steve roberts

I remember a "debate" on here some years ago when Bwitcher was claiming a rider's greatness was based on race wins? On the face of it that may be correct however one needs to look deeper and a truer picture tells a different story. Just reading in the latest "Backtrack" an interview with Bobby Schwartz who always thought of his team mate first (in particular Bernie Leigh at Smallmead) where he would purposely slow a race down allowing him to take the lead whilst covering him to achieve the best result for the team. Apparently Jan Andersson couldn't understand his ethic but, afteral, Jan wasn't the best exponent of team riding not until the twilight of his career anyway. Bobby also talks of tactical riding with his American team mates during succussful performance in World Pairs Finals where he took on the roll as covering allowing his team mate to take the flag. Ronnie Moore was also a great exponent of slowing races down finishing second to his team mate as indicated by his accumulation of bonus points over the years suggest. Okay on the Individual World front winning was all important but again if one looks deeper points were often dropped when riders wished not to win particular races so as to get a better draw in the next round. Like everything in life things are not always so straight forward and require deeper anlysis.

Yes it all seems so long ago now! If I was still living in Oxford I would be there helping out like a shot. I did get involved during the last "Save Our Stadium" campaign in 1976! Keep up the good work! I've seen many photos of the work being done and it's a great credit to you all! Take care!

Well done Matt! remember you from my Oxford days! Have you still got the Cheetahs Skol jacket I gave you?

I'm sure your right but catering and bar takings especially would amount to a very tidy sum but lost on the promoter.

...that's of course if the staging promoter receives the catering and bar takings? I recall a conversation with Steve Purchase who said that wasn't the case when he was promoter at Cowley. There'll always be an issue with revenue as long as stadiums are only let by the promoter. Very few, if any, are owned by the promoters which also proves a sticking point as regards facilities or the lack of them.

I thought they were granted a facility for him in 1977? I have his name printed in both a White City and Hull programme of that year.

1977 if I recall Sid the same year as White City and Hackney had the facility granted but very rarely referred to!

Didn't Jimmy McMillan get allocated to Wolves from Hull in 1976? I was surprised at the time that Wolves were allowed to declare Hasse Holmqvist in their line (albeit as R/R) due to the fact that he missed the best part of the previous season at Cowley. I Recall Wolves arriving at White City with a team cobbled together with track specialist guests and registering a win much to my, and the promotion's, disgust at the time. Wolves very much operated a "horses for courses" policy that season for reasons that you touch upon. Another good post from you BL65...so much enjoy reading your comments.

He presumably also had a contract with Wolves to fullfil?

I admit that Olsen was one of the greats during my time following speedway but I didn't appreciate his manipulated powers off the track in trying to influence others. Nielsen is a well documented case but I know that Vic White whislt team manager at Coventry had problems with him (interview in "Backtrack") and the likes of Steve Bastable tell of his antics as well as many others. he was a control freak and unless you fell in with him you were always going to be on the wrong side of him.

In the Oxford programme notes (Swindon 18th September 1975) under the "Promoter's Piece" it quotes "Of course many of you were disappointed as indeed your promoters were at the non-appearance of the 1975 World Champion Ole Olsen. There was as you know some conflicting reports in the press about whether or not Olsen would ride, and I am very sorry about this, but can assure you it was not of our making. The position as as we understood it was as follows - when we received the Wolves team from their promoters, we were informed that Olsen would not be present, and agreed that they could use a guest rider. Later we were informed that Olsen had been told officially he had to ride and was expected to do so but of course he didn't arrive. Hence the conflicting reports. It is in my view a great pity that a man who was crowned such a worthy World Champion on 6th September should treat the speedway in this way, and I can ssure you that the Wolves team manager was as fed with the whole business as we were." Further under the "Rebel Browsing" notes it quotes "The non-appearance of the new World Champion after he had been instructed by the BSPA that he must honour his agreement with Wolves and ride at Oxford is bound to have repercusions and one wonders if we have seen the last of the 'Flying' Dane in this country. Ole was competing in the World Long Track Finals in Poland on Sunday in which he finished third, but with the rest of the BL qualifiers not leaving until Friday morning Olsen would seem to have no valid reason for not appearing at Oxford the previous night. In view of of the pressure on the BSPA by the Oxford promoters and the pressure put on Olsen by the BSPA the Oxford promoters now insist that some action be taken against Olsen"

I'm afraid don't get me going again Sid! Yes Olsen was 'allocated' to Oxford in 1975 but refused to come, thankfully, because that meant we got the immaculate Dag Lovass instead...a very classy act!

Did the Olsen's ever ride in the same meeting? I guess the only opportunity would have been in an exhibtion race?

Remember a race at Swindon when Crumpie and Hans passed and re-passed each other numerous times each giving the other plenty of room...a great race! I think Hans was riding for Birmingham then? Yes I recall the bumpy track...don't think Martin Ashby would have put up with it!

I witnessed the Mike Keen Meeting and, boy, was it wet! Two memories stick out from that meeting...a sublime five ride maximum from Dag Lovaas and Gordon Kennett hosing his bike down on the centre green after the meeting. Felt sorry for Mike but was told that if the meeting didn't go ahead he wouldn't get another chance! Unfortunatley Sid I sold off my programmes but I must have gone to an Evening Advertiser or two? I never made a BLRC at Hyde Road much to my regret. Great memories from speedway's last Golden Age!

I, too, took in the Reading meeting...a heroic Gordon Kennett pulling out all the stops and just failing to beat Kelly Moran who hung on for grim death!

I only managed to see one final live and that was at White City when the Kiwis were successful in 1979. England's triumph in Poland in 1974 must go down as one of the most remarkable and duly claimed England as being at their peak internationally in my opinion. In 1976 they caught a cold (perhaps too complacent?) when Australia beat them at Ipswich but returned to add two further titles in 1977 and 1980 when they overturned the Yanks! The 1989 triumph was over shadowed by Erik Gundersen's tragic accident.

I went to a Grasstrack Meeting a few years back just outside Pickering and former Oxford junior Ricky Scarbro was taking part together with his son. He was by far the most impressive performer that day and I had a very enjoyable chat with him during a break in racing...I think that he was surprised that somebody recognised him!

Not sure Sid but I think they both represented New Zealand perhaps in a WTC Qualifying Round?

I didn't realise he had some bad crashes. I often wondered why he appeared to disappear from these shores.

I recall that during second halves at Cowley in 1972 Grasstrackers would often perform on their grasstrack bikes...the likes of Julian Wigg, Ken Matthews and the Drewett Brothers. Made for good entertainment.

John Louis & Mike Lanham at Ipswich in 1976 and twenty years later sons Chris and Leigh.

...and, if I recall, Peter Collins? I'm sure he started racing on the grasstracks?

...not forgetting Wiggy probably the best exponent of all?

I'd agree with some of that however as I posted elsewhere when I went to Wembley some years ago to witness two Wembley "Bowl" American Football matches I was bored to tears! All the off pitch entertainment appeared to be more important than what was taking place on the pitch. I used to quite enjoy watching American Football highlights on Channel Four but watching it live killed it off for me personally.