steve roberts

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!

I have a copy of the book and makes for a fascinating read although I was never a fan of his. Visited his grave recently as I was passing by.

...If I recall Gordon rode in some second halves very early on in his career. He slipped thru' the net I'm very happy to say as he eventually moved to Oxford and, of course, White City...my local and then adopted teams.

He was making headway during 1974 but was then allocated to Poole in 1975 and seemed to go backwards. Turned up at Newport in 1976 but didn't excel and quickly re-located to White City where, if memory recalls, rode in one meeting for 'The Rebels' before disappearing from the British scene.

Hi Sid...it's all subjective I know but Hans was registering a high BL average back in the late seventies and early eighties and was more than a match for the riders you list during that period. Although his Individual World Championship record was still in its infancy during that period (he first qualified for the World Final in 1980) he progressively improved his standing and the 1983 World Final was the turning point. He had the beating of Egon Mulller when they met during the meeting until a snapped chain stopped him in his tracks...otherwise he would have ended up on the rostrum ahead of the likes of Sigalos (a favourite to win in some people's eyes that year), Carter (who never looked liked winning that afternoon) and possibly Lee and/or Sanders. Can't remember the exact scores now...memory and all that...but Hans would have finished on twelve (?) Purely academic but I think Hans (and later Erik...who had a storming 1981 Final) would have more than held their own whoever the opposition. Billy Sanders was an enigma when it came to World Finals. I think his best finishes were in 1979 (third) and 1983 (second). However he had a poor 1984 Final (I was there) when Hans and Erik really began to dominate. An interesting debate nevertheless but one shouldn't forget Shawn Moran during the early middle eighties and Tommy Knudsen who was there or thereabouts based on his league and international form.

...not during their British League 2/National League days!

...that's always been the perception but the more I read interviews with riders it wasn't as prevalent as it appeared looking back although, obviously, it varied from team to team, rider to rider. Personally I have no real issue with fixed gates except under the formula I was familiar with the gates didn't alternate which, as stated previously, did sometimes give a team an unfair advantage.