The First Eso/jawa

[Hot Shoe]

Anyone know who was the first rider to use an ESO or JAWA in British League Speedway?

It must has caused a bit of a ripple when one of these machines was wheeled out for the first time.

Anyone remember when, where and who.

Yeah, i know i'm asking a lot but you never know:)

[Guest Steve Dixon]

Would have thought Mauger would be up there somewhere?

Wasn't he the first 'works' rider for Jawa?

[iris123]

Would have thought Mauger would be up there somewhere?

Wasn't he the first 'works' rider for Jawa?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't know,but wasn't Briggo riding for the factory before Mauger?

Maybe Ove Fundin was the first.Briggo mentions him as riding one before he got a contract

Edited January 28, 2005 by iris123

[Guest Steve Dixon]

Probably a close call,Briggo was the main dealer in the 70's(as you probably know)

[iris123]

Yes.Just reading an extract from his biog,and he was invited over after winning the World Title in'64,given the full works and asked to test the bike out and report back on possible improvements.Seems through the season he had trouble with it and was in 2 minds whether to use it the Final '65.Did and it played up a bit and he finished 4th.So from that i reckon he was a bit before Ivan but as he says Ove had used one before him.

Edit:Maybe this confirms it Ove But it is a comprehensive site. Was a good history at one of the Exeter sites but they have changed it recently and the Jawa/Jap bit has gone

Edited January 28, 2005 by iris123

[Hot Shoe]

Would have thought Mauger would be up there somewhere?

Wasn't he the first 'works' rider for Jawa?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Don't know,but wasn't Briggo riding for the factory before Mauger?

Maybe Ove Fundin was the first.Briggo mentions him as riding one before he got a contract

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, Briggo rode an ESO in 1966 and was the 1st World Champ on a JAWA.

Mauger wasn't a JAWA works rider until 1969.

[cyclone]

Might well have been another Kiwi called Rim Malskatis who rode one in his first season with Long Eaton in 1965.

[cpbyles]

Might well have been another Kiwi called Rim Malskatis who rode one in his first season with Long Eaton in 1965.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

The first of the ESO machines appeared in Britain during 1961 when it was ridden by the great Ove Fundin, though he reverted to his JAP machines for the more prestigous meetings. It was Barry Briggs who later became the UK concessionaire at his Southampton premises for the complete Eso machine.

[cpbyles]

Was a good history at one of the Exeter sites but they have changed it recently and the Jawa/Jap bit has gone

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Moved all the machine History across to the Workshop Pages which covers the biggest part of machine History

 

http://speedwaybikes.fortunecity.net/

[Hot Shoe]

Was a good history at one of the Exeter sites but they have changed it recently and the Jawa/Jap bit has gone

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Moved all the machine History across to the Workshop Pages which covers the biggest part of machine History

 

http://speedwaybikes.fortunecity.net/

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks Chris, Great website. Do you know if the ESO was more expensive than the JAP motor at that time?

I know a lot of riders didn't take to the (high revving?) ESO as opposed to the favoured JAP but was it down to economics and the fact that their wasn't an importer at that time?

The 1955 ESO doesn't look that different to an early 1960s model. Any idea why it took six years for one to arrive on the U.K. Speedway scene?

[cpbyles]

Was a good history at one of the Exeter sites but they have changed it recently and the Jawa/Jap bit has gone

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Moved all the machine History across to the Workshop Pages which covers the biggest part of machine History

 

http://speedwaybikes.fortunecity.net/

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks Chris, Great website. Do you know if the ESO was more expensive than the JAP motor at that time?

I know a lot of riders didn't take to the (high revving?) ESO as opposed to the favoured JAP but was it down to economics and the fact that their wasn't an importer at that time?

The 1955 ESO doesn't look that different to an early 1960s model. Any idea why it took six years for one to arrive on the U.K. Speedway scene?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

They were cheaper to purchase initially, and I understand that the reason they took so long to get introduced over here was purely based on East/West relations at the time during the Cold War

[Liontamer]

According to the latest issue of the excellent Vintage Speedway Magazine, Alan Butterfield of Newcastle was the first rider in Britain to use an ESO engine in Britain, which he fitted into a Mattingley frame.

[iris123]

According to the latest issue of the excellent Vintage Speedway Magazine, Alan Butterfield of Newcastle was the first rider in Britain to use an ESO engine in Britain, which he fitted into a Mattingley frame. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When was that then.While he was riding for Middlesbrough?

[Liontamer]

According to the latest issue of the excellent Vintage Speedway Magazine, Alan Butterfield of Newcastle was the first rider in Britain to use an ESO engine in Britain, which he fitted into a Mattingley frame. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

When was that then.While he was riding for Middlesbrough?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No more clues

[iris123]

No,just thought it might have given a date.He rode for Middlesbrough 63 -64 when it is possible he was the first if the date for Ove is wrong in 61.But if we are talking 65 then it doesn't seem right as Briggo say's Ove had already ridden one before 65? Wondering if one of the Polish riders who came over had one,Zyto,Teodorowicz ?

Edited January 30, 2005 by iris123

[Liontamer]

No,just thought it might have given a date.He rode for Middlesbrough 63 -64 when it is possible he was the first if the date for Ove is wrong in 61.But if we are talking 65 then it doesn't seem right as Briggo say's Ove had already ridden one before 65? Wondering if one of the Polish riders who came over had one,Zyto,Teodorowicz ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

[iris123]

Bit too hard for ya? Seeing as the man with the technical web-site had already said Ove rode one in 61.Either he is wrong or VSM is wrong.When did Butterfield first ride for Newcastle?

Have to get Jim Blanchard to ask Ove if he remembers when he first rode one i guess

Edited January 30, 2005 by iris123

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

Have to get Jim Blanchard to ask Ove if he remembers when he first rode one i guess

 

Part of email sent to Ove this very afternoon.

 

 

"PS. One question please Ove, what year did you first ride Eso/Jawa machines.

 

Will advise as soon as I hear back from Ove. He tends to read emails about 4pm every day, when he reads the French, Swedish, English newspapers. Should know about 5pm tomorrow if he is not gone on one of his trips of course in his new Saab or BMW motor bike.

Edited January 31, 2005 by Jim Blanchard

[miro]

As mentioned above, anyone remember what Henryk Zyto was riding at Coventry in 1960?

 

Speaking of early users of the Jawa/ESO,

 

http://speedwaybikes.fortunecity.net/esostory.htm

 

offers this from 1957:

 

"The speed and reliability of the ESO speedway machine drew attention also of foreign riders, many of whom are now riding these machines. Of the best known are K.Killmeyer, Kupczinski, Anderson, Siegi, Seemander, Craighead and Bishop must be mentioned" (1957)

 

Meaning Karl Kilmeyer, Edward Kupczynski, Henry Andersen (?), Georg Siedl or Albin Seigl and Rune Sormander I guess, the only Criaghead I can think of is Roy and Phil Bishop?

 

Can anyone add any more info on the last two?

[iris123]

Interesting bit in Chum Taylor's book saying he went to Prague in early 66 and there was a 14 day waiting list to get into the factory.He wanted to pick up some spares for his bike,but left without getting to the place.