steve roberts

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

...that's your prerogative.

...it was a genuine comment (which ever way you wish to interpret it?) as his name had been mentioned with others who hadn't, as yet, found a team place for this coming season.

...well don't switch your gramophone record player on then but apparently I'm not the only one if you read some of the comments?

...certainly that's what I understand from a couple of sources.

...are there a queue of teams waiting on Troy Batchelor?

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!

Oxforf used to have two...Horspath (still in existence) and Headley "Hawks" close to Oxford City's ground.

I made it twice (first time the meeting was cancelled due to rain) and saw the "Cheetahs" triumph. Of course they were sort of a "sister" track when Dan McCormack was involved at Cradley, Oxford and Nottingham (as they were known). Best thing that happened at Cowley was when we cut our ties with Cradley in my opinion.

I agree as regards the demise of "World of Sport" but the newspaper "scandal" was hyped up in my opinion....been going on for years within speedway as any fan knowing their history would have been aware of. It always surprised me when speedway fans held up their hands up in disgust at the "revelations"...all Simmo and Wiggy were gulity of was naivety and openly discussing the facts with complete strangers. I did put the question to Martin Rogers some years back in "Backtrack" and his views were interesting to say the least. I recall football back in the sixties (and other sports since) when there was match fixing going on and those involved were either imprisoned or banned for life ever playing again at professional level but it didn't effect the status that football held within the media and fan base to any great degree.

I remember Colin Martin (?) who used to cover "Tape-o' Sport" (I think that was the brand name?) and his commentary style was constant...okay for audio but when he transferred that style to DVD I found it nauseating!

...his commentary style often went something like "Chase, chase, chase!"