steve roberts

Again, I remember, the BSPA Cup or some such tournament that ran towards the back end of myself attending speedway and Oxford were pitted against Swindon, the Isle of Wight and Reading (?) without their heat leaders and it led to confusion and I think only lasted the one year, Having not been to speedway for many a year I'm not familiar with the comparative strengths within either league but I'm sure that something could be done to even things up a bit. Of course back in the seventies there was the Inter League Cup which threw up the odd surprise like Workington beating both Ipswich and King's Lynn but generally faltered thru' lack of interest and/or commitment.

Yes I now recall that being the case however Oxford competed, if I remember, during the 1979 competition with George Hunter, Les Rumsey (two of the highest placed riders in the averages at the time), Pip Lamb and Carl Askew...but were seriously over turned during the away legs but as you suggest it was very different then.

..again I recall this was the case in 1979/80 when a team from the lower league would take on three teams from the upper league. It didn't prove successful, if I recall, and Oxford riding in the National League in those days with a strong top four were generally hammered!

Seem to recall that in 1979 (?) Cup matches were run over 16 or even 18 heats without the use of guests or the R/R facility? I actually rode a 250cc Honda bike at one of Olle Nygren's Training Schools in between riding the standard 2 valve JAWA 500cc.

Used to enjoy attending Test Matches (Denmark/USA/ Sweden etc) but not sure if fans, or even some riders, have the desire to ride for their National Team any longer but certainly worthy of debate if speedway is to try and raise it's profile certainly within the media.

Used to dislike the 4TT formula which relied on riders of other teams to help either increase your team's overall lead or close the gap depending on the scenario...but with the ever increasing threat of track closures in the recent past and/or present there may be only four teams contesting a particular league anyway! However my particular dislike of the 3TT beats the aforementioned whereby your team didn't compete, if I recall, in a third of the meeting!

Not whilst Clark Osborne is in charge!

...yes he was one of speedway's true inspirations and lesser sung heroes.

...the 'experts' said the same about vinyl but I do tend to agree with newspapers (but not necessarily specialised magazines) as I don't buy one anyway!

John Davis who comes over as very articulate...although was never a fan of his when a rider despite seeing him blossom at Oxford.

Thanks for that although it does seem somewhat ambiguous regarding the compulsory purchase order...fingers crossed but I have concerns.

Great photo!

Towards the back end of my attending speedway (2003) I was finding it more and more difficult trying to identify riders with their matching kevlars and full face helmets I have to say.

Couldn't agree more...my uncle who was track photographer at Oxford during the middle seventies and once passed on to me hundreds of his images for identification purposes...and I got every one bar a couple. Styles, leathers, helmets, boots and masks were distinctive back then!

...Forgotten the Pusey link! Great one! And good old Kingston 'Bagpipes'!

Difficult to pin point when the change took place but I guess that the invasion of the Yanks during the late seventies early eighties when styles began to alter. Remember watching Henny Kroeze at the 1987 World Final and he was the only rider riding the old fashioned (then) leg forward style!

....I agree with most of your points however dinosaurs were hugely successful living in various guises for hundreds of million years before becoming extinct...which is more than the human race will achieve or, indeed, the sport of speedway!

That was obviously the case once upon a time but as you say things are very different now with people's expectations. Not sure how it can be changed, however, considering that many promotions only rent/lease their stadiums. I used to watch 'The Rebels' during their three seasons at Wood Lane and the stadium was magnificent...so was the racing sometimes...but it didn't offer the best view in many people's eyes. Trouble is that stadiums like White City, Wimbledon, Crayford, Oxford and now Coventry amongst many others have disappeared for differing reasons and the fan base is no longer there to be able to construct a stadium that compares with non-league/amateur football never mind premiership standard. Football received many incentives from successive Governments but, alas, speedway and/or greyhound stadiums were left to fend for themselves. I've not been to the new Belle Vue so can't comment but Hyde Road offered tremendous racing in a stadium that was beginning to show it's age and suffered thru' the Taylor Report amongst other things. Really chicken and egg scenario and I, for one, have no answers however basic facilities like toilets and catering are a must and I do remember on my visits around the country that these basic needs varied considerably!

I did exactly the same for thirty plus years travelling the country experiencing all sorts of racing in all sorts of stadia...the racing was more important to me than the surroundings.

A point I have often made in the past. The racing, surely, is the most important thing but unfortunately the public now expect more in the way of facilities and speedway will never be able to match football ground standards (with massive incentives from successive Governments) hence the problem the sport now faces.

Saw Ronnie ride twice during his last season in Britain (1972) and it was clear then what a class act he still was. I remember him scoring 14 points at Poole whilst riding for 'The Dons' and during an end of season challenge at Tilehurst (Reading).

I seem to recall that there was talk (and it may have been just that) of having someone hold a length of rope behind the bikes so as to stop them from moving back once the green light was activated.

...er yes I understand what you were implying with your initial post to which I added an observation that Ronnie could have chosen to ride for either his place of birth, and presumably parentage, Australia (which I understand he seriously considered way back when he started out on his long career) or New Zealand. I recall Mitch Shirra had a similar choice (and if I recall did actually turn out for Australia) before adopting New Zealand although, apparently, he could have ridden for Scotland as well! There's obviously a differential margin where one was born and where one was bred...some people chose either depending on the criteria under discussion whether it sport or other walks of life. PS Having visited Huddersfield I can well understand why your brother regards himself as a Kiwi!

Remember the 1972 World Final, in particular, whereby some riders were so far back from the tapes that they were getting enormous flyers and the referee letting it go much to the bemusement of some that were present.

Bernie (North) Leigh Keith Bloxham Arnold (Hailey) Haley Mark (Sutton Courtenay) Courtenay Nigel (Sparsholt) Sparshott Andrew Appleton Ian Westwell Carl (Brightwell) Baldwin Ray (Moreton) Morton