steve roberts

Well we can all speculate and who's to say what the truth is at the end of the day?

Obviously the truth is out there somewhere but I have no knowledge of what may have been implied elsewhere and can therefore only comment on what I've personally read but if people have other recollections based upon other sources then that's fair enough.

...just a reminder.

...that's not what was implied in his book from what I recall?

Great post! I would have witnessed those being a regular at Cowley!

I remember reading that some riders disliked wearing them because they didn't allow for full peripheral vision.

I remember when Kai Niemi's helmet flew off in one race at White City and completed the race without one finishing third (?)...strangley enough the referee excluded him for being "improperly dressed!!"

Good question.

Ah the usual suspects!

I've been sort of dipping in and out of this particular thread and to be honest much of the content and/or comments are lost on me. When I was Union Rep I attended many training seminars and the instructor always emphasised that every one present had an equal voice and when asking a question should be treated with respect and not to be interrupted until they had finished and then debated upon. Many a time over the years certain posters on the BSF (some who no longer contribute for whatever reason) have treated others with little respect and I have been called all sorts of things (water off a duck's back personally) on oocasions.

I guess that list highlights how out of touch I am with speedway today...I've only seen Scott Nicholls, Ben Barker and. I think, Sam Masters ride?

As full face helmets became popular and most riders adopted them there were a few who continued wearing traditional helmets and the Grahame brothers come immediately to mind. I remember Simon Wigg wearing one for one season (1984) before reverting back to the full face option.

Peter Oakes's 1977 Speedway Yearbook has a list of Track Records up until that season if that helps?

I remember when he first started out at Peterborough/ipswich as a sixteen year old and his longevity is a credit to him.

Colin Gooddy was another cosistantly fast starter as was Ken McKinlay...long careers for both and I was fortunate to witness both as "Rebels" during my first season.

...yes there were/are a few like that! I'd much rather see someone miss the gate and work their way thru'. Gordon Kennett was never the best of gaters but one of the best when it came to passing in my opinion. He used to catch out John Davis many a time!

George Hunter was definately a quick starter but he also measured up well with his team-riding abilities certainly when he was a "Cheetah".

When he rode for the "Cheetahs" his gating was usually good but not as dominant as it once was.

Finn was an enigma...world beater one minute and novice another. A remember when I went to Perry Barr and Eastbourne beat the "Brummies" and Finn scored 17 points (?) that night!

Certainly during my era Bob Kilby took some beating when on form. Obviously when tape touching became an offence (1984?) it tended to catch many riders out (took Erik Gundersen a good season to properly adjust) but my guess is that the likes of Ivan Mauger would make most of his starts whatever the rules in place...he just had this natural ability to make fast starts.

Yep! We used to race Reading home and away on Bank Holiday Mondays.

...1 in 4 between the ages of 18 and 38 didn't bother to vote. Should have got off their arses!

I was never sure if the reference was to father Phil as I never knew him referred to by that nickname?

With John his reasons were for the way that, in his opinion, Mervyn "manipulated" the direction speedway was heading to suit his personal agenda. If I recall it was the time that promotion and relegation was introduced during Stewkesbury's tenure which was never going to succeed and the rift began to surface between the two leagues?

Certainly was the case with the late John Berry when reading his book.