miro Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 http://www.dn.se/sport/150-framsta-svenska-idrottarna-genom-tiderna/ This Swedish newspaper poll ranks Tony Rickardsson at 46 but no other Speedway riders I noticed. The Swedes have always been enlightened about Speedway and I thought Fundin or Nygren at least would have been here, would we get any in a UK poll? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 and that was the top 150. I probably only recognised about 8-10 of the names, but Sweden has a lot of winter sports celebrities I woudnt know noticed there was a Soren Nordin, wondered whether they meant Soren Sjosten or Gote Nordin lol. A UK top 150 would be full of footballers, cricketers, rugby, boxing, swimming and athletics. Motor sports forgot about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 and that was the top 150. I probably only recognised about 8-10 of the names, but Sweden has a lot of winter sports celebrities I woudnt know noticed there was a Soren Nordin, wondered whether they meant Soren Sjosten or Gote Nordin lol. A UK top 150 would be full of footballers, cricketers, rugby, boxing, swimming and athletics. Motor sports forgot about. and that was the top 150. I probably only recognised about 8-10 of the names, but Sweden has a lot of winter sports celebrities I woudnt know noticed there was a Soren Nordin, wondered whether they meant Soren Sjosten or Gote Nordin lol. A UK top 150 would be full of footballers, cricketers, rugby, boxing, swimming and athletics. Motor sports forgot about. I Don't think so ...F1 drivers would be right near the top as unlike Speedway it's popular with the public as shown by the sports awards last sunday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattK Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 A UK top 150 would be full of footballers, cricketers, rugby, boxing, swimming and athletics. Motor sports forgot about. I disagree. Many F1 drivers would get in the list, as would Colin McRae, Barry Sheen etc. No speedway rider has come anywhere close to the profile of those. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I disagree. Many F1 drivers would get in the list, as would Colin McRae, Barry Sheen etc. No speedway rider has come anywhere close to the profile of those. Possibly Peter Collins might get a mention? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Possibly Peter Collins might get a mention? I would have thought so. Surprised that Ove Fundin didn't get in the top 150 Swedes, there are some pretty mediocre footballers on that list. A similar poll in NZ I would imagine would see both Barry Briiggs and Ivan Maugermake the list, Ronnie Moore is probably also deserving but doesn't have the same profile, I'd be surprised if too many of the NZ public knew about his achievements. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I would have thought so. Surprised that Ove Fundin didn't get in the top 150 Swedes, there are some pretty mediocre footballers on that list. A similar poll in NZ I would imagine would see both Barry Briiggs and Ivan Maugermake the list, Ronnie Moore is probably also deserving but doesn't have the same profile, I'd be surprised if too many of the NZ public knew about his achievements. ...or even who Ronnie Moore is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
customhouseregular Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 One would think that any sportsman/woman who had won a World title in any sport would make their country's top 150. On that basis not only Fundin but Knutsson should be there. I have not seen the list but would expect it to be dominated by skiers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I would have thought so. Surprised that Ove Fundin didn't get in the top 150 Swedes, there are some pretty mediocre footballers on that list. A similar poll in NZ I would imagine would see both Barry Briiggs and Ivan Maugermake the list, Ronnie Moore is probably also deserving but doesn't have the same profile, I'd be surprised if too many of the NZ public knew about his achievements. He did actually spend about six seasons at the height of his career riding in NZ and not riding here, Briggo and Ivan certainly didn't. One has to wonder if Mr Bunyan (the great adoptee) might get a mention ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 He did actually spend about six seasons at the height of his career riding in NZ and not riding here, Briggo and Ivan certainly didn't. One has to wonder if Mr Bunyan (the great adoptee) might get a mention ;-) I expect more people in New Zealand are familiar with Barry Butterworth than the other speedway personalities mentioned in this thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I've never heard of barry butterworth (had to google hom), doubt most kiwis have. Suspect most would wonder if brad butterworth was who you were referring to. Mauger and briggs are still names familiar to most kiwis over the age of say 35. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) I expect more people in New Zealand are familiar with Barry Butterworth than the other speedway personalities mentioned in this thread? I've never heard of barry butterworth (had to google hom), doubt most kiwis have. Suspect most would wonder if brad butterworth was who you were referring to. Mauger and briggs are still names familiar to most kiwis over the age of say 35. Barry Butterworth is in New Zealand terms a speedway legend. http://barrybutterworthracing.com/ Barry Butterworth is also listed in this New Zealand Speedway Hall of Fame. http://www.historicspeedway.co.nz/new_zealand_speedway_hall_of_fam.htm Edited January 1, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) Yes. But my point is I am a kiwi interested in sport and I had never heard of him, and I doubt most kiwis have. This was response to your suggestion that more would have heard of him than briggs and mauger - which frankly is nonsense. briggs and mauger still get mentioned when all time great nz sportspeople are discussed, as I say I have never heard barry butterworths name mentioned. Edited January 1, 2015 by waihekeaces1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) Yes. But my point is I am a kiwi interested in sport and I had never heard of him, and I doubt most kiwis have. This was response to your suggestion that more would have heard of him than briggs and mauger - which frankly is nonsense. briggs and mauger still get mentioned when all time great nz sportspeople are discussed, as I say I have never heard barry butterworths name mentioned. They seem to have heard about Barry Butterworth at Western Springs! http://www.kiwimotoring.com/events/view/western-springs-speedway-barry-butterworth-midget-feature ....and this is more about Barry Butterworth. https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/barry-butterworth/ What view do you have on the NZ Hallo Fame citation for Barry Butterworth? It does say something about him being one of NZ speedway's greats.... http://www.historicspeedway.co.nz/new_zealand_speedway_hall_of_fam.htm Edited January 1, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 You are still missing the point. The average kiwi is unlikely to know the name. The fact that people that closely follow his sport will know of him is irrelevant to that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) You are still missing the point. The average kiwi is unlikely to know the name. The fact that people that closely follow his sport will know of him is irrelevant to that point. But surely in New Zealand midget car racing and oval car racing are bigger sports than solo motorcycle speedway. There are just three tracks dedicated to bikes only - some 20 that stage car racing? Have you YET read the Hall of Fame citation for Barry Butterworth. That describes as one of "New Zealand's all-time greats." How do you compromise that statement? http://www.speedway.co.nz/default.asp?page=about I see elsewhere that they cannot even get 16 riderss for the 2015 New Zealand Championship! See BSF "International World of Speedway." Edited January 1, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) Yes, these days midget cars are what most kiwis think of as speedway, but outside those that actively follow the sport doubt msny kiwis could name a driver. scott dixon, bruce mclaren, greg murphy,burt munro, ivan mauger I would guess would be the five most recognisable motorsport names to your average kiwi. actually add possum bourne,chris amon and denny hulme to that list And steve williams and bill buckley I guess as well Edited January 1, 2015 by waihekeaces1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Yes, these days midget cars are what most kiwis think of as speedway, but outside those that actively follow the sport doubt msny kiwis could name a driver. scott dixon, bruce mclaren, greg murphy,burt munro, ivan mauger I would guess would be the five most recognisable motorsport names to your average kiwi. actually add possum bourne,chris amon and denny hulme to that list And steve williams and bill buckley I guess as well You seem to ignore the 'Who's Who" credits for Barry Butterworth? The first paragraph says: "Barry Butterworth could be considered one of New Zealand's greatest speedway legends." It ends with - "Barry carried his name into the speedway legend books and is recognised for the speedway great that he is." The 'Who's Who" by the way also features speedway riders!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 I am not ignoring anything. I am sure he is very well known and regarded in the midget car community. To make clear the point I have made repeatedly: THE AVERAGE KIWI IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE HEARD OF BARRY BUTTERWORTH. if you have reason to disagree with that statement please ler me know the basis, mine is having lived here for over 25 years and following sport in general reasonably closely, as do most of my friends., and not recognising that name. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 (edited) Take a browse here to see a published book on "the unknown Barry Butterworth." http://barrybutterworthracing.com/index.php/speedway-books Edited January 1, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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