steve roberts

Plus, of course, White City "Rebels", New Cross, Wembley and Harringay...speedway most nights of the week during its height?

...obviously moving to Oxford gave him that extra incentive which was missing at his previous clubs and, as they say, the rest is history!

Certainly did Sid! I remember the time in 1977 when he was about to walk out of the Knock Out Cup Semi-Final meeting due to constant engine problems but was sweet talked back into riding by Martin Rogers on the centre green right in front of us...as these things do if Michael had carried out his threat the "Rebels" may well have taken the double that year? Also saw his bow riding for England against the Rest of the World (yes England were that good back then!) at Wood Lane.

I saw a 14 year old Michael give interval demonstration rides against an equally young Colin Richardson at Cowley...easy to say who went on to be the better rider although Colin did show plenty of potential for one so young.

To be honest Paul Dugard was a bit of a waster...could have made something of it in speedway but was never dedicated enough.

...Martin Rogers made some interesting observations about the old style second halves when I put the question to him in "Backtrack" a few years ago.

...in the "Good Old Days" they were guarenteed two rides in the old lamented second half.

...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?