steve roberts

Obviously six man teams have been tried before but judging by the observations above may well be the time to re-introduce the concept.

1. Simmons 2. Louis 3. Wilson 4. Carter 5. Morton

...and of course the money received during the one-off World Final era when held at Wembley/Bradford when the receipts were shared out amongst the tracks and kept many afloat. Of course this revenue was lost when the GP series kicked in something that the late John Berry always raised.

Excellent post!

Yes I would agree with some of that. Having left Oxford (I'll mention it again) I was so engrossed in doing up a property and finding work and exploring the surrounding countryside that speedway got pushed into the background. Other interests kicked in and took my attention and my other half had no interest whatsoever in the sport so I had to be diplomatic and concentrate on more pressing engagements. However one can not just ignore the fact that speedway was a big part of my life and I still hold an interest but not enough to travel a distance to watch somebody else's team. If a team started up in York who knows (a trial long track meeting apparently was held down the road at Green Hammerton once) but it's unlikely to happen. However I still talk and meet people (I spoke to a decorator who knew Andy Smith and his family) who either used to go or still go and the conversations always prove entertaining and informative. I've got to know Ian Cartwright and have spoken to his son Simon, on occasions, and it's aways educational viewing the sport from a riders' perspective. I am not interested in the GP Series...but I wasn't interested in that when I used to go and only saw the disruption it caused to the domestic programme.

I seem to recall a speedway rider (novice?) who took up wrestling during that period and would appear on WOS? I also recall Soren Sjosten being a one-time wrester.

...or the americanised version!

Liked the story when George Hunter was riding for Edinburgh he was also employed as an HGV driver. Left his midland base in his lorry to drive to the docks at Immingham (Humber Estuary) then drove back home to collect his bike and then drive to Edinburgh to take part in that evening's fixture. What that equates in miles, never mind the commitment, is nobody's business!

I work for a manager who uses that expression quite often.

...remember one rider in particular who used to ride for Oxford wrecking his bike and the fans took a collection on his behalf to get him going again only to find out that he owned a jet ski and rode it for fun. Question of priorities. Went to a couple of local Grasstrack meetings relatively recently and got talking to one of the riders (he used to be a junior at Oxford) and he explained that the big difference between the sports is that as a competitor on the grass you have to pay a fee to take part and that there was rarely any financial gain to be had...riding for fun...although there are obviously still the risks involved.

...I'd agree but if the fan base is declining thereby limiting available funds where is the revenue going to come from? I once booked myself into an Olle Nygren Training School so that I could gain a better appreciation of what riders put themselves thru' and have nothing but admiration regarding their skill and commitment.

I had a friend who used to holiday on the island regularly and would always come home praising the efforts of those involved at the IOW raceway.

Some very valid points especially the amateur tag.

Great stuff! Remember 'The Amazing World of Kreskin'...the TV Times a real insight to what we used to watch and keep them coming. Fascinating reading!

...can't help dear boy! I'm of the same. I can wire up a model railway but computers are lost on me!

I have to say that Steve Purchase (One Time Oxford Promoter) was always one to engage with fans and would comment on The Oxford Speedway Forum. He even invited me along to a pre-season behind closed doors meeting as he felt that I had something to offer in the way of ideas and/or suggestions. I liked the Purchases...genuine nice people.

Interesting comments.

Although I left Oxford (repeat it again for the sake of some!) during the 2004 season not sure what I would have done after the closure of Cowley (2007) if I had remained there. Would I have gone to Swindon (the sworn enemy) or been lost like so many others who lost their team over the years? As it was I never had to make that decision and was happy that Dad (who died in 2006) never witnessed the closure having first gone to Cowley in 1949 and was an ardent fan.

I think we all know how much you dislike the Labour Party but do you have to keep bringing it up? The subject has been well documented (and will continue to be) on other threads more relevant me thinks!

...I think that you need to read my previous comment whereby I often talk to past and present fans and/or riders and/or mechanics in my workplace and therefore not totally ignorant as you apparently think. Agreed that I don't have a 'personal' working experience of present day speedway but the fact that I talk to others who do doesn't mean I'm totally unaware of what's happening in the world of speedway.

I haven't attended a speedway meeting since 2004 for reasons clearly stated but it doesn't mean I have no interest in the sport as I meet many people at my place of work who go, or used to go, and enjoy 'chewing the fat' with them...and I also enjoy participating on this forum.

Yes Sid I haven't been to a speedway since I re-located to York from Oxford back in 2004. I used to walk to Cowley and the fact that it was so close was the incentive to still go despite the sport going in a direction that I wasn't particularly happy with but it was a chance to meet up with friends on the third bend and have a chat which kept me attending for so long. I gave up attending away meetings during the nineties after having travelled extensively around the country prior to that. Now living in York I have no desire to get into a car and travel to my nearest track (Sheffield, Scunthorpe or Redcar) and couldn't justify the petrol money never mind the admission price based on 15(?) heats of racing. However I have great memories of following the sport for over thirty years and regularly watch a DVD (I have an extensive collection) and enjoy looking back recalling some great moments. Not many kids of my age were travelling to London on a weekly basis as we did following 'The Rebels' at Wood Lane as well as watching 'The Cheetahs' and trips to The Abbey to watch 'The Budgies' and days out on the south coast at Arlington.

Remember Norman when he rode for 'The Rebels' at Cowley in 1972. Recalled he scored 12 points against the mighty 'Aces' that year.

Remember Gordon Kennett passing the team riding Ole Olsen and Alan Molyneux at Wood Lane...brilliant!

Good old Tom Leadbitter...remember him well! Got a feeling that he was involved in the 'squabble' at Hyde Road between Belle Vue and Leicester...didn't he right hook someone?