steve roberts

Ken was one of my first heroes when I first went to speedway in 1972 at Cowley. Tony joined Oxford in 1973 as a replacement for Garry Middleton (as if you could?) and failed miserably before moving down to Exeter. Now lives at Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales...may well bump into him one day as I visit that area quite often!

Took me three attempts to see a meeting at Boston and then it was only half a meeting! The first attempt the meeting was postponed due to rain. The second attempt the first race didn't even reach the first bend as a bad crash at the exclusion lights caused the meeting to be abandoned. The third and final attempt we arrived at about heat six after taking in a meeting at King's Lynn (WTC Qualifier) which over ran!

Always sad to loose a member of the speedway "family" RIP

Looking good...a credit to everyone involved!

I'm sure that you are correct. He was a cousin of Ray?

I had the programme from the last ever meeting at Custom House but together with my huge collection I sold them!

Personally I always enjoyed the variety that speedway offered...team, individual, pairs.

Them were the days! Oxford on top of the world!

Heard from my brother that Ian Hoskins has died. A true icon and legend. May he RIP

...and the Fish and Chips at Alf's took some beating!

...which is what OGT in a previous post touched upon. I personally enjoyed the Amsterdam two day esperience and made the trip more rewarding in my opinion.

...and yet you hear all the time that fans enjoy the Cardiff "Experience" would it be better to run it over two days (although that would presumeably cause issues with GP Series) so that the "Experience" can be prolonged?

It was not an ideal track by any stretch of the imagination (as most 'temporary' tracks tend to be) but from a travelling 'tourist' point of view it did tick many boxes (unlike Norden and Vojens - although, thankfully, I booked on tours which allowed for touristy things!). I'm not really sure why a two day final should be looked upon as a failure (Ice Speedway had been doing it for years as it required the riders to adjust to changing track conditions and ability over ten races) but that was the general consensus made after the event. It did help, from a personal point of view, in allowing Hans to take control on the second day thus becoming champion for a second time!

I enjoyed the two day World Final in Amsterdam.

Sad news indeed. Stepped in at the last moment to save the "Cheetahs" prior to the 1976 season RIP

I've never subscribed to SKY and when I was invited round to a friend's house to view the occasional match I wasn't that impressed with what was on offer with the usual "Sports Coverage" of over analysis and action replays...the same race replayed what seemed like a dozen times from different angles! I always preferred the real thing stood on the terraces with my mates and chewing the fat. Gaps between races never bothered me personally and I treated it as a night out...a meeting commencing at 7-45 and finishing at 9 l always thought left me short changed!

..the same very much applied when SKY televised league matches. I know of one person, although living within walking distance of the track, preferred to stay at home and watch the match on TV.

Great insight!

...there may be also some inner psychology at play in that some riders 'believe' that one bike/engine is better than their other?

My first year (1972) Swindon had a great dual figure head in Briggs & Ashby but had a very long tail...an opportunity lost perhaps?

A bit odd that, Sid, that Swindon didn't achieve more on the team front considering having many top riders turn out for them down the years? Perhaps the promotion wasn't that bothered and the incentive was often lacking?

...not according to Bwitcher! As I pointed out some years ago Martin was riding high in the averages in 1968 and could very well have sneaked a shock World Final win or podium place if his promoter had been more accomodating.

My abiiding memory of Martin was missing the gate and down the back straight lining himself up to pass his opponent on the third and forth bend hugging the white line. Unfortunately white line riding is a rarity nowadays with superfast charges which require middle track outside surges. Perhaps one reason why team riding became more of a rarity over the years?

Unfortunately one of speedway's biggest problems is that very few promotions own the stadium which restricts what can be done as regards upgrading etc unless they have a very understanding landlord. Recal one evening at Cowley where the public address system had failed on the back straight but on complaining the promoter's hands were tied as it was out of his control and down to the owners who were less than sympathetic (Doggy people only stood on the home straight and/or in the main stand)

...something that Malcolm Simmons commented upon. When he took John "under his wing" during their time at Wimbledon in 1984 it's something that he tried to correct suggesting that John ride his own race rather than continually looking behind him. Always brought great personal pleasure to me when Gordon Kennett (that name again) would often be out gated by aforementioned Davis only for Gordon to continually harass him as John rode wider and wider allowing Gordon to slip thru' winning the race!