Oxford Cheetahs
The Oxford Cheetahs were a British speedway team based at Oxford Stadium, in Oxford, England. They were founded in 1939 and were five times champions of Britain, in 1964, 1985, 1986, 1989 and 2001. The club folded in 2007.
Throughout their history they ran under two other names, from 1972 to 1975, they were known as Oxford Rebels and from 2003 to 2005, they were known as Oxford Silver Machine. They also ran junior sides known as the Oxford Cubs, Oxford Silver Machine Academy and Oxford Lions.
The Club Today
Despite having no league speedway, there are still a number of committed fans keen to see the return of speedway to Oxford. Two supporters groups, the Oxford Speedway Supporters Club and Save Oxford Speedway hold regular events and trips for Oxford fans and actively campaign for the return of speedway to Oxford.History
1939-1948
The Oxford Motorcycle Speedway Club moved to Oxford Stadium in 1939 from a grass circuit in Sandford-on-Thames. The Secretary Ted Mander orchestrated the move and the first individual meeting was held on Easter Saturday 8 April 1939 won by Roy Duke. The club contested team meetings against Smallford, Wisbech, High Beech and Reading.Racing resumed on 28 April 1940, with guest teams racing. This was followed by just two meetings in 1941 before Mander announced that racing would be suspended for the duration of the war. Despite the war ending in 1945 there was no racing from 1942-48. However during 1948 the stadium owner Leslie Calcutt unsuccessfully applied to the Speedway Control Board for a licence to race in the Third Division.
1949-1956
Following major track renovations in 1949, the club joined the 1949 Speedway National League Division Three. The club took the nickname 'Cheetahs' following a competition for the general public, held by the local Oxford Mail newspaper. The team manager was Ron Bear and the club colours were dark blue and yellow, with the first match being an away fixture at Exeter on 18 April 1949. Oxford lost heavily 60-24 and three days later lost to Hastings 47-37 in their first home fixture. The Cheetahs finished in last place during their inaugural season and used 24 different riders. The following season they won the division and were promoted to Division two in 1951. After finishing bottom of the division two in 1952 they rode in the third division called the Southern League in 1953 but following a league restructure returned to division two in 1954.1957-1971
Following a league merger the Cheetahs rode in the top tier for the first time in 1957. After struggling in the top division for several years they dramatically won the top tier league for the first time in 1964 despite finishing last the season before with many of the same riders. The winning team consisted of Arne Pander, Colin Gooddy, Colin McKee, Danny Dunton, Eddie Reeves, George Major, Jack Geran, Jimmy Gooch, John Bishop, Ron How and Ronnie Genz. They also completed a treble by winning the National Trophy and Britannia Shield. The team failed to emulate the success in the following seasons finishing mid-table for the next 7 years.1972-1975
From 1972 to 1975, they were known as Oxford Rebels under promoters Danny Dunton and Bob Dugard. Following the threat of track closure the promoters started a new team at White City called the White City Rebels leaving Oxford with no team or riders.1976-1983
A new Oxford team were formed and entered division two, they took back the name Cheetahs with new promoters Harry Bastable and Tony Allsop after a committee of fans had created a "Save Our Stadium" campaign over the previous winter. The team competed for eight years in the division.1984-1992
The golden period of Oxford speedway started in 1984. The stadium owners Northern Sports, headed by David Hawkins, invested heavily into the stadium with a £1.5 million three tier grandstand restaurant and sports centre. Hawkins installed Bernard Crapper and John Payne as speedway co-promoters and the team were entered for the 1984 British League season, with a new team that included Danish international Hans Nielsen and Simon Wigg. The team were champions of Britain in 1985, 1986 and 1989. In addition they won two British League Knockout Cups, a League Cup, Premiership and Gold Cup and paraded through Oxford on an open top bus.1993-1994
Northern Sports parent company Hawkins of Harrow began to run into financial trouble and the team suffered lack of investment, Hans Nielsen left and the team applied to and raced in division two. They won the division two fours championship in 1994.1995-1996
Northern Sports were liquidated so the team was not financed by the stadium owners. Additionally in 1995 and 1996 there was only one division of British speedway meaning the Oxford Cheetahs returned to the top division under independent promoters.1997-1997
Another league restructure resulted in a new Elite League with the Premier League becoming division two, Oxford competed in the latter.1998-2002
The team competed in the Elite League under new promotion from 1998 and in 2001 won their fifth top tier title. The team consisted of Aleš Dryml Jr., Andrew Appleton, Brian Andersen, Davey Watt, Leigh Adams, Lukáš Dryml, Steve Johnston and Todd Wiltshire and was promoted by Steve Purchase.2003-2006
The Oxford Cheetahs were renamed for three seasons as the Oxford Silver Machine under the promotion of Nigel Wagstaff. In 2006 they reverted to their original name which was apt because it was their final full season as a top tier speedway team.2007
Until 30 May 2007, they rode in the Elite League and operated a junior side known as the Oxford Lions which competed in the Conference League. In a statement issued by the British Speedway Promoters Association on 31 May 2007, their owner Colin Horton closed the club as a result of only 400–500 regular supporters attending home fixtures, and losing several thousand pounds every week.In June 2007, businessman Allen Trump invested in the club to secure the lease on the track and the Cheetahs completed the 2007 season in the Conference League, replacing the Lions.
Closure
After the 2007 season, owner Allen Trump planned to bring the Cheetahs back into the Premier League for 2008. However, Trump was unable to secure a deal with landlords, the Greyhound Racing Association to continue speedway racing at the Cowley stadium and handed the promotion back to the BSPA.During the summer of 2008 Nick Andrews was granted permission to organise Conference League challenge fixtures featuring a touring side of ex-Oxford riders with a view to entering the team in the Premier League in 2009. Unfortunately, negotiations with the GRA were again unsuccessful and speedway did not return to Oxford.
Teams
| season | Rider | Rider | Rider | Rider | Rider | Rider | Rider | Rider |
| 1949 | Alex Gray | Alf Elliott | Alf Viccary | Bert Croucher | Bill Downton | Bill Kemp | Bill Reynolds | Bob Aldridge |
| Bob McFarlane | Cliff Ladbrooke | Dennis Gray | Ernie Rawlins | Ernie Steers | Frank Boyle | Fred Vivian | James Osborne | |
| Jim Boyd | Jimmy Coy | Jimmy Wright | Joe Peck | Johnny Fry | Maurice Hutchens | Peter Lloyd | Roy Court | |
| 1950 | Bill Kemp | Bill Osborne | Bob McFarlane | Brian Wilson | Buster Brown | Colin Clarke | Eric Irons | Ernie Rawlins |
| Frank Boyle | Frank Johnson | Harry Saunders | Jimmy Wright | Pat Clarke | Ron Carvill | - | - | |
| 1951 | Bill Kemp | Bill Osborne | Bob McFarlane | Brian Wilson | Colin Clarke | Cyril Quick | Doug Ible | Eric Irons |
| Ernie Rawlins | Frank Boyle | Harry Saunders | Herby King | Pat Clarke | Roger Wise | - | - | |
| 1952 | Bill Kemp | Bill Osborne | Ernie Lessiter | Ernie Rawlins | Frank Boyle | Harry Saunders | Herby King | Jim Boyd |
| Jim Gregory | Len Glover | Pat Clarke | Ray Terry | Ron Wilson | Tony Wintour | Vic Taylor | - | |
| 1953 | Benny King | Bill Codling | Bill Osborne | Bill Kemp | Bob McFarlane | Frank Boyle | Frank Johnson | Herby King |
| Jim Boyd | Jim Gregory | Jim Tolley | Peter Robinson | Ray Moore | Ron Wilson | - | - | - |
| 1954 | Bill Osborne | Bill Thatcher | Bob Baker | Bob McFarlane | Bob Wells | Dennis Newton | Frank Johnson | Fred Curtis |
| Jim Gregory | Jim Tebby | Nobby Stock | Peter Robinson | Ronnie Genz | - | - | - | - |
| 1955 | Bill Thatcher | Bob Baker | Bob Wells | Dennis Newton | Fred Curtis | Maury Courtnell | Peter Robinson | Reg Trott |
| Ronnie Genz | Terry Courtnell | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1956 | Bill Thatcher | Bob Baker | Dennis Newton | Howdy Byford | Jim Tebby | Maury Courtnell | Pat Clarke | Peter Robinson |
| Ronnie Genz | Roy Bowers | Terry Courtnell | Tommy Miller | - | - | - | - | |
| 1957 | Danny Dunton | Dennis Newton | Frank Johnson | Gordon McGregor | Howdy Byford | Jack Biggs | Jimmy Squibb | Maury McDermott |
| Ray Cresp | Ronnie Genz | Roy Bowers | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1958 | Alan Lunn | Arthur Wright | Brian Miller | Charlie New | Colin Gooddy | Dave Still | Dennis Newton | Eric Boothroyd |
| Frank Johnson | Gordon McGregor | Howdy Byford | Reg Duval | Ronnie Genz | Roy Bowers | - | - | |
| 1959 | Arne Pander | Arthur Wright | Cliff Cox | Colin Gooddy | Gordon McGregor | Howdy Byford | Ken Adams | Nick Nicholls |
| Ronnie Genz | Roy Bowers | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1960 | Arne Pander | Bob Dugard | Cliff Cox | Colin Gooddy | Danny Dunton | Dave Hankins | Dave Still | Eric Boothroyd |
| Gordon McGregor | Gordon Owen | Howdy Byford | Jack Biggs | Jimmy Gleed | John Key | Ken Adams | Ray Liston | - |
| Ronnie Genz | Roy Bowers | Ted Connor | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1961 | Arne Pander | Bengt Brannefors | Danny Dunton | George Major | Gordon McGregor | Howdy Byford | Jack Biggs | Jim Tebby |
| John Bishop | Reg Duval | Ronnie Genz | Roy Bowers | - | - | - | - | |
| 1962 | Alf Hagon | Colin Gooddy | Danny Dunton | Gordon McGregor | Jack Biggs | Jack Geran | John Belcher | John Bishop |
| John Hook | Per Tage Svensson | Reg Duval | Ronnie Genz | - | - | - | - | |
| 1963 | Alf Hagon | Arne Pander | Chum Taylor | Colin Gooddy | Danny Dunton | George Major | Glyn Chandler | Jack Geran |
| John Bishop | Ronnie Genz | Trevor Hedge | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1964 | Arne Pander | Colin Gooddy | Colin McKee | Danny Dunton | Eddie Reeves | George Major | Jack Geran | Jimmy Gooch |
| John Bishop | Ron How | Ronnie Genz | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1965 | Arne Pander | Bill Finch | Danny Dunton | Eddie Reeves | Glyn Chandler | Jimmy Gooch | Jimmy Heard | John Belcher |
| John Bishop | John Hensley | John Hook | John Leader | Ken Vale | Maury McDermott | Ron How | Stan Stevens | |
| Tyburn Gallows | Wayne Barry | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1966 | Arne Pander | Des Lukehurst | Eddie Reeves | Jimmy Gooch | John Bishop | Maury McDermott | Pete Seaton | Tony Clarke |
| 1967 | Arne Pander | Colin Gooddy | Des Lukehurst | Eddie Reeves | Joe Weichlbauer | Ken Vale | Leo McAuliffe | Maury McDermott |
| Pete Seaton | Rick Timmo | Roy Trigg | Ted Spittles | Tim Bungay | - | - | - | |
| 1968 | Arne Pander | Colin Gooddy | Eddie Reeves | Godtfred Andreasen | John Bishop | John Poyser | Leo McAuliffe | Mick Bell |
| Pete Seaton | Rick Timmo | Ronnie Genz | Ted Spittles | - | - | - | - | |
| 1969 | Colin Gooddy | Conny Samuelsson | David Crane | Eddie Reeves | George Major | John Bishop | Ken Vale | Leo McAuliffe |
| Mick Bell | Peter Jarman | Pete Saunders | Pete Seaton | Rick Timmo | Ronnie Genz | - | - | |
| 1970 | Andy Ross | Colin Gooddy | Eddie Reeves | George Major | Hasse Holmqvist | Mick Bell | Pat Johnson | Paul O'Neil |
| Peter Jarman | Pete Saunders | Pete Seaton | Rick Timmo | Ronnie Genz | - | - | ||
| 1971 | Arthur Price | Brian Clark | Col Cottrell | Colin Gooddy | John Davis | John Jackson | Ken McKinlay | Laurie Sims |
| Norman Strachan | Oyvind Berg | Pete Saunders | Pete Seaton | Richard Greer | Rick Timmo | Ronnie Genz | Tommy Roper | - |
| 1972 | Bobby McNeil | Colin Gooddy | Gary Middleton | Gordon Kennett | John Davis | Julian Wigg | Ken McKinlay | Laurie Sims |
| Malcolm Ballard | Norman Strachan | Oyvind Berg | Paul Gachet | Preben Rosenkilde | Rick Timmo | Roger Johns | Svein Kaasa | - |
| 1973 | Bob Kilby | Bobby McNeil | Eddie Reeves | Gordon Kennett | Hasse Holmqvist | John Davis | John Dews | Malcolm Ballard |
| Rick Timmo | Roger Johns | Tony Lomas | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1974 | Bob Kilby | Bobby McNeil | Brian Clark | Gordon Kennett | Henk Steman | John Davis | John Dews | Martin Yeates |
| Paul Gachet | Peter Jarman | Richard Greer | Rick Timmo | Trevor Greer | Ulf Lövaas | - | - | |
| 1975 | Brian Clark | Dag Lovaas | Eddie Davidsson | Gordon Kennett | Hasse Holmqvist | Helgi Langli | John Dews | Paul Gachet |
| Richard Greer | Richard Hellsen | Trevor Greer | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1976 | Andy Bales | Brian Leonard | Carl Askew | Colin Meredith | Harry Maclean | Jim Wells | Kevin Young | Malcolm Corradine |
| Mick Handley | Phil Bass | Pip Lamb | Roy Sizmore | Steve Holden | - | - | - | |
| 1977 | Brian Leonard | Colin Meredith | Gerald Smitherman | Greg Joynt | Kevin Poole | Kevin Young | Malcolm Holloway | Martin Yeates |
| Mick Handley | Paul Share | Phil Bass | Pip Lamb | Richie Caulwell | Roy Sizmore | - | - | |
| 1978 | Brian Leonard | Carl Askew | Colin Meredith | Dave Shields | George Hunter | James Moore | John Hack | John Homer |
| Les Sawyer | Mick Blaynee | Mick Handley | Pip Lamb | Richie Caulwell | - | - | - | |
| 1979 | Carl Askew | Colin Ackroyd | Colin Meredith | Dave McKenzie | Denzil Kent | George Hunter | Gary Ainslie | Greg Irving |
| John Barker | John Grahame | John Hack | Keith Chapman | Ken Fearon | Les Rumsey | Michael Holding | Mick Handley | |
| Pip Lamb | Rob Dole | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1980 | Alan Williams | Andy Passey | Billy Spiers | Bruce Cribb | Chris Sully | Colin Ackroyd | Dave Perks | Derek Harrison |
| John Grahame | John Hack | Kevin Bowen | Mick Fletcher | Mick Handley | Paul Evitts | Ray Caruana | Steve Crockett | - |
| Trevor Greer | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1981 | Alan MacLean | Andy Passey | Arnold Haley | Arthur Price | Ashley Pullen | Colin Ackroyd | Dave Perks | Derek Harrison |
| John Grahame | Mick Fletcher | Mick Handley | Paul Evitts | - | - | - | - | |
| 1982 | Andy Passey | Ashley Pullen | Bill Barrett | Brian Woodward | Colin Ackroyd | Gary Chessell | George Wells | Graham Drury |
| John Frankland | Keith Booth | Kevin Lock | Kevin Smart | Martin Satchell | Mick Fletcher | Mick Handley | Pete Erskine | |
| Scott Cook | Simon Cross | Wayne Jackson | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1983 | Gary Chessell | Graham Drury | Ian Clark | Keith Booth | Kevin Smart | Mark Chessell | Mark Minett | Mark Summerfield |
| Mike Wilding | Nigel De'ath | Nigel Sparshott | Steve Crockett | Wayne Jackson | - | - | - | |
| 1984 | Andrew Silver | Dave Perks | David Tyler | Hans Nielsen | Ian Clark | Jens Rasmussen | Jimmy McMillan | Kevin Smart |
| Klaus Lausch | Mark Chessell | Martin Yeates | Marvyn Cox | Melvyn Taylor | Nigel De'ath | Nigel Sparshott | Simon Wigg | |
| 1985 | Alastair Stevens | Andy Grahame | Hans Nielsen | Jens Rasmussen | Jon Surman | Klaus Lausch | Marvyn Cox | - |
| Melvyn Taylor | Nigel De'ath | Nigel Sparshott | Simon Wigg | Troy Butler | - | - | - | |
| 1986 | Alastair Stevens | Andy Grahame | Hans Nielsen | Jeremy Luckhurst | Jon Surman | Kevin Smart | Marvyn Cox | Nigel De'ath |
| Per Sorensen | Simon Wigg | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1987 | Alastair Stevens | Andy Grahame | Hans Nielsen | Jens Rasmussen | Jon Surman | Kevin Smart | Mark Carlson | Marvyn Cox |
| Neil McCarthy | Nigel De'ath | Nigel Greenhalgh | Nigel Sparshott | Peter Lloyd | Troy Butler | Wayne Ross | - | |
| 1988 | Alastair Stevens | Einar Kyllingstad | Glenn Doyle | Hans Nielsen | Jon Surman | Lars Munkedal | Martin Dugard | Marvyn Cox |
| Nigel De'ath | Paul Muchene | Peter Lloyd | Simon Wigg | Spencer Timmo | - | - | - | |
| 1989 | Andy Grahame | Colin White | Hans Nielsen | Kevin Pitts | Martin Dugard | Marvyn Cox | Paul Dugard | Paul Muchene |
| Simon Wigg | Troy Butler | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1990 | Alastair Stevens | Dean Barker | Hans Nielsen | John Bostin | Jon Surman | Kevin Pitts | Kieran McCullagh | Martin Dugard |
| Paul Dugard | Sean McCullagh | Simon Wigg | Troy Butler | Wayne Parker | - | - | - | |
| 1991 | Craig Boyce | Darren Grayling | Dean Barker | Glenn Cunningham | Hans Nielsen | Kieran McCullagh | Jon Surman | Lance Sealey |
| Mark Carlson | Martin Dugard | Peter Schroeck | Spencer Timmo | Tony Primmer | - | - | - | |
| 1992 | Darren Sumner | Dean Barker | Glenn Cunningham | Hans Nielsen | Mark Carlson | Martin Dugard | Morten Andersen | Spencer Timmo |
| Troy Butler | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1993 | Alan Grahame | Andy Hackett | Andy Meredith | Carl Blackbird | Chris Cobby | Darren Andrews | David Clarke | David Smart |
| Gary Sweet | Mark Blackbird | Paul Blackbird | Peter Glanz | Rene Madsen | Spencer Timmo | Tony Langdon | Wayne Parker | - |
| 1994 | Alan Grahame | Andy Meredith | Darren Andrews | Darren Sumner | David Smart | Martin Goodwin | Mick Poole | Niklas Karlsson |
| Rene Madsen | Spencer Timmo | Stefan Ekberg | Stephen Morris | - | - | - | - | |
| 1995 | Armando Castagna | Daniel Andersson | David Steen | Jimmy Nilsen | Martin Goodwin | Michael Coles | Rene Madsen | Steve Bishop |
| 1996 | Bohumil Brhel | Carl Checketts | Lawrence Hare | Mark Frost | Mark Lemon | Martin Goodwin | Martin Willis | Marvyn Cox |
| Philippe Berge | Tomáš Topinka | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1997 | Anthony Barlow | Darren Andrews | Gavin Hedge | Jason Bunyan | Jeremy Luckhurst | Krister Marsh | Lawrence Hare | Mikael Teurnberg |
| Neville Tatum | Philippe Berge | Simon Wolstenholme | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1998 | Jan Stæchmann | Jason Crump | Lawrence Hare | Paul Hurry | Steve Johnston | Steve Schofield | Todd Wiltshire | - |
| 1999 | Alun Rossiter | Craig Boyce | Jan Stæchmann | Lawrence Hare | Paul Hurry | Steve Johnston | Todd Wiltshire | - |
| 2000 | Aleš Dryml Jr. | Andrew Appleton | Brian Andersen | Jan Stæchmann | Jimmy Nilsen | Jon Underwood | Lukáš Dryml | Mark Lemon |
| Roman Povazhny | Steve Johnston | Todd Wiltshire | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2001 | Aleš Dryml Jr. | Andrew Appleton | Brian Andersen | Davey Watt | Leigh Adams | Lukáš Dryml | Steve Johnston | Todd Wiltshire |
| 2002 | Aleš Dryml Jr. | Alun Rossiter | Andrew Appleton | Brian Andersen | Davey Watt | Jamie Smith | Joachim Kugelmann | Leigh Adams |
| Lukáš Dryml | Mark Lemon | Steve Johnston | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2003 | Andy Smith | Charlie Gjedde | Craig Boyce | Darren Andrews | Emil Kramer | Greg Hancock | Henning Bager | Jamie Smith |
| Jan Stæchmann | Jernej Kolenko | Kai Laukkanen | Luboš Tomíček Jr. | Matej Ferjan | Nicki Pedersen | Niels K. Iversen | Niklas Klingberg | |
| Sebastian Ułamek | Todd Wiltshire | Travis McGowan | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2004 | Brent Werner | Craig Boyce | Emil Kramer | Greg Hancock | Jonas Davidsson | Niels K. Iversen | Rafal Dobrucki | Ryan Fisher |
| Sebastian Ułamek | Tom P. Madsen | Travis McGowan | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2005 | Billy Hamill | Chris Mills | Craig Branney | Freddie Eriksson | Greg Hancock | Henrik Gustafsson | Jesper B Jensen | Kjasts Puodžuks |
| Luboš Tomíček Jr. | Lukáš Dryml | Niels K. Iversen | Paweł Staszek | Renat Gafurov | Tobias Kroner | Tom P. Madsen | Tomasz Bajerski | |
| Travis McGowan | Tony Rickardsson | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2006 | Adam Pietraszko | Adam Skórnicki | Aleš Dryml Jr. | Davey Watt | David Howe | Eric Andersson | Freddie Eriksson | Luboš Tomíček Jr. |
| Stanisław Burza | Stefan Andersson | Todd Wiltshire | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2007+ | Aleš Dryml Jr. | Eric Andersson | Freddie Eriksson | Henrik Møller | Luboš Tomíček Jr. | Piotr Protasiewicz | Steve Johnston | Chris Schramm |
| 2007 | Andrew Bargh | Brendan Johnson | Danny Betson | Dan Blake | George Piper | Jordan Frampton | Lee Smethills | Mattie Bates |
| Sam Martin | Scott Campos | - | - | - | - | - | - |
+ Elite League side withdrew from league