steve roberts

Yes...I have most of the aforementioned books and many statistical ones like Peter Oakes Yearbooks and Alan Robertson's quite superb editions of 'The History of British League Speedway'. Dave Morton's a great read and I still read my copy of 'Speedway Walkabout' by Johnnie Hoskins and Ivan Mauger's "Tripe Crown Plus' plus many others. I also have a couple of magazine articles by Bob Ferry about the 'Great' Jack Millen! Books I'd like to see published? Gordon Kennett and a more comprehensive one by Hans Nielsen amongst many others I could name.

Super establishment...been there in the past!

Look forward to it!

I'd agree...generally... although there are a few who take it a bit too far...snapping and barking! Personally I do have a thick skin and it's water off a duck's back to me!

Jason's mother was Carol (?) daughter of Neil Street...not sure if she was born in Britain or Australia however.

Simple one for me...Peter Craven!

Fair point.

Sid you've left out Havelock? Personally he would never appear in any of my 'top lists'!

Difficult one Sid with different eras and comparing one-off World Final achievements with a GP format. For example Loram became World Champion without winning any particular round which, personally, I have always under-valued but that's what GPs are all about...not proving that you are the best on a particular occasion but picking up overall accumulative points to achieve the end result. Never having seen Peter Craven (unfortunately) I have to base my views on those I have seen and based on World Champion successes (not necessarily only Individual ) Peter Collins would come out top in my poll based on his overall contribution. Michael Lee had a dramatic rise to fame over a relative short period and although he won the Championship in 1980 he achieved more the previous year. Never seen Tai and I realise that any views about him appear to raise very emotive issues and based on individual successes I guess would make him top but as I've said it's difficult comparing different eras. Like the great John Berry I always tend to base 'greatness' on overall achievements including league and international successes hence why Peter would be top man in my poll.

Agree. Public Forums, no matter what the subject matter, are about people offering personal opinions which may not be the opinion of someone else. Doesn't make their opinion wrong or worthless but there are some who think their opinion is always the right one and anybody who dares challenge their view are wrong. Problem is that anything political tends to get very emotive as we are finding at present on other threads...to which many of us are guilty!

...yes and don't refer to anybody as old!!

Gordon also had a silver jacket with an unusual confederate flag displayed (one red diagonal and one blue) that he wore at the Oxford pre-season practice in 1974. I think that he may have worn it during early season second halves? Remember that one...lasted the one season if I recall (?) The days of race jackets...preferred them to those kevlar team suit thingies!

Always liked the story Simmo relates that during that particular race "there was I and PC riding long track style and Martin comes thru' smoking his pipe!"

Recently saw his grave at Bradshaw...can't say that I felt sad but angry.

Recently saw his grave at Farnley between Leeds and Bradford.

I would agree with that. He seemed to be riding on the edge most of the time...sitting well back on the bike almost on the rear mudguard as the bike bucked and bronked...but I guess that's what separates the world beaters from the also rans?

Forgetting John Louis of course but Norden (1975) was Martin Ashby's greatest moment in my view...pure class and very under-rated although he did ride for the auld enemy 'The Budgies'!

Yes Sid...and much of it was quite disturbing. He was obviously a troubled soul and had a very unhappy upbringing and never got over the suicide of his mother. His father came across as a real monster...but basically I came to the conclusion that Carter believed that everybody was against him in my opinion which created a disturbed and insecure mind. By the way never liked him as a rider but thats bye the bye.

I have all those books and although Reg Fearman's wasn't published by Retro it was a super and revealing read!

Just finished watching the superb DVD 'England World Beaters' and a fabulous DVD it was to...taken from high quality cine film. When England dominated the world scene (okay there were a couple of blips during that period) but what talented riders...Collins, Simmons, Wilson, Betts, Jessup, Kennett, Ashby, Davis etc etc and many who came thru' the old Second Division which proved to be a great production line...sadly no longer!

Remember White City having two versions in 1976. The silver version for home meetings and the traditional red one for away...I guess that the silver one was to add to the splendour and occasion that was Wood Lane and its plush surroundings?

I always appreciate the books that you publish Tony and hope that will continue?

My uncle took that photo!

Great anecdote...thank you for that!

...but was he being honest with the crowd when he was making those wheelie gestures? Grant you that he was being honest after the event but was naive to think that his actions would go unnoticed and mis-judged the mood of the public. In all my years following speedway I've never experienced anything so blatant although was suspicious on a few occasions that something was going on and I knew that points were being bought behind the scenes (personal experience)