steve roberts

What attracted me to speedway all those years ago? My Grandfather, father, uncle, brother were all one time fans so it was natural to follow suit. The fact that you could mix with the riders after the meeting (I used to collect autographs in the pits). Riders giving rides to youngsters during the interval (good old H & S!). Locally based riders (I recall seeing the likes of Ashley Pullen pushing his bike to Cowley for an impromptu practice). Easily recognisable riders that you could identify with (they all look the same now). Playing at being the Team Manager pre-empting any tactical moves...the rules are so rigid now any tactical awareness appears to be at a minimum. Second Halves whereby you could watch the youngsters plying their trade (we were fortunate at Oxford especially during the 'Rebels' days as we got to see the Eastbourne & Peterborough riders due to the promotion - Danny Dunton & Bob Dugard - running Oxford at that time). ITV's 'World of Sport' who covered the sport and brought it into the homes of millions. A World Championship which was just that...not an 'invitation' meeting(s) whereby riders are now chosen because it suits the staging country and/or TV coverage and/or sponsors. Just a few of my personal observations but I'm not naive to understand that the world has moved on. What are the answers? I don't know...I'll leave that to others who have a better grasp of the modern sport as I stopped attending over ten years ago.

Ah! Ian Thomas...character as he was but always looking at ways of bending and/or manipulating the rules! No wonder he and John Berry never got on! John Berry, I'm sure, would never have allowed the situation to develop as did at Hull in 1979 whereby the 'Vikings' lost match points due to riders not appearing at vital meetings thus losing the championship that year! John may not have been everyone's cup of tea but administration was his strength and what he achieved at Ipswich was of the highest order. If I recall John and Peter York were the two who were nominated to help 'rescue' speedway before John pulled out leaving Peter to hold the reigns. Peter, in an article in 'Backtrack' some time ago, spoke at length explaining the problems whilst he was in office trying to get the promoters to pull together in the interest of the sport but failed...and so the problems continue unfortunately.

I corresponded with John on a couple of occasions and found him to be a most charming and articulate individual. He's sorely missed!

Actually it does raise the question whether one prefers to watch riders who appear to be in total control or the ones that appear to hang off the bike? I guess it's a personal choice but personally I go for style...and Tommy Jansson took some beating!

I think the rider I would have liked to have seen but didn't would have been Jack Young. I know that Ivan Mauger learnt so much from him when he went on 'sabbatical' after his first venture in Britain. He appeared to have a perfect 'armchair' style and the looks of a film star!

A massive 'miss!' John Berry would have been a great administrator but felt that he wouldn't have got the necessary support from within.

I was tempted to add Edward Jancarz to my list...a very classy rider for Wimbledon. Shame he didn't ride regularly in Britain until quite late in his career. I recall Oxford attempting to sign Sverre Harrfeldt in 1972 but, personally, I feel that was Dave Lanning hyping things up! Some great names there and I always thought that Ron How didn't get the true recognition that he truly deserved. I saw Ken McKinlay, Mike Broadbank and Charlie Monk during the seventies and felt it sad, certainly in Ken's case, that their best days were somewhat in the past. 'Hurricane Ken', however, was one of my favourites in the 'Rebels' team of 1972 before finishing his career at Scunthorpe. I remember Toni Woryna riding at Cowley for Poole in 1974 and being involved in the race that ended Odd Fossengen's career. Toni drifted a wee bit wide entering the first bend forcing Ulf Lovass to bale out and his riderless bike picking up poor Odd, who had started from an outside grid, and ending up in the fence breaking his leg.

Interesting article! I gave a talk at a school some years ago and the teacher was keen for me to explain how the starting technique was administered. I seem to recall that he was a physics teacher and wanted to know how power translated to grip without causing too much wheel spin! In John Louis' recent excellent book John explains his own technique with tremendous incite and sums it up by saying that clutch and throttle control is somewhat similar to starting in second gear in a motor car. Having ridden a speedway bike I can equate with that.

Visited Hyde Road on a number of occasions. Remember watching Hans Nielsen trying to keep both Peter Collins and Chris Morton at bay during the same race...they used all of the track! It had so many different 'racing' lines. Went to Exeter a few times and on my first visit made the mistake of sitting in the main stand and not being able to see any of the action on the home straight! Awesome track, however, and another sad loss to the sport.

Wish I had seen speedway at the Shay. I popped in a few years ago when I visited Halifax and there was no evidence of speedway ever taking place at the venue. Another rider I enjoyed watching was the late Chris Pusey who rode for Halifax after serving Belle Vue with distinction for a number of years. Apparently he never really got over the terrible injury suffered by Alan Wilkinson...another great character!

Can't believe that I left out the Boocock brothers! Just goes to prove how putting together a list featuring either the greatest/most entertaining/impressionable is always going to be a difficult, if not impossible task!

Hi Sidney, yes it's all very subjective and based on my own experiences. For example I would liked to have included Bob Kilby as he was a rider I admired greatly although frustrating at times! Having seen many National League 'stars' during that time I could also expand the theme...but I'll leave that to others!? Christmas greetings by the way!

He's there together with his brother! My list is drawn up from following Oxford (1972-75 & 1984-2003) remembering that they rode in the National/Premier League (1976-83, 93-94 & 97), White City (1976-78) & Eastbourne (1979-82) hence my high ranking of Gordon Kennett who was superlative around Arlington during that period and was an England regular during the 70s and early 80s. As I've stated it's not an exhaustive list but riders that I grew up with and admired and who left a lasting impression. I didn't, for example, see much of Penhall (certainly not riding for Cradley but generally in Test Matches and his Wembley success) or Carter (Oxford having competed in the National League during their 'reign') and there are many who I have emitted (Dougie Wyer comes to mind who was a Wood Lane specialist as was your own particular favourite Larry Ross!)...the list is endless and I re-iterate it's not aimed to provoke debate on who was the 'greatest' within a particular decade but who, for me, left their mark for a variety of reasons. No one was bigger than Peter Collins during the seventies, for example, as he had become a household name thru' his exploits covered by the sadly missed 'World of Sport.'

Crumbs! I'd forgotten about Jan O! As I said it's a personal list and listed are riders that left an impression on me during those years. Bo Petersen was a class act at Hackney but if I was asked to compile a list tomorrow I'm sure that it would be different!

I followed speedway exclusively during the 70s, 80s & 90s. My top twenty (I'm only including those that I actually saw compete and in no particular order) during each decade are: 1970s Ivan Mauger Ole Olsen Barry Briggs Ronnie Moore Anders Michanek Peter Collins Michael Lee Malcolm Simmons Dave Jessup Gordon Kennett Dag Lovaas Ray Wilson John Louis Martin Ashby Tommy Jansson Bruce Penhall Scott Autrey Phil Crump Hans Nielsen Terry Betts 1980s Hans Nielsen Erik Gundersen Bruce Penhall Ole Olsen Sam Ermolenko Bo Petersen Tommy Knudsen Kelvin Tatum Simon Wigg Gordon Kennett John Davis Jan Andersson Phil Crump Shawn Moran Dennis Sigalos Billy Sanders Kenny Carter Chris Morton Jeremy Doncaster Kelly Moran Bobby Schwartz 1990s Hans Nielsen Sam Ermolenko Per Jonsson Greg Hancock Billy Hamill Gary Havelock Kelvin Tatum Martin Dugard Jason Crump Tony Rickardsson Jimmy Nilsen Todd Wiltshire Shawn Moran Chris Louis Joe Screen Tomasz Gollob Leigh Adams Jeremy Doncaster Simon Wigg It's purely a personal and subjective list. Ask me to complete a list tomorrow and I'd probably come up with a different version! Riders I would have liked to have included would have been Bernie Persson, Christer Lofqvist, John Boulger, Bengt Jansson amongst many others...!

I agree! A ludicrous statement regarding Hans Nielsen. To add his 1989 average was 10.91 1990 - 10.36 91 - 10.50 92 - 10.24 93 - 10.05 94 - 9.98 Not taking into consideration his many other achievements over a very long period (1977 to 1999) Greatness isn't just gauged on Individual World Champion successes but based on overall performances both as an individual and team player (League and/or International)

I believe Bob Kilby (now there's a character and sadly missed) later replace Barry Meeks in same book after recording a higher speed around the County Ground, Exeter.

Very good I like it! Eh! This thread (which I started) was about Dave Parry's coach firm and his subsequent connection with Crayford, Crewe and Hans Nielsen. What's the point that you are trying to make?

Believe it was Barry Meeks? I spoke to Ian Cartwright a couple of years ago (rode for Crewe during the seventies) and he confirmed that it was big 'un...around a cricket pitch!

I was watching a DVD only last night between King's Lynn and Leicester (1980) in which Rolf was featured! Remember seeing him make his debut for Swindon in 1978 (?)

How about the occasion when Ian Thomas applied grease on a pipe that ran over the river adjacent to Derwent Park (Workington)? Apparently on Workington's opening night (1970) many people gained access without paying and entered via the pipe...hence why he applied grease the following week! I've often wondered if he hid somewhere watching the spectacle of people falling into the river?

How about an interview with Tommy Knudsen? Would enjoy reading his comments especially over the clash with Hans Nielsen at Katowice in 1986.

One reason I've never thought that speedway should be shown live. Highlights shown later and edited are a far better proposition.

My collection takes in the 70s, 80s & 90s...great stuff! Often watch them to relive magic moments from the past!

...but we're having fun reminiscing!