norbold

I decided a bit of lateral thinking was called for...... Quote from the 1958 World Final programme. "Brian Crutcher.....Reserve at Wembley 12 months ago, it's a big disappointment for Crutcher fans to see him occupying a similar position this time." Quote from the 1959 programme: "Brian Crutcher.....Made only the Reserve berths for the last two Finals and was thought not to be the man for the big occasion...."

Or Ronnie Moore being a New Zealander. He was, of course, born in Tasmania. Here's something else to add to the mystery. I have a filled in 1957 World Championship Final programme. It seems to be a meticulously filled in programme and leaves Brian Crutcher as first reserve. No mention of Westerburg. And Aage Hansen, who was in fact the only Norwegian to ride in the 1957 final.

This conversation raises a very interesting point and that is that when something is written in a book it is repeated by future writers who can't be bothered to do their own research and so becomes the truth. The 1957 final 2nd reserve is a good example. Maurice Jones, in his 1979 book, "World Speedway Final" shows Brian Crutcher as the 2nd reserve on the night. This is repeated in (ironically) Robert Bamford's own book, written with Glyn Shailes, "A History of the World Speedway Championship" (2002). With two authoritative books saying the same thing it passes into history as true. It reminds me of the whole idea that Johnnie Hoskins "invented" speedway.......

How very dare you! I hope for your sake customhouseregular doesn't read that.

Actually I did think after I'd posted my above rather long missive that I should have included Hans Nielsen along with Mauger and Rickardsson. I suppose I always tend to downplay his dominance in the Fundin/Mauger mould because of his rivalry with Erik Gundersen. But then I suppose you could say the same of Fundin/Briggs or Mauger Olsen.... Vic Duggan was dominant in the late 1940s!

I am a staunch Ove fan, Sid. The reason for that I suppose is because in my first year of speedway, 1960, he was far and away the best rider. His visits to New Cross were, for me at least, the highlights of the season. And remember, Briggo was actually a New Cross rider that year. During the season, Briggo was named as challenger for Ove's Golden Helmet title. In both races, Ove absolutely slaughtered Briggo, setting the two fastest times at New Cross, claiming the track record which stood till New Cross finally closed in 1963. He totally dominated the 1960 season and was odds on to win the World title, in spite of the challenges of the rest of the "Big Five". And, of course, he duly won. When he did win, the Speedway Star said, "Swedish speedway star, Ove Fundin, established himself as the greatest rider of all time by virtue of his brilliant victory in the Speedway Championship of the World final at Wembley Stadium.... Fundin showed the top trackmen of the world that his dynamic pace prior to the meeting had been no mere fluke." He was, of course, also ranked no.1 in the Speedway Star rankings that year and this is what Speedway Star had to say about that, "For the fourth time in five years, Ove Fundin has been rated the number one rider in the world.....There is little doubt that Fundin has firmly established himself as the greatest speedway rider of all time. His amazingly high points returns, recorded with fantastic consistency, his ability to increase speed as a race progresses, has earned him the title of 'Mr Perpetual Motion.'" And, talking of his "amazingly high points return", his average for the year was an incredible 11.56. This compares to Craven: 10.85, Moore:10.65, Knutson: 10.05 and Briggo: 9.51. In absolutely every aspect, Fundin was by far and away the dominant rider of 1960 and almost in a class of his own. I suppose it's that sort of thing that sticks with you when it's your first year watching the sport. In the years since, I would say that only Mauger and Rickardsson could be spoken of in the same breath as such a dominant force. Just two other things for me; not only was he the dominant rider of my first year and his visits to New Cross the highlight, but he scored an 18 point maximum in the first match I ever saw, so he set the scene for me right from the very beginning. The second is that over the last 10 years or so I have become very friendly with him. Apart from his riding ability he is a top class bloke!

So by that reasoning, Greg Hancock is a better rider than Tony Rickardsson.

Ove Fundin won and Briggo was 3rd. I don't understand your reasoning. By 1963 they had both qualified for every final since 1954. Fundin's record was far superior to Craven's in those finals and in 1963, Fundin won and Craven was 10th. Why, after all this time, would Craven suddenly have got Fundin's measure? He didn't show much sign of it in the 1963 final!

As you know, Sidney, I completely disagree with you, both from having seen them both myself from 1960 onwards and statistically. There is no doubt in my mind that Ove was superior to Briggo. Indeed in 1960, Briggo rode for my team, New Cross, and Ove regularly beat him round the Frying Pan on Briggo's home track. You can't say with any certainty what would have happened if the gates had been reversed for the 1967 final. I was at the 1967 final and Ove was the best rider there and deserved to win. Also, speedway is full of couldave, wouldave, shouldave, mightaves. Do you know for certain that there were no "lucky" incidents that went in Briggo's favour when he won his World titles? Also, Peter Craven did NOT regularly beat Fundin. All the record shows is that he beat Fundin more times than Briggo, Moore or Knutson did, not that he regularly beat him. In the Golden Helmet, for example, Fundin and Craven met eight times, with Fundin winning 5-3. And one of those three he lost was because he had to forfeit the 3rd leg, due to a prior commitment in Sweden. In any case, apart from not being correct in itself, it also shows that Briggo's own record against Fundin was inferior to Craven's. Not good for a rider supposedly better. We've seen published on this forum the Speedway Star ratings from 1956 to 1966, showing Fundin's record was far superior to Briggo's. I know you have a thing about Briggo, Sidney, but his being superior to Fundin is not borne out by any proper analysis of the two records, whether on paper or from memories of people around at the time.

Well the substance of the comment is still right, which is what you were endorsing.

Yes, you're quite right, iris. I made a mistake, confusing the op, with the one from Dantodan a bit further down the page. I must pay more attention to what I'm typing!

Since this thread was started over six years ago by Jack of Diamonds, his own site, Defunct Tracks, has gone from strength to strength and for those of us interested in the history of the sport is a first class resource and makes for very interesting reading. I could spend days at a time on it! I would highly recommend it to everyone with any interest in speedway history. You will find much fascinating detailed information on there together with some amazing photographs.

Another of my great memories is the 1967 World Speedway Final. I went to college in Norwich and I persuaded a number of my friends, who had never been to speedway, to come with me to the final so we could support Norwich's greatest, Ove Fundin. I wasn't expecting him to win as he was a bit past his best then and with Briggo still at the top of his game, Igor Plechanov still going strong as well and the up and coming stars like Mauger and Banger, I thought it was a bit of a forlorn hope but I didn't let on my feelings to my friends. Of course, I was proved wrong, and Ove won his fifth record-breaking World Title. My friends were very happy and a good time was had by all!

Very sorry to hear the news about Jimmy. My comment would be the same as The White Knight's. A very nice friendly man. R.I.P. old friend.

I guess so, sidney. He was ranked at no. 1 in the 1951 Stenners Annual (for 1950/51). Above Aub Lawson, Jack Parker and the World Champion, Fred Williams. He was favourite to win the 1950 World Final but ended the night in third spot with 12 points from four wins. His dropped points were in the 10th heat when, not being content with a second place, he fell whilst chasing the eventual winner, Freddie Williams, who won with 14 points. A second place would have earned him at least a run-off for the Championship. Unfortunately he then suffered a serious crash in New Zealand over the winter in which he suffered a fractured skull and he was never quite the same again. If he hadn't suffered the injury, who knows? But yes, he is definitely one to be counted in any "nearly men" discussions.

Yes, of course, there were dozens of riders I'd like to have seen. Of your list, I have seen Graham Warren, Ron Johnson and Ron Johnston. Others I would like to have seen: Roger Frogley, Frank Arthur, Max Grosskreutz, Joe Abbott, Ginger Lees, Jack and Cordy Milne, Colin Watson, Frank Charles, Lionel Van Praag......see what I mean? This could go on for ever.......

I was limiting myself to five and chose those who I think were probably the most exciting riders....though, having said that, I've just realised I missed out George Newton......

I think the riders I would most liked to have seen were Tom Farndon (there's a surprise) Vic Huxley Bluey Wilkinson Sprouts Elder and the man with a month to live, Cyclone Billy Lamont (see photo to left!) Also Norman Parker because I was named after him!

One (or two I suppose!) of my best memories is seeing the two near end of season meetings at New Cross (The King of the South Cup and The Tom Farndon Memorial Trophy) in 1961 when not only did the "Big Five" take part but also Jack Young back to his very best. Sadly, on neither occasion did all six compete together - Craven and Knutson missed the KotS Cup and Fundin missed the TF Trophy - but, seeing all those greats together was incredible, especially as the winner on both occasions was Jack Young. I did see the Big Five all together in the Internationale Final at Harringay in 1961, when they took the first five places. Another great meeting, which Ove Fundin won on an absolutely neutral track that hadn't been raced on since 1954.

No.Just no!

No guest riders in those days!

Well then, he can't be counted as a home track winner then can he, which is what the whole conversation was about or did that pass you by?

From the 1972 Webster's Speedway Mirror in an article entitled,"The Sixteen Countries of Europe" by Ian MacDonald: "The Poles themselves are still Eastern Europe's top speedway country......The international days of Pawel Waloszek and Antoni Woryna seem numbered but there is still an awful lot of talent over there. Leading the way is Jerzy Szczakiel and how the Poles could have left him out of their World Cup team is one of speedway's real mysteries...." The whole article is headed by a half page photograph of Szczakiel.

There were three Wembley riders who won the World Championship. Lionel Van Praag, Tommy Price and Freddie Williams (twice).

Szczakiel also won the World Pairs Title in 1971 with Andrzej Wyglenda with maximum points against New Zealand (Mauger and Briggs) and Sweden (Michanek and Persson) amongst others.