steve roberts

...remember it being played at Cowley during the Wagstaff years.

...Kai Niemi.

Ivan Mauger was quoted as saying that any one of the Poles could have won the 1970 World Final in which he claimed his triple crown. They were certainly a different proposition on the East European circuits...often regarded a grave yard for the Brits back then.

The British Final was always a difficult stepping stone back then...especially when the Anzacs took part. Terry Betts was another who only made the one appearance.

...he was one rider I never saw ride.

I remember during Nigel Wagstaff's tenure at Cowley each rider had a tune/song allocated to them and was played prior to the meeting...never really caught on.

...I was fortunate and saw the likes of Reidar Eide, Dag & Ulf Lovass. the late Svein Kaasa, Edgar Stangeland etc etc. ...I guess it's the way public forums develop and conversations drift along. You only need to view some of the EU and/or political stuff to see how the discussion takes some very strange twists!

My thread my rules!

...remember Gary Glitter's 'Rock 'n' Roll' was often played during American Football matches...one team in particular (can't remember who) but was dropped after allegations were made against him.

Mike was offered a place in the Eastbourne side that joined the BL in 1979 after the closure of Wood Lane but declined and was, if I recall, signed by the Cradley Heath promotion and loaned out to their sister team Nottingham and not, to my then annoyance, their other sister team Oxford! Yes certainly great days when the old Second Division/National League produced many great talents.

...all great stuff but I'll pass on Manilow!

...exactly Sid! Mike was the inspiration that season (replacing the injured Paul Gachet) and was often a match winner especially at Hull which would have wound Ian Thomas up (glad to say). Personally I feel Mike doesn't get the full credit he deserves. A very accomplished rider for Barrow, Eastbourne, White City and Nottingham over many years. At least he gets praise from the late Lee Dunton in a recent edition of 'Backtrack' but an interview with Mike would be appreciated...over to you Rob! Incidentally Dag's leathers took part during the 1977 season...worn by Norway's Tom Godal!

...and what a year that was watching 'The Rebels' lift the title!

...never rated Gunnestad. A section of the third bend crowd at Cowley christened him "Lars(t) Again" because he was often trailing having missed the gate.

Most definitely...Hans would have excelled in a GP format at his peak and would have dominated the series.

It's astonishing to think that Norway back in the seventies were able to declare a national team competing during world series tournaments whereas Denmark were unable to do so. In fact the 1973 series they were entitled Norway/Denmark to give Ole Olsen the opportunity to take part (and Kurt Bogh if I recall?) How times have changed. One of my favourite Norwegian riders was Oyvind S Berg.

Personally the three most outstanding Norwegians have been Sverre Harrfeldt, Dag Lovaas and Reidar Eide...certainly based on British League experience. I guess Rune Holt may well qualify...or is he a Pole?...but I'd be interested in other's views?

The beauty and romance of the traditional One-Off World Final was that most riders at each season's commencement could, in theory, make the World Final. As Ivan Mauger has often been quoted today's GP series is basically an invitation competition open to a few individuals.

Again...great stuff! I was there and enjoyed watching the highlighted programme...didn't need to be shown live back then!

I was at Arlington on the occasion that he turned up with an almighty hangover (Wimbledon) and rode, if I recall, in two races falling off in both before being withdrawn from the rest of the meeting. He had just returned from the States if I remember correctly.

I have to admit I based my observations on not having seen many of the Yanks on a regular basis during the early eighties when Oxford were competing in the National League. Out of the four I saw Kelly ride the most as I used to go to Eastbourne quite often followed by John Cook. Both massive entertainers (again this is how I've categorised them). Never saw much of Shawn...never really excelled at Cowley to which he admitted was never a favourite track of his. Although seeing Sigalos score a fifteen point maximum from the reserve berth at Swindon during 1979 I viewed him very much as a gater...my personal opinion. 'The Eagles' finished well down the table (fourth from bottom?) despite, as you say, having a top four that was on par with most that season. A missed opportunity for Eastbourne that season in gaining some silverware particularly as Kennett, Moran and Preston all moved on the following season...Kennett to King's Lynn and both Moran and Preston to the States.

Never a great fan of Sigalos but I would rate Kelly as the most talented followed by the unpredictable John Cook and then Shawn.

Of course very different to a bet but I recall Dave Lanning placing an insurance or some such thing on Reading winning the 1980 League Championship which accumulated winnings of £50,000 divided amongst the riders...after Dave took the promoters to court as they attempted to with hold his share and won!

I saw Kelly ride throughout his career...Hull (more often than not for Eastbourne) and eventually his last season at Swindon when he was no longer the star rider he once was. A massive talent and I read that Alan Wilkinson wanted to take him under his wing before he was so cruelly struck down.

...yes I followed them to Eastbourne as well.