steve roberts

If I recall the tyres left rubber from the tyres on the concrete surface and caused problems for the riders?

I guess it was very much into the unknown and apparently there were doubts whether the meeting would take place because the morning practice session resembled something akin to "last one standing" and utter carnage!

Achieved a lot considering he didn't start competing until his late(?) twenties.

Never a real fan of Indoor meetings although I witnessed two at Wembley and one at the NEC. Telford didn't interest me in the slightest!

Just been informed by my brother. An interesting character and, if I recall, won the very first race in the old Second Division? RIP

I said at the time it would soon become a choice for riders to compete in either the British League or the GP's and for Promoters to best adjust to that scenario. There was the year when a rule was implemeted that decreed only one GP rider could ride for one particular team...it lasted the one year!

I basically stopped going to Swindon travelling from Oxford as a neutral once it moved to Thursdays as it was more difficult fitting it around work.

...that came as a surprise to me until I totalled them up!

...problem was/is the GP series creamed off the money that otherwise the BSPA got to see when they lost the one-off final and associate meetings and the money generated which proved invaluable to many promotions. The BSPA, as usual, were slow off the back foot and couldn't see the damage forthcoming and ignored the signs and only woke up when it came too late to do anything about it.

Both later figured at Oxford (1996) and of the two I thought that Bo Brhel was the better rider round Cowley who displayed some classy riding passing where others feared to tread!

The British scene was never going to sit comfortably with the Grand Prix which began to make demands domestically and weekend speedway at the higher level was hit when a Grand Prix was being held and the regularity increased as the GP series expanded. Losing Friday/Saturday night speedway proved decivise for many promotions with the non-availability of riders.

...I was fortunate, at least, being an Oxford fan as we entered our most productive period honours wise and was reflected in crowd levels at Cowley and generated interest at away venues. At least I have some great memorable moments to look back on!

...John Berrry was often quoted as saying that Poole supremo Mervyn Stewksbury had his own agenda and was one of the worst things to happen to speedway in recent history.

I witnessed all those achievements Sid! Used to enjoy my trips to Swindon...as for Gresham? A nutter on a bike but apparently has mellowed over the years!

Remember Roman Jankowski on his visit to Swindon recording a 12 point maximum!

Oxford had a pretty good record at Wolves (Dag Lovaas was a track specialist) and, of course, during the Nielsen years we enjoyed much success as we did at most places...has to be remembered that the City "Rebels" securred the Championship back in 1977 on one memorable Sunday afternoon!

Difficult one really as I used to enjoy visiting different tracks and seeing how they compared however my least favourites would have to include Wolves (too long straights with tight curves), Arena Essex (I visited during their first year of operation and found it weird viewing a fenceless track), Coventry (early visits when gating was all important before it was improved), Reading (basic good shape but was far too often too slick) and Newcastle (not called (B)rough Park for nothing).

I'm sure that Kai Niemi and Veijo Tuoriniemi would have ridden together at Eastbourne in 1979?

Sorry to go on about Bob Radford Sid but mentioning Bobby McNeil I'm sure that Radford was instrumental in him going to Swindon rather than the "Rebels" when he finally moved up full-time in 1975 after doubling up with the "Rebels" during 1974 on occasions?

If I recall that was Henk's debut match? Yes I remember the return tie...an all round team performance from the "Rebels". We also spoilt Swindon's 25th Anniversary Meeting when we were, again, the victors! Happy days!

Never saw Archie ride but another sad loss. RIP

I'm afraid that Bob continued to carry a 'chip on his soldier' as regards Oxford long after he left under a cloud Sid! The Pole would be Andrzej Jurczynski who ocasionally showed some form no more than in a second half (remember those?) final where he came from behind and beat Gordon Kennett twice! They passed and re-passed on a number of occasions and when the race was re-run the same thing happened!

...not a name that revered at Cowley after he walked out during 1974 and the last straw being when he took a call from Gordon Kennett who was enquiring whether that day's match was still on and was told by Radford that it had been called off but then went ahead and we were beaten by Swindon with a depleted team with Alan Johns replacing the missing Gordon who didn't travel from his Kent home. Radford later tried to claim that he had laid the foundations for White City's title win in 1977 which was a total nonsense. The only two rider's who rode under Radford's era was the aforementioned Gordon and Trevor Geer (who occasionally put in an appearance for the "Rebels") Sorry Sid...not a fan of Bob Radford based on his Oxford exploits.

I recall Teuroniemi who looked useful but failed miserably when he moved on to Swindon!

I remember Lars riding at Cowley for the touring Bysarna side at the tail end of the 1972 season at Cowley and he did look useful.