steve roberts

Interesting to read Martin Dugard's confession that in hindsight he felt that he should have moved to Cradley rather than Oxford in 1988. Personally I felt that he had made the right move as he couldn't but help pick up tips from the likes of Nielsen, Wigg, Cox etc. He became a master of Cowley but was perhaps left wanting to a degree on the bigger circuits which is what he was implying in his interview. His mistake, in my opinion, was moving back to Eastbourne after Oxford moved into the lower league in 1993. Also I agree with Gordon Kennett who suggested that Martin should have taken himself off to Australia to develop his technique...particularly on the larger circuits.

Just received my copy of 'Backtracking - Volume 2' and read Tony Mac's fascinating account regarding riders and teams identities pre Kevlar Team Suits. Jerseys were a common form of unifying teams and got me wondering who was the first team to adopt their use. I'm guessing that it was Wembley? Never knew that the shirts that West Ham used were Red and Blue. Always assumed that it was Claret and Blue after the football team! My team, Oxford, adopted team leathers in 1973 but I recall that Hasse Holmqvist's pair had to be re-adjustred him being so tall! I guess that Mildenhall adopted the most striking team leathers (based on John 'Tiger' Louis) of black and yellow/gold with stripped tiger arms. I agree with Tony Mac in that the most bizarre, and in my view the most ugly, team leathers were those used by Cradley Heath in 1972! I guess that most teams (certainly in the British League days) had at one time or another some sort of identity (whether leathers or jerseys) before the advent of recognised team suits became the norm. By the way the books 'Backtracking' Volumes One & Two are fabulous reads...well done Tony Mac!

Couldn't agree more! In a perfect world every track would have a stable of bikes maintained by a couple of mechanics and then issued, randomly, to that meeting's riders and returned after the meeting. But of course finances just wouldn't allow that to happen...but I can dream!

It has to be the Collins brothers. They served their country at all levels and their collective record and longevity is second to none.

I saw Arthur Forrest compete in the 1988 Golden Greats Meeting at Coventry.

Didn't he score a maximum at his first meeting?

How I would have enjoyed watching all those great pioneering riders!

Just watched the last meeting at Wimbledon (not counting the latter days Junior matches held on a very different sized track) which featured teams from Wimbledon, Reading, Poole & Swindon. Unfortunately the weather was abysmal and the meeting had to be abandoned. John Davis, when interviewed, was very scathing of the GRA...too right too!

Rated them highly! Johnny Boulger was the main Aussie rival to Garry Middleton during my first season (1972). Bernie Persson was a hard Swede whose main claim to fame, I suppose, was the incident involving him and Briggo at the 1972 Wembley Final. I blamed Bernie at the time but with the passing years I look at it more subjectively...perhaps it was 50/50? Great days!

Never saw them ride...although I recall Jack being introduced to the crowd at 'The Golden Greats Meeting' at Coventry in 1988...and he had the crowd spell bound. Personally I've only included riders that I saw during my period of attending speedway.

Remember when Sandor rode for Cradley 'United' (as they were known then) during the infamous walk out at Cowley due to a snowstorm. Sandor was willing to give it a go (together with the home side) but eventually the meeting ran its course with just 'The Rebels' riding un-apposed. John Boulger was from that day on christened 'Snow Flake' by the Cowley faithful!

Remember Oxford taking a representative team to Holland in 1974 and the signing of Henk Steman. He drew attention by the fact that he was Dutch but didn't really excel. However he did re-appear later in Britain when he rode for Bristol in 1978 (?)

Malcolm Simmons was the rider on form in 1976 and could have pulled off a GP win no problems. It's always going to be arguable because there are so many factors to consider...good discussion however! I forgot about Carter and I would throw Shawn Moran into the equation also. Agree with your assessment of Nielsen. If the GPs had been introduced a decade earlier he would have been invincible. Clearly the rider of the eighties.

Forgot Leigh Adams...and I'm sure that there are others if I really put my mind to it. I never rated Hamill but that's just a personal view based on years watching the aforementioned riders over a number of years and witnessing their triumphs on both the domestic and world stage.

I would add Tommy Jansson, Malcolm Simmons, John Louis, Dave Jessup, Phil Crump, Billy Sanders, Dennis Sigalos (off the top of my head) as worthy (and in the case of Jansson potential) champions ahead of Hamill in my opinion...although it's difficult comparing the different race formulae/disciplines between a One-Off World Final and Grand Prix Series. I acknowledge that Sam Ermolenko was a worthy champ but not in the year that he was successful. He was very fortunate in that the referee dismissed the fact that he was not under power during one race and should have therefore been excluded.

I think of all the tracks I would have liked to have visited but didn't would have been Custom House. It closed the year I started gong to speedway. Other tracks would have included New Cross, Southampton and Norwich.

Terry Betts used to get a percentage of the gate money when he rode for King's Lynn. I'm sure there have been all sorts of deals struck with guarantees, signing on fees etc over the years but it's an area clouded in mystery and confidentially between promoters and riders although Malcolm Simmons, in his book, discussed it quite openly. I did read/hear once somewhere that a certain rider was on £500 a point/heat win (can't remember which)...which seemed an extortionate amount of money in my opinion!

...who, if I'm correct, also sold Blackbird Road to developers to upgrade Brandon.

See above!

Also Ian Thomas...never a fan of him but he knew the rule book and how to manipulate it to his team's advantage although he used to get found out occasionally!

Good post!

If any consolation I was there and it was dramatic, if rather drawn out, meeting. I felt that New Zealand were fortunate in the Qualifying Round at Reading as it had become very much of a lottery due to awful conditions but fully deserved their final win.

Bernard Crapper knew how to get the best out of 'Wiggy'. He would just tell someone that he was rubbish in 'Wiggy's' ear shot and that was all the motivation that Simon required!

Cyril Maidment, Team Manager of Wimbledon, once apparently missed a T/S opportunity that may well have swung the match and 'The Dons' ended up losing. When cornered by some irate fans after the meeting he dropped his trousers in the way of a response and everyone just cracked up with laughter and all was forgiven! Great character!

The Combined efforts of John Berry and Ron Bagley took some beating. Trouble is today due to the rules there is very little that a Team Manager can do tactically but at least they can be a motivating force when required.