lucifer sam

Kojak was a star. He used to get the Swindon fans going a treat. Pretty sure Dugard and Karger also clashed on that night - they normally did at some point of the evening. EDIT: Here we go: found the report from the Oxford Mail - Dugard and Karger clashed in Heat 13. Dugard excluded, rode through the tapes in disgust. You're right about the incidents in Heat 7 (Wigg/Goodwin) and Heat 14 (Chessell/De'ath). All the best Rob

Was that the night that Dugard and Karger had one of their semi-regular on-track scuffles, and then there was a huge barney at the pit gate when Oxford refused S***don a victory parade? Made the front page of the local paper. All the best Rob

Dekker, problem is these days, we know you're on a constant wind-up. Once went to a Reading v Swindon match expecting a good atmosphere - it was like a library. All the best Rob

The good old days. From what I recall, it was also nearly me vs Mrs Buzz Burrows after the match, but you interjected before I said anything else to save me from a beating. All the best Rob

Oxford v S***don All the best Rob

By the magical Wikipedia pixies, of course. Or maybe it's by ten of thousands of historians and specialists of various aptitude. All the best Rob

Actually I doubt if anyone disagrees much with either of those statements. I think the disagreements centre on whether West Maitland on December 15th 1923 was the actual, definite, very first meeting, or has any more right to be called the first meeting that the other meetings that came before it. The answer to that is probably a "no". And also to whether Johnnie S Hoskins "invented" speedway. Again probably a "no". But there's no doubt he had a massive influence on how speedway was shaped and how it is still today. Therefore "Godfather Of Speedway", very much so. In fact, since my definition of "father" is not the biological father but rather the person who brings up the infant and moulds them, I would say Johnnie Hoskins IS The Father Of Speedway, whether he actually staged the first meeting or not. All the best Rob

Sounds like a good plan. All the best Rob

Cheers mate. I think I'll book onto the EuroRider tour for the 16th/17th. All the best Rob

Conkers, regarding the second Assen weekend, I notice the World Championship roinds are on the Friday and the Saturday. Do you know if there's a third meeting on either the Thrusday or the Sunday? All the best Rob

Surely if the Grand Prix riders received thier fair share of the cake, then there would be no problems. The GP riders are massively underpaid - the prize money is a joke. That's why riders are putting Poland first. Even British Speedway pays better than the GPs. All the best Rob

Exactly. Give it up Parsloes. All the best Rob

Name one teenage Speedway Individual World Champion since 1936. (Clue: there has never been one). Emil came along and took the world by storm at the age of 19, just as I fully expect Darcy to next year at the age of 20. Things have not changed. It's the the case that if you're good enough, you're old enough - always has been. And that works both ways - in Greg's case, it's the you're good enough, you're young enough. Age is immaterial. All the best Rob

Neil, that's the one. It's also the format that has been used in Ice Racing for many years. All the best Rob

What obstacles? Last year, after winning the Under-21 for a second year Ward was quoting in the press that he didn't think he was quite ready for a seeded spot in 2011. So he's been given a seeded place once he himself covers himself ready for a spot. What obstacle has been placed in the path of Darcy Ward? I love to see new young riders in the Grand Prix, but at the same time, I don't want to see Hancock and Gollob pensioned off before they themselves decide it's time to go. You seem to be discrimating against Hancock and Gollob on the basis of their age. If they are competitive (and the last couple of years suggests that they most definitely are), why should they have to go? Give it up, you're talking nonsense. All the best Rob

Neil, just checked my programme and the heat format for the second day is completely different for all the heats (21-40). Riders kept the same numbers for both days - for instance, Hans Nielsen was No. 2 and Erik Gundersen was No. 13. All the best Rob

Nonsense. The World No. 2 & 3 from this year are both in the middle of that age range, while the World No. 6 is still a youngster. And Grand Prix rounds have been won this year by riders of various age ranges. I really can't see the point that you're trying to make. All the best Rob

Phil, I agree - Greg is THE man of 2011 and a very deserving world champ. Parsloes, does it really matter if the World Champ is 19, 29, 39 or 41, as long as it is won by a worthy recipient? All the best Rob

You what? Greg would never have let him pass... it's the final of a Grand Prix for goodness sake. Parsloes, you crack me up at times. All the best Rob

Nope, if he was going to be World Champion, it should have happened in 1982 or 1983. It didn't. Carter peaked early, and by 1986, his career was on the downward spiral. The Danes had well and truly eclipsed him. EDIT: Falcace, yes we've been here before. All the best Rob

So, 25 points out of 27 before the interval, and 6 out of 18 after the interval. That tells a story. Kenny Carter was never going to be World Champion. All the best Rob

Frigbo, thanks a lot, that helped me get my facts right for the piece in today's Oxford Mail: http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/9302467.SPEEDWAY__Former_Cheetahs_star_How_dies_at_81/ Ron How joined Wimbledon in 1955, which means he featured in six of their seven league titles between 1954 and 1961. Then he won the National League again with Oxford in 1964. And but for his mid-season injury, the Cheetahs would have surely won the 1965 British League (even missing How for four months, Oxford finished just 7 points behind eventual winners West Ham). Ron How won SEVEN National League titles - what a fabulous record!! All the best Rob

RIP Ron How. Made a huge impact in such a short space of time at Oxford - No. 1 for the 1964 treble winning team, and only his injury stopped the Cheetahs winning the inaugural British League title in 1965. Also became the first Cheetah to reach a World Final - scoring 10 points in Gothenburg in 1964. And quite rightly he is remembered as a legend for Wimbledon, where he won numerous league titles. EDIT: Does anyone know how old Ron was? All the best Rob

And maybe, just maybe, Ian Hoskins is unlikely to have a balanced view. I think the tag "The Father Of Speedway" is fair enough, though; do you Norbold? All the best Rob