steve roberts

...of course both Hackney and Hull operated similar facilities that season but nobody ever raises that one? As regards White City it was the Control Board who masterminded the facility as Richard Greer was wantig a move to Birmingham who had been woefully weak the season before and the "Rebels" were initially reluctant to release him due to a shortage of proven heat leaders. Wolverhampton, of course, adopted a a "horses for courses' policy in 1976 again using R/R for a rider (Hasse Holmqvist) who never turned a wheel in anger for them and fully utilise the Guest Rider system for 'missing" riders. Ivan Mauger was a perculiar one but as riders were reluctant to ride at Exeter on their "promotion" to the First Division that was one option that enabled them to run that season. Of course Guest riders hadve been with us for many a year (have a feeling it was first introduced during fifties?) but it was never the nonsense that appears tp prevail nowadays.

Remember my first year going to Speedway that Oxford ran with three Guests Riders on one occasion as Garry Middleton, Rick Timmo and Preben Rosenkilde were all on international duty. That was a rare occurance back then as I don't recall another occasion ( or I may be wrong?) that Oxford during its "Rebels" days ran with three guests although we did have John Davis riding as a guest replacing himself at Coventry on one occasion!

I didn't get as far as to watch the actual race...got fed up watching all the digging at the start and gave up!

We can all quote riders down the years who relied purely on their gating skills and had little apparent interest in attempting to pass but to make a comment publicly is not exactly showing much respect for the public...in my opinion. Unfortunately I was only told second hand about the said comment as it appeared on Facebook which is something I don't participate in. Perhaps someone could confirm?

Glad that the pure racers don't have that attitude otherwise it would be a poor spectacle. Perhaps that explains why the likes of Lars Gunnerstad didn't bother on his visits to Cowley when he missed the gate or perhaps just didn't have the ability to make a passing move? On that assumption why not declare a race after the first two bends?

I'm afraid it's the usual Steve Shovlar "assumption" without any substamce.

Has been "allegedly" quoted as saying that when he doesn't gate he doesn't bother? Wouldn't have a place in my team with that attitude if true.

...or better still a resurrected Reading!

I first saw Hans at White City in 1977 and one could see then that he was more that your average "unknown" foreigner.

...as mentioned in an earlier post the fact that a meeting taking place at Cowley may well have made folk think twice about travelling? Anyway was a head count taken of Oxford fans present at Poole (or indeed Poole fans at Cowley the previous night) or are you just surmising?

Absolutely Sid...a record that any rider would be proud of. I'm convinced if the GP's had been around during the eighties he would have added to that total of wins no question.

...or the price of petrol may well have put people off from travelling?

The 1983 World Final was the eventual turning point for Hans when he admits himself he had got his self belief in check and could have made the rostrum after leading eventual champion Egon Muller before loosing his chain. He felt that riding a small track held him back but the move to Cowley (Swindon was a track he would have considered apparently) moved him up a significant notch and as they say the rest is history.

That was/is the beauty of the sport that someone can raise their game for whatever reason and put in a stonking performance out of the blue before the status quo is re-established! Neil Evitts won a British Semi-Final at Cowley and returned a week (?) later as a guest and failed miserably although the Oxford faithfull had suspicions as rumours abounded?

I was at Katowice when Hans won on 1986 and felt that the clash with Knudsen could have gone either way however having witnessed it at the time and numerous times over the years Knudsen was always inclined to ride "square bends" and ultimately that's what cost him trying to close a gap after it was too late. I saw him many times adopting this cornering technique and most of the time he got away with it. As regards Nielsen and the 1996 GP it has been mentioned that certain riders (Ermolenko?) went out of their way to do favours for colleagues based upon earlier history remembering John Berry commenting and Sam mentioning it in his book.

I recall an interview with Carl in "Backtrack" some years ago he said that he hadn't the resources and soon looked beyond the sport realising he was never going to make it pay?

...and yet they both won three World Finals before Erik's tragic accident which again does say sometihng about Nielsen's overal competitive ability. As regards Carl Blackbird as they say, I was there, and all his stars were perfectly alligned on that evening. He never again rose to that level.

Them were the days! When I gave speedway a go at King's Lynn we were shown a box and told to muck thru' and find the appropriate clothing...think I found matching boots?

...thereby lies the dilemma.

He was a class act at Oxford...riding "rear gunner" with Todd Wiltshire in particular.

Of course in the "Good Old Days" many, if not most, riders had second jobs excepting the "stars"...postmen, mechanics, milkmen etc. I recall even Terry Betts working in a garage during the winter months although he was on a good earner whilst at King's Lynn apparently based upon the number attending which of course wouldn't amount to much nowadays! Too many riders expect to make a living from the sport nowadays and it's not sustainable on those attending.

If I recall at Prestatyn (North Wales) in a Long Track Meeting?

Often remember my brother moaning about John Bishop when at Oxford...can't recall for what reason now?

Biased, I know, but Nielsen was THE rider of the middle/late eighties/early nineties in my opinion as Ivan was in the seventies with Olsen poking his nose in now and again although Peter Collins gave them the runaround and Michanek was sublime in 1973.

BBC4 running with a celebration of Saturday Night on the beeb with a re-run of "The Generation Game" and the "Two Ronnies" tonight...know what I'll be watching...beats sport rammed down your throat!