Speedway Star World Ratings 1956-1966

[Guest]

SPEEDWAY STAR & NEWS WORLD RATINGS
1956-1966
::::::::::::::::::
1956
(1) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(2) Ronnie Moore (New Zealand)
(3) Brian Crutcher (England)
(4) Peter Craven (England)
(5) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(6) Olle Nygren (Sweden)
(7) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(8) Peo Soderman (Sweden)
(9) Arthur Forrest (England)
(10) Rune Sormander (Sweden)
(11) Basse Hveem (Norway)
(12) Alan Hunt (England)
(13) Jack Young (Australia)
(14) Josef Kamper (Austria)
=(15) Dick Bradley (England)
=(15) Peter Moore (Australia)
(17) Lasse Pettersson (Sweden)
(18) Wlodzimierz Szwenderowski (Poland)
=(19) Henry Andersen (Norway)
=(19) Florian Kapala (Poland)

1957
(1) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(2) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(3) Peter Craven (England)
(4) Rune Sormander (Sweden)
(5) Peo Soderman (Sweden)
(6) Brian Crutcher (England)
(7) Aub Lawson (Australia)
(8) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(9) Ron Johnston (New Zealand)
(10) Aage Hansen (Norway)
(11) Olle Nygren (Sweden)
(12) Josef Hofmeister (Germany)
=(13) Marian Kaiser (Poland)
=(13) Bob Roger (England)
(15) Jack Young (Australia)
(16) Jack Biggs (Australia)
(17) Peter Moore (Australia)
(18) Josef Seidi (Germany)
=(19) Henry Long (South Africa)
=(19) Basse Hveem (Norway)

1958
(1) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(2) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(3) Peter Craven (England)
(4) Olle Nygren (Sweden)
(5) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(6) Rune Sormander (Sweden)
(7) Ronnie Moore (New Zealand)
(8) Brian Crutcher (England)
(9) Jack Young (Australia)
(10) Aub Lawson (Australia)
(11) Ron Johnston (New Zealand)
(12) Mike Broadbanks (England)
(13) Josef Hofmeister (Germany)
(14) Ron How (England)
(15) Peter Moore (Australia)
(16) Jack Geran (Australia)
(17) Peo Soderman (Sweden)
(18) Gerry Hussey (England)
(19) Henry Long (South Africa)
(20) Josef Seidi (Germany)

1959
(1) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(2) Ronnie Moore (New Zealand)
(3) Peter Craven (England)
(4) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(5) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(6) Olle Nygren (Sweden)
(7) Rune Sormander (Sweden)
(8) Brian Crutcher (England)
(9) Arne Pander (Denmark)
(10) Aub Lawson (Australia)
(11) Ron How (England)
(12) Josef Hofmeister (Germany)
(13) Arne Carlsson (Sweden)
(14) Peter Moore (Australia)
(15) Marian Kaiser (Poland)
(16) George White (England)
(17) Mieczyslaw Polukard (Poland)
(18) Ron Johnston (New Zealand)
(19) Bjorn Knutsson (Sweden)
(20) Mike Broadbanks (England)

1960
(1) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(2) Ronnie Moore (New Zealand)
(3) Peter Craven (England)
(4) Arne Pander (Denmark)
(5) Rune Sormander (Sweden)
(6) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(7) Bjorn Knutsson (Sweden)
(8) Olle Nygren (Sweden)
(9) Ron How (England)
(10) Josef Hofmeister (Germany)
(11) Peter Moore (Australia)
(12) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(13) Stefan Kwoczala (Poland)
(14) Jack Young (Australia)
(15) Ron Johnston (New Zealand)
(16) Henryk Zyto (Poland)
(17) Marian Kaiser (Poland)
(18) Aage Hansen (Norway)
(19) Aub Lawson (Australia)
(20) Eric Williams (Wales)

1961
(1) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(2) Bjorn Knutsson (Sweden)
(3) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(4) Ronnie Moore (New Zealand)
(5) Gote Nordin (Sweden)
(6) Peter Craven (England)
(7) Ron How (England)
(8) Rune Sormander (Sweden)
(9) Florian Kapala (Poland)
(10) Arne Pander (Denmark)
(11) Bob Andrews (England)
(12) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(13) Josef Hofmeister (Germany)
(14) Igor Plechanov (USSR)
(15) Ron Johnston (New Zealand)
=(16) Mike Broadbanks (England)
=(16) Jack Young (Australia)
(18) Henryk Zyto (Poland)
=(19) Timo Laine (Finland)
=(19) Cyril Maidment (England)
=(19) Marian Kaiser (Poland)

1962
(1) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(2) Peter Craven (England)
(3) Bjorn Knutsson (Sweden)
(4) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(5) Ronnie Moore (New Zealand)
(6) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(7) Gote Nordin (Sweden)
(8) Soren Sjosten (Sweden)
(9) Bob Andrews (England)
(10) Igor Plechanov (USSR)
(11) Rune Sormander (Sweden)
(12) Ron How (England)
(13) Boris Samorodov (USSR)
(14) Florian Kapala (Poland)
(15) Marian Kaiser (Poland)
(16) Arne Carlsson (Sweden)
(17) Pawel Waloszek (Poland)
(18) Mike Broadbanks (England)
(19) Timo Laine (Finland)
(20) Henryk Zyto (Poland)

1963
(1) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(2) Bjorn Knutsson (Sweden)
(3) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(4) Peter Craven (England)
(5) Boris Samorodov (USSR)
(6) Ronnie Moore (New Zealand)
(7) Gote Nordin (Sweden)
(8) Nigel Boocock (England)
(9) Sverre Harrfeldt (Norway)
(10) Ron How (England)

1964
(1) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(2) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(3) Bjorn Knutsson (Sweden)
(4) Igor Plechanov (USSR)
(5) Gote Nordin (Sweden)
(6) Boris Samorodov (USSR)
(7) Ron How (England)
=(8) Nigel Boocock (England)
=(8) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
(10) Soren Sjosten (Sweden)

1965
(1) Bjorn Knutsson (Sweden)
(2) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(3) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(4) Igor Plechanov (USSR)
(5) Nigel Boocock (England)
(6) Gote Nordin (Sweden)
(7) Bengt Jansson (Sweden)
(8) Andrzei Pogorzelski (Poland)
=(9) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)
=(9) Sverre Harrfeldt (Norway)

1966
(1) Barry Briggs (New Zealand)
(2) Antoni Woryna (Poland)
(3) Sverre Harrfeldt (Norway)
(4) Bjorn Knutsson (Sweden)
=(5) Ivan Mauger (New Zealand)
=(5) Gote Nordin (Sweden)
(7) Igor Plechanov (USSR)
(8) Ove Fundin (Sweden)
(9) Torbjorn Harryson (Sweden)
(10) Andrzei Pogorzelski (Poland)
(11) Leif Enecrona (Sweden)
(12) Nigel Boocock (England)
(13) Mike Broadbanks (England)
(14) Stanislaw Tkocz (Poland)
(15) Olle Nygren (Sweden)
(16) Boris Samorodov (USSR)
(17) Marion Rose (Poland)
=(18) Eric Boocock (England)
=(18) Andrzei Wyglenda (Poland)
(20) Ken McKinlay (Scotland)

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Edited November 15, 2015 by Guest

[OveFundinFan]

Wonderful Gustix.

A really good reminder of all the star riders of that era.

I saw Josef Hofmeister a couple of time at Wembley in the late 50's, and then the rise of the Polish riders, plus the two marvellous Russians Plechanov and Samaradov. The Scandinavians and Commonwealth riders all added to the exciting times.

A good trip down memory lane.

[norbold]

Ove 7 no. 1s; 2 no. 2s.

Briggo 3 no. 1s; 2 no. 2s

[The White Knight]

Ove 7 no. 1s; 2 no. 2s.

Briggo 3 no. 1s; 2 no. 2s

Peter Craven no No. 1s. :shock:

[Guest]

Peter Craven no No. 1s. :shock:

 

Peter Craven though does have some consistently high places in the various annual ratings. He has 1 x No.2; 2 x No.4; 4 x No.3; 1 x No.6. A sign of his ability when there were some consistent all-time greats a round like Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs and Ronnie Moore.

Edited November 15, 2015 by Guest

[iris123]

Josef Hofmeister consistently just outside the top 10 for a number of years.We don't read much about him and even less have I read about the Austrian rider Kamper.

[stratton]

Great topic Gustix great to see Broady in five of those lists,and Arthur Forrest being a very high number 9 in 1956.Who was this Fundin bloke ? he was a thorn in Briggoe's side.

[The White Knight]

Great topic Gustix great to see Broady in five of those lists,and Arthur Forrest being a very high number 9 in 1956.Who was this Fundin bloke ? he was a thorn in Briggoe's side.

He was a thorn in everybody's side methinks sidney.

 

Cracking Thread this by the way. :approve:

[waiheke1]

very interesting post Gustix. Did Speedway Star publish these for any other years? Do you also have a list of the Stenners rankings from earlier years?

And any idea how the rankings were calculated?

[norbold]

They were the only years the Speedway Star issued the rankings. They were compiled by asking speedway journalists to rank their top 20s and then add them all together. It wasn't done on results or averages or anything sophisticated.

 

I have all the Stenner's rankings. I'll see if I can post them on here.

[Guest]

They were the only years the Speedway Star issued the rankings. They were compiled by asking speedway journalists to rank their top 20s and then add them all together. It wasn't done on results or averages or anything sophisticated.

 

I have all the Stenner's rankings. I'll see if I can post them on here.

 

I was wondering about Stenners World Ratings. They were also 'unsophisticated' and also based on the 'judgment of experts' as were those in the Speedway Star. In their time, the Speedway Star ratings were always well received - IMO a pity they were ever dropped.

Edited November 15, 2015 by Guest

[waiheke1]

They were the only years the Speedway Star issued the rankings. They were compiled by asking speedway journalists to rank their top 20s and then add them all together. It wasn't done on results or averages or anything sophisticated.

 

I have all the Stenner's rankings. I'll see if I can post them on here.

 

very interesting. Once I've completed my rankings for the 80s (I keep almost finishing, then finding another way that the methodology shouold be fine tuned), I'll have a look at doing say 1966, and see how a statistical ranking system compares with a subjective listing such as the Speedway star ones.

Do you know how the Speedway Star rankings align with the forum consensus decision on the "who would have won a GP series" thread?

Peter Craven no No. 1s. :shock:

 

evidence perhaps that Tai is Britain's greatest ever double world champ?

Peter Collins I'm sure would have topped such a ranking system in 76 & 77.

Tai would have topped it surely in 2015 (certainly well atop my stat based rankings for this year), but maybe now in 2013 (I had him second behind Hampel, but a subjective list - esp by British journalists - may have had him ranked top)? (though I believe only about 5th in the Dolgin rankings for this year, which seems far too low, and 2nd in 2013).

[Guest]

very interesting post Gustix. Did Speedway Star publish these for any other years? Do you also have a list of the Stenners rankings from earlier years?

And any idea how the rankings were calculated?

 

 

They were the only years the Speedway Star issued the rankings. They were compiled by asking speedway journalists to rank their top 20s and then add them all together. It wasn't done on results or averages or anything sophisticated.

 

I have all the Stenner's rankings. I'll see if I can post them on here.

 

 

 

I was wondering about Stenners World Ratings. They were also 'unsophisticated' and also based on the 'judgment of experts' as were those in the Speedway Star. In their time, the Speedway Star ratings were always well received - IMO a pity they were ever dropped.

 

The compilers of the Speedway Star World Ratings were not solely their staff members but international journalists and members of National federations. It was all taken very seriously at the time. At one time there were some 15 people involved in providing their assessments.

[norbold]

Indeed, gustix, the experts chosen to compile the ratings were from all over the world.

 

Just one thought did Eric Linden, Angus Kix, James Oldfield and Danny Carter all get one vote each!?

[Guest]

Indeed, gustix, the experts chosen to compile the ratings were from all over the world.

 

Just one thought did Eric Linden, Angus Kix, James Oldfield and Danny Carter all get one vote each!?

 

As I recall, the findings of each voting panelist given together with their names and the organisation they represented, Only ONE MEMBER of the Speedway Star staff was on the panel of experts. Eric Linden was not involved in any way nor were any of the other names you mention. It was a strictly regulated voting procedure.

Edited November 16, 2015 by Guest

[norbold]

Stenner's Rankings:

 

1946/7

1. Vic Duggan

2. Jack Parker

3. Tommy Price

4. Lionel Van Praag

5. Wilbur Lamoreaux

6. Bill KItchen

7. Eric Langton

8. Ron Johnson

9. Norman Parker

10. Eric Chitty

11. Alec Statham

12. Malcolm Craven

13. Ray Duggan

14. Cordy Milne

15. Jack Milne

 

1947/8

1. Vic Duggan

2. Bill Kitchen

3. Norman Parker

4. Jack Parker

5. Tommy Price

6. Bill Longley

7. Alec Statham

8. Ron Johnson

9. Wilbur Lamoreaux

10. Eric Chitty

11. Malcolm Craven

12. George Wilks

13. Max Grosskreutz

14. Eric Langton

15. Bill Rogers

 

1948/9

1. Vic Duggan

2. Ron Johnson

3. Jack Parker

4. Aub Lawson

5. Wilbur Lamoreaux

6. Alec Statham

7. Norman Parker

8. Bill Gilbert

9. Oliver Hart

10. Eric Chitty

11. Graham Warren

12. Split Waterman

13. Ernie Price

14. Tommy Price

15. Bill Longley

 

1949/50

1. Jack Parker

2. Aub Lawson

3. Tommy Price

4. Vic Duggan

5. Wilbur Lamoreaux

6. Graham Warren

7. Jack Biggs

8. Norman Parker

9. Bill Gilbert

10. Dent Oliver

11. Split Waterman

12. Oliver Hart

13. Ron Clarke

14. Louis Lawson

15. Ken Le Breton

 

1950/51

1. Graham Warren

2. Jack Parker

3. Aub Lawson

4. Tommy Price

5. Ken Le Breton

6. Fred Williams

7. Cyril Roger

8. Norman Parker

9. Cyril Brine

10. Eric French

11. Jack Young

12. Wally Green

13. Bert Roger

14. Alec Statham

15. Ron Clarke

 

1951/2

1. Jack Young

2. Split Waterman

3. Aub Lawson

4. Ronnie Moore

5. Olle Nygren

6. Fred Williams

7. Jack Parker

8. Eddie Rigg

9. Alan Hunt

10. Jack Biggs

11. Cyril Roger

12. Norman Parker

13. Tommy Miller

14. Bob Leverenz

15. Eric Williams

 

1952/3

1. Jack Young

2. Split Waterman

3. Ronnie Moore

4. Fred Williams

5. Aub Lawson

6. Bert Roger

7. Alan Hunt

8. Eddie Rigg

9. Dick Bradley

10. Cyril Brine

11. Henry Long

12. Ron Johnston

13. Bob Leverenz

14. Tommy Miller

15.Olle Nygren

 

1953/4

1. Jack Young

2. Ronnie Moore

3. Split Waterman

4. Fred Williams

5. Olle Nygren

6. Aub Lawson

7. Geoff Mardon

8. Arthur Forrest

9. Alan Hunt

10. Basse Hveem

11. Tommy Price

12. Eric Williams

13. Ken Sharples

14. Dick Bradley

15. Tommy Miller

 

P.S. The reason the rankings are over two years is because they took into account the Australian season as well.

Edited November 16, 2015 by norbold

[The White Knight]

I hope everyone will excuse the language but what a bloody good Thread this is.

 

I am learning/have learn't a heck of a lot from it.

 

Special thanks to both gustix for starting the Thread and for his Lists. Thank you too to norbold for his Lists also.

 

By golly there are some memories stirred reading through these names.

Edited November 16, 2015 by The White Knight

[stratton]

I hope everyone will excuse the language but what a bloody good Thread this is.

 

I am learning/have learn't a heck of a lot from it.

 

Special thanks to both gustix for starting the Thread and for his Lists. Thank you too to norbold for his Lists also.

 

By golly there are some memories stirred reading through these names.

Same as,i am doing my research into the Huxley/Duggan era) onwards love doing it and with Norbold,Gustix, Custom(ect) i learn a fair bit plus on these threads i GENERALLY??? keep out of trouble i really enjoy these threads 300 pages Please!!! Edited November 16, 2015 by sidney

[Guest]

Stenner's Rankings:

 

1946/7

1. Vic Duggan

2. Jack Parker

3. Tommy Price

4. Lionel Van Praag

5. Wilbur Lamoreaux

6. Bill KItchen

7. Eric Langton

8. Ron Johnson

9. Norman Parker

10. Eric Chitty

11. Alec Statham

12. Malcolm Craven

13. Ray Duggan

14. Cordy Milne

15. Jack Milne

 

1947/8

1. Vic Duggan

2. Bill Kitchen

3. Norman Parker

4. Jack Parker

5. Tommy Price

6. Bill Longley

7. Alec Statham

8. Ron Johnson

9. Wilbur Lamoreaux

10. Eric Chitty

11. Malcolm Craven

12. George Wilks

13. Max Grosskreutz

14. Eric Langton

15. Bill Rogers

 

1948/9

1. Vic Duggan

2. Ron Johnson

3. Jack Parker

4. Aub Lawson

5. Wilbur Lamoreaux

6. Alec Statham

7. Norman Parker

8. Bill Gilbert

9. Oliver Hart

10. Eric Chitty

11. Graham Warren

12. Split Waterman

13. Ernie Price

14. Tommy Price

15. Bill Longley

 

1949/50

1. Jack Parker

2. Aub Lawson

3. Tommy Price

4. Vic Duggan

5. Wilbur Lamoreaux

6. Graham Warren

7. Jack Biggs

8. Norman Parker

9. Bill Gilbert

10. Dent Oliver

11. Split Waterman

12. Oliver Hart

13. Ron Clarke

14. Louis Lawson

15. Ken Le Breton

 

1950/51

1. Graham Warren

2. Jack Parker

3. Aub Lawson

4. Tommy Price

5. Ken Le Breton

6. Fred Williams

7. Cyril Roger

8. Norman Parker

9. Cyril Brine

10. Eric French

11. Jack Young

12. Wally Green

13. Bert Roger

14. Alec Statham

15. Ron Clarke

 

1951/2

1. Jack Young

2. Split Waterman

3. Aub Lawson

4. Ronnie Moore

5. Olle Nygren

6. Fred Williams

7. Jack Parker

8. Eddie Rigg

9. Alan Hunt

10. Jack Biggs

11. Cyril Roger

12. Norman Parker

13. Tommy Miller

14. Bob Leverenz

15. Eric Williams

 

1952/3

1. Jack Young

2. Split Waterman

3. Ronnie Moore

4. Fred Williams

5. Aub Lawson

6. Bert Roger

7. Alan Hunt

8. Eddie Rigg

9. Dick Bradley

10. Cyril Brine

11. Henry Long

12. Ron Johnston

13. Bob Leverenz

14. Tommy Miller

15.Olle Nygren

 

1953/4

1. Jack Young

2. Ronnie Moore

3. Split Waterman

4. Fred Williams

5. Olle Nygren

6. Aub Lawson

7. Geoff Mardon

8. Arthur Forrest

9. Alan Hunt

10. Basse Hveem

11. Tommy Price

12. Eric Williams

13. Ken Sharples

14. Dick Bradley

15. Tommy Miller

 

P.S. The reason the rankings are over two years is because they took into account the Australian season as well.

 

On what formula were these ratings compiled? Were they just the opinion of either Tom or Jim Stenner or were both involved? Or did other speedway experts of the periods seen have an input to their compilation? Either way, I find nothing to query in regard to them - I recognised the ratings originally and still accept them now. Some famous names are there and I was priviliged to have seen most of them - two I did not and would have loved to see in action are the American brothers Jack and Cordy Milne. The only other ones are the Norwegian ace Basse Hveem and the Australian Bill Rogers.

Edited November 16, 2015 by Guest

[norbold]

Up to 1948 they are included at the end of an article discussing the merits of the top riders written by "The Editors", i.e. Tom and Jim Stenner. From 1949 onwards they are included in an article by Jim Stenner on his own.