steve roberts

Some great names there Sid. I wonder if things would have been different if they had been around during the Nielsen/Gundersen years and at their prime? We can only speculate.

Some interesting views Sid. I'm obviously very biased when making comparsions but I do believe that Hans was a better all round rider than Erik (something that Erik admitted to in an an interview some years ago in "Backtrack"). Hans' ability to team ride was second to none and I don't recall Erik excelling in that particular role (I saw a lot of both riders during the middle/late eighties). I also believe that Hans was a better exponent at passing opponents. I would be the first to admit that Erik had great mental strength (how much that was down to having Olsen in his corner is open to conjecture) and had the beating of Hans in both the 1984 Final (with a little help from Kelly Moran getting in the way) and 1985. The 1986 Final will be debated for as long as there are people willing to talk speedway. Erik suffered a bad second ride after being intimidated by Neil Evitts as the tapes rose. The infamous incident between Knudsen and Nielsen could have gone either way and personally, although not at the time (I was present) I felt that Hans was lucky to get away with it. However Knudsen style of riding was always questionable as he tended to ride 'square bends' and he attempted to correct himself only for Nielsen to have filled the gap. I saw Knudsen many times attempting to ride opponents wide and being caught out as opponents switched lines to pass him up the inside (there was a classic race at Cowley when Marvyn Cox out-witted him after such a move). All three were great riders but personally I would list them in order as Nielsen first, followed by Gundersen and Knudsen fending off Jan O Pedersen...possibly? It's been debated many times but I strongly believe that if the GP's had been operating during the middle/late eighties Hans would have been successful in most, if not all, of them.

I think that the punch up may have been in 1971? Rayleigh were, I think, the only team to win at Arlington during Eastbourne's Championship winning year? As you say a long time ago now. I remember well the 1972 drawn match as it took an age to locate the stadium as we drove around the Sussex countryside and arrived after about four heats had taken place!

Dave Lanning was a great wind up artist. He used to have running verbal battles with the great Johnnie Hoskins of Canterbury and we saw some of Dave's antics when he was at Oxford in 1972. Great entertainment and anything to stir up the fans!

Funny but ex-Eagle Reg Trott made some atrocious decisions as a referee during Eastbourne's first match of the 1979 season and Bob Dugard threatened that he would never be allowed to officiate at another meeting at Arlington!

I was there (39-39) but I don't recall a punch up I have to say? If I remember Alan Emmett scored a 12 point maximum and there was some animosity over him beating Gordon Kennett during the British under-21 Championship. The "Eagles" management 'claimed' that he was using an over-sized engine or something or other?

...with Bob Dugard at the helm hardly surprising although their initial years in the First Division after years of dominating the Second Division brought them down to earth somewhat. Bob was passionate and very protective of his charges which occasionally spilled over...remember a few fisty fights/skirmishes and, of course, Dave Lanning added to the fun. A good read in the latest "Backtrack" where local derbies between Eastbourne and Canterbury was covered.

Yes Erik seems to have been overlooked but personally I wouldn't put him in quite the same class as some of the others mentioned despite being a multi-champion...just my opinion.

Couldn't agree more!

Spent many a happy Sunday afternoon at Arlington.

If I recall, Sid, Mike in an interview in "Backtrack" stated that he preferred being a big fish in a small pond having caught a cold riding for Exeter in 1974 before eventually moving to Arlington. As a posrscript I do feel that some of the Division Two/New National League 'stars' get somewhat overlooked when discussing riders of the past.

Apparently he was asked if he would like to move up with Eastbourne prior to the 1979 season but declined and was subsequently placed on the transfer list and Cradley came in for him and he was loaned out to Nottingham.

This one needs some deep thought...wish that I'd hung on to all my programmes now!

Yes absolutely...Hans Nielsen was another who after some frustrating years at Wolves (as Olsen before him) and later Birmingham on riding at Cowley he managed to secure three League Championships and numerous cup honours. The 1985 & 1986 teams didn't look particularly strong on paper but a great team ethic produced the goods with much influence based upon Nielsen's input and guidance.

It's really great that Svein is remembered. I only saw him a couple of times in early 1972 when he rode for Oxford before moving on and being replaced by Preben Rosenkilde.

...but I admired Mauger and his ability to get the best out of his team mates. Exeter were never favourites on paper to win the League in 1974 but with Ivan's influence on and off the track they managed to do so.

I was never a fan of Rickardsson if I'm honest. Mauger would always top my list although beneath him the list would vary depending on the day of the week!

One of my favourites was Mike!

I was just a wee bit surprised Sid that he didn't mention his Eastbourne mis-adventure in his book (unless I missed it?)

I would certainly agree with your choices except I would place Ivan at number one. Only saw Ove ride at one of Briggo's "Golden Greats" meetings but his record speaks for itself.

That's a very enlightening post...never knew the background details of Michael's non-appearance at Arlington.

What about Hans? Four wins, six seconds and two thirds by my reckoning?

There was an interesting interview with Bernie in edition Number 14 of "Backtrack". His best mate in speedway was Dave Perks and he had nothing good to say about in-coming Promoter Dan McCormack "...That Scotsman came to Cradley with a big mouth and I felt bad about him from the the beginning. I couldn't forge a working relationship with him, not even from the start. After arguments over my bikes, we split up. But I tell you, I was not the only one in the team who didn't like him..."

Hasse was declared in the Oxford line up at the commencement of the season but personal issues delayed his return until June where he turned out against Hull I recall. He rode in a couple of more matches (one was a challenge at Reading which the "Rebels" won...the first team to beat Reading at Smallmead) before he was unable to continue to commit to riding in the UK. Oxford used the facility on and off that season but were by means the only team to adopt that mandate...Ian Thomas at Newcastle was re-nowned for manipulating the rule book to suit and the Wolves team of 1976 was always short of a full house using very much a "horses for courses" policy winning at White City with a team consisting of guests who were Wood Lane track specialists and pulling off a win much to the home promoters annoyance. Eric Boocock very nearly signed for Oxford in 1975 but decided to carry out his threat of retirement and Dag Lovaas eventually joined the team of his choice...and what a season he had!

Another great read...interesting interview with Ron Henderson who had shown much potential at Newcastle but decided he had had enough and returned home to Australia. Unfortunately he was involved in the race that ultimately cost the life of Christer Sjosten when Christer ran into the back of him.