steve roberts

...Palmer. Used to work with his Uncle. I was never a great fan of him...never knew when to shut up!

Used to like John Earrey (Ipswich & White City) and Dave Hammond (Oxford). Was never a great fan of those 'shouty shouty' types!

Saw both ride on a number of occasion. Great entertainers!

Saw Jerzy as far as entering the first bend at Cowley (1973) when he disappeared under the fence and took no further part in the meeting!

...would be difficult as apparently Tai Woffenden chooses not to ride in this country based on what I read on another thread...saw his Dad ride however!

Would be easier to list the World Champions I haven't seen... Lionel Van Pragg Bluey Wilkinson Jack Milne Freddie Williams Jack Young Peter Craven Tommy Price Bjorn Knutsson Chris Holder Tai Woffenden

Yes one of the most attractive aspects of having been a speedway fan for many years was the fact that you could mingle with the fans of opposing teams without, generally, any animosity (although I do recall some 'interesting' banter at Dudley Wood and Monmore Green in particular) I remember travelling by coach to World Finals abroad during the eighties with a real mixture of fans and a great time was had by all...with the usual leg pulling but fun at the same time.

Very difficult trying to come up with the best ever team what with different eras, points limits, compulsory junior regulation, assessed averages etc etc which determined team make-ups over a long period. However I still think that the Belle Vue team of 1972 would take some beating in my view when all things taken into consideration but it's always going to be subjective depending on the criteria involved as touched upon above.

Garry would beat Briggo occasionally but always had a problem beating 'Crash' I seem to recall!

Old 'Cassius' himself...Garry Middleton!

...thanks to 'The Witches' from Ipswich!

Oxford Cheetahs 1986 who rode undefeated in the League and would have achieved a clean sweep of trophies except only the weather managed to beat them!

Never saw him as a great team player...in fact can't recall him attempting to team ride whenever I saw him but I'm sure someone will put me right but then I did witness at close hand one of the best exponents of the lost art in Hans Nielsen!

Glad I didn't witness Rickardsson as a 'Cheetah' personally.

The Oxford 1982 team when we finished bottom...the team make up seemed to change every week!

Scunthorpe 1977 when Bob Dugard didn't deem them an attractive enough proposition at Eastbourne and charged half price admission!

I've passed the stadium on a couple of occasions relatively recently but was never fortunate to see any racing there.

If memory serves wasn't there an OXO factory or something similar nearby?

Weymouth - Alf's Fish and Chips where riders and fans would meet after the meeting on the way back into town! Poole & Swindon - Fairy lights around the track. Reading (Smallmead) - Dusty Bank Holiday Morning Meetings!

Excellent post and brought back so many happy memories!

Jimmy Nilsen spent two years at Cowley (with gaps in between) and I often felt that he didn't ride to his full potential whilst gracing Oxford. I know that during his developing years he received a number of injuries which appeared to slow him down. Should have achieved more on the domestic front but one can't argue with his international form. First saw Bo Petersen when he joined Hackney...in fact I believe I witnessed his first meeting in 1978 at White City (?) Always thought that he was a class act and another who failed to live up to his early potential and the closure of Hackney seemed to take the wind out of his sails despite a couple of useful years at Swindon. Around Hackney he was superb and was a master of the art of overtaking when required.

...Yes I recall Chris telling that story!

...Each to their own Rob but I found his performances riding for Oxford generally embarrassing and vividly recall him attempting to negotiate a heavy Cowley circuit on one occasion in particular. PS Don't mention Teurnberg to Chris Brown!

I always felt that he could have been given some sort of role within the sport after he retired as he was always well presented and articulate...but the powers that be had/have a history of not utilising riders in a way that could had/have benefited the sport certainly within the media sector.

Remember watching John in his formative years riding for Peterborough and Oxford and it was clear then that his main asset was his gating expertise. Saved 'The Rebels' from a real mauling at Newport where his fast starts gave us something to cheer I recall. When he moved to Reading (Dag Lovaas coming in the opposite direction) I always remember his races with Gordon Kennett whereby John would make one of his customary fast starts and Gordon would reel him in...John continually looking behind him (something that Simmo always commented upon) and going wider and wider each bend and Gordon would eventually slip thru' on the inside which he was accustomed in doing on many occasions! Great days! I would agree with the three Poles...relied heavily on their gating prowess. Another rider was Lars Gunnerstad...when he used to finish last at Cowley (which was often) after missing the gate recall the cry from the terraces 'Lars again!' But then Poole had a succession of riders who tended to rely on their fast gating technique!