steve roberts

...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?

Yes I guess that Malcolm would get the vote but Terry was probably more popular with the public due to his easy going attitude?

I was going to mention Graeme Stapleton also...recall that he took a couple of years out to help out Ronnie Moore after his serious injury run his motorcycle franchise (?) When he appeared back in the UK it was for Newcastle and I recall he turned out for Hull at Coventry for the title decider.

Did anyone attend one of Olle's Training Schools at King's Lynn and have any stories to tell? I went in 1980 and didn't pull up any trees it has to be said...scared the living daylights out of me if I'm honest but I'm glad that I gave it a go. Remember one lad brought his own bike with him and it was bugger to fire up...three of us pushed it the best part of half a lap to get it started. Another lad if I recall went to hospital when he hit the pits gate. The Lynn changing rooms were a disgrace from memory and to fill in the evening hours me and my 'mechanic' (my brother) went to the local cinema to watch "A Fistfull of Dollars" My elder bother attended a couple of years previously and shared a bike with Chris Prime who was later killed riding for Newcastle in a race that featured Kenny Carter (?) Great memories!

Australian Neil Cameron showed promise at Wimbledon between 1972 & 1974 but a move to Poole in 1975 worked against him (did he demand a transfer or was he forced to move under the old rider control system?) Rode for Newport in 1976 but not for long and was signed by White City but lasted one meeting and then disappeared from the scene. Had a nice style and probably best remembered for Mike Patrick's famous image of Neil climbling all over the following Barry Crowson!

Ian Gledhill was always regarded as a Cowley track specialist (think he got the track record on one occasion?) but when he eventuallly signed for the "Cheetahs" proved a huge disappointment and soon departed from the scene.

Both long associated with King's Lynn but who was the better rider? Terry achieved a high average for many seasons whereas Malcom was a bit up and down until his move to Poole in 1975. Strangely Terry only made one World Individual Final (however qualifying from the British Final was no mean feat during the seventies) whereas Malcom made three appearances. Terry won the one World Pairs and a couple of World Cups whereas Malcolm's record is exceptional on that front (three pairs and four team). Perhaps Terry was more team orientated and too laid back for the big occasion? Malcolm was more ruthless. Terry may well have achieved more on the international stage but his career spanned the period that English riders were making names for themselves having graduated from the old Division Two and perhaps he was pushed out of the limelight? I guess that it's fair to say that Malcolm was the better all round motorcyclist. As captains of their respective clubs (King's Lynn and Poole) team honours were a bit short on the ground. Terry led 'Stars' to a KO Cup and ILKO Cup triumph whereas Malcom as a 'Pirate' won nothing...his team successes were achieved early in his career when riding for West Ham.

Talking of awkward looking riders Neil Middleditch never looked 'pretty' on a bike!

Adi Coker...now there's a name from the past!

I was just curious as I don't follow football now but with having a goodly proportion of black players competing is that reflected by those watching?

Agree entirely!

As a matter of interest do ethnic minorities attend football matches?

White City tried a campaign to get a black rider to compete so as the encourage the local community to attend Wood Lane...Oxford tried a similar campaign in response but both came to nothing. Publicity stunts I would guess?

Just checked this out...a very worthy site.

Jason Crump?

I took no offence BOBBATH as you were right...Oxford tended to be also rans making up the numbers (although they won the Third Division in 1950) but it did give an opportunity to throw my opinion in as regards the seventies because personally I think great things may well have come about if things had been different and we would have given the established 'top' teams a run for their money? Keep up the posts as I enjoy reading your views!

...crossed my mind also.

Personally I think that Oxford would have been one of the major players during the late seventies if they hadn't moved on to White City due to the proposed sale of Sandy Lane (later rescued by the SOS Committee at the time). They had a more than useful side in 1975 and I believe would have built upon that. Dag Lovaas may well have not cut short his career after his move to Wood Lane. Both Richard Greer and John Dews were more than capable performers around Cowley but never settled at White City. Oxford's tie up with Eastbourne and Peterborough would have strengthened their cause with the likes of Weatherly, Gachet, Dugard, Sampson, Clark et al waiting in the wings. Okay they did go on to win the title at White City but despite Bob Radford's wild claims that team had little resemblance to the 1974 side that he was part of (albeit only for half a season) never mind the 1975 side. All pure conjecture I know but Oxford was a sleeping giant waiting to be waken but the opportunity was taken away from them only to re-surface during the 80's and those glorious Nielsen years!

Persionally I would rank Ken above Ron based upon his longevity (although Ron was before my time) Happy to know that both rode for Oxford during their careers.