steve roberts

He knows not what he says!

That's sounding familiar!

Remember the late Nigel Sparshott who rode for a number of teams (including Oxford) during late seventies and eighties. He adopted very much a leg trailing style and proved to be quite spectacular. One of the best action shots ever, in my opinion, was one of Tommy Farndon leg trailing on the outside of a rider (whose name escapes me)...any idea Gustix?

That's the trouble with the green brigade now...always going to be a problem trying to introduce or re-introduce speedway where there are houses in the vicinity.

I remember some years ago when on holiday in Wales SKY were transmitting a match from Foxhall Heath between Ipswich and Oxford. The back straight was void of people and the racing bland to say the least. I eventually got up and went for a walk in the woods nearby because I found the experience quite dull and the commentators attempting to make something good out of mundane irritating. Speedway is far better viewed live trackside when you can have a banter with your mates etc.

American Football is far better highlighted in my view...what with all the stop/start that goes on and/or commercial breaks! Back in the eighties I attended two live games at Wembley and it tested my patience for sure!

I hope that you are right Rob but successive promotions at Cowley struggled with attendances and speedway's profile is at a low ebb at present and for the forceable future. I wish the initiative well, however, as Cowley was a big part of my life for 32 years. I'm driving around Yorkshire with a 'Save Oxford Stadium' in my car window hoping to draw attention!

I've always maintained this view. Far better to show the highlights without all the waffle...which seems to be the case with most sports shown on TV now with it's over abundant use of 'experts'.

...but if he had been rightly excluded he would have had to have won his last race to become outright champion and chose, instead, to play to the gallery. Would have been interesting if he had needed points but all is conjecture of course and one will never know what the outcome would have been in such a scenario. Andy Smith certainly was non too impressed with Sam's inclusion in the re-start of heat 15 judging by his actions after that particular race! PS However I'll change my initial observation and suggest that he was very lucky to have won rather than shouldn't have...but all water under the bridge now!

He should never have won that particular World Final as in a particular race he was allowed to take part in the re-run despite not being 'under power' during the initial running of the heat. If I recall he caused the stoppage thru' a broken chain when a rider ran into the back of him...but, then again, Frank Ebden was the referee!

Never subscribed to SKY and never will.

I'm sure that this will be the case to an extent but fans tend to drift away form the sport after their track closes.

I know he once chased John Louis wielding one...until John Berry rugby tackled him!

I would agree but Martin Ashby was also up there with the best in my opinion.

I remember reading somewhere that he realised that becoming World Champion was never going to happen so he decided to retire from Britain (think he continued in Aussie for a while) although his 1971 average was very healthy to say the least.

Great system...I like it!

Saw him the once when he returned for the 1973 Daily Mirror World Tournament at Cowley...a class act.

Sad news indeed. Closure of yet another iconic stadium. Personally I can't see how speedway can survive in anything like it's present format at this rate.

I recall a conversation that I had a couple of years ago at my place of work discussing speedway attendances with a 'Brummies' fan. He tried to assure me that crowds were holding up well...which appears to go against the general consensus. I remember questioning his observation but he was convinced that it was true.

i once attended an athletics meeting (goodness why!) at Alexander Stadium not, then, realising it was once the home of 'The Brummies'.

Peter Ravn was a bit of a controversial rider, if my memory serves, as he was involved in some rather bizarre (although I'm sure Neil Evitts wouldn't agree!) incidents (call it reckless) on track. Did he not once remain seated on his stationary bike on the bend which resulted in a following rider (may have been Evitts on this occasion) ploughing into him?

Unless a compulsory order can be purchased I fear for the stadium and it's future...I hope that I am proved wrong!

The Totaliser has had a preservation order placed upon it to the best of my knowledge...may have even been grade listed. However the future of the complex is still uncertain.

Personally I prefer meetings to be close...nothing like a last heat decider to get the adrenalin going! Recall many times when Oxford pulled it 'out of the bag' achieving match winning 5-1's in heat thirteen. Two especially pleasing away wins were at King's Lynn (much to Martin Rogers' annoyance) and Wimbledon in 1984! Great days!

I wish I had your confidence but I have my serious doubts that Cowley will be saved despite assurances to the contrary.