steve roberts

White City moved the pits from under the stands to somewhere on the third/fourth bend to allow viewing I recall?

A very compact team. The top five riders had averages within the nine and seven point mark.

There is a Trotting/Horse Harness Track at Green Hammerton just outside York on the A59. I'm assuming that this was the venue of a one-off meeting that was run in 1980ish which was won by Ivan Mauger?

Shame that this post has been ridiculed by a few...I used to enjoy my visits to Plough Lane and particularly remember a meeting when Oxford won an early season League Cup fixture 40-38 after securing three 5-1's out of the last four heats! Great stuff! Never saw the great Tommy Jansson ride there unfortunately. Trouble is that Wimbledon shared the same race night as Oxford back in those days so visits were rare until Oxford changed their race night to Friday (having taken over Hackney's licence).

Learn something new every day! Oxford had a sort of track (grasstrack really) at Sandford-on-Thames prior to Cowley Stadium...I've tried to trace it but with no luck.

I'm intrigued about the original Swindon?

I remember the first time I saw Belle Vue visit Cowley they had Eric Broadbelt at reserve...and he was regularly beating heat leaders. That 'Aces' side of 1972 was exceptional and had strength throughout. Of course in later years (rider control was never really satisfactory) there were varying ceilings placed on team make-ups to try and equalise teams.

I think that it is worth noting that not all 'Star' riders rode at number one during the days of the 13 heat formula. Erik Gundersen often rode at number three so was programmed to meet the opposite number one on at least two occasions. There were others and Peter Collins instantly comes to mind. Ivan Mauger often rode at number four away from home and occasionally at number two at home!

Good observation. Of course you'll get those who point at differing heat formula/fixed gate etc as regards why riders no longer achieve averages of 10 and 11 plus but there's no getting away from the fact that riders in the past had a certain magic about them and drew crowds. I used to get excited by the prospect of watching a Mauger or a Olsen or a Briggs, Michanek etc riding at my home track...perhaps only once or twice a season. I don't recall Ivan Mauger getting beaten around Cowley, but I may be wrong, during my time.

Yes Peter was the rider I would have most liked to have seen but was only three when he died. Remember Soren very well...another who died tragically.

Just copied an earlier post I made on another thread regarding Peter's crash: Interesting article regarding the Peter Craven crash in the latest edition of 'Classic Magazine' (another superb magazine) where one time Edinburgh and Berwick rider Ian Paterson quotes: "There had been a bit of needle before they (Craven & Hunter) went out for the race. Hoskins was saying that Craven had to start off a 20 yard handicap but George didn't want any advantage handed to him, so he wanted to start level with Peter" "I'm not sure if those two started behind the other two in the race or whether all four started from the line, but Hunter and Craven definitely started alongside each other. Those two were so far ahead of the others when the crash happened. They say that Hunter's bike seized but I didn't think so...and I think that George just overdid it going into the corner" "His bike went down but then it started spinning around. Peter definitely had enough time to lay his bike down but he must have thought that he could go through the gap (between Hunter's bike and the wooden board safety fence). Trouble was, the gap shut on him at the wrong bloody time. It looked bad. But not horrendous."

High Beech February 1928!

Certainly not gorgeous up here in Yorkshire...damn cold out there!

Superb post! Thank you!

I recall the incident when Billy had a 'disagreement' with a fan at Smallmead who was hurling abuse at him...and Billy gave his a good thump for his troubles!

1972...My first year following the sport! Great memories!

Anything to do with Billy Sanders?

I, too, remember both tracks. I think that Smallmead was based on Ipswich (?) and originally produced some good racing. Unfortunately in later years the track was often very slick and devoid of shale. Remember one morning meeting where you couldn't see anything due to almighty dust clouds! Remember 'Soldier Boy' participating in the end of season frolics at Tilehurst when he was involved with the 'tug of war' and got smothered in flour for his troubles!

Yes some great memories! Oxford were the first team to beat Reading at Smallmead...albeit in a challenge match!

Just received my latest edition of 'Backtrack' and there's an interesting article about Smallmead Stadium as told by Reg Fearman (also read the same story in his most interesting book). Allied Presentations sought and received a 99 year lease on the site back in 1974 but somewhere along the line this was reduced to something like a 35 year lease (after Reg had long left). Basically the Reading fans were 'sold down the river' by the then promotion. The site of the stadium is apparently still undeveloped after being demolished in 2008/9...a real sad state of affairs! At least Oxford still has a stadium but for how long I wonder?

There is a History of Bristol Speedway DVD available...I think it's available thru' the 'Backtrack' magazine?

If I recall Kevin once used to work at Barry Briggs' JAWA Dealership in Southampton?

Brilliant thread lads!

I remember when driving back in the dark near Colehill where there was a slight dip that could easily catch you out as it was out of range of the headlights...really takes me back to happy times!

Good grief what memories! We purposely banked one of the bends so that you could really give it some wellie around the outside. The other bend was flat...and I mean flat...to catch out the opposition! Used to stop off after a visit to Blunsden to buy Fish and Chips at Highworth. Used to drive thru' the back roads to Faringdon via Coleshill. Didn't Ivan Mauger do cycle speedway as a young kid?