steve roberts

Got me thinking about other riders I saw ride before they became 'of age' so to speak! I saw Martin Dugard as an 11 or so riding at Eastbourne and Joe Screen at 15 at Brandon together with Paul Dugard (wasted talent!) Alastair Stevens as a 15 year old riding during the interval at Cowley and Alun Rossiter as Swindon's mascot back in the seventies!...I'm sure that there were many others. I got to see quite a bit of Michael Lee, first as a Boston rider, but more so when he moved up with King's Lynn at both Saddlebow Road but more regularly at White City...and when he made his England debut at Wood Lane riding against The Rest of the World.

...unfortunately I can't answer that one personally as I had stopped going to speedway by then.

Funny thing, Sid, but I recall Michael Lee and Colin Richardson competing together as 15 year olds at Cowley and Colin looked the better prospect...but, of course, history tells different. I never saw much of Carter but, although a great talent, he always appeared to be riding on the edge...but I guess that's what divides the greats from the also rans?

...plus, of course, the Midland Riders Championship rounds and Final.

Thanks Sid for that! Forgot about Wally Searl...I seem to recall he was Trevor Geer's main sponsor also.

Yes you are correct Sid...however Kevin was contracted to ride for Oxford (that was the loan agreement for seasons 1976 & 77) but choose to miss a match that he was contracted to ride in preferring to ride for his parent team instead therefore breaking the agreement (I think that it was only for a second half ride but may be wrong...memory and all that!) I certainly recall the Champions Trophy being held at Cowley between 1973 and 1975. The £100 placed on the 1973 event was a winner take all I recall...which was a fair amount of money back then!

Kevin Young showed some promise when with Oxford but was sacked when he missed a meeting to ride at/for Swindon during a second half if I remember?

Yes I well remember my brother coming home from meetings and talking about John Bishop...just before my time! I recall Melvin Soffe together with Kevin Pope...I think Billy Wall was actually born in Oxford? The big Individual meeting at Cowley used to be 'The Champions Trophy'...prize money of £100!

You're right Sid and I remember Norman Hunter saying that he saw the poor lad fighting for his life in the changing room with the doctor trying all he could to revive him. As regards Geoff he used to live not far from me and it was strongly rumoured that he was about to join 'The Rebels' for the 1974 season. His protege Alan Sorensen rode a few second halves at Cowley and, I believe, Swindon that season.

Svein Kaasa was the first rider i knew of who died as a result of a track crash. He started the 1972 season at Oxford but was soon replaced by Preben Rosenkilde and eventually signed for Glasgow where he was showing promising form before his death. I was quite shocked by the news I remember and in my present job portraying a Viking I have adopted his name (Svein) in memory of him.

The Collins and Morton brothers and the likes of Dave Trownson used to ride on farmland, if I recall, and Ainsdale Sands was another opportunity for budding young riders (Peter Craven for example)...very different era back then!

Also the Kent Grasstrack scene supplied a lot of riders particularly at Eastbourne (Jessup, Kennetts etc) where Arthur Nutley took a great interest.

Went to a couple of Dog Meetings...out of curiosity more than anything but not my thing!

Yes I sold off my programmes (vastly under priced I have to say) as I didn't have the room for them when I re-located...regretted it ever since!

Hi Sid! Yes I have those plus Ivan Mauger's, Simmo's Michael Lee etc...I did have the Mirror books but gave them away!

I have many of the aforementioned books including ones written by John Berry (which I constantly refer to on here...much to the annoyance of one particular individual recently I'm more than happy to say!), Len Silver, Reg Fearman, Eric Boocock etc etc. All good sources of reference plus excellent statistical books including the many year books and Histories of the British League publications (Take a bow Alan Robertson and Peter Oakes)

Have to agree with you there...especially those giggling voice overs between programmes!

...I enjoy taking threads off topic!

Reg Fearman, in his book, comments on how the lease had been re-negotoated under the Dore/Bliss promotional era which in effect shortened 'The Racers' tenure!

Used to purchase (or my dad did!) the 'Speedway Star & News', 'Speedway Express' and 'Speedway Mail' when I used to go. Now I purchase the 'Backtrack' and 'Classic' (used to be Vintage) magazines of which both are great reads. Vaguely remember something called 'Five-One' but it didn't catch on.

I was attending a meeting at White City when the news filtered thru'. RIP

...sounds ominous!

Some great images on this thread!

My uncle, Keith Lawson, used to take photographs at Oxford and other tracks. Some of his photos crop up now and again in magazines and books.

I like that! It would save all that messing about at the pits gate...imagine the rush to be first at the starting line!