steve roberts

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.

Alan slipped up just as he was about to climb the ladder to the great amusement of the crowd. He climbed the ladder and was joined by Team Manager Eric Boocock and if I recall "Wilkie" left having got nowhere pointing to his (Alan's) head obviously making a comment!

Have on film Alan Wilkinson's trip to the box at King's Lynn...wouldn't have wanted to get on the wrong side of "Wilkie".

I would agree that part of speedway was the 'aggro' when a rider felt hard done by however I always felt that Nikki Pedersen often took his actions one step too far when on track. Remember when he rode for Oxford he purposely rode straight thru' Lee Richardson knocking him off and was excluded for his actions. Totally uncalled for.

He was/is always a bit of an ar***ole. When he rode for the "Cheetahs" (albeit short term) he was always looking for trouble and personally I was glad to be rid of him!

It's all very sad. speedway did, and still should, have all the ingredients of being a spectacular experience combining skill, dare devil riding, thrills and spills and yet struggles to grab the attention. However one of the most repetitive sports imaginable (tennis) enjoys blanket coverage on both BBC channels and media hype which says something about modern society and how easily it can be swayed into believing something is good. I would dare to suggest that other sports fall into that same category. Speedway's failings I blame almost entirely on bad management skills and indecisiveness down the years (constant unnecessary rule changes for example) when the promoters should have been pulling together rather than appearing at odds and now they appear to be paying the ultimate choice.

What a state speedway in this country has become what with two leagues back in the seventies compromising of 18 plus teams per league and all the world stars competing.

Just watched the interview and some interesting anecdotes...not surprised he wasn't a fan of Oxford's track as he was dropped during the 1994 season due to poor form! Neil Evitts wasn't one of his favourite opponents...now there's a surprise!

If I remember the sum paid for Lee Richardson was decided on the toss of a coin as Swindon and Coventry couldn't agree on a fee?

John Berry wrote an excellent article in his book "More Confessions" (far too comprehensive to quote here) but essentially he was against the 'asset' business and felt that the whole structure regarding rider's commitments to any one club should be re-examined. "Don't you think that there is something wrong with a system where a promoter can go and sign a foreign rider with the express intention, not of using him, but of renting him out until his value rises?" Of course the book was published in 2006 but has anything changed since then regarding the composition of team make ups and rider availability?

I've always thought that club 'assets' were somewhat questionable and open to abuse. I recall that Nikki Pedersen was a Wolves 'asset' but only rode for them the one season and was then 'loaned out' for successive seasons thereafter? There are examples of riders only appearing once for a club and was therefore deemed an 'asset' and subsequent clubs were required to pay a fee if they wished to use him. I recall Dallle Andersson riding a superlative season for Oxford in 1995 although being classed as a Cradley 'asset' despite' having never rode for them until the following season...a mistake in my opinion because he was never the same rider again. I seem to remember that Seb Ulamek was also a Wolves 'asset' but never rode for them certainly not during his formative years riding in the UK?

Ignoring the moronic posts that seem to have proliferated this thread as regards programmes I do seriously regret having sold all mine as they were a constant source of reference. I did some 'promotional' talks at some schools some years ago but got very little support from the promoter at the time and it all felt rather flat!

I do wonder sometimes what is the target audience with all these trashy 'celebrity' based shows aimed at? I've never heard of the majority of the so-called celebrities who are featured on these programmes! TV has been so dumbed down I watch very little 'live' programmes preferring to delve into my extemsive DVD collection.

I recently was talking to a stranger in a pub at Pickering whose friend knew Maurice Ducker...they were from Coventry.

Apparently volunteers are being asked to help clean up the stadium in anticipation of re-opening? If I was still local I would certainly make myself known at Sandy Lane having helped out during the rescue of the stadium back in 1976 and also when under the Wagstaff regime. I wish them well!

The old Second Division/National League produced a hot bed of British youngsters (and a few Anzacs!) and it's no accident that when the National League and British League went their seperate ways the talent began to dry up and the National Team lost its world dominance.

Couldn't agree more...speedway for me was meeting up with my mates. Putting the speedway world to rights between races and generally enjoying a night out.

..I certainly wouldn't entertain going to a football match either to be honest. For me to consider a speedway meeting there would have to be at least twenty heats (including a second half of sorts)

During my formative years attending speedway Oxford ran on a Thursday and White City on Wednesdays...didn't effect my schooling I have to say.

I certainly wouldn't be enticed back to speedway if £20 is the going rate...and add petrol on top of that?