steve roberts

I had the entire Oxford set from 1972 to 2003...alas no longer!

I have a couple winging their way to me from meetings my two brothers attended!

Gave the collection to someone called Martin who I lost touch with when I re-located.

Just been reading up on the history of Ashfield Giants and how it's been suggested that the very sad death of Star Rider Ken Le Breton brought forward the ultimate closure of Saracen Park due to falling attendances (very healthy compared to today it has to be said). Ken with his distinctive white leathers was labelled "The White Ghost" and was dedicated to his speedway and his wife Joan. It has been suggetsed that the untimely death of Tommy Jansson had a similar effect on Wimbledon and that it was never the same again although Plough Lane did continue to run speedway for many years after Tommy died.

Personally I think that the Sunday People expose was blown out of all proportion...anybody with any knowledge of speedway knew that deals were made and other sports have been equally guilty over the years and some more recently. Remember reading "Cloughie's Book" that players during the sixties were found guilty of throwing matches but football survived. The only thing that Simmo and Wiggy were guilty of was was being naive and talking to strangers about deals that had taken place. Martin Rogers in answer to my question regarding the expose wrote a very interesting reply in an edition of "Backtrack" a few years back which proved enlightening.

Like the good old days! Many happy memories spent at Cowley .

I would have thought that any track getting 1,000 plus nowadays is regarded as "allright". Just needs the sport to cut its cloth accordingly starting with standardising bikes...fat chance of that I know!

Yes it's a delicate situation and it's up to the folk of Oxford to support the venture but at least with the council supporting the stadium is half the battle...but, of course, that could quickly change.

All I can say is that thank goodness the council in Oxford viewed Cowley as a leisure amenity and stepped in when it was so nearly lost to developers.

Just bought a 1978 White City programme for £1 at an antique centre in Beverley! There listed is one Jim Tebby as Clerk of the Course...I had forgotten that. That's one reason I like reading old programmes so as to jog my fading memory. Just a shame I sold my massive collection!

...thereby lies the problem. Remember once reading a report that there many tens if not hundreds of thousands of vacant properties lying dormant.

Couldn't agree more and Team Managers getting all agitated on the phone to the ref in full view of the fans even, as Bernard Crapper once admitted to me, if it was a way of winding up the fans and generating some theatre in proceedings during a dull meeting!

Yes it obvious that the Promotion that bought into Reading came in all bombastic on the back of promoting "Sky TV" (can't even remember his name) and soon left with his tail well and truly between his legs!

Usual politicans, whether national or local, being open to question who, afteral, are supposed to represent the community they are elected to serve.

Mike Bennett for some reason wasn't a success at Oxford which is something he has often mentioned although he did get a good reception when he made an announcement on behalf of Bernard Crapper deriding a decision made by the match referee on one occasion!

Didn't Dave Lanning try this at Wimbledon?

Couldn't agree more...good old H&S and of course once upon a time kids (and the odd adult) were once allowed to ride pillion on the bike during the interval etc.

John Earey ("As long as we know") also at White City was very good...never a great fan of Peter York despite being the presenter at Cowley for many years!

The third bend...my spot together with my mates! Great days!

My brother is at Cowley this evening and I'm seriously jealous...he's very impressed with the stadium and what has been achieved in such a short time.

I was never a fan of 'live' speedway on the TV...too much pontificating. Much better a match that has been edited without all the time wasting.

Dave Hammond at Cowley was one of the best announcers in my opinion...smooth delivery and a nice man into the bargain.

Ah the days when riders used to roll into the tapes to try and catch out a rival who would break the tapes in anticipation...Garry Middleton was a master at it! Certainly got the fans going never mind the oppostion rider and Team Manager who would be straight on to the centre green phone adding to the entertainment!

John Berry, Dave Lanning (during his tenure at Cowley) Len Silver and Bob Dugard/Danny Dunton amongst others would often be controversial in their editorials but as you point out they had to tone down their observations in case it upset the "hierarchy.".

John Berry put his name forward but soon realised that he wouldn't get the support of others within the sport and in a flash withdrew his interest.