Ivan Miller - Rayleigh

[Hot Shoe]

Was Ivan Miller the New Zealander who came over to the UK to ride in motocross for Commerfords in the early 1970s the same person who rode Speedway for Rayleigh?

 

If it is does anyone have any of his speedway stats?

 

Any info much appreciated.

[chunky]

Not according to this :

 

http://wwosbackup.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=mriders&action=display&thread=1883

 

Steve

[tigerowl]

A legendary figure in the world of motocross racing in New Zealand, Ivan was over in the U.K. in 1972 and was a great friend of Wimbledon rider Graeme Stapleton who also had a similar background. He was tempted to try the shale sport and signed for Rayleigh where he made a series of impressive appearances, including successive seven point returns at home to Birmingham and Berwick. Despite averaging over five points per match in his first eight matches for the ‘Rockets’ he decided that he was not making the progress he would have wanted and quit the sport. He was no doubt a talented motorcyclist and may well have risen to great heights within speedway had he decided to continue with the sport.

[Hot Shoe]

A legendary figure in the world of motocross racing in New Zealand, Ivan was over in the U.K. in 1972 and was a great friend of Wimbledon rider Graeme Stapleton who also had a similar background. He was tempted to try the shale sport and signed for Rayleigh where he made a series of impressive appearances, including successive seven point returns at home to Birmingham and Berwick. Despite averaging over five points per match in his first eight matches for the ‘Rockets’ he decided that he was not making the progress he would have wanted and quit the sport. He was no doubt a talented motorcyclist and may well have risen to great heights within speedway had he decided to continue with the sport.

Thanks for the info. He was as you say a talented motorcyclist and i well remember when he came over to the UK and (with another excellent motocross rider Gary Flood) worked and rode for Comerfords of Thames Ditton. I rode in motocross at the time and often saw his 400cc Husqvarna (complete with slimline BSA B50X alloy petrol tank) in Comerford's Comp Shop or over at Hounslow Heath on a weekday afternoon practice.

He certainly made an impact on the UK Motocross scene and i presume with his Motocross exploits it was difficult to combine that with a career in Speedway as well.