steve roberts

I know that he presented ipswich's Tony Davey with a new bike prior to the 1978 Grande Prix Final at White City in 1978.

I recall Ivan Mauger appearing with his Gold Bike and on another occasion Larry Ross whilst a 'Don'.

Recall Oxford during their last Championship winning season (2001) riding at Ipswich in a 'double' header'...one was a league match in which, if I remember we drew therefore securing the championship (much to the annoyance of SKY whose cameras weren't present!) and a semi-final Knock Out Cup tie which resulted in a two point defeat and because of a poor home leg we weren't able to progress to the final. Talk about two high pressure fixtures back to back!

I remember painting all those sponsors logos on a Britain's Speedway Rider model to resemble Hans.

Remember Hans Nielsen at a pre-season practice session at Cowley wearing black leathers before his sponsor's logos were to be added. He later passed on a set to Oxford junior Phil Roberts who wore them for a couple of years before injury forced him to retire. Halifax's Tom Godel wearing a pair of Dag Lovaas's leathers with the name Dag removed. Ole Olsen's yellow and orange leathers (c1972) with the Wolves emblem incorporated within the design. His Danish leathers worn during the 1972 World Final.

Chris & Geoff Pusey c1973 with their polka dot creations. Chris basically blue and Geoff red. Also Peter Collins in his pastel coloured leathers (1974?) Always thought Ivan's Red, White & Black leathers were rather good representing his Canterbury (NZ) upbringing but also were 'The Aces' colours by chance...he wore them for many years. Robert Pfetzing's 'Five Flavours' variations. Bert Harkins' tarten mustard set of leathers. Reg Luckhurst's Golden Boots...before boots were covered over by leathers.

Yes the Sunday People who desperately tried to make a serial from it's initial 'head-line' hitting editorial!

The very first World Final there was alleged collusion between the eventual winner Lionel Van Pragg and Eric Langton (whose grave I recently visited) You only need to read articles in magazines and books to realise that speedway has been riddled with deals and favours. Nothing new really despite the 'shock and horror' observations! My uncle saw a deal being struck in the pits at Leicester many years ago involving World Class competitors and it was an episode highlighted in one of John Berry's books which I backed up in conservation with John at the time.

Remember those when he was a 'Cheetah'!

Some great memories there!

Without quoting all the exact details (I'm working on my model railway after having just walked the dog!) although I can lift a quote from the said book "I (Ermolenko) let Loram pass me around the outside and I stayed in second, with Billy in third behind me...Nielsen could only make the B Final , while Billy and I, Greg Hancock and Loram, we were all in the A Final..." He goes on to quote "...What I didn't realise was that Loram and Chris Louis, who were both in a similar situation to me, had their one little arrangement going. I got caught up in something that I didn't know about" It's an interesting chapter in his book and well worth a read...far too complicated to explain the whole scenaio but enlightening nevertheless as Sam explains that it went back were he felt that the Yanks had been screwed up during a World Pairs semi-final back in 1991.

There was 'collusion' during the 1996 GP Final round when Hans was 'ganged up upon' allowing Billy Hamill to become champion. Can't recall the exact scenario without checking the facts but Sam Ermolenko was involved as he explained in great detail in his book "Breaking The Limits"

Remember the occasion when Ivan wore different leathers each time he took to the track during Canterbury's celebration of 50 years of speedway in 1973!

Agree...Nielsen was regarded as the favourite from what I remember based on his British League record and other factors.

Apparently there was an item on the local Yorkshire news that follows the national news at 6-30pm last night. I didn't watch it as I can't abide it's presenter Harry Gration!