steve roberts

My unsung heroes would include the likes of Rick Timmo, Bernie Leigh (albeit one enforced year away from Reading) and Mike Keen, middle order riders who gave sterling service to just the one team.

Astonishing that I instigated this thread during November last year and we are no further forward despite all the shallow promises and excuses emanating from the present owners of the Abbey Stadium.

When I used to do shifts at the local Art Gallery the policy was for no photos. It was almost impossible to police what with cameras in mobile phones etc.

I didn't have any problems at Grass Track Meetings I attended within the last couple of years.

My comment wasn't questioning the matter of books but a general observation made by commentators regarding people's changing habits...which is a too simplistic outlook made with very little substance and/or knowledge of the real world.

Trouble is there's a culture whereby society tends to over generalise today and tarnish everybody of a certain generation with the same brush.

I also enjoy statistical related books (the sport is dictated to by statistics after all!) and am looking forward in receiving my 'History Of the British League' volumes. One of my treasured books is Peter Oakes' 'The Who's Who of World Speedway' but which unfortunately only covers up until the year 1975. However it's a great source of information. Also enjoyed the Tommy Jansson book which was translated into english some years ago. Tragic insight to a potentially great, but much missed, rider and personality.

The 'Speedway Star', 'Speedway Express' and 'Speedway Mail' were all required reading in my years following the sport. Each had their different agendas but it was 'The Star' that I used to look forward in receiving the most.

Of course the Americans of the 80s & 90s always seemed to have Nicknames...some quite bizarre! There was 'Boogolo' Schwartz, 'Jellyman' Moran, 'Miracle Worker' Moran, 'Rocket' Ron, 'Cowboy' Cook, 'Bullet' Hamill etc etc (did Penhall ever have a nickname?) And of course the best of the lot...'Five Flavours' Pfetzing!

Yes the Wiggy book is very good! Read the Carter book some time ago and was both enlightening and somewhat traumatic at the same time. Are they still available?

Yes I have Booey's and Len Silver's also. Great reads! Love my books and dream of the day when I can sit in my comfy leather chair sipping my favourite tipple in front of the fire in my purpose built library...that's when I can stop playing with my model railway!

...okay so I'm old fashioned and proud of it!

I thought that Johnnie Hoskins' Speedway Walkabout was a fabulous read. Should be re-printed in my opinion! Dave Morton's book was also an interesting insight of the sport. How about one form Frank Ebden? Always sought controversy!

I'm an avid collector of Speedway literature and/or books that discuss the sport in the past. One of the best recent books I purchased was Reg Fearman's which gave an interesting insight of the the sport during his tenure. Anything that's slightly controversial in content (John Berry's books were first class). including Malcolm Simmons' and Michael Lee's efforts...all great reads! I also purchased the story of Garry Middleton (Author Tony Webb) which again made for an interesting read. One prized book (when I eventually sourced it) was the 'Complete History of the British League' which covered the years between 1965 - 1990 (would be nice to have it updated) edited by Peter Oakes.

I've bought both books and they are excellent! Although I also have all the Backtrack numbers they have become rather dog eared as I tend to read them whilst in the bath!

Many thanks for that! Was always a mystery to me!

Tim Hunt was as mad as a hatter! I liked the late Geoff Curtis. I had it confirmed that he was about to join Oxford in 1974 before he was tragically killed at Sydney Showground late 1973.. Remember his protege Alan Sorensen (all white leathers) who used to ride during the second half at Cowley in 1974.

I even saw Lofqvist as Lofkvist once! Very weird...perhaps something lost in the translation?

Bizarrely some scribes insisted on Holmqvist being spelt Holmkvist! I never went with that version personally.

My Reading Team would be (Years 1972-2004) Michanek, Lovass, Jessup, Davis, Schwartz, Andersson, Leigh. Wimbledon Moore, Jansson, Briggs, Ross, Jancarz, Simmons, Hedge. Hackney Jansson, Lovaas, Morton, Petersen, Plech, Thomas, Thomsen. Ipswich J.Louis, Sanders, Davey, Sigalos, Cook (?), Doncaster, C.Louis. Belle Vue Mauger, Sjosten, Collins, Morton, C.Pusey, Wilkinson, S.Moran PS I always base my top seven not just on average but their team awareness and entertainment value and overall impact which is always going to be contentious and open to personal opinion...but I do realise that this thread is about the all time top seven which I always have difficulties adhering to whatever the subject matter as it's always going to be subjective!

...or at least I thought I had! What a peculiar web-site to be advertising such a thing!

Only saw him ride at Briggo's 'Golden Greats Meeting' at Coventry in 1988. Would have enjoyed watching him in his heyday together with all the other greats of the fifties and sixties.

Anybody have a copy of the match covered by Central TV between Cradley and White City in 1977?

Interesting to see Oxford Speedway 2017 Calendars for sale at £10 each (proceeds to Speedway Riders' Benevolent Fund) in the latest edition of 'Backtrack'. Mine's on order!

Derek 'Teddy Boy' Harrison. Super rider who won many of his points from the back at Cowley and Milton Keynes. Interesting that since he retired from riding he has had his eyesight corrected and no longer wears glasses!