steve roberts

Bought it when it first appeared and as you say a great read!

Hi Rob...yes it was a fascinating article and brought back so many happy memories for one who made the weekly trek to Wood Lane for three years. I'd be interested in reading what Mike would have to say about his weekly jaunts up to Barrow from his Exeter home. Last I heard he was an electrician (?) down in his native Devon. In my view he was very instrumental in the successful championship winning team as well as his undoubted input at Arlington. Kai had tremendous ability and I believe could have achieved more but a great talent all the same...a great little competitor.

I think Nigel De'Ath may have been the Oxford mascot once?

An interview with Kai Niemi would prove interesting. He joined 'The Rebels' early during the 1976 season to replace Rickard Hellsen (who never adjusted to the track after a useful year previously at Cowley) and one could see immediately the potential. Always remember the first meeting of the 1977 season at White City (King's Lynn) where he passed both Michael Lee and Terry Betts (one on the outside the other the inside) during one lap...great stuff!

Are they not included any longer? They used to be I'm sure?

They also count towards formulating a rider's average.

There used to be a Grasstrack at Sandford-on-Thames (never been able to locate the site) prior to the promotion opening up at Cowley just before the war. I think I'm right in that some meetings were held early during the war at Oxford but they soon came to an end and speedway re-opened in 1949 in which Dad went to the first meeting.

I recognise Jimmy Nilsen ( emigrated to the States if I recall?), Kelvin Tatum, Craig Hodgson (died tragically?), Sean Wilson, Darren Pearson, Paul Bentley and Simon Green (?)

Not at all although Oxford was always deemed a fair track offering little in the way of home track advantage unlike some tracks. Oxford, for whatever reason, just didn't perform well enough on their home track during 1990 (I recall Wiggy developing a complex about Cowley) to warrant a serious challenge at the championship...as explained in said book quoted...although their away form was exceptional. Reading became champions which was an admirable achievement and Oxford were left 'licking their wounds' over a poor home record which cost them dearly in the final analysis.

There is some truth in that...taken literally! To quote from the book 'The History of Oxford Speedway' "...Reading emerged as Champions, and the Cheetahs were left thinking how different things could have been had they not suffered that string of home defeats in July and August, since their away record was the best in the league"

...not sure how I can put it any other way personally. I was not questioning Reading's Championship win but the fact that Oxford's home form was poor...which is what my initial post highlighted...and ultimately cost them any chance of the championship that season but that their away form was impressive (best in the league in fact)

You're not reading my initial comment as it's not meant to be a criticism on Reading who were worthy winners that year. To quote from my initial post "It was their home form that tended to let them down" My comment was highlighting Oxford's poor home form but that their away from was unquestionable during that particular season and was, in fact, the best in the league hence why Oxford's tally of Match Bonus Points (which is what was being discussed) was generally healthy during 'The Nielsen Years' because the team travelled well. Their record at home was only nine wins with one draw...the only two teams with a worse home record that season were Coventry and King's Lynn. For the record Reading - Played 32 Won 13 Drew 1 Lost 2 For 827 Against 609 Won 6 Drew 2 Lost 8 For 685.5 Against 751.5 Bonus 13 Points 54 Oxford - Played 32 Won 9 Drew 1 Lost 6 For 764 Against 672 Won 8 Drew 1 Lost 7 For 703 Against 733 Bonus 10 Points 46 The record books show Reading as Champions and Oxford fourth. I wasn't questioning Reading's other achievements that year which were admirable to say the least. To summarise I was only highlighting Oxford's poor home form compared to their away form and that a couple of 'nicked' home wins could have made things different...but that's speedway.

Just compare the away records of Oxford and Reading. Oxford won eight and drew one (points For 703 Against 733) - Reading six and two (685.5 and 751.5). As I stated it was Oxford's home record that let them down. If they had beaten Reading at home in the A & B matches (plus bonus points) they would have been Champions....it was that close.

I'm sure that I'm correct but the last rider to ride a JAP in the traditional Speedway World Final was Dag Lovaas in 1974?

...I think I must be one of the few people who enjoyed the Two Day World Final...but then I was a Hans fan!

Thankfully Oxford were always competitive during the 'Nielsen Years' and generally put up good performances away from home...if anything sometimes better than at home. Should have won the 1990 Championship but their home record tended to let them down. Their away record was better than most during that particular season.

Interesting that there was only ten minutes given over to the Longtrack Final...but have to admit it that form of racing never appealed to me personally but if I had seen it live I may have thought differently but probably not?

Agreed...the dreaded average! It's a way that many statistics are arrived at by using the average and that can be far removed from the reality.

...I guess that the Yanks won then?

Tatum, Dugard, Screen and Louis...I'm guessing that Denmark won!

...and Ivan Mauger!

As I've said previously it's all very interesting the ongoing debate of the T/S ruling. It was first introduced in 1955 and in all my years of attending speedway I never really remember people questioning the facility at the time...other than the odd grumble when it was utilised during heat eight. Perhaps people have become more subjective and/or cynical and question things more now but it was never really an issue in my experience...infact we used to enjoy pre-empting the T/M's next move...unlike the question of 'Guest Riders' and the 'Rider Replacement Rule' which often raised concerns and/or criticisms.

Some good points but totally disagree with your views over Hans. He struggled early on adjusting to the big occasion but after he won his first final he was as good as any other competitor and if the Grand Prix had been running during the eighties he would have achieved more Championship wins as he was the most consistent rider of that era. Whether he would have won titles within a different era? Who knows but personally I would say a very definate yes. Remember reading an article when Olsen was grumbling to Ivan Mauger about what Nielsen had done to him in a race during one of their encounters on track so I have no hesitation in saying that Hans would have been up to anyone's measure whatever the era. Erik was a different rider all together. Less consistent but was able to raise himself on the big occasion and having Olsen in his camp helped him tremendously from a mental point of view...although Olsen's presence was ethically wrong (as Erik later admitted) as it compromised the role Olsen had at the time as Danish Team Manager. All very speculative at the end of the day but good debating all the same.

Fabulous! Remember watching it and my brother recorded it on an audio reel to reel tape recorder!

Sid how do you rate Sanders and Phil Crump when both were at their peak? Personally I thought that Crump was a better league man and Sanders the international version. Billy seemed to loose his way when he moved away from Ipswich but came back stronger when he returned to 'The Witches'. Phil I felt was consistently better in the British League but despite his third place in Poland in 1976 he generally disappointed in World Finals and appearances (three ?). He was awesome around Cowley during the seventies but my best memory of Sanders at Oxford was riding thru' the tapes in disgust for being excluded for an infringement!