steve roberts Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 Interesting article in the latest 'Backtrack' magazine where Dag Lovaas has put his support to the saving of Oxford Stadium "When I came to England, Oxford soon became my favourite track. I always wanted to ride for Oxford and I worked hard to get a place with the Rebels. In 1975 my wish came true and I was more than happy, the fans were great, the place had a great atmosphere, and the location was perfect. I have such good memories from Oxford; I broke a long standing track record, Oxford won their first trophy in over 10 years, it was a definite high point in my career. I hope the stadium will be saved, I'll be there for sure at the first meeting - the stadium holds so many memories". Let's hope that his wish may become a reality! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted June 11, 2016 Report Share Posted June 11, 2016 Interesting article in the latest 'Backtrack' magazine where Dag Lovaas has put his support to the saving of Oxford Stadium "When I came to England, Oxford soon became my favourite track. I always wanted to ride for Oxford and I worked hard to get a place with the Rebels. In 1975 my wish came true and I was more than happy, the fans were great, the place had a great atmosphere, and the location was perfect. I have such good memories from Oxford; I broke a long standing track record, Oxford won their first trophy in over 10 years, it was a definite high point in my career. I hope the stadium will be saved, I'll be there for sure at the first meeting - the stadium holds so many memories". Let's hope that his wish may become a reality! He of course played a vital role in the Rbels' title success at White City in 1977. The first rider to help win a title through being absent all year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) He of course played a vital role in the Rbels' title success at White City in 1977. The first rider to help win a title through being absent all year True however I recall both Hackney and Hull having similar dispensations that season...'The Rebels' won having a better all round team and a shrewd use of their loanees (Mike Sampson and Dave Kennett) after the early unfortunate injury to Paul Gachet. It must also be remembered that White City released Richard Greer, who had put in a transfer request, to a weak Birmingham side (who had received very little assistance the season previously after their elevation to the British League) before it was known that Dag wouldn't re-appear. Edited June 12, 2016 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 'The Rebels' won having a better all round team and a shrewd use of their loanees (Mike Sampson and Dave Kennett) after the early unfortunate injury to Paul Gachet. The 'Rebels' won because the Rider Control Ctte confiscated Boley Proch from Reading....we wuz robbed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 True however I recall both Hackney and Hull having similar dispensations that season...'The Rebels' won having a better all round team and a shrewd use of their loanees (Mike Sampson and Dave Kennett) after the early unfortunate injury to Paul Gachet. It must also be remembered that White City released Richard Greer, who had put in a transfer request, to a weak Birmingham side (who had received very little assistance the season previously after their elevation to the British League) before it was known that Dag wouldn't re-appear. There's no doubt they were a good side and a wonderful endorsement of Oxford's involvement with Eastbourne and Peterborough but r/r all year was stretching a point. Who did Hackney have a facility for? Anyway, think of White City reminds me of the day they hired some dancers to perform for the crowd on top of a couple of tote kiosks. All was well until Messrs. Dugard and Dunton joined in! Time for my medication... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) There's no doubt they were a good side and a wonderful endorsement of Oxford's involvement with Eastbourne and Peterborough but r/r all year was stretching a point. Who did Hackney have a facility for? Anyway, think of White City reminds me of the day they hired some dancers to perform for the crowd on top of a couple of tote kiosks. All was well until Messrs. Dugard and Dunton joined in! Time for my medication... I'm sure that it was for Zenon Plech? But as I said both Hackney and Hull had a long season facility but came no where near winning the title that season so White City were not alone in that respect...they just adapted better! Trying to forget the Belly Dancers! Edited June 12, 2016 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 Hackney should have had, firstly, Zenon Plech and then his replacement Jerzy Rembas (I think). Neither showed, hence the RR facility. They also lost top man Dave Morton to injury early on in the season, so ran with guests most of the year. As for Hull, only thing I can think off is Briggo had finished at the end of '76 and they hadn't replaced him! But they ran practically all year with McMillan, Beaton, Drury, Owen, Caruso and Auffret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 (edited) Hackney should have had, firstly, Zenon Plech and then his replacement Jerzy Rembas (I think). Neither showed, hence the RR facility. They also lost top man Dave Morton to injury early on in the season, so ran with guests most of the year. As for Hull, only thing I can think off is Briggo had finished at the end of '76 and they hadn't replaced him! But they ran practically all year with McMillan, Beaton, Drury, Owen, Caruso and Auffret. Hackney were able to book guests at Morton's higher 1976 average which enabled them to book in guests such as Peter Collins as a replacement. His 1977 average was somewhat lower (he hadn't ridden the required qualifying matches) prior to his injury than his previous season's average. Hull operated R/R for the 'declared' Egon Muller who rode in a few matches for 'The Vikings' in 1976 but didn't put in an appearance during the whole of the 1977 season and they were, therefore, granted a facility in his absence. I do feel that 'The Rebels' achievements that year are somewhat overlooked considering that other teams had a fair crack of the compensation pie as mentioned above. White City had a very competent team lead by Gordon Kennett with Marek Cieslak, Kai Niemi, Steve Weatherley and Trevor Geer. The unfortunate Paul Gachet picked up a severely broken ankle and never rode again that season which is often overlooked when analysing their achievements however the use, as cover, of Mike Sampson and Dave Kennett proved inspirational. Edited June 12, 2016 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shale Searcher Posted June 12, 2016 Report Share Posted June 12, 2016 The 'Rebels' won because the Rider Control Ctte confiscated Boley Proch from Reading....we wuz robbed! Did Boley end up at Leicester that season...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Did Boley end up at Leicester that season...? I seem to recall that Proch ended up at Leicester and Doug Underwood went to Reading? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobnob Smith Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Dag Lovaas real nice guy and so smooth on a bike loved watching him ride for Oxford Rebels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerblade Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 As for Hull, only thing I can think off is Briggo had finished at the end of '76 and they hadn't replaced him! But they ran practically all year with McMillan, Beaton, Drury, Owen, Caruso and Auffret. Jimmy Mac was riding for Wolverhampton in 1977, but the rest certainly were the nucleus of the Vikings, Graham Drury finished as No. 1 IIRC. Looking back now, it does all seem a total farce, but then again there were a lot more teams, hence lesser availability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Jimmy Mac was riding for Wolverhampton in 1977, but the rest certainly were the nucleus of the Vikings, Graham Drury finished as No. 1 IIRC. Looking back now, it does all seem a total farce, but then again there were a lot more teams, hence lesser availability. To be fair to Hackney, they were being messed about by the PZM who delayed and then refused Zenon Plech start permission and then his intended replacement, Jerzy Rembas. Back then we put the PZM's awkwardness down to the country being Communist. Sadly recent history has proved that it lay far deeper than that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted June 13, 2016 Report Share Posted June 13, 2016 Jimmy Mac was riding for Wolverhampton in 1977, but the rest certainly were the nucleus of the Vikings, Graham Drury finished as No. 1 IIRC. Looking back now, it does all seem a total farce, but then again there were a lot more teams, hence lesser availability. My mistake. I should have known Jimmy Mac had gone over to the dark side by then. Mitch Graham was the other Viking. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerblade Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 To be fair to Hackney, they were being messed about by the PZM who delayed and then refused Zenon Plech start permission and then his intended replacement, Jerzy Rembas. Back then we put the PZM's awkwardness down to the country being Communist. Sadly recent history has proved that it lay far deeper than that! Now having the hindsight of his Leicester (not his World Final!) performances a season later, they probably dodged a bullet with Rembas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 Now having the hindsight of his Leicester (not his World Final!) performances a season later, they probably dodged a bullet with Rembas! Probably so, but the PZM contributed to a shocking season at the Wick. I'd moved tom the midlands that year and went back on the Cradley coach - 25-53 home defeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnieg Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 Probably so, but the PZM contributed to a shocking season at the Wick. I'd moved tom the midlands that year and went back on the Cradley coach - 25-53 home defeat. It says something about the speedway community that you can do that. In 1983 I was in a similar position as a Reading supporter exiled in Leicester and travelled from Smallmead back home on a Leicester coach. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 Interesting article in the latest 'Backtrack' magazine where Dag Lovaas has put his support to the saving of Oxford Stadium "When I came to England, Oxford soon became my favourite track. I always wanted to ride for Oxford and I worked hard to get a place with the Rebels. In 1975 my wish came true and I was more than happy, the fans were great, the place had a great atmosphere, and the location was perfect. I have such good memories from Oxford; I broke a long standing track record, Oxford won their first trophy in over 10 years, it was a definite high point in my career. I hope the stadium will be saved, I'll be there for sure at the first meeting - the stadium holds so many memories". Let's hope that his wish may become a reality! Dag Lovass must have been the last top rider to use a JAP ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 (edited) It says something about the speedway community that you can do that. In 1983 I was in a similar position as a Reading supporter exiled in Leicester and travelled from Smallmead back home on a Leicester coach. Well I was a Rye House fan so well off the Heathens' radar ;-). I'll never forget a trip to Swindon with the cries of "When the red red robin goes bob bob bobbing along.....shoot the b........, shot the b........, kill kill KILL!" And that was only on the coach. Edited June 15, 2016 by rmc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Tyrrell Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 (edited) Hi Steve Roberts, long time no see! You wouldn't know, living in York, that the Dag Lovaas page in the Backtrack to which you refer has been one of a series of full page adverts that have appeared in the Oxford Mail over recent months, sponsored by local companies. Spencer Timmo has been very prominent in doing this along with others associated with the Save Oxford Stadium project. The pages have created a lot of interest for local speedway fans with Hans Nielsen featured in one of them, the Isle of Wight team in another and a page featuring all the Oxford race jacket designs from 1949, amongst others. The Mail claims an over 58,000 circulation but we're having to be very patient for any decisive news. Edited June 15, 2016 by Richard Tyrrell 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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