steve roberts

I've never subscribed to SKY and when I was invited round to a friend's house to view the occasional match I wasn't that impressed with what was on offer with the usual "Sports Coverage" of over analysis and action replays...the same race replayed what seemed like a dozen times from different angles! I always preferred the real thing stood on the terraces with my mates and chewing the fat. Gaps between races never bothered me personally and I treated it as a night out...a meeting commencing at 7-45 and finishing at 9 l always thought left me short changed!

..the same very much applied when SKY televised league matches. I know of one person, although living within walking distance of the track, preferred to stay at home and watch the match on TV.

Great insight!

...there may be also some inner psychology at play in that some riders 'believe' that one bike/engine is better than their other?

My first year (1972) Swindon had a great dual figure head in Briggs & Ashby but had a very long tail...an opportunity lost perhaps?

A bit odd that, Sid, that Swindon didn't achieve more on the team front considering having many top riders turn out for them down the years? Perhaps the promotion wasn't that bothered and the incentive was often lacking?

...not according to Bwitcher! As I pointed out some years ago Martin was riding high in the averages in 1968 and could very well have sneaked a shock World Final win or podium place if his promoter had been more accomodating.

My abiiding memory of Martin was missing the gate and down the back straight lining himself up to pass his opponent on the third and forth bend hugging the white line. Unfortunately white line riding is a rarity nowadays with superfast charges which require middle track outside surges. Perhaps one reason why team riding became more of a rarity over the years?

Unfortunately one of speedway's biggest problems is that very few promotions own the stadium which restricts what can be done as regards upgrading etc unless they have a very understanding landlord. Recal one evening at Cowley where the public address system had failed on the back straight but on complaining the promoter's hands were tied as it was out of his control and down to the owners who were less than sympathetic (Doggy people only stood on the home straight and/or in the main stand)

...something that Malcolm Simmons commented upon. When he took John "under his wing" during their time at Wimbledon in 1984 it's something that he tried to correct suggesting that John ride his own race rather than continually looking behind him. Always brought great personal pleasure to me when Gordon Kennett (that name again) would often be out gated by aforementioned Davis only for Gordon to continually harass him as John rode wider and wider allowing Gordon to slip thru' winning the race!

Spot on with that analysis. It's fair to say that John used all of his limited ability to the maximum (whereas some with massive ability tended to under achieve allowing outside influences and distractions to effect their performances) and produced some great results on tracks not best suited to his style. He openly admits that he preferred the bigger tracks and hated the likes of Eastbourne. I often thought it odd that after requesting a move from Oxford he ended up at another small track down the road at Reading?

..and the Geoff Curtis Memorial Meeting when he beat both Dag Lovaas and Tommy Jansson in a run-off after they had all scored 14 points.

Funny that but on another thread I was comparing Gordon Kennett with John Davis (having seen them both develop at Oxford during the same period). Both eventually achieved high averages but Gordon eventually dropped a league when his achilles heel caught up with him (not the best of gaters) but John survived a fair few more years in the higher league because his knack of making the gate proved advantageous.

His period at Oxford was also the same time as Gordon Kennett so I was fortunate in witnessing the development of both during their early years in the British League. Gordon was a far better rider in my opinion but what held him back was his inability to gate during his formative years. He becme more consistant as his "Star" rose but he eventually returned to the National League when he began to struggle whereas John's career was somewhat longer in the top flight more down to his gating if anything else.

Agree with you entirely. I saw a lot of him at Oxford (1972, 73 & 74) and his strong point was his gating and he was never known to being the best exponent at passing riders. Very articulate and forthright in his views and was good at attracting sponsors but as a rider he was never up there with the best.

I'd agree Sid....remember "The Silver Machine"? Damn awful name but If I recall Nigel Wagstaff's hands were tied as regards using the name "Cheetahs". Remember one Ipswich programme that carried the name on the front cover as Oxford "Cheatahs"...most original!

Meet you half way Sid...the Oxford "Budgies" then!

The trouble was that Wood Lane was a vast stadium and it was never going to attract enough support like anything that was hoped for...although, by all accounts, the crowd wasn't that bad it just felt lost in the vastness of the place. Probably wouldn't have been so bad in a stadium akin to the usual run of the mill arenas.

Scottish Monarchs never worked or caught the imagination of either Glasgow or Edinburgh fans.

Good grief nooooo!

Agree 100%. I used to watch highlights of American Football when it was first transmitted on Channel 4 back in the eighties and enjoyed it. However having witnessed two live matches at Wembley it left me totally nonplussed...too much off the field "entertainment" and/or distractions and people complain about the length of time it takes to complete a speedway meeting! I agree that speedway when presented right is the most spectacular of sports but as I keep saying there has to be more than just fifteen heats of racing in my opinion.

How great it would be to stand on the third bend as of old however most of those I stood with are no longer with us including my much missed Dad.

I used to enjoy second halves whether it be those taking part within the main match or a junior meeting...whichever.

Steve Purchase was one promoter who frequented the old Oxford Forum and even invited me along to a pre-season discussion with others to pass comments and ideas on the forthcoming season. He would also walk amongst the crowd at Cowley and make himself available to the fans.

I may well buy a season ticket but unfortunately living so far away I won't be able to attend most, if any, meetings but at least I can support them financially.