steve roberts

I was particularly impressed with 'The Aces' side of 1972. Trouble is it's difficult to judge the best ever because different regulations determined how teams could be assembled under the varying points limits legislation etc. For example the Oxford team of 1986 competed during an era when teams had to declare a junior in their line up. At the end of the day one has to judge on results achieved during any particular season and 'The Cheetahs' remained unbeaten in British League matches in 1986 and would have swept the board if the weather had't intervened (although they were moral victors in my opinion!)

As I've stated many times before we were fortunate at Cowley in that we got to see the kids of Eastbourne and Peterborough due to the promotional tie up during 'The Rebels' era and later at White City. Oxford even introduced grass trackers to compete in the second half and we got to see the likes of Julian Wigg, Ken Matthews, Chris Drewett (who used to service my car), Paul Tapp, Kevin Hawkins etc who all progressed in some measure. They were exciting times at Cowley and one that I'm glad I experienced. Remember a young Ashley Pullen plying his trade down at Weymouth as an unknown and Simon Wigg at Reading. A great platform for youngsters to progress riding against the senior riders. Also saw Michael Lee start out as a fifteen year old back in 1974 during a second half at Cowley and somebody called Tony Brooklister...who turned out to be Colin Mededith under a pseudonym!

I remember Oxford having screens located in various locations during one football tournament...not that I bothered with the facility!

Sid - I thought that the signing of Per Sorensen was a master stroke and Oxford went on to dominate that season. If I recall there was even an article in one of the Daily Nationals which suggested that Oxford's team that year was the best ever (as the regulations allowed) during the BL era...remaining unbeaten during the BL campaign. Always remember Per scoring a maximum at Blunsdon on his return with Oxford. He must have been chuffed with that!

Thanks for that! I honestly have no interest in football whatsoever so wasn't aware of the potential clash of dates.

So did I...and I was author of same!

One reason (amongst many) why I stopped going to speedway...the lack of continuity. To have a gap like that in June is just plain nonsense. Without knowing the facts I guess it's due to rider unavailability?

Never made the Internationale for some reason...second most important meeting to the World Final in its hey day. Used to enjoy the big individual meetings (most tracks held at least one invitation meeting a season) but I guess that in this day it wouldn't appeal...one only needs to look at the ELRC as an example of that! The BLRC was the last big meeting/showpiece event of the season (as well as the Second Division equivalent) A chance for fans from all tracks to get together at the end of the season.

I used to enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere of a second half and being able to wind down and chat with mates after the main event...and a chance to enjoy a bag of chips!

I have to say that I used to enjoy a second half especially in the days when Oxford had a tie up with both Eastbourne and Peterborough back in the seventies. Fifteen heats of racing (I assume that's the current heat formula?) isn't good value for money in my opinion.

I actually gave up reading the comment half way thru'!

Yes remember the days following the 'City Rebels' and meeting both Hackney and Wimbledon home and away on Bank Holidays!

Remember them well...although we, Oxford, never did very well in them! Never really liked the 3TT formula as for a third of the meeting your team wasn't involved! Good get together however.

Quite agree!

Agree that John could be abrasive but, boy, he would have shaken things up somewhat!

When I had access to a rule book...and it's many years ago now...there were so many rules and supplementary regulations that it just became so difficult to comprehend. Many of the rules were about the technical side of the sport (bikes etc) and to be honest way too intense in it's interpretation.

Super images!

I agree. The sport needs an independent body and it was on course to happening when John Berry was given the job (1987?) but soon withdrew his name because he could see that he wouldn't get the necessary approval from certain members of the BSPA. A lost opportunity in my opinion and of course, as you say, it will never happen due to vestige interests.

Trouble is, in my opinion, is that the sport has become even more obsessed with averages and statistics which are manipulated to suit a particular case and/or circumstance. This scenario has existed for many years what with the introduction of the points limit back in the late seventies early eighties but from my understanding has become increasingly more difficult to legislate. I've always thought that the 'assessed' average is the one that is most difficult to legislate. I recall Tomasz Gollob being assessed at 7.5 and later the Dryml brothers being burdened with the same (?) although they had no real proven record unlike Gollob. Mitch Shirra has gone on record to say that Coventry purposely dropped race points so as to be able to declare certain riders under the points limit. I'm sure that they weren't the only team to do so either!

Remember the late Bernard Crapper commenting that there became a time that he could no longer understand the rule book. It became too complicated and unwieldy. I once owned a copy of the regulations and you needed to be somewhat of a magician to understand many of the minor rules and regulations.

I followed Gordon during his Oxford, White City and part of his Eastbourne British League career. I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't have ridden at Weymouth during his 'Rebels' years...can't recall either team, in any format, ever riding at Radipole Lane. Couldn't be sure about his Eastbourne appearances however.

Gordon Kennett must also be a strong contender? His British League Division Two career followed by twelve years in the British League and then a further six (?) in the National League?

Super thread!

Am I right to think that Derek Hole, who rode in the seventies, was the son of Johnny?

Not sure where Ken McKinlay would stand having ridden in the old National League, British Leagues One & Two?