steve roberts

Always remember the story when one of the assistants lined up behind the bikes at the tapes picked up Bily Sanders rear mudguard using the grab rail in a subtle way so when the tapes rose Billy's wheel wasn't in contact with the track momentarily thus gaining a disadvantage. Billy wanted to make an issue of it with the person responsible but John Berry took him aside explaining to him that anyone who was able to lift a bike while at full revs was someone who obviously possessd a bit of muscle and best avoided...of course the ref didin't see anything!

I know that the remit in the past (and I guess it's still the case) that the start marshall would get the riders up to the tapes making sure that the 'incentive' to roll was minimal thus gaining an advantage. He/she would also often indicate to the ref that all was satisfactory who would then put the green light on putting them under starter's orders.

Agree with points 2 & 3.

Briliant post again BL65!

My brother has been sending me some great images of work in progress at Cowley Stadium. Unfortunately I'm unable to download picturs but it all looks very promising!

It's a difficult one to juggle. I went to two American Football "Wembley Bowls" and can't say I really enjoyed the experience. Because of the stop/start nature of the game what became more important apparently to the fans was the off pitch entertainment. The game itself became of secondary importance. I used to enjoy watching edited highlights of American Football when first broadcast on Channel 4 but when they decided to show games live I lost interest...too much padding.

Fabulous!

...also in running steam locomotives.

Agree entirely!

I viewed some footage of electric bikes (think it was from Denmark?) and there was a strong element missing...not sure if I found it appealing personally!

Agree entirely!

Was Plymouth's track at one time made up of crushed sea shells or some such other?

Those were tha days...second halves at Cowley when the likes of Julian Wigg, Ken Matthews and the Drewitt Brothers would ride their grasstrack bikes!

Perhaps one could also include Garry Middleton who 'retired' when still relatively young? It's been suggested that he got side tracked with outside business interests but who's to say that he couldn't have resurrected his career if he had put his mind to it?

...he did ride for Mildenhall however which is outside my initial remit but who am I to argue? Some great responses from some very knowledgeable posters!

....and I sold off all my programmes!

...you beat me to it!

I also remember that Eric Boocock was part of a team that was experimenting with Honda engines with a view of standardising/cutting costs?

I remember Paul Gachet riding a trial petrol driven bike during a second half event at White City...not sure what became of it?

I think from memory Sid that Hans may well achieved a higher average in 1987?

Chris Manchester was an enigma...seemed to have the world at his feet but he never really progressed and returned to the States never to return.

I was surprised that Ivan's record is not particulary good as regards the BLRC (two wins) considering that it was for a number of years his home track and his dominance for many years?

I'm sure many can come up with examples of riders having ridden at tracks that have since closed? Greg Hancock is one that comes to mind - Cradley Heath, Stoke, Coventry, Oxford & Reading. Being associated with five closed tracks seems unfortunate but are there any out there who have ridden for more 'closed' tracks and I'm not including riders that have ridden for both closed and current tracks...I guess that Neil & Les Collins may fall into that category?

I think Oxford may also be taking part with Gordon Kennett as Team Manager?

There's a great article about the Internationale in the latest edition of the "Classic Magazine" covering the sixties but no mention about why Harringay was the chosen venue as far as I can see.