steve roberts

Recall reading that he was instrumental in Ipswich winning at Sheffield in 1972 when some members of the "Tigers" team were making a nuisance of themselves and Olle decided to get tough with them.

One of Swedish speedway's pioneers. RIP

That's very sad news. One of the greats in my opinion and helped greatly to get Sweden on the map speedway wise. Will always cherish my time when I attended one of his training schools at King's Lynn. RIP Varg-Olle.

I'm working thru' the book and there appears to be more emphasis on his Longtrack exploits which is understandable, I guess, considering his success at that particular discipline of racing but personnally I have little interest in Longtrack racing and would have preferred to have read more about his times at Wimbledon and Coventry, in particular, which was quickly brushed over.

I think that there were three (?) and I attended two. Did the first NEC one (I think that there were two (?) but never bothered with Telford...never appealed to me personally.

Apparently Jason Crump is making a comeback with Plymouth?

Received my latest edition...superb as usual. Interesting analysis (although I couldn't grasp all the permutations) on the differing race formulas. Ordered (and since recieved) the Tatum book as featured in the latest edition. Nice article on the sadly recently deceased Zenon Plech...such an icon.

I checked it up. It was Dave Wills of West Ham who was sadly killed as described in Simmo's book.

From memory he was killed on his way to a meeting at Coventry whilst crossing a dual carriageway in his car during early 1974?

I seem to recall a fallen rider was killed by someone who was some way behind who failed to drop the bike?

Blimey! Just received mine today after ordering it only yesterday!

I've ordered my copy!

One lad bought his own bike and it was a bugger to start...remember three of us pushing it an entire lap before it kicked into life! My brother went to one of Olle's schools a couple of years before me and shared a bike with Chris Prime who was later to lose his life at Newcastle.

Funny but when I went to one of Olle Nygren's Training Schools at King's Lynn many, many years ago it was never discussed...and we certainly never laid any bikes down intentionally I recall.

I always remember when at Ipswich when Oxford were the visitors Kai Niemi got into trouble directly in front of Hans Nielsen and Hans immediately shut the throttle off all within a split second whilst remaining sat on his bike and not having to lay it down...very impressive.

Many thanks! The link wouldn't initially open on my computer but I've now got there!

Has anyone tried to order the Kelvin Tatum book? Is it any good? Apparently you can order via Curtis Sport but their Web-Site appears to be devoid of any mention (or anything else speedway related in my recent experience?)

Recall that Len Silver wouldn't allow someone to take to the track during his Training Schools until they had satisfied him that they were able to lay the bike down...I did read that he used to jump in front of a rider forcing them to drop the bike but I'm not sure if I actually believe that? Just read in the latest "Backtrack" magazine that it was also a requirement insisting upon by Ken Marshall who used to run Training Schools at Felton under the instruction of John Robson "...if they couldn't lay a bike down, they couldn't go out on the track."

I used to have the programme!

Looking forward to the next edition...great read!

Kelvin Tatum and Neil Evitts had issues with each other I recall?

That was part of a conversation I had with Ian Cartwright (one time "Duke") on one of my visits to "Mouseman" at Kilburn of which he is a director...a very nice, humble man by the way.

Interesting...never heard that one!

Chris did put in a decent performance at Cowley when he rode for Weymouth but beyond that he tended to struggle.

Yes I can equate with much of that but I did find it sad seeing riders like Martin Ashby, Chris Pusey, Arnold Haley etc etc struggling to find anything like their former form having seen them in their prime but that's a personal view. I did however enjoy watching past riders competing in Barry Briggs' "Golden Greats Meetings" but that was a whole different scenario.