steve roberts

...remember when Gordon Kennet scored a 21 point maximum and Kai Niemi 19 riding for Eastbourne at Swindon...and they still lost!

Recall seeing some of the Golden Helmet challenges during the seventies...Louis/Olsen/Jansson/Ashby/Crump. Caught the imagination at the time,

I got my 'Rebels' jacket from Peter Rout (Classic Race Jackets) and was very pleased with it! As a youngster I couldn't understand the elephant emblem until I was told it was based upon the local regiment (The Dukes) in Halifax.

Thank you!

Ah but you remember these things when you were a lad...like the fact that the one at Poole I remember not having a light which caused an obvious dilemma! I may have been incorrect...memory and all that but wasn't it the case during the 70's? ...or those that didn't pay at all viewing from above the third and fourth bends if i recall. Was it known as Scotsman's Hill or something or other?

Used to visit Cowley and White City every week during the middle seventies and Swindon every so often...that's without the away matches thrown in for good measure.

Used to like race jackets and my favourites were the likes of Wenbley, Belle Vue, West Ham and dare to say the early 'Rebels' jacket of Oxford...of which I have a replica!

Used to annoy me promotions that charged a two rate system...Poole comes to mind if one wished to sit in the grand stand as did Coventry and Peterborough amongst others If I recall?

I used to frequent the toilets down the bank on the exit of the fourth bend!

I've just checked out 'Smart New Homes' which is the development in Blunsdon and it clearly states in one of the current property's details under local facilities that Abbey Stadium, popular for Speedway and Greyhounds, is due to have a 5 million pound revamp!

In 1978 when White City were beaten at home by Ipswich in the 2nd leg of the KO Cup 23-54! Although White City's away record that season still stood up well their home record was showing signs of impending doom...and so it proved with the imminent closure of speedway at Wood Lane. Sad occasion for me as I used to enjoy my visits to White City.

Shame that they got rid of the snooker as I used to play there quite often.

If I recall it was a BSPA u-turn regarding this particular fixture?

Sid if I recall it was the Second Leg (?) of the Knock-out Cup Final (remember those?) and as usual was being run at the back end of the season (usual nonsense...Oxford suffered same in 1986) when available dates were becoming scarce.

...incidentally on a track that was initially passed un-fit but due to an administrative u-turn the meeting went ahead resulting in PC receiving a badly broken arm!

One of my favourite riders from that era. Very under-rated in my view as he was instrumental in helping 'The Rebels' win the League title in 1977 with some striking performances whilst covering for the injured Paul Gachet.

George Hunter rode at Number One for Oxford during the 1978 & 79 seasons carrying very healthy averages. Les Rumsey however scored more points for Oxford in 1979 than George but rode more races therefore his average, although very good, was slightly less than George. David Shields was an inspirational addition to the Oxford cause in 1978 but didn't return the following year...in fact he didn't compete in Britain again for a number of years when he later rode for Cradley in the British League.

PC had the clutch lever and throttle on the same handlebar during the race at Hyde Road if I recall. Also that famous run-off at Wembley...did Anders cause PC to fall? Forever debated and the race at Sheffield between England and Sweden when PC passed Mich and Eric Boocock passed Tommy Jansson to secure a match winning 4-2. Super days! The race at Hyde Road was never filmed unfortunately...or certainly none hasn't come to light. There's an audio recording somewhere I believe?

I was there...he was also riding for 'The Cheetahs' that season!

My first was Oxford v Coventry when 'Cassius' Middleton relieved Nigel Boocock of the Golden Helmet in 1972!

Used to enjoy my trip to the 'smoke' every Wednesday/Tuesday up the M40 to watch 'The Rebels' at Wood Lane. Nightmare journey on a Friday evening travelling around the North Circular to Hackney...South Circular not so bad to Wimbledon. Great days and I grew up fast driving as many people of my age hadn't a clue about navigating around London...especially round Marble Arch!

Remember the White City promotion talking about how a West Indian rider may have attracted a largely West Indian community (Shepherd's Bush) from attending the speedway...of course nothing came of it and I believe that West Indians and Asians don't see watching sport (other than cricket) as high on their radar must do!

Never got to the Shay...although I visited a few years ago out of interest but there were no remnants of the track.

I was surprised to read many years ago that Cradley resembled Wembley in shape and size...having been to Wembley the track seemed so much bigger but I guess that the surroundings influenced that observation. Always thought that the early heats at Dudley Wood gave reasonable racing but once the dirt moved out it became very much an outside line track...certainly during my visits there. Hyde Road had so many racing lines and there was nowhere to hide when up against the likes of Collins and Morton! Chris Morton would have a line of dirt placed on the exit of one of the bends and would only use it if absolutely necessary in making a passing manoeuvre. Superb track and I guess any one could have a go there...only that the Belle Vue riders did it better!

Super image!