steve roberts

Having read interviews with Peter down the years he makes a case that he could have well won three on the trot. !975 when some idiot was let loose with a hose at Wembley...1978 is a bit more debatable as he didn't qualify for the Final having missed out at the British Final (Iwas there cheering on Gordon Kennett!) when his fuel was allegedly tampered with...great thing discussing speedway. Full of 'ifs' and 'buts'.

Fair comments Sid. I base Collins higher due to his involvement in many of England's successes at Pairs and Team levels during the seventies. I saw Lee's first England cap at White City when England took on the Rest of the World...how things have changed that no one nation could stand up to England back then!

I recall many years ago now when he was riding for Poole and he came up to the third bend terracing to chat to some Poole fans (he wasn't riding as he was injured if I remember) and in front of the Cowley faithfull began slagging us off! As you can imagine the reaction he got!

Both excellent reads too!

Svein was a member of 'The Rebels' at Cowley during my first season spectating. I was quite affected by his death although he had moved on from Oxford by then. May he RIP and will always be remembered.

From the riders I have seen from that list my list would be: 1. Collins 2. Lee 3. Loram. 4. Havelock...of those that I didn't see the one rider I wish I had was Peter Craven. Anybody who could circumnavigate Cowley at 63 secs when the average time during that period was 67 secs had to be someone special.

Presumeably one would be wearing a white helmet colour and the other yellow?

I knew what you were implying...a case of some being pedantic in their observations. If I come across the book on the shelf I may well flick thru' it before deciding whether to buy or not.

I did put the question to Martin Rogers because I feel that John could have made a difference but unfortunately he didn't get the backing he desired and therefore felt that he had no other option but to resign the position...much to the detriment of British speedway in my view.

Something that John Berry used to bang on about!

...and a gentleman.

There was no better exponent pulling wheelies than Hans Nielsen (I recall that he fell off once however!) however Erik Gundersen confessed that he wasn't very good at them...Bobby Schwartz was another who admitted that it was beyond him.

Didn't know that...thanks!

The clip used to appear on the beginning credits of "Screensport"...taken from 1987 if I remember?

Do you remember the occasion Sid when Tommy pulled a celebratory wheelie at Swindon and fell off the back of his machine and got up and bowed to the crowd?

Is it worth a read?

I recall an interview with Olsen some years ago in "Backtrack" and Knudesn didn't make great strides to ask for Ole's advice and guidance after he retired hence one reason he picked up with Gundersen.

I think I saw Erik ride in his last competive meeting at Cowley during the second leg of the Gold Cup Final just days before that dreadful Sunday.

Garry Middleton did a similar thing to Briggo's engine...when Briggo caught him red handed!

Ian Thomas in his book "Wheels and Deals" mentions that it happened once at Workington when the two away riders were excluded for offences and during the re-run he informed his riders not to take any chances...only to be excluded by the referee for not making a 'bona fide' attempt to race resulting in a heat score of 0-0.

Yes, Sid, John Davis was very complimentary of him in an interview he gave in "Backtrack" some years ago. Len Silver was very distressed over Jack's tragic end and thought very highly of him.

...and I guess Preben Eriksen would be another at Plough Lane after his 'tangle' with Kelvin Tatum at Wolves. Apparently Eriksen was targeted by some members of the 'Dons' team during the return at Wimbledon.

Back on the subject in hand one rider who was unpopular at Cowley was the late Les Owen who was involved in a nasty crash with Arne Pander resulting in the 'Great Dane' suffering a fractured skull.

I've just sent you an email!

Yes I think Shawn had the same reservations.