steve roberts

I seem to recall that the main reason it was aborted was that some meetings became very one sided, and therefore boring to some, and there wasn't an opportunity to pull those points back by introducing a tactical. One part of being a fan was trying to pre-empt the Team Manager's next move and that essence became obsolete during that short trial period. Over the years the BSPA has tried all sorts of initiatives such as different heat and race formula, different numbering, six lap races etc but at the end of the day all the average fan wants to see is competitive racing on well prepared tracks with easy to follow rules that are consistent within each league...which hadn't always been the case (different number of heats for example) making it confusing to the average fan.

Great list there Sid! Saw them all ride bar Nordin and Harrefeldt.

Sounds great! Back when I used to follow 'The Cheetahs' Good Friday usually involved possible two meetings (home and away), away to Swindon on the Saturday and Reading on Easter Monday...that awful 3TT event. The worse race formula in speedway in my view!

...a bit like go-kart racing!

..which is where I believe he assisted Bettsy stressing the importance of clutch maintenance.

...as I said it's been tried before and if I recall the R/R/R was also dispensed with. Speedway seems to go round in circles re-introducing old initiatives that didn't succeed previously for various reasons. Blimey there'll be talk of banning guest riders next!

Remember when this was tried in Knock Out Cup fixtures only during the late seventies/early eighties...didn't last long!

In an interview with Colin in the 'Classic Speedway' magazine he mentions he did about a dozen private laps at Dudley Wood a year after the accident but after a trip to the re-nowned speedway medico, Dr Carlo Biagi, was warned that if he broke his vertebra again he would end up paralysed. Terry Betts (they were good mates) has always acknowledged how helpful Colin was during Terry's career after Colin's enforced retirement.

He was a solid team man and number one for both Hackney and at Cradley until cruelly injured in the Lokeren disaster...however he did survive unlike some who perished.

Good grief when I saw the heading I thought that Colin had died!

Yes I shall be adding them to my already vast library of DVDs!

Yes...terrific news! Apparently there's due some Oxford 'Rebels' footage as well!

Same with Cowley Stadium...constructed just before the war and no houses in sight.

There's a character from the past!

Trouble was Rob Martin could sometimes dish it out but found it hard to accept the situation when reversed...left me with some great memories however!

Simmons, Louis, Wilson, Ashby and Boocock.

Unfortunately I think that Cowley Stadium has issues despite the recent proposals put forward into saving the complex...all very sad,

I was there! Armando Castagna and Armando de Chele...think I got the spelling correct?

Perhaps Terry Betts?

In Ivan's first biography 'Triple Crown Plus' he refers to a rider he hated but not by name. When Ivor Brown died Mauger did then quote his name as the rider he was referring to...he also kept a little black book apparently with name listed if I recall. Apparently Carter hated Hans Nielsen for an incident that happened at the Shay...but then didn't Carter make a habit of making enemies generally. I admired, of sorts, his on track prowess but as a person disliked him. Visited his grave recently and I didn't feel any emotion other than numbness.

....my mother!

I remember that...I was there!

Ole Olsen (Wolves) and John Louis (Newport) scored maximums whilst riding in opposition I seem to recall...1971?

Difficult to know where to start really!

There was talk of Oxford doing a deal with Jeff Sexton in, if I recall, 1974 but it came to nought...happened regularly at Cowley with supposed interest in signing riders that never materialised thru' one reason or another. Harfeldt and Harrysson are two who immediately come to mind.