steve roberts

According to Peter Oakes' 'Who's Who of World Speedway' "Jimmy originally wrote for a trial at Hackney in 1939 but war broke out and he added to his age to join up. On the resumption of speedway in 1947 after the war he rode in the first meeting at Southampton"

...remember the 2002 season when Oxford were denied the opportunity in taking part in the play-offs (as reigning champions) because Peterborough were unable to run the match against Oxford before the designated cut off date. Now that was farcical! Call me old fashioned but I do think it important that ALL matches be run so that the final league table looks complete and orderly. Nothing worse than a final table showing an incomplete picture.

I've checked on Tony Atkin...he rode at Newport in 2010, Stoke (2011 & 2012) and Buxton (2013 & 2014) Thanks to Alan Robertson's wonderful publication 'British Speedway Leagues 1991 - 2014'

...that's impressive. From memory my oldest programme(s) dated from the late forties and I had many World Finals and firsts of various tracks and from abroad...sigh!

...and I have my Oxford 'Cheetahs' badge. I'm sure I have a White City 'Rebels' badge somewhere?

...I had the complete collection of Speedway Stars (1972 - 2004ish) and Express and Mail. Such a shame as I have to rely on the old grey matter...easier said than done sometimes!! Thank goodness for the 'Backtrack' and 'Classic' magazines which give the old memory cells a nudge!

Had a chat with David Mason many years ago at Cowley. He came across as a very pleasant young man and had nothing but praise for Len Silver who had offered him a prolonged opportunity in 'The Rockets' team at the time.

As a matter of interest do people still collect speedway programmes, badges etc? I had an extensive collection of programmes but reluctantly sold them due to re-location and lack of space...something that I have regretted ever since. I had a few badges (remember those with the year bars?) I gave away many speedway books but have started to replace them and they are a source of continual reference. The auto-biographical books that are in abundance now make for very interesting reading and thought provoking quite often. My brother had a collection of shale from tracks around the country (including Wembley!) in those little 'tic-tac' mint perspex boxes! I wish that I had a garage because the thought of purchasing an original JAP or Jawa speedway bike would fulfil a dream!

Colin 'Joe' Gooddy (1955-78) and Mike Broadbank (1955-77) are two worthy of a mention.

Garry Middleton was a master in getting an opponent excluding by nudging the tapes and the rider next to him charging thru' the tapes and getting excluding for his trouble!

...reminds me of the story that when the late Billy Sanders was lined up at the gate one of the marshalls literally grabbed the rear bar that used to go over the top of the rear mudguard thus raising Billy's rear wheel just as the tapes went up thus putting him at a disadvantage!

...happened at Cowley when a certain rider was without a motor and a collection was held only to learn that he owned a jet ski!

I remember watching the 1989 Commonwealth Final on Channel Four (?) and the amounts quoted were ridiculous...I recall either Martin Dugard or Troy Butler saying if they were earning a fraction of what was quoted it would have been nearer the truth. I would like to know where the researchers got their facts from?

I earn £8-08 an hour...the reality of working within the tourist and leisure industry in York!

I vaguely recall a grading system was tried some years back?

I'm just glad that during my thirty plus years following the sport that I didn't analyse the sport in that greater detail and was not critical and/or cynical of a replacement rider facility...whether T/S. Res/R or R/R. I remember many a match when a result was snatched due to a tactical move and the Team Manager attempting to use his resources as best as he could. I also recall matches slipping away due to rider switching and replacement of same by the opposition. One went away from a meeting often feeling elated or deflated but that was the essence of the sport. To me it was part and parcel of the sport and added to the entertainment value and kept us fans on the terraces guessing attempting to pre-empt the next tactical move. How one rejoiced when an opposition tactical switch failed and a rider of lesser ability beat the incoming replacement rider or when a Team Manager declared a starting line up whereby heat leaders were able to ride in any position to combat possible tactical moves or when Team Mangers were able to place whoever in what gate in which to gain a potential advantage...and would we complain on the terraces if we had felt that the Team Manager had played a wrong card during any particular match (as Cyril Maidment experienced on one such occasion!)

So you're suggesting from your post that it wouldn't be an issue today if the sport was in a much healthier state irrespective of whether the ruling is deemed fair or not?

...because people didn't think it an issue then. In all my years attending speedway during the 70's, 80's, 90's and early 00's I don't recall many people criticising the old T/S rule...certainly not amongst those that I used to stand with. In fact it was often a talking point with fans trying to pre-empt the Team Manager's next tactical move. It wasn't until the introduction of the 'Double Points' scenario that began to evoke comment amongst some quarters...certainly with those that I attended with! We've been here before but the rule was introduced, if I recall, back in 1955 (?) and stood the test of time. Whether it was deemed fair or not is another matter but it was looked upon as one of the rulings of speedway together with the R/R regulation and Guest Riders (which did cause many a discussion!)

...assets have always been ambiguous within speedway circles.

...have thoroughly enjoyed reading Lee Kilby's book on Bob. Great servant and a well respected individual.

...remember a certain Malcolm Simmons whilst riding for Swindon deliberately dropping points so as to achieve an average enabling him to drop down a division...the things some riders would do to avoid riding for 'The Budgies!'

Hasse Holmqvist was one of my favourites at Cowley during 1973. Recall the occasion that he pulled up outside my house with his large caravan and the family got out to make a cuppa! Unfortunately due to illness and other factors he was unable to take his place in the Oxford line-up during 1975 (he rode in just three matches if I am correct?) and 'The Rebels' used the R/R/R to cover during his absence but did attempt to replace him with the likes of Helge Langli and the woefully inadequate Eddie Davidsson.

As John Berry used to say "It isn't that the fans have turned their back on the sport but that speedway has turned it's back on the fans!"

What's very evident reading the book is how important it was having a local lad ride for your team...something, unfortunately, so too rare nowadays. Bob was well known and respected around Swindon and came across as a thoroughly nice bloke. Having read the book I feel that I know him better now and am glad that he put in two years at Cowley for which I am grateful.

...recall the days that Oxford had a track spare it was abused and the bike stripped for its parts. Therefore the idea didn't last long.