steve roberts

Coudn't agree more!

I have a great relationship with my postman/woman...always polite and leaves any small parcels in a designated area around the back if I'm not around.

Remember it well. Did the same duo achieve something similar at Mildenhall and Canterbury during the same season...viewed both with my cousin who was a "Diamonds" fan and we took in both matches.

Sorry mate...just got in from another fishing trip and feeling flustered! I was at that match also!

I was there!

Gordon Kennett scored a 21 point maximum and Kai Niemi 19 riding for Eastbourne (both from seven rides) at Swindon in 1980 but the "Eagles" still lost 46-62!

I had heard of that one.

Recall hair spray (?) on tyres being banned for indoor events that were all the craze back in the late seventies/early eighties.

Not as compact as the example given but White City did achieve something similar in 1976 at home to Hackney. Not including bonus points the scorers were Kennett on 8, Greer and Geer on 7, Lovaas on 6, Weatherley and Niemi on 5 and Gachet on 4.

Wasn't a bad team put together at very short notice...trouble is I can't remember if I went to said match or not! I had the best of both worlds watching the "Cheetahs" at Cowley in the National League and the "Rebels" at Wood Lane in the British League.

Must have been a "tyre" some procedure cutting them!

Seem to remember Gary Middleton accusing Ivan Mauger of using nitro at the 1972 (?) Wills Internationale but later withdrew the claim. Not sure when it was actually banned form domestic competition however.

Went fishing today.

That wouldn't surprise me!

Totally agree. I know that winning often requires some 'luck' or decisions that are maybe badly mis-judged by the official in charge but the Ermolenko incident was very clear and not open to interpretation.

I seem to remember reading that nitro was used by some riders and Ivan Mauger mentioned it in one of his books. It wasn't actually common practice but not banned as such until the early seventies (?). Vladimir Gordeev was stripped of his fourth placing in the 1971 World Final for using the stuff and sunsequently banned for a year.

Tyres have often proved a bane within speedway...recall so many instances whereby meetings were either held up or protests put in place due to the irregularities and/or confusion over various makes and their legality in the eyes of the authorities,

Hi Tony, I thought that the business with the gun happened in the pits and not on the track in full view of the spectators as Roy mentioned in the interview?

I'd never seen Darcy Ward ride (even on film) so can not make a comparison...I'm only aware of his off-track exploits more's the pity.

I remember watching him as a fifteen year old at Cowley (1974) doing demonstration races with Colin Richardson. Colin was the victor I recall!

I recall a Golden Helmet Challenge at Eastbourne against Gordon Kennett and Michael failed to put in an appearance and Gordon won by default. Massive talent as Lee was he was also his own worse enemy.

Didn't Dave Lanning refer to him as Victor "Knockimov" during his commentary at the same meeting?

Now that I'm back at work I'm expected to wear a mask all day as I talk to and instruct members of the public at the tourist attraction I work at...and it's bloody annoying I have to say having to contantly breath in air that I have expelled thru' constant jabbering and makes the whole business of going about my working day uncomfortable and sweaty.

Brilliant ride...inside and out!

One of the best one-off World Finals (1973) in my opinion full of drama and good racing...the complete package. Saw Jerzy ride at Cowley in 1973 prior to his championship win. May he RIP