Sidney the robin

Great video and what a race that was between Mort/ Kenny there race in the 1983 NRC Hyde Rd was just as thrilling.

1980 was a lovely side and if Phil had of started the season we would of pushed hard that year.Steve you can relate to this because Oxford like Swindon had some weak teams over the years then to get the Hans/ era must of been a dream come true.For me the team winning did not matter having a regular feature in the team like Keen, Hitchy was brilliant the fans could relate to continuity having a hero.

Not a bad lot Doris, i never got to see George White which was a shame.Even though i kept going my enthusiasm for speedway wavered from 1990 until Crump (jnr) and Gollob got me enthused again.Today my enthusiasm is at a alltime low the sport never helps itself never looks to progress if Swindon or Oxford don’t operate i can’t see myself going much maybe take in the odd Torun/ Prague weekend.

That Wolves meeting was watched and deleted within two hours it was so boring Brennan/ Flint were the only bright spots.The sport is in huge trouble in the UK and there has to be debate and major changes come November/ December.Will it though ? NO a few rule changes trying to paper over the cracks and the show plods on.

I don’t think so? he did alot for Jan Andersson over the years very good with engines.When you look back Swindon really did have some poor teams 1983 has to be the worst but if never bothered me the winning bit.If you look back Doris you have seen Briggo, Broady, Kilb, Crash, Autrey ( 1980) Crumpie (snr) , Petersen, Nilsen, Crump ( jnr) Darcy , Doyley we have been very fortunate.

Still see him there sometimes Doris , i also got him to sign loads of stuff for me he was embarrassed don’t know why a real nice guy.When i look back Martin with Kilb, Crumpie and Leigh they were riders we all took for granted really they don’t come around that often Doyley now has joined them another great.

I think that run off with the great Willy in 1975 said it all Steve he should of been harder Bernie certainly was in 1972.? Ashby rarely gets mentioned but he was a terrific rider to watch every Saturday he had great skill.It saddened me how he was treated by Swindon in 1980 but he had the last laugh by winning the league and bonus with Reading that year.

It certainly was an art to be able to hold the line Steve, Martin Ashby at the Abbey was superb at this.If he didn’t gate he would bide his time drift out wide then cut underneath in one sweet motion it looked easy it was far from it though.Also with Davis with him he never seemed to go that great at Hyde Rd that puzzled me with his aquipment.

As Chunky said when Davis was good he was very very good my real memory of him though was his gating.It would be interesting to know how many races he lost when being in winning positions quite a few i would imagine he always seemed to eventually drift out wide and leave gaps.But he did maximise his ability and had a great career alot of riders would of bitten your arm off to have the career he had.

I see him win the Manpower meeting at Reading ( Penhall rode ) in 1978? he was good awesome that night .

Jack is in fine form at the moment , but if you look at his home form he has scored 1 point in three of his eight home meetings.Also i would say Poole have reserves and a second string that are always tough to keep at the back.If Jack has to have six rides for me that tells you that Birmingham are not going to win the meeting .

I think this could be a close affair and they might actually be better off on this occasion having R/R for Basso.Thomas, Cook, Hume, Nielsen are the key riders for me. Thomas has hit a nice vein of form recently but i recon Poole by four points or more will the heatleaders of Poole score 30 points between them.?

I see alot of him over the years and i never rated him, he was a good gater and he had top notch aquipment but he was never an elite rider.Also see him quite a bit at Reading and his team riding skills were non existent often on the best gates with the lesser team mate.

I often thought the result of the USA and Australian final meetings had a huge impact on the actual line up for the final.Both cut throat meetings Crump suffered badly from this Shawn Moran/ Sigalos were two others who suffered also Autrey in 1979 was hit hard through his dispute with the Authorities.

That sounds great in all seriousness though it has to be the Cheetahs Steve. And if Swindon don’t start and certain circumstances allow maybe a few Robins riders might get a place there in time.I personally don’t care who rides i will be there whatever level they ride at be great to see the track back up and running.

Yes please we have to embrace change Steve.

Yes i remember both the Golden Helmet meeting’s in 1976 Bob, Crash beat Simmo ( RIP) 2.0 in both the home and away legs.Also in the Swindon v Sheffield fixture crash beat the great Tommy Jansson 2.0 ( RIP) to force a decider at Cradley.. Tommy ended up winning it 2.1 great days, i remember getting Tommy’s autograph and him staying and riding in the second half..Remember those days well Bob, we rode Poole in the Champagne stakes and we had a few challenge matches as well with the league fixture so we got to see quite a bit of Poole in which invited good crowds.

Great post and agree with everything here, and yes at the time i was not happy with the one off final being kicked into touch.But I realise now it was the right thing to do and now i watch every GP do i enjoy every one of them NO.But being honest with myself i did see plenty of dross in yesteryear as well so nothing has really changed in that respect.Your point of entertaining riders is totally spot on, they have always been there, ( ie) a few come to mind Nigel B , Lofqvist, B.Thomas, Hitch, Gollob,( endless others as well).

I actually loved Oxford’s track shop a terrific shop on bend two so that is where i watched mainly got quite a bit of my memorabilia from there.My first time there i think was for the Individual champions meeting and in the Hans era we used to go in the brilliant new restaurant .This was a real eye opener for me after being used to the shabby saying that you always got a good meal in the restaurant at Swindon.Also in the window leading up to the restaurant Mick Kilby sold some of his photographs there were some of the best photographs i have ever seen.

Be great to go back to Cowley that could be my only speedway fix depending on Swindon of course.Fingers crossed that everything goes well for the new promotion maybe they could become part of one big league that has to happen soon.

You could say that about Tommy Price and Fred Williams but we all have a view.!,

A real talent Craven in a terrific era great rider looking back Ove but Barry did very well to win the titles he did the opposition was sublime really tough.

Surely you acknowledge that Peter was a superb talent i never see him ride but my uncle did on numerous occasions and he raved about him so that was good anough for me.Bartosz i love watching him ride but to mention those other guys ( eras apart ) not even worth considering great riders would adjust to any era in my view put the great Tom Farndon in that mix as well.

More spectacular than Briggo really ? and by the way they have 13 world titles between them hardly a bunch of also rans.

Will this meeting be on Birmingham radio.?