steve roberts

Despicable individual.

In Ivan's book "Triple Crown Plus" he says that he had a collision with Gordon Guasco and his left leg ended up in Gordon's engine as they turned into the corner. He smashed up his left ankle very badly and was subsequently rushed to hospital for surgery whereby he had a couple of screws inserted into the ankle to hold it together. That saviour of many speedway riders Dr. Biagi came to his assitance and decided to plaster Ivan's foot placing his foot in an upward position so that a steel shoe could be fitted round the plaster so that he could continue riding...which reminds me of the time that Jack Millen rode with a plaster cast on his left foot without, I believe, a steel shoe!

I remember talking to a resident a couple of years ago and mentioned that sometime in the past a tunnel had been discussed connecting the Island..."No way we would want that" was his reply. I would agree. The Island would become over-congested just like what has happened on Skye since the bridge was opened. At least ferries keep the numbers at a reasonable level and control the number of vehicles.

Best I could come up for Richard was four rides within five heats at Belle Vue in 1975.

I vaguely remember Richard Greer taking four on the trot and I'm desperately scanning to see if I can come up with anything...can't recall if it was when he was at Oxford or White City?

I remember he broke an ankle during his time at Newcastle prior to the British Final (?) one season. Seem to recall he broke both wrists after crashing during the 1972 World Pairs Final which didn't apparently hinder him too much. Other than that a pretty injury free career.

No "shouting hysterical" commentary that is common place on sports broadcasts nowadays...one reason I don't watch sport on TV.

Was never really a fan of Longtrack racing...too much emphasis on the bike. Interesting archive film all the same and another example of how speedway has missed the attention of "World of Sport" which, personally, I feel was a big reason why speedway began to slide down the popularity polls.

Sad news indeed. He was recently featured in the "Classic Speedway" magazine. RIP

Mitch Shirra tells the story that Coventry riders were told to drop points with a view of being able to fit them in the following season.

...or loop the loops!

Henny Kroeze maybe another worth looking at...remember he was the first rider, I think, to score a 21 pont maximum?

...seem to recall this being a suggestion put forword some years ago? May have been from Olsen?

Yes having looked at it again I can see that I find it difficult differentiating between black and green...and I'm 'only' sixty!

Thanks again...I'm having some great nostalgic fun accessing the files.

Not sure when riders were expected to supply their own helmet colours...mid/late eighties I'm guessing? Prior to that it was the job of the residing colour marshall to administer the required item...I think? I remember Garry Middleton being called back on more than one occasion when he attempted to take his place in the starting line up with his 'Day-Glo' Orange helmet and was made to cover it with a red helmet colour.

It's funny how the memory play tricks and as one who was at the meeting I'm not sure if the drama was broadcasted to the fans at the time and only came to light on the TV broadcast?

As I say I've only just started using it (don't why it took me so long?) and it's a great resource...I've had problems today trying to open up some of the year options. I'll try again later.

Thanks for that!

I'm not able to access "Speedway Researcher" for some reason...only just started using it. A great source of information.

Hans was the same at Cowley and wore a white one away from home.

I seem to recall Trevor Geer doing that during the 1977 season at Poole?

You're coming up with right 'corkers' chunky. I'm going to check out Gordon Kennett's record during the 1977 season when at the commencement of the season he was often taking two Rider Replacement rides.

Good analysis.

Slightly off tangent but as much as I enjoy analysing rider's averages I've always believed there is much more to a rider's ability than just the statistical....that just tells part of the story. I always use John Davis and Gordon Kennett as parallel examples in that their averages for many years compared favourably with each other's but the way they went about accumulating their points was often very different. Two great talents but Gordon was the better all round rider in my opinion (and I did see a lot of them during theire fomative years at Cowley and elsewhere)