steve roberts

...which, of course, always used to be the case. Recall Wimbledon on one occasion at Cowley being denied the facility as they hadn't got a number eight.

Not wishing to make assumptions or pre-empt any misdemeamour but I remember Ben Barker riding for the "Cheatahs" junior team when he first started out and he showed so much potential. I've read stories about him since and not all of it good and does him no credit.

You'd be first in the queue dear boy!

Hi Sid, Right about Lee that year. He picked himself up and gave a very good account of himself at Norden (I was there)...shame it all went wrong agian the following season. He should have been a major force for most of the eighties giving the Danes a run for their money but alas his "demons" got the better of him.

...plus a Model Railway!

Too many for my then pokey room! Nothing quite beat standing on the terrace at one's favourite spot with all the familiar faces exchanging witticisms and enjoying the overal atmosphere and occasional despair! Some great memories!

Speedway for me was always about the team aspect and the individuality very much secondary. It was brilliant having a star man (Hans) who one could support on an individual front but team ethics (which he was a great advocate of) was paramount in my opinion.

...unfortunately it's now common place within televisised sport nowadays. Too much pontification and waffle by 'so-called" experts which is the main reason I don't bother watching sport on TV and haven't for years now.

I never enjoyed watching "live" transmissions on SKY...too much padding. Always preferred watching edited highlights of speedway on TV. Different when at a match live as I had my mates to talk to in between races enjoying some banter but difficult to replicate that at home sat by yourself!

Remember on a visit to Exeter being able to stand right up to the fence and as three riders passed I lent over only for Olle Nygren to pass by terrifying the life out of me! He was so far back I had forgotten that he was still in the race!

Sadly one track I never got to.

Used to annoy me back in the seventies when I first went to Poole that they wouldn't open the turnstiles until 7-00pm allowing the queues to build up...even as a kid back then I couldn't understand the logic as surely it's better to get people in and spending their money at the various outlets inside?

Agree!

...which also didn't attract any major sponsorship which I have questioned many times over the years?

Going to Oxford I used to stroll round and arrive at about 7-00 to catch up with all the chat...always a full night out.

The accident involving Ray was with Norman Clay.

If I recall he had been recommended by Paul Hurry? He was Hungarian from memory so I guess the name was to get thru' bureaucracy?

Had been told that he doesn't bother (his own quote) if he misses the gate?

Strikes me that Troy Batchelor has constantly under performed for Oxford this season...heard reports that when running a last recently at Cowley was popping wheelies!

Gary Williams/Guglielmi (if I've spelt that correctly?)

I have an audio talking book with Roy Hudd based upon his book about the old Music Hall & Variety Acts...makes me laugh hearing Roy laugh as he quotes anecdotes from the past!

I guess it's down to personal opinion...I used to enjoy "The Black & White Minstrels" but the point is that there was more variety back then (good and bad) unlike today's bland "celeb" culture shows in whatever format, soaps (okay they've been around for many years but not at the intensity we now experience), and the constant "crime dramas" that now appear to fill our screens.

Tyburn Gallows whose real name was Raymond Humphreys I believe? He had his name changed by deed poll!

I remember during Oxford's past that someone was "employed" at the gate to collect money and his reward was free entry to the meeting.

As a matter of interest are other clubs operating a pre-booked ticket only policy?