Sidney the robin Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 Svein Kaasa was the first rider i knew of who died as a result of a track crash. He started the 1972 season at Oxford but was soon replaced by Preben Rosenkilde and eventually signed for Glasgow where he was showing promising form before his death. I was quite shocked by the news I remember and in my present job portraying a Viking I have adopted his name (Svein) in memory of him.Thinking back Svein ( because Martin was involved) and Geoff Curtis were the first i can remember passing Geoff i believe would of gone on to good things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 (edited) Thinking back Svein ( because Martin was involved) and Geoff Curtis were the first i can remember passing Geoff i believe would of gone on to good things. You're right Sid and I remember Norman Hunter saying that he saw the poor lad fighting for his life in the changing room with the doctor trying all he could to revive him. As regards Geoff he used to live not far from me and it was strongly rumoured that he was about to join 'The Rebels' for the 1974 season. His protege Alan Sorensen rode a few second halves at Cowley and, I believe, Swindon that season. Edited May 1, 2017 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 (edited) You're right Sid and I remember Norman Hunter saying that he saw the poor lad fighting for his life in the changing room with the doctor trying all he could to revive him. As regards Geoff he used to live not far from me and it was strongly rumoured that he was about to join 'The Rebels' for the 1974 season. His protege Alan Sorensen rode a few second halves at Cowley and, I believe, Swindon that season. i You're right Sid and I remember Norman Hunter saying that he saw the poor lad fighting for his life in the changing room with the doctor trying all he could to revive him. As regards Geoff he used to live not far from me and it was strongly rumoured that he was about to join 'The Rebels' for the 1974 season. His protege Alan Sorensen rode a few second halves at Cowley and, I believe, Swindon that season. I remember Alan Sorensen along with other juniors around that time Bobo Valentine, Billy Wall, Martin Hitch and later in 75 Melvin Soffe.Can you remember John Bishop having a spell with you 69/70 maybe? i went for a few meetings in 73/74 when Kilb joined you i was a big fan went to that big individual meeting there a few years was it the Supporters club trophy.? Edited May 1, 2017 by Sidney the robin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 iI remember Alan Sorensen along with other juniors around that time Bobo Valentine, Billy Wall, Martin Hitch and later in 75 Melvin Soffe.Can you remember John Bishop having a spell with you 69/70 maybe? i went for a few meetings in 73/74 when Kilb joined you i was a big fan went to that big individual meeting there a few years was it the Supporters club trophy.? Yes I well remember my brother coming home from meetings and talking about John Bishop...just before my time! I recall Melvin Soffe together with Kevin Pope...I think Billy Wall was actually born in Oxford? The big Individual meeting at Cowley used to be 'The Champions Trophy'...prize money of £100! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 Yes I well remember my brother coming home from meetings and talking about John Bishop...just before my time! I recall Melvin Soffe together with Kevin Pope...I think Billy Wall was actually born in Oxford? The big Individual meeting at Cowley used to be 'The Champions Trophy'...prize money of £100! Kevin Pope, Malc Holloway, Richard Evans, Kevin Young had some real old ding dongs in the second halves.I never ever in my wildest dreams thought Malc would achieve what he did but thinking now in a way he underachieved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 Kevin Pope, Malc Holloway, Richard Evans, Kevin Young had some real old ding dongs in the second halves.I never ever in my wildest dreams thought Malc would achieve what he did but thinking now in a way he underachieved. Kevin Young showed some promise when with Oxford but was sacked when he missed a meeting to ride at/for Swindon during a second half if I remember? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 (edited) Kevin Young showed some promise when with Oxford but was sacked when he missed a meeting to ride at/for Swindon during a second half if I remember?I thought he was on loan to Oxford like Malc ? was he not a Swindon asset.? Edited May 1, 2017 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 The big Individual meeting at Cowley used to be 'The Champions Trophy'...prize money of £100! I have no idea in what seasons 'The Champions Trophy' was contested with its £100 prize money. But remember spending differentials have changed over the years. If the event was staged in 1970 for example, its spending value was equal to £1,512 in today's terms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 (edited) I have no idea in what seasons 'The Champions Trophy' was contested with its £100 prize money. But remember spending differentials have changed over the years. If the event was staged in 1970 for example, its spending value was equal to £1,512 in today's terms.I think 1969/75 were the years not sure Steve will correct me. Edited May 1, 2017 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobMcCaffery Posted May 1, 2017 Report Share Posted May 1, 2017 Back in 1982 the Speedway Star asked me to contribute my first match report - a match between Hackney and Reading. Tragically it was the night that Denny Pyeatt lost his life at Waterden Road. I wish I could forget the memory. Thankfully Dave Welch was around and he very kindly submitted the report for me. A few years earlier my wife had been chatting to a rider in the pits at Hackney just before he went out for his next race. It was Vic Harding..... This can be such a viciously cruel sport. Another very sad connection is that Kevin Holden was in the first match I ever saw, Rayleigh v Romford in June 1971. Thankfully the sport has given me so many wonderful memories over the years but .....well, you know.... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 I thought he was on loan to Oxford like Malc ? was he not a Swindon asset.? Yes you are correct Sid...however Kevin was contracted to ride for Oxford (that was the loan agreement for seasons 1976 & 77) but choose to miss a match that he was contracted to ride in preferring to ride for his parent team instead therefore breaking the agreement (I think that it was only for a second half ride but may be wrong...memory and all that!) I think 1969/75 were the years not sure Steve will correct me. I certainly recall the Champions Trophy being held at Cowley between 1973 and 1975. The £100 placed on the 1973 event was a winner take all I recall...which was a fair amount of money back then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 (edited) The big Individual meeting at Cowley used to be 'The Champions Trophy'...prize money of £100! I have no idea in what seasons 'The Champions Trophy' was contested with its £100 prize money. But remember spending differentials have changed over the years. If the event was staged in 1970 for example, its spending value was equal to £1,512 in today's terms. I think 1969/75 were the years not sure Steve will correct me. I certainly recall the Champions Trophy being held at Cowley between 1973 and 1975. The £100 placed on the 1973 event was a winner take all I recall...which was a fair amount of money back then! Comparisons for the spending power of £100 compared to the present are: 1973 = £845.56 1974 = £726.86 1975 = £586.50 :::: I assume that the massive drop in value of £100 in successive years was due to the rapid increase in inflation? Edited May 2, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 Yes you are correct Sid...however Kevin was contracted to ride for Oxford (that was the loan agreement for seasons 1976 & 77) but choose to miss a match that he was contracted to ride in preferring to ride for his parent team instead therefore breaking the agreement (I think that it was only for a second half ride but may be wrong...memory and all that!) I certainly recall the Champions Trophy being held at Cowley between 1973 and 1975. The £100 placed on the 1973 event was a winner take all I recall...which was a fair amount of money back then! Had a look back the two programmes i had and went to were 1974/75 -ROLL OF HONOUR 1969/( The Champions Trophy.)1.Briggs 2.Olsen 3.Persson. 1970. 1.Michanek. 2.Briggs 3.Olsen. 1971/no meeting. 1972./ no meeting. 1973. 1. Betts. 2.Olsen 3.Holmqvist. for a winner take all 100 pound. 1974.100 pound prize money. 1.Olsen. 2.Collins. 3. Ashby. the last one- 1975. The Wally Searl 100 pound Champions trophy. 1.Crump. 2.Eide. 3. Autrey. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 Had a look back the two programmes i had and went to were 1974/75 -ROLL OF HONOUR 1969/( The Champions Trophy.)1.Briggs 2.Olsen 3.Persson. 1970. 1.Michanek. 2.Briggs 3.Olsen. 1971/no meeting. 1972./ no meeting. 1973. 1. Betts. 2.Olsen 3.Holmqvist. for a winner take all 100 pound. 1974.100 pound prize money. 1.Olsen. 2.Collins. 3. Ashby. the last one- 1975. The Wally Searl 100 pound Champions trophy. 1.Crump. 2.Eide. 3. Autrey. Thanks Sid for that! Forgot about Wally Searl...I seem to recall he was Trevor Geer's main sponsor also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 Thanks Sid for that! Forgot about Wally Searl...I seem to recall he was Trevor Geer's main sponsor also.Didnt realise looking back how many WC qualifying rounds there were loads certainly at Oxford and Swindon.But the good thing was some of the rounds looked weak but you always had at least four stars in each ie Briggs Middleton, Ashby, Kilby, Wilson the crowds always held up.And there was still a chance for the underdog to compete something that is missing today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 (edited) Sadly, it looks as though the original debate re Kevin Holden has now been forgotten? As happens so often these days we now have "...a debate within a debate..." of something completely unrelated to the OP? As I see it the unrelated topic is interesting and deserving of a thread of its own rather than being lost in a completely unrelated subject. Edited May 3, 2017 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 2, 2017 Report Share Posted May 2, 2017 Didnt realise looking back how many WC qualifying rounds there were loads certainly at Oxford and Swindon.But the good thing was some of the rounds looked weak but you always had at least four stars in each ie Briggs Middleton, Ashby, Kilby, Wilson the crowds always held up.And there was still a chance for the underdog to compete something that is missing today. ...plus, of course, the Midland Riders Championship rounds and Final. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 3, 2017 Report Share Posted May 3, 2017 For those Posters still interested in the Kevin Holden tragedy, the topic was also debated previously at http://www.speedway-...showtopic=33636 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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