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Steve Gresham


steve roberts

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Would really like to read an interview with Steve Gresham. He was a complex character who upset many on track but apparently was a very different person off track? His views and comments, I'm sure, would make very interesting reading. Any comments?

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Would really like to read an interview with Steve Gresham. He was a complex character who upset many on track but apparently was a very different person off track? His views and comments, I'm sure, would make very interesting reading. Any comments?

That would be a very interesting read I think. :t:

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  • 2 months later...

Characters like Gresham are needed in the sport. As sales of Cadbury creme eggs have nosedived after the ingredients was changed, Speedway Star has discovered that reliving older stuff in their magazines is perhaps the only thing worth reading of what is a format designed for the modern-day. And it ain't SS fault either, as the characters of today are.... B-O-R-I-N-G!

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He is on Facebook cos I see the odd comment from him now and again........

 

RP

Yes I corresponded with him on Facebook some years back and I know that he was keen to do an interview for 'Backtrack' (any thoughts Tony Mac?) I'm sure his comments and observations would be interesting to say the very least!

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  • 1 month later...

Steve Gresham he held his own in the great England v USA tests,was very talented and I remember his partnership with Holloway with the Robins that was very good indeed.

If I recall 'The Mad Wellie' was the only one happy to ride with him?

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If I recall 'The Mad Wellie' was the only one happy to ride with him?

He wasn't sometimes Steve not at all ,they often had misunderstandings but who would argue with Steve.? Malc did say they got on well and he was a really nice bloke there partnership was decent.They beat the Collins/Grahame partnership a few times and for me those Cradley lads were one of the best partnerships ever.
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Have just read the interview with Steve in the latest 'Backtrack' edition. Proved interesting but I was left wanting to know more about him.

 

Steve, I think he revealed a lot. For example, I didn't realise the personal trauma he'd been through in 2004 - Steve mentioned that despite the fact it's understandably tough for him to talk about it.

 

I know you regard him as a arch-villain, but I found him as eloquent, intelligent and modest; someone more interested in talking about the future of the sport, than talking about himself.

 

One thing he was reluctant to do was to bad-mouth other riders e.g. regarding the incident with Briggo at Reading, what he wanted to point out was that they had bumped into each other in the last year or so and had talked things out.

 

Of particular interest, I felt, was his reasoning behind any trouble on-and-off track. He clearly had his own code, and if anyone went against that, then he wouldn't hesitate to stick up for himself.

 

A standard closing question is "Do you look back fondly on your speedway career?". Steve gave one of the most eloquent responses to this, explaining how it had shaped his subsequent life.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
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Steve, I think he revealed a lot. For example, I didn't realise the personal trauma he'd been through in 2004 - Steve mentioned that despite the fact it's understandably tough for him to talk about it.

 

I know you regard him as a arch-villain, but I found him as eloquent, intelligent and modest; someone more interested in talking about the future of the sport, than talking about himself.

 

One thing he was reluctant to do was to bad-mouth other riders e.g. regarding the incident with Briggo at Reading, what he wanted to point out was that they had bumped into each other in the last year or so and had talked things out.

 

Of particular interest, I felt, was his reasoning behind any trouble on-and-off track. He clearly had his own code, and if anyone went against that, then he wouldn't hesitate to stick up for himself.

 

A standard closing question is "Do you look back fondly on your speedway career?". Steve gave one of the most eloquent responses to this, explaining how it had shaped his subsequent life.

 

All the best

Rob

Funny thing is Rob with his reputation Steve is so misunderstood,a really nice guy speaks well and he was a very good rider should of achieved more.In the Tests for the USA he did great held his own easily and at that time was a great era for me.Also when Kelly died he was there and with the rest of the guys he was really liked good rider tough rider. Edited by Sidney the robin
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Steve, I think he revealed a lot. For example, I didn't realise the personal trauma he'd been through in 2004 - Steve mentioned that despite the fact it's understandably tough for him to talk about it.

 

I know you regard him as a arch-villain, but I found him as eloquent, intelligent and modest; someone more interested in talking about the future of the sport, than talking about himself.

 

One thing he was reluctant to do was to bad-mouth other riders e.g. regarding the incident with Briggo at Reading, what he wanted to point out was that they had bumped into each other in the last year or so and had talked things out.

 

Of particular interest, I felt, was his reasoning behind any trouble on-and-off track. He clearly had his own code, and if anyone went against that, then he wouldn't hesitate to stick up for himself.

 

A standard closing question is "Do you look back fondly on your speedway career?". Steve gave one of the most eloquent responses to this, explaining how it had shaped his subsequent life.

 

All the best

Rob

Hi Rob,

 

Granted and he's obviously mellowed a lot since his racing days and I never doubted his undoubted intelligence (I did communicate with him once regarding what I thought was some sort of feud between himself and Gordon Kennett). There is no getting away from the fact that he could be volatile (Bob Radford has been quoted same regarding Steve's influence in the pits for example) and others who knew him commented same (Didn't he once kick Ian Thomas in his privates?) His reputation, however misunderstood, did go before him! However good luck to him and I wish him well...and how we could do with characters like him in the sport now!

Edited by steve roberts
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Hi Rob,

 

Granted and he's obviously mellowed a lot since his racing days and I never doubted his undoubted intelligence (I did communicate with him once regarding what I thought was some sort of feud between himself and Gordon Kennett). There is no getting away from the fact that he could be volatile (Bob Radford has been quoted same regarding Steve's influence in the pits for example) and others who knew him commented same (Didn't he once kick Ian Thomas in his privates?) His reputation, however misunderstood, did go before him! However good luck to him and I wish him well...and how we could do with characters like him in the sport now!

 

Steve, there's no doubt that he was volatile (especially early in his career), and he admits himself that he had a reputation for events off the track. That's why it's interesting to hear his views on that subject.

 

And yes, the sport is in need of a few more characters these days. Agree totally with that sentiment.

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
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One of those riders who if he rode for your team was a 'good, hard rider' and if he rode for the opposition was a 'nutter, dangerous, loudmouth' (delete as appropriate!). Definitely a character though and someone the sport could do with right now.

 

Sorry to read about his personal tragedy as well.

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Can't wait to receive my copy...obviously my favourite rider.

 

So many fond memories watching whilst at Bristol and Swindon.

 

I was very lucky as a boy, to be able to watch a lot of the goings on from the pits at Eastville. Father was friends with someone who worked on the pits gate...and he used to let me sneak in. Never got asked to leave...and would often listen to conversations being made.

 

Just wish I'd been older, as a lot of it went over my head...but I can recollect a lot of arguments about not being paid money.

 

Still cherish the autograph book from those days...pretty much got every rider that rode at Eastville during 77/78. Some real legends.

 

My father often had long conversations with John Scott the USA team manager...he had nothing but good words to say about Steve.

 

He was always really nice to me as a lad and gave up of his time to always chat. Very fond memories....

Edited by Gresham
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