steve roberts

Went to Crayford just the once (1983) when Crayford took on Hasse Holmqvist's Swedish club side...strange experience and seemed to be a mini Wimbledon and although outside one got the impression that you were under cover with the imposing surrounding grandstands. Track was a bit too small for my liking but a fascinating experience all the same.

A rider I would very much liked to have seen.

I have both books...fabulous reading!

I personally liked the thirteen heat formula but would be happy to concede that the fourteen heat version had some good merits. I've seen the development of thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen heat variations and all had good and bad points what with nominated riders heats being introduced and an extra reserves race amongst the differing versions...the two leagues once operated different versions for a couple (?) of years, I recall, which was most bizarre.

Yes I remember now...the old brain cells...Mike ride under Olsen and couldn't turn due to the heavy track and dumped Olsen (I think that he picked up an injury?) who was less than happy with Lee at the time. Personally never a fan of Olsen but that's another story!

I think that it was Anders Michanek Sid but I may be wrong?

A great shame regarding Michael Lee and his gradual demise although he did come back strongly for a couple of seasons at Poole and could have 'nicked' the 1983 World Title before it went wrong again during 1984. Saw him compete against Colin Richardson when both as fifteen year olds put on 'demonstration races' at Cowley during the interval in 1974...Colin won if I recall. Saw Michael make his international debut at White City in 1977 when England took on the might of The Rest of the World...England were too good for any one nation during that glorious period!

I have to say Sid that when Hans joined Oxford in 1984 he was beating most opponents...he put in some great years previously at both Wolves and Birmingham but the seat of power was beginning to swing with the demise of Lee, Carter, Sanders, Penhall for varying reasons although I think that it's fair to say that Hans very much held his own against those riders when they met.

Hans was the better all round rider (I would say that!) and his consistently good league form was way above anybody else over a number of seasons...including Erik. Gundersen was able to raise his game when required (as was the case in a number of World Finals) but when Ivan joined Hans' camp things evened out and counter balanced the 'Olsen effect'.

I was there Sid and remember it well! Personally I felt that when White City closed Gordon should have moved to Swindon...going back to Eastbourne was not in his best interests in my opinion. It actually begs the question "Did certain riders stay too long at any one track and would have benefitted with a move to help progression?" Chris Morton readily springs to mind and I recall it was discussed that a move to Coventry was mooted...certainly would have helped his gating...but came to ought. Malcolm Simmons comes to mind because his move to Poole pushed him further as a World Class rider.

Remember James Timy Te Kerrehi Herini Moore who rode for 'The Cheetahs' in 1978 (I recall he was a Cradley asset?) and showed potential but disappeared off the radar? One time Ole Olsen mechanic Cliff Andersen who rode for Oxford and Milton Keynes. Patrick Pawson one time junior at Wimbledon. Paul Fewings (sure he was a Kiwi?) who rode in Oxford second halves. Jim Wells - buddy of 'The Villain' who rode for Sunderland, Stoke and Oxford. Sure there must be some stories there somewhere? And of course Ivan's son, Kym, who apparently had a behind the scenes trial at Cowley but ended up at Newcastle. Kym and Robin Amundson (Hull and Workington?)

Fredrick 'Rick' Timmo who rode for Oxford during the sixties and early seventies. Survived a near fatal crash when he actually stopped breathing on the track when, if I recall, his throat was caught by a rider's passing foot rest whilst laying on the track. Married the daughter of Oxford track marshall Tom Prickett (one time start marshall) and their son, Spencer, rode for a number of years at various tracks and who now runs a second hand car franchise just outside Oxford. Riders like Rick were the mainstay of the sport...good honest reliable team men.

...yes but a glorious period nevertheless.

If I recall Henny Kroeze was the first rider to register a seven ride maximum (21 points) during the period under discussion when Halifax operated the R/R regulation.

Superb team man and a loyal servant to "The Stars". His international record was good with two WTC Golds and a World Best Pairs Gold but individually only qualified for the one World Final...but I personally would put that down to the number of genuine British riders there were during the seventies which made qualification all the more difficult beyond the British Final especially when one remembers that the 'Anzacs' were also involved at that stage.

Definitely the best rider ever in my view...from every perspective.

I always find it difficult comparing speedway as it was and today. Bikes were very different and track surfaces were much heavier requiring different techniques to the present day. Riders have always been a skilful breed going way back to the pioneering days it's just that tracks and bikes have changed over time and riders have learnt to adapt and develop depending on same.

...but the atmosphere was electric!

...not obviously seeing the above mentioned meeting but the 1972 (Wembley) & 1973 (Katowice)...amongst others... had their fair share of drama, excitement and controversy which I'm sure most would agree are the main ingredients in what qualifies as a good speedway event.

Looks pretty but any signs of movement on this long running saga or has Clark Osborne done a runner?

It was a subject that John Berry used to continually raise regarding the lost revenue when once upon a time the one-off final held at Wembley the receipts were shared out amongst the tracks in Britain. Once the GP series took hold that money was lost and absorbed elsewhere and the British promoters lost out.

If I recall the bike and other items were sold with the backing of the Mauger family some time ago.

Didn't Ivan's Gold Bike end up in a museum in Christchurch?

Bob Kilby was a strange one...Long winded saga but Garry Middleton (who Oxford paid a fee for) was swapped for Tony Lomas (Coventry) who was swapped for Bob Kilby (Exeter) so technically Bob was an Oxford asset. However when he re-signed for 'The Budgies' prior to the 1975 season Swindon claimed that he was one of their's having been allocated to Exeter in 1971 and therefore Oxford lost out and never received a penny for him! John Davis wanted away and Dag making it well known that he wanted to ride at Cowley a swap was struck...not sure if any money changed hands.

Remember it well...and John Boulger was christened 'Snowflake' by some of the Cowley faithful! Oxford were allocated first Eric Boocock (who retired) and then Ole Olsen (who refused to ride for Oxford...thank goodness) and eventually Dag Lovaas came to Oxford and John Davis went the other way...but, as usual, Oxford rode at Coventry early in the season before the move was made hence the anomaly.