steve roberts

Terrible news!

Having just received my latest edition of "Backtrack" I read with dismay that the next editions of both magazines may well be the last as the present team of Tony and Susie wish to move on. I sincerely hope that someone else picks up the mantel because I thoroughly enjoy reading both magazines and not having either to read will create a massive void in my retrospective insight into speedway's last "Golden Era". May I wish both Tony and Susie very best wishes and thank you most sincerely for producing two great magazines which I will cherish and continue to read the back numbers in an attempt to re-fresh diming memories.

My White City progamme board!

...and "Brown Envelopes!"

David Shields if I recall on his debut for Oxford at Milton Keynes?

Thanks Matt! I hope that you are okay and still got the SKOL Cheetahs coat that I gave you?

Does anyone know long time Oxford fan Geoff Gammage? I recently was in a cafe near where I live and I overhead someone talk about Horspath Cycle Speedway and I happen to remark whether Geoff is still involved? Apparently he still is and I recall many a converstion I use to have with him on the terraces at Cowley together with James Battle going back many years. Small world but here I am in Yorkshire and just by chance met someone who knows Geoff!

There is an image of Ken sat on his bike in a West Ham team photo. If you google "Ken McKinlay Images" (I don't know how to download images I'm afraid) You have to scroll a way down to find it.

James Timy Te-Kerehi Herini-Moore.

I remember because during that time we painted those Britain's Speedway Riders and ran a league and I recall placing a cover over Ken's engine. Incidently when the 4 valve revolution kicked in those riders who had 4 valves we tended to paint the top of the engine black to differentiate them from those on 2 valves! Memories!

Apparently when he was allocated to Oxford (unbeknown to himself) he said that he wouldn't have bothered catching the ship to the UK. He had hoped that he would continue at Southampton but he did settle down at Cowley but I believe only rode the one season for "The Cheetahs"?

All looks pretty depressing to me!

Sounds a bit like the sort of thing that Dave Jessup would have done?

When my brother attended an Olle Nygren Training School at King's Lynn he always referred to a bolt that used to get red hot and cause discomfort on the inside leg!

If I remember it was an actual cover that he placed over part of the engine?

Recall that Ken McKinlay used to have a white engine cover!

I was at both!

Gate Four was never the best gate even on the "old" Cowley circuit.

...they served a purpose and we got well entertained at Cowley during the Dunton/Dugard era.

...I don't I have to say!

Wasn't there some sort of a track at Ringwood once? Recall that Martin Yeates used to practice there.

Jeff Sexton was once rumoured to be joining "The Rebels"...but I think it was just that! Rumours!

I used to paint programme boards and sell them...had a good contact in Germany I recall. One of my boards featured in "Backtrack" some years ago now.

Three times Sid! (B)rough each time! Last time I visited we went up in a mini-bus and on the way back on the M1 were pulled up by the police who thought we were "Flying" Pickets during the days of the mining disputes. I ended up showing them my programme board of Hans Nielsen and they sent us on our way...memories!

My brother intends visiting for this one. He's never been to (B)rough Park befiore.