BL65

Bjorn arrived in Britain part way through the 1959 season and was an immediate success. By the end of the following season he had achieved a 10 plus average and joined Ove Fundin, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs and Peter Craven to form the ‘big five’, who were eventually considered so good they had to concede a handicap to everyone else in team racing. Bjorn won one world individual title and was second twice. In his first final he won 4 races and fell in the other, against the eventual winner Ove Fundin. In his second final machine failure in a race he was expected to win cost him the chance of a run-off for second place. The next year a fall cost him a possible third place run-off. Bjorn’s only poor final was his last in 1966 when he had machine trouble in two of his five races. In addition to helping Sweden to 4 wins, 2 second places and a third place in the 7 World Team Cup finals he took part in, Bjorn was European Long Track Champion in 1965 (the top long track event, before the World Long Track competition started), twice European Champion, twice Nordic Champion and twice Swedish Champion. When the British League was formed in 1965 it was decided that commuting Swedish riders would no longer be required. But for this decision perhaps Bjorn would have continued his speedway career for several years. Instead, by 1966 he was developing business interests and I recall there was talk about him having an interest in car racing. I think I once read that he operated a successful car dealership. If Bjorn had continued racing for another few years, with the same level of commitment, I am sure that he would have been a genuine world title contender for at least the next 6 years. Having seen Ivan Mauger and Ole Olsen in many meetings during those years I am convinced that they would have found Knutson at his best extremely difficult to match.

In addition to the two matches referred to, Jack beat Bluey at New Cross on 16th September and Bluey won their race at West Ham on 21st July. On 5th August at New Cross, in the London Cup, Jack won 2-0, with Bluey winning both races in the return six days later.

Although the details are not in the Team by Team section on the Speedway Researcher site there are details shown in the Year by Year Section - 1936 - National League Heat Details and London Cup Heat Details.

Thank you Gustix.

There would be only minor changes to the top of the order. Because I have totalled points over a 20 season period Ivan scores a low total. The period up to the end of the National/Provincial Leagues in 1964 saw him ranked well outside the top 10, as did his injury hit season in 1965. I feel that Ivan's real breakthrough year was 1967, before he finally hit the top in 1968. A similar exercise for the 20 year period from 1969 onwards would almost certainly see him at the top of the pile. 1. Ove Fundin 50+9 = 59 2. Barry Briggs 48+10 = 58 3. Ronnie Moore 50+7 = 57 4. Peter Craven 44+4 = 48 5. Jack Young 43+1 = 44 6. Bjorn Knutson 41+2 = 43 7. Brian Crutcher 31+1 = 32 8. Ken McKinlay 28+3 = 31 9. Gote Nordin 29+1 = 30 10. Igor Plechanov 27+0 = 27

In considering the selections I took into account what I recall seeing at the time and in my view Igor just had the edge on Charlie. His second place run-off victory over Ove Fundin confirmed his stature, but he was also very impressive during the USSR tour of Britain in 1965, including smashing Goog Hoskin's Exeter track record which had been set in 1954. On the tour Plechanov rode in all 5 tests, as did Monk, with Plechanov scoring 62 points plus 3 bonus compared to Charlie's 50 points and 5 bonus. In the Scotland v USSR meeting Plechanov scored 14 and Charlie 13. In that series of meetings they met 10 times, with Igor ahead of Charlie on 7 occasions.

Thank you White Knight. Part compiled from memory, but thank goodness for record books, programmes, magazines, the Speedway Researcher website and various other online sources, all of which provide a wonderful reminder. I decided to restrict the year lists to the top ten. Charlie was actually number 11 for 1965 in my longer list.

The original question on this thread was about the greatest rider over a specified period, which is always a matter of opinion as opponents, machinery, tracks and riding styles change over time. Having considered who were the most dominant riders each year, my opinion on each season from 1949 to 1968 is shown. From this, by awarding 10 points for first position in each season down to 1 point for tenth position I have then compiled a list based on the totals over the period of time concerned. My selections have regard to season long achievement, not just for performance in the world championship, although this is taken into account. 1949 Vic Duggan, Graham Warren, Jack Parker, Tommy Price, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Aub Lawson, Norman Parker, Dent Oliver, Ron Clarke, Louis Lawson 1950 Graham Warren, Jack Parker, Tommy Price, Norman Parker, Cyril Roger, Aub Lawson, Louis Lawson, Vic Duggan, Freddie Williams, Wally Green 1951 Ronnie Moore, Aub Lawson, Jack Young, Alan Hunt, Freddie Williams, Eddie Rigg, Norman Parker, Jack Biggs, Split Waterman, Jack Parker 1952 Ronnie Moore, Jack Young, Alan Hunt, Split Waterman, Freddie Williams, Tommy Price, Bob Leverenz, Henry Long, Cyril Brine, Geoff Mardon 1953 Ronnie Moore, Jack Young, Olle Nygren, Split Waterman, Arthur Forrest, Alan Hunt, Freddie Williams, Geoff Mardon, Tommy Price, Aub Lawson 1954 Ronnie Moore, Brian Crutcher, Jack Young, Olle Nygren, Eddie Rigg, Arthur Forrest, Geoff Mardon, Barry Briggs, Split Waterman, Alan Hunt 1955 Ronnie Moore, Jack Young, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Brian Crutcher, Peter Craven, Olle Nygren, Arthur Wright, Arthur Forrest,Ron Johnston 1956 Ove Fundin, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven, Barry Briggs, Brian Crutcher, Per Olaf Soderman, Peter Moore, Alan Hunt, Arthur Forrest, Jack Biggs 1957 Peter Craven, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Bob Roger, Ron Johnston, Ron How, Ken McKinlay, Aub Lawson, Brian Crutcher, Rune Sormander 1958 Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Peter Craven, Ken McKinlay, Brian Crutcher, Ronnie Moore, Jack Young Aub Lawson, Olle Nygren, Ron How 1959 Ronnie Moore, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Peter Craven, Ken McKinlay, Olle Nygren, Brian Crutcher, Ron How, Peter Moore, Geoff Mardon 1960 Ove Fundin, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven, Bjorn Knutson, Barry Briggs, Ken McKinlay, Arne Pander, Peter Moore, Stefan Kwoczala, Rune Sormander 1961 Ove Fundin, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven, Bjorn Knutson, Barry Briggs, Gote Nordin, Arne Pander, Florian Kapala, Rune Sormander, Ron How 1962 Peter Craven, Ronnie Moore, Bjorn Knutson, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Gote Nordin, Ron How, Ken McKinlay, Igor Plechanov,Bob Andrews 1963 Ove Fundin, Ronnie Moore, Peter Craven, Bjorn Knutson, Barry Briggs, Boris Samorodov, Gote Nordin, Ron How, Sverre Harrfeldt, Ken McKinlay 1964 Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Igor Plechanov, Bjorn Knutson, Boris Samorodov, Ken McKinlay, Ron How, Arne Pander, Nigel Boocock, Gote Nordin 1965 Bjorn Knutson, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Igor Plechanov, Nigel Boocock, Ken McKinlay, Ron How, Arne Pander, Bengt Jansson, Sverre Harrfeldt 1966 Barry Briggs, Bjorn Knutson, Ove Fundin, Gote Nordin, Sverre Harrfeldt, Igor Plechanov, Antoni Woryna, Nigel Boocock, Ivan Mauger, Arne Pander 1967 Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Gote Nordin, Bengt Jansson, Ivan Mauger, Igor Plechanov, Nigel Boocock, Anders Michanek, Ray Wilson, Antoni Woryna 1968 Ivan Mauger, Barry Briggs, Edward Jancarz, Torbjorn Harrysson, Anders Michanek, Ove Fundin, Nigel Boocock, Martin Ashby, Ray Wilson, Bengt Jansson Based on the above selections, the top 20 for the whole period is: 1. Ove Fundin 121 2. Barry Briggs 115 3. Ronnie Moore 110 4. Peter Craven 72 5. Bjorn Knutson 54 6. Jack Young 47 7. Ken McKinlay 36 8. Brian Crutcher 33 9. Gote Nordin 30 10. Igor Plechanov 27 11= Aub Lawson 26 11= Olle Nygren 26 13= Alan Hunt 25 13= Ron How 25 15= Graham Warren 19 15= Nigel Boocock 19 17= Jack Parker 18 17= Freddie Williams 18 17= Split Waterman 18 17= Ivan Mauger 18 Of course, this list could have been very different, but for the tragic loss of Alan Hunt and Peter Craven, serious injuries to Ronnie Moore, Graham Warren, Ron How, Arne Pander and Stefan Kwoczala, the early retiirement of Brian Crutcher and seasons opted out of British speedway by Ronnie Moore and Ivan Mauger. The outcome would also be somewhat different according to the timescale selected. In my selections Ronnie Moore was well ahead from 1951 to 1963, whereas Ove Fundin's era of greater domination was 1955 to 1967.

I have sent heat results via email.

Yes, I do have the heat details in a pdf document. If you send me a PM with your email address I will forward it to you.

3rd April Southampton - Persistent rain resulted in the meeting being postponed just before start time. 8th April Rye House - Following overnight rain, another heavy downpour as the meeting was about to start resulted in cancellation. 1st May Southampton - Dick Bradley and Cyril Roger both scored 13 points, with Bradley winning a run-off. 22nd May Southampton - Knutson won with a 15 point maximum, with Ron How second on 13. Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs and Tony Lewis scored 11 to tie for third place. 8th June Wolverhampton - There was a 4-rider tie for first place, with Willie Templeton, Graham Warren, Norman Hunter and Trevor Redmond all scoring 13 points. This is confirmed by both Speedway Star and my programme. 3rd July Southampton - Alby Golden and Neil Street both scored 12, with Golden winning a run-off for first place. Ronnie Genz was third with 11 points. 22nd July Eastbourne - I have a record of the result being Eastbourne 41 Poole 35, although the heat details are not completed in my programme. 31st July Southampton - The home team beat Continentals 52-44 (Southampton: Briggs 13, Vandeberg 11, Knustson 9, Golden 8, Roger 5, Bradley 5, Luckhurst 1, Continentals: Fundin 14, Craven 13, Nygren 5, Sjosten 5, Maidment 4, Larsson 2, Svensson 1). 8th August Norwich - According to my records this meeting was re-scheduled rather than rained off. It took place three weeks later. Norwich also staged home meetings on 4th and 11th August. 9th August Middlesbrough - This was an additional challenge match. Middlesbrough 37 Newcastle 41 on 31st May doubled as the Provincial League match and the second leg of the Tyne-Tees Trophy according to the Speedway Star. 11th September St. Austell - According to my records no meeting took place, the originally advertised open meeting having been removed from the fixture list. 25th September Southampton - Southampton 50 (Golden 10, Bradley 9, Knutson 9, Roger 8, Briggs 7, Vandenberg 7, Monk 0) Pick of the National League 27 (Sjosten 7, Nygren 5, Fundin 4, Lightfoot 4, Maidment 3, Mountford 3, Craven 1)

Sidney, I made some comments in post #30 under your original topic on 'Fundin Olsen Nielsen Would They Have All Won More World Title's If There Had Been A Gp Series Around?'

Perhaps the two versions of the result counted according to that information. I echo your sentiments.

The results of the appeal were published during the third week in June. Speedway Star billed the meeting for the 11th June as Provincial League only in the forthcoming fixtures and the the report of the abandonment described it as a PL fixture only. The meeting on 7th May should not have been changed to a challenge and so was reinstated as a Southern League encounter.

The original result of the Exeter match at home to Poole was a 45-33 win for the Falcons on 7th May. Poole lodged a protest to the Control Board over the inclusion of guest rider Jimmy Gooch in the Exeter team and this was upheld. His 9 points were deducted and the amended score was Exeter 38 Poole 40. The riders who finished behind Gooch were given an additional point in each race. Nothing in speedway is ever straightforward though and there was more to the story. The Control Board had refused Exeter permission to use Gooch before the meeting started and so 6 minutes before tapes up it was announced that the meeting was being changed from a Southern League fixture to a challenge match. However, when the matter was considered further the meeting was reinstated as a Southern League match. Gooch's 5 points in the meeting at Poole on 2nd May were also deducted by the Control Board, hence the result being amended from 48-30 to 52-25, with the riders he beat benefiting from an extra point provided they finished the race. Plymouth successfully protested to the Control Board that Poole should have not have used Brian Clements as a guest rider on 26th April and his 3 points were deducted. The result of heat 3 was changed from 2-4 to 3-2. The original result was 36-39 and this amendment would have changed the score to 37-37. However, the Control Board also ruled that Plymouth wrongly used Maury Mattingley as a substitute in heat 12 and his win in that race was removed, with the race result amended from 5-1 to 3-3. This gave an amended result of Plymouth 35 Poole 39. The league table shown in the Exeter programme from 16th July 1962 is correct. Speedway Star also published a 'final table' on 14th July but had Exeter with an extra race point scored and Poole with an extra race point against.

Unfortunately those leagues are not covered for the 1960s in the book.

Sorry Dave, I overlooked the Sheffield error, it is 44.5-31.5 in PM's book. Just checked points scorers for Sheffield and can confirm that Jack Winstanley scored 2 points in this meeting, not 1 as recorded in Speedway Star. The result was 44.5-31.5, which would be the result of Winstanley finishing in third place ahead of Crozier in heat 13.

The Speedway Star of 28.07.62 published a league table up to and including 14th July showing Newcastle with 414 race points. The next published table on 04.08.62 recorded that up to and including 28th July the Diamonds then had 495.5 race points, from two further matches. The two matches were at home to Sheffield and Neath. The Neath home meeting was a 37-40 defeat. 495.5 minus 37 is 458.5 and 458.5 minus 414 is 44.5, so the result of the meeting against Sheffield must have been 44.5-30.5, as recorded in subsequent programmes. Peter Morrish's 'British Speedway Leagues 1946 to 1964' records a result of 44.5-30.5. The match report in the Speedway Star by Maurice Morley states that the Diamonds won by 15 points, in accordance with the heat details, so he must have overlooked a non-finisher. The Star report, presumably the source of the Researcher details, shows Ivan Crozier as scoring 6 points, but my records show that he actually scored 5, so he must have been a non-finisher in either heat 5 or heat 13.

Until old limestone workings collapsed beneath the cricket pitch Dudley used to host Worcestershire County Cricket matches from time time. Elsewhere in the borough, Stourbridge also regularly staged county and one day matches, as did nearby Kidderminster in north Worcestershire. Dudley borough has a number of current and former non-league football clubs, including Stourbridge, Halesowen, Dudley Town, Brierley Hill, Gornal Athletic and Lye Town, with Dudley Town currently playing at a ground in the Brierley Hill area. Football clubs in the borough have plenty of competition for support from Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion, within 6 miles to the north and east of Dudley respectively, as well as Aston Villa and Birmingham City (within 12 miles). I understand that there is a proposal to build two new leisure centres and then demolish the three existing ones which otherwise need extensive refurbishment. Maybe it is about time that we had a law that required the provision of new alternative sites or facilities to replace any sport or leisure site that is to be redeveloped for housing or commercial purposes if the existing provision is used by a specified number of people.

I just read more about the venture at http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/fran3team.htm This includes some information provided by Reg Duval.

Buddy Fuller had a spell at Liverpool in 1950, having been with Hastings in 1949. I think that the riders participating in the venture were probably all juniors apart from perhaps one event when some more established names travelled over to Paris.

Reg was given rides in the second half at Liverpool in August 1949, quickly gained a reserve slot and at the beginning of October, having been promoted into the team proper, he top scored with double figures at home to Poole. I have a record of him appearing in a second half race at High Beech at the end of July 1949 and I believe he attended the training sessions organised by the 'Speedway World' at the track, as well as at Rye House. I think that the series of meetings promoted by Westwood in France and Belgium in which Reg took part were held in 1949, prior to Reg linking up with the Chads. I understand that Reg travelled to France with Doug Serrurier, but the South African returned after one meeting as he had a place in the Liverpool team.

Good to hear news of Reg. He is well remembered for his exploits for Liverpool Chads from 1949 to 1952. He also lived in the area for a while and promoted the 1957 open season at Stanley Stadium.

Certainly correct in the modern era, but going back in time the meetings against Halifax in 1965 and Edinburgh in 1966 were not staged, although there were many more meetings each season in those days. I am sure that with the number of teams in the league it should be straightforward enough to accommodate all of the fixtures next season, even without resorting to double headers.

I have read every issue of Speedway Star from March 1952 to date. In my view it has maintained a high standard over the years and it has certainly retained my interest. On the whole I feel the magazine reports the news (and results) in a timely manner and allows readers to form their own views on events. I appreciate that on occasions a degree of investigative journalism can be enlightening in any publication, but if facts and events are reported comprehensively this gives the reader every opportunity to form their own views and reach their own conclusions. I am sure that anyone who feels there is a topic which has not been covered in a balanced way or in sufficient depth could air their views and promote further debate through the letters page.