steve roberts

Very apt...been saying it for years that speedway needs an independant body to run the sport and now the same being said in football.

...Nordin rode a few matches for Halifax in 1972 but not when they visited Oxford. There was talk of Tobjorn Harrysson riding for the "Rebels" but that's all what it was and the same was said of Sverre Harfeldt! We could have had a great side at Cowley based on riders rumoured...Jeff Sexton was another!

Another I was unfortunate not to see!

...thankfully I experienced the last "Golden Era" the seventies and early eighties. Great memories!

Anders Michanek was another armchair stylist I remember.

...it attracted me as a 12 year old in 1972 and many others no doubt. Trouble is the powers that be have so diluted/messed around with the product it no longer attracts people of all ages in any great number.

One rider I never saw unfortunately.

List of the winners of the European Rounds were Neunenknick (West Germany) - Chris Morton Landshut (West Germany) - John Davis Gniezno (Poland) - Roman Jankowski Leszno (Poland) - Preben Eriksen Edinburgh - Peter Collins Bremen (West Germany) - John Cook Belle Vue - Erik Gundersen Hope this helps?

As much as we all get excited watching the "harum scarum" sat on the back mudguard brigade it's also pleasing watching those that appear in total control and stylish. Top of my list would include the likes of Tommy Jansson, Dag Lovaas, Ronnie Moore and Mark Courtenay to name but four. There will be many others that come to mind and not generally regarded as world beaters by any means.

Problem is despite the 'authorities' constantly changing the rules they've been unable to resurrect the "Good Old Days" when speedway enjoyed prime time terrestrial TV and sponsorship and when riders like Mauger, Briggs & Collins were household names and the sport enjoyed decent crowds.

Hans Nielsen was overal winner of the Australian Series on 108 points according to Peter Oakes 1986 Year Book. The European Series is less straight forward with individual winners declared at each meeting held (seven in total)

...you "play" with trains too BOBBATH?

Good post!

...cheeky! Remember dad visiting Wren Davis Dairies in Great Missenden repairing the batteries to his milk floats. Wren (or to give him his actual name David) was a fanatical collector of steam traction engines and used to attend rallies!

...Oh dear! I missed that one!

Yes Great Missenden is very near Amersham...an area I used to know well as that was the area my dad covered when he was Battery Engineer for Crompton Batteries! Don't know the name of the pub I'm afraid?

Remember Bob Kilby joning the "Rebels" in a complicated move involving himself Garry Middleton and Tony Lomas in 1973. Prior to joining Oxford he received a nasty knee injury when involved in a crash with Chris Pusey. When he moved to Cowley he showed only glimpses of his previous form before he had to admit defeat and have surgery done. In 1974 he got back to some sort of form but never reached the heights of 1972 although he put in further sterling service after he moved back to Swindon...and Oxford were 'done out' of a transfer fee in the process!

Think it was Great Missenden?

...and to think we soon had the likes of Lee, Kennett, Davis, Morton etc to add to that list. England certainly ruled the world during the seventies especially when discussing test/team affairs. Okay we suffered a few blips at WTC level but that was more about complacency and the formula did tend to allow for shock and/or unexpected results.

Personally I think this is a view often raised back then however many "Number One's" based on those with the highest average in any given season often rode further down the team order. The likes of Dag Lovaas, Dave Jessup, John Boulger, Billy Sanders, Michael Lee, Phil Crump, Peter Collins etc rode at either number three or five thereby facing the opposing number one twice. It's something that Malcolm Simmons actually raised in his book in that it was conditioned that he rode at Five as Howard Cole had it stipulated that he would ride at Three which was an easier position as it meant that at least three times he was paired with a reserve.

I've always placed Martin Ashby in a similar vein to Terry Betts...consistantly high averages but tended to get overlooked as the rise of the old second division produced an abundance of talent. Stalwarts such as Ray Wilson and Eric Boocock were also victims to a degree however Ray did enjoy some glory moments none more so than when he scored a maximum during the 1971 World Cup representing a Great Britain side as the lone Englishman if I'm correct?

Spencer Timmo (son of Rick) born in Oxford but returned to New Zealand before re-locating back to these shores. Now runs a second hand car showroom in Sandford-on-Thames. Nice bloke I have to add!

Yes Terry's domestic average looks impressive. As regards Team Cup, however, Terry tended to be overlooked with the rise of the likes of Jessup, Louis and Collins whereas Simmo kept his place on the international stage as he peaked just as England gained supremacy.

Yes I had forgotten that Graeme had returned to the "Dons" (1977?) before ending up at Newcastle. I'm intrigued, however, why Sugars?

I seem to remember reading that he suffered a heart attack when trying to retrieve personal items from his burning house?