steve roberts

Didn't know that he had a brother?

Bob Dugard and the late Arthur Nutley must take much of the credit for what was achieved at Eastbourne. As well as the riders you've listed how about this one...Jessup, Dave and Gordon Kennett, Johns, McNeil, Gachet, Ballard, Geer, Weatherley, Gachet, Ackroyd, Colin Richardson. Martin Yeates was obviously a Poole asset but began his career at Arlington but couldn't always be guaranteed a place hence why he moved onto Weymouth where he blossomed as a rider. I first saw Colin Richardson as a fifteen year old riding exhibition races against somebody called Michael Lee at Cowley!

Of course Belle Vue had a very successful development programme whereby riders progressed via 'The Aces' sister clubs and competing in the second halves. Collins, Wilkinson, Eyre, Broadbelt, Morton etc. Oxford had the likes of Ballard, Kennett, Geer, Davis, Greer, Gachet and Weatherly (amongst others) make the move successfully after advancing their apprenticeships via the second halves.

I'm not familiar with the modern equivalent I'm afraid...out of touch. All I know is that in the 'old days' teams would loan out riders to their 'sister' club (best examples, I guess, would be Michael Lee at Boston and Peter Collins at Rochdale) to gain experience and would ride in their senior team's second half to develop and progress before moving up full time. Of course now that there are no longer second halves that route is no longer available for riders.

Many First Division Teams back in the seventies had promotional tie ups with Second Division Teams and it gave loanees an opportunity to double up gaining experience (often riding in second halves as was the case at Oxford) Teams with 'sister' clubs back then include: Oxford - Peterborough/Eastbourne Hackney - Rayleigh/Rye House Belle Vue - Rochdale/Belle Vue II King's Lynn - Boston/King's Lynn II Leicester - Teesside etc etc

Oxford's sister teams (Eastbourne and Peterboroughs) had many riders who were able to step into the void created by missing riders due to injury and/or progression into the upper League. In fact Eastbourne had riders competing in the second halves who would have quite easily fitted into other teams due to their very successful youth policy. In fact Pete Jarman stepped down during his stint with 'The Eagles' to give some of the promising juniors a chance. Eric Dugard couldn't get into the team despite carrying a useful average and was loaned out to Peterborough. Peter Tarrent , Ian Gledhill and Martin Yeates were further examples who couldn't be guaranteed a team place despite holding down good averages. Eastbourne, despite continually losing their star riders were able to replace them successfully season on season.

Of course there's that infamous incident at Cradley when Garry Middleton pulled out a gun in retribution to an incident on track with Roy Trigg!

Anybody know what Paul Gachet is now doing? I remember Paul riding in second halves (great source for novices and/or juniors to ply their trade) at both Eastbourne and Oxford in the early seventies. Progressed to number one at Arlington and doubled up as cover at Oxford in the absence of Hasse Holmqvist at Cowley. Then transferred with the whole Oxford team to White City in 1976 and became a dependable rider for 'The Rebels'. Unfortunately badly broke his ankle early during the 1977 season and was replaced by 'Rebels' assets Dave Kennett and Mike Sampson as White City went on to win the league that year. Paul, however, did assist behind the scenes that year helping out in the pits and assisting team mates. On his return to action in 1978 he put in a solid, if unspectacular, season but due to White City's unfortunate early closure he saw out the remainder of the season at Mildenhall where a badly broken leg finished his career. He must qualify as one of the smallest riders at the time and was christened 'The Mini-Maestro!'

Likewise Tony Brooklister and Colin Meredith!

Good grief! Forgotten about Bo Bo Valentine!

Of course the old British League Division Two and later National League never resorted to using guests. If a team hit trouble they either resorted to using R/R or promoted a junior. Teams like Eastbourne had many likely lads ready to replace an injured colleague...hence why the old ideal of the second tier of racing developed many riders. Unfortunately it began to adopt the ways of the upper league and, as they say, the rest is history.

Thanks for that! The old memory plays tricks!

Martin Ashby was a favourite guest in place of the sadly killed Tommy Jansson. In fact Cyril Maidment wanted to sign him due to his popularity but Martin decided otherwise. Guest riders have always been a thorny issue but how does one replace a missing number one? Hackney would have been in dire straights if after losing Dave Morton early during the 1977 season they had been denied the use of guests. One had to admire John Berry's stance when he took a stand and refused to use guests especially when it could have caused his team, Ipswich, to lose out on the 1976 championship when John Louis missed some matches due to a shoulder injury.

Remember that! I was there. Someone in the crowd shouted "How much you been paid by Hackney?" To which one wag replied "More than Reading are paying obviously!"

The guest system was out of control when I used to go to speedway but I have to confess I'm not familiar with today's rules on guests. Once upon a time it was used for missing heat leaders but then it became common practice to replace missing reserves with a guest! I recall Oxford once using John Davis as a guest for...John Davis! The example you give does seem totally bizarre I have to say!

Remember Mike Caruso riding for Hull and Poole but who sadly took his own life some years ago.

I recall Ivan Mauger turning down a guest booking (Belle Vue?) as it may well have affected the chances of his team, Exeter, from winning the league.

I believe that competitors are kept away from the public and on two day events they are kept in isolation overnight.

I was just up the road from Fleetwood the other day when I visited Morecambe Bay!

Oxford stalwart who actually rode with his dad, Reg, at New Cross before making a name for himself at Cowley. I believe he married the sister of actress Vicki Michelle ('Allo 'Allo) and opened a boutique in London. Later moved to Hackney before returning to Cowley but with little success (1973) and moved on to King's Lynn. I'm sure he also rode in the States for a while before finishing his career at Boston...again not too successfully. Names like Eddie Reeves and Roy Trigg evoke memories as a child as I remember my older brother talking about them before I used to go to speedway...as did John Bishop.

Steen was featured recently in the magazine 'Backtrack.'

Again remember them both well. Rolf developed into a fine rider but was tragically injured during, I think, a grass track meeting? I believe he married Martin Roger's (Leicester Promoter) sister. Steen Mastrup never quite made it and eventually moved onto Leicester but two riders I enjoyed watching during many happy evenings at Blunsden.

There was another Pole (I think he took out Swedish nationality) and rode in the same Swedish team as Jan Andersson? Can't remember his name! Saw Veijo on his debut for Eastbourne. Looked useful for a while but as you say seemed to lose his way.

One for Sidney? Remember Sumner (together with Rick Woods - Newport and Scott Autrey - Exeter) turning out in 1973 and riding for 'The Budgies' for a short while (recommended by Briggo) If I recall his family was connected to the Greyhound Bus Corporation back in the States? He looked the part but lacked pace and quickly disappeared from the English scene. I remember seeing his rear wheel which didn't have traditional spokes (days before spoilers) and was quite innovative at the time.

Because I'm a keen photographer and when I'm on a day off work I'm busy downloading and scanning thousands of my photos, re-adjusting and re-cataloging etc etc...which means that I am working on my computer. Answer your query? However you appeared to be somewhat pro-active either side of work and a visit to the Post Office? If people continue to quote me on this thread and it comes up as a highlight whilst I'm working on my photography of course I'm going to comment if I feel justified. Perhaps some posters should be concentrating on returning to the title of the thread.