steve roberts

Blimey...that takes me back!

We.ve all been there I'm sure...travelling to a track only to find that the meeting has been cancellled. I've lost count the number of times I've made a journey in the past and have the meeting postponed at the last minute. However we didn't have the luxury of mobile phones etc in those days to keep us informed whilst making the journey. Speedway fans have always been subjected to poor customer relations and I always recall the "six heat" clause whereby if a meeting ran to that length and was then postponed you didn't get your money back...I'm convinced that it could have been challenged?

...could have been scripted from that famous episode of "Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?"

Must watch this!

Yes I remember that also!

Spotted a very young Terry Betts!

...and the music was better back then!

....I recall years ago when some riders were using a spray to soften their tyres?

First time I saw Bobby ride was at Cowley in 1972 when he had an almighty crash and many thought the worse...he was riding again the folllowing night!

Personally I think the media often doesn't help...stories abound regarding unsafe streets and it can give the impression that one is vulnerable when stepping outside your front door rather than allowing a bit of common sense to put things into some sort or perspective. I grew up on Blackbird Leys and had great childhood/teenage years but the local press would always look for stories to put the Estate down. My mother was a local councillor and was often having to take issue with the local press for being disproportionate with the facts...especially over the infamous "joy riding" episode that achieved national notoriety.

Did he pay to get in? Okay I'm being sarcastic following the "uproar" on the PC book site!

...okay the meeting had started at Cowley (1975) when a snow storm caused the Cradley team to walk out handing Oxford a whitewash win. John Boulger was given the name by the Oxford faithfull as "Snowflake!"

I remember family holidays on the south coast during the seventies and it was always an issue visiting Poole where they wouldn't open the gates until quite late much to our frustration.

...reminds one of the days when some riders added nitro to their fuel and was quite common apparently before it was made illegal.

I'd agree...I grew up during that period and never felt intimidated walking or playing in my locality or the woods/cycle rides etc.

...how I miss those names! Sandy Lane, Watlington and Garsingtion Roads where I grew up!

...or change them to suit!

Same at Cowley in the middle seventies!

May have been a "Farewell Meeting" but Todd Wiltshire?

Yes that sounds familiar! Going back many years I'm sure that the Italian Touring Team got in some pre-match practice at Cowley?

Just caught up with this one...that's how I remember it when I visited back in the nineties.

I'm sure I recall this initiative was once tried sometime during the nineties or did I just imagine it?

It's New Cross (famously featured in the film "Once a Jolly Swagman" starring Dirk Bogarde and Bill Owen amongst others) with Millwall's ground in the background. I visited some years ago and saw the new "Den" while the old stadium had just been demolished and there was some evidence of the old New Cross if you looked hard enough but it's just now a recreation ground.

I would agree in principle with your thoughts but that's how threads tend to develop on a public forum. However it doesn't help when one individual in particular felt the need to trawl thru' another thread to post a comment to try and score a point having misinterpreted the comments made to suit their own agenda. It's great to see that the meeting has been rescheduled for April 19th.

...Exeter had similar problems although both Martin Ashby and Bob Kilby complained bitterly about the "forced" move to Devon however one could argue that it made them better riders. I recall long after Rider Control ceased that when Exeter obtained Leicester's licence both Les and Neil Collins made it plain that neither would ride for Exeter!