steve roberts

Garry first rode with one regularly when he joined 'The Rebels' in 1972. Never forgot his 'day-glo' orange helmet! Not sure when Briggo first wore one but I'm sure that he rode with one during the 1971 season if not before?

...and not forgetting Jack Millen of course!

Slightly off topic but I could easily identify riders, not only by their leathers, but by the helmets and masks they used to wear. I'm obviously not advocating that riders should go back to wearing inadequate head gear but it was so much easier then (what with the differing styles also) My uncle (who used to be track photographer at Oxford) once asked me to view his archive of photos taken during the seventies (he had long stopped attending speedway) and identify the riders for him...I could name every one which is something I would have had difficulty in doing if asked to do the same thing when I stopped attending in the early noughties.

He was the iconic rider when I first attended speedway...the one that others tried to emulate and very few did. A true star and household name...not many, if any, fill that criteria today.

Yes I remember the occasion well at Cowley re: Carl Blackbird. One of those peculiarities that occasionally crops in speedway when a rider can do no wrong and all his star signs cross...only to fade as quickly as it appeared! Although Carl did give an interesting interview in 'Backtrack' some years ago. The usual thing in speedway...not having the resources to fund first class equipment on a regular basis. Of course Oxford then signed the very under rated Per Sorensen and we were untouchable for the rest of the season!

Oxford lost by two points in the KO Cup but won in the league (40-37?) without Hans Nielsen who was banned from riding that weekend (some nonsense with the DMU!) and Neil Collins rode as a guest. Of course the rest is history and 'The Cheetahs' went on to win the Championship that year and repeated the dose in'86! Great days!

Particularly enjoyed going back to Hyde Road in 1985 and watching Oxford winning after the humiliation of the previous year! ...also for purchasing Mark Crang (£7000?) who was only just a reserve at Middlesbrough...or was that in 1986?

I would imagine that 1984 was pretty 'boring' generally at Hyde Road (I saw Oxford massacred twice there that particular season) because Stuart Bamforth declared a very strong team that should have won the league...until Ipswich came along and spoilt the party! As a post script I remember chatting to an 'Aces' fan who openly enjoyed the fact that the meetings were very much one sided...takes all sorts I suppose!

Saw that one recently too! Two teams lost to the sport.

Just been watching a1992 Meeting at Cowley (what memories!) between Oxford and Reading (Bill Dore Trophy). Great to see a decent crowd present (spotted myself on the third bend together with my Dad amongst others) and a joy to see Hans Nielsen out-manoeuvre Per Jonsson in the last heat decider allowing Martin Dugard to come thru' and secure the match! Interesting, also, to view the second half junior meeting between the two clubs and to see so many people who stayed on to watch!

Received this book over Christmas and it's a fabulous read. Written by John Chaplin it has wonderful anecdotes of riders past (and not so past) and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in pioneering speedway (as well as post war) and the characters involved.

I seem to recall that one of the more 'officious' refs was/is one time Mildenhalll rider Mick Bates who has on occasions antagonised a situation with his 'interpretation' of the rules.

Thanks for that. Nobby was a character and was dedicated to 'The Cheetahs'. Recall when he drove a mini-bus of us up to Newcastle and on the way back got stopped by the police who thought that we were 'flying pickets' during the miners' strike! After proving to them that we were speedway fans (I showed then my programme board of Hans Nielsen) Nobby decided to divert thru' Leicester and so avoiding the M1...a long trip that one!

Have to agree with the Wolves track. I used to go often and I have to say that the track was one of my least favourites...too long straights for the tight bends (Kirky Lane was similar) and with bikes becoming more powerful and highly tuned it became too much of a trick track (although I'm an advocate of technical circuits that require skill rather than just speed). I experienced the same at Oxford whereby a large group of regulars who I got to know used to stand on the third bend. This diminished with each passing year and became just a smattering when I finally stopped going.

Is that Nobby Hall of Oxford? Remember him well. RIP

Remember his days spent at Oxford. RIP

I used to like the days when each track held its big Individual Meeting when riders you'd perhaps only see once or twice a year would gather. Unfortunately with the dwindling number of teams over a period of years riders would appear on a regular basis at your local track and it no longer became a novelty.

I've attended a couple of local Grasstrack meetings in the last couple of years and both were poorly attended (it appeared those present were related/friends) and poorly presented. Pleasant enough afternoon out but wouldn't really encourage newcomers to become enthusiasts with what was on show.

Personally I never took the Sunday People 'exclusive' too seriously as anybody following the sport knew of 'favours' being done going back years but I guess that those unfamiliar with the sport would have drawn their own conclusions damning the sport (although similar allegations made against football and cricket seem not to have influenced the public's thinking!) I go with Ivan Mauger's response when asked by a journalist for a comment "who the hell cares about what was said nobody reads you ****ing paper anyway!"

I agree to a certain extent however some promoters did once own their stadiums (Coventry/Leicester/Belle Vue immediately come to mind) but were/are sold off as the sport started to decline and I guess the chance to make some money selling their asset to developers was too good an opportunity to turn down.

Good post! In my formative years following the sport youngsters (as well as the oldies) weren't ashamed showing their colours (scarves, hats, coats, badges, rattles, horns...you name it) and cheering on their heroes. I read recently on another thread that youngsters are now embarrassed by such behaviour but it doesn't stop them from showing their allegiance to their football/rugby/cricket teams...as has often been said (John Berry was one) it isn't that the fans have turned their backs on speedway but that speedway has turned its back on the fans.

When the BSPA started to mess around with the heat formula (at one time both leagues operated a different system just to add to the confusion) and the number of riders per team. It went from the traditional 7 to 6 to 8 and then back to 7...no wonder the fans were left confused and bewildered by some of the rules that continually undermine the sport in my opinion.

Yes I'm with the late Bernard Crapper with this one. Lack of continuity and not knowing from season to season who'd be riding for you and riders were often included in a team because their average fitted...not necessarily based on ability.

One could see the gradual demise of the sport during the eighties however i was enjoying the fortunes of my own team (Oxford) who were beating all comers and provided me with many happy memories...wouldn't have been the same for others what with the upper league operating with ten teams and it was becoming monotonous watching the same teams.

I guess that each generation will have their particular views on the decline of speedway in this country. I'm fortunate that I was able to enjoy the seventies when speedway attracted good media coverage and Britain/England ruled the world. Personally I feel that by the late eighties the decline started to be noticeable with declining crowds (although looked at from today's perspective would have been most welcome!) and the structure of league racing in this country.