RIP Ivan Mauger OBE

[bruno]

R.I.P Ivan of all the top riders in the 70s for some reason he had a special aura about him, I still remember the disappointment in the 78 World Final when he came off. I was convinced I was going to see him become World Champ again. A special rider. I remember the story above 

[25yearfan]

One, if not the greatest rider speedway has ever seen!

 

Not the most naturally talented but his desire, commitment, work ethic and overall attitude was far, far superior to anyone elses!

 

Todays ultra professionalism was started by Ivan Mauger!

[martin297]

One of the greats, and it doesn't get one line in the sports section of the BBC news.

RIP.

[Endeavour]

Ivan Mauger’s biography was one of the best sporting biographies I have ever read. Started with nothing and through sheer force of will ambition and drive became the best rider ever to mount a speedway bike. from running six miles to Plough Lane to save money but also to get fitter to working out where he would have to finish at qualifying rounds of the world championship to gain the best advantage for the World Final itself. The first few chapters of his biography should be a must read for ANY aspiring sportsperson. Condolences to all the Mauger family; first and foremost a husband and father but a name which people who are not necessary Speedway fans recognised. We will never see his like again. RIP Ivan.

[Bryce]

Been out all day and just got online to see this news. A terribly sad day for the speedway world. Having watched my own Dad go through the same thing at the end of his life I have to believe this is a release for the great man, but that won't feel like much comfort to his family today. Condolences to them, and RIP Ivan. A genuine legend.

[Tsunami]

Ivan totally changed the fortunes of Newcastle Speedway in the early 60's. He burnt up the Aussies during the winter, and we could not believe that Mike Parker would go for him and get his signature. Not only that, but Ivan asked for and got passages to the UK for him, Raye and the 3 children for which Ivan was forever grateful for. He always respected Parker for it, money was never a problem between them, but his desire to reach the top split them apart. After his first WC with the Diamonds, there followed moves to Belle Vue, Exeter and of course Hull. 

He never forgot the Diamonds, getting his main mechanic Gordon Stobbs from us and his wife Margaret, who were with Ivan and Raye for the rest of his career and afterwards. He always showed his interest in fellow Kiwi's, visiting us every year especially when Mark Thorpe and David Bargh were riding for us. He usually came up unannounced when he came over for the WSRA dinners, appearing after the start and disappearing before our meeting finished after seeing everyone he knew.

In 2010 he came up for his book signing, and I asked him and Gordon if it was possible for Ivan to visit my training school on the Sunday afternoon. He already had 4 events to attend but Gordon said he would do his best. Sure enough, halfway through the session in walks Ivan and Gordon, and he proceeded to give advice and take over the rest of the session. Photos are on the Newcastle Training group Facebook page, as well as some individuals who have posted their photos  on their own Facebook pages. The early signs of his illness were there the previous evening, when Raye kept Ivan  on script with his great stories. 

We will never see such a great rider as him again, although Tony Rickardsson came pretty close.

RIP IVAN, the rider that changed speedway for the better  

Edited April 16, 2018 by Tsunami

[Rob B]

 

[enotian]

Sheene, Knievel and Mauger. 

If you grew up in the 70's you couldn't help but love motorcycles thanks to those three gods.

Its an honour to be able to follow the Diamonds and see where one of those Legends was born.

Rest In Peace

 

[New Science]

Very sad news. Ivan Mauger one of the true icons of our sport. I never saw him ride but have seen the footage of the old world finals  particularly those behind the old iron curtain in Poland. His legacy will never be forgotten . 

[willstaxi]

14 minutes ago, Rob B said:

 

What a simple and great tribute to the best speedway rider of all time. Sincere condolences to his family R I P Ivan

[mauger65]

I only got to see him at Oxford (he scored a max) and in 1975 for the diamonds re-opening (beat Jim McMillan  3 times)

Luckily got to meet the great man in 2010 and his wife Raye at Brough for his book signing 

Greatest rider ever 

RIP Ivan   and thoughts with Raye and his children

[waiheke1]

The greatest. RIP. 

[racers and royals]

Nice obituary in today`s Times newspaper.

[The Cheese]

Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to see him ride but did at least get to see him on track when he did the final laps of the County Ground in 2005.

RIP Ivan

 

[BobC]

I used to hate Ivan!  At Poole, the meeting before Ivan was due to appear, Mr Knott would get us to practice our boos! All pure theatre of course.

As an 8 year old in 1963, I remember shoving my autograph book at Ivan, along with many other kids. He simply put his finger across his lips to 'shhhh' us all up. He then said, 'I will sign for everyone, but get in line and say please and thank you.  He did. Something Ive never forgotten to this day. I am not an autograph hunter, but he taught me the simplest of manners.

Ive liked him ever since, even though he was an 'arch enemy', especially when he joined Exeter.

R.I.P. Ivan and thank you for some wonderful memories.

Edited April 18, 2018 by BobC

[Guest GiveusaB]

R.I.P greatest rider ever ! The master !

My dad bought me a book in 1974 written by Ivan Mauger (How to become a speedway rider) I've still got it!

[Tsunami]

On 16/04/2018 at 4:23 PM, Arthur54 said:

remember him coming to Poole one night, and going through the card, a 21pt maximum, he was like lightning out of the gate . RIP Ivan

I remember that, in about 64 i think. Fantastic performance as you had got teams in those days as well. In those days, Poole rode very similar to our Brough.

[Sidney the robin]

59 minutes ago, Tsunami said:

I remember that, in about 64 i think. Fantastic performance as you had got teams in those days as well. In those days, Poole rode very similar to our Brough.

How long did it take Ivan to master the Brough track ? and how much different was it  compared to today's track i have only been to Brough twice once in 1978 and once in  1984 after there venture into the BL.I enjoyed both visits Malcolm Holloway once told me he found  Brough  one of the hardest tracks to ride and i can remember him being very disappointed with his performance in one of the WC qualifying rounds there in either 1984 or 85.?

[steve roberts]

26 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

How long did it take Ivan to master the Brough track ? and how much different was it  compared to today's track i have only been to Brough twice once in 1978 and once in  1984 after there venture into the BL.I enjoyed both visits Malcolm Holloway once told me he found  Brough  one of the hardest tracks to ride and i can remember him being very disappointed with his performance in one of the WC qualifying rounds there in either 1984 or 85.?

...I visited Brough Park three times in the distant past and was (B)rough to say the least!

[Tsunami]

21 hours ago, Sidney the robin said:

How long did it take Ivan to master the Brough track ? and how much different was it  compared to today's track i have only been to Brough twice once in 1978 and once in  1984 after there venture into the BL.I enjoyed both visits Malcolm Holloway once told me he found  Brough  one of the hardest tracks to ride and i can remember him being very disappointed with his performance in one of the WC qualifying rounds there in either 1984 or 85.?

 

21 hours ago, steve roberts said:

...I visited Brough Park three times in the distant past and was (B)rough to say the least!

Like everyone else Ivan had to learn how to ride Brough when he first came. With long straights and tight corners you have to have great skill to slide in with power and already be broadside ready for the drive out of the next bend. In those days it rode like a Diamond, and Ivan spent hours after the first meetings throwing in the bike from even just past the starting gate, which was one hell of a slide. He often filled his fuel tank full(bigger in those days I believe) and would on his own ride probably 20 laps flat out trying to get it right. He was of course physically very fit, and a lot of other riders at the time could only watch him as their fitness was no good for such durations, He experimented with bikes that he bought when he first arrived until he found the frame and setup that he preferred. Him and his then German mechanic would load up his Bedford snub nose van and head off to buy bikes, and go to other tracks to get extra rides. He was fanatical to get it right. I remember when Peter Kelly lived beside him in Manchester, he told me that if he met him say a Xmas time the conversation was always speedway nothing else, he was so driven.  The track in those days was even narrower, with straights always about the legal minimum of 8 metres as it is now, and the corners were tight, possibly be about 10 to 12 metres wide. After we opened up in 1997, the corners were 10m on corners 1and 2 and about 12m on corners 3 and 4. In the late 90's we took 2 metres off the inside kerb of both ends, and that is the shape and sizes that we have now. The 3rd and 4 bends have always been 2 m wider that the 1st and second. The track probably got its 'rough' name over time by others that couldn't ride it, and because with a powered broadside hitting similar positions every lap, the wear must be considerably harder/more. Say a track like Somerest with a wide track. multiple race lines and constantly drifting rather sideways power, the condition of the track is going to be smoother for longer. Nowadays and in the recent past the track is nowhere near 'rough' as delusional Redcar fans would have you believe, but does have by choice more dirt on it to get better grip. That is the riders choice to give them more overtaking options.

There must be something right about Brough with 4 world Champions to our claim, Mauger, Olsen, Michanek and Nicki. We'll not count Brian Anderson as we got him for 6 weeks after he won the U21 title.