steve roberts

Fabulous statistical section in the latest edition of 'Backtrack'. In an easy to interpret list it makes for an interesting analysis. However my one query is whether Bob Coles rode at Yarmouth?

Tyres have been a constant source of debate going back decades. Pirelli, Barum or Carlisle to name a few. It's been argued that some are too narrow/wide, soft/hard, deep/shallow treads etc etc.

The crash was shown on World of Sport if I remember?

I recall an interview with the late Kelly Moran some years ago when he was quoted as saying that he had difficulty riding a lay down engine.

Bobby Beaton at Cowley in 1972. Colin Gooddy's bike broke down immediately in front of Bobby and he had nowhere to go. Hit him from behind and flew over the fence hitting, if I recall, a lamp standard. He was carried off and we feared the worse. He was riding again within 24 hours!

Yes he was involved with the proposed sale of Cowley Stadium back in 1976 before it was saved by a committee of speedway and greyhound enthusiasts.

Internationals between England and the USA and Denmark....or going further back Sweden. Those badges with year bars. Going into a last heat decider and winning. Memories of many with Hans Nielsen and his partner achieving same on many such occasions. Remember when said Colin Meredith appeared in a second half race at Oxford under the name of Tony Brooklister. Personally I used to enjoy the tactics at the gate with riders trying to out wit their opponent but can understand why the no touching tape ruling was brought in.

I used to get excited attending the official pre-season practice watching the riders go thru' their paces and anticipation was high for the new campaign!

Good post! Enjoyed reading that! Generally been a good and interesting thread.

I used to paint boards to order and even had a contact in Germany who used to purchase some from me. I even painted a board for Steve Regeling's wife! Remember, well, the track shop at Coventry where you could purchase personalised programme boards. Recently saw a car with a bike on a rack pass me on a motorway...really brought back memories!

Remember those jackets as well! Another great memory was the personalised programme boards. Very innovative some of them. I used to paint programme boards in enamels (actually sold a few too!) and it was exciting prior to a new season starting painting my new board. Riders transporting their bikes on racks on the back of their cars and occasionally spotting them when travelling to and from meetings. Those sun strips (murder to stick on) displayed either on the windscreen or rear window of the car. I recall having three displayed at one time!

I cringe at the memory that I used to wear a 'Skol Halls' jacket when they sponsored Oxford back in the 80s but I thought that I was the bees knees!

I followed speedway for over thirty years before relocating. It had everything and some of the aspects that first attracted me to the sport are as follows... The atmosphere and the smell of castrol R. Visiting different tracks (home and abroad) that required different riding techniques adding to the pleasure. The sad demise of Wembley as a speedway. The personalities involved (riders, management and fans). The colourful and distinguishing leathers which made identifying riders more easy. Old style second halves. Meeting up with people on the terraces and developing a little clique. Trying to out guess the Team Manager's next tactical move. Collecting the programmes and filling them in with accuracy. The noise of the bikes with straight thru' exhausts (never quite the same with the advent of silencers). Local derbies (sadly no longer possible with many now defunct tracks). The statistical side of the sport that enabled fans to keep their own records together with the official ones. I could go on.

I agree! The old Second Division/New National League was originally created to bring on fresh talent with a few 'old 'hands' to get things started. It produced many riders who went on to achieve great things at international level. By the late seventies, however, the impetus faded and the league moved direction and eventually, with the inclusion of foreign riders, became a very different animal.

Thank you for that example. Few and far between. John Louis soon broke into the Ipswich team but he had experience riding scambles (as it was known then) and Simon Wigg grass tracking. Certainly not a case of a few weeks. I would agree it's difficult, if impossible, to compare then and now because so much is very different...especially in machinery, as you say, and team make-ups due to various stipulations within the rules.

I agree that 'foreign' riders at the commencement of their introduction to the lower league displaced many British riders but what started as 'star' foreign imports soon became replaced by humdrum foreigners when promoters saw the opportunity in going abroad for talent rather than developing their own assets. The introduction of a points limit in the National League (1980ish?) also saw a manipulation of riding talent (and continues to do so) when riders with low averages became sought after which left middle order riders somewhat out on a limb and a less desirable commodity.

Not so in the example that I have given re:Eastbourne. These were riders who were proven but unable to be guaranteed a place in a very competitive 'Eagles' side and had to be farmed out to other teams. Having followed the sport extensively for 32 years during the 70s, 80s, 90s & 00s at both levels (Division One and Two/New National and National Leagues) I'm not honestly aware of a rider who having learnt to ride a speedway bike within weeks being included and holding down a team place? Can you give an example just to clarify?

Yes that's him...funny how the memory plays tricks!

I think that the rider was Stuart Shirley?

The lad that my brother shared a bike with at one of Olle Nygren's Training Schools...Chris Prime at Newcastle.

Of course the 'enemy' from across the border ('The Budgies' from Swindon) also had some successful riders who graduated thru' the second half. The likes of Malcolm Holloway, Martin Hewlett (who died tragically), Kevin & David Smart and the lad who rode at Exeter and Somerset, amongst others, who I can't unfortunately remember the name? I'm sure that other posters who followed speedway during that era will be able to give their own team's example of riders who commenced their careers at second half level before being loaned out to advance their careers?

Oh I see! The irony was lost on me. I have corrected same.

Yes at Oxford saw the likes of Julian Wigg, Ken Matthews, Kevin Hawkins, Paul Tapp, Chris Drewett (as well as the often aforementioned riders) develop in the second half before competing at senior level with differing successes. Julian's brother, Simon, used to ride second halves at Reading (whilst a Grass Track rider) before moving on to Weymouth and eventually becoming an England International at Speedway. I was forgetting Pip Lamb. Another Grass Tracker who started riding in second halves at Cowley and eventually developed into a very useful and promising rider before so cruelly paralysed, ironically, in a second half race. I could go on...and probably will!!

Mike went to Nottingham when White City moved in at Arlington. He was asked if he wished to move up and ride in the British League but declined and was signed up by Cradley Heath and loaned out to Nottingham where he formed a formidable partnership with another "Heathen' asset Dave Perks. He finished his career at Stoke. He must have been one of the longest distant travellers when early in his career he used to travel from his Exeter base to ride for Barrow! I bow to you superior knowledge as I haven't been to a speedway since I re-located some twelve or so years ago so am unfamiliar with the present meeting structure.

Mike Sampson's an example of a rider who blossomed as an Eastbourne rider. He was no slouch prior to joining 'The Eagles' and after a couple of settling in years at Arlington found stardom and became a very dependable number one...one of my favourites!