Grachan

Great rider, but for some reason my main memories of Dennis seem to be of when he made a bit of an arse of himself. In a World Championship Qualifier at White City he reared up badly and snaked all over the track, causing Hans Nielsen to fall. Sigalos was excluded, but for some reasons refused to accept it was his fault, and even came out for the re-run giving 'V' signs to the ref before finally having to leave the track. You can understand riders getting frustrated from time to time when things go against them, but it was so obviously his own fault. Another time was in a World Team Cup final, when he was way ahead with one lap to go, but Michael Lee caught him up and passed him on the line. Being interviewed after the race he admitted he was so far in front that he gave up trying and went to sleep. 'It's just.. inexcusable...' he said. I think he also won the notorious race in the 1982 Overseas Final when Bruce Penhall didn't try and pulled wheelies at the back.

I can't actually remember it. I'll have to dig out my 'Swindon Robins 1977' exercise book again and have a look in there.

It certainly demonstrates what a lost art team riding has become, doesn't it. And from a guest too. I wonder what it is about today's speedway that makes it so rare now. Hmmmm. Now then, 'Classic Speedway Face Masks'. Chapter one. The Monkey Mask........

Of course. I'd forgotten about the 'Save Oxford Speedway' campaign in 1975. I still have a Speedway Mail front cover somewhere with a picture of Dag Lovaas, John Dews and others holding up a banner. 'Classic Speedway Face Masks'? Are you serious. I may be showing my total anorak-ness here, but that would fascinate me. There were so many, and the riders were so identifiable then. Which one is Ulf Lovaas? Is he the rider in the blue helmet, who appears just after John Dews in the footage?

Here is some old footage that I borrowed recently, which people might enjoy. It's been transferred from Cine film to video and the pictures have become very blurry in the process, but it's still worth looking at. 1973 - Swindon v Oxford Midland Cup This is the riders on parade before the meeting. Swindon won 51-27, not 40-38 as that was a league match. 1973 - Swindon v Oxford Midland Cup Hasse Holmqvist taking a tumble and walking back across the centre green. 1975 - Oxford v Wolves - Midland Cup Final First Leg Martin Ashby, guesting for Wolves, performs some brilliant team riding to help his partner (Finn Thomsen??) to a 5-1 over Gordon Kennett. What a rider. Oxford v Dag Lovaas Select - 1974 A short clip from this meeting featuring Dag Lovaas and Swindon legend Bob Kilby during his brief spell as skipper of the Oxford Rebels. More Oxford v Dag Lovaas Select 1974 Some more action from the same match with Dag again. I think I can spot John Dews in there too, because I remember he wore the same face mask as Martin Ashby. Swindon v Poole 1977 I think it's 1977 anyway. I kept my own little record from 1977 and Jan Andersson and Bobby McNeil scored a 5-1 over Colin Goody and Neil Middleditch in their first heat, so I'm going with that. You can see a brief glimpse of it here, although most of it is a bit jerky. There's also a quick of heat 1, with Martin Ashby, Malcolm Simmons, Soren Karlsson and Dickie May. Don't blink though! (Thanks Frigbo for some of the information and Steve Roberts for lending me the footage and letting me put the stuff online)

That's brilliant Frigbo, thanks. Pretty similar Swindon team to 1974 then. I've got some old footage from Cowley too, so I'll probably make some mpegs of bits of it and put them on line at some point if people are interested. I found it all fascinating anyway, even if the quality was a little blurry.

I didn't even know that, so it's a good start. Thanks Kevin. The reason I'm asking is that I've got hold of a little bit of footage from the meeting. It's a bit blurry and I can't really make out who is who, plus my speedway knowledge began with a vengeance in 1974 - making this officially before my time. I can make out Martin Ashby, but other than that it is a bit difficult. Even some names from the sides would be useful.

It will cost you, though. And you'll need to register using your in depth knowledge of Danish.

OK all you Speedway historians out there. Does anyone have details from any Swindon v Oxford matches at Blunsdon in 1973? Particularly interested in riders, scorecharts etc, but anything would be interesting. Thanks.

I did indeed. I have the meeting on video. I can do you a copy if you like Graham.

I recorded it from my own video collection and uploaded it. It's from the 1973 World Final.

Seeing is believing Pete!

There's a picture of the line up in Backtrack this month if you didn't already know.

Personally, I'd love to see a feature on Bobby McNeil, having had my appetite whetted by several pictures (old and new) in Backtrack. Also, Geoff Bouchard is another Swindon favourite that it would be interesting for me to read about. Anyone else have any particular rider that would interest them?

Swindon's programme from Thursday has it as the 28th in the fixture list. How cah this once great meeting be turned into such a waste of time like this. Still, that's speedway for you.

Don't be so naive. If rolling starts were still allowed and part of the game then a rider like Tony would take advantage of that and probably be brilliant at it. You can't say one rider was better than another because of the rules of the day. It's an irrelevant argument. It's like saying Ivan was better because they didn't have air fences in those days or the bikes were apparently more difficult to ride.

I'm sure Tony would be too if was still allowed.

Not too sure about Michenek as I'm not convinced he had the true dedication, but other than that I agree. The thing is, so many of those old one-off titiles were turned on one single race and it's impossible to make comparisons. Would Ivan have won in 1972 even if they had had semi-finals and a final. Ole Olsen was far an away the best rider on the night but totally blew it in his first ride. 1977 - Ivan was again fortunate. Wasn't he back in third or fourth when John Boulger fell off in one race? Ivan, therefore, certainly had his share of luck in those finals but who knows what would have happened with the GP in place. I've long stuck with the theory that Ivan was the best, though, but I have to say that I'm starting to sway towards Rickardsson now with the way he's benn going this year. That Cardiff final came close to clinching it for me. His form this year is remarkable. I don't see why Ivan should say he's the best. It's pure conjecture.

I had Ivan Mauger's autograph. It was an I followed by a line. Or, to put it another way, a right angle. I guess that's what you get for asking someone for their autograph while they're in the middle of talking to someone else.

Algerrie, My recording of the GP was fine. E-mail me your details if you still need a copy.

Hmmm. Inconclusive I'd say. Definite similarities though, but definite differences too.

I can't e-mail as you have no e-mail option set up. Send me one instead.

I thought it looked like 'Alan' although it could be John Davis as his looked a bit like that if I remember. I used to have loads of autographs around that time, but unfortunately I lost them at some point so I can't look.

Fingers crossed it came out then! Is +RW ok?

I should have a copy recorded on timer, all being well, but I won't know for sure until next Wednesday! If you still need a copy then, let me know.