Here we feature photos from the Oxford Mail archive of the late 1960s.
Oxford Cheetahs rider Eddie Reeves was popular with speedway fans, and there were plans to dramatically increase the number of phonelines in Oxford.
And coal-fired Didcot power station was about to get started.
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Speedway made a dramatic return to Oxford Stadium in Blackbird Leys in April this year.
And it brought back memories of the sport's heyday in the 1960s when thousands of fans flocked to the stadium to enjoy a big night out.
In 2014, Oxford Mail reader Bill Law, of Faringdon, came across some programmes recalling the thrills served up by the Cheetahs on the track on Thursday evenings.
He wrote: "The programme cost one shilling (5p) – how much would it cost today? I think we paid 7s 6d (37½p) to get in.
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“We used to go to Swindon speedway on Saturday evenings and Oxford speedway on Thursdays.”
The stadium featured not only Oxford Cheetahs’ league clashes but also championship events.
The Midland Riders’ Championships on August 1, 1968 brought plenty of excitement for spectators.
The Oxford Mail reported: “Oxford Cheetah Ronnie Genz brought the Midland Riders’ Championship qualifying round to a rousing climax with a splendid victory in the most tense and exciting race of the night.
“The honour of top scorer of the evening was still wide open as the four contenders - Genz, team-mate Eddie Reeves, Cradley Heath and former Oxford Cheetah Roy Trigg and Swindon’s Bob Kilby - came up to the tapes for the crucial last race.
“Reeve led out of the first bend, but quickly fell back when Genz and Trigg thrust themselves in front.
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"Trigg tried everything he knew to outwit Genz, but the Oxford man rode superbly to win a great battle with four yards to spare.
“Genz’s effort, however, was not enough to make him leading scorer, Trigg finishing the night with 14 points, one more than Genz.”
Oxford Cheetahs’ skipper Eddie Reeves was pictured receiving a gold medal from teammate Ronnie Genz after winning a World Qualifying Championship round at Oxford Stadium in 1969.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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