Jim Blanchard Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 I am currently working on a personal project of Erik. Was he considered the great Dane or was that Hans Neilsen? Where does he fit in the grand scheme of things? Thoughts and anecdotes would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Surely Ole Olsen was the original Great Dane!!!(although Erik and Hans should split it with him!!)They were all Great Danes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Main Man Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hans was known as the Main Dane. What do you want to know about Erik ? Having known him since he came to the Uk, acted as his manager and wrote his first book "Champ" , i might be able to help you with some background Jim --let me know . Laurence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slickmick Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Ole Olsen is surely the Great Dane the rest come after and though brilliant riders will not misplace Olsen. Great dane, grandfather, father and the inspiration of the insurgence of Danish speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mervjankefanclub Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hans was known as the Main Dane. What do you want to know about Erik ? Having known him since he came to the Uk, acted as his manager and wrote his first book "Champ" , i might be able to help you with some background Jim --let me know . Laurence Hans Nielsen was indeed the Main Dane(copyright DICK Barrie ) http://www.dickbarrie.co.uk/speedway/toptenworld.htm I suppose they could all lay claim to the title Great Dane, but a rider who has been mentioned on this section before is Morian Hansen, who, it could be said was the original Great Dane. As for Erik, I remember the night the Heathens came to Blantyre on ILKO Cup duty and all the focus was on Bruce Penhall, rightly so I suppose, but it was wee Erik Gundersen who took my breath away and I became a huge fan of his from that night on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schumi Posted November 8, 2008 Report Share Posted November 8, 2008 http://subedei.proboards89.com/index.cgi?b...=761&page=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Blanchard Posted November 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2008 Hans was known as the Main Dane. What do you want to know about Erik ? Having known him since he came to the Uk, acted as his manager and wrote his first book "Champ" , i might be able to help you with some background Jim --let me know . Laurence Yes, Laurence I would like some background on Erik please. I picked up that CVS first brought him over initially and he told me he still had the original contract that Erik signed, and that he generally hates flying, and that in the same 12 months he held all the speedway championships, individual, team, pairs and long track. The only rider in history to achieve that? Also, is it ever likely that he would ever visit the UK again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bee Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 I am currently working on a personal project of Erik. Was he considered the great Dane or was that Hans Neilsen? Where does he fit in the grand scheme of things? Thoughts and anecdotes would be appreciated. I was always under the impression that Arne Pander was known as the Great Dane.... But true ther have been a few great ones after him, namely Olsen, Neilsen and Gundersen. Not forgetting Jan O as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 (edited) We must not forget two more "Great Danes". They rode for Norwich Stars .... Keihn Berthelsen & Kurt W Pedersen. In the 50s when K B came here the Continentals all seemed to be judged against the Swedes like the fabulous Fundin. No-one could stand that comparison so they were not rated by anyone. Kurt was signed by Norwich as a replacement for Aub Lawson, another who was irreplaceable at Norwich. Without the likes of Keihn the sport would have died in Denmark, so he should be rated a top bloke of his day and a link between Morian Hansen and Arne Pander. Arne was one of the great riders who didnt ride in a World Final Edited November 9, 2008 by star ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHALEWAY69 Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 Kurt Petersen may not have made a great impact as a rider, but his mechanical and tuning skills became legendary. The Petersen cam was in great demand in the late 1950"s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 That is right Bee. Arne Pander was routinely referred to as The Great Dane in the early 60's-unlucky not to have got to a World Final.I understand he still lives in England?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Blanchard Posted November 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 That is right Bee. Arne Pander was routinely referred to as The Great Dane in the early 60's-unlucky not to have got to a World Final.I understand he still lives in England?? I have an idea he lives near the Norwich/Norfolk area Bob. Yes, I can also remember watching him race to, again at New Cross in the early 60's, though he rode for Oxford and was a very good rider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rami Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 Jim - If you ever decide to do one of your fabulous paintings of Erik you can put me down for a copy straight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Blanchard Posted November 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 (edited) Jim - If you ever decide to do one of your fabulous paintings of Erik you can put me down for a copy straight away. Thanks for that rami. Its funny you should say that, but I am working on a new painting of Erik. I have completed the preliminary drawings. Also, I promised one of Tommy Jansson a year or so back to some fans, purchased the book and did some research, but put it on the back boiler, so now I am currently working on the two at the present time. Edited November 9, 2008 by Jim Blanchard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rami Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 As for nicknames Ole was The Great Dane, Hans The Main Dane, and Erik was known as either Wunder Gunder or The Black Country Dane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 I actually think Gundersen was better than Neilsen, Hans didn't really start to shine until after Erics sad and very premature retirement. Although at the time the rivalry between the two was superb and no doubt good crowd pullers when both were in town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rami Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 I actually think Gundersen was better than Neilsen, Hans didn't really start to shine until after Erics sad and very premature retirement. Although at the time the rivalry between the two was superb and no doubt good crowd pullers when both were in town. The rivalry was unbeleivable they really didnt get on at one point a lot to do with Ole supporting Erik, as for who was the best thats another one that is all down to personal opinion, Along with Penhall Erik was my all time hero so maybe im a bit biased but i think week in week out Hans was the better more consistent of the two but when the pressure was on and it really was needed Erik was the man. Personality wise i think Erik wins hands down (no pun intended!!!) a really great down to earth approachable guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
star ghost Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 Arne used to work for the Lotus Factory near me, played pool for the "Windmill" Pub in Wymondham and lived in the Hingham area where he had a Pub. A few years back Arne was taken to Oxford to watch England meet Denmark in a Test Match Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff. Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 Yes, Laurence I would like some background on Erik please. I picked up that CVS first brought him over initially and he told me he still had the original contract that Erik signed, and that he generally hates flying, and that in the same 12 months he held all the speedway championships, individual, team, pairs and long track. The only rider in history to achieve that? Also, is it ever likely that he would ever visit the UK again? Eriks fear of flying stems from a near miss one Easter when travelling back to the UK Erik, Ole Olsen and Tommy Knudsen were on a small plane that developed problems abd looked likely to end up in the channel at one point, miraculously the plane limped to an airfield where all three continued their journeys to meetings that same hight. I actually think Gundersen was better than Neilsen, Hans didn't really start to shine until after Erics sad and very premature retirement. Although at the time the rivalry between the two was superb and no doubt good crowd pullers when both were in town. Such crap isn't even deserving of a response but I will respond anyway. Nielsens best years were 1983 to 1989, during his long running battles with Erik. Quite the opposite of your version is the truth and Hans actually lost some edge after Erik's accident, althogh still a potent force for 10 more years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted November 10, 2008 Report Share Posted November 10, 2008 Such crap isn't even deserving of a response but I will respond anyway. Nielsens best years were 1983 to 1989, during his long running battles with Erik. I don't see the need to always be so abusive Ok,you don't agree with someone,but why can't you just post your opinion and prove them wrong?Anyway,i think until Hans made the breakthrough in 86 Erik held the upper hand psychologically.Hans tended to have a thing about big tracks whether that was just in the mind?I would guess it was,but he seemed to think in the eraly days that he went better on the small tracks.I thought they were both great.And having met both of them this year i think they are both nice guys as well.Although Erik made a great impression in the fact that he remembers me from the previous time and comes up to say hello.Even complimented me on my work which was an unbelievable feeling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.