steve roberts

I hope that the plan isn't to bring the inside line in too much thus making the track something similar to the Eastbourne one and two bends?

Great images...thanks!

I tried to obtain a copy of the book thru' Waterstones but apparently it's out of print? I've hopefully securred a copy elsewhere.

Never saw Chris ride but always sad to hear of another passing. RIP

Dad remembers a certian Barry Briggs way back when he came to these shores as a relative novice and having second half rides at Cowley saying that he was wild to say the least!

Yes it was Roger Jones (sure that he used to mehanic for Dag Lovaas?) Kevin Young blotted his copybook when he missed a northern tour to instead ride at Swindon and was immediately sacked. Not sure what then became of him?

I seem to recall that the recently elevated Ipswich were offered Hasse prior to the 1972 season but John Berry didn't pursue that option.

Remember when Malcolm rode for "The Cheetahs" Sid in 1977 and turning out for Swindon at White City that same year. He had a nice style but perhaps didn't take he sport that seriously? However it was the likes of Holloway who made speedway what it was/is. Martin, against character, wished he had now thumped Mawdsley when he was offered a team spot in the Exeter team when they dropped down a league in 1980 but got the last laugh at Reading although he suffered with an injury towards the end of that season.

It came as a surprise to me that Hasse actually competed on the ice!

I drove thru' the rain from Oxford for that meeting and I remember thinking all the way that it would be called off!

Went to the first meeting at the "Wheels".

And of course Sid in those days the likes of Wilson, Betts and the Boocock Brothers spent the best years of their careers at the one club although starting/ending their careers elsewhere due to track closure/promotional re-location or in Martin's case given a raw deal by Wally Mawdsley.

Actually I was thinking the same although I'm guessing that it was Cradley but intigued by the terminology?

Although he spent most of his career riding for the enemy down the road Martin achieved consistantly high averages and was one of England's best during that period but very underrated. He gained two Gold Team Medals but who's to say that he could have been a much bigger threat during the 1968 Individual Final when carrying a very healthy career best average at the time? If I recall he missed the practice due to the non-cooperation of his promoter and had only the one bike which he used whilst on duty with "The Falcons"...didn't have the chance to prepare a special one. Afteral fellow Brits Gordon Kennett and Les Collins came within a whisker of becoming champion during their only appearances at that level so it wouldn't have been inconceivable if Martin had achieved the same. A tremendous rider and "Briggo" was often quoted as saying that if Martin could gate he could very well have challenged those on the World stage. Great memories of him riding at Blunsdon and Cowley and I know that Cyril Maidment was very keen on him becoming a "Don" when Martin often deputised for the late Tommy Jansson. That may well have been the impetus for Martin to step up his game but I guess that he felt comfortable at Swindon. A true great!

Hasse was a favourite of mine but he was a bit of an enigma as regards his UK appearances. He appeared for both Wolves and Oxford (both for two seasons each) and was programmed to ride for "The Rebels" during 1975 but only made one official appearance (plus a couple of Challenge matches) before returning home again and was never seen again that season. Oxford operated the R/R facility for him on and off during the season to cover for his absence but incredibly he was allocated to Wolves for the 1976 season and never made an appearance for them during the whole season. They used the R/R ruling and choice guests instead but Wolves were generally operating a "horses for courses" policy that year anyway! Recall the occasion that Hasse drew up outside my house with his caravan in tow and proceeded to make a cup of tea! I last saw him ride at Crayford in 1983 for his Swedish club side but he was past his best by then and only managed a couple of points on a very wet track. He rode in the race that claimed the life of Tommy Jansson and there is an often published photo of Tommy on the outside of him during that tragic race...the last photo ever taken of Tommy. I believe that Hasse is now, or was, the mechanic of Per Oluf Serenius the ice racer?

...I've hung on to mine. A DVD/Video combination and still in good working order. Use it all the time.

I was on holiday in Cornwall many years ago and forgo the opportunity to visit much to my regret!

Just sent you a PM.

Hans was another who used to touch the tapes prior to the ruling but managed to adapt his technique acordingly however I do remember the inconsistances during the first season of its introduction and referees were allowed to use discretion and a race featuring both Hans and Peter Collins at Cowley whereby Hans remained still and Peter nuudged the tapes but the ref allowed the race to start and Peter got a flier beating Hans in the process!

I remember seeing images (1973?) when as an experiment placing boards between riders (akin to horse racing) so they couldn't distract each other. Never took off and I'm not surprised!

I recall that Eric Gundersen in particular having difficulty adjusting primarily.

May have been if the rear spindle went over the line?

Garry Middleton would lead riders into the tapes and get them excluding much to the jeers of the opposition but cheers from the rest!

An interview with Martin Ashby would prove interesting. A true Swindon legend. Shame that Bob Kilby is no longer with us...always one who spoke his mind!

As Peter Adams once said if barbed wire was introduced it would soon stop riders fidgeting about at the start when some riders moaned aout the tape touching rule and dragging clutches.