steve roberts

Never thought that Oxford was particularly banked until viewed from the the inner kerb when I was helping out prior to the 2003 season. It had quite a gradient and for years the pits bend was notorious for having an adverse camber towards the top to which Dag Lovaas used to his advantage many times when passing opponents.

I think Ole Olsen got an honour...but can't remember what exactly.

One of speedway's often forgotten men...his memory deserves to be up there with the best!

Crayford 65 Workington 12 (?) It's featured on the England World Beaters recently released DVD!

I've just received by latest 'Classic Speedway' magazine and apparently there's a book about Bob Kilby...definitely a must buy for yours truly!

Your right Sid Robert rode in the Second Half and not in the Junior Team...Swindon had some very useful juniors in those days.

So did I Sid...if I recall he rode for Swindon 'Sprockets' on a number of occasions?

...You're forgetting Hans wasn't riding either!

Enjoyed it all of it but I guess the qualifying meeting at Reading (1978) where one of my all time favourites, Gordon Kennett, made an all to rare appearance. Superb stuff and can't wait for 'The Rebels' DVDs that you'll soon be releasing...great days!

Yes...I have most of the aforementioned books and many statistical ones like Peter Oakes Yearbooks and Alan Robertson's quite superb editions of 'The History of British League Speedway'. Dave Morton's a great read and I still read my copy of 'Speedway Walkabout' by Johnnie Hoskins and Ivan Mauger's "Tripe Crown Plus' plus many others. I also have a couple of magazine articles by Bob Ferry about the 'Great' Jack Millen! Books I'd like to see published? Gordon Kennett and a more comprehensive one by Hans Nielsen amongst many others I could name.

Super establishment...been there in the past!

Look forward to it!

I'd agree...generally... although there are a few who take it a bit too far...snapping and barking! Personally I do have a thick skin and it's water off a duck's back to me!

Jason's mother was Carol (?) daughter of Neil Street...not sure if she was born in Britain or Australia however.

Simple one for me...Peter Craven!

Fair point.

Sid you've left out Havelock? Personally he would never appear in any of my 'top lists'!

Difficult one Sid with different eras and comparing one-off World Final achievements with a GP format. For example Loram became World Champion without winning any particular round which, personally, I have always under-valued but that's what GPs are all about...not proving that you are the best on a particular occasion but picking up overall accumulative points to achieve the end result. Never having seen Peter Craven (unfortunately) I have to base my views on those I have seen and based on World Champion successes (not necessarily only Individual ) Peter Collins would come out top in my poll based on his overall contribution. Michael Lee had a dramatic rise to fame over a relative short period and although he won the Championship in 1980 he achieved more the previous year. Never seen Tai and I realise that any views about him appear to raise very emotive issues and based on individual successes I guess would make him top but as I've said it's difficult comparing different eras. Like the great John Berry I always tend to base 'greatness' on overall achievements including league and international successes hence why Peter would be top man in my poll.

Agree. Public Forums, no matter what the subject matter, are about people offering personal opinions which may not be the opinion of someone else. Doesn't make their opinion wrong or worthless but there are some who think their opinion is always the right one and anybody who dares challenge their view are wrong. Problem is that anything political tends to get very emotive as we are finding at present on other threads...to which many of us are guilty!

...yes and don't refer to anybody as old!!

Gordon also had a silver jacket with an unusual confederate flag displayed (one red diagonal and one blue) that he wore at the Oxford pre-season practice in 1974. I think that he may have worn it during early season second halves? Remember that one...lasted the one season if I recall (?) The days of race jackets...preferred them to those kevlar team suit thingies!

Always liked the story Simmo relates that during that particular race "there was I and PC riding long track style and Martin comes thru' smoking his pipe!"

Recently saw his grave at Bradshaw...can't say that I felt sad but angry.

Recently saw his grave at Farnley between Leeds and Bradford.

I would agree with that. He seemed to be riding on the edge most of the time...sitting well back on the bike almost on the rear mudguard as the bike bucked and bronked...but I guess that's what separates the world beaters from the also rans?