion when Ivan wore different leathers each time he took to the track during Canterbury's celebration of 50 years of speedway in 1973!

Agree...Nielsen was regarded as the favourite from what I remember based on his British League record and other factors.

Apparently there was an item on the local Yorkshire news that follows the national news at 6-30pm last night. I didn't watch it as I can't abide it's presenter Harry Gration!

Don't forget Billy Sanders who was genuinely thought to be a threat in 1984 but failed at Gothenburg after a superlative effort in the previous year's World Pairs Final at the same venue. Billy was riding probably at his peak during 1984 and early 1985 before he tragically took his own life.

I saw much of Hans being an Oxford fan of many years and was privileged to see him ride all over the UK as well as abroad. I first saw him during his first year in Britain and it was obvious then that there was something special about him. I place him among the greats and his team leadership skill was second to none and to watch him team ride was a joy to behold.

I saw Tomasz ride on only a number of occasions whilst with Ipswich but I have to say he used to impress me when I used to watch him competing in the GP's!

Kelly Moran was quoted as saying same about lay down bikes years ago when he gave one a trial...and there was no one more skillfull on a bike than Kelly!

Apologies! For some strange reason I got him mixed up with Phil Woodcock! Don't ask me how!!

I've often thought when the modern leg trailing style became the adopted 'norm' and I guess it's when the Americans graced our shores during the late seventies' early eighties? I remember the late Nigel Sparshott leg trailing and it was odd watching Henny Kroeze during the 1987 World Final in Amsterdam (seeded) when he was the only competitor riding the 'old fashioned' foot forward!

I remember Dave Jessup once wearing tasselled leathers. Personally I felt it didn't match Dave's very conservative image as he wasn't the most flamboyant of riders although very successful over a number of seasons. However even when black leathers were all the vogue (I perhaps saw the last years before coloured leathers were the norm) I was able to differentiate the riders by their distinctive riding styles (foot forward variety) and helmets, masks and flowing scarves. Tony Lomas who was recently interview in the excellent 'Backtrack' magazine used to wear highly polish black leathers as did Ken McKinlay with his socks tucked over the top of his boots...all individual distinctions. Also football shirts that some riders preferred. 'Mad' Malcolm Ballard used to wear an awful cream coloured top over his black leathers I recall!

...they were a feature of the team leathers adopted by Mildenhall if I recall. Bob Kilby also had a set one season.

Ivan Mauger's green and white Exeter leathers took some beating. The days of individual leathers where it was so much easier identifying the rider. Bert Harkins mentioned in his book that when team racing took off in the States fans found it difficult recognising their favourites after being used to watching them in their chosen race suits...and before anybody comments I am well aware why team suits were introduced although it's nothing new as various teams (Mildenhall, Leicester, King's Lynn, Oxford, Rye House, Swindon, Poole etc etc) did adopt team leathers way back during the sixties and seventies.

...and Ed Stewart of course! Just been reading Bert Harkins' book and his time spent as a 'Lion'. Good read!

I know that he rode for Romford. Have a feeling that there was an interview with him in either 'Backtrack' or 'Classic' Magazine?