steve roberts

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.

...I used a camera at Milton Keynes once (when I shouldn't have) hoping not to get caught...unfortunately the images I took didn't measure up to the risk involved! As a matter of interest (?) my uncle is visiting next week and he used to be the track photographer at Cowley!

Would be very difficult to police as I recall when I used to guide at an Art Gallery photography wasn't allowed but with all the devices now available it was very difficult to monitor and trying to differentiate between someone talking on a phone and/or taking a picture. Some compact cameras one is able to utilise a zoom feature and it wouldn't be obvious to the layman. Apologies for appearing pedantic but I'm a keen photographer...and have been for many a year.

...interesting considering that many compact cameras now have installed terrific zoom qualities.

Always interesting comparing eras but I think Hans and Erik would have risen to the challenge whoever may have been around during the eighties. Regarding Carter he had three chances after Los Angeles to make an impression but after riding at Norden in 1983 (I was there and he was never really in with a shout of the title) injuries curtailed his later efforts. I personally felt his crash in 1985 at the Inter-Continental Final (?) was of his on doing due to over riding - John Davis has commented on the incident in an interview he gave some years ago in 'Backtrack' who was taken out by Carter and thus ruined his own chances of progressing.

...forgot that Jan O was also missing in 1992. Nielsen was still the man to beat at that time (in my opinion) and although Mauger, as reigning champ, was missing in 1980 he was experiencing, by his high standards, a relatively poor 1980 season. Of course Michanek was also absent (albeit a reserve) in 1976.

Thanks for the info...although I never found the old system confusing personally but I can see the merits of the system that operates presently.

...but no Nielsen!

Gate four was often a stinker at Cowley! I always preferred alternate gates as the fixed gates often offered a team an advantage either early on or late during the match as track conditions altered as the gates were not always alternate whereby a team had successive inside and/or outside gates depending on who won/lost the toss.

I seem to recall that Exeter won the league once based on their very strong home performances and picked up all the bonus points although their away record wasn't particularly great.

As a matter of interest why was the 'bonus point' dropped based on the home and away aggregate score?

Lift, elevator!

Center, Centre.

Fabulous article in the latest 'Backtrack' magazine regarding the 40th Anniversary of 'The Rebels' British League win in 1977. Puts into perspective the background as to why the 'The Rebels' were granted the R/R facility for the season...and not the only team which is often overlooked! The title was achieved because 'The Rebels' had the resources and the riders to do the job expected. Nice to see Mike Sampson (how about an interview with Mike?) on the front cover who was often a match winner and the win at Hull (of which he was very instrumental) must have got right up the nose of Ian Thomas! Great memories from a great team!

That's the one! Signed up Tony Rickardsson who left after only a few meetings...think that it was the year he retired? Todd Wiltshire was signed as his replacement and things became bitter the following season between Todd, Lanney and Horton...something over bikes I recall.

...thankfully I'd left by then. The demise of a once great and proud club.

Memory plays tricks but I think (?) Gordon passed Tommy to win both heat 13 and the final...but I may be wrong! Great memories of Wood Lane! PS I regret getting rid of all my programmes!!!

...always his achilles heel! Happened again during the 1981 World Final. Simmo has been quoted as saying that Jessup cut corners on his bike preparation and paid the cost.

It was the other way round. Steve and Vanessa sold the promoting rights to Waggy however I'm not sure if anybody went under although I may be wrong. All I known is that Steve became very disillusioned with the sport and Vanessa more or less took over the day to day running of the club. After Waggy came that Poole supporter whose name totally escapes me!

I'm sure that he still gets a Christmas card from Hans!

Yes I recall now when Oxford re-joined the upper league it operated with six rider teams. Another example of speedway adopting different rules within the different leagues. If I remember the National League had a different race formula to the British League during the early eighties.

...thereby lies the dilemma.