steve roberts

Something not dissimilar happend to Oxford in 1985 when Belle Vue visited Cowley. The Belle Vue Promoter was Stuart Bamforth and he also was BSPA chairman at the time. Oxford had declared Klaus Lausch in their line up which Belle Vue would have been aware of when teams were declared but they left it until just prior to the meeting when Bamforth wearing his BSPA hat made an objection knowing full well the circumstances and Oxford were forced to use a junior (Jon Surman) Okay Oxford were wrong in that the paperwork hadn't been cleared and Bamforth would have been well aware of that but used his position of power to influence the line up of the Oxford team who could have re-instated Melvyn Taylor as a replacement. Bamforth took advantage of his position but remained tight lipped much to the annoyance of Oxford Promoter Bernard Crapper who took to the microphone during the interval venting his anger after Oxford had trounced the "Aces". I recall also in 1977 when the "Rebels" arrived at Hackney and programmed to ride as a guest was Mick Hines but Len Silver left it right until the start of the meeting before making an objection (Mick had appeared at Waterden Road only the week before). The fact that Mick's name was listed in the programme and Silver would have been aware of the situation the episode left a sour taste in one's mouth but it only pumped up the "Rebels" and they beat the "Hawks" in a last heat decider!

...those were the days! A morning's picnic up on Beachy Head and popping down to Arlington for an afternoon meeting followed by an evening walking the prom at Eastbourne!

Certainly when Hans joined the "Cheetahs" the entrance and exit to the bends were brought in.

If I recall Rob Lightfoot picked up a neck injury which forced his early retirement after attempting to resurrect his career?

Does Andy Galvin qualify? Did injury curtial his career as I can't remember?

Ron How is one of those riders who genearlly doesn't get the praise that he deserves. He was a star rider for both Wimbledon and later Oxford and it's a shame that his career was cut short by injury. If I remember he became landlord of a pub in Great Missenden (?) and Ivan Mauger visited on at least one occasion.

Think he did but can't remember for how long?

Many thanks for that...brillant analysis!

Out of that five Genz, Gooddy and Geran moved on presumeably to balance up team strengths due to the amalgamation of the British and National Leagues? However Oxford stll managed to finish fourth despite loosing How thru' injury.

...and also add those that rode during the National League era. Yeates, Hunter, Perks, Rumsey, Harrison et al plus Gordon Kennet of course!

Many thanks for this!

Danny Dunton in one fixture Sid but not sure about the other two?

Eddie Reeves was the other. Sadly only Eddie and John Bishop are still with us what with the recent death of Jack Geran. Too early for me but I do know that the promoters pulled out after that season.

Good call Ron Preston. Saw quite a bit of him at Eastbourne during his last year riding in the UK and he was a particular master around the first two bends.

Just checked and it was at Poole but you're right that Terry did once brake his forearm in a second half race at Lynn when chasing Malcolm Simmons.

I thought it was at Poole (not one of his favourite tracks) when he broke a collar bone but I maybe wrong?

I remember Gordon Kennett hosing down his bike on the centre green after the meeting!

Great memories Sid! Quite incredible that Terry only made one World Final but of course the British Final was a difficult hurdle in those days especially when the Aussies and Kiwis were also included!

Dag was one of my favourites...recall his sublime 15 point maximum in the wet during Mike Keen's Testimonial Meeting. So glad Olsen never made it to Oxford and we got Dag instead! Such a shame his move to White City didn't really work out but he still registered a near 8 point average.

Slight parallel with Jack Millen...hard as nails on track but apparently a very nice guy off it where helping fellow riders was never too much trouble (unless you were Frank Auffret!) As regards Pedersen I can only comment on what I saw on track and certainly during his short spell at Cowley and never warmed to him. Was glad when Greg Hancock joned the team who had a bettter understanding of team ethics and went about helping his partner on track unlike Pedersen.

I've spoken to Ian Cartwright on a number of occasions when visiing "Mouseman" at Kilburn and the intention was always that he would eventually take over the family business after he achieved what he hoped for in speedway. His father was also a keen motorcyclist and of course Ian's son rode before also entering the family business. "Mad" Malcolm Ballard? Attained a high average on his initial season at Arlington and bettered it on his second. Achieved a decent average at Oxford in 1973 when moving up a league but after asking for a transfer he moved to Poole and then quickly on to Leicester in 1974 and retired well before the season ended.

Just realised that my two examples are outside the remit!

Bjorn Knutsson of Sweden who became World Champion in 1965 and retired in 1966 I believe? Brian Crutcher another candidate who retired while still in his twenties.

Was the ref Frank Ebdon?

Personally I was glad to see the back of him...there's one thing being a character but Pedersen (like his brother Ronni) went out of his way to be antagonistic towards opponents and management (got the sack at Cowley) and I grew tired of his tantrums.