steve roberts

I was never a fan of this particular ruling as, despite popular belief, the "star" rider didn't always take the best gate available. Also having fixed gates limits the opportunity to team ride whereby the rider generally on the inside (Hans Nielsen was a great advocate) dictated the first turn but I guess that the art is generally less applied nowadays with the more powerful bikes amongst other things? Also fixed gates were never consistant as dirt (if any?) tends to move towards the outside as the meeting progresses thus proving advantageous to those who have outside gates later on during the meeting and vice versa of course.

I saw him at Reading at the end of the 1975 season competing in the Geoff Curtis Memorial Meeting. If I recall he was involved in a three rider run-off against John Davis and Dag Lovaas which Davis won? Tommy missed Wimbledon's visit to Cowley on Bank Holiday Monday that same season and John Boulger deputised in his absence.

I saw him last ride at Swindon losing to Martin Ashby in the Golden Helmet. Prior to that at White City's opening meeting.

I never saw Tommy ride at Wimbledon...infact saw very little of him to be honest. Used to enjoy my trips to Plough Lane and I guess the riders who struck a cord were Larry Ross and Mick Hines during my visits?

The same was often said at Plough Lane after Tommy Jansson's tragic death. Incidently I'm re-reading the book about him.

Yes his 2002 season at Cowley was quite ordinary compared to his pre-injury crash the previous season. The way he beat riders round Cowley during 2001 were sometimes quite spectacular. I never saw much of him after he left Oxford but you're right he did go on to register some impressive averages it's just the way that he scored points in 2001 that impressed me.

That's fair enough...he was simply awesome riding for the "Cheethas" prior to the crash after a very indifferent confidence building season the year before. He was gating and passing at will and was not quite the same force around Cowley after his injury the season following...but I take your point that perhaps he was more of a force on the international stage thereafter?

Yes I would have Chris Morton warrented a mention? Not sure about Andersson's inclusion over Chris?

I would agree. I've been to couple of events just outside Pickering which were basically one-off meetings in a field with no facilities.

That's just on your right before you approach the junction to Moor Monkton (surprised it's not been used for a Grasstack event?) The Trotting track is opposite the petrol garage (Kirk Hammerton) as you turn right towards Nun Monkton. I visited once and was quite a spectacle but it's something I would do only the once...closest thing to chariot racing I guess?

A meeting took place at Green Hammerton on the site on the Harness Racing track (won by Ivan Mauger) and it's still there jusf off the A59 towards Harrogate.

I actually lost a lot of respect for Peter Karlsson when he rode for King's Lynn in 2001 when entering the first bend from the tapes and Lukas Dryml had clearly got the drop on him he drove thru' a gap that wasn't there and both ended up in the fence. Dryml withdrew from the remainder of the meeting with a badly damaged knee which affected him for the rest of the season and was never quite the same rider again in my opinion.

Vastly under-rated rider...and that from someone down the road!

Where I live (at the moment) vast areas of land are being turned over to housing. The road system hardly copes at the moment...goodness knows how it will be when the new developments are completed?

John Berry always maintained that Billy Sanders had the most idealic style. It did alter with maturity.

It was a shame that the lease had been reduced from the original aggreement. Obviously somebody got it wrong and sold the fans down the river!

Ken was one of my early heroes at Oxford. I recall the occasion he let Garry Middleton thru' so that "Cass" could claim a full maximum!

....that was one observation having live matches transmitted to one's home when SKY were onboard? Never happened and another opportunity lost. I never believed at the time having live league matches would raise the profile of the sport and successfully attract not only major sponsors but new fans in any great numbers.

I may well go with Ronnie Moore? The fact that he took a long gap away from the sport and came back almost as good as ever must give him some clout? I guess that Olsen, Gundersen, Young, Craven may well figure in some people's minds?

Steve Purchase used to do the same at Cowley.

Agreed which is why a consortium without any self interest would be advantageous...can't ever see it happening however as speedway lurches from one disaster to another.

....what the sport needs is a "Mike Parker" type of adminstrator who had forsight back in the sixties but again wasn't everyone's cup of tea (Reg Fearman!) which is always going to prove contentious whoever is put in charge where personal interests come into play.

Thereby lies part of the problem...conflicts of interest between the SCB and the BSPA and throw in the FIM and ACU for good measure. Often a lack of co-operation/communication between the authorities and personal agendas.

One can not ignore the impact that Mervyn Stewkwsbury had on the sport but is best remembered for driving a wedge between the two leagues and very much a good part of self interest (Poole) was his want. His Promotion/Relegation idea was ill conceived and was never going to work satisfactorily as there were too many factors to consider which were never thought thru'.

The Shawcross Report.