steve roberts

Towards the back end of 1989 Oxford's track surface was beginning to become unreliable to which stadium owner, David Hawkins, called a meeting with the riders. The riders claimed that granite could provide a solution and the track was prepared accordingly...providing a superb surface!

Was never a fan of Tony Rickardsson. Whilst not disputing his six World Championship wins (albeit five achieved under the 'invitation' remit...aka as the Grand Prix!) his lack of awareness regarding his team mates was all too clear. Have recently watched a DVD whilst he was racing for Poole and his first and second bend manoeuvres paid scant regard of the whereabouts of his team mate! Never in the same league as Mauger, Nielsen, Olsen, Ermolenko etc etc.

I recall back in 1989 when Oxford were experiencing problems with the clay shale that granite chippings were mixed in which proved advantageous...trouble is the granite caused problems for the dogs!

Hi Norbold, Although I didn't get to see much of Ronnie Moore I recognised his great team riding abilities and a friend of mine would often tell me of his exploits whereby he would often slow a race down to help out his partner. I read recently (Backtrack?) that Briggo, however, was not the greatest exponent of the art and I can't really remember an occasion although I saw him often as he rode for the' enemy' (the 'Budgies') just down the road! PS One of the worse exponents of the art (Oxford) was Graham Drury! Didn't have a clue and I recall occasions when he would run colleagues (unintentionally) into the fence!

I agree as regards the past form of Mauger and Briggs at Belle Vue but not sure if Briggs was technically a very good 'team rider' (unlike Ronnie Moore)? However Collins and Morton did win the World Pairs for England in 1984 beating possible favourites Nielsen & Gundersen.

Perhaps somebody should invite 'Trackman' (aka Phil Cain) to discuss track maintenance and/or preparation?

Not sure what this thread is particularly about (haven't read it from the start!!) but all I know is that Collins and Morton took some beating as a pair round Hyde Road. Even the "Main Dane' Hans Nielsen I recall being out-foxed by the pair on one of my visits.

Around Hyde Road Collins and Morton would take some beating!

Was never my favourite track (neither John Berry's) Too long straights for the tight corners (Although my team, Oxford, enjoyed regular successes there... certainly during the Nielsen years)

Brought up on Blackbird Leys....and proud of it!

This was whilst working in York that I had this conversation. I can see the same problem at Oxford if the stadium should hope to operate a speedway there again. It was fine before when the stadium was there long before any houses but what with the discontinuation of speedway (since 2007) I can see local residents objecting to the re-introduction of the sport on noise and nuisance grounds. I can potentially foresee a long battle ahead thru' the courts but the saving grace is that the present council appear to be in favour of the facility...time will tell.

I was talking to someone from Peterborough recently who mentioned that someone had bought a house near the East of England Showground and then complained about the noise generated by the bikes!

Recall seeing a photo of Ivan Mauger wearing a helmet with mirrors attached to the visor! I wonder why it never caught on?

Not sure if Carl 'The Spear' Askew was dirty or just over exuberant although Robert Hollingsworth was less than complimentary towards him!

Hi Rob, The Cradley team of 1983 weren't required to operate with a junior at number seven therefore Oxford's team compares very well under the regulations and/or restraints operating at that time. The inclusion of Per Sorensen is when Oxford's season really took off as it enabled Nigel De'Ath to ride as a reserve giving the team a better all round balance. Personally I felt that the 1972 Belle Vue team took some beating for overall strength however it's difficult to compare teams from different eras as rider control/points limits decided team make ups and promotions were only able to put out the best depending on what the rules specified in any one season. Regards

Frankly the British Final lost its 'aura' years ago in my opinion. I recall the great British Finals of the seventies (when the Aussies and Kiwis were included) and the eighties when Britain had an abundance of talent. The 1974 Final, in particular, was far stronger than many World Final line ups and it was always a tough meeting, especially during the seventies, to qualify from when it was part of the World Championship qualifying round system (unlike the present GP 'invitation' World Championship) During the seventies British Finals included the following - Mauger, Briggs, Moore, Boulger, Collins, Simmons, Jessup, Lee, Ashby, Wilson, Boocock brothers, Kennett, Davis, Betts, Louis, Kilby, Wyer, Pusey, Morton brothers, McMillan, Sanders etc etc.

Hi Rob, I personally felt that 'Cocker' didn't fulfil his true potential and 1986 really was his peak season. I realise that he achieved better averages during later years but his riding wasn't as spectacular or decisive as it could have been. I have on DVD many races featuring him later in his career and he wasn't quite the vintage rider of 86. Regards

Another 'Speed Star' taken from us! RIP

The Kassam Stadium and Greater Leys Estate were built on what was supposedly Green Belt land! I recall Steve Purchase (Oxford Promoter 1998-2002) discussing the possibility of re-locating but in reality it was never going to happen. Cowley Stadium is a superb facility and it's a criminal shame that it has been allowed to deteriorate due to the stubbornness of the previous/present owners!

Yes that's correct...and from that day some Oxford fans decided to christened John Boulger 'Snow Flake' in remembrance of that occasion!

I wish that I was able to have seen more of Ronnie Moore. To think that he gave Britain a miss for a number of seasons during the sixties but then returned (1969) and carried on his high scoring as if he'd never been away. Now that's class in anyone's language!

I remember the occasion when Tim Hunt came storming out of the pits and rode straight across the width of the track and hit the white line and jumping high into the air! Totally bizarre behaviour!

What a Public Relations disaster...but I shouldn't be surprised knowing that Clark Osbourne is involved knowing his involvement over the proposed sale of Cowley Stadium way back in 1975! Surely the correct way of going about things was making sure that planning issues had been obtained and cleared before making announcements regarding completion of work and a proposed opening date and running a 'Farewell Meeting' of all things?

Confirms my suspicions when I corresponded with the then manager of the stadium who denied that the stadium was being 'run down!'

Hi Rob I plucked Marvyn purely as an example as to how averages home, away and overall can differ which can lead to an unfairness when deciding on a guest replacement. I still feel that the initiative by the BSPA was the right one but which frankly caused problems when trying to administer same. Vaclav's example highlights the ambiguity whereby his away average was poor compared to his home but his overall average would have proved an advantage when utilising the guest rule. I can't remember the exact ruling but I'm guessing that a prospective guest's overall average was taken into consideration when replacing a rider? I'm assuming that Lukas Dryml's home average (haven't access to those statistics) was quite high at home which enabled Oxford the use of Martin Dugard as a Guest replacement?