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Best Ever Norwegian Rider?


steve roberts

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Personally the three most outstanding Norwegians have been Sverre Harrfeldt, Dag Lovaas and Reidar Eide...certainly based on British League experience.

 

I guess Rune Holt may well qualify...or is he a Pole?...but I'd be interested in other's views?

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It's astonishing to think that Norway back in the seventies were able to declare a national team competing during world series tournaments whereas Denmark were unable to do so. In fact the 1973 series they were entitled Norway/Denmark to give Ole Olsen the opportunity to take part (and Kurt Bogh if I recall?)

 

How times have changed.

 

One of my favourite Norwegian riders was Oyvind S Berg.

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We covered this just 5 mths ago Steve, (incl'g your own contibutions,) but to repeat my view put forward then,
QUOTE.

Leif 'Basse' Hveem's record of successes make's Harrfeldt and Eide look like also-rans. On the international scene he was unsurpassed by any other fellow countryman, with Norwegian, Nordic, European and World Championship titles on the speedway and Long Track.
.
His record reads;
SPEEDWAY
- Norwegian champ 8x ; (Harfeldt 4x, Eide 5x)
- European champ 1x ; ( SH & RE - nil )
- Nordic Champ 8x [3 forerunners + 5 Off'l ] ; (SH & RE nil )
LONG TRACK
- Norwegian champ 8x ; (SH 3x, RE nil )
- Nordic champ 8+, [3 inter. years winner unknown] (SH & RE nil )
- World Champ 3x [as Euro forerunner] (SH & RE nil )

Whether you saw him ride or not, these figures make the question of the No.1 Norwegian a 'no contest.'
END QUOTE

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We covered this just 5 mths ago Steve, (incl'g your own contibutions,) but to repeat my view put forward then,

QUOTE.

Leif 'Basse' Hveem's record of successes make's Harrfeldt and Eide look like also-rans. On the international scene he was unsurpassed by any other fellow countryman, with Norwegian, Nordic, European and World Championship titles on the speedway and Long Track.

.

His record reads;

SPEEDWAY

- Norwegian champ 8x ; (Harfeldt 4x, Eide 5x)

- European champ 1x ; ( SH & RE - nil )

- Nordic Champ 8x [3 forerunners + 5 Off'l ] ; (SH & RE nil )

LONG TRACK

- Norwegian champ 8x ; (SH 3x, RE nil )

- Nordic champ 8+, [3 inter. years winner unknown] (SH & RE nil )

- World Champ 3x [as Euro forerunner] (SH & RE nil )

 

Whether you saw him ride or not, these figures make the question of the No.1 Norwegian a 'no contest.'

END QUOTE

Nice one Britmet - you have forced me to re-evaluate my opinion. :t:

 

Hveem had a much better record than I realised. :t:

 

You are right - on your evidence he is indeed the best Norwegian Rider. :t::)

 

I never saw him ride sadly. :(

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On reputation, Leif 'Basse' Hveem, but on the basis of riders I have actually seen, Rune Holta and Lars Gunnestad.

...never rated Gunnestad. A section of the third bend crowd at Cowley christened him "Lars(t) Again" because he was often trailing having missed the gate.

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Leif "Basse" Hveem was the best ever Norwegian speedway rider - no doubt about it

 

 

We covered this just 5 mths ago Steve, (incl'g your own contibutions,) but to repeat my view put forward then,

QUOTE.

Leif 'Basse' Hveem's record of successes make's Harrfeldt and Eide look like also-rans. On the international scene he was unsurpassed by any other fellow countryman, with Norwegian, Nordic, European and World Championship titles on the speedway and Long Track.

.

His record reads;

SPEEDWAY

- Norwegian champ 8x ; (Harfeldt 4x, Eide 5x)

- European champ 1x ; ( SH & RE - nil )

- Nordic Champ 8x [3 forerunners + 5 Off'l ] ; (SH & RE nil )

LONG TRACK

- Norwegian champ 8x ; (SH 3x, RE nil )

- Nordic champ 8+, [3 inter. years winner unknown] (SH & RE nil )

- World Champ 3x [as Euro forerunner] (SH & RE nil )

 

Whether you saw him ride or not, these figures make the question of the No.1 Norwegian a 'no contest.'

END QUOTE

 

 

On reputation, Leif 'Basse' Hveem, but on the basis of riders I have actually seen, Rune Holta and Lars Gunnestad.

 

 

Nice one Britmet - you have forced me to re-evaluate my opinion. :t:

 

Hveem had a much better record than I realised. :t:

 

You are right - on your evidence he is indeed the best Norwegian Rider. :t::)

 

I never saw him ride sadly. :(

 

The speedway/long track career of Leif 'Basse' Hveem:

http://www.speedwayplus.com/LeifHveem.shtml

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I can remember Mike Sampson doing a great job for your team in 1977 Steve

...exactly Sid! Mike was the inspiration that season (replacing the injured Paul Gachet) and was often a match winner especially at Hull which would have wound Ian Thomas up (glad to say).

 

Personally I feel Mike doesn't get the full credit he deserves. A very accomplished rider for Barrow, Eastbourne, White City and Nottingham over many years.

 

At least he gets praise from the late Lee Dunton in a recent edition of 'Backtrack' but an interview with Mike would be appreciated...over to you Rob!

 

Incidentally Dag's leathers took part during the 1977 season...worn by Norway's Tom Godal!

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...exactly Sid! Mike was the inspiration that season (replacing the injured Paul Gachet) and was often a match winner especially at Hull which would have wound Ian Thomas up (glad to say).

 

Personally I feel Mike doesn't get the full credit he deserves. A very accomplished rider for Barrow, Eastbourne, White City and Nottingham over many years.

 

At least he gets praise from the late Lee Dunton in a recent edition of 'Backtrack' but an interview with Mike would be appreciated...over to you Rob!

 

Incidentally Dag's leathers took part during the 1977 season...worn by Norway's Tom Godal!

Sampson was a rider who certainly was good anough to be a full-time BL rider like Jackson, Perks,T.Owen (ect) but they were happy being 2nd Division riders nothing wrong with that.Going back to White City Steve Weatherley before his tragedy was looking good promising Gachet was talented a very good div 2 rider never really made it in the then very tough BL.
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Sampson was a rider who certainly was good anough to be a full-time BL rider like Jackson, Perks,T.Owen (ect) but they were happy being 2nd Division riders nothing wrong with that.Going back to White City Steve Weatherley before his tragedy was looking good promising Gachet was talented a very good div 2 rider never really made it in the then very tough BL.

Mike was offered a place in the Eastbourne side that joined the BL in 1979 after the closure of Wood Lane but declined and was, if I recall, signed by the Cradley Heath promotion and loaned out to their sister team Nottingham and not, to my then annoyance, their other sister team Oxford!

 

Yes certainly great days when the old Second Division/National League produced many great talents.

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