steve roberts

Remember the American Team declaring a rider's mechanic in their starting line up once...can't recall whether he was called to race or what his known ability was on a speedway bike.

...far better learning a trade than going to University picking up a degree on the bleeding obvious...or the dreaded media studies. I work with many who have degrees but barely earning more than the minimum wage...never mind living wage but as Steve Shovlar states on another thread they could always clean toilets (something I've done incidentally) as apparently there are plenty of those jobs available!

...yes but I get great satisfaction in talking, discussing, debating the sport with people and will meet up again with my uncle (who was track photographer at Cowley for a while) when he visits next week for a holiday.

..the dreaded average again!

Saint and Greavsie...thems were the days!

John Louis was a master of slowing down races and making room for his partner and he wasn't my favourite Brit at the time personally but you can't deny his team ethic.

Yes I saw Tommy ride at White City's opening meeting and he was involved in two classic races with Gordon Kennett.

I was also at that meeting and remember the Golden Helmet match race...may have been the last time I saw Tommy race?

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.