Oxford

Oxford City council has saved Oxford Stadium yet again from housing developers. At its council meeting on the 16th December, 2011, the council not only denied planning permission, but called for the owners to bring back speedway.

The council believes that Oxford’s long, proud and successful history should not be left to die as of 2008. There are not many councils that enthuse about speedway tracks especially in a built up areas, but Oxfords council’s own consultations proved to the councillors that their is strong support for our relatively inexpensive family friendly sport where all ages mix on the terraces enjoying fast, skilful competitive racing.

Despite the stadiums facilities being allowed to run down by the present owners the council believes it should remain a multi sport and leisure complex with speedway back on its track. This is the lifeline opportunity Oxford Cheetahs supporters need. The owners could still appeal and with Oxford’s desperate need for affordable housing who knows what will eventual happen if speedway is not re-established quickly. The stadium needs a new owner who will no longer ask for a seasons rent which they know a promoter cannot afford to risk. The track needs to be used as soon as possible if we are to hear the Cheetahs roar again.

Oxford have only just become defunct at the time of writing this 2008. I have "kicked off" the webpage with a couple of photographs but I now need the help of Oxfords fans. Send me an email if you want to help John

1939 action from Cowley, Dick Reynolds leads Bob Jones, both riders are mounted on Rudges when most riders had made the switch to Jap engines

The bus was always full up as were the stands. We thrilled to see the likes of Ronnie Genz and dear old Howdy Byford who was known as "The Champ" Also we loved to watch Peter Craven when Belle Vue visited.

After a long time we started to attend again. This time the cheetahs were in a lower league and sported riders like Graham Drury, and Wayne Jackson. We used to like the old wooden stand and had our own position there.

It was fun and we were there when Oxford were promoted to the British League and Hans Nielsen and dear Simon Wigg gave us such great memories. It saddens my heart to think of Oxford closing AT at least we were honoured to be there during those great days . "One, two, three, four, let us see the Cheetahs score"

Hi, I stumbled across your defunct site and realised I had something sat in a cupboard for many years that would be useful someday. I hope it is of some interest to you and others who find this site.
Best wishes
Geoffrey Bloomfield , Oxford.

Yes Geoffrey the following scans are of interest, thanks for sending them. (Note to browsers, I hope the scans display correctly on the range of pcs in use today, Text scans aren't always clear). So please let me know if it is unreadable and I will try and improve or remove: John

A rare sight a rear sprocket without any drillings. Eric Became a top performer with Middlesbrough and Halifax, or was it the other way around.

Arne Pander "the Great Dane" joined the Cheetahs in 1959 (Writes Geoff Bloomfield) and was the mainstay of the Oxford team for many years. He won the hearts of the Cowley fans straight away with his impressive performances, at last they had a real International star of their own.
In July 1961 he suffered a fractured skull in an accident at Coventry and did not return to the team until the 1963 season. In the following years his old fire returned and he proved to be a formidable opponent.
1967 saw the start of a series of accidents which eventually brought about his departure from Oxford.
1967 - broken leg and ankle, which ruled him out for the season.
1968 - broken collar bone from which he made a swift recovery only to fracture a shin bone a couple of months later.
A superb rider in his time, had he not suffered the setback in 1961 he could have been a World beater.

Ronnie showing how a rider travelled between tracks in the 1960's. His choice was a Mark 1 Ford Cortina. The modern day police would have likely pulled him over for this.

Ronnie Genz joined Oxford in 1954 from Yarmouth, this proved to be one of the best ever signings made by Oxford and he proved to be a very loyal servant to the club. “Genno” gave great service to the Cheetahs for many seasons, consistently a top scorer and definitely the man to beat around Oxford. In 1965 he moved to Poole, returned in 1968, but suffered severe concussion following an accident at Cradley in August and was out for the rest of the season. In 1969 despite brave efforts to make a comeback he was a shadow of his former self, but the following year he was back to his ever reliable self. In 1972 he forced out by the Rider Control Committee to Newport. Off track "Genno" was a very approachable chap who always had time for the fans.

Gordon McGregor (1921 - 2001), a stalwart of the Oxford team for six years who provided a great deal of pleasure and was highly thought of by the fans.

He had a remarkable career; starting serious speedway racing in 1947 at Glasgow, White City and still racing at Doncaster in 1970 aged 49. He also rode with Motherwell, Leicester, before coming to Oxford. In 1963 he signed for the Belle Vue ‘Aces’ and helped the club to their first league title since the war with a superb average of 8.83, demonstrating his value to the team by clocking up a remarkable 41 bonus points in 28 league and cup matches.

International Honours: England international – 19 caps, 83 points, Great Britain international - 1 cap, 2 points.
Team Honours: National League Championship winner 1963.
Off track "Mac" was a very amiable man with a great sense of humour, who provided a great deal of support and encouragement for young novice riders.

Opening night 1976 when the stadium was reprieved from closure and the Cheetahs returned

New promoter at Oxford, Harry Bastable, with riders

Volunteers clean and paint stadium prior to the 1976 season

The track is closed but Bob Cole paid it a visit and took the following photographs

Have just read your very interesting site. I supported Oxford from 1972 - 2003 before moving to York. I visited Oxford recently and couldn't believe the state of the stadium and wrote a strongly worded E-Mail to the GRA stating my disgust regarding the general state of what was once a stadium that was held in high esteem within the speedway fraternity. I also mentioned that if hadn't been for the speedway fans back in 1976 who stepped forward to save the stadium from development then there wouldn't have been a stadium there now! Also their general attitude towards the sport in general which I find unacceptable and bewildering to say the least! Glad that my father is no longer alive to see the state of Sandy Lane (he went to the very post war first meeting in 1949)