Sidney the robin

Your memories of seeing Hans progress from a world class rider to a superstar has to be up there as one of your greatest memories Steve surely…?Personally was never a fan felt he was a bit of a gating tart quick but nothing else how WRONG was i i admit it got it badly wrong as i have done endless times on this forum.My memory of Hans is just how underated he was as a team rider helped endless riders progress his team riding with Dugard, Sorensen, Butler, Rasmussen, Wigg, stick in the mind.To have a rival like Erik pushing you beating you but you come out on top shows how strong his mentality was.His rivalry with Erik to me is like a same scenario as Briggs v Fundin Lendl v McEnroe, Holyfield v Tyson, Ali v Frazier, Senna v Prost .

As my kids often tell me Addio on a regular basis( they take the mikey out of my memorabilia collection.) Dad you are living in the past the world moves on.Would not give up the memories for the world and endless members on this forum would agree with me.The biggest plus from the sport is that did quite a bit with my uncle and Dad which was great and my two boys who were both keen up until about 16 when girls and other interests took over.My biggest regret is not seeing Bjorn and the iconic PC ride my uncle did and told me his memories of them both he said they were capable of more world titles .The big five Ove, Briggo, Bjorn, Mirac, Peter ( later Ivan) has to be up there as the strongest era.Swindon we’ll have been blessed really Briggs, Crash, Kilb, Broady, Crump ( snr / son/ Scott, Leigh, Darcy ‘ Doyley, ( ect) been very. lucky other favourites are Wellie( Holloway) Clive Hitch, Shawn McConnell Per Sorensen, .Visiting riders the no 1s who were the stars for me what a treat to see a different one every week hence Mauger, Olsen, Boocock x2) Bettsy, Wilsonx2) Louis, Collins, Sjosten, Middleton,Janssonx2 Loftqvist, Sanders, Lovaas, Morton x2) Moore, ( ect) great days.

A great point Steve and surely a good reason as any for most offices having there employees back.Otherwise social skills will be lost forever and the worrying thing is many people like having there life run by the government making there choices for them.

Can you see any hope for the future city? can the sport be reinvented.

I am like you OWL love the sport still do when it is right what a product it is a great night out terrific..My youth was speedway/ Speedway/ speedway now that has gone no Swindon for me now.Still follow the sport but don’t miss it as much as i should me thinks it is going a slow death hurts me to say it.

We certainly have one of the most inept councils in the Country Buzz ,we must be in the bottom ten.Our town centre says it all a total disgrace run down no vision and quite frankly there is not much hope of it getting much better anytime soon.

You could also get run over by a bus as well, in the open air social distancing why would you need a muzzle.

He will take it in his stride and earn decent point scoring money Scott takes every meeting as it comes a great servant and rider.

A shame Ray god there has to be common sense somewhere, me and my wife went to Torquay for two days last week.We had breakfast only 8 of us ( should of been 12) we wore masks into the breakfast room of course be respectful everyone took there masks off within a minute let’s get real masks really propaganda at its best.

That Swindon side was probably the worst side we ever had and we have had a few.Chuffed that Holloway moved to Reading as he was appreciated more there over the years Swindon did have a core of over Critical fans( doesn’t everyone.?).

For both Steve i believe , Emerson whether that was before the meeting ? Beaton R/R both Joe/ Rod had seven starts Scarisbrick scored 6 points .1983 i went Oxford 22- Swindon 73 Holloway scored a paid 15 point max.!,,

I was sorting through some of my Oxford programmes Steve (I did not go) 1983 Oxford 47- Newcastle 49 Joe Owen and Rod Hunter both scoring paid 21 maximums it has to be unique that.Also going back to Rob he scored 13 points at Cowley for Scunny that year.

I do recall Rob Hollingworth beating Michael in 1977 in a challenge fixture at Boston.Also remember seeing him ride in the 2000s in the Conference league when approaching his 50s could still hold his own a real unsung hero really the bread and butter riders who the crowd respected.

Yes had the pleasure of seeing him every week and who would of predicted he would of been better than his dad who was some rider himself.

When the superb restaurant was opened i had a four year spell where i went to Oxford most weeks.Was never a fan before but when the track was good it was very very good very smooth ( did C.Meredith do it?.) Got to realise just how WRONG i was about Hans a real points machine.His clashes with Erik, Tommy, Sam, Shawn/ Kelly spring to mind also seeing that lovely chap Simon Wigg( bless him) progress was great.As i always felt grass/Longtrack was his real passion a great team man to really a really bubbly.character.

Holloway, Hack, Lamb, were three that come through at Cowley and the latter two had brutal injuries which robbed us of seeing them go up the ladder i am sure both of them would of done in time.

Must be great to have those memories of your dad NW it certainly is for me would not change a thing.That run off must of been special one of my biggest regrets was not getting to Hyde Rd as much as i would of liked my favourite track along with the Shay even now.Two moments that stick out for me are Briggo going back to the Abbey with Wimbledon/Hull he got a great reception would of loved to of seen one of his 6 BLRC wins.

Were you expecting more of Ali Stevens Steve ? Dave Shields was a rider who excited me also watching an older Hunter/ Perks duo was a pleasure.

My memory on certain issues Nw is very poor, i suppose it was just all of my youth was spent going to speedway with my uncle and dad it was full on really special memories i cherish them.Watching Lee develop from a 16 year old was a privilege really a real natural talent only Carter, J, Crump, Gollob and in recent years Ward have excited me as much.

Before that Arthur Price was another Boston gem.

I think the reason of us producing so many good riders Steve over the years was the tracks in both leagues were so varied.The level in both leagues was very strong you had to ride in the uk then to be the best.Never really see alot of NL racing until Milton Keynes and Oxford entered it and for me was pleasantly surprised how much i enjoyed it even if it was at a lower level.In recent years i have got more pleasure watching the likes of Rowe,Palin,Thompson( bros) progress than watching the Grand Prix series.

He was a great servant to all of his clubs great value could never quite understand why he didn’t quite make it as a regular British league rider.He did so later on in his career and had a terrific spell with Swindon , i remember going to Belle Vue in 1984 for the Overseas Final Martin qualified scoring two points a terrific achievement. Lance King won the meeting with Sir Crumpy coming second on 12 points Carter also qualified scoring 8 points.