steve roberts

Have to say that if the TV happens to be on and the Olympics appears it soon empties the living room!

Begs the question the best ever race jacket? Personally I always preferred the simpler designs (certainly prior to sponsorship logos) and I guess that the Ace of Belle Vue would take some beating? Liked the old Wembley Lion and, I know the passion that the symbol raises (been discussed extensively elsewhere on the forum), the Rebels jacket as worn by Oxford (1972 & 73 version)

It was in reference to the 'Royal Crown of Sweden' and made a change from the usual national flag.

Anybody remember 'Benny' Rosenkilde? One time Hackney, Halifax, Oxford and Newport rider. I recall him joining Oxford in 1972 (on the recommendation of Garry Middleton) replacing Svein Kaasa who sadly lost his life towards the end of that same season when riding for Glasgow. 'Benny' never really excelled around Cowley (he was more of a Long Track exponent) and I remember very well when at the tapes he would turn the motor over at full revs just before the tapes were about to rise. How he never blew his engine I will never know! He wore an orange 'day-glo' full face helmet just like his mentor 'Cassius'.

How about Norman Strachan? Provincial, British Leagues Division One & Two?

Have a feeling that it may be 1975.

I remember being told to push the left handlebar down hard and the back wheel would just slip away from underneath you. Easier said than done however! Remember your dad, Colin, riding for Scunthorpe!

I know that when Len Silver used to run training sessions at Hackney he would insist that riders were taught how to lay down a bike before he was allowed out on the track with other riders. Not sure if it was a myth but I recall reading years ago that he once jumped out in front of an oncoming rider forcing him to drop the bike...not sure if that one's true however? When I attended an Olle Nygren school at Lynn we were not shown how to safely lay the bike down however it was a beginners course.

I think that's what Malcolm Simmons used to say also.

That's grand! Thanks for that as it did leave me pondering that perhaps Yarmouth rode a few open meetings which I wasn't aware of after they had formally closed.

Bit of a generalisation but that's fine if the assumption is correct....and if people regard fifteen heats of racing as good value then, again, that's fine but it doesn't represent good value to me and wouldn't entice me back to the sport especially the fact that I would have to put petrol in my car and drive fifty miles to my nearest speedway. Strikes me that it's the over 55's who are keeping the sport going judging, apparently, by the lack of youngsters now attending? I'm not advocating that the re-introduction of any of the above would dramatically increase attendances but clearly speedway is in trouble and something drastic needs to be done to buck the trend and thereby attract new fans (and riders) to the sport. There lies the crux. Anybody have a magic wand?

Great list but did Bob Coles ride at Great Yarmouth as quoted?

It's not a question of pandering but what's deemed as value for money. If people feel that fifteen (?) heats of racing is good value at £15/£16/£17 (or whatever the price is now) then that's fair enough but it doesn't represent good value for money as far as I'm concerned for reasons given elsewhere.

Just been reading interviews with both the late Malcolm Simmons and Eric Boocock who both are quoting as saying that the bikes are too powerful now and much easier to handle and that riders expect the tracks to be slick as they can't handle them when the tracks are deep and, dare I suggest, with a bit of dirt!

That's my view. How much is to attend speedway now £15/£16/£17? Not value for money in my opinion especially, as now, I would have to drive upwards of fifty miles to attend my nearest track. I agree with some of what Humph says however.

...just fifteen heats of racing wouldn't get me back again personally without going thru' all the reasons I've listed elsewhere on the forum.

I agree with having music to enhance the build up to main meeting and on a victory parade which adds atmosphere but personally, between heats, I was always self-absorbed for reasons given previously. When I used to watch the Oxford City 'Stars' (Ice Hockey) they would be introduced to the crowd with flashing lights and the theme to Jeff Wayne's 'War of the Worlds' which really added to the occasion.

Never knew the exact details of Paul Muchene's accident (he was also riding for the juniors at Oxford that year) so thank you for explaining the circumstances. Tragic loss.

Personally the music played was never a great factor when I went to the speedway...too busy chatting and deliberating with my mates between racing and trying to out-wit the team manager's next move!

I think Trevor Geer was the rider who doubled as the actor in that episode?

It's about enticing them (me) back as was well as attracting a new generation of fans...that's the dilemma that speedway faces today.

I recall that Coventry used to/still have (?) an electronic score board.

I used to be able to walk to Cowley Stadium when I lived in Oxford which was a massive incentive. I used to travel extensively around the country following speedway but, yes, you are partially correct in your assessment but I re-iterate to encourage me to re-attend there has to be an incentive and the thought of getting into a car and battling thru' traffic for fifteen heats of racing offers me no encouragement.

I understand that appears to be the present climate of thinking and economics. However I haven't attended a speedway for 12 years due to re-location and I wouldn't consider getting into my car and driving to my nearest track (Sheffield from York) for fifteen heats of racing. Not value for money in my opinion. Personally twenty heats of racing (in whatever format) suggests a better return on my admission and petrol money.

Yep! Used to enjoy watching the second halves personally. So did many of my mates around me...it was a time to relax and have a bit of banter after the main event and enjoy a bag of chips! Shan't repeat my reasons for being pro-second half. It's been well documented elsewhere on this forum.