The Bob Killer Kilby Book.

[steve roberts]

The FIM get a fee and that should be passed through to the respective countries. No idea what actually happens to that money.

GP series is by far my favourite speedway, though obviously my nearest track being 10+ hours flight away makes a difference there - if I was attending the NSS each week I'm sure the Aces would be my number one focus.

The GP series is though speedway as it should be- but agree there should be a better flow of income to federations and arguably riders as well.

It was a subject that John Berry used to continually raise regarding the lost revenue when once upon a time the one-off final held at Wembley the receipts were shared out amongst the tracks in Britain.

 

Once the GP series took hold that money was lost and absorbed elsewhere and the British promoters lost out.

[steve roberts]

I'm enjoying reading the book whilst on holiday in Whitby.

 

There's a few errors but overall a great insight and helps clear up a few questions during his time at Cowley.

 

Bob was of the old school...solid, dependable and a great advert for the sport.

[steve roberts]

I'm enjoying reading the book whilst on holiday in Whitby.

 

There's a few errors but overall a great insight and helps clear up a few questions during his time at Cowley.

 

Bob was of the old school...solid, dependable and a great advert for the sport.

The question of Bob returning to Swindon prior to the 1975 season raised an issue with the then Swindon promotion as regards attempting to avoid paying a fee for his services.

 

Initially Bob was allocated to Exeter in 1971 under the old Rider Control System that operated back then.

 

However Bob riding for Oxford was far more complex. Oxford had paid a fee (£1000 or thereabouts I recall) for Hackney's Garry Middleton prior to the 1972 season. Garry didn't want to ride for 'The Rebels' in 1973 and was prepared to sit the season out. Oxford eventually agreed a swap with Tony Lomas (Coventry) who had really desired a move to Exeter but moved to Cowley as exchange. He never settled to be fair and struggled at Oxford.

 

Ivan Mauger moved to Exeter in 1973 and this unsettled Bob and he ended up at Cowley with Tony going the opposite direction.

 

It was a triangular movement involving Garry, Tony and Bob and Oxford felt aggrieved that they stood to loose out on a transfer fee when Bob moved back to Blunsden having invested in their initial transaction...said Garry.

 

A complicated scenario but personally I felt that Oxford were hard done by in not receiving a fair fee for Bob as did the promoters at Cowley at the time.

Edited October 9, 2017 by steve roberts

[steve roberts]

The question of Bob returning to Swindon prior to the 1975 season raised an issue with the then Swindon promotion as regards attempting to avoid paying a fee for his services.

 

Initially Bob was allocated to Exeter in 1971 under the old Rider Control System that operated back then.

 

However Bob riding for Oxford was far more complex. Oxford had paid a fee (£1000 or thereabouts I recall) for Hackney's Garry Middleton prior to the 1972 season. Garry didn't want to ride for 'The Rebels' in 1973 and was prepared to sit the season out. Oxford eventually agreed a swap with Tony Lomas (Coventry) who had really desired a move to Exeter but moved to Cowley as exchange. He never settled to be fair and struggled at Oxford.

 

Ivan Mauger moved to Exeter in 1973 and this unsettled Bob and he ended up at Cowley with Tony going the opposite direction.

 

It was a triangular movement involving Garry, Tony and Bob and Oxford felt aggrieved that they stood to loose out on a transfer fee when Bob moved back to Blunsden having invested in their initial transaction...said Garry.

 

A complicated scenario but personally I felt that Oxford were hard done by in not receiving a fair fee for Bob as did the promoters at Cowley at the time.

What's very evident reading the book is how important it was having a local lad ride for your team...something, unfortunately, so too rare nowadays.

 

Bob was well known and respected around Swindon and came across as a thoroughly nice bloke.

 

Having read the book I feel that I know him better now and am glad that he put in two years at Cowley for which I am grateful.