steve roberts

Just been researching this story...strewth! It doesn't get any worse. Yet another nail in the coffin for speedway in this country.

My views on Clark Osbourne are well chronicled. He tried to sell off Cowley Stadium back in 1976 for development but the Oxford SOS Committee (including a certain Bernard Crapper) stepped in and saved the Stadium. I wish all those at Swindon the best of luck. I spent many happy evenings at Blunsdon.

Doubling up has been going on for years. When I first attended speedway in 1972 many British League Division One promotions had interests in Division Two and riders often 'doubled up' between the leagues. My team, Oxford and later White City, adopted this system regularly with the likes of Ballard, Kennett, Davis, Gachet, Weatherley, Sampson etc and it was a way of introducing talent gradually before committing to a full season in the upper discipline.

Great line up (especially when other superb riders eg Betts, Kennett, N.Boocock, Ashby, Kilby, Davis etc are not included due to the given criteria) Clearly proves how once great this island was in developing British talent but now sadly a thing of the past unfortunately. Sums up the state of present day speedway in this country.

I was at the Reading meeting and also the Final but I believe that ITV didn't cover the event because England weren't competing.

I remember reading a book on speedway by journalist and some time commentator John Chaplin who said that if you don't want your illusions spoilt regarding the sport then stay your side of the fence...meaning the amount of race 'fixing' etc that takes place. My uncle (who was a photographer) saw first hand evidence of this many years ago and it's an episode John Berry described in one of his books. I actually contacted John and we both were able to confirm the episode in question.

At the risk of upsetting people I was never particularly impressed with Billy Hamill. There were far better riders who never managed to win the World Championship over the years in my opinion. He only won that year because of mitigating circumstances as explained previously.

Ray (not Reg) Wilson who became British Champion in 1973 when the event was held at Sheffield.

Enjoying watching my DVDs with the recently departed Dave Lanning commentating. No one has ever replaced him and ever likely too!

Sad news. Was promoter at Oxford during my first season at Cowley when Oxford rode as 'The Rebels'. RIP

Gordon Kennett has to be in there somewhere.

Saw Odd ride in his last meeting at Cowley (1974) when he was involved in a nasty crash with Ulf Lovaas' bike breaking his leg badly. He never rode again.

I enjoyed listening to Erik Boocock reminiscing. Very dry sense of humour! As a matter of interest I did send a copy of this DVD to one-time Halifax Duke "Mouseman' Ian Cartwright and the package ended up in Scotland despite a Yorkshire post code!!

I Followed speedway between 1972 and 2004. My Dad went to Oxford's first meeting (1949) and finished in 2004. I am happy that he is no longer with us to see the current plight of Cowley Stadium!

I don't know what others think but some of the DVDs I own have the action recorded from the inside of the track and it's something that I personally, don't enjoy. Far better when taken from outside (as we, the supporters, would generally view the action) as one can obtain a better perspective and appreciate the action far better. I find from the inside (and I have on one occasion viewed a race from the inside) the action, although initially different, soon wears a bit thin and I find it difficult to appreciate the full extent of the racing as the camera keeps spinning round...just my view! Also commentary varies considerably on some DVDs. I can't bare the screaming type commentator or those who constantly jabber away during the race (Re-Run DVDs are guilty of this) as I don't wish to be told constantly what I can see for myself. There's a fine line between informing whilst keeping a level of enthusiasm in check and just babbling away for the sake of it. Just watched the Test Match (remember those?) from 1983 between England and Denmark from Hackney...fascinating stuff!

I have a large selection of DVDs covering the 70's, 80's, 90's & 00's. The last meeting I watched was the 1985 Knock-Out Cup (remember that competition?) 2nd Leg Final held at Cowley between Oxford and Ipswich. The meeting had everything. A large crowd with plenty of atmosphere. Plenty of good racing and controversy....and the right result if you were an Oxford fan! Great days!

Not necessarily so. Oxford were denied the opportunity to defend their title in 2002 because their match at Peterborough 'apparently' fell outside the cut-off date and was never raced! If I recall had Oxford won that fixture they would have taken their rightfull place in the Play-Offs instead that 'honour' went to Peterborough...much to my (and many others I might add at the time) disgust! And people wonder why I have become dis-illusioned with the sport down the years.

I recall the match between the 'Stars' and the University which ended up as a brawl and had to be abandoned! I'm not a great fan of sports however i used to play/watch football, cricket and snooker (game rather than a sport in my opinion). Used to enjoy watching Ice Hockey (can't skate for love or money) as it contains both skill and plenty of brawn and proved highly entertaining when I used to pop along to the Ice Rink. Remember the speedway magazine of the fifties and sixties which incorporated Ice Hockey within its editorial. There was a link, apparently, between the sports in that fans would watch both on a regular basis. Same applied during the resurrection of Ice Hockey in Oxford where people I knew at the speedway would meet up during the Winter at the Ice Rink.

I used to go and watch the Oxford City 'Stars' Ice Hockey team and during the first couple of seasons the atmosphere (okay easily generated in an indoor arena) and general presentation was first class...with flashing lights and appropriate music. Really good afternoon/night out...especially when they met the University team!!

Forced to play the game at school...and I used to get flattened in the scrum! Of course now residing in the north of the country it's rugby league up here.

At the risk of being 'boring' and 'repeating' myself one-time Oxford Promoter, Steve Purchase, used to engage with the fans thru' the old Oxford Fan's Forum and on one occasion invited a selection of people (myself included) to a pre-season informal discussion just to bandy ideas around.

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ronnie. He was a popular rider at Oxford and will leave many memories I am sure for those who remember him. RIP

Track legend at Cowley and well respected!

Despite an earlier comment about Jack 'The Villain' Millen he certainly would draw the crowds. Recall one-time Tees-side Promoter, Ron Wilson, would book him in especially for open meetings because he knew that Jack would add hundreds to the attendance! Jack would play to the crowd and create mischief but was an entertainer. Apparently he was a really nice guy off track! That great showman, Johnnie Hoskins, was another!

Remember having a chat with the late Bernard Crapper (Oxford Promoter) regarding his use of the starting line phone apparently disputing a call by the referee. He explained to me that he was often just passing the time of day with the official giving the impression that he was 'ranting and raving' waving his arms about! He would do it to inject some much needed entertainment to a dull meeting and to get the fans going! We could do with characters like him now in the sport.