steve roberts

Thereby lies one of the major problems with speedway. Bikes have been allowed to become more powerful, and some would argue, less easy to handle on tracks that have barely changed...albeit fences have improved with the removal of poles and air fencing installed. I spoke to Peter Collins once and asked him what had changed most in the sport during his time and after and his answer was that the bikes had become too powerful on tracks that were no longer designed for such speeds. Four valves were the start of the decline but lay down engines, link forks etc have taken it to another level and who knows what next development lays in store. The engine tuners must be laughing!

Yes I was at Poole (one of Terry's least favourite tracks) when he broke it.

...like Simmo or apparently Coventry during the Olsen years!

The winter of 1992 was the beginning of the end for me (started going in 1972) really although I continued to attend mostly home meetings until 2003. The supposed pay structure was introduced for the 1993 season and the promotion at Oxford felt that they couldn't offer Hans what he felt he was worth within the pay 'restraints'...he eventually moved to Coventry who were able to meet his demands with improved sponsorship etc. Funny how the promotion at Coventry were able to meet his demands? Personally I felt that Hans was made a scapegoat by the then Oxford Promotion (Northern Sports and Kevin Hedderley in particular) as their other business interests were struggling and Cowley suffered accordingly.

Remember the issue with Joe Owen...ultimately (together with certain riders non-appearances at Wimbledon) cost Hull the Championship that year...much to Ivan Mauger's anger!

Agree with that except, personally I never had a problem with Tactical Rides...only the double joker thingee! It gave us on the terraces something to debate and chew over trying to pre-empt the Team Manager's next move! For those who like Play-Offs re-introduce the Knock Out Cup. One of the most talked about meetings at Cowley was the 1985 Knock Out Cup Final against Ipswich. Allow Team Managers to put whoever they wish (except reserves) at whatever number in the team for tactical purposes. Scrap fixed gates. Go back to alternate gates. Looking at those proposals I've noticed that's how speedway used to be like when attendances were healthy...oh never mind! Living in the past again!

I was there Sid! Remember Dennis' maximum but wasn't aware that he and 'Kilb' never met during the meeting. I seem to recall a similar occurrence when Reading met Coventry and both Ole Olsen and Jiri Stancl both scored maximums riding for opposite teams but never actually met each other during the meeting!

Many thanks for that...much appreciated.

John 'Snowflake' Boulger and the rest of the Cradley team (except Sandor Levai who gave it a go) who refused to continue to ride in a meeting at Cowley due to snow.

Thanks for that!

Don't remember that Sid but I do recall Dag saying that he wished that the track for the 1974 Final had been wet during the actual meeting (it had rained prior and if I recall jet engines were placed on the track to help dry it out?) as he felt that he would have made more of an impression.

Being of a non technical sort is it possible to copy from Youtube onto a disc?

Yes I was there Sid...he was simply out on his own that day! Great stylist and i presented him with a bottle of champagne at Oxford's final meeting in 1975!

There's articles on Taffy in both the 'Classic' & 'Backtrack' magazines.

Did the Sanderson Family own the stadiums at West Ham, Coventry and Leicester or was it a consortium of people?

...only from a certain few surely?

...unfortunately doesn't edit out the analysis data and graphics and constant different camera angles showing the same shot on goal about ten times or snooker shot the same!

...the main reason I no longer watch any sport on TV. The constant drivel, over analysing and shouting that now appears to be the norm.

Isn't the Olympique Meeting held at Wolves a Handicap Meeting? It was during my time therefore a one off format which obviously makes the racing more unpredictable. Should speedway, therefore, be looking at (re)introducing handicap racing generally if the format encourages passing, unpredictability, and excitement to try and entice new fans thru' the gate?

Must get my copy. Will always remember Bob's contribution as a 'Rebel' when he rode for Oxford.

John Berry did but when he stood in becoming 'Speedway's First Chief Executive' he later withdrew because he felt that he wouldn't get the backing of the BL Management Committee and it's members.

He rode at Oxford in their junior team...if that counts!

He tried to force thru' the sale of Oxford Stadium in 1975/76 also until the SOS committee stepped in!

Remember watching the Aussies take on Poland at Cowley in front of one of the biggest crowds at Oxford!

Thanks for the clarification...I think! Interesting to get Martin Rogers' definitive version of events, however, as regards the sale of Blackbird Road although he has been less than complimentary when quoted in 'Backtrack'!