steve roberts

One of the worse crashes I saw at Cowley was when 'Joe' Gooddy's bike stalled down the back straight. Bobby Beaton was following closely and couldn't avoid him and went over the fence. We were fearing the worse but Bobby was up and riding at Glasgow's next meeting. Tough breed these speedway riders!

I'm not sure Sid...although I think I'm right in saying that Hans had a perfect away average of 12 during "The Cheetahs" all conquering year of 1986 when only the weather managed to beat us!

Being smuggled into Britain after the 1975 World Team Cup Final to ride in a few fixtures for Hackney.

There was an article about Bryan in an edition of "Backtrack" some years back.

Astonishing!

Many thanks...fascinating stats!

Any chance Michael Lee and Simon Wigg please?

Blimey! Obviously the cut-out didn't cut-out!

I missed that match as I was on holiday taking in a meeting at Eastbourne.

Forgotten how narrow the Poole track once was.

I can only assume Sid that Bob Dugard was a good promoter to ride for and he did treat his riders with respect. When Gordon eventually moved on in 1983 to King's Lynn I think he regretted it and the following year when riding for Wimbledon his form tailed off (despite a superb 13 points taken at Cowley and beating Hans in the process). It was therefore no surprise that he then dropped down a league and returned to his spiritual home. A great servant.

Mine arrived this morning and interesting, if a little devoid in content, but full marks to all those involved.

I felt that Gordon should have gone to Swindon when White City closed rather than moving back to Eastbourne but I guess that it was his comfort zone?

His brother, Andy, didn't even bother travelling to Munich in 1989 when he was down as a reserve!

I remember reading an article about Peter Collins and he said that during one period during the seventies he rode over a three week period something like 19 meetings or something similar and that wasn't uncommon he stated?

...and, of course, it was always said that to become World Champion one had to compete in Britain (despite a couple of exceptions!) regularly riding against the best and even Egon Muller took up the chance (1976) so as to tune himself up for the forthcoming World Final before disappearing...but as I say it's all pretty academic and the 'goal posts' were moved many years ago now with different criteria at play.

Also one needs to remember that some riders were riding 3 -4 times a week in Britain in what was a pretty comprehensive fixture list unlike today.

They were all taking rich pickings on the continent on Sundays as well as fullfilling British League engagements but it's all pretty academic really.

The first time I saw Hans at Hyde Road was in 1984 and I have to say he had difficulty in keeping either Peter Collins or Chris Morton behind him but when I next saw him there he was a master of the track riding all the lines.

Yes Martin admitted that he should have been more ruthless but I guess that wasn't in his nature...although he was more than annoyed with John Louis not only at this meeting but during the second half event of the World Team Cup at Norden when Louis hung him up on the fence. Martin took great delight in passing him and then both Simmons and Collins to win the race! Probably Martin's greatest meeting on the International stage. Vastly under-rated rider although I'm not sure by the "Budgie" faithful!

Yes thanks...I ordered it a few days ago and awaiting delivery.

I also liked visits to Plough Lane...the stadium just oozed atmosphere. Mike Bennett never lasted at Cowley and he has bitter memories of his time spent there.

It was a favourite of Martin Ashby...another southern "softie"!

That's an interesting observation? I saw lots of Gordon at Eastbourne, Oxford and White City (as well as on many other tracks) and he was a tough competitor but dirty I'm not so sure...although he and Steve Gresham had some "interesting" encounters but so did many with Gresham!

...or indeed English Team Managers during the seventies and eighties. Whether it was Len Silver, John Berry, Eric Boocock or Ian Thomas the make-up of English teams did, on occasions, show some bias between Northern and Southern based riders.