steve roberts

..never rated Gunnestad personally. Never did anything at Cowley and I can still hear the cries "Lars (last) again!" Remember when a Norway/Denmark Team competed in 1972 & 73...How times were to change in later years!

Sverre Harrfeldt (never saw him ride unfortunately but apparently was on Oxford's wanted list during 1972!) Dag Lovaas Reidar Eide Edgar Stangeland Odd Fossengen Never saw Rune Holta and because of his chosen path to ride under a different 'flag' I'll rule him out!

Remember John Davis admitting his guilt at the inaugral Indoor Meeting at Wenbley when there was a race incident between himself and, if I recall, Ivan Mauger.

I used to be a Safety Rep at both the University Department and later at a museum attraction in York and, although I did all the relevant courses and training, common sense at the end of the day is fundamental...unfortunately an attribute sadly lacking amongst many people!

...trouble is that modern bikes are difficult, apparently, to handle on heavy grippy tracks...hence why many tracks are prepared the way they are.

No Hans Nielsen?

Sid which Pedersen have you chosen?

This will surely divide people but following on from similar threads my five would be 1. Hans Nielsen 2. Ole Olsen 3. Erik Gundersen 4. Nikki Pedersen 5. Jan O. Pedersen Since they were all multiple World Champions within the different disciplines I personally think that the top five pick themselves (although you may think different?) it's just in what order? I was tempted to place Olsen at the top (seeing that he was the modern mover of Danish Speedway) but personally because of Nielsen's long term consistency in both domestic and international competition I place him at number one...but then I would! Does Tommy Knudsen deserve recognition or going further back Arne Pander who was there before any of the aforementioned?

I'm not so sure. Okay he beat Ivan but had yet to meet Olsen who was flying that night despite his miscalculation in his first ride. Lots of 'ifs and buts' but if Persson hadn't 'hiked him off' it certainly would have made for an interesting climax!

Ivan always said that 1976 was the title that got away from him...rather than 1973 when he admitted that he was at fault. Personally I don't think that anybody but PC had their name on the trophy in '76. I'd go with that with perhaps Toni Woryna knocking on the door (instead of Rembas despite his successful Wembley outing in 1978)?

Yes Sid...he was gaining fast and had the ability to pass at will as was proved in a earlier race.

Sadly? Wish I had been there...a meeting full of drama and controversy!

Remember it well!

Attending a packed Cowley to watch the 1973 Daily Mirror Tournament encounter between Australia and Poland. Witnessed the future World Champ, Jerzy Szczakiel. get no further than the first bend when he collided with the fence and was trapped underneath the kick board. Also Mike Patrick's famous shot of Zeno Plech high siding it and being quick;y withdrawn from the remainder of the match. Poland's hero that afternoon? Jan Mucha despite the likes of Jancarz and Waloszek being in the team.

Remember Marek Cieslak's superlative outside sweeps on the relatively flat Wood Lane circuit at White City. Also Andrzej Jurcynski (also of White City and Polish club team mate of Marek) who on one memorable occasion beat Gordon Kennett from the back during one epic Second Half Final at White City. In fact he managed it twice because the race had to be re-run I recall!

After the very sad death of Tommy Jansson Sweden started to decline as a world power. It must be remembered that Jan Andersson kept the flag flying during those barren years until the likes of Henka Gustafsson, Jimmy Nilsen and Per Jonsson appeared on the scene.

Hasse was last known to be the mechanic to 'Posa' Serenius...the ice racer.

One of my favourites at Oxford (1973) but I guess the Swede who left me with an early impression was Anders Michanek...nigh unbeatable at Cowley when he used to visit at Cowley until Dag Lovaas lowered his colours in 1975.

I can understand, I think, why some people feel/felt that 'double points' improves the spectacle. Ipswich and Swindon used to run a handicap race with eight riders in a race...four at the front and four at the back over twelve (?) laps. However my views were/are when I used to go was the fact that a rider starting 15 metres back wasn't actually that big of a handicap because they were able to pick their line going into the first bend rather than having to jostle with three other riders. Often by the first lap they had caught up. Their team mate (if in front) would be attempting to slow the race down (which one could deem as dangerous riding forever looking behind which used to be an excludable offence) and then pull over to allow his team mate thru' for a double points win. Personally I never took to the rule and don't know now what the ruling is nowadays and whether it has changed or altered at all.

Okay not British but Rune Holt (?) Norway rode under a Polish Licence.

Are big tracks preferable to small? Personally I prefer relatively small tracks (not trick tracks) which requires a certain amount of skill rather than the throttle turned full on for the entire four laps. A decent amount of banking to allow different racing lines and preferably grippy (in the right places...but that's down more to track preparation) Overly wide tracks don't necessarily mean more racing lines as I recall at Bradford...go out too wide and you loose ground. Too narrow tracks obviously restrict racing lines and 'follow my leader' tends to be the way. Too long straights and tight bends (Wolves and the old Belle Vue spring to mind) in my opinion don't/didn't always produce good racing. Much to do about getting a good gearing for the long straights which often compromised negotiating the tight hairpin bends together with the too powerful highly tuned bikes drifting wide. Which begs the question which was my favourite track for racing entertainment? The old Belle Vue (Hyde Road), Swindon (when prepared correctly), Leicester (Blackbird Road), Oxford (well I would say that but that's based on following 'The Rebels' & "Cheetahs' for 32 years!), Hackney (albeit it did gain a reputation for being deemed dangerous...but that was more to do with the old lamp standards) and the old Eastbourne before it was spoilt with the first and second bend 'egg shape'. Least favourite? Wolves and Arena Essex based on the tracks that I visited.

He later joined 'The Cheetahs' but failed miserably despite having a very neat style.

I recall that Wiggy rode on a Dutch licence once.

Apparently Ian Thomas called the police in...and if I recall the incident was reported to the Control Board and Ian Thomas failed to put in an appearance at the hearing!

...as did the Boulevard apparently and John Berry and Ron Bagley took it upon themselves to measure said width much to the annoyance of Ian Thomas!