steve roberts

Many thanks for that...much appreciated.

John 'Snowflake' Boulger and the rest of the Cradley team (except Sandor Levai who gave it a go) who refused to continue to ride in a meeting at Cowley due to snow.

Thanks for that!

Don't remember that Sid but I do recall Dag saying that he wished that the track for the 1974 Final had been wet during the actual meeting (it had rained prior and if I recall jet engines were placed on the track to help dry it out?) as he felt that he would have made more of an impression.

Being of a non technical sort is it possible to copy from Youtube onto a disc?

Yes I was there Sid...he was simply out on his own that day! Great stylist and i presented him with a bottle of champagne at Oxford's final meeting in 1975!

There's articles on Taffy in both the 'Classic' & 'Backtrack' magazines.

Did the Sanderson Family own the stadiums at West Ham, Coventry and Leicester or was it a consortium of people?

...only from a certain few surely?

...unfortunately doesn't edit out the analysis data and graphics and constant different camera angles showing the same shot on goal about ten times or snooker shot the same!

...the main reason I no longer watch any sport on TV. The constant drivel, over analysing and shouting that now appears to be the norm.

Isn't the Olympique Meeting held at Wolves a Handicap Meeting? It was during my time therefore a one off format which obviously makes the racing more unpredictable. Should speedway, therefore, be looking at (re)introducing handicap racing generally if the format encourages passing, unpredictability, and excitement to try and entice new fans thru' the gate?

Must get my copy. Will always remember Bob's contribution as a 'Rebel' when he rode for Oxford.

John Berry did but when he stood in becoming 'Speedway's First Chief Executive' he later withdrew because he felt that he wouldn't get the backing of the BL Management Committee and it's members.

He rode at Oxford in their junior team...if that counts!

He tried to force thru' the sale of Oxford Stadium in 1975/76 also until the SOS committee stepped in!

Remember watching the Aussies take on Poland at Cowley in front of one of the biggest crowds at Oxford!

Thanks for the clarification...I think! Interesting to get Martin Rogers' definitive version of events, however, as regards the sale of Blackbird Road although he has been less than complimentary when quoted in 'Backtrack'!

According to an article in the 'Classic' Magazine published recently that "...in 2003 the Ochiltrees sold the stadium to businessman Avtar Sandhu". Perhaps some sort of clarification would be welcome?

...but aren't we discussing the closure of Blackbird Road in 1983 when Midland Sports Stadiums were the owners and the Managing Director then was Charles Ochiltree?

Unfortunately I never got to see Sunderland ride (although my family on my mother's side is from that area). I've checked out the stadium as I passed by a couple of years ago however.

But wasn't he Managing Director of Midland Sports Stadiums and therefore ultimately responsible?

Martin has talked extensively about this episode in recent editions of the 'Backtrack' magazine. Bob Dugard for what he achieved at Eastbourne bringing on English talent together with Arthur Nutley.

I remember when Nigel Wagstaff acquired the rights of Oxford Speedway he wasn't able to use the moniker "Cheetahs" by the outgoing promotion...which I thought very odd at the time! We ended up with that awful "Silver Machine" nickname!

John Berry was someone I admired greatly and how speedway could do with someone like him now.