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Posts
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Everything posted by steve roberts
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I find it almost impossible to compare riders from different eras where bikes and/or tracks were very different. It would be interesting seeing a young tearaway on a JAP bike where, by all accounts, they required severe control handling because all they wanted to do was drag you to the fence. Hanging off the back of a bike was almost unheard of although the likes of Peter Craven came closest.
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...not one of my favourite tracks however Oxford had a good record there!
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Travelled to Somerset who were due to race Poole but the meeting was called off due to rain...looked a nice stadium but never got the opportunity to go back again.
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I called in at Quibell Park when making my way to Scunthorpe's 'new' track in 1979 to have a look...must have been spectacular watching racing there inside a banked athletics track?
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I went to a few one-off finals (Wembley, Norden, Amsterdam, Katowice, Gothenburg and Vojens) and they were all great experiences. I can see the attraction in a GP Series but from the beginning I could see the disruption it would cause to the UK domestic programme especially when the number of rounds were increased.
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The two publications by Alan Robertson ("British Speedway Leagues 1991-2014" & The History of British League Speedway 1946-64") contain a wealth of statistice and information...fully recommended!
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Visited Bristol twice and on both occasions White City should have recorded wins!
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If I recall the tyres left rubber from the tyres on the concrete surface and caused problems for the riders?
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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!
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Achieved a lot considering he didn't start competing until his late(?) twenties.
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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!
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Just been informed by my brother. An interesting character and, if I recall, won the very first race in the old Second Division? RIP
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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!
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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.
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...that came as a surprise to me until I totalled them up!
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...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.
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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!
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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.
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...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!
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...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.
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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!
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Remember Roman Jankowski on his visit to Swindon recording a 12 point maximum!
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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!
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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).
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I'm sure that Kai Niemi and Veijo Tuoriniemi would have ridden together at Eastbourne in 1979?