steve roberts

I remember Graham Drury signing, if I recall, a three year contract with Oxford but was dispensed with after two years (when Oxford re-entered the British League in 1984). He took the promotion to court and won receiving compensation.

The beauty of speedway, in my view, was that there was once an opportunity to watch meetings run under different formats to add a bit of variety...which I'm sure was unusual as regards most other sports? However with people's tastes changing and being more selective in their choice of entertainment generally it's only the fixtures that 'carry weight' that appear to attract fans now.

...I think that you are right Sid. The taste for meetings other than League meetings has diminished over the years. I used to enjoy the variety of test matches, individuals, Best Pairs, International club matches and 4TT (hated the 3TT format!) as people became more selective in their choice over the years.

...remember a few years back walking around the recreation ground where New Cross Stadium used to be and looking at the demolition taking place at The Den (?) Millwall Football Ground.

Yes I remember all the classics and it was often the only opportunity to see some of the big names other than their obligatory visit with their league team (unless it was Olsen at Cowley!)...but of course with the gradual decrease in teams (or sudden as was the case in the British League over the winter of 1984/85) it became the norm to see the stars on a too regularly basis. Seeing Erik Gundersen at Cowley 6 - 7 times a year removed some of the mystic in my opinion. The national TV used to cover some of the big meetings also...The Spring Classic, Internationale and Grande Prix Finals which used to give the sport a boost as regards attracting a wider audience and help raise the profile. ...and of course the BLRC when it was the prestige meeting before it fell out of favour due to a series of factors.

Test/International matches were once a staple diet in the British Calendar. Would be great if they could be resurrected in some shape or form?

I did read somewhere that Penhall wished that he could have taken part in the 1983 World Final at Norden but of course he made the decision himself to retire after the 1982 World Final...I'm sure a decision he grew to regret in later years.

Does Jason Crump count?

A rider I would have liked to have seen.

...without checking but there was a time that heat 14 was a second reserves race therefore T/S riders were not permitted but there have been many different race formulae down the years it's difficult remembering the details...what with nominated races etc!

...remember 'The Cheetahs' being eight down with three/four heats remaining and winning both matches away at Wimbledon and King's Lynn during the 1984 season...great stuff! The win at King's Lynn particularly got up the nose of Lynn promoter Martin Rogers I recall!

...was only replying to an observation made on a previous post and not making a comparison. ...of course to allow that to happen a Team Manager then had the opportunity to declare riders 1-5 irrespective of average...although Hans never rode as number 3 or 5 (heat 13 home scenario) so I assume that 'The Cheetahs' were operating the R/R facility on that occasion?

If I remember you could have as many T/S as long as you were six points behind and you also had choice of gates. You could even have a double T/S if you so wished in a particular heat.

Interesting scenario...same night speedway. When I used to attend Cowley that concept would have been difficult to accommodate due to the unavailability of the stadium on certain days due to other activities taking priority. Would be interesting if present promotions would be able to meet the criteria suggested?

Some great names from the past!

...poisoned chalace!

Oxford Speedway 1972 - 1992 would be my choice.

Never saw him ride but another gone. RIP

Great post...14 for me (clever little s*d!)

Apparently Frank and Jack had many 'coming togethers'. Frank has gone on record to say that Jack wouldn't compete in some races with him...which has been strongly refuted. Jack wasn't scared of anyone and it's a real shame that he was taken from us far too soon to be able to put his side of the story forward. 'Mad' Malcolm Ballard could also be a handful and didn't get along with the Kennett Brothers apparently. Vaclav Verner was a hard competitor and frightened many riders...but there was no malice as far as I am aware it was just his style of riding!

Carl Askew & Tim Nunan.

...as well as co-promoter at Barrow together with Ivan Mauger (1972?)

...forgot what my question was now!

Many thanks for that!

...may have been when Ove Fundin took him off?