steve roberts

I have to say that moving away from Oxford some 17 plus years ago I haven't been to a speedway since as the nearest, I guess, would be Sheffield (?). I would expect more than just 15 heats (?) for my money and when i would have to take into account petrol costs (especially nowadays) it just doesn't add up for me.

Very sad with what's happening at Arlington. We at Oxford/White City had close promotional connections with Eastbourne and I use to enjoy my visits there. The Arlington Academy was second to none and it must have grieved the late Bob Dugard that more and more British Speedway began to turn to the continent for riders and Eastbourne were no different. Personally I feel that Eastbourne never really excelled with the new found status of affairs (although they did win a few championships) but their ability to unearth English riders was so succesful it lost its way like speedway in this country generally.

...exactly!

...and the promotion at the time. I personally felt the last few seasons at Cowley were rather lack lustre although Nigel Wagstaff tried his best following the Purchase's withdrawal. I was in correspondence with someone (GRA) who held office at Cowley Stadium when I put it to them that they were allowing the stadium to deteriorate on purpose but of course they denied such a thing!

Great to have Oxford, Swindon & Reading all running again...one can only hope!

Having spent 30 plus years attending meetings at Cowley and my Dad having gone to the very first meeting back in 1949 (although they did run meetings prior to the war) it pleases me that Oxford has again risen from the depths and I wish those all involved all the very best and congratulations on what is probably the best story to come out of speedway this year.

...just need to get some Reading fans there and the picture would be complete. Great rivalry and nothing beat good local derbies of which there were many producing many great moments to cherish.

The second Scunthorpe (Ashby Ville)!

Oxford has been one of the success stories this season and, by golly, speedway needs a few of those! Not sure what the "lack of medical cover" was all about however let us wallow in something positive when there is so much negativity within the sport...only wish that I could make a meeting at Cowley. Both my brothers have attended (on seperate occasions) and had nothing but praise.

To be honest I didn't attend a meeting but called in as I was on my way possibly to the town of Berwick? Someone was sat on a tractor grading the track and I spoke to someone who said that Mark Courtenay was often there practising. Obviously the stadium was empty but I didn't get a chance to have a look round but it seemed well appointed from where I stood.

I called in once when holidaying in the area and, yes, it was definatley in the midle of nowhere!

...knowing the BSPA they are just as likely to introduce such a ruling here in their continual "blind alley".

They used to in the "Star" many years ago for, I believe, one season and stopped doing it for reasons one can only conjecture?

Yes I have both of John's books...a great read. I even corresponded with him over "money changing hands" during a meeting which my uncle attended and witnessed. John mentioned the story in his first book and I collaborated the incident which he acknowledged in his second book.

...there's that name again!

We had great attendances at Cowley during the middle/late eighties but that was down mainly to Hans Nielsen who brought much needed professionalism to Oxford something that had been sadly lacking. Infact one of our most highly attended domestic meetings was the Cup Final against John Berry's "mob" which had everything...a tremedous night of high drama and the right result if you were a "Cheetah's" fan!

Wasn't there some sort of rule set that the Second tier couldn't have more teams than the upper hence why Swindon hung onto their Division One status although they did succumb the next season?

...I would tend to agree but continually tinkering with the rules as the speedway authorities tend to do with the mad-cap idea it will boost crowd figures are living in cloud cuckoo. Speedway's lack of apparent success goes far deeper as Humph has indicated in an earlier post.

I'm sure that's the case but it's sad that those same fans aren't attracted to attend meetings throughout the season and thereby improving the sports standing.

I was discussing the wider picture wherby some rules are interpreted differently making it difficult for fans, never mind some referees/promoters, grasping the reality.

Despite being the "enemy down the road" I have many happy memories watching speedway at Swindon.

...trouble is tinkering with the rules doesn't translate into attracting bigger crowds. If anything it has proved opposite in that it tends to alienate the converted who drift away from the sport and are not replaced by a new fan base.

...not sure why you are implying on 15 years however we can all quote wrongly declared reserve replacement rides as well as confused R/R facilities (especially when the stipulation was altered based upon eligibilty of replacement riders based on average) whereby points have been deducted often months after a match has taken place. Guest riders declared with the full knowledge of the referee despite their average being too high or within the 14 day rule despite being printed in the programme requiring the intervention of the promoter. There was a high profile example of King's Lynn declaring "guest" Danny Bird as a replacement for Lee Redmond at Eastbourne and after an objection was placed by the "Eagles" management King's Lynn declined to ride gifting the "Eagles" a whitewash win (75-0) all with the full knowledge of the referee who obviously couldn't make a decision or indeed interpreted the rules incorrectly. The "Top Scorers" declared race often caused confusion and riders were declared incorrectly. Oxford once declared Alistair Stevens as a replacement ride and was about to start a race in full view of the referee until John Berry had to remind him that he had already had his full quota of rides...just a few examples off the top of my head!

I remember Oxford carrying out a survey (Steve Purchase days?) asking relevant questions although I can't remember what they were now! When Chris Shears ran a full blown Second Half it proved popular with the fans but he had his wrist slapped by the authorities as thet didn't wish it to set a precedence...never mind what the fans thought!

Funny when us "old farts" talk about the old days when thousands attended the sport and yet with all the constant rule changing that happens year after year speedway sees attendance figures in their hundreds?