BRITISH CAREER: (1951) Exeter; (1952) New Cross; (1953) New Cross, Birmingham; (1954-58) Swindon; (1961-62) Swindon. CAREER RECORD WITH SWINDON: Meetings: 178 (97 League; 14 National Trophy; 1 Knock-Out Cup; 12 Southern Shield; 2 Inter-Divisional Tournament; 10 Britannia Shield; 2 Central Challenge Shield; 39 Challenge; 1 Four-Team Tournament) Rides: 828 Points: 1,709 Bonus: 108 Total: 1,817 Average: 8.77 Maximums: 34 (25 full and 9 paid)
CLUB DEBUT: 10 April 1954 versus Belle Vue (Home) Challenge; 5+1 points (4 rides).
ROBERT WILLIAM ROGER was the youngest member of a famous speedway family. Both his brothers, Cyril and Bert, were riders; all three beginning their careers at New Cross. Bob started to ride in 1950, although he didn't appear in any official meetings for the Rangers that year and was subsequently loaned out to Third Division Exeter the following season. The Falcons enjoyed a good year, finishing as runners-up to Poole in the final league table, and Roger was happily perched on top of the team's scoring, having amassed 290 race points.
After such a brilliant first full season in the sport, it was back to New Cross and First Division racing in 1952 and, despite his lack of experience, he acquitted himself well against the big boys to notch 95 league points. When New Cross closed due to disappointing attendances in June 1953, Bob teamed-up with Birmingham for the remainder of the season and netted 47 league points during his stint for the Brummies.
A drop into the Second Division followed in 1954, when he arrived at Swindon, making his club debut with a paid 6 points in a challenge match versus Belle Vue at Blunsdon on 10 April. The points really began to flow from his wheels in the matches that followed, including a wonderful six-ride maximum at home to Wolverhampton in a National Trophy tie on 22 May.
The league campaign kicked off the very next week at the Abbey Stadium and Roger was literally on fire as he breezed to a 12-point full-house against Coventry. He was to prove a spectacular signing and his fearless riding certainly found favour with the Blunsdon faithful. At the end of the campaign, it came as little surprise to see him heading the Robins' averages with a marvellous 9.71 figure, having gleaned 161 points from nineteen league matches.
The following year, he continued to ride superbly and rattled up 327 points to again occupy top spot in the Robins' league figures, courtesy of an 8.81 average. In 1956, Swindon were crowned Second Division Champions, with Bob playing a vital role in their success as he scorched to 276 league points and once more finished on top of the side's averages courtesy of a 9.53 figure. Long after the domestic campaign was over, Roger thoroughly enjoyed himself in a rare out-of-season meeting, when winning the Christmas Vase at Wimbledon on Boxing Day.
The First and Second Divisions amalgamated in 1957, and Swindon simply carried on where they had left off, becoming National League Champions. The Ashford-born speedster enjoyed a truly outstanding term, riding alongside the likes of George White, Ian Williams, Ken Middleditch, Neil Street, Ernie Lessiter and Mike Broadbank, as the Robins edged out Belle Vue by a single point to snatch the title.
The exciting, full-throttle racer remained ever-present throughout the 20-match league campaign, plundering ten maximums (8 full and 2 paid) on his way to 250 points and a massive 10.27 average, as he topped the Swindon figures for the fourth successive season.
Also, during a glorious year, Roger challenged Peter Craven for the prestigious British Match-Race Championship, winning his home leg 2-0, only for the Belle Vue star to gain a similar result on his own patch. A decider was subsequently held at Norwich and although Bob won the first race, it was Craven who retained his title after storming home in the next two heats.
The 1958 campaign started with the Robins facing Norwich in a challenge match at Blunsdon on 4 April, and Roger was again in great form, recording a tally of 13+1 points. However, just three days later - on Easter Monday - the hand of fate dealt a cruel blow to the Swindon No. 1.
While making a guest appearance for Poole against Southampton at Wimborne Road, Bob was unluckily involved in a nasty heat eight crash with Split Waterman and Brian Crutcher, which left him with a fractured skull. He was unconscious for several days, but slowly regained his health and was keen to resume his career after a long break.
He eventually attempted a comeback in the Robins' first fixture of 1961, a Hutchins Cup match at Oxford on 31 March. Although his courage in even getting back on board a machine had to be admired, he unfortunately looked a shadow of his former self and failed to score from four starts.
In spite of this, he decided to persevere, but the points were hard to come by and he only appeared in a few team matches over the course of the season, including just three in the league, instead being mainly restricted to second-half outings.
He bravely tried again in 1962, but after appearing in a couple of challenge matches and taking a few more second-half rides at Blunsdon, he called it a day and the career of one of the most colourful of all Swindon representatives came to a premature close. His last meeting for the club occurred at Oxford in the Hutchins Cup on 20 April, when he gleaned 3 points.
Regrettably, Bob passed away on 17 December 2002.Â
CALL FOR SITES
Swindon Motorsports Ltd launches "Call for Sites" to help identify new motorsports arena in Swindon.
DATE OF BIRTH: 14 June 1928, Ashford, Kent
The league campaign kicked off the very next week at the Abbey Stadium and Roger was literally on fire as he breezed to a 12-point full-house against Coventry. He was to prove a spectacular signing and his fearless riding certainly found favour with the Blunsdon faithful. At the end of the campaign, it came as little surprise to see him heading the Robins' averages with a marvellous 9.71 figure, having gleaned 161 points from nineteen league matches.
He eventually attempted a comeback in the Robins' first fixture of 1961, a Hutchins Cup match at Oxford on 31 March. Although his courage in even getting back on board a machine had to be admired, he unfortunately looked a shadow of his former self and failed to score from four starts.
