steve roberts

If memory serves wasn't there an OXO factory or something similar nearby?

Weymouth - Alf's Fish and Chips where riders and fans would meet after the meeting on the way back into town! Poole & Swindon - Fairy lights around the track. Reading (Smallmead) - Dusty Bank Holiday Morning Meetings!

Excellent post and brought back so many happy memories!

Jimmy Nilsen spent two years at Cowley (with gaps in between) and I often felt that he didn't ride to his full potential whilst gracing Oxford. I know that during his developing years he received a number of injuries which appeared to slow him down. Should have achieved more on the domestic front but one can't argue with his international form. First saw Bo Petersen when he joined Hackney...in fact I believe I witnessed his first meeting in 1978 at White City (?) Always thought that he was a class act and another who failed to live up to his early potential and the closure of Hackney seemed to take the wind out of his sails despite a couple of useful years at Swindon. Around Hackney he was superb and was a master of the art of overtaking when required.

...Yes I recall Chris telling that story!

...Each to their own Rob but I found his performances riding for Oxford generally embarrassing and vividly recall him attempting to negotiate a heavy Cowley circuit on one occasion in particular. PS Don't mention Teurnberg to Chris Brown!

I always felt that he could have been given some sort of role within the sport after he retired as he was always well presented and articulate...but the powers that be had/have a history of not utilising riders in a way that could had/have benefited the sport certainly within the media sector.

Remember watching John in his formative years riding for Peterborough and Oxford and it was clear then that his main asset was his gating expertise. Saved 'The Rebels' from a real mauling at Newport where his fast starts gave us something to cheer I recall. When he moved to Reading (Dag Lovaas coming in the opposite direction) I always remember his races with Gordon Kennett whereby John would make one of his customary fast starts and Gordon would reel him in...John continually looking behind him (something that Simmo always commented upon) and going wider and wider each bend and Gordon would eventually slip thru' on the inside which he was accustomed in doing on many occasions! Great days! I would agree with the three Poles...relied heavily on their gating prowess. Another rider was Lars Gunnerstad...when he used to finish last at Cowley (which was often) after missing the gate recall the cry from the terraces 'Lars again!' But then Poole had a succession of riders who tended to rely on their fast gating technique!

...definitely Mikael Teurnberg and Lars Munkedal come to that!

I recall that Peter faked illness/ car breakdown when he was due to ride at Newport the day after Tommy Jansson died. He couldn't face what he thought was a dangerous track just 24 hours after Tommy's fateful crash that claimed his life. You obviously never witnessed Gordon ride at Wood Lane! Can't wait to see this footage!

Never saw Holder ride and I realise that he won a World Championship but I would never have placed him above Sanders and Crump, personally, in the overall scheme of things...but then my view is totally biased!

..unfortunately I can't make comparisons with today as I'm not familiar with today's regulations.

As I've often commented when the British League Division Two was formed in 1968 teams often 'doubled up' with promotions competing in Division One. My team (Oxford) had promotional ties with both Eastbourne and Peterborough and would use riders from them when short handed. Riders who progressed thru' Eastbourne to Oxford/White City included Gordon Kennett, Malcolm Ballard, Trevor Geer, Steve Weatherley, Paul Gachet, Eric Dugard etc and from Peterborough John Davis and Richard Greer. Not perfect but at least the riders were familiar with the Cowley faithful and it's what initially Division Two was all about...generating youngsters for the future.

Both Marvyn Cox and Martin Dugard should have achieved greater things in my opinion. Marvyn began to mark time at Cowley and we saw the best of him as an Oxford rider in 1986 in my view. Martin, on the over hand, should have taken a winter or two tour to Australia (something Gordon Kennett also commented upon in an interview) so as to develop his all round ability on different tracks. Martin has also been quoted as saying that he should have gone to Cradley rather than Oxford but I disagree with that view...as I would being an Oxford fan! Personally I think that it was a mistake for him to go back to Eastbourne when Oxford dropped out of the British League.

I was a never a great fan of Chris Louis (can't quite put my finger on it) and, I'd agree, Neil Evitts underachieved but perhaps my views are biased due to his occasional run ins at Cowley! Used to tickle me whenever anybody talks about Mark Loram that his gating let him down. On numerous occasions when I saw him up against Hans Nielsen he was often first out of the gate!

Strange thread this one Sid but I guess that Kelvin Tatum would be high up on my list. However I don't agree with Rob re:Todd Wiltshire...too one paced, in my opinion, certainly during his latter years. Billy Hamill was another who didn't grab my enthusiasm and, funnily, neither did Tony Rickardsson whom I never saw team ride once (always a great attribute in my view) but perhaps I was just unlucky whenever I saw him ride? Gary 'Motormouth' Havelock was another who I never took too...especially amongst those who went on to become a World Champion.

Oh dear! The double-point T/S...one of the daftest rules in my view. It's been reported in the past that some riders were ordered to drop points so as to manipulate the overall team average.

Occasionally heard at Cowley!

As someone who hasn't been to a speedway meeting for over a decade I would be interested to know the views of present day fans whether they feel that the Guest Rider Facility (apparently first adopted in 1955) has run its' course and whether it's time to scrap it? Does it undermine the credibility of the sport or is it a necessary evil? My personal views, based on thirty years following the sport, was that it was a facility which served a purpose, in principle, but which over subsequent years has been abused and manipulated to suit as the rules governing it have been constantly changed.

I enjoy reading many of 'White Knight's' comments unlike some people on here who just 'bark and shout' at those who don't always agree with them.

...I certainly used to cheer on Hans Nielsen when he rode for the 'Cheetahs' and the same could have been said for many of the Cradley fans at the time who were there to support Erik Gundersen. Many speedway fans when I used to attend (and I travelled to many One-Off World Finals during the eighties) cheered on their club favourites and nationalism went by the wayside.

...as I believe Oxford will unless something drastic happens despite the full support of the local council.

Sadly those days have passed into history...unlikely to be resurrected more's the pity.

I'm afraid his posts often suffer with over generalisations on what ever the subject matter...however there are a few on here with the same inclinations!

When I first went I used to wear the scarf my Grandmother knitted together with a red coat with blue and white strips, appropriate rosette and a badge or two...oh and not forgetting the rattle!