Young speedway talent will blossom under the mighty Oakes
TIME might have changed and the Showground track might have been tweaked in the years Oakes has been away. But he is adamant the same formula for success will still serve the club well.
TIME might have changed and the Showground track might have been tweaked in the years Oakes has been away. But he is adamant the same formula for success will still serve the club well.Oakes is a champion of young talent (just what you would expected from a man who has run British Under 15 and Under 18 championships and managed the national Under 21 set-up) and always works with one eye on tomorrow as well as today.
He oversaw a conveyer belt of fine young talent from the city track during the 1990s and is keen to set the wheels in motion in that respect again.
David Howe, Simon Stead, Oliver Allen, Ross Brady were all British lads that zoomed off the Panthers production line during Oakes' previous Panthers stint.
He was also the man that drafted in a 16 year-old Aussie by the name of Jason Crump and brought another teenager from Down Under to this part of the world - the one and only Ryan Sullivan.
Others to grace the junior set-up back then were Scott Nicholls and a 14 year-old Nicki Pedersen.
Oakes added: "Yes, time changes but the basics do not and I have very clear ideas about what will hopefully bring success.
"We won't just be about building a team and trying to achieve success in the present. There will also be a big emphasis on finding and developing young riders for the future which is something I believe in doing massively.
"I think it is something that has been neglected somewhat in recent years and the first thing we will be doing is restoring second-half racing. I was a regular watcher at the Showground last season and it was a sorry sight not seeing the youngsters going round after the meeting.
"I certainly want to sign young riders for the future so as when we get to 2013 and 2014 we know where our team is going to be coming from.
"It can be hard to plan for tomorrow in speedway due to the way the rules and regulations can change, but it is something you have to do.
"We developed a decent formula in the 1990s and we again want to start what in essence will be a speedway academy so as we can provide youngsters with the backing they need - and that doesn't just mean on the financial side.
"I have brought young riders through at every club I've ever been at. I am a man that wants to see British boys riding in the top British league."
Oakes departed at the end of 1998 but his legacy lived on with incredible success.
All seven members of the Panthers side that stormed to Elite League glory the following season had come through the ranks during Oakes' tenure.
"One of my last memories of my first spell with Panthers was attending the Evening Telegraph Sports Awards early in 1999," recalled Oakes. "Panthers were lucky enough to win the team of the year prize for what they achieved in '98.
"I was not part of their party at the event but was a guest with someone else. Jan Andersen, the captain of the '98 team went up onto stage to collect the award and brought it to me at my table.
"He said it was for me and I still have it on display in my office today."
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Weather for Peterborough
Friday 03 September 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 19 C
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Wind direction: East
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
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