steve roberts

Oh the days of innocence! When I first went to speedway as a twelve year old me and friend would walk round on our own and pay our 30p entrance fee and 8p for a programme. Now I guess kids (if they attend?) have their own accounts and use their apps to pay for everything?

...that's a good point?

He lives in York and was staying with a friend in Oxford so I passed it on to him. As a matter of interest is one able to quote a booking reference number on entry or are you required to show a piece of paper?

...my brother doesn't own a computer or an app device so I ordererd a ticket on his behalf.

...sounds reasonable to me?

I'm afraid it sounds more of the same...the good folk of Swindon have been well and truly sold down the river with half promises and lies.

...problem is many public car parks still require you to pay with cash so I always carry a supply of coins with me.

...during the relaxation of lockdown you could only visit Fountains Abbey by booking a time slot on line. Why would I want to purchase a ticket for two days hence when the weather might be awful?

Should be a great occasion...the resurrection of the "Budgies" for one match only and to relive one of the greatest rivalries in speedway between Oxford and Swindon going back to 1949. Just needs Reading now?

....re-introducing concrete starting gates would end all that!

I have to admit that when I first saw Phil ride as a sixteen old he seemed wild on a bike (understandably) but my opinion changed (racing for the "enemy" the Reading "Berks" didn't help) when I saw a documentary some years later when he was the focus of attention and he came across as a likeable and very articulate individual...good luck to him!

...or whatever?

I've always advocated putting them on 20 yards although there are problems with that in that it may give them an advantage choosing a line entering the first bend for the first time?

Hopefully he will be given free reign without interference from those within the BSPA or otherwise? Should have happened years ago...

Can't say that I'm familiar with Bluey Scott? RIP

If I remember that was the stipulation of the "two minute rule"...how many times have we seen riders arrive at the tapes with seconds to spare only to then mess around. I do recall Melvyn Taylor once turning round and being excluded whilst on "two minutes" after he got to start line because someone else was messing around. Mel's reason for turning round was that his goggles were misting up and he needed to clear them?

Sound right to me...why complicate things with another rule.

I wonder if Frank still owns a narrowboat? Apparently he used to moor it at Ripon.

...trouble is that sport takes itself far too seriously nowadays with vast amounts of money being banded about. It was lot more fun back then without there being "wall to wall" coverage which is the norm nowadays. Do I really want to tune in and watch Brighton and Hove Albion (If they're still called that?) vs. Hull City live with all the analysis that goes with it?

Some great posts on here!

Great post!

I seem to recall seeing some photos (Billy Sanders?) with the extra large silencer during a Test Match at that venue?

Me and my brothers and cousin drew up a small track on some waste ground backing onto an allotment and even made a couple of race jackets...called ourselves the Cowley "Crusaders". Houses have since replaced it...nothing new there then?

That's impressive!

I believe Geoff Gammage is still involved...remember him well from my Cowley days. Same with me re:facebook and add Twitter to that!