steve roberts

Wasn't there a TV drama with that name that was filmed at Rye House starring Peter Duncan during the seventies?

...a great read!

...during the middle late eighties he was awesome and if the GP series had been in place then he would have been the man the beat. A view shared by John Berry.

Yes Lew Coffin...didn't Bob Kilby start there?

Olle Nygren would run 'Training Schools' at King's Lynn during the seventies and eighties but it was more for the benefit for people like me who wanted just to have a go...although I know that he would run schools for foreign riders which were somewhat more official. As I mentioned earlier 'Speedy' Pete Jarman ran winter schools during the winter of 75/76 at Cowley and Len Silver's schools at Hackney were well received (remember John Noakes and Peter Purvis of 'Blue Peter' fame having a go!) and Garry Middleton used to run schools (Michael Lee attended one such session I remember). Mildenhall, King's Lynn, Rye House and Eastbourne ran schools throughout the early seventies and were rewarded with a flow of riders...some 'schools' however were just an opportunity to test/run a bike with very little instruction.

...I was really looking forward to the meeting that was due to take place at Oxford but was cancelled due to the weather! Saw the Russians ride at Swindon during 1976 when they took on 'The Budgies' and lost heavily I seem to recall?

It's always educational on here...at varying levels of sustained interest! However when you've had a chance to check out back numbers of 'Backtrack' I'll be keen to see evidence of your claim that riders with no experience gaining team slots within a number of weeks during the seventies? Some examples would be beneficial.

...meaning I've moved on rather than read the same old analysis over and over again.

I'm afraid this thread is beginning to lose me...more riders, more teams, more 'stars'? Blimey think I\ll have a lie down somewhere in the dark.

Wasn't that the year (1964) that the Provisional League and National League amalgamated to form the British League (1965)? ...remember getting all exciting on the bus coming home from school the prospect of seeing reigning World Champion Ole Olsen putting in an appearance at Cowley riding for Wolves (1972)...all too rare as subsequent seasons proved! Also marvelling at the power house side, Belle Vue, at Cowley albeit with the absent Ivan Mauger (broken wrists?) but ably assisted by his replacement Ray 'World Cup Willie' Wilson...and Soldier Boy in tow adding to the entertainment! Great days! Glad I experienced the seventies (speedway's last 'Golden Age')...just wished I had seen some of the sixties stuff (one match that I don't recall unfortunately!)

Got most of 'The Memories' series of DVDs...great stuff! Apparently there is soon to be released footage of Oxford & White City 'Rebels'...can't wait!

To be fair the confusion lay in your comment in an earlier post which has caused debate "There are riders who would have been 9pt heat leaders in the British League in the 70's and 80's who wouldn't get a team in Poland" ...however since expanding upon your reasoning In subsequent posts I can begin to understand where you are coming from if not totally agreeing. I remember the Leicester team of 1973 which consisted of heat leaders Wilson, Boulger & Jessup...the opposite number one (never mind the heat leaders) had his hands full taking that trio on!

...to that I agree! Again some great names there Sid! Brings back so many memories...except Middleton could rarely beat Ashby but could Briggo! Of those you list the only rider I didn't see ride was Dave Younghusband (Booey's mate) who if I remember suffered a badly broken leg and attempted a comeback with Cradley United (as they were known then) but which didn't last.

...I was about to write same but you beat me to it! Some great names there Sid! Quality endues and whatever the era the cream will always rise to the top despite differing bikes/tracks etc as competent motor cyclists adapt whatever the criteria however one could argue that many of todays riders would struggle on less manageable bikes of the past unlike today (to quote Olle Nygren amongst others) where modern bikes are relatively easy to ride...in relative terms. It's always difficult, if nigh impossible, to judge different eras as there are so many factors involved.

I understand what you are implying regarding the Polish League being the strongest in the world today and differing standards but the analogy that some 'nine point' riders from the seventies and eighties (of which the list is both impressive and extensive) would struggle to get a team place is quite absurd. Again some examples of who you'd think would struggle would be useful so that it can be properly debated on it's merits. One has to remember that the BSPA in their wisdom passed legislation that required a team to declare a 'junior' within the team (1986) which ran for a number of seasons in an attempt to promote home grown talent. Personally I felt that the initiative, although commendable in theory, fell short of what it was trying to achieve and many riders struggled...although, if I remember, the one 'star' to emerge was Sean Wilson at Sheffield. I'll await with interest when you manage to check back numbers of 'Backtrack'...I'm still trawling thru' mine!

Knew her quite well and remember the time that she told me that Garry Middleton gave her a birthday card.

Remember Kevin Young...sacked by Oxford for missing a Northern Tour if I recall? Kevin Pope I recall as a junior at Reading (Tilehurst) before he moved over to Swindon...I, too, missed the second halves. By the way I'm still awaiting, like Aces51, BWitcher to give some examples to substantiate his claims "You could turn up, ride a bike for the first time and be in a team within a few weeks...all from the 70's." I have trawled my back numbers of the magazine 'Backtrack' and haven't, as yet, been able to trace 'numerous examples'? Funny, isn't it Sid, but I've been criticised in the past for passing comment on present day speedway and yet someone who never attended speedway during the seventies can pass judgement without rebuke?

RIP

Forgot Mitch Shirra!

Trevor Charley comes to mind (no idea what happened to him?) but I guess one of the higher profile under-aged riders was Neil Evitts...before he got found out. Remember watching Colin Richardson and Michael Lee as fifteen year olds riding in exhibition races at Cowley and of course school boy grass tracking gave youngsters an early induction into riding motor bikes before progressing to the rigours of speedway. I don't subscribe to the view that it was common for riders during the seventies to turn up with no experience and within weeks progressing to a team slot...if it happened it was a rare occurrence. By the way I have a DVD of Briggo jogging dressed in a track suit...not sure if it was for the benefit of the camera but I do recall reading that he had to exercise to keep his weight down to a reasonable level.

Of course Doncaster, Screen, Loram and Tatum were all accomplished motor cyclists when they turned their hand to speedway but one had to admire them in forfeiting the traditional route and joining the big boys! I did some checking on the 'Mad Wellie' and although he appeared for Oxford (NL) and Swindon (BL) in 1977 he had in fact commenced riding down at Weymouth in 1973 but turned to grass track before taking up the sport again in 1976 during second halves at Swindon. Pip Lamb made his debut for Oxford during May 1976 after having trials at the Pete Jarman Training School (to which I attended) at Cowley during the previous Winter but he was another accomplished grass track exponent before turning his hand to speedway. By the way Sid...thoroughly enjoyed the Bob Kilby book!

I don't recall it being common practice and don't remember specific examples at Oxford (other than the example I earlier gave) during 1972 -75, Swindon (perhaps Sid could confirm?) White City 1976 - 78 and Eastbourne (both NL and BL eras) during the seventies. It obviously must have happened on occasion as the old British League Division Two/National League required fresh new developing talent as was the remit within the lower league back then. Of course that's no longer the case, as has been the case for many years now, what with the shift in emphasise utilising foreign riders which has obviously squeezed out potential home base talent. It would make for an interesting survey?

Good point...when I first attended speedway white line riding was common place but as time moved on riders began to adopt a different technique due to differing styles and/or bike development.

I recall exceptional sixteen year old talents...Chris Morton, Michael Lee & Kenny Carter to name three...but I don't recall that it was as common a practice back then...certainly not in the upper league although the lower league's criteria was somewhat different as quoted in a previous post having personally closely followed Eastbourne & Peterborough whose riders often took part in second halves at Cowley due to the promotional tie up during that period. Certain promotions (Belle Vue & Ellesmere Port come easily to mind) ran dedicated Training Schools in an attempt to speed up development and give aspiring riders an opportunity to ride. Eastbourne (Thru' Arthur Nutley) would scour the Kent Grasstrack scene and give second half opportunities to promising talent. I shall re-read some of the back numbers of said magazine as well as the 'Classic' magazine to re-jog the memory cells as it was a period that I was very familiar with having attended many tracks during that era.

...that may have been true during the early sixties with the formation of the Provincial League and the later old Second Division (1968) when there was a shortage of riders to fill the teams and the second tier of racing was basically a development league before the criteria began to change during the middle seventies. However during my formative "Rebel' years (1972 - 75) I can only recall one rider who fitted that criteria and that was Julian Wigg (Simon's brother) who first appeared in second halves (1972) riding his grass track bike and late in the season putting in an appearance for the team at, if I remember correctly, Sheffield.