Tommy Jansson Never Fogotten

[Robbie B]

May the 20th has come around again and it's hard to believe that it's now 37 years since Tommy lost his life in a World Championship qualifying round, in Sweden.

 

A night that all Dons supporters started off by celebrating after a hard fought 39-all draw at Sheffield that so suddenly turned to tears to us all when the news filtered though. I can still remember like yesterday seeing the news in the national press about this tragic moment that now in speedway history. Having to go to school that morning was the last thing I wanted to do.

 

I have sent the speedway researcher a file copy of Tommy's UK race record that I had on a website a few years back. They have told that the file will be uploaded in their next update.

 

I just like to say Tommy thanks for all of the great memories and like all speedway riders who pay the ultimate price for our entertainment Tommy you will never be forgotten RIP.

[stratton]

May the 20th has come around again and it's hard to believe that it's now 37 years since Tommy lost his life in a World Championship qualifying round, in Sweden.

 

A night that all Dons supporters started off by celebrating after a hard fought 39-all draw at Sheffield that so suddenly turned to tears to us all when the news filtered though. I can still remember like yesterday seeing the news in the national press about this tragic moment that now in speedway history. Having to go to school that morning was the last thing I wanted to do.

 

I have sent the speedway researcher a file copy of Tommy's UK race record that I had on a website a few years back. They have told that the file will be uploaded in their next update.

 

I just like to say Tommy thanks for all of the great memories and like all speedway riders who pay the ultimate price for our entertainment Tommy you will never be forgotten RIP.

 

May the 20th has come around again and it's hard to believe that it's now 37 years since Tommy lost his life in a World Championship qualifying round, in Sweden.

 

A night that all Dons supporters started off by celebrating after a hard fought 39-all draw at Sheffield that so suddenly turned to tears to us all when the news filtered though. I can still remember like yesterday seeing the news in the national press about this tragic moment that now in speedway history. Having to go to school that morning was the last thing I wanted to do.

 

I have sent the speedway researcher a file copy of Tommy's UK race record that I had on a website a few years back. They have told that the file will be uploaded in their next update.

 

I just like to say Tommy thanks for all of the great memories and like all speedway riders who pay the ultimate price for our entertainment Tommy you will never be forgotten RIP.

Great rider one of my fondest memories actually having the pleasure of seeing him ride.A great riding style and my memory of him beating Ashby in the helmet i will never forget it is scary that the years have gone so quickly. Edited May 20, 2013 by sidney

[moxey63]

Class performer, Tommy was... sheer class. Remember reading the headline of his death in the following night's Manchester Evening News - he had only ridden at Belle Vue a few weeks before in the John Player meeting and was in good form. My second death in my time watching speedway - Gary Peterson the other.

Both, as they all are, were real shocks.

[stratton]

I know it has widely been discussed and endless good judges have all said he would of been world champ.But what a thought to think he would have been at his peak against Nielsen, PC, Lee,Penhall,Gundersen how the sport was robbed was looking through my records i think he only rode in 1 BLRC at the great Hyde Rd.?

[TonyMac]

One of the respondents to our British Speedway Memories questionnaire has today named Tommy Jansson as one of his three favourite riders of all-time, and he wrote the following:

With Ronnie Moore’s retirement Dons’ fans desperately needed a new star and hero in 1973, and it was the raw and exciting Swedish second-halfer Tommy Jansson that became the new darling of Plough Lane faithful.

Unlike those other 70s era good-looking, talented, teenage heartthrobs Donny Osmond and David Cassidy, who were both quietly despised by all British teenage boys, Tommy was never a figure of jealously even though most of the girls swooned over him. He was adopted by us boys as a sort of surrogate elder brother whose career and exploits we followed with excitement and pride.

Tommy grew in stature on both the domestic and international fronts, regularly beating world class riders with his smooth racing style and ability to win from the tapes or from the back. With the departure of Briggo at the end of 1975, Tommy effortlessly assumed the Number 1 slot in the Wimbledon team for the ’76 season, and looked set fair to build on his League, World Pairs title and Golden Helmet success.

We were all so excited at Tommy’s success and knew he had what it took to challenge the very top riders in the world; it was surely only a matter of time until he would be challenging for the World crown.

Alas, it was never to be, as his life was cruelly cut short on that fateful night in Sweden. As a 16 year old I’d never experienced death until that moment; it was a shattering experience which I remember to this day.

I think all Wimbledon fans died a little that dreadful night.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you would also like to contribute your memories to our book, just answer the questions below and send the answers to us at Retro Speedway…

 

BRITISH SPEEDWAY MEMORIES

A lavishly illustrated book to be published by Retro Speedway in Autumn 2013

 

LATER this year we at Retro Speedway will publish a new book called BRITISH SPEEDWAY MEMORIES. As the title suggests, it will be a compilation of special memories as recalled by supporters of our wonderful family sport.

 

It doesn’t matter which era of speedway’s history you treasure most . . . whether your interest dates back to the post-war boom period or you have only been following the sport for a short while . . . we all have special moments in time and favourites we like to remember and reflect upon with pleasure. Now let’s share them with each other for our mutual enjoyment.

 

The idea is that we are going to record all of your thoughts and memories in one convenient place that will never be far from reach – hence BRITISH SPEEDWAY MEMORIES.

 

All you have to do to be part of it and ensure your name is included in the book is answer the following 10 simple questions. If not all, then as many as you can.

 

Firstly, please state YOUR NAME, POSTAL ADDRESS, EMAIL ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER

(Don’t worry, apart from your name, we will NOT publish your details in the actual book!)

 

1. Tell us about the first speedway meeting you can remember attending and what led you to go?

2. Where did/do you watch speedway most regularly?

3. What was/is your favourite away track to visit, and why?

4. Name your three most favourite (not necessarily the best) riders, and why you have chosen them?

5. Of all the meetings you have been to, do you have one memorable classic that stands out from all the rest?

6. Can you single out one particularly great race that will live longest in your memory?

7. What do you miss most about speedway in the past?

8. What, if anything, would you like to see reintroduced to speedway today?

9. What is your favourite memory you take from speedway?

10. Whether you used to attend speedway meeting or still do so today, describe what makes speedway so special to you?

 

Thank you. Now please email your answers to Tony Mac at editorial@retro-speedway.com Please send them to us as soon as possible, but the deadline for responses is

August 31st, 2013.

Edited May 24, 2013 by tmc

[pandorum]

Saw him once go unbeaten on a track he had never seen before.

Got his autograph

I think his death even made News At Ten if I recall correctly.

A truly fantastic speedway rider.

[stratton]

Saw him once go unbeaten on a track he had never seen before.

Got his autograph

I think his death even made News At Ten if I recall correctly.

A truly fantastic speedway rider.

Where did you see him go unbeaten? I see him about seven times, the test match at Blunsdon Sweden v New Z 1973 sticks in my mind.Also beating Ashby in the helmet ( who then was in his prime ) was great he was disappointing in 1975 Wembley final but a class act no doubt.

[daveallan81]

I have sent the speedway researcher a file copy of Tommy's UK race record that I had on a website a few years back. They have told that the file will be uploaded in their next update.

 

Your excellent file is now available http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/docs/specialfeatures/tommyjansson.pdf

 

Superb stuff sir

[stratton]

 

 

Your excellent file is now available http://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/docs/specialfeatures/tommyjansson.pdf

 

Superb stuff sir

Really great awesome stuff loved looking through history this guy was a decent bloke a world class rider and ie) he was a terrific human being. The sport was robbed when he beat Michanek for the Sweden champs, and after that he for me was there with Crump, Collins,but was better in my opinion of both of them .Lee come on the seen but Jansson was a massive force,and he would of been around for a long time.!

[Robbie B]

I glad that everyone likes my Tommy Jansson UK race record file.

 

It did take some time to do, but it was worth every single second put in, as a tribute to a great rider and person. It's a great shame the the file was not much much longer.

 

Tommy always had time for his supporters, and I felt that it was the least I could do in his memory.

Edited May 26, 2013 by Robbie B

[stratton]

I glad that everyone likes my Tommy Jansson UK race record file.

 

It did take some time to do, but it was worth every single second put in, as a tribute to a great rider and person. It's a great shame the the file was not much much longer.

 

Tommy always had time for his supporters, and I felt that it was the least I could do in his memory.

Fair play 'Robbie you have done a great job,Tommy was a class bloke and rider he will never be forgotten.

[Robbie B]

There will be a change to Tommy' s UK race race record, as I have received new information to me. Regarding two of Tommy's Wembley fixtures against Belle Vue that were amended, after the events, which I didn't know at the time of making the file. I have sent this new amended file to the speedway researcher, on Sunday.

[tigerowl]

I have updated the site now with the amended results. Robert - thank you for sharing the file with us all.

 

Matt

[Robbie B]

I have updated the site now with the amended results. Robert - thank you for sharing the file with us all.

 

Matt

 

Glad you like the file Matt.

 

I working on some more I will double check everything before I email anything.

[The White Knight]

Hey Matt - where's the next Year of Speedway CD. I've got both of the ones that are out - but - I am hoping you get to the Sixties and Seventies before I snuff it. :unsure:

[moxey63]

Hey Matt - where's the next Year of Speedway CD. I've got both of the ones that are out - but - I am hoping you get to the Sixties and Seventies before I snuff it. :unsure:

 

Same here, White Knight, I can't wait but do understand it's a long process, getting everything correct and in order before Matt produces either the 60s or 70s.

 

Just hope I'm not dead before they do come out.

[classicspeedway]

There is an excellent tribute to Tommy Jansson on the Speedway Fiction website:

 

https://www.speedwayfiction.co.uk/tommyjanssonremembered.html