steve roberts

I recall the days of VHS when I recorded many films from the TV and stored them...which apparently was illegal (the law stated that you had to wipe them after a number of days/weeks). I remember a policeman friend (?) who once saw my collection and stated that I was breaking the law but it was impossible to monitor/legislate and a blind eye was often turned to the practice. I seem to recall that Bob Monkhouse had to go to court regarding his vast collection of movies which he had on film but common sense prevailed and they were saved for prosperity.

Remember him when he first started out and grew up watching his father Mike. Both good servants to the sport and I wish him well.

Not a bad list (and I realise that it's based on previous personal contributions on this thread) but I wouldn't have put Malcolm Simmons that far down. Considering he had been second in the World, Best Pairs Champion on three occasions and World Team Cup winner on numerous occasions as well as British Champion (when it meant something). I personally would place him above the likes of Carter, Moran and Sigalos.

A very classy rider who I got to see quite often when I used to visit White City following 'The Rebels' and Wimbledon and its riders were regular visitors. Can not for the life of me remember how his name was pronounced however!

...yes I was re-iterating what I was trying to clarify!

As I keep re-itereating the title in Football is decided by whoever finishes top. The Play-Offs determine who gets promoted and relegated...not to decide the winners. However I realise that money and TV coverage is the fundamental issue...just trying to clarify matters in that Football and Speedway differ in its objectives.

...but as I've tried to clarify do Play-Offs decide who wins League Championships in football or is it a system to decide promotion and regulation? Does the team who finishes top in the Premier League (and the other leagues) not finish as champions? If that is the case why doesn't football follow that remit? I've nothing personal against Play-Off's (it's an American innovation) but not all sports appear to adopt that system.

Finn Jensen was indeed an enigma...one match he would prove almost unbeatable (I recall seeing him score, I believe, 17 points at Birmingham on one occasion) and the next meeting failing to trouble the scores. There were a few riders like that but Finn was a real mystery!

I recall back in 2002 when Oxford were 'denied' the opportunity of defending their hard fought championship (2001) because Peterborough failed to fulfil it's remaining home fixture (Oxford) before the cut-off date (presumably instigated by SKY?). Peterborough went forward to the Play-Offs much to the disgust of many Oxford supporters at the time.

I was just wishing to clarify the point that other sports perhaps have a different system in place regarding who ends up as champions. Play-Offs are, if I am correct, a mechanism that decides who is promoted and/or relegated (as in the football league for example) which of course isn't the case within speedway (promotion and relegation...although it's been tried in the past and I believe is about to be re-introduced?) My query wasn't about the financial implications (although that's a massive consideration...certainly within football) but Play-Offs generally within sport and their implication generally.

Quote me if I'm wrong, and excuse my ignorance regarding football, but is it true that the team that finishes top of the league are declared champions and the play-off system is used to decide who gets promoted/relegated?

That's ringing a bell!

Great days indeed! George Hunter team-riding! Per Sorensen never really got the plaudits he deserved...totally turned Oxford's season around in 1986. Would like to read an interview with him in 'Backtrack' magazine...over to you Rob? Yes I recall The Supporter's Club Trophy (during the seventies it was 'The Champions Trophy) It's a shame that individual and/or open meetings lost favour with the public. Each track had its big meeting...'The Silver Plume' at Swindon for example.

The Pole at Poole...Andrzej Thokz (?) wasn't a bad rider also. Oxford fans don't talk about Paul Thorp after the rumpus he caused at Cowley one year when he was leading a race and put up his hand indicating engine trouble. He dropped back as the other riders passed him and then he decided to 're-join' the race much to Bernard Crapper's disgust! Never a fan of Thorp, personally, and his bikes proved unreliable...perhaps he suffered one of his infamous engine blow-ups when Munkedal beat him at Belle Vue! One of those riders who would win by a mile and the next race trail in last by the same distance!

He was a team mate of Marek Cieslak and generally was disappointing but I do remember one second half race where he and Gordon Kennett had a real 'ding-dong' battle and he went on to win...in fact the race was run twice after an exclusion and Andrzej had the beating of Gordon in the first race also! Funny how the mind plays tricks...but spot on there with the riders! If I recall Blaszak was latter replaced by Boley Proch (?)

Strewth! The competition couldn't have been that hot? He was less than impressive during his short time riding for 'The Cheetahs!'

Was it in 1976 when a number of Poles were introduced to the British League and all failed miserably? There was Leonard Raba at Swindon together with a Pole who had taken out Swedish citizenship. Another at Leicester and, I think, Halifax? Of course Zenon Plech rode with distinction at Hackney that season followed by both Marek Cieslak (one of my favourites) and Edward Jancarz the following year.

Yes it's the same David Smart.

Your Forgetting Kai Niemi...a quality rider in his time. I think that you are being particularly hard on the 1983 version. Gordon Kennett put in, and was granted, a transfer (King's Lynn) and it was expected that Kelly Moran and Ron Preston would continue where they left off in 1982...but both decided not to return so 'The Eagles' lost all its heat leaders from the previous season. Paul Woods was promoted from Number Four in the team to Number One in 1983. It also has to be remembered that Eastbourne riding on a Sunday was always going to cause a problem attracting riders of quality.

Bjorn Klingberg suffered from home sickness if I remember and didn't last very long at Arlington. Have a feeling that he represented Sweden in either the World Team Cup or World Pairs on one occasion so came highly rated. I first went to Eastbourne in the days of Malcolm Ballard, Gordon Kennett, Bobby McNeil and Roger Johns amongst many other talented riders who either rode in the team or the long lamented, in my opinion, second halves.

Blimey Sid! Some names from the past there! I do recall a Johansson (Lillebror ?) doing well at Swindon when riding for 'The Eagles' in 1982 and Eastbourne winning handsomely! Can't remember the first name of Davidsson but recall that he was the brother of Eddie who failed miserably at Oxford in 1975! PS Just remembered...It was Jan!

Super days for me during the late seventies. White City on the Wednesday, Oxford Thursday, Swindon Saturday and occasionally Eastbourne on a Sunday with the occasionally other track thrown in!

You may be right but I'm assuming that if speedway was to be re-introduced it would need to approved and of course that would have to be at the will of the residents. I know that when I lived in Blackbird Leys there were certain residents determined to close the speedway but the remit was always the stadium was there well before any housing...that's now changed in the respect that the stadium has remained relatively dormant (the Go Karting franchise may still be operating there?) Interesting future but I would be surprised if no objections would be raised...considering the lack of tolerance shown by certain members of the public.

Having supported Oxford for 32 years it distresses me to see the situation that has developed over the last ten years at Cowley. If the site receives a stay of execution it will be very difficult re-introducing speedway as it will have to go thru' all sorts of planning decisions (I can't see the local residents allowing motor sport to be re-introduced without raising objections) however it's one major blessing that the local council appear keen for the site to be utilised...in whatever form. We shall see and it's with pride that stuck in the window of my car is a 'Save Oxford Stadium' sticker however, living in York, that's not going to raise the profile very much...if at all!

I, too, had the Speedway Scene Board Game and built a track and adapted it so that I could use the Britain's speedway riders incorporating some of the rules.