steve roberts

Looking forward in receiving my copy...looks to be of its usual high standard!

An Antti Pajari appeared in twelve meetings for the "Bees" in 1959. Does anyone know anything about him? What nationality was he and what happened to him? He only competed in the UK for the one season as far as I can make out.

...and quite emotional in places. Remember Bob especially during his two years as a "Rebel".

Couldn't agree more. I have nothing but happy memories of following the sport over a thirty plus year period. Met some great people on the terraces which also added to the occasion.

I've just re-read Bob Kilby's book written by his son, Lee, and their was real friendship between Bob and Jimmy Mac.

Blimey! Forgotten about Greg Dekok...he occasionally rode in second halves at Cowley.

...and I believe Ipswich loanee (?) Lawrie Bloomfield had a run out or two?

Coudn't agree more!

I have a great relationship with my postman/woman...always polite and leaves any small parcels in a designated area around the back if I'm not around.

Remember it well. Did the same duo achieve something similar at Mildenhall and Canterbury during the same season...viewed both with my cousin who was a "Diamonds" fan and we took in both matches.

Sorry mate...just got in from another fishing trip and feeling flustered! I was at that match also!

I was there!

Gordon Kennett scored a 21 point maximum and Kai Niemi 19 riding for Eastbourne (both from seven rides) at Swindon in 1980 but the "Eagles" still lost 46-62!

I had heard of that one.

Recall hair spray (?) on tyres being banned for indoor events that were all the craze back in the late seventies/early eighties.

Not as compact as the example given but White City did achieve something similar in 1976 at home to Hackney. Not including bonus points the scorers were Kennett on 8, Greer and Geer on 7, Lovaas on 6, Weatherley and Niemi on 5 and Gachet on 4.

Wasn't a bad team put together at very short notice...trouble is I can't remember if I went to said match or not! I had the best of both worlds watching the "Cheetahs" at Cowley in the National League and the "Rebels" at Wood Lane in the British League.

Must have been a "tyre" some procedure cutting them!

Seem to remember Gary Middleton accusing Ivan Mauger of using nitro at the 1972 (?) Wills Internationale but later withdrew the claim. Not sure when it was actually banned form domestic competition however.

Went fishing today.

That wouldn't surprise me!

Totally agree. I know that winning often requires some 'luck' or decisions that are maybe badly mis-judged by the official in charge but the Ermolenko incident was very clear and not open to interpretation.

I seem to remember reading that nitro was used by some riders and Ivan Mauger mentioned it in one of his books. It wasn't actually common practice but not banned as such until the early seventies (?). Vladimir Gordeev was stripped of his fourth placing in the 1971 World Final for using the stuff and sunsequently banned for a year.

Tyres have often proved a bane within speedway...recall so many instances whereby meetings were either held up or protests put in place due to the irregularities and/or confusion over various makes and their legality in the eyes of the authorities,

An interesting interview with Roy Trigg and, of course, that infamous incident with Garry Middleton and the gun...although Roy's version is slightly different to other versions I have read.