steve roberts

...my brother's due to visit this weekend so I'll ask him to remove the temptation!

Sad news...I best remember him as the Swindon Team Manager during the early seventies. RIP

Mine arrived today...my Xmas present from my brother! I have hidden so as not to be tempted to read until the festivities!

Remember Pete Reading well...I was fearing this thread was announcing his passing?

Just received the last edition...usual good read however I'm not quite sure why whenever Martin Rogers mentions White City he continually raises the 1977 winning year? Other teams had special dispensation that same season but that rarely gets a mention? Nice to see the Oxford vs. Cradley "Head to Head" during the Nielsen/Gundersen years (and prior)...clearly Oxford generally had the upper hand over the "Cabbage Patch kids". Sadly that's it and I shall miss my bi-monthly "fix".

Others will no doubt give other examples but no one dominated a season as Oxford did that year (remember every team had to declare a junior that season). Personally I felt that the signing of Per Sorensen turned a good team into a great team. Swindon's loss was very much Oxford's gain and he must have been "chuffed to bits" to score a paid maximum on his return to Blunsden on that glorious occasion we hammered the "old enemy". A great bunch of riders all worth a mention...Hans Nielsen, Simon Wigg, Marvyn Cox, Andy Grahame, Per Sorensen, Nigel De'ath and Jon Surman.

Don't remind me...it still irks that the "Cheetahs" didn't achieve a clean sweep in 1986 due to late October weather. They attempted to run the League Cup and Knock Out Finals three times at Cowley. It was decided to share the trophies but I felt we were the victors personally having gained the initiative in the away legs. We were also denied a 100% League record (winning all our away meetings) with two meetings left un-run.

Remember the encounters well...a great win at Plough Lane for the "Cheetahs" on their return to the British League only for "The Dons" to return the compliment the following night inspired by one time "Rebel" Gordon Kennett!

I can't believe that thirty years have passed since Hans last rode for "The Cheetahs"! It was a very messy ending with the then Oxford Promotion (Kevin Hedderley) called on Hans to accept what was basically a pay cut based upon new BSPA guidelines on rider's pay to help control spirallng costs (nothing new there). He put it to Hans that any difference would be made up by a Testimonial that he was due which he turned down flat...eventually moved to Coventry who "surprisingly" were able to meet Hans' demands despite the pay constraints! Left a sour taste in many people's mouths who felt that Hans had been made a scapegoat and Oxford had no option but to drop a division and the glory years were no longer at Cowley with Northern Sports selling up.

Depends how far one needs to analyse good old H&S because taken to extreme would the starting gate (inside pole) constitute a risk or even people stood on the infield?

Bit of a mystery to me as the tractor for many years would be parked between bends three and four in the centre green and I never found it a problem.

Was always my vantage point!

I remember the old Oxford Speedway Forum where the "debate" used to get quite "interesting "with one Poole supporter in particular...Steve Shovlar! However going on more recent posts he seems to have mellowed (may have something to do with his wings being clipped as regards his once beloved Tory Party over Brexit and "bonkers" Johnson?)

I've got to watch this if only to see images of an old hero of mine Hasse Holmqvist!

I remember that now...a great story nonetheless. Dave Lanning was full of anecdotes! Whether true or not but I recall the story told by Lanning that Barry Thomas would attempt to catch rabbits in an sttempt to improve his reflexes!

Remember East German Gerhard Ullenbrock riding for Coventry on the recommendation of Garry Middleton. We had Klaus Lausch at Oxford who showed lots of potential before deciding that there was more money to be made in tuning!

Haven't managed to locate the article but I did come across Reg Luckhurst's involvement in Majorca (co-promoter Ian Hoskins) where a Marshall Pugh was the top rider to emerge during the short period speedway ran at Son Pardo?

Yes that name's familiar. Must look out the edition of "Backtrack".

It took me three atempts to catch a meeting at Boston and then it wasn't a full meeting! First time it was cancelled. Second time the action only got as far as the exclusion lights (even before entering the first bend!) when a bad crash involving Mick Handley (?) called a halt to the proceedings. Third time I arrived late as the World Team Qualifier at King's Lynn over ran!

I must look it up but in an edition of "Backtrack" a few years abck there was a story about a rider from the UK attempting to get things rolling?

1977 World Final...I'm too lazy to look it up?

Was he referee at the Inter-Continental Final at White City in 1977 when John Davis was excluded for allegedly bringing down Ivan on the first bend?

Seem to recall Reg Luckhurst showed some interest in getting speedway noticed many years ago?

Sad news and best remembered for officiating at the 1982 World Final when Ivan was less that complimentary towards him during the heat of the moment. Tore took charge of a number of high profile meetings and I guess being Norwegian made him somewhat neutral in many people's eyes. RIP

For what I've been told and read most definately...wouldn't be in a team of my choosing.