steve roberts

Remember it well! Martin Dugard was a very skilful rider but had a temper to go with it (took after Bob I suppose!) That would be the Champions Trophy I would imagine. Shame these meetings are no longer popular. Always attracted the star riders. Remember the Silver Plume at Swindon. It was always an attraction to see the star men (they would only visit perhaps once or maybe twice a year) and you mention Hans and Erik. We saw so much of Erik at Cowley due to the shortage and rearrangement of the league it no longer became a treat to see the World Champion as it once used to be.

Peter Craven held the track record at Cowley (63 seconds) for eleven years before the track was shortened prior to the 1974 season when Phil Crump set a new record (63.2) When I first went to Cowley in 1972 the winning times fluctuated between the middle to late 60 seconds...often into the early 70s. His time of 63 seconds obviously demonstrated his very superior talent. Would have loved to have seen that race! Dave Perks eventually beat that time (62.8, if I recall, in 1980) but as mentioned the track length had been altered.

I guess it begs the question which riders I would have wanted to have see in action but didn't for obvious reasons... Peter Craven Tommy Farndon Jack Parker Jack Young Lionel Van Praag Sprouts Elder Come immediately to mind but there would be countless others...

Many thanks for the update!

Or the occasion he kicked the start line phone over the tapes when a decision went against him! He should have joined Oxford when the Stoke promotion took up residence prior to the 1976 season but he wasn't part of the deal apparently. I would have enjoyed his exploits as a 'Cheetah!' Despite his on-track demeanour apparently he was a nice guy off the track. PS White Knight...are you a Macam? I am on my mother's side!!

My thoughts exactly!

I wish that I had seen Fundin in his prime (saw him compete in 1988 Golden Greats Meeting at Brandon) One of the true greats. To have seen Fundin, Craven, Briiggs, Moore and Knuttsson when they were all competing at the same time would have been something very special!

Having not followed the sport closely for the last ten years or so I was aware that it was becoming increasingly difficult for riders and/or officials to trade insults and/or actions due to legislation within the sport (as well as outside influences). I would be interested to know if there are any true characters today (I'm not advocating Nikki Pedersen!!)? I recall Jack 'The Villan' Millen being a real character. The occasion that he dressed as Batman when the riders were being introduced to the crowd or when he wore a race jacket with the Roman numerical 'V' in place of the number 5 and turning his back to the crowd and jumping up and down thereby giving the 'V' sign! As you can imagine it got the crowd going and, it must be remembered, speedway is not just a sport but an entertainment at the end of the day. The Teesside promoter (Ron Wilson?) would book Jack into Open meetings realising that he would bring people in and increase the attendance. I do think that the sport has become somewhat sterile and could do with the likes of the sadly missed Jack, Garry Middleton etc but I guess that the PC brigade would forbid such a return to those days or do fellow contributors think differently?

If I allowed my heart to rule my head I would advocate tape touching as it created tension and the likes of Garry Middleton, I remember, used to con people into breaking the tapes when he would drop his clutch momentarily nudging the tapes! Malcolm Simmons did a similar thing to Kenny Carter. Middleton used to get up to all sorts of tricks and it really got the opposition riders and fans in a state! But I have to agree, it used to become a right pain with riders constantly rolling into the tapes, and it's one of the better rules that have been implemented.

I agree. I remember voting for Ivan Mauger back in 1972 but as you say it's a BBC poll. Throughout the seventies when British/English speedway ruled the roost speedway only received fleeting references because, I guess, ITV covered the major events. Wasn't there a suggestion of a vote 'fix' when Briggo was nominated back in the sixties?

I remember the first meeting of the 1975 season at Oxford when Nigel was excluding in the first race and his wife, Cynthia, taking issue with the referee!

I agree...but it's rather obvious that this particular thread has been exhausted and what may have started as a 'discussion' has become rather heated and personal in some instances. A forum is about contributors sharing opinions which may not be agreed by all but whose comments should be respected all the same.

Can I suggest that a truce be drawn on this topic? It's getting very tiresome and it's obvious that nobody is going to win this particular discussion. Time to move in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing that memory!

Watched said DVD. Enjoyed listening to Eric as his delivery is so dry! Very different riders in their approach to their racing. Eric very nearly signed for Oxford prior to the 1975 season but decided to take up a managerial post at Belle Vue and retired from active racing. He did try a comeback in 1983 (?) but soon retired for good. Two great ambassadors and Eric, surely, is due an honour for services rendered over many years?

Ken McKinlay...arguably the best ever Scot! Saw him ride towards the back end of his career...wish I'd seen him at his peak.

Rob, Not sure if Jerzy Sczakiel was the best rider on that particular day just that he had the 'rub of the rubber' on that afternoon, Zenon Plech was well in for a chance of the title until un-ceremoniously 'knocked off' by the Russian, Gregori Chlynovski (apologies for the spelling) whilst leading. I'm convinced that Ivan would have passed Jerzy in the run-off but, as he has admitted many times since, he miscalculated his move and fell thus giving the race to the Pole. I take nothing away from Sczakiel. He took his chances (rolling starts) and won! That was the beauty and drama of one-off finals...which is why I prefer them to the Grand Prix! Steve

Just reading Simon Wigg's book 'Wiggy' and to quote... '...by starting off gates four and three, in my first two rides, it meant that one of the visiting heat leaders would be on the inside of me. I could usually just about gate on them but not always. Gate four was b****** of a start to go from early in the meeting at Oxford, although it was not that bad later on if there was a bit of dirt out wide' However Wiggy was often his own worst enemy in some cases.

Was Scotland's last appearance in the World Pairs in 1976?

Not sure about Ivan being lucky in 1979 but certainly 1977 one could argue (although I wouldn't personally) The race that was re-started after John Boulger fell whilst leading seemed to take forever with both Ivan and Ole Olsen 'ignoring' the two-minite warning.

When the World Team Cup was re-organised after 'Great Britain' won the 1973 Final (a team represented by Englishman for the first time) it was decided to run a Qualifying Round at Ipswich in 1974 consisting of teams representing England, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland. I think that Scotland were replaced by the USA in 1978 (?) Back to 'Booey', however, a great entertainer who never knew when he was beaten. He was also easily recognised in his blue leathers... well before the days of the introduction of kevlars and team suits.

Strewth!

One of the greats!

Groan! This one just goes on and on and on....zzzz!

I agree. I remember when Exeter occasionally programmed Ivan Mauger at number 2 for tactical purposes to counteract a tactical move in heat eight. He also rode at number 4 to give a strong pairing away from home under the old 13 heat formula. In the last race that is!