steve roberts

There was a time when riders remained with one club and served their whole careers riding for same. Some that instantly come to mind are Peter Collins, Erik Gundersen, Tommy Knudsen, Tony Davey, Rick Timmo, Mike Keen...plus many others.

At Oxford we got see a 15 year old Michael Lee take on Colin Richardson in a series of interval match races.

In the British league it was 1984 (not sure about the National League). In 1985 a Junior League replaced the old second half set up which was an admirable idea producing a number of riders of differing talents. However I personally preferred the old tried and tested system which gave riders an opportunity to test their abilities against full team members. There is an opinion that some riders 'bunked off' riding in the second half and although that was sometimes true it wasn't as common as some would suggest...certainly not during my years of following speedway. When the old second half came to an end it also drew negative views from many riders (Phil Crump and Keith Bloxsome...two riders from opposite ends of the speedway hierarchy...for example) I did put the question to Martin Rogers a couple of years ago and his reply in "Backtrack" was most informative and generally he was in favour of the old system. I remember when Oxford Promoter, Chris Shears, re-intoduced an old fashion second half after one meeting in 1995 and it proved popular with the fans however he was ostrasised by fellow promoters and was forced to dis-continue the initiative.

Gutsy Gordon Kennett!

Yes a great side made up of local discoveries...very different to today and perhaps that's where speedway started to go wrong?

Yes I remember now. Dan McCormick was a bit of a "huff and puff" type manager (we had him at Oxford too) and despite changing Cradley's image he fell foul when he took on the "Brummies" and was forced to relinquish his position at Dudley Wood I seem to recall...and how Stevie B must have felt eventually moving to Swindon.

If I recall their collective team average was too high and they off loaded Bobby Schwartz to Reading prior to the 1980 season and complicated things when they signed Ila Teromaa and had to declare two juniors at reserve?

Great article in the latest "Backtrack" magazine listing the riders who rode in second halves at Cowley during the 70's & 80's. Some fabulous names to conjour with and I, for one, used to enjoy the second halves and the opportunities and experience gained by riders during that era.

Mark is an Essex lad born in Braintree but the family moved north which is why I guess he made his name with the likes of Barrow, Workington and Middlesborough before eventually joining Rye House which is obviously much nearer to his place of birth.

Just reading thru' mine...brilliant as usual. The Oxford featured second halves particularly of interest to me. The amount of talent that took part in second halves at Cowley during the period covered really highlights how second halves at Oxford were keenly contested. Great days!

Yes the days of individual identifiable leathers!

Long time since I've seen the video but surely no one would believe that Stancl was a serious threat to Penhall..just keeping out of his way perhaps which was common practice in important meetings. Recall Michanek not wishing to 'mess up' Malcolm Simmons during the 1976 Final.

I would have to agree. The 70's were a bit special...speedway's last "Golden Era". I enjoyed watching my teams the "Rebels" at Oxford and White City and the incoming talent from our sister clubs at Eastbourne and Peterborough. Plus the "Cheetahs" in the National League. I had the best of both worlds watching both British League and National League encounters...great days!

I would very much like to read an interview with Coventry stalwart Tommy Knudsen...especially his view regarding the clash with Hans Nielsen during the 1986 World Final. Any chance Tony?

Personally I thought that the Cradley team of 1979 was a bit special?

Issue 92 which featured Chris & John Louis on the cover.

My views on the Sunday People's allegations are well documented but I would seriously recommend reading Martin Rogers' answer to my question in "Backtrack". It proved to be very enlightening.

Don't recall that one? Was he part of the Jiri Stancl conspiracy which 'allegedly' enabled Bruce Penhall to win an important race untroubled? Apparently Martin Rogers may well touch upon the Sunday People article after I put a question to him in an edition of "Backtrack" a couple of years ago.

On one memorable night he scored paid 14 points at Cowley with Weymouth but generally he wasn't a success on the south coast. A great thrill merchant in his day and I know that it irked his brother Geoff that Chris' name wasn't mention during a Belle Vue reunion some years ago.

Chris was going great guns in 1973 (ten plus avearge) but a badly broken arm he recieved in Poland (?) finished his season. He never reached those same heights again and eventually moved to Halifax. Badly effected by great mate Alan Wilkinson's injury and he later developed an alcohol problem but I think that was after he finished riding. Died far too young. Personally I was always suspicious of Peter Ravn's antics on track on occasions. Remember one in particular during an Intercontinental Final when he failed to leave the track after a mechanical breakdown which resulted in Neil Evitts collecting him on the next lap.

I thnk that it was 1988?

I'd always go with the "Aces" of 1972...my first year going to speedway. Also what has to be admired was that the Belle Vue team was basically home grown except for Ivan of course. Soren Sjosten, despite being Swedish, was brought up at Hyde Road and spent many successful years there until moving on in 1976 when his career started to go downhill quite quickly due to off track issues.

Steve McDermott?

I know that Crewe was part of the Allied Presentations Group which Len Silver was one of the five so I guess a move to Len's track, Hackney, seemed the obvious one. When Dave suffered his broken leg and wanted away he became somewhat of a pawn and was involved in a deal with Wolves which took Finn Thomsen in the opposite direction. Dave was never totally happy at Monmore Green and when the chance came to join Sheffield arose he jumped at it as it was one of his favourite tracks. I can't recall reading anything in Mort's book about not riding for Belle Vue as it would have been the obvious track considering his background and boyhood friendship with many that did.

...and the "Rebels" claimed 1977!