Best Ever Norwegian Rider?

[Guest]

Sadly, as happens so often on the BSF this previously interesting debate on Norwegian speedway riders and especially the ultra-talented Leif Basse Hveem has deviated into a discussion in regard to Mike Sampson, who wan't even a Norwegian.

So be it. In that mindset, does any Poster recall the Japanese rider Junechi Ogisu who rode briefly at Wimbledon in 1971?

Japanese speedway rider at Wimbledon

http://www.world-sra.co.uk/we%20are%20the%20world.html

Edited December 7, 2017 by Guest

[steve roberts]

Sadly, as happens so often on the BSF this previously interesting debate on Norwegian speedway riders and especially the ultra-talented Leif Basse Hveem has deviated into a discussion in regard to Mike Sampson, who wan't even a Norwegian.

So be it. In that mindset, does any Poster recall the Japanese rider Junechi Ogisu who rode briefly at Wimbledon in 1971?

Japanese speedway rider at Wimbledon

http://www.world-sra.co.uk/we%20are%20the%20world.html

My thread my rules!

[moomin man 76]

...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.

I never had the chance due to age to see the likes of Reidar Eide, Sverre Harrfeldt etc. To be honest, in the time I have been watching speedway, there have been few Norwegian riders of any real ability, which means that both Rune Holta and Lars Gunnestad stand out. Gunnestad in his prime was at least of heat leader standard.

Sadly, Norwegian speedway has slipped to be comfortably the weakest of the four Scandinavian nations. Whether the likes of Glenn Moi and Lasse Fredriksen can regain some of the lost ground remains to be seen.

[Grachan]

Sadly, as happens so often on the BSF this previously interesting debate on Norwegian speedway riders and especially the ultra-talented Leif Basse Hveem has deviated into a discussion in regard to Mike Sampson, who wan't even a Norwegian.

So be it. In that mindset, does any Poster recall the Japanese rider Junechi Ogisu who rode briefly at Wimbledon in 1971?

Japanese speedway rider at Wimbledon

http://www.world-sra.co.uk/we%20are%20the%20world.html

 

I've noticed this too. Why does every thread end up as a discussion about Mike Sampson? It is kind of spooky.

 

Best Norwegian was probably Sverre Harrfeldt, but he was a bit before my time. Dag Lovaas is streets ahead based on the ones I saw ride. Such a classy rider and so good for Oxford in 1975.

[steve roberts]

I never had the chance due to age to see the likes of Reidar Eide, Sverre Harrfeldt etc. To be honest, in the time I have been watching speedway, there have been few Norwegian riders of any real ability, which means that both Rune Holta and Lars Gunnestad stand out. Gunnestad in his prime was at least of heat leader standard.

Sadly, Norwegian speedway has slipped to be comfortably the weakest of the four Scandinavian nations. Whether the likes of Glenn Moi and Lasse Fredriksen can regain some of the lost ground remains to be seen.

...I was fortunate and saw the likes of Reidar Eide, Dag & Ulf Lovass. the late Svein Kaasa, Edgar Stangeland etc etc.

 

 

I've noticed this too. Why does every thread end up as a discussion about Mike Sampson? It is kind of spooky.

 

Best Norwegian was probably Sverre Harrfeldt, but he was a bit before my time. Dag Lovaas is streets ahead based on the ones I saw ride. Such a classy rider and so good for Oxford in 1975.

...I guess it's the way public forums develop and conversations drift along. You only need to view some of the EU and/or political stuff to see how the discussion takes some very strange twists!

Edited December 7, 2017 by steve roberts

[iris123]

Think there is no doubt Rune Holta is the best Norwegian of modern times.Even though by then he was a Pole,winning two GPs is something no other Norwegian could have achieved imo after Harrfeldt

[steve roberts]

Think there is no doubt Rune Holta is the best Norwegian of modern times.Even though by then he was a Pole,winning two GPs is something no other Norwegian could have achieved imo after Harrfeldt

...he was one rider I never saw ride.

[iris123]

...he was one rider I never saw ride.

Think his record talks for itself.4 times Norwegian champ,Nordic champ I think twice and even Polish champ twice,plus as I said a couple of GP wins.Ok you might say he changed nationality,but how do you judge Kylmäkorpi?He was Swedish U21 champ and world longtrack champ a number of time,but never Finnish champ as far as I know.Which shows up the trouble of saying rider x was the best Norwegian because he won the most national titles etc..Kylmäkorpi was far better than Timo Lahti of Kauko Nieminen,but they have senior national titles to their name

[chunky]

Think his record talks for itself.4 times Norwegian champ,Nordic champ I think twice and even Polish champ twice,plus as I said a couple of GP wins.Ok you might say he changed nationality,but how do you judge Kylmäkorpi?He was Swedish U21 champ and world longtrack champ a number of time,but never Finnish champ as far as I know.Which shows up the trouble of saying rider x was the best Norwegian because he won the most national titles etc..Kylmäkorpi was far better than Timo Lahti of Kauko Nieminen,but they have senior national titles to their name

That is such a great point. Of course, winning any National Championship is an achievement, but the quality of the opposition is not as reliable. Looking at the British Final; Craig Cook has one win and three seconds, far superior to Peter Collins' one win, a second, and a third.

 

PC's win in 1979 came against Lee (World Champ), Jessup (World No 2), Simmons (World No 2), Kennett (World No 2), Louis (World No 3), and multi-World Finalists Morton and Davis. No disrespect, but was Cook's win achieved against the same quality opposition?

 

Back on subject, it is difficult to argue against Hveem's record, and while there have been quite a few very good Norwegians over the years, only Harrfeldt and Holta made any real impression on the international scene. In BL racing, Eide certainly stands out, and Lovaas was excellent, but neither could manage more than one World Final apiece. I also feel that while Gunnestad's international record wasn't at all special (and you can't really judge anything by his National Championships), his British career should put him next in line.

 

Steve

Edited December 7, 2017 by chunky

[Terry]

That is such a great point. Of course, winning any National Championship is an achievement, but the quality of the opposition is not as reliable. Looking at the British Final; Craig Cook has one win and three seconds, far superior to Peter Collins' one win, a second, and a third.

 

PC's win in 1979 came against Lee (World Champ), Jessup (World No 2), Simmons (World No 2), Kennett (World No 2), Louis (World No 3), and multi-World Finalists Morton and Davis. No disrespect, but was Fool's win achieved against the same quality opposition?

 

 

 

I know Cook isn't as good as PC, but that's a little disrespectful isn't it?

[moomin man 76]

Think his record talks for itself.4 times Norwegian champ,Nordic champ I think twice and even Polish champ twice,plus as I said a couple of GP wins.Ok you might say he changed nationality,but how do you judge Kylmäkorpi?He was Swedish U21 champ and world longtrack champ a number of time,but never Finnish champ as far as I know.Which shows up the trouble of saying rider x was the best Norwegian because he won the most national titles etc..Kylmäkorpi was far better than Timo Lahti of Kauko Nieminen,but they have senior national titles to their name

Joonas Kylmakorpi rarely rode in the Finnish Championship. I think his best placing may have been third - no doubt FSP could correct me on that.

Perhaps it is worthy of a separate thread on best Finnish rider seen?

[salty]

Rune Holta is the top man in my supporting time (from 1968 onwards). His move to represent Poland internationally enables him to add a couple of World Team Cup medals to his CV not to mention a fourth in the world spot.

As far as I recall his Polish citizenship was encouraged by his Polish club, but he also felt it allowed him to ride in the WTC and keep his profile high. Still riding at a high level as well.

Had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times whilst in Prague for a GP and he was an absolute gentleman.

[chunky]

 

I know Cook isn't as good as PC, but that's a little disrespectful isn't it?

Ruddy auto-correct! So sorry...

 

Steve

[steve roberts]

Joonas Kylmakorpi rarely rode in the Finnish Championship. I think his best placing may have been third - no doubt FSP could correct me on that.

Perhaps it is worthy of a separate thread on best Finnish rider seen?

...Kai Niemi.

[iris123]

Rune Holta is the top man in my supporting time (from 1968 onwards). His move to represent Poland internationally enables him to add a couple of World Team Cup medals to his CV not to mention a fourth in the world spot.

As far as I recall his Polish citizenship was encouraged by his Polish club, but he also felt it allowed him to ride in the WTC and keep his profile high. Still riding at a high level as well.

Had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of times whilst in Prague for a GP and he was an absolute gentleman.

Talked to him once in Vojens and came to the same conclusion.Very nice guy

[BOBBATH]

Gotta be Sverre Harrfeldt for me!!

[OveFundinFan]

Bobbath, there is nothing on Wikipedia re Sverre Harrfeldt,, that doesn’t seem right. Why don’t you start something off, you must know more then a bit about him.

[BOBBATH]

Sorry mate, I am a technopeasant and don't know how to start something on Wikipedia, you can see dstuff about Sverre on John Skinner's excellent website A to Z of Defunct Speedway Sites and also any of the websites dealing with West Ham speedway. THink his best years were mid sixties-finished second in World Final on 14 points behind Briggo-had a terrible accident in 1969 I think and was never the same after that.

[f-s-p]

Talked to him once in Vojens and came to the same conclusion.Very nice guy

Holta is a good guy. No sign of arrogance and has the time for you, unless you self are a dick.

Edited December 8, 2017 by f-s-p

[chunky]

Bobbath, there is nothing on Wikipedia re Sverre Harrfeldt,, that doesn’t seem right. Why don’t you start something off, you must know more then a bit about him.

Actually, there is, but only on the Polish Wikipedia site! It's not much, I know, and of course, it is in Polish, but Google translate will at least make it understandable. It is sad that there isn't much info available online about him.

 

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sverre_Harrfeldt

 

My dad became good friends with Sverre when he came to Plough Lane, and used to help him out quite a bit. When he had to return to Norway for a few days, my dad would ferry him back and forth to the airport, and would use Sverre's car in the meantime!

 

As has been said, he was never the same after his crash (in the 1968 European Final) at Wroclaw. He struggled on his return to England in 1970, although he was just starting to find his feet when he broke his arm against Wimbledon (I was at Custom House that night). However, while not the Sverre of old, he managed to get his average back up to nearly 8 when riding for Wembley the following year.

 

Steve

Edited December 8, 2017 by chunky