steve roberts

...now that would be interesting!

Scott would have definitely been a contender in 1979...he was very much the man in form that year. As regards Dave Jessup? According to Malcolm Simmons the infamous engine failure during one World Final was down to the fact that Dave had drilled so many holes in a jubilee clip that it eventually fell apart causing him to pull up in a vital race!

I gave some talks at a number of schools many years ago in an attempt to promote the sport but felt that I wasn't given enough in the way of support from the promoter at the time, If I recall I had been promised a bike prior to the talks but nothing materialised and I was left to try and generate some enthusiasm from my own resources (okay I was lent a team suit but hardly inspiring)

I'd agree with some of that. It may mean having to run speedway at weekends (a bit like grass tracks during it's hey days) but that's obviously simpler said than done with many tracks having to operating round their landlords and the effects of the GPs.

Personally I feel that the sport should be moving towards becoming amateur in principle. Even during the last 'Golden Age' riders often had jobs outside the sport (excepting the stars). Too many riders expect to make a living from the sport nowadays and the numbers just don't add up.

...and of course you used to see them in the second half in those days also. Remember some classics races in the Final...one instantly comes to mind was one between George Hunter and Mike Sampson.

1983 was a fabulous season racing wise at Cowley before we moved up into the British League with the stars (Nielsen, Wigg etc) and the racing continued to be excellent but with good results also. I count myself lucky having enjoyed both disciplines at Oxford.

It seems the way of everything now...that winning is the most important thing to most people. Always makes me laugh when people 'adopt' football teams...it's never Hartlepool or Brentford but generally the bigger clubs where success is based upon trophies and television exposure. Jumping on the notorious 'band wagon'. I recall a work experience student I had contact with adopting Blackburn Rovers based purely on that they had just won the Championship...couldn't tell me where Blackburn were geographically however when I asked him!

You and I together Sid would have been well used to seasons spent struggling...but as you correctly say it's the racing that is surely important. I well remember the years when Poole were not the most attractive of visitors...and Malcolm Simmons was often their saving grace.

That's alarming if accurate. No way that present day speedway can be sustainable on those sort of attendances.

Hull has some very good museums...The Deep amongst them...and is well worth a visit!

Got me thinking about other riders I saw ride before they became 'of age' so to speak! I saw Martin Dugard as an 11 or so riding at Eastbourne and Joe Screen at 15 at Brandon together with Paul Dugard (wasted talent!) Alastair Stevens as a 15 year old riding during the interval at Cowley and Alun Rossiter as Swindon's mascot back in the seventies!...I'm sure that there were many others. I got to see quite a bit of Michael Lee, first as a Boston rider, but more so when he moved up with King's Lynn at both Saddlebow Road but more regularly at White City...and when he made his England debut at Wood Lane riding against The Rest of the World.

...unfortunately I can't answer that one personally as I had stopped going to speedway by then.

Funny thing, Sid, but I recall Michael Lee and Colin Richardson competing together as 15 year olds at Cowley and Colin looked the better prospect...but, of course, history tells different. I never saw much of Carter but, although a great talent, he always appeared to be riding on the edge...but I guess that's what divides the greats from the also rans?

...plus, of course, the Midland Riders Championship rounds and Final.

Thanks Sid for that! Forgot about Wally Searl...I seem to recall he was Trevor Geer's main sponsor also.

Yes you are correct Sid...however Kevin was contracted to ride for Oxford (that was the loan agreement for seasons 1976 & 77) but choose to miss a match that he was contracted to ride in preferring to ride for his parent team instead therefore breaking the agreement (I think that it was only for a second half ride but may be wrong...memory and all that!) I certainly recall the Champions Trophy being held at Cowley between 1973 and 1975. The £100 placed on the 1973 event was a winner take all I recall...which was a fair amount of money back then!

Kevin Young showed some promise when with Oxford but was sacked when he missed a meeting to ride at/for Swindon during a second half if I remember?

Yes I well remember my brother coming home from meetings and talking about John Bishop...just before my time! I recall Melvin Soffe together with Kevin Pope...I think Billy Wall was actually born in Oxford? The big Individual meeting at Cowley used to be 'The Champions Trophy'...prize money of £100!

You're right Sid and I remember Norman Hunter saying that he saw the poor lad fighting for his life in the changing room with the doctor trying all he could to revive him. As regards Geoff he used to live not far from me and it was strongly rumoured that he was about to join 'The Rebels' for the 1974 season. His protege Alan Sorensen rode a few second halves at Cowley and, I believe, Swindon that season.

Svein Kaasa was the first rider i knew of who died as a result of a track crash. He started the 1972 season at Oxford but was soon replaced by Preben Rosenkilde and eventually signed for Glasgow where he was showing promising form before his death. I was quite shocked by the news I remember and in my present job portraying a Viking I have adopted his name (Svein) in memory of him.

The Collins and Morton brothers and the likes of Dave Trownson used to ride on farmland, if I recall, and Ainsdale Sands was another opportunity for budding young riders (Peter Craven for example)...very different era back then!

Also the Kent Grasstrack scene supplied a lot of riders particularly at Eastbourne (Jessup, Kennetts etc) where Arthur Nutley took a great interest.

Went to a couple of Dog Meetings...out of curiosity more than anything but not my thing!

Yes I sold off my programmes (vastly under priced I have to say) as I didn't have the room for them when I re-located...regretted it ever since!